#mdcspr

[purrincess-chat]

Ayyy thank you guys! ❤

[purrincess-chat]

Thank you guys for reading and supporting MDCSP(R)! And for putting up with my bullshit all the time. ❤❤

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH35

Canon LadyNoir: burning

MDCSPR LadyNoir: anyway, so can I wear a pink bride’s maid dress to your wedding?

Me:

Anywho~

Previous     First      Next     AO3

Chapter 35: 7 rings

“Bien Jouè!” Ladybug and Chat Noir fist bumped after another purified akuma.

“Nice work today, kitty,” Ladybug said.

“Same to you, LB!” Chat Noir readied his staff. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lady in waiting.”

“See you tomorrow.” Ladybug waved as he vaulted off. “Okay, time to race.”

She tossed her yoyo and shot off, landing back on her balcony and letting her transformation drop. She checked her phone timer, glancing out across the rooftops as that mess of blond hair came into view. Right on time.

“Chat Noir!” she called.

He skidded to a stop a few roofs over before hopping over to meet her.

“Is something the matter, little lady?” he asked, perching on the railing.

“No- ah, I mean, I wanted to ask you for a favor.” She clasped her hands together in front of her. “Tomorrow I’m planning on visiting the children’s hospital, and I was hoping that I could get someone special for the kids. I think they would be thrilled if one of Paris’ superheroes could make it, so do you have time to come? I tried asking Ladybug, but she’s too busy.”

“To the hospital? Tomorrow?” He searched her pleading expression with pursed lips. “Uh, yeah, I think I can make that.”

“Awesome! Thank you, Chat Noir!” She beamed.

“Anything for you.” He held up his ring with a wince. “Uh, I mean, gotta jet, but I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“10 o’clock!” she called as he hopped off again. She crawled through her skylight to call Adrien with a grin. His phone rang several times, and she wondered if it would go to voicemail before he finally picked up.

“Hey!”

“Hey, did I catch you at a bad time? You sound winded,” she said.

“No, no, sorry! I was, uh, just playing a little basketball.” He cleared his throat. “What’s up?”

“Guess who agreed to come to the hospital with us tomorrow?” She bounced excitedly.

“Jagged Stone?”

“Out of the country. Think local.”

“Andre the ice cream man?”

“Most of the kids have dietary restrictions.”

“Ladybug?”

“Closer.” She giggled. “It’s Chat Noir!”

“That’s awesome, Marinette! The kids are going to be so happy,” he said.

“I’m really excited now.” She paced across her bedroom floor. “By the way, whose car are we taking, yours or mine?”

“Uh, yours is fine. We need to break it in,” he said.

“Okay. I’ll let you get back to your basketball. See you tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” Adrien said.

“Love you!”

“Yeah, I love you too…”

♪♫♪ Sucker ♪♫♪

“How are you going to be in two places at once, genius? You can’t go as Adrien and Chat Noir,” Plagg said the next morning, stuffing a whole wedge of Camembert down his throat.

“I’m not.” Adrien pinched the bridge of his nose. “Marinette specifically asked Chat Noir, so Adrien is just going to have to call in sick.”

“Sick with what?”

Adrien pursed his lips, reaching for his phone. Marinette answered on the third ring.

“Hey, you! We’re not leaving to pick you up for a few more minutes, what’s up?” She sounded so cheerful. He hated to disappoint her, but he didn’t have a choice.

“I’m really sorry, mon ange, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it today,” he said, sounding as pathetic as possible. “I think I’m coming down with something.”

“You’re sick?” Marinette gasped.

“Yeah, I woke up in the middle of the night, and my stomach has been hurting all morning.” He fibbed. “I’m really sorry, my love. I feel like I’m letting you down.”

“No, it’s fine. We’ll manage. You just get lots of rest and focus on feeling better, okay?” she said gently. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Love you,” he moaned.

“Love you too. Now, go lie down.”

“Already there.” He hung up and pulled the blanket over his pillows. “Come on, Plagg! Transform me.”

Chat Noir arrived at the hospital to find Gabrielle already waiting. She didn’t look up from her phone when he touched down, barely acknowledging his existence. Marinette arrived at the same time as her friends, and she smiled at him as Martin, Eliott, Lisette, and Macy crawled out of their car.

“Thank you for coming!” Marinette said, looking radiant as ever, but now wasn’t the time to admire how cute she looked in her pink skirt.

“Of course.” He bowed politely and kissed her hand.

Last but not least, a white limo rolled up to the curb behind them, and Chloe emerged, fluffing her hair as if she were the star of the show—which, knowing Chloe, she probably thought she was.

A small-framed woman in a lab coat was waiting just inside the front doors, and Marinette surged ahead to greet her.

“Hi, I’m Marinette!”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Han, head director of the hospital.” The woman shook Marinette’s hand. “Thank you so much for your generous donations. You’re really going to change lives here.”

“I’m happy to help,” she said as if it were no big deal, which knowing Marinette, it wasn’t. She always wanted to help, even without the ulterior motive of defeating Lila. It was just one thing Adrien loved about her.

“Is it alright if we visit the kids for a while?” she asked.

“I think they’d enjoy that very much.”

Dr. Han led the way, and their group broke off into different wards. Eliott and Lisette, Macy and Martin, Chloe and Gabrielle. That left Marinette with Chat Noir, not that he was complaining. He’d just have to remember not to kiss her.

The hospital staff had gathered the kids in the large playroom, and their faces lit up when Marinette entered with Chat Noir.

“Everyone, this is Marinette. She and her friends were the ones who donated to help us get new equipment and gift baskets for all of you.” Dr. Han explained.

“Hello.” Marinette waved shyly. “Did you all enjoy your gifts?”

“Yeah!” One girl snuggled a Ladybug doll Marinette had stitched herself.

“Well, what fun are toys if you have no one to play with, right? So I brought someone with me to play with you all today.” She gestured to Chat Noir who gave a friendly wave.

“Are you the real Chat Noir?” one girl asked.

“Could a fake Chat Noir do this?” He extended his staff along the length of the room, creating a secure bar overhead. He hung upside down with a cheeky grin, and the kids stared in awe.

To no one’s surprise, Chat Noir was a big hit with the kids, but Marinette found their favor as well when they started a game of Ladybug and Chat Noir.

“The real Ladybug couldn’t make it today, so will you play the part, m’lady?” Chat asked, holding out a hand in offering.

Marinette pursed her lips. “I think someone else should play Ladybug.” She approached the girl in the wheelchair with a Ladybug doll. “How would you like to be Ladybug?”

“But I can’t be Ladybug because of my chair,” the girl said.

“Then I’ll be Queen Bee and help you. Even the real Ladybug needs help sometimes, so I think you’ll do great.” Marinette smiled, an expression the girl reflected with equal excitement.

Could she be more perfect?

“I call Bunny!”

“Can I be Malin?”

“I wanna be Emerald Shell!”

“Ladybug is going to need all of her super friends for this mission,” Marinette said.

“I want to be the akuma!” one boy said.

“Okay, what is your evil superpower?” Chat Noir asked the boy.

“Making everyone eat broccoli!” He exclaimed, and everyone gasped in horror.

“A true villain.” Chat Noir nodded.

“Okay, Ladybug, are you ready to fight crime with Chat Noir and all of your super friends?” Marinette asked, turning the chair around.

“Yeah!”

The kids had a blast as Marinette wheeled their Ladybug around to save each of them from having to eat broccoli, and Chat couldn’t take his eyes off her. She helped each child feel useful and special, bringing glowing smiles to each of their faces. The light emanating from her own face made his heart skip. Every time he thought he couldn’t love her more, she did something to prove him wrong. She really was the most miraculous girl in the world.

“Okay, Ladybug, I think it’s time to call your lucky charm,” Marinette said once they’d rescued all the kids by giving them smiley face stickers of immunity. “Can you do it?”

“Lucky Charm!” the girl called, throwing her hands up, and Marinette retrieved an apple from the snack cart.

“Alright, what’s your plan?” Marinette asked.

She tapped her chin, then pulled Chat Noir down to whisper in his ear.

“You got it, LB.” He winked. “Bunny, Malin, I seem to have forgotten the name of my power. Can you say it for me?”

“Cataclysm!” they shouted.

Chat Noir moved through the motions, gently brushing the toy broccoli with his fingers.

“Well, Broccolator, Chat Noir has just destroyed all the broccoli. There’s only fruit left now.” Marinette declared.

“No!” The young boy collapsed to his knees.

“Quick, Ladybug, we have to capture his akuma!” Marinette said, wheeling her over. “What’s the phrase?”

“Time to de-evilize!” she said. Marinette placed a white butterfly sticker on the boy’s shirt, passing the apple to the little girl to hold up. “Miraculous Ladybug!”

“Another victim saved by Ladybug, Chat Noir, and their brave super friends Malin, Souris Rose, Emerald Shell, Queen Bee, Tigress, and Bunny!” Marinette announced, and all of the kids and staff cheered.

“Alright, super team, we have one more important order of business left,” Chat Noir said, carrying their Emerald Shell over. “Put your fists in like this and…”

“Pound it!”

“Good job.” He chuckled as they all crowded in for a hug.

“Alright, kids, now Marinette is going to read you all a story while you have your snacks,” one nurse announced while several others moved chairs around.

“How many of you remember Sandboy?” Marinette asked as they settled in, holding up a book, and hands shot up. “Oh, good because I may need your help telling this one.”

Marinette was really good with kids, engaging them all in the story and letting everyone feel included. How did Adrien ever get so lucky to interest a girl like her? Most days he couldn’t believe she fell in love with him. He was so lame by comparison.

“And then they heard a voice from above…” Marinette said ominously. “What did it say?”

“The Sandboy just checked in, now nightmares can begin!” The kids recited.

“Then Chat Noir got dusted with his magic sand, bringing his worst nightmare to life! He stepped in front of Ladybug, twirling his staff and saying…”

“Get behind me, m’lady. I’ll protect you!” Chat Noir said, mimicking the stance in the picture and prompting a laugh from the kids.

“ʻYou’ve still got your powers?’ Ladybug asked.”

“Losing mine isn’t what I’m afraid of.” Chat recited.

“ʻThen what?’ Suddenly, a menacing voice sounded above them. ‘Chat Noir! Bad kitty, I’ll never love you!’”

Marinette shot him a playful grin, and he shrugged guiltily.

“…And finally Ladybug captured the akuma and used her lucky charm to set everything back to normal. Pound it!” Marinette finished several minutes later. “So, did you all have fun today meeting a real superhero?”

“Yeah!” The kids cheered, and their little Ladybug looked up at her.

“You’re a superhero too, Marinette,” she said.

“What? I’m not. I’m just a normal girl. No superpowers whatsoever.” Marinette insisted.

“You’re our superhero cause you helped us get new machines and more medicine,” another boy said. “You’re our Ladybug.”

The kids voiced agreements, turning Marinette’s cheeks pink.

“As Ladybug’s certified best friend, I have to agree.” Chat Noir concurred.

Marinette hugged the book to her chest with a smile. “Let me tell you a secret: We can all be heroes just like Ladybug and Chat Noir so long as we always have one thing: hope,” she said. “Hope is our superpower, and so long as we have that, then Hawkmoth can never win. It's his only weakness, and anyone can have it. Isn't that right, Chat Noir?”

“Yeah…” He nodded, eyes fixed on her.

He'd seen Marinette glow before when she was encouraging her friends or at the fashion show, but in that moment, she was more radiant than ever. The whole room was brighter because she was in it, and every child wore a smile as they departed. This was Marinette's superpower, the ability to give hope to others so that their lights could shine too, and Chat Noir had never been so smitten. For a moment, he forgot that they were doing all of this to get back at Lila, and he felt like Marinette had too. She really was an everyday hero.

Chat Noir caught a glimpse of her phone screen where she was typing a message to Adrien with pictures taken throughout the day as they walked up the hall. Pictures she was sending to him, who was supposed to be at home, sick.

“Texting your boyfriend?” he asked, unable to resist and trying, and failing, to hide his smirk.

“Yeah. He’s sick today, so he couldn’t come, but I wanted him to see what we did.” She smiled at the screen as the messages sent.

“I’m sure he appreciates it, and I’m sure he would have been here if he could. You should go visit him. He probably misses you.” Chat Noir clasped his hands behind his back, pursing his lips innocently.

“I’ll see how he’s feeling.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for coming today, Chat Noir.”

“Of course, anytime.” He stopped short, taking her hand. “I mean it. If you ever need anything, just ask.”

He leaned down to kiss her instinctively, but catching himself, tilted his head to peck both of her cheeks instead. “I should get going. Thanks for all of your hard work, Miraculous Marinette.”

“See you around, Chat Noir.” She pulled him in for a hug.

He hoped she couldn’t tell how fast his heart was beating or how his pulse accelerated the moment she touched him.

“Don’t forget to go see your boyfriend. He loves you so much and really wants to kiss you- I mean see you!” Chat Noir said. “Probably! I mean, I’m just guessing. A girl like you, what guy wouldn’t want to kiss- see you really badly. Anyway, wow, look at the time. Gotta go, see you later, bye!”

Chat Noir landed back in his bathroom a few minutes later, letting his transformation drop and stumbling over to the sink. He mussed up his hair, slapping his cheeks a few times to redden them and rushing back to his bed. He smiled down at all of the photos and loving messages she’d sent him and tapped the video icon in the corner.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” she answered. The seatbelt strap told him she was still in the car.

“A lot better,” he said. “Turns out it was a kidney stone, not a virus, so you can come visit me if you want.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?” she asked worriedly.

“I’m always up to seeing you, gorgeous.” He flashed her a reassuring smile and a wink.

“Well, if you have enough energy to flirt, you must be feeling better. I’ll be there soon.” She giggled.

“Can’t wait. I miss you.” He pouted. “Come make me feel better with your kisses.”

“I will.”

When she arrived, Adrien smiled up at her, reaching a hand out for her to take. She sat on the edge of his bed, brushing his hair away from his eyes.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as he leaned his cheek into her palm.

“Better now that you’re here.” He kissed her hand. “How was the hospital?”

“We had an amazing time. Those kids are so strong and full of hope…We played a game with them, and this little girl-” Her voice trailed off as Adrien leaned up to kiss her. “Don’t you want to hear how everything went?”

“Later,” he said, laying back against his pillow. “Right now I need my Marinette to save me. I have no energy to move anything except my lips, and only a kiss from the most kindhearted and beautiful princess in the world can heal me.”

“And I thought Chat Noir was dramatic.” She teased.

“Hurry.” He coughed. “I’m not going to make it.”

Marinette smiled down at him, leaning in to touch her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her, lips parting eagerly. Of course, he would listen to all of her stories and pretend he was hearing it all for the first time. But right now all that mattered were her lips on his.

♪♫♪ the 1 ♪♫♪

“My, my I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy, LB,” Chat Noir called as his staff lowered him onto the roof where she sat, looking out over the city. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“I just had a really great day.” She shrugged. “I heard you visited the children’s hospital.”

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun. That Marinette girl really is something,” he said. “What were you up to today that kept you from coming?”

“I- had a date with my boyfriend,” she said. “I would have loved to go see the children, but I couldn’t cancel without seeming suspicious. Juggling a double life is hard sometimes.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Chat Noir said. “So, tell me about your guy. Is he more handsome than me?”

Ladybug leaned against her fist with a dreamy sigh. “He’s so incredible. He’s nice; he’s smart; he’s handsome, very athletic, but also so down-to-earth and gentle. He always has my back. I really love him.”

“Sounds like a lucky guy,” Chat Noir said. “Well, if he ever breaks your heart, just say the word, and I’ll rough him up for you.”

Ladybug shoved him playfully. “What about your unlucky girl?”

“Okay, first of all, ouch.” He cupped a hand over his heart. “Second of all, fair. I feel lucky that she even likes me. She’s crazy talented—it’s insane how amazing she is, and she really cares about people. No matter what, she always wants to help, and she’s funny, and she has the cutest laugh. When I’m with her, it’s like nothing else matters but right then and there. Just the two of us together, and I wouldn’t give her up for the world.”

He let out a breath, casting her a smug grin.

“Oh, and she thinks my jokes are funny.” He gloated as if it were the cherry on top, and Ladybug pursed her lips to hide her smile.

“Well, then you’re just gonna have to marry her because girls willing to put up with your puns don’t grow on trees,” she said.

“Yeah, she really is the perfect girl for me. You never stood a chance.” Chat Noir sighed.

Ladybug laid down on the roof with a smile, and Chat Noir moved to lie beside her. The stars twinkled faintly against the lights, barely visible above the city. Ladybug let out a deep breath.

“I really am happy for you, chaton,” she murmured. “I mean that. You’re a great guy under all of your jokes.”

He turned to face her, leaning against his arm with a tender smile. “I’m happy for you too. I know I gave you a hard time for a while, and I’m really sorry if you ever felt like I was pushing you. It was hard to accept, but you and I just aren’t meant to be.”

“You are important to me. I know I can always trust you, and I’m really glad you’re my partner.” Ladybug rolled onto her side and reached out a hand to ruffle his hair. “You’re my best friend, Chat Noir.”

“And you’re mine,” he said softly before the gentleness in his eyes morphed into mischief. “So, if we’ve defeated Hawkmoth, do you promise to invite me to your wedding?”

“Uh, who else am I gonna get to be my maid of honor?” Ladybug grunted, not bothering to mask the ‘duh’ in her voice.

“Will I get to wear a dress?” he asked.

“Naturally. I’ll pick out something really tasteful for you.” She rolled onto her back with a laugh as he pumped an excited fist. “Better practice walking in heels.”

“Hey, I’ve gotten good at it since Reflekta!”

She roared with laughter, which Chat found contagious.

“Ya know,” she said once they’d calmed, “I feel like for the first time in a long time that everything is gonna be okay. All of this feels a little less daunting, and I know that we’re going to win against Hawkmoth.”

“Yeah,” Chat Noir said, staring up at the sky. “I feel that too.”

“For the people we love.” Ladybug slipped her hand into his, curling their fingers together.

Chat gave them a squeeze. “For the people we love.”

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH33

The time has finally come! Let’s finish this thing out with style, shall we? All of Marinette’s dreams are about to come true ;)

Previous      First       Next      AO3

Chapter 33: Rare

**2 months later**

“Nervous?” Eliott asked.

Marinette blinked as they waited for the elevator to ascend and nodded.

“I’ve been by a few times with Audrey to assess the progress,” she said. “I just hope everything turned out okay.”

“I’m sure they’re all great.” Lisette assured her.

“Hey, where’s Adrien? Isn’t he modeling too?” Macy asked.

Marinette thought back to her specific instructions to deliver Macy’s dress ahead of time. “Uh, he’s already here I think,” she said as the elevator opened on their floor.

“It’s about time you all arrived, are you trying to make my hair turn gray? I was about to call my stylist,” Audrey said as they stepped off the elevator.

Adrien stood on her other side, hands shoved into his pockets. Marinette cocked a brow at him. He winked, and her shoulders relaxed.

“Your line turned out fabulous, darling! I am living for your designs.” Audrey draped an arm around Marinette and led them to the display. “I was getting rather bored with the same old pitches. You are certainly a breath of fresh air.”

“Thank you so much, Audrey.” Marinette tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a smile.

She swept an arm out to present the mannequins. “Voilà.”

Marinette’s hand flew to her mouth. Everything was perfect. From Adrien’s colorful tux to the soft tulle of Lisette’s dress, every stitch had been meticulously executed. Audrey only staffed the best.

“They’re beautiful!” Macy gasped.

Her friends circled each one in awe, but Marinette remained rooted in place, eyes stinging.

“You okay, M?” Eliott asked, glancing up from a light blue dress.

“Yeah, it’s just…” She wiped her eyes. “Seeing them all…and they’re all exactly how I imagined and…”

Adrien wrapped an arm around her as she covered her face with a breathy laugh.

“I really love them.” She sniffled.

“As happy as I am to see that the waterproof mascara was a solid investment, enough chitchat. The show is next week. We need to sort out last-minute alterations.” Audrey clapped.

Marinette took a deep, composing breath as everyone moved to the dressing stalls, though Adrien remained by her side.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered, brushing her cheek with his thumb.

“Thank you.” She stepped into his arms, stretching up to kiss him.

“Adrien!” Audrey called.

They sighed, and Adrien planted a quick kiss on her lips before retreating to his changing stall.

“Um…” Macy piped up behind her. “Which one am I wearing?”

Marinette turned to her with a smile, taking her hand and pulling her along. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

She led Macy to a booth and closed the curtain, pacing over to the rack to retrieve her masterpiece. Her heart raced as she trailed her fingers over the soft white fabric—the crowning jewel of her collection. The piece that would close out the show, the dress made with her own hands for one specific person—the dress she made for Macy.

A smile broke over her lips as she lifted it from the rack and carried it over to the booth. Hooking it on the hanger inside, she stepped back as the others emerged from their stalls. Eliott’s outfit was colorful and casual, perfect for everyday wear. Adrien strutted up to his mirror in a tux embroidered with her signature flowers. Lisette twirled, her light pink skirt swaying against her legs. All of her friends were wearing her designs, and she’d never been prouder.

“I’m digging the fabric you used,” Eliott said, feeling his shirt as his tailor adjusted his shorts.

“And the pockets.” Lisette added, shoving her hands in them for emphasis.

“I’m glad you like them,” Marinette said as the elevator dinged again.

Gabrielle stepped off, and the room fell silent. She glanced around at the others who visibly bristled, but Marinette rushed over to meet her.

“You made it. Awesome!”

“Yeah. I’m not late, am I?” Gabrielle ripped her gaze from Eliott’s glare.

Marinette shook her head. “Not at all. Odette can help you over there.”

Marinette pointed, and Gabrielle followed her finger, flicking her gaze back to the others briefly before lifting the strap of her bag over her head and sauntering off.

“What is she doing here?” Eliott hissed when Marinette returned.

“I invited her.”

“Why?” Lisette asked.

“Because…she and I are sort of friends.” When they gave her puzzled looks, she winced. “It’s a long story.”

“I guess if anyone can help Gabrielle, it’s you, Marinette.” Eliott conceded. “Don’t expect me to invite her to movie nights anytime soon though.”

They weren’t ready to forgive Gabrielle yet, a reality Marinette accepted. Healing took time—Marinette was proof of that, but if she could forgive Chloe Bourgeois, she was sure everyone else could forgive Gabrielle. It was a step in the right direction at least.

Macy stepped out of her stall, tugging on her plain, white dress, and Marinette waved her over.

“Are you sure this is right?” Macy asked, running her hands over the skirt. “Everyone else is so colorful, but my dress is so plain. I’m going to stick out.”

“You’re going to stick out, but not for the reason you think. You’ll see,” Marinette said. “Do you trust me?”

Macy faced her reflection and nodded. “Okay.”

Marinette got to work, but the dress needed little altering. It fit Macy like a glove just like she knew it would.

“You’re all done,” she said. “I know it seems like yours doesn’t fit in, but trust me, everyone will love it.”

“Marinette, I need you over here!” Audrey called.

“Coming!” Marinette scurried across the room. “What’s wrong?”

“Adrien needs help with a piece of his suit, go check on it.” Audrey waved her toward the changing stalls.

“Adrien?” Marinette approached his curtain. A hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her in. “Whoa, hey-”

“Shh!” He pressed a finger to her lips, a wicked grin stretching his cheeks.

“There’s something wrong with your tux?” She examined the coat, but it looked fine to her.

He wrapped his arms around her back, touching his nose to hers. “Nah, it’s perfect. I just wanted you to come over here.”

“You pulled me away from my work just to make out in a changing room?” She shot him a playful glare.

“Who said anything about making out?” He quirked a smug brow.

“I- Well- You- I didn’t- I just-” Her cheeks burned, and Adrien snickered, leaning his forehead against hers with an impish grin. “You’re such a tease.”

“But I always deliver,” he said against her lips.

She’d kill him. Later. Right now, all she could think about was the taste of his breath and his hands in her hair. They’d been together for two months, but Adrien still took her breath away.

“Marinette?” Eliott called from outside.

She leaned her head back, forcing their lips apart. Undeterred, Adrien kissed along her jaw and pulled her against him.

“You can’t keep me in here forever,” she said as he trailed down her neck to her collar bone.

Footsteps approached, and when the curtain shot open, they jumped apart. Marinette scrambled to adjust his coat, clearing her throat.

“Um, okay, button’s all fixed,” she said. When Eliott crossed his arms over his chest, she added, “I was just- he had a loose button, so I was fixing it.”

“Mmhmm.” Eliott hummed. “With your mouth?”

“What- We weren’t- No. I was just- Coming, Audrey!” She lowered her head and pushed past him.

Neither of them could look him in the eye for the rest of the night, and no one else knew why their cheeks were always the tiniest bit flush.

♪♫♪ Look at Her Now ♪♫♪

“Don’t be nervous.” Adrien placed his hands on Marinette’s shoulders as she chewed her nails ten minutes before the show started. He was dressed in his tux, though his bowtie hung untied around his neck. Marinette fussed with it, unable to keep her hands still.

“What’s to be nervous about? It’s only my whole future on the line,” she said, smoothing his coat once she’d finished. “I feel like I’m gonna pass out. Or throw up. Or throw up, then pass out.”

“You’ll be fine. Everything is running on schedule. Your models are all here. Clara is warmed up for her performance. The press is here. Everyone’s finding their seats including your parents on the front row. Relax.” He soothed, massaging her shoulders.

“Okay. You’re right. Everything is fine. I’m fine. It’s all fine.” She paced back and forth, running her sweaty hands down her skirt. “What if I forget my lines?”

“There’s a prompter at the end of the runway.” Adrien reminded her. He pulled her in, pausing her pacing with a kiss to the cheek. “I have to go finish makeup, but after my walk, I’ll be right beside you, okay?”

“Okay,” she said with a hint of hysteria.

“Deep breaths!” he called.

He gave her a thumbs up, but the moment he rounded the corner, she resumed pacing. “Okay, Marinette. Everything is fine. You’re fine. Deep breaths. You got this. No worries.”

“Ya know, I never noticed how much you talk to yourself.”

She jumped at Chloe’s voice behind her, spinning around to see her in a golden gown.

“Nervous habit,” Marinette said, looking her up and down with a smile. “You’re wearing one of my dresses.”

“Yeah, my mom asked me to be in your show.” Chloe fluffed the skirt.

“Did she?” Marinette cocked a brow.

“She asked me if I wanted to…after I asked her if I could be,” she said. “Whatever. Same thing.”

“I thought you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one of my hideous designs.” Marinette cocked a hip.

“Ugh, you’re so-”

“You look beautiful.” Marinette cut her off with a sincere smile. “Thank you, Chloe.”

Chloe stiffened as Marinette pulled her in for a hug. She leaned into Marinette’s embrace but pushed her away the moment someone walked by, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Adrien is right, you know,” Chloe said. “You always find a way to overcome everything people throw at you. You really are a diamond, and everyone is about to see how brightly you can shine.”

Marinette blinked in surprise. Chloe rolled her eyes and headed to her position in the lineup as everyone scrambled to make last-minute adjustments to hair and makeup. All of her friends were there to support her. No matter what happened, they would always be there for her.

“30 seconds!”

Clara took her position on the stage as the music started, and Marinette moved to the monitor to watch as she started to sing. Camera bulbs flashed as Adrien made his way down the runway, and Marinette held her breath. He struck a pose at the end, and at the sound of their applause, she breathed a sigh of relief. Lisette started as he turned back, high-fiving him as they passed each other, and Marinette’s first message flashed on the screens.

Beauty is not a height.

“Hey.” Adrien held his arms out, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. “So far so good. They’re still clapping.”

“That’s good.” She nodded.

Chloe made her way out next, eating up the attention from the crowd.

Beauty is not a social status.

“Marinette, we have a problem!” Eliott rushed up to her.

“What? What’s wrong?” Her heart skipped into a sprint again.

“Macy doesn’t want to walk,” he said.

Marinette took off, Adrien hot on her heels.

“Macy?” Marinette called, turning the corner to find her friend sitting in her makeup chair with a dejected expression. “Macy…”

“I’m sorry, Marinette. I really wanted to support you, but I just can’t do this.” She shook her head. “This dress is beautiful, but it’s so different from all of the other pieces. It’s just not for me.”

Marinette set her clipboard down on the vanity and cupped Macy’s face in her hands.

“It’s exactly for you,” she said. “I never told you because I wanted it to be a surprise, but Macy, I designed this dress specifically for you.”

“What?” Her eyebrows knitted together.

“You were the muse that inspired me to create this whole line, and I made your dress the foundation of my collection. It’s my best piece, and that’s why I’ve saved it for last,” Marinette said.

“But it’s so plain…” Macy ran her hands over the fabric.

“But that’s where you’re wrong.” Marinette smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. “This dress is unique, like you, and soon everyone will see it’s how beautiful you both are.”

When Macy pursed her lips, Marinette gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Trust me.”

Macy glanced at the dwindling line of models. Eliott stood at the front of the line waiting to go next and shot Macy a worried look.

“Okay…”

Marinette helped her up and led her to the back of the line.

Beauty is not a gender. Beauty is not an age. Beauty is not a hair color. Beauty is not one person.

Macy eyed the curtain of mist at the entrance to the runway, releasing Marinette’s hand only at the last moment. All eyes trained on her curious white dress as Macy made her way to the first mark. Her shoulders curled.

Backstage, Marinette watched the monitors with bated breath—everyone as uneasy as Macy. Then the dress began to bleed.

“Whoa, what?” Eliott gasped.

Blues and pinks and purples bled into the white in intricate swirls, and the once plain dress morphed into the most colorful piece in the collection. Marinette covered her mouth to muffle her squeal of delight.

Camera bulbs flashed like wild as the crowd cheered her on. Confused, Macy spared a quick glance down at her dress, now bleeding with color. Thunderous applause roared as she made her way further up the runway, gaining confidence with each step. Behind her on the screen flashed a simple phrase that carried the weight of Marinette’s message, only three small words:

Beauty is you.

“How did you-” Gabrielle blinked.

“I used dye on the thread.” Marinette explained.

“And the mist activated it,” Eliott said, a grin curling on his lips as everyone backstage joined in the applause.

Clara’s song ended as Macy reached the end of the runway, striking a powerful pose as photographers fought over the perfect angle. Marinette stepped onto the stage, floating down the runway in a soft pink gown of her own. Macy shot her a bright smile, eyes watering with tears as the two embraced.

Audrey passed Marinette the mic, and she took the center stage. “When I created my brand, I asked myself one question: What message do I want to send to the world?” she said. “For many years, this industry has been led by the thinnest and the most flawless, narrowing the definition of what is beautiful to exclude many ordinary people. People like you and me.” She paused to glance at Macy briefly before continuing, “I want to redefine beauty because it’s all around us in every person that we meet. We just have to give them an opportunity to let their true colors shine.”

Everyone applauded, and Marinette lowered the microphone with an elated giggle.

“Beauty is in all of us, and you are beautiful.”

The audience rose to their feet, their cheers and applause filling the room. Marinette held her head high, glancing back to see her friends cheering her on from behind the curtains. Her smile widened when she locked eyes with her parents, beaming proudly in the crowd. This was it. Her shining moment. Her glowing statement. Her brilliant sparkle, and she was radiant.

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH38

Some people realized the big announcement last chapter ;) Of course, Adrien has some feelings about it. I wanted to address Adrien’s psyche a bit in this story because I doubt canon will. This chapter might be very heavy for anyone who suffers from any mental health issues surrounding parental abuse, ptsd, childhood trauma, stuff like that, so read with caution if those things apply to you! 

Previous    First    Next    AO3

Chapter 38: hoax

Adrien tapped his fingers on the table, leg bouncing, eyes flitting around the room. Several others mirrored his stance, anxiously waiting for their visitors to arrive. He chewed his nails, then seeming to catch himself, clasped his hands together below the table, unsure of exactly when he’d picked up that habit. Did it help with his nerves? Not really, but it gave his hands something to do.

When the doors opened, his head snapped up, scanning each face as they entered. His heart pounded, wondering if perhaps she hadn’t come after all, but the moment her big blue eyes met his, he cupped a hand over his mouth, eyes watering as she approached and sat down across from him.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Marinette asked, placing her hand in his. He hadn’t even noticed he was reaching for her, but her hands were warm and familiar. Comforting, if anything could be.

“Some days are better than others.” He shrugged, rubbing his nose on his sleeve. “I’m better than I was two months ago. Therapy has helped a lot, but I don’t think they teach classes on how to help a kid whose father was a super terrorist in medical school.”

“No, I don’t think they do,” Marinette said.

He let out a bitter laugh. “I’m learning to…cope with what happened. To accept that it happened so I can move on. I know I should probably forgive him, but I just…” He shook his head.

“It’s only been a couple months. Give it time. No one is expecting you to heal all at once.” Marinette squeezed his hand.

“I know, but he’s my dad.” He choked on the word, running a hand over his face as Marinette whispered reassurance. “I keep replaying how it all happened in my mind, hoping that when the purple light fades, it will be someone else kneeling there.”

“I wish I knew how to help you. That I knew what to say to make it better.” She lowered her gaze.

“You do help me.” Adrien cupped her cheek. “Part of my therapy is figuring out what I want to do now, who I want to be. Even if I don’t know the answers to those questions, I know I want to be with you. So we work with that, and some days that’s all I have.”

Marinette searched his expression, broken but still warm—the one tiny flame that refused to go out. She pulled him in for a tight hug, nuzzling into his shoulder like she always did. The spot made just for her. He held her close, clinging to the one stable source of support in his life.

“You take as much time as you need, okay? I love you, and I will always be here for you,” she said, her tears warm on his shoulder.

“I know, love bug,” he murmured. A smile curled on his lips. “My ladybug was right by my side this whole time. I still found you in the end.”

“What were the odds?” She laughed, leaning back to look him in the eye. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about everything to do with the Miraculous, but I did bring someone to see you.”

“I know.” Adrien pulled open his jacket where Plagg clung to his chest. “He’s been there since you sat down.”

“I wasn’t sure if you were ready to deal with it since you gave it back,” she said softly.

“I’m okay with that part of it. If I hadn’t been…you-know-who through all of this, never got to experience that freedom, never had a place to run, I’d probably be in much worse shape right now,” he said. “I gave it to you to look after while I’m in here. They’re particular about what I can have, and I didn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands, that’s all.”

“I’m glad. I was worried that you’d resent it.” She bit her lip.

Adrien shook his head. “Nah. For what it’s worth, I’m really glad that I was able to fight beside you. It makes me feel like all of that bad wasn’t my doing,” he said. “I’m really glad that it was you in the end. My dad being Hawkmoth was such a bombshell, and I was just reeling. Seeing your face kept me grounded long enough to press through everything. It’s not exactly how I pictured learning our identities, but I know I can always trust you without a doubt.”

“It certainly wasn’t what I expected either,” Marinette said. “I’m glad you don’t want to push me away. I was worried when you refused visitors. I thought that since I was involved with everything that maybe you didn’t want to see me anymore. I wouldn’t have blamed you, but…”

“I’m sorry I didn’t let you come see me sooner to ease some of those fears. I just…wasn’t ready yet. It’s not that I didn’t want to see you, I did, but… I would have been a wreck.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t want you to see me like that, but hearing that you came every week anyways always made me feel a bit better.”

“I figured you needed space,” she said. “I always sat in the lobby through visitation anyway just in case you changed your mind. I wanted to be here for you whenever you needed me.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her hand.

“You were always there for me, so now it’s my turn to return the favor.” She smiled warmly, those big blue eyes conveying all of her love and devotion. “I’ve got your back. Always.”

“I know.” His expression sank. “How is my mom? Any news?”

“Master Fu is still working on it. I bring fresh flowers to her hospital room every few days,” Marinette said. “He doesn’t know if he can fix her, but he’s really trying. For you.”

Adrien leaned against his fist, tapping his fingers on the table. “How is you-know-who?”

“According to Chloe, she’s suddenly run out of things to say. There was a lot of backlash at first. Everyone was rightfully angry, but now they’ve moved on, and she’s faded into the background,” Marinette said. “All of her friends left her, though with the way she treated them, friends is a bit of a stretch.”

“Have you talked to her yet?” he asked.

Marinette averted her gaze. “No. Not yet. I’ve been dealing with the fallout from everything. Press, testifying, helping people move on. Ladybug and Marinette have both been busy… I do have some bad news for you.” She winced. “Gabriel-brand stock has plummeted. Investors are pulling out, debts are piling up. You’ll be flat broke by the time you get out of here.”

Adrien threw his head back with a laugh, garnering a few curious gazes from other patients and their families.

“Good,” he said. “I don’t want my father’s money after everything. We should just tear down that stupid mansion and turn it into a hospital for all of my father’s akuma victims or something. Show the world that at least one of the Agrestes isn’t a monster.”

“No one blames you, ya know.” Marinette assured him. “But the media is going to want your side of the story when you get out.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured.” He sighed. “Since there are no more akumas to fight, maybe you and I could just run away to New York when I get out. Get away from it all.”

“About that…” Marinette grimaced. “I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to come, and I know it’s still a few years away, but I was preparing to stay here if you-”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s your dream, and I’m not going to let him take that from you. There are therapists in America, and I think getting out of Paris for a while will be good for me.”

“Let’s take some time to think about it. Wait until you get released. Maybe after the holidays.” Marinette ran a hand through her hair. “So much has happened in nine months. Sometimes it feels like it’s been longer than that. It’s weird to think I only changed schools in February.”

“Putting my father being a raging sociopath aside, it’s been an amazing nine months, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

“Let’s hope the future is less exciting,” she said. “I think we both deserve a vacation.”

“A long one.” He agreed, then biting his lip, added, “I don’t know how long I’ll be in here. Could be another week, could be a few weeks, a few months… Can you let everyone know that I’m…getting better? Slowly.”

“Of course.” She smiled.

The five-minute warning bell sounded, and Adrien pulled her close.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

He leaned in to meet her lips, holding her tightly against his chest. She was warm. She was safe. She was home, and no matter what, he would always have her.

♪♫♪ human ♪♫♪

His heart pounded.

To his left, Emerald Shell covered Bunny as the akuma struck. Queen Bee and Malin were wrangling a sentimonster below while Chat Noir and Ladybug grappled with Hawkmoth himself. Tigress and Souris Rose hung back in the shadows—waiting. It was Ladybug’s most complicated plan yet, but in a small moment, everything aligned. Emerald’s shelter, Bunny’s burrow, Tigress’s camouflage, Souris’s tiny doppelgangers, Queen Bee’s venom, and finally the moment they’d been waiting for had arrived.

Chat Noir’s pulse raced, blood pumping in his ears as Ladybug removed the brooch. They’d finally done it. They won. Hawkmoth would never make another akuma again, but the moment his transformation dropped, all of the adrenaline, the battle high, the satisfaction of their victory came to a grinding halt as he met those cold, gray eyes.

Adrien shot up in bed, clutching his chest with shaking hands. Nightmares like that had become commonplace to him, so it only took a few minutes to slow his heart rate again. Besides, the nightmare wasn’t the worst part. It was the hours he laid awake afterward that truly ate at him, recalling every detail of that day.

He couldn’t stop if he wanted. The memory burned in his mind on loop no matter how much he wished it would stop. Because he couldn’t forget the moment when his world ended. The moment when he locked eyes with his father’s so filled with hatred and anger.

Adrien would never forget those eyes. He’d never forget watching his dad get handcuffed and dragged away. How he’d shouted that he was doing it for his wife and son… He couldn’t forget. Not ever.

“You okay, Chat Noir?” Ladybug asked as he slid down the wall, running a hand through his hair. “Kitty?”

“No,” he said as she crouched beside him. “I’m not okay.”

“What’s wro-”

“That’s my dad.” His voice broke as he flicked his gaze up to meet hers, realization setting into those big blue eyes.

He let his transformation fall. Ladybug pulled him into her arms, crushing him with all of her might, but Adrien was too numb to feel anything. His world was spiraling, and there wasn’t a foothold strong enough to catch him. Everything was slipping. He couldn’t breathe. But in a flash of pink light, he found a lifeline right in front of him.

“I’ve got you.” She cupped his cheek, pressing her forehead to his. “Always.”

Marinette.

Looking back on it all, he really couldn’t imagine Ladybug being anyone else. Of course it had been her. It was always her with or without the mask. Marinette was Ladybug through and through, and she was the only thing that saved him from crashing. Just for a little bit. Just long enough to get some answers.

“I should get this to Master Fu.” She turned the moth brooch over in her hands.

Adrien flicked his gaze out across the city as Plagg munched on cheese beside him.

“You go. I should check on things back home,” he said, and when she opened her mouth to protest, he shot her one of the boyish smiles he was so good at faking. “I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you later, okay?”

“I’ll go with you,” she said, but Adrien shook his head.

“We should really return the Moth Miraculous to Master Fu. It’s been missing for far too long, and we can’t let anything happen to it!” Tikki piped up.

“Tikki is right. You have your mission, and I have mine,” Adrien said, closing Marinette’s fingers over the brooch. “Let’s save the world one last time, okay?”

Her eyes searched his, worried, but she pressed her lips together firmly and nodded.

“Okay.”

He didn’t remember much from the trip home. He was on autopilot, leaping across rooftops while his mind raced. If he knew his father, which given the circumstances, he was starting to realize he didn’t, but if there was one thing he knew, it was that his father’s circle was small. If Mayura was his ally, she was likely someone close. Someone familiar.

“Nathalie!” he shouted, kicking open the door.

His father’s assistant crept out of his office, smoothing her blazer calmly.

“Adrien, are you-”

“Where is my mother?” He demanded.

Nathalie sighed, lowering her gaze. “This isn’t how we wanted you to find out.”

“So you did know.” He accused. He was as tall as her now, capable of looking her in the eye. She shrank a little under his glare. “Take me to her.”

The fact that his father had a secret evil lair hidden within the mansion should have come as a shock to him, but after what he’d been through already, he couldn’t bring himself to be surprised. Even finding that his own mother had been beneath him this whole time barely stirred anything inside of him. After everything his father had done, was he supposed to be excited to see her?

Part of him wished she were dead like he’d always thought. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to see her when he got out of treatment. Before, he only had fond memories of her. Of the good times. But now all he could picture when he thought of her was that dark room, and her sleeping figure lying in a coffin.

“Your father had her preserved here. Her condition isn’t naturally caused, you see,” Nathalie explained. “Try to understand him, Adrien. He was doing all of this so that you could be together again. So that you could all be happy.”

“Well, look how well that turned out for him, Nathalie,” Adrien said, voice rising in volume as he turned around and held out his arms. “Is this what he wanted? Is this what both of you wanted?”

“He was just trying to protect you. They both were, but then this happened, and-”

“See but that’s just it, Nathalie. I don’t need to be protected. I never have.” He shook his head, feeling cold metal slipping into his hand and the brush of Plagg’s whiskers. “All my life, I’ve been coddled and locked up to ‘protect’ me from the outside world. None of you ever realized that I don’t need to be protected. I can take care of myself.”

“He just wanted you to be happy,” Nathalie said.

“Well, I’m not happy now, am I?” he shouted. “Even if he had succeeded, I would have never been okay with all of this! He put the city in danger every single day. He put me in danger, the people I care about in danger, and you knew about it!”

“I tried to stop him.” She insisted, but Adrien let out a short laugh.

“Oh, by sending sentimonsters to help him?” He quirked a brow. Her jaw dropped as he held up the peacock brooch. “You see, this is the irony of it all, Nathalie, because you weren’t the only ones with secrets to hide. While you two were here terrorizing the city, guess who was out there fighting on the front line?”

“No-”

“Plagg, transform me!” He held out his arms as his suit materialized.

Nathalie sank to her knees, cupping a hand over her mouth.

“You’re-”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “All this time, I’ve been fighting to stop you two.”

“Adrien, we can still save her if you just-”

“If I just what? Give you my Miraculous?” He grunted. “My mother has been dead to me for over a year, and as far as I’m concerned she still is.”

“Adrien-”

“Cataclysm!” He punched through the wall, disappearing into the sewers and leaving Nathalie huddled on the floor of his mother’s tomb alone.

The rest of the day was all hazy to him. Hiding out for several hours as everything caught up to him. Finding his way to Marinette’s balcony. He didn’t remember much after she found him—he shut down the moment he saw her.

The last thing he remembered was slipping the brooch and his ring into her hands before his panic overwhelmed him. After that was just flashes. Her room, her parents, the police, the ambulance ride to the hospital where he now resided. Marinette’s scared eyes as the doors closed on him. But he knew at the time that everything would be alright because if he believed in anything, he believed in her.

And he was right to, as it turned out. She was still out there doing what she did best: helping. His partner, his best friend, his Ladybug, his Marinette. Knowing that she was still with him gave him the push he needed every day. Even on the days when he couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed. On the days he agonized over those painful memories, he held out hope that one day he would recover. That one day all of this would be in the past, and he would find his happiness again no matter how long it took.

So he took each step, no matter how painful, even if he could barely find his footing. His father had always kept him in the dark, but Marinette showed him that there was still light left in the world. All of his life, his father had controlled him, but Adrien was finally going to set himself free.

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH37

It’s time. 

Previous    First     Next    AO3

Chapter 37: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing  (linking Nate’s version cause I couldn’t find one on YT linked to the original artist’s official account)

Alya scrolled down her Twitter feed, chin resting against her fist.

Up and Coming Fashion Designer Marinette Dupain-Cheng Meets with World Leaders to-

Alya scrolled past.

Audrey Bourgeois’s Protégé Designs Gown for Royal Family’s-

Swipe.

Clara Nightingale and Jagged Stone Announce New Single Featuring Marine-

Alya rubbed her eyes with a sigh. Marinette had a busy summer, and it was impossible to avoid her face or her name. School was starting tomorrow, and they were all moving up to lycée. Adrien moved to the same private school as Marinette, and everyone was talking about them. He and Nino made up, which Alya didn’t like, but she couldn’t rightfully ask her boyfriend to give up his best friend. Not like she gave up hers.

Marinette made a name for herself just like she always wanted. A different Alya would have been happy for her, and maybe deep down a part of her was—the part of her that still missed their friendship. She tried not to think about that part. It was too painful.

But that part was getting harder to ignore, especially when Marinette was everywhere she looked. Her friend group was dwindling as more and more of her classmates joined Marinette’s side. With Lila gone all summer and her social media flooded with Marinette, Alya spent most of her days exploring other hobbies. Reading, writing, watching TV, taking her sisters to the park. She’d been avoiding as much Marinette news as she could, but it was virtually impossible.

Prince Ali Discusses Go Green Initiative

That was Lila’s plan! At least she had a productive summer too. Maybe she’d be back in Paris soon, and they could hang out again. Alya clicked the article and turned the volume up.

“Prince Ali has had a busy summer with visits to America, Japan, as well as France where he attended Paris’s newest teen celebrity Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s debut fashion show!”

A pit formed in Alya’s stomach.

“The two connected behind-the-scenes and have become good friends. Marinette was even spotted spending time at the prince’s palace this summer with her boyfriend, Adrien Agreste, son of famous fashion designer Gabriel Agreste,” the reporter said. “Marinette has taken the world by storm, not only with her unique designs and bold message but her charitable heart too. She and Prince Ali have proposed a Go Green initiative that is spreading rapidly across Europe.”

“What?” Alya gasped. “But that’s-”

“Out of all my close friends, Marinette is the most selfless and hardworking person I know, and her campaign is going to change the world!” Prince Ali said on the screen.

“Her campaign?” Alya pressed her lips together.

I’m such good friends with Prince Ali. He invites me to his palace all the time!

She lies with every breath.

Alya’s stomach jumped up to her throat, hands shaking as she clicked on another interview.

“Aw, I always wanted a cat. They are so rock n roll!” Jagged gushed, nuzzling a kitten. “What do you think? Should I get Fang a furry sibling?”

“Definitely!”

I saved Jagged Stone’s kitten before he had to get rid of it because he found out he was allergic.

She’s a liar.

Ladybug consults me before giving out every Miraculous because we’re such good friends.

Your identities are your most important asset. No one must know who you really are.

“This just in, Ladybug and Chat Noir have finally defeated Hawkmoth with the help of their superhero friends Malin, Emerald Shell, Tigress, Souris Rose, Bunny, and Queen Bee. The team of superheroes faced off against Hawkmoth at the Eiffel Tower-”

Alya tossed her phone aside, burying her face in her pillow as tears slid down her cheeks. Her hands shook, lungs too heavy to draw a full breath, leaving her grasping for a foothold to fall back on. But there wasn’t one. A gaping hole had moved in where her heart should be, chewed away from months of lies and deceit.

Marinette wasn’t her enemy. She never had been. All along she’d tried to warn Alya about Lila, and even now she’d gone to such great lengths to throw them all a lifeline to save them from a ship they didn’t know was sinking.

It could have been Rena Rouge by Ladybug’s side. It could have been her helping Marinette, modeling in her show, visiting sick kids, changing the world—being a hero. Alya wasn’t sure she knew what that meant anymore, but if anyone deserved the title, it was Marinette.

She didn’t know when she moved. She didn’t even recall putting on her shoes, but she found herself stalking up the street to Lila’s apartment, tears burning hot on her cheeks.

More than anything, Alya wanted to be wrong. Wanted Lila’s apartment to be empty. Wanted Lila to be in Achu with Prince Ali like she said. But Lila’s grave expression when she opened the door was the final nail in her coffin.

“You lied,” Alya said, “about everything.”

“Alya-”

“Marinette was right about you, and I let you tear us apart.” Alya’s voice shook.

“Don’t mention that brat!” Lila snapped.

“She was my best friend, and you drove a wedge between us! You made me question everything I knew and loved for months. I’ve been going out of my way for you because I believed you were out there making a difference, and not once have you ever done anything except lie and use me!” Alya’s hands balled into angry fists. “You’re nothing but a coward, Lila. A liar and a coward!”

“Fine, I lied. You happy?” Lila shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “But I’m not the one who turned my back on my best friend. How much did Marinette do for you for you to abandon her so quickly? I barely had to do anything, and you dropped her in a heartbeat.”

“You’re sick,” Alya said. “But you have nowhere left to run. Marinette claimed every lie you’ve ever told.”

“So what? I’ll just think of new lies. Marinette is kidding herself if she thinks this is over,” Lila said.

“I won’t let you.” Alya shook her head.

“What are you going to do? Post about me on your blog? Oh wait, you deleted it, remember?” Lila said. “If you get in my way, I’ll take away everything you love for good. No one will ever be your friend again.”

Alya stormed off, teeth grinding until they hurt. When she made it home, she slammed the door to her bedroom and dug her phone out from under the blankets. Her old tripod was still in her closet, and she set it up on her desk just like she used to. Lila had already taken everything from her. The least Alya could do was ensure that she never did it to anyone ever again.

Taking a few deep breaths, she pulled up her Instagram and went live. She sat in front of the camera as viewers piled in, composing her thoughts. Swallowing hard, she shifted in her chair.

“Hey, um, it’s me,” she said. “A lot of you have probably forgotten, but I used to run a blog called the Ladyblog where I would give all of the latest news on Ladybug and Chat Noir and superheroes. One day, without warning I shut it down, and I’ve never really explained why, but I think I’m finally ready to tell my story.”

She paused for a few beats, pursing her lips. “I had this friend—my best friend. She was scatterbrained and clumsy, and she could never quite confess her feelings to the boy she liked no matter how many times we tried. She was kind, always helping people whenever she could, but one day, someone new came along who had this fantastical life, and suddenly my best friend became this suspicious, skeptical person. She never wanted to be around when this person was there, which was so out of character for her. She was always nice to everyone, and she barely knew this other person. It didn’t make sense.

This person told such amazing stories, but my friend never believed any of them. Several times, she tried to prove that they were made up, but she never could, so we all turned our backs on her. We turned our backs on a person we knew and trusted and loved for someone who was, in actuality, a stranger. Well, this friend decided to leave our school because of the way we brushed her off. This person led us to believe that our friend was the one bullying her, and we couldn’t believe that our friend who was so kind would ever do such a thing. We shouldn’t have believed her…”

Alya shook her head. “My friend and I split up, and I became friends with this new person. I believed for a long time that she was so great and that she was out helping people. She told me things about her so-called extraordinary life and said she knew famous people, that she had done so many amazing things, and I believed her. Every time, I believed her, and I let her alter what I believed about my friends and about myself.

Since Hawkmoth is defeated now, and I’ll never get the opportunity again, I am, or rather I was Rena Rouge for a time. I was someone Ladybug trusted, but when I broke ties with my friend and started hanging out with this new person, Ladybug stopped trusting me, which didn’t make sense to me because this person was supposedly Ladybug’s best friend, so why would my friendship with her make me unworthy of being a hero? But I let her warp what I knew to be true. She convinced me that she had a falling out with Ladybug and that I was just a casualty. Because of her, I started to resent Ladybug, so I deleted my blog. Ladybug stopped trusting me because I was no longer trustworthy, and I see that now, um…” She paused to wipe her cheek.

“This person stripped everything that I was from me. She used me and isolated me from people I truly cared about, and I feel like I owe so many apologies. To all of you who followed my blog, to Ladybug for letting her down, to my boyfriend for brushing aside his suspicions, to the people who tried to warn me about her, and especially to Marinette Dupain-Cheng, my friend, for turning my back on you. I’m sorry…” She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. “I’m really sorry. I know it probably doesn’t mean anything anymore, and I know that you have moved on in life, and I am so happy for you. But I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day, and I hope that no one ever has to be used by this person again. So, Lila Rossi, let this be a wake-up call to tell the truth because using someone the way you used me is so vile and disgusting, and I hope that you feel as horrible right now as I have felt for the past 6 months.”

Alya leaned her head back with a sigh, biting her lip.

“I’m sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed. If any of you out there ever find a Marinette in your life, hold onto them because they will always lift you up, and if you ever encounter a Lila—run.” She shook her head. “This is Alya Cesaire. Stay connected, bugheads.”

♪♫♪ Everybody’s Fool ♪♫♪

“There she is.”

“Ugh, can you believe her?”

“What a joke.”

Whispers echoed through the halls as Lila passed. Her first day at their new school, and everyone already knew her name, though not for the reasons she’d been hoping. This was all Marinette’s fault. That stupid goody-two-shoes stealing all of her ideas. Lila had spent the better portion of the summer thinking of ways to thwart Marinette, but when Alya posted that Instagram live, she was basically toast.

Maybe she could convince her mom to move again. They could start over in another country and leave those losers behind. But with how famous Marinette was across Europe, Lila doubted she could ever escape her. Ugh! Stupid annoying brat. If that ugly insect hadn’t defeated Hawkmoth, Lila would have been akumatized on the spot. Then she’d have shown them what she was capable of.

“Well, well, well, look what Jagged Stone’s new cat dragged in,” Alix called as Lila approached her locker down the row.

“How’s that tinnitus?” Kim asked.

“Is compulsive lying a side effect?” Nathaniel echoed.

“Lay off, dudes.” Nino chided. “Don’t stoop to her level. Just ignore her.”

“Oh, like she ignored Marinette and drove her from our old school?” Alix shot back. “Ignoring her would be too nice.”

“Yeah, Marinette never did any of that stuff Lila said! She’s totally the same Marinette we always knew,” Kim said.

Lila rolled her eyes, stuffing her books in her locker and slamming it shut. She didn’t have to talk to any of those idiots. They weren’t worth her time.

“She’s just lucky Marinette is so awesome. If I hadn’t spent the whole summer helping out with charities and being the bigger person, she’d have it way worse.” Alix grunted before their group stalked off.

Lila took a deep, shaky breath. Of all the mistakes she’d made in her life, Lila had to admit, challenging Marinette Dupain-Cheng was probably the worst. Left and right, she was met with glares from her classmates. Luckily, she was in a different class than most of them, though annoyingly, Chloe Bourgeois was in her class. As if Lila needed another reminder of Marinette.

Now that Chloe was officially a model for Marinette’s brand, everyone was enamored by her, and she was loving all of the attention. Lila could have barfed watching her take selfies with all of her adoring fans before class. Just because Chloe wasn’t tormenting everyone anymore didn’t mean she wasn’t still self-absorbed. It made Lila’s blood boil.

The icing on the cake was Alya. She’d gone crawling back to her old friends and boyfriend like Lila never existed. Neither she nor Nino looked twice at her all day. Lila wanted to scream.

Somehow leaving turned out to be the best decision Marinette ever made. Lila had been so busy making moves across the board that she didn’t notice her king was cornered until it was too late. The most infuriating part of it all was that Marinette did it without getting her hands dirty. If it were Lila, she would have scraped and clawed her way to victory, but Marinette took her out from above.

Ugh! Whatever. Lila didn’t need those idiots anyway. She’d always been better off alone.

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH39

See yall on Friday ;)

Previous    First    Next     AO3

Chapter 39: Afterglow

Marinette’s hand hesitated on the door. When she started plotting with Chloe, she knew she’d have to face Alya one day when the truth came out. Things between them had gotten so heated that she wasn’t sure there would be anything left to salvage, but when Alya posted her video, she seemed genuinely sorry. And maybe Marinette was too.

Alya was the one who stood up for her. Who helped her find her courage. Who inspired her to be Ladybug. Her best friend. Things between them might have been broken, but maybe those broken pieces could be fixed, if they were willing. Marinette wasn’t sure what she wanted. For months Alya had been a painful reminder of what she’d lost to Lila, but now Marinette didn’t know what to think. So she stood frozen in the doorway, uncertain if she was ready to take that first step.

She should go, seeing as she was the one who asked to meet up, but her legs refused to move. What did one say to their ex-best friend who they hadn’t spoken to in months? She wasn’t quite sure, but if she truly wanted to put the past behind her, she needed to go.

“Are you going to stand there all day?” Plagg poked his head out of her coat.

“Plagg, shh!” Tikki scolded.

“What? She promised to pick up more Camembert on the way home, and she can’t do that if she never goes,” he said pointedly. Tikki slapped her forehead.

“It’s fine, Tikki,” Marinette said. “I’m fine. I’m…fine. I am. I just…okay, here we go.”

She pushed open the door and trotted down the stairs, but her moxie only lasted until she reached the street curb. Pausing at the crosswalk, she fiddled with Adrien’s ring on the chain around her neck. No more running from her problems. Everyone had to turn around eventually.  

Alya was sitting on a bench when she approached and sat down. Silence stretched between them, neither one confident enough to make the first move. Marinette wasn’t sure what to say. A lot had changed in nine months. They’d both taken different paths, and as a result, become different people. Were the foundations of their friendship still there? And if they were, would they be stable enough to rebuild on? Did Alya even want to rebuild? Did Marinette?

She spared a glance at Alya whose gaze was fixed on her shoes, kicking at the dirt. Those hazel eyes were duller than Marinette remembered. Alya was always so lively and full of energy, chasing one scheme or another, but now they’d lost their light. Marinette’s eyes looked like that until she met her new friends—until she found people who she truly trusted.

While Marinette was healing and rising up, Alya was being torn down. Lila’s hollow friendship left her empty—a feeling Marinette remembered all too well. Despite everything that happened, Marinette never stopped caring about Alya. Losing her had hurt more than anything. She missed all of the late nights they spent talking about their dreams. Getting juice after school. Thinking of ways for Marinette to confess her love to Adrien…

She smiled, a short laugh passing her lips, prompting Alya to lift a brow.

“Do you remember?” Marinette asked. “The last time we sat on this bench together we were watching one of Adrien’s photoshoots and coming up with ways to make him notice me.”

“That was a long time ago,” Alya said, pressing her lips together. “How is he?”

“Healing. Slowly.” She turned to face Alya. “How are you?”

“I’m-” Alya paused, letting out a breath and shaking her head. “I don’t really know. Everything is really jumbled, and the more I think about it, the more I realize how bad things got without me realizing.”

Marinette remained quiet as Alya pursed her lips.

“It’s funny. One day you think you know someone, then the next you discover everything they’ve ever said was a lie,” Alya said bitterly. “Then you start to realize a lot of things. A lot of mistakes. A lot of things you refused to believe because you wanted it all to be true. And you realize you destroyed yourself for someone who didn’t even care in the end.”

She shook her head with a laugh. “I used to think you were crazy for getting out, that you were being petty, but now I see why you ran.” She flicked her gaze to Marinette. “I know it doesn’t mean anything now, and I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I’m-”

Marinette hugged her tightly, eyes burning. Alya buried her face in Marinette’s shoulder, muffling her sobs in her coat. Long over-due tears spilled down Marinette’s cheeks, hot against the cool autumn air. All of the pain they’d bottled up flowed free, shattering the thick walls they’d built between each other.

“I’m sorry! I’m really, really sorry I didn’t believe you,” Alya cried.

“I know,” Marinette said. “I only wish that I could have helped you realize sooner.”

“It was my fault. You tried to tell me, but I didn’t listen.” Alya pulled back rubbed her cheek. “Even after I turned my back on you and treated you so horribly, you still did all of that to stop her and set us all free.”

“It ate at me knowing she was using everyone. I couldn’t stand it.” Marinette pressed her lips together. “I couldn’t sit back and do nothing anymore. I had to help.”

“You never were one to just walk away.” Alya smiled. “Ever since this all went down, I can’t help but wonder what things would have been like if I had been a better friend to you. Seeing you and your friends accomplish such amazing things, I never could have helped you get there. Not when I let the wrong people get in my head.”

“That’s not true. You were always helping me,” Marinette said. “Lila just knew all the right things to say.”

“I guess.” Alya pursed her lips. “I can’t believe I let myself become so mesmerized by her. I was a real superhero, but being friends with her, I lost sight of what being a hero meant. Between the two of us, I think you deserved a Miraculous more.”

“Well, I learned from the best,” Marinette said. “’All that is necessary for the triumph of evil…”

“-is that good people do nothing.’” They finished together, small smiles tugging on their lips.

“Those words helped me a lot back then—back when I was unsure of myself. It was because of you that I became who I am. You lifted me up when I needed it, so I felt like I owed it to you to return the favor,” Marinette said.

“You really are a hero, girl. Always have been.” Alya shifted her gaze to her lap. “I’m happy you got everything you deserve. I guess I got what I deserved too, in a way… I turned my back on my best friend and the superheroine that trusted me, and I blamed her for it. She must hate me.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Marinette said. “I’m sure it was hard for her to see you fall away.”

“I owe her like a million apologies.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t suppose you have her number, Miss Famous Celebrity.”

“No, not her number.” Marinette shook her head with a smirk. “But if you want to talk to her, I’m sure I could arrange it.”

“I think I already owe you enough favors.” Alya laughed.

“Consider this one on me.” She winked. “Tikki, transform me!”

Alya’s face fell into her hands when the pink light faded. Ladybug wrapped an arm around her as her shoulders shook.

“It would be you,” she said, fresh tears trickling down her cheeks. “All those lame excuses, and how you were always disappearing… And I let Lila convince me it was because you weren’t really my friend, but you were out here every day fighting to protect everyone including me and her.”

“It’s not easy keeping a secret identity,” Ladybug said. “I wanted to tell you, but it was too dangerous, so I had to find another way.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m really glad that Ladybug is someone like you under the mask. You’re a hero through and through.” Alya smiled, her face falling back to her lap. “I’m sorry I let you down. You were right not to trust me anymore. I really lost myself to Lila.”

“I almost did too.” Ladybug admitted. “I was lucky that I had amazing people by my side to remind me of who I was.”

“I had someone like that once, but I was too stubborn to listen.” Alya sighed, tapping her fingers on her thighs. “Now I don’t know who I am anymore. I used to be so sure, but now there’s just nothing.”

“I’m sure she’s still in there. She just needs to find her light again.” Ladybug assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And I have another mission for her if she’s ready to step back up to the mantle.”

“Oh?” Alya sat up.

“I might be leaving for New York in a few months. Originally, I was going to wait until I graduated lycée, but with Hawkmoth out of the way, I’m not bound to Paris anymore.” Ladybug explained.  “I need someone to help look after an organization I’m starting, and I think you’d be the perfect fit. I have one person on board already, and I think you two would get along great. She’s also someone who needed a little help finding herself, so I’m sure she could help you too,” she said. “You’ll be working closely with some of the best and most supportive people in the world, and they can definitely show you what real friends look like… Whaddya say?”

“I dunno. I don’t really think I’m worthy of something like that after everything,” Alya said, shifting her gaze to her lap.

Ladybug placed a hand on her shoulder. “I never made you a hero, Alya. You already were one without the mask, and now I’m giving you the opportunity to be one again,” she said. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing. You taught me that, and now I extend those same words back to you. The world can always use more heroes, especially the ones who don’t wear masks.”

Alya searched her expression, biting her lip. “Okay. I’ll do my best.” She nodded. Ladybug pulled her in for a hug, and Alya leaned into her embrace. “I promise I won’t let you down this time.”

Ladybug pulled away and palmed her yoyo, shoulders lighter than they’d been in months. She rolled them a couple times and tossed her yoyo into the rooftops.

“Ladybug.” Alya reached out, and Ladybug looked back over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

She smiled. “What are friends for?”

♪♫♪ closure ♪♫♪

Alya leaned against her locker a few weeks later, smiling at Marinette and Nadja’s interview playing on her phone. Marinette was giving an update on Adrien’s treatment. They were going to open a foundation together to help past akuma victims. He was doing well from the sound of it, and Alya couldn’t have been happier for him.

Even if they all weren’t the best of friends anymore, it was a big relief to know that he was okay, and an even bigger relief to finally be forgiven. After everything that happened, she didn’t deserve for Marinette to even talk to her, but luckily, she wasn’t one to hold a grudge. Alya couldn’t take back the months she’d wasted, but she could make up for them moving forward by helping others and being a hero in her own right.

“Ahem, excuse me miss, but it seems as though you’ve captured my heart.” She smirked at Nino’s voice over her shoulder. She turned around and stretched to kiss him. “You working at the foundation today?”

“Yep! I’ve been working on the blog with Gabrielle. We’re going to interview someone today about their experiences dealing with akumas and meet with a licensed psychologist on coping mechanisms,” Alya said as they walked, and Nino’s smile softened. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just good to see the light back in your eyes,” he said.

Alya’s cheeks warmed, a smile curling on her lips that faded as they rounded the corner past the library, and Alya caught sight of Lila sitting alone at a table. She pursed her lips, patting Nino’s back and stepping out of his arms.

“I’ll catch up with you later,” she said.

Nino quirked a brow but pressed on anyways as Alya entered the library. She took a deep breath and paced over to sit across from Lila. Skeptical green eyes narrowed, and Lila leaned against her fist.

“What do you want?”

“For you to listen.” Alya clasped her hands together on the table. “I don’t expect you to apologize because I know you’re not sorry, but you’re going to hear me out.”

Lila rolled her eyes, but Alya continued, “I wasn’t blameless in everything that happened, and I’ve come to terms with that, but I can’t deny that you used and manipulated me, and that’s not okay,” she said, gaze steady despite how Lila averted hers. “But even despite everything, I want you to know that I forgive you, and I hope you find your true self underneath all those lies someday. It’s not healthy, and you’re only going to make yourself miserable in the end.”

“Is this some feeble attempt at making me realize the error of my ways and turning me to the good side?” Lila quirked an amused brow.

“No,” Alya said flatly. “It’s closure for me. I lost myself to you for a long time, but you have no power over me anymore, and I’m going to go live a happy life.”

“Whatever.” Lila turned her attention back to her homework.

Alya opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it and stood up. She squared her shoulders as she walked out of the library, finding them much lighter than when she’d entered. For the past nine months, Lila’s burdens had weighed her down, but not anymore. Alya was finally free.

♪♫♪ The Kids Aren’t Alright ♪♫♪

Sunlight streamed in from the window across the room as Adrien folded his last few shirts and tucked them into a black duffle bag. He smoothed the fabric and turned to the window with a sigh. It had been three months since he’d checked into the mental hospital, and although a storm awaited him on the other side, it was time to leave. He had a lot of work to do.

“Are you all packed, M. Agreste?” The nurse poked her head in. “Your family is here.”

“Yeah.” Adrien turned back to his bag on the bed, zipping it closed and slinging it over one shoulder.

His heart pounded as the nurses led him up the hall, through several locked doors, and out to the lobby where two sparkling blue eyes met his. His nerves calmed as she stepped into his arms, nuzzling into her spot on his shoulders.

“Is this everything?” M. Dupain asked, taking his bag.

“You could have asked for more clothes, dear. The Bourgeois have access to your house. I could have gotten more for you,” Mme. Cheng said.

“Everything I own is my father’s brand, so I was more than happy to wear something of Marinette’s for a change.” He shrugged. “A reminder of the people waiting for me.”

“We called your aunt in London,” Mme. Cheng said. “We weren’t sure where you’d want to go once you were out, but she said you’re more than welcome to go stay with them.”

“Thank you. I’ll call her later,” Adrien said, then lowering his gaze, he pursed his lips. “I should go by the house to close everything out, I suppose.”

“You don’t have to do that right away,” Marinette said.

He flicked his gaze to meet hers with a smile. “It’s okay. I’m ready.” He assured her, but when she exchanged looks with her parents, his eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

“Adrien, there’s something you should know before you go…” Marinette bit her lip.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Marinette shifted her weight. “It’s your mom… She’s dead.”

[purrincess-chat]

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s Spite Playlist: Remix CH36

Finally getting around to posting this one! I got busier than I anticipated this past weekend, so I’ll be posting chapter 37 later today as well. Probably this evening. See you all later! 

Previous    First     Next     AO3

Chapter 36: Sue Me

“Did you hear about Marinette?”

“Oh, you mean about the children’s hospital?”

“Crazy, right? She’s so generous.”

Lila’s annoyance flared hotter with each step she took at school. It had been a week since Marinette’s stupid fashion show, and people were still buzzing about her. To make matters worse, she’d donated every dime to the stupid children’s hospital for new equipment. Over two million euros by herself, and not to mention, her friends all pitched in to donate another two million—as if the hospital needed that much. Lila was going to be hearing about her for a while.

“Yo, Lila!” Nino waved her down from across the courtyard.

She flicked her gaze over to him, only to feel her blood curdle when she spotted Adrien. He offered her a cheeky grin as she approached.

“Adrien was just telling me about the children’s hospital. The new equipment is really helping a lot of kids. Isn’t it awesome?” Nino said.

“Wow, yeah. That’s so thoughtful of you, Adrien,” Lila said, plastering on a fake smile.

“It was all Marinette’s idea actually. She’s always trying to help people. I’m so unworthy.” Adrien placed a hand over his heart.

Stupid poser.

“We’re planning a party at the park to celebrate the end of the school year. Do you think Marinette would come if we invited her?” Rose asked.

“I’ll ask her,” Adrien said. “Actually, we’re going to be doing a lot of charity work this summer, and we’d love it if you guys could join us.”

“Sure. We’ll help out,” Alix said.

“I know you and Marinette don’t exactly get along, Lila, but it would be mega awesome if you helped out. Maybe it would help you two bury the hatchet.” Nino suggested.

Lila suppressed an eye roll. “Oh, I would love to help, but I’m actually going on a summer trip to Achu to work on my global campaign to end pollution, so I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”

“Too bad, but good luck with your campaign!” Adrien patted her shoulder as the bell rang, and their classmates dispersed.

She shot him a pointed glare, but he simply smiled and walked away.

As it turned out, lying about being out of the country all summer made for a very boring two months spent indoors, and all the while, her mortal enemy was out living it up at beach parties. Even stuck in her own house, she couldn’t get away from Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Every time she opened Instagram or Twitter, there Marinette was posing with her friends at the beach or doing an interview with Nadja about whatever ridiculous charity she was doing.

To say Lila hated her was an understatement; however, staying off of her electronics gave her time to think and plan how she was going to win everyone back at the start of the new school year. They were all moving up to lycée, and Adrien was moving to the same school as Marinette, which only made things easier. There was no one left to stop her from running everything, so Marinette could enjoy her 15 minutes of fame if she wanted. Lila had everything she needed.

“Alright, my bella, I’m off,” her mother called, peeking her head into Lila’s room. “Got any exciting plans today?”

“Yeah, I’m going to a movie with some friends.” Lila smiled as her mother leaned down to kiss her temple.

“Well, have fun. I should be back later tonight. I’ve got a day full of meetings ahead of me.” Her mother sighed. “That girl that used to go to your school is coming to pitch an idea for us today. The famous designer girl, now what was her name?”

“You’re having a meeting with Marinette?” Lila shot up.

“Marinette! Yes, that’s it.” She snapped her fingers in realization. “She wants to pitch a campaign to help Europe go green. Isn’t that wonderful? Most of us are already on board, so this meeting is just a formality to discuss specifics.”

Lila’s blood ran cold as her mother dug her keys from her purse.

“I left you a couple meals in the fridge in case I get back late. Have a great day, my love!”

Lila’s hands clenched into fists, her breaths coming in short and ragged. When the apartment door closed, she buried her face in her pillow with a scream.

Poor little girl trapped in a web of her own lies. I can help you get revenge.

“Oh, get lost, Hawkmoth! I can’t get akumatized because I’m supposed to be out of the country!” Lila shouted, ripping out her earrings and tossing them across the room with a growl. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow with a pout.

Stupid Marinette! Lila never thought when she challenged her that any of this would happen. She would have to think up some really good lies to get herself out of this one come September.

♪♫♪ I Forgot That You Existed ♪♫♪

“How do I look?” Marinette twirled around. “Too frumpy? Is this too serious? Not serious enough? Should I have a briefcase? I think I need a briefcase. Danielle, how quickly can I get a briefcase?”

“You look fine.” Adrien assured her, placing his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “Incredibly cute as always.”

“Okay, but cute isn’t going to cut it for a room of global ambassadors. I need to be smart and professional and-and-”

“You are both of those things.” Adrien squished her cheeks in his hands. “Stop worrying.”

“But what if I knock over the projector, or what if I accidentally delete the presentation when I go to open it? Or what if I spill the chief ambassador’s coffee in his lap and give him second-degree burns and get banned from ever setting foot in France again- no, what if they ban me from the Earth? I’ll have to go live on the moon. Adrien, I can’t live on the moon!” Marinette took frantic breaths.

“None of that is going to happen.” Adrien got her a cup of water from the cooler nearby. “I’ve seen you rehearse this speech a thousand times, so why don’t you let me handle the PowerPoint.” He pressed the cup to her lips and gently took the remote from her hand. “The ambassadors are just interested in your idea. Their job is to make the world a better place, and that’s all you’re trying to do. No one is grading you on how well you present, so just get in there and get the idea out and answer any questions. You can do this.”

“I know, but what if I get lightheaded and pass out?” She paced the length of the hall. “Plus, it’s not even my idea.”

“Well, you were inspired by someone else on the general idea, but you were the one who came up with the specific details. You planned exactly how to go about it. You reached out to the ambassadors and put the whole thing together, so I would say that it is your idea.” He fanned her with a pamphlet. “Lila may have been the spark that lit this flame, but you’re the one who keeps it going so it can warm the most people. You’ve taken all of her lies and used them to help people, Marinette. Everything you do is for the good of others, and you should be proud of that.”

“The good of everyone except Lila.” Marinette corrected.

“Well, who knows? Maybe this will teach her to stop lying.” Adrien wrapped his arms around her waist. “Quit worrying. You’re going to be great, and I’m not just saying that because I love you so much.”

Marinette giggled as he pressed a squeaky kiss to her cheek. Adrien was right. This wasn’t about her or even Lila. Her plan would help millions of people across Europe, and that was all that mattered.

The door to the meeting room opened, and the secretary stepped out.

“They’re ready for you, Marinette,” she said with a smile.

Marinette let out a breath, rolling her neck and wiping her palms on her blazer.

“Ready?” Adrien quirked a brow.

“Yeah. Ready.” She nodded.

Several men and women in suits sat at a round table, all heads turning to her as she entered. A few of them flashed her encouraging smiles as Adrien plugged in the thumb drive and pulled up her presentation.

“Um, good afternoon,” she said, unsure of what to do with her hands and ultimately settling for clasping them together in front of her. “Thank you for meeting with me today.”

“Thank you for reaching out to us, Marinette. It’s nice to see youth taking initiative and working to better their community,” one woman said with a friendly smile that Marinette returned.

She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I want to present you all with a plan to help the European Union do its part in diminishing our footprint on the environment.”

♪♫♪ I Know Places ♪♫♪

Marinette sat stiffly in her town car, watching buildings pass as Danielle flipped through her schedule. It was the first time she was arriving at school with a chauffeur, and even though it was commonplace for her classmates, she was still having a hard time adjusting. Riding with her friends was one thing, but now that she had her own private car, she couldn't help feeling awkward. She missed the subway and its normalcy, but things were different now. The subway was no longer an option unless she wanted to get mobbed by fans. A lot had changed over the summer.

“You're spending time with your friends after school today, but don't forget your branding appointment with Mme. Bourgeois at 7,” Danielle said without looking up from her tablet.

“I won't. Thank you, Danielle,” Marinette said with a smile.

Despite feeling weird about her newfound wealth, she had to admit that having someone to manage her schedule was nice. She had so many appointments and meetings for all of her charities that it would be impossible to keep up with on her own. Danielle made sure that she was where she was supposed to be on time, and she also ensured that Marinette wasn't taking on too much so she still had ample amounts of free time to spend with her friends. It made juggling her civilian life with her hero life easier. She had to be more careful with everyone watching her, but at least she was still awarded plenty of freedom. Or as much freedom as she could have without getting chased down by fans.

“Have a good day, Marinette,” Danielle said as the car slowed to a stop at the curb.

“Thank you, Danielle. You too!” She smiled as she climbed out.

She thought her collége was enormous, but lycée was even bigger. Despite all of her accomplishments, she still felt small standing on the sidewalk. She was at the bottom of the food chain again, and her peers were all accomplished in their own rights. At least she still had all of her friends, so she wouldn’t be alone.

Teachers stood in the halls, helping students find their way, and Marinette glanced down at the schedule on her phone with pursed lips as she walked. Macy and Eliott were still in her class, so at least she’d have someone to sit by. Plus, they could see Martin and Lisette at lunch.

“Oh my gosh, is that Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” A faux-nasally voice gasped.

She turned to see familiar silky blond hair leaning against the doorway to the stairwell, a smile curling on her lips.

“I love your work! Can I have an autograph?”

Marinette leapt into his arms with a giggle, touching her lips to his. When she pulled away, she examined the gray uniform and cheeky grin.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming here!” she said.

“I wanted to surprise you.” He shrugged. “And judging from your reaction, I’d say that mission was a success.”

“You left behind Nino… Kim, Ivan, Max…” Marinette shook her head.

“It’s not like I can’t see them. Besides, I have friends here too.” He touched his forehead to hers. “Plus it gets me away from you-know-who.”

“What about Chloe?” Marinette asked.

“She didn’t want to transfer to private school. Something about not being caught dead in such dreadful uniforms.” He rolled his eyes. “Plus someone has to stay behind to keep an eye on things to fuel our plans.”

Marinette relaxed, her smile widening, though it wavered when she looked back down at his uniform.

“Okay, but why do you look so good though? That’s not fair!” She huffed.

Adrien threw his head back with a laugh, striking a pose. “I can make anything look good.”

Marinette stretched up on her toes to kiss him again. As it turned out, having her boyfriend at school with her was going to prove trickier than she thought.

“Um, you two do realize the bell rang, right?” Macy peeked behind the stairwell where they were tangled with locked lips.

“Oh, yeah, we were just-” Marinette said as they frantically detangled themselves, but at Macy’s quirked a brow, she mumbled a quick, “Thanks…”

“Come on, you two. We’re going to have to put you guys on a leash, I swear.” Macy chuckled as they scurried after her, fixing their hair with rosy cheeks.

“Can you blame me? She’s just so cute.” Adrien shot Marinette a wink.

“You two are worse than Eliott and Lisette,” Macy groaned.

In the months following the fashion show, Macy had been seeing a therapist to help with her body image struggles. It made Marinette happy to know that she was working to get better. She smiled a lot more freely now, and she’d taken seeing her face all over magazines in stride. Marinette was glad to see her becoming more confident.

“Anywho, Martin and I have loads to tell you about our trip to Germany to oversee your Go Green initiative. In just two months, they’ve reduced the amount of one-use plastics by 13% all thanks to you.” Macy reported jovially as they entered the classroom.

“Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” Eliott grinned at Macy, who shoved his shoulder.

“I found them making out under the staircase,” she said.

Eliott shook his head at them. “I told you it would happen. As soon as Adrien said he was applying to our school, I knew we were going to have to chaperone them.”

“You told them?” Marinette quirked a brow at Adrien, and he offered her a guilty smile.

“It was worth it to see your face when you saw me.” He kissed her hand, taking the seat beside her. “Plus, I missed being in the same class as you, so this will be fun.”

“Just make sure you two pay attention.” Macy teased.

Marinette bit back a smile as the teacher entered and started the day. Having Adrien at her school again was nice, and as she stole glances at him in class, she realized that she really had missed seeing him every day. Of course, things were much different between them than they were the last time they were in school together. He was her boyfriend. She was famous. Chloe was her friend. Alya was not. So much had changed in her life in just a few short months.

She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, Marinette felt confident in the direction she was headed.