Miraculous Ladybug x Identity V: The Oletus manor diary of a ladybug: Chapter 6

Chapter 5

Prompt concept

Warning : English is not my first language so sorry if it’s confusing !

Warning 2 : This fanfic content salt if you don’t like don’t read !

Warning 3 : Reference to sexual assault.

Hey everyone! ^^ here’s the new chapter of “The Oletus manor diary of a ladybug”! :D

I know it’s was a long time since the last chapter and I’m really sorry about this, I had a bad writting block and was also busy with other writting works! ^^’

But I finally was able to finish this chapter so I hope you’ll all like it! ^^

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23/04/2015, Oletus manor’s living room security camera :

The camera show the survivors and the hunters at the table, talking about their temporary ̎ young housemate ̎.

Kreacher Pierson(Awkwardly) : Sssoooo… This is the kid who will stay at the manor during the rainy season ?

Freddy Riley(sighing frustrated) : For the hundredth time Pierson, YES, this is the girl, YES, she will stay here and YES her stay will last at least for two weeks until this god forsaken storm stop ! Good lord ! Would it kill you to spend at least a few minutes without asking the same question over and over again ?

Kreacher Pierson(defensive) : Whoa ! Hold your horses ̎ mister lawyer ̎, I was just curious and confused, as everyone else is probably, I mean, our ̎ host ̎ permitting someone from the outside world, who wasn’t invited, to stay in the manor ? Come on ! Don’t tell me you didn’t find this strange ?

Vera Blair(ironic) : Right ! Because leaving this girl, sick, in a violent thunderstorm and risking to attract unwanted attention in the aftermath would have been the logical thing to do !

Kreacher Pierson(annoyed) : Ohoh ahah, very funny !

Mary(rolling her eyes) : As much I hate to admit it, Monsieur le Voleur does had a point it’s quite unusual for our ̎ host ̎ to letting someone from the outside world who was not invited to participate to the games to stay in the manor and to know about how things are going here this easely !

Naib Subedar(nobbed, arms crossed) : Yeah, this is really out of character for him when you see all the amount of precautions he’s taken to make sure to keep the games, and everything else in the manor, a secret.

Lucky Guy(frowning) : I don’t know, this guy is always so cryptic, who knows what’s going on in his head right now!

Andrew Kreiss(calmly stutters) : B-But shouldn’t we m-more wondering… w-what that girl was doing outside all alone?(slightly panics when the others looked at him) I-I mean this is strange right ? N-Normally a young girl of her age shouldn’t wander by herself in a forest this far from the town…

Jack(thinking) : An interesting question M.Gravekeeper! But I am sure some of us could had a theory on the matter since some seem to had recognised they young lady, am I right Miss Doctor, M. Embalmer?(throw an amused look at Emily and Aesop)

Aesop Carl(nervous) : Well… I did remember having met her, one time in town, she had an accident because of a drunk driver who were driving when the lights were red and nearly run her over, thank god the driver stopped before he could run her over, but since his car struck her a bit and she was in shock because of the accident, I helped her to go to the hospital.

Emily Dyer(frowning) : I made a check up on her and, thank god, she didn’t have any kind of injuries ! However I was shocked to learn that this poor girl end up in this accident because her whole class, the teacher included, left her behind when they were supposed to go to the museum.When her teacher come to pick her up she had the guts to scold her, when it was HER fault for leaving her behind in the first place, for, I quote, ̎ Having being irresponsible and bring problems to her and the class ̎ ! Absolutely revolting !

Emma Gardner(nobbing) : Oh yeah ! I remember you were ranting about it for hours when you came back after your shift !

Joseph Desaulniers(lift his head) : By any chance, is this class from France ?

Emily Dyer:(nob her head)

Joseph Desaulniers : Ah ! Then they’re without any doubt the class who came to the museum that day ! Since it was the anniversary of the town, the museum was quite busy with giving tours during the week and I remember that day Monsieur Lapadula and I were supposed to give a tour to a class from France and I remember they were… How do I put this politely ?

Burke Lapadula(interjecting grunchy) : A bunch of rude, noisy, bratty and messy worms !

Joseph Desaulniers(Carefully):It’s… A way to describe them, oui…

Burke Lapadula(Snorting) : A perfect description of them you mean Desaulniers ! Those brats were nothing but nuisances and without any manners ! First they made a scene at the front desk because they didn’t had the security codes to get the tickets, then the teacher left and came back moments later with the student who actually had the codes and her ̎ classmates ̎ ganged up on her about having ̎ stole Lali’s codes ̎ or whatever this girl’s name was !

And when, finally, Desaulniers and I were able to begin the tour, only a few of them were actually paying attention ! Most of them were busy listening the fibs of that Lali girl, during the whole tour she was always butting in to tell rubbish nonsense like she was the secret descendant of one of Eurydice’s founding fathers or how her too many great uncle/aunt/grandfather or whatever actually helped the creator of this machinery to create it or the other one or how one girl who was on one of the photos was a very distant family member of her and blablabla… URHG ! Disrespectful little twerps !

Martha Behamfil(Confused): They were making a mess and no one did a thing ? And their teacher ? I know from what Emily told us she doesn’t seem to be the teacher of the year but surely she would at least try to get her students to behave ?

Joseph Desaulniers(Hesitant) : Well…

Burke Lapadula(Angry) : Absolutely nothing ! She just stood there and looked at them like nothing was happening and constantly smiling like an idiot ! I wouldn’t even be surprised if this kid’s situation was because of this so called teacher’s incompetence !

Burke Lapadula kept on ranting with all the other hunters and survivors looking at him.

Demi Bourbon(Snorting) : Honestly I’m not surprised ! I saw this class at the café where I work at once and they tried to leave and make me believe that the classmate they left at one table will pay their bill, but I wasn’t born yesterday ! I saw them multiple times during the time they were at their table and the classmate in question was away from them at another table and not once they went to talk to her so I guessed they were trying to trick me into letting them leave without paying, so I kept them from leaving until they paid. They tried to change my mind, make me pity them, threaten me but I didn’t budge and they finally gave in when I gave them the ultimatum to either pay their bill or I was calling the police on them !

Kevin Ayuso(clear his throat) : Not that those ̎ work gossips ̎ aren’t entertaining but that doesn’t answer the main question here : what’s about this little lady for the manor’s owner to permit someone from the outside world to know how things are going here ?

Everyone is silent not knowing what to answer.

Hastur(silently laughing) : Oh she’s way more than meets the eye than you believe…

The rest turn their attention to Hastur, looking at the eldritch being, some uncertain, others wary.

Hastur(cryptic) : This is something I would rather let you find out yourself, but what I can tell you is this girl is connected to big forces ! But I am sure a few of you did notice it !(Give a quick look to Eli Clark and Patricia Dorval) But like I said this isn’t up to me to tell ! However if our ̎ host ̎ is taking this much precautions for the girl’s safety to the point of even taking the risk to tell her about the manor’s ways that mean he is also aware of the powerful forces in relation with this girl and of the possible consequences if anything should happen to her !

Unknown female voice : A good deduction lord Hastur !

The Hunters and the Survivors turn to see Miss Nightingale enter the room.

Miss Nightingale(formal) : Like Lord Hastur said, this girl is connected to big forces which are important for this world’s balance and so her safety is really important ! If anything tragic happened to her, the consequences may be disastrous ! That why the owner instructed me to insure her comfort and safety during her stay and to instruct you, particuliary for some of you, to be on your best behavior and to not let your ̎ shenanigans ̎ bother our guest !

Edgar Valden(grumbling and murmuring):Tss really ? Does he take us for children ?

Miss Nightingale(hear him, seriously) :I wouldn’t take this situation lightly M. Valden ! The owner takes this girl’s safety very seriously, messing with the forces connected to the girl aren’t a laughing matter, others had tried in the past and deeply paid the price !

Wu Chang:(silently nob in agreement the others didn’t notice it)

Luchino Diruse(skeptical) : How ̎ deeply ̎ are we talking ?

Miss Nightingale(listing) : The dinosaur’s extinction…

Luchino Diruse(stunned) : … Uh…

Miss Nightingale : Atlantis’s destruction…

Kurt Frank(shocked) : Atlantis is real ?!

Miss Nightingale : Correction : ̎ was real ̎ (keep listing) the Plague…

Ann(her dark pitch eyes wide in shock) : … What ?

Miss Nightingale : The Tower of Pisa being toppled…

Edgar Valden(surprised) : You mean the tower wasn’t toppled because of the swampy grounds ?

Miss Nightingale : The Hundred Years’ War.

The survivors and some of the hunters(in shock) : …

Miss Nightingale(formal) : And this is just a few, the list is quite long ! Do you understand the situation now or should I continue ?

Naib Subebar(hold up his hands) : We get it, we get it ! The kid and whatever power with her is off limits !

Miss Nightingale(smile) : Good ! Now as I was saying, during her stay Miss Dupain-Cheng will need to rest a lot to recover a bit until we are able to send her to the hospital ! For that she will need for her recovery a lot of peaceandquiet!That’s why the owner expects from all of you to not disturb our guest with your shenanigans and I’m insisting on that for some of you particularly.

The hunters and survivors, at this remark, turn their heads toward Smiley Face, Jack, Servais Le Roy and Kreacher Pierson with a narrowed look, the first three ignoring them.

Kreacher Pierson(Noticing the looks on him) : What ? Why are you looking at me like that ? I can understand the warning for ̎ Clown face ̎, who’s unpredictable, ̎ No face ̎, who’s a freak and Le Roy, who’s ready to do anything to be ̎ the greatest magician ever know ̎, but me ? Why would I try to mess with the kid ?

Michiko(Sipping from her tea cup) : Well, for starter your title isn’t ̎ Thief ̎ for nothing !

Kreacher Pierson(Slightly offended) : Oi !

William Ellis(with a jaded look) : Your shady treatment toward those kids at this orphanage of yours in the past, which makes the guarantee of the young lass’s safety questionable if you ever interact with her !

Kreacher Pierson(Turning toward William) : I didn’t-

Freddy Riley(Crossing his arms) : You’re overly untrustworthy !

Kreacher Pierson(Offended) : Oh ! Look who’s talking !

Emily Dyer(Frowning) : You also had this bad habit to take advantage of others at their weakest moments ! Just like you tried to do to Emma times ago !

Emma Woods:(Nob in agreement)

Leo Beck(groans in agreement) : Huurrrrrr….

Kreacher Pierson(Exasperated) : OH COME ON THAT WAS LITERALLY CENTURIES AGO ! WE ALL AGREED WHAT I HAVE DONE WAS TRASH, I COUNTLESSLY APOLOGIZED TO WOODS FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND EVEN KEEP MY DISTANCES FROM HER WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME ? AND SERIOUSLY ? YOU THINK I WOULD TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE KID ̎ THAT WAY ̎ ? I MAY HAVE DONE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONABLE THINGS IN THE PAST BUT I WOULD NEVER GO TO ̎ THAT ̎ LEVEL ! I MEAN DID YOU SEE HER ? SHE’S WHAT ? 16 ?

Miss Nightingale(stoic) : Actually from my talk with Miss Dupain-Cheng I learned she was 14 and would be 15 very soon…

Kreacher Pierson(Over-dramatic) : SEE ? SHE’S EVEN YOUNGER ! SO ALL OF YOU MARK MY WORD WHEN I SAY THAT I, KREACHER PIERSON, MAY BE A THIEF, A CON ARTIST OR A DECIEVER BUT NEVER EVER IN MY LIFE HAD, OR EVER WILL, STOOD TO ̎ THAT ̎ LEVEL OF TRASH !

Everyone else is rolling their eyes at Kreacher’s over-dramatic reaction.

Miss Nightingale(Still stoic) : Well, now this was made clear, I will have to excuse myself as I had a lot of duties to attend, good day to all of you !

Miss Nightingale took her leave and the survivors and hunters silently look at her, exciting the room.

Luca Balsa(joking) : Welp… That was something !

Norton Campbell(sigh) : Tell me about it… In the end we just got more questions than answers about that girl outside of the fact she is connected to ̎ powerful forces ̎ which are apparently very dangerous in the wrong hands !

Jose Baden(Shrug) : Well… I guess this will be up to the little miss to tell us if she decided to do it at one point !

Tracy Reznik(Confused) : Uh guys ? Sorry to interrupt you but… Where is Bonbon going like that ?

Burke Lapadula(grumbling) : It’s name is Guard 26 not Bonbon and…(He notices that the robot is indeed leaving quickly) What the- ? Guard 26 ! Where are you going ? Get back there ! Oi ! Get your metallic butt here right now ! Are you even listening to me, you me you pile of dolts ? GUARD 26!(Burke go after the robot and leave the room)

Most of the survivors and hunters took it as their cue and also left the room, outside of a few of them.

Oletus manor’s first floor security camera :

The camera shows Robbie about to take the stairs to the second floor but is busted by Michiko who appears in the camera’s vision.

Michiko : Robbie ? What are you doing ?

Robbie(Freeze) : Uh… Nothing ?

Michiko(Sigh) : You were trying to sneak in to see Dupain-Cheng-san were you ?

Robbie(Hesitant) : Uuuuuhhh…

Michiko(Softly) : Listen, she needs to rest for now ! You can go see and get to know her another time okay ?

Robbie(Sigh) : Okayyyyy….

Michiko(Smile) : Good ! Now come with me ! How about we go to your bedroom and I read you the story you want ?

Robbie happily nobbed and took Michiko’s hand and both left the floor.

Oletus manor’s second floor security camera :

The camera show Burke arguing with his robot, Guard 26 ̎ Bonbon ̎, who was guarding Marinette’s bedroom’s door with no intention of leaving.

Burke Lapadula(Angry) : What the hell are you doing ? I didn’t even give you the order to go to the brat’s room, so what are you even doing posted in front of her door ?

Bonbon : Presence of a vulnerable person in the manor declared, so Bonbon’s protection code was activated.

Burke Lapadula(Angry) :Protection co- I didn’t even give you the order to activate this protocole ! I’m your creator and any protocol or any action from you should be activated on MY order ! So desist your protection protocol and come with me now !

Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !

Burke Lapadula(Getting impatient) :… Guard 26, desist protection protocol and follow me right. Now !

Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !

Burke Lapadula(Frustrated) : Oh for heck sake ! DESIST THIS FREAKING PROTECTION PROTOCOL !

Bonbon : Apologies, but Bonbon’s protection protocol can’t be desist !

Burke keeps going on trying to get his robot obey him with the robot not budging.

Oletus manor’s third floor security camera :

The camera shows Emily and Emma talking in the floor corridor, Emily seems still upset about the possible reason for Marinette’s state.

Emma talks to Emily for a while, comforting her about how everything will be okay, that Marinette will be fine, especially with a doctor like Emily to take care of her.

Emily, moved by Emma’s words, shares a hug with her for a few minutes before the two leave holding each other’s hand.

A few moments later, the camera shows Naib, Eli and Aesop having a talk in the corridor.

Naib Subebar(Arms crossed) : Hey Clark, about what Nightingale told about those ̎ powerful forces ̎, you think you can told some things about it ? I mean you’re into this magic stuff right ? So you probably ̎ feel ̎ something right ?

Eli Clark(Nobbed) : Well yes I felt something unusual radiating from this young girl ! But before you ask, no I didn’t feel anything which could be ̎ dangerous ̎ for us, those forces seem to be powerful but not evil ! Whatever it is, I don’t think it’s something which will deliberately hurt us !

Naib Subebar(Nobbing) : I see…

Aesop(Nervously) : Now we clear up this matter, I must go ! I have ̎ important things ̎ to do ahah…

Naib Subebar(Smirking) : And I suppose those ̎ important things ̎ have obviously nothing to do with a certain french photographer ?

Aesop(Very nervous and blushing) : I… I… I REALLY MUST GO, GOOD DAY TO YOU TWO !

Aesop leaves the corridor embarrassed.

Eli Clark(Smirking to Naib) : You know, you’re one to talk on that subject, after all isn’t there a thing going on between you and mister Jack ?

Naib Subedar(Sputtering and blushing) : Wh-… How-… When-… ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!

Oletus manor’s first floor camera :

Other survivors and hunters go through the floor’s corridors, some going to their bedroom and others to another part of the manor.

Oletus manor’s living room security camera :

The hunters and the survivors had left the living room outside of the Dream Witch, and by extension Follower, and Hastur were having a discussion.

Dream Witch(Humming) : So it’s seem ̎ they ̎ get a new guardian ! I must say this is surprising to ̎ see ̎ one of ̎ them ̎ after so long !

Hastur(Nobbing) : Indeed, I don’t know about you, but I think things will get very interesting during those two weeks !

Both turn to the camera, the Dream Witch is smirking and Hastur is chuckling.

Hastur : Don’t you agree mister the Owner ?

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@diana-berry ,@doll246,@miraculous-ninja,@knightoflightaskblo,@mentini02 , @michaelshadow7779

lovely-lynn:

The Most Bizarre of Adventures -Chapter 2

This is for the amazing @sayuricorner who is an absolute angel. Thank you for being so patient with me!!

She asked me to write a crossover fic of ML and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. This chapter is more of an intro than anything else, the exciting stuff is (hopefully) coming soon though!!

Warnings: Lots of Salt, Lila Salt, Alya Salt, class salt, attempted akumization

Chapter 2

Marinette’s life very quickly dissolved into a whirlwind of events. She woke up in the hospital with a throbbing headache and an emptiness in her heart. Its weight seeming to pin her down. The emptiness was residual from the failed akumization , A few minutes with Tikki and the emptiness lifted. Immediately, Marinette wanted it back. She wanted to feel that same indifference again. Her heart ached at the friends she had lost. Even after everything they had done to her, somewhere deep inside her heart Marinette had held out hope that her classmates would see sense. Then came the anger. It boiled insider her, hotter than anything she had ever felt before. She was angry at Lila for doing this to her, she was angry at Adrien for abandoning her, and most of all she was angry at her former classmates, people who had been her friends for years. She was angry at how quickly they would believe a stranger. She was angry about how they treated her. She was angry that she had fallen right into their ruse of fake friendship. Nobody had ever truly wanted to be her friend. They just wanted the things she could give them. The only one who had ever been honest with her, and brutally so, was Chloe.

Chloe had grown leaps and bounds in the past year. Gone was the entitled bully she had been for so long. She was still Chloe. She had very little filter and was extremely blunt , but she didn’t deliberately try and make people miserable. Chloe was trying so hard to fix her mistakes and keep herself from making them again. To say Marinette had been shocked to receive a tearful apology from Chloe of all people, would be an understatement. At first she had thought it was a joke, but very quickly she realized that Chloe’s apology was completely heartfelt. She was truly heartbroken by the things she had done. Deep down Marinette had always known that Chloe had a good heart, even if she rarely showed it. Marinette assumed hiding it was a coping mechanism, a way to prevent herself from getting hurt. She has adapted the hurt before you get hurt philosophy. But now, now she was learning to do away with that. And she was the better for it. You could see a weight being lifted off her shoulders. Despite the Lila situation and the fact that their classmates refused to believe she had changed, Chloe never wavered in her efforts. She still messed, there were times when she fell back into old habits but those occasions were becoming fewer and fewer as time went on. Which is why Marinette knew she was making the right decision.

Marinette walked inside of the Bourgeois Hotel and made her way to the elevator, heading towards Chloe’s room. She was dreading the conversation she was about to have. She hated goodbyes, no matter how long they would last.

The decision to leave home had been a hard one. Marinette loved her parents to death and knowing that she wouldn’t see them again until summer hurt. However, Marinette also knew that there wasn’t truly anything left for her in Paris. She had the few friends that remained and her job as Ladybug but other than that she had nothing. Staying in Paris would only harm her in the long run. She needed a new start. She knew that she was leaving Paris in good hands. With Luka as Copperhead, Kagami as Orochi, and Chloe as Yellow Jacket, she knew Hawkmoth didn’t stand a chance. Chat Noir was there too, occasionally anyway. Marinette wasn’t really sure what to make of her partners sudden disappearances. On one hand he seemed to be under a lot of stress lately. Perhaps it was difficult for him to escape his civilian life. On the other hand he would completely lose his civilian life if they didn’t stop Hawkmoth, they all would.

She arrived at her destination and knocked on the door, hearing a soft “Come in."  Chloe was sitting on her massive bed and she sat up straight when Marinette entered the room.

"Hey, Maribug. How are you feeling?” Chloe questioned with genuine concern. Marinette smiled, Chloe had proved to be quite the mother hen once you got to know her. One thing was to be said about Chloe, she always protected the people she cared about.

“I’m feeling much better, I’m still pretty tired but otherwise, I’m fine,” Marinette replied. Pollen flew out from wherever she had been hiding and nuzzled into her cheek, she was just as protective as he holder. Marinette cuddled back to the best of her ability before Pollen pulled away and flew off with Tikki in tow. Chloe had an old doll house that she had fashioned into a place for her Kwami to stay. Tikki and Pollen generally went there when Marinette visited her blonde friend. Chloe patted a spot on the bed beside her and Marinette accepted her invitation to sit.

Years ago Marinette would have never imaged having such an interaction with another Miraculous Holder. But when she became Guardian of the Miraculous, she had decided that anyone who wished to reveal their identity could. She of course had already known about Chloe, Luka,and Kagami, but somehow it was different, more special as they all detransformed.together. Chat hadn’t showed up and when he came to fights he was usually to busy flirting or ignoring her instructions for her to tell him of the new development. She had honestly been looking forward to meeting her partner outside of the mask. Revealing her identity had turned into a good thing. There was more trust between the group and they had become an incredibly cohesive and formidable team.

“I’m leaving Paris Chloe,” Marinette replied, figuring there was no use in beating around the bush and delaying the inevitable. Chloe hung her head, sadness to
long her eyes.

“ I can’t say I didn’t see it coming,” She mumbled thickly, “ I guess the expulsion was the last straw huh?” Marinette nodded. It had been the second wrongful expulsion that she had experienced all because of the testimony of a single person. And this time it had nearly ended catastrophically. Marinette had found out upon waking up into the hospital that her mental battle with Hawkmoth had caused her to remain unresponsive for nearly a week and the amount of stress and emotional abuse she was under had been the straw breaking the camels back. Her parents had take evidence of the wrong expulsion to the board of schools who launched a full investigation and had the expulsion repealed. Mr.Damocles had tried to apologize and encourage, or rather manipulate, Marinette into returning but the damage was already done. By that time Marinette had already begun searching for new schools.

“Yeah it was but Chloe,” Marinette said, waiting to make sure she had her full attention, “ Me leaving has nothing to do with you. You have been an amazing friend. You have helped keep me sane through all of this,” Chloe looked relieved at her statement. Marinette knew that Chloe’s brain had already begun to convince her that Marinette was leaving because she had done something. The amount of people who left or abandoned Chloe in her lifetime, left lasting imprints.

“ Thank you Marinette, that means a lot,” Chloe said sincerely. It was quiet for several minutes before Chloe said, “What are you going to do for alums attacks?” And that brought her to her next point. Marinette sat up straight and looked Chloe straight in the eyes.

“That part is simple. Chloe, I am trusting you with the Miraculous of the Horse. I trust that you will come and get me during an akuma attack,” Marinette said confidently, watching as Chloe sat in shock.

“Maribug, why? shouldn’t you be taking this with you? Won’t you want to come back for the attacks on your own,” Chloe asjed, genuinely confused. Marinette shook her head.

“Unfortunately I can’t take it with me. The less miraculous that leave Paris the better. Besides, there will probably be times, especially near the beginning, where I will not be able to get away, at least not quickly. This way you won’t be waiting around wondering if I will show up or not.”

“But how will that change if I’m the one picking you up or if you are coming on your own? How will I know if your free or not?” Chloe questioned.

“I’m still working on the full plan but the idea is this: I will find a place for us to meet up. Someplace that wouldn’t be suspicious for me to go, like the bathroom. I’ll send you a picture of said place so that you can teleport to it. This will be where we  meet up every time there is an attack. If I am able to get away long enough to join the fight, I’ll come to Paris with you,"Marinette said, looking skeptical and calculating. It was the look she always wore when considering a plan.

” And what happens if you can’t get away for long enough?“ Chloe pushed. Marinette looked almost hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure how to say what she was thinking.

"If for some reason I can’t get away without raising suspicions, then I will hand my miraculous over to you until the fight is over. I’ll exchange the ladybug miraculous for the bee. When the fight is over you can visit me again and then we can switch our Miraculous back to normal,” When Marinette finished, Chloe was silent. The reaction was totally different from the one she would have given years ago.

“Marinette, I’m not really sure what do say. This is a huge responsibility. After everything I’ve done, you would really trust me with your miraculous?” Tear glistened in Chloe’s eyes and she spoke quietly.  Marinette reached out a place a hand on the arm of her friend.

“Chloe, you have made mistakes in the past, but so have I. Neither of us are perfect. Everyone messes up. But not everyone chooses to learn from those mistakes. Not everyone accepts responsibility for those mistakes and strives to make them right. But you do all of those things Chloe. That more than anything else is why I trust you with this responsibility,” A singular tear trailed down Chloe’s cheek as Marinette finished. The blonde girl flung herself at her friend, wrapping her arms tightly around Marinette. Marinette returned the hug just as fiercely.

“Thank you, I don’t know if I can ever express how much this mean to me,” Chloe said thickly. Marinette just smiled and continued to hug her friend. Chloe, as Marinette had come to realize long ago, really just want someone to believe in her. She wanted someone who believed she could be great and someone who would push and challenge her to reach her dreams. After a few moments, Chloe pulled away.

“I am going to miss you so much. You better call and keep in touch, understand Dupain-Cheng? ” Chloe’s voice was strong once again and she had composed her self back into the aloof girl she portrayed to the public.

“Understood Chloe, as long as you promise to do the same,” Marinette replied with a smile.

“Always Marinette. Always,”

___________________________________________________________
The next couple days passed quicker than anything Marinette had ever experienced. She had discussed her new plan with the rest if the Miraculous Team, sans Chat who had neglected to show up. She had also finalized her enrollment in the prestigious Speed Wagon Academy.

When Marinette had first withdrawn from school she knew only one thing, she wanted to move to Japan. Partially to get closer to her roots and partially because it’s distance from Paris. She was also excited to experience the different culture of Japan. Several boarding schools in Japan were accepting new students this late in the year but for some reason Speed Wagon was the one that kept sticking out to her. Maybe it was due to the mystery. Out of all the schools she had looked at, Speed Wagon had the least amount of information available. Her parents had tried to discourage her from picking it purely for that reason. However, something in her gut told her that Speed Wagon Academy was where she was supposed to go. In the end she followed the instincts that had rarely failed her .

It was early in the morning and she was on the way to the airport. She couldn’t deny she felt nervous. She was about to embark on one of her biggest adventures yet. Luka and Kagami were sitting in the front seat of the car. Both of them had offered to drive her to the airport in order to say goodbye. She had readily accepted. Her parents couldn’t leave the bakery and she didn’t think she could do this alone.  The ride to the airport seemed much too short as they pulled into the airport parking and filed out of the car.

“Stay safe, melody. And stay true to who you are,” Luka said pulling her into a warm, comforting hug. She breathed in his comforting sent. Something about him was always so comfortable. Maybe it was because of how calm she was. She knew she had the tendency to pick up on other peoples anxiety and take it with her. However, Marinette thought there may be more to it than that. Kagami was next, pulling her in for a hug as fierce as the girl herself. The hug meant the world to Marinette. Kagami hated physical touch, especially in public . The knowledge that she would put that discomfort aside for Marinette warmed her heart and made her eyes tear up.

“You will always have a friend and a home with me,” She stated firmly, placing her hands on Marinette’s shoulders. Chloe had said goodbye to her at the hotel. Marinette knew how hard goodbyes were for her blonde friend. Chloe constantly struggled with the thought that everyone was leaving her. She believed that she wasn’t enough to make people stay. Their friend group was doing the best they could to break that line of thinking but it was a gradual process. Marinette knew that saying goodbye In public would simply be too hard for her, which was one of the reasons she had gone to the hotel in the first place. 
Marinette took a deep breath and armed with confidence and love of her true friends and family, she stepped walked into the airport, ready to face this next journey in life head on.

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Okay so here is the long overdue second chapter! I really really enjoy writing this so I hope the wait won’t be as long though exams are quickly approaching so I make no promises. As always let me know what you think and what you want to see next!!!!

So the document where I kept my tag list got deleted so if you would please fill this out So i know what you want to be tagged in, that would be great!!

Tag List

YES! YES! YES! THE NEW CHAPTER IS THERE! *\(^0^)/*

I LOVE IT, IT’S AWESOME AND THE MOMENT BETWEEN MARINETTE AND CHLOE WAS SO GREAT!

AAAAAAAAAAHHHH I REALLY CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MARINETTE INTERRACTING WITH THE JOJO CHARACTERS!!!!! o(≧▽≦)o

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TAG LIST:

@terrorartfan​​ , @mx-unreality

MLB Caline Bustier Salt Prompts/Fics Recommendation

Let Her Eat Cakeby@stormiclown

Theories began floating around that she was Mayura. The fact that she looked eerily similar to the peacock themed villain.

It was then that a dam burst. Students and teachers alike who had witnessed Bustier’s teaching methods revealed her tendency to gaslight or outright punish victims of bullying while letting the aggressors off scot free.

Happy Birthday, Miss Bustierby@unmaskedagain

“And why should I apologize,” Marinette asked. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We talked about the Marinettes of the world, remember?” Caline smiled. “You have to be the bigger person; be an example for the other students. Show them the right way to act.”

“No.”

Attitude - [Bustier Salt] by @aliensunflower-fics

“This attitude of yours is getting out of control Mari-“

“What attitude?! Mme Bustier? The one where I sat quietly in class taking notes? Or the one where I calmly answered questions when asked? Or maybe the one where when the class got disruptive I didn’t do your job for you?” Anger filled Bustier’s eyes and her smile twisted into an ugly look.

“Don’t you think your going a bit far. Marinette.” Bustier’s voice was sickly sweet barely hiding the venom behind it.

Taste of your own medicineby@mcheang

Marinette reminded Ms Bustier, “Smile and forgive, Ms Bustier. Isn’t that what you told me? To be a better example.”

Caline had forgotten that mantra when she was a teenager, the teachers actually did their job so she wasn’t punished. The rule breakers were. It was easy to be on the high road when she wasn’t the one punished. Sure she wasn’t popular with her class, but it’s not like they would stay friends upon graduation.

And now here was, a teacher, while her bully was a socialite. It wasn’t fair.

Paycheckby@sturchling

This doesn’t actually have a title

Mrs. Bustier went to the school board the next day to ask about her pay. She didn’t expect to hear what she did. “Why haven’t I received my most recent pay checks? I haven’t received my last two checks, and I need to pay my rent. What is going on?” The board just looked at her with bored expressions. “You haven’t been paid, because you haven’t been doing your job.” Mrs. Bustier was shocked. “What do you mean? I show up everyday, and I teach my pupils all day. I am doing my job.” The head of the board just rolled their eyes.

Remember some chapters are longer than others (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧

Taglist:

@the-dumber-scaramouche@255940g@epiclazershark@kitsunekat9@smartlanceisreal@bookssetufree@gingerdaile@mewwitch@caffeinetheory@dragonkings444@alicesangelofmusic@bee-a-garbage-shipper@northernbluetongue@turiankitty@finnishbookmark@ml-fanfic-comp@khoughme@773hell@zenarella@rabbitholefor-anymediailike@adrestar@fandombetch@mysticsoulgirl@dagnysdawn@madd-kwami@secretlawyercolorscissors

What if jagged ends up bruising his arms or his vocal cords and unable to play any music or continue his tour and to keep his fans happy he releases some songs that he was keeping for emergencies such as this. Or they were songs that didn’t fit in with his current album he was making so he releases those and they become big hits. Like maybe he made one called family and it describes Penny and the Dupain Chengs. Then the class comments saying what about lilas song or like if you want salt that shes a bully and why wasn’t Lila mentioned?

Alya in charge

Marinette knows her occupation as Ladybug is more important than Alya’s blog. She does not need the added stress of being class representative.

Bonus, if Alya is busier as Class representative, perhaps it means she will be less able to chase after akumas, consequently running into danger, if she is herding the class to safety.

As a result, Marinette insists Alya be Class representative. Downright standing down when Alya nominates Marinette.

When Dark Knight attacks, Marinette is tempted to start ordering the class what to do, but she instead asks Alya out loud what they should do.

As Alya directs everyone, Marinette rushes away to transform.

Alya is elected class representative since Marinette does not exactly inspire confidence in them.

Later when it is Ms Bustier’s birthday, and Chloe ruins Marinette’s gift, it is Alya who is called away

Caline encourages Alya to forgive Chloe, but Alya is stubborn and quotes that people who do nothing are just letting bad people win. If people keep forgiving Chloe for her misdeeds, she won’t see any harm in continuing to do them.

Alya is not as swayed by Ms Bustier’s authority because she is disillusioned with the staff after Damocles suspended her and is outraged on Marinette’s behalf. If Ms Bustier forgives Chloe just like that without punishing her, she is hurting Marinette’s feelings.

They see an akuma and it is unclear whether it is more attracted to Ms Bustier’s fear for her students or Alya’s feeling of injustice. But since Ms Bustier puts herself in front, the akuma goes for her. Alya refuses to believe herself guilty as Ms Bustier can’t just force people to forgive bullies when no justice has been served. If that is the case, should they just forgive an unrepentant Hawkmoth in the hope that he will turn over a new leaf?

When Zombizou is defeated, Ladybug gently advises Ms Bustier that she cannot force people to forgive their bullies. And that she needs to think of the victims, not just the bullies.

Later when Lila arrives, Alya is fascinated by her tales and wanted an interview about her time as Volpina. Due to class President duties making her less likely to have direct footage, Alya has instead learned to post video and reports from multiple sources.

Alya is disappointed when Lila claims her mother was so alarmed by her akumatization that she is taking her with her to Achu. It is rather sudden for the Italian Ambassador to stay in Paris for just two days, but a mother’s love knows no bounds.

Alya wishes Lila a good trip and informs Ms Bustier, who acknowledges this when an email comes from “Mrs Rossi” addressing Lila’s leave of absence.

Meanwhile, determined to make a post on Volpina, Alya reviews all the various footage people have on Lila.

To Alya’s dismay, she sees a recording of Ladybug exposing Lila as a liar in front of Adrien. And Alya can understand after the recorder repeated Lila’s claims of Ladybug not being a top tier hero.

Apparently the recorder wasn’t at first interested in Lila and Adrien but was appalled to see Marinette stalking the couple, then recognized the celebrity nearby and recorded him instead, wondering how much he could get paid about Adrien’s secret girlfriend.

Alya is understandably upset at being lied to. And if Lila lied about this, what else has she lied about? She forwarded the footage to her class, editing out Marinette stalking Adrien, asking them to double check what Lila claimed.

While the class is outraged at Lila insulting Ladybug, and kind of annoyed with Adrien for not telling them, even if his plea that Lila was already upset and humiliated enough that he did not want to upset her further; Alya tells Marinette that she was recorded stalking Lila and Adrien.

Marinette is alarmed but relieved the recorder might not have seen her transform. Alya admits that she might encourage Marinette to pursue Adrien and even look on as Marinette steals his phone to delete her unintentional message. But seeing her actions on video, Alya admits that if Adrien were to ever find out, he might be creeped out. Alya suggests that Marinette tone down her crush. Even though Marinette followed Lila to steal the book, she agrees.

When the class report that Lila’s claims are either impossible or false, Alya decides to try calling Mrs Rossi.

(Considering that Damocles had her number, Alya should have it too just in case.)

Mrs Rossi answered and was curious why Alya the class President was calling her. If this is about the school being shut down, she already received an email. If this is about online classes, she should be calling Lila.

“Mrs Rossi, may I inquire as to why Lila will suddenly be leaving school when her first day was just today.”

Mrs Rossi: hasn’t anyone told you the school will be shut down due to the akumas?

Alya: Mrs Rossi, do you know who was akumatized today? We only had one akuma, Volpina, and Ladybug and chat Noir defeated her already.

Mrs Rossi:…who was akumatized?

Alya: your daughter. I’ve asked around. Apparently Lila has been claiming some outlandishing feats from saving a rock star’s cat to being best friends with Ladybug. As a matter of fact, after she was defeated, she called me to say that you were horrified by her akumatization and were taking her out of Paris to go to Achu.

Mrs Rossi: I see…thank you for informing me of this, Alya. I promise you, you will see Lila tomorrow.

Lila was in so much trouble. Her mother had seen the interview on the Ladyblog and knew how much she had lied to her class.

Knowing Lila would not want to show her face after her insulting Ladybug is now on the Ladyblog, Mrs Rossi does not ground Lila. Instead, she stopped her allowance.

The next day, Lila keeps her head down at class, ignoring the glares and hurt looks.

Rather than let Lila be isolated, Alya feels guilty and instead asks Lila if they can start over.

Lila grits her teeth, blaming Alya for exposing her to all of Paris, forces a smile and fakes an apology.

Chloe is insulted that Alya can even consider forgiving Lila after she insulted Ladybug! and refuses to do so.

Marinette feels guilty as well and also chooses to give Lila a second chance. Mostly everybody else follows but this time whenever Lila tells them stuff, they’re just gonna double check.

Of course Lila is going to exact her revenge on Alya somehow. But in the meantime, she needs to be careful. If she wants the girls to like her again, she needs to stay clear of Adrien.

As it is, Lila is Chloe’s new target for insulting Ladybug and going after her Adrikins.

Olaf presents Ladybug & Chat Noir

Just watched the mini series and was inspired. Warning, got salt for everybody

As queen, Anna would be taking a tour of the world and visiting other kingdoms, one of which would be France.

Elsa would look after Arendelle in her absence.

Not to say that Anna was going alone, she was bringing Olaf with her.

And the snowman was thrilled to perform skits on what he had experienced in each kingdom.

France was truly an eye opener, Olaf had tried in vain to keep his queen from aiding the Parisian superheroes.

In the end, Ladybug asked Anna to guide everyone else away.

As queen, Anna was invited to various prestigious events where Olaf had met the lonely Adrien Agreste.

But Anna also liked getting to know people which was how she came across the Dupain-Cheng bakery and College Françoise Dupont.

At the Queen’s farewell event, Olaf had insisted on performing his skit, the contents of which only the snowgies were privy to.

Olaf wearing stones all over his body in imitation of ladybug spots. “I’m Ladybug. I use random useless objects to defeat villains with terrifying powers.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.

Olaf throws up a leaf. “Bye bye little Butterfly!”

Marinette giggled, nearly dropping her tray of macarons.

Olaf now dons a stick tail and leaf ears. “I’m Chat Noir. My lady, will you go out with me? Akuma, quit interrupting me!”

Adrien flushed at how irresponsible he looked.

Olaf now has leaf pigtails. “I’m Marinette. I live in a bakery and attend College Françoise Dupont! Oh hi Adrien,” Olaf-Marinette giggled and promptly falls over.

Marinette gaped and quickly hid her face behind her tray.

Olaf now has a leaf hairstyle copying Adrien. “Hi Marinette. I have to go do another one of my many tasks to please my perfectionist father who never seems to notice me. Oh well, at least I have friends. See you at the class party? Oh never mind, my schedule shifted. I’ll see you at next month’s party!”

Olaf has a leaf ponytail. He sticks out a hand. “Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. It is so ridiculous I don’t even care that I will cause another akuma whose sole goal will be to take revenge upon moi.”

Chloé sniffed.

Olaf has a camera in his hand. “Wait up Ladybug! It’s not easy dodging danger just to get a clear shot of your dangerous battles!”

Alya shifted uneasily under her mother’s look.

Olaf is regaling a crowd of snowgies. “My name is Lila. I am super charitable and super connected. But do you mind helping me do my homework and pay for my meals? I am too busy with the charities I donated all my money too. I also have to meet with my celebrity friends. No I cannot introduce you to them! But I can take any money you want to give to charity.”

Lila’s fingers clenched into fists. Hopefully her classmates are too dumb to suspect her in the snowman’s salty skit.

Olaf holding a flat stone tablet. “I am Ms Bustier. I believe in forgiveness. So I will not punish Chloé if she behaves badly. Ivan, quit talking in class. Go to the principal!”

Olaf sits in front of a snowgie. “Ivan, I have no time to look into this situation. I am too busy scouting Paris for trouble any other civilian can report. Hoo Hoo!”

Olaf strums a ukulele. “I can hear the song of people’s souls.”

Finally, Olaf is dressed as the mayor with a leaf sash. “I have all the power! I am the man in charge! Oh, whatever you say my queen. Of course my darling princess, whatever you want.”

Olaf, smirking proudly and innocently of his accurate skit: any questions?

Anna covered her mouth with her hand.

Hey everyone. I’m sorry I have been away for so long. Truth be told, I haven’t been doing well mentally for a long while and it was just getting worse. While writing on here was an escape for me for a while, some people had started being very mean in my DMs when I didn’t immediately write their stories, so I decided to step away until I was better. Finally feeling more like myself again, so I’m back and going to try and get back to writing consistently. Working on and writing several ML salt prompts and fic ideas right now and hope to have a few posted as early as tonight. Thanks to everyone that has been so patient waiting for their prompts, that means the world to me! If you sent me a request and it hasn’t been written yet, rest assured I will get to it as soon as I can. Got quite the backlog to work through, but I will get them done! Glad to be back and hope y’all like what I post!

Listen Instead of Lie

This is based off a prompt by @miraculousfanworks that I was tagged in by @vixen-uchiha a while back. Sorry it took so long for me to get to it! Hope this was worth the wait!

What happens if Lila tries to lie about MDC, when the class already knows who MDC is? The end of the liar’s reign happens.

Marinette had been making quite the name for herself in the fashion world. Ever since she made the sunglasses for Jagged, he kept asking her for more pieces every few months. He also made sure to brag on Marinette every chance he got, using her pseudonym, MDC. Soon other major celebrities had commissioned her work and were also raving about the talented young designer. She was quickly becoming a household name, or at least her pseudonym was. Marinette wanted to stay relatively anonymous for now, for a few reasons, Lila being chief among them. She worried that if the liar knew about her success, she would try to destroy it. She also didn’t want to be hounded for her work for now. So she resolved to use the name MDC until she graduated at least.

As the whole world was talking about her designs, no one knew who MDC actually was. That is, except for her class. Marinette had been using MDC for all of her designs for years, ever since they had known her. So naturally, they all knew who this ‘mysterious new designer’ was. They were very happy for their friend and her success. While they didn’t get why Marinette didn’t tell the world who she was (after all, who wouldn’t want to have this kind of spotlight), they did respect her wishes, and made sure not to slip up and mention her actual name in public. However, when it was just the class, they would gush about Marinette and her latest designs, always impressed with their friend’s work. Maybe if Lila had listened to her friends talk, instead of always make the conversation about her lies, then maybe she wouldn’t have made such a stupid mistake.

MDC was now a major player in the fashion industry and was even going to be featured at the next Paris Fashion Week and the class couldn’t be happier for their friend. The class decided that they wanted to throw Marinette a small party, nothing too crazy, but they wanted to congratulate her. The next morning, they arrived at school and when they went in the classroom, they saw Lila walking from the back of the classroom where Marinette was sitting towards the front to her desk. Lila went to greet the class with a sweet smile plastered on her face, but the class just continued towards Marinette. Lila hated the class even looking at Marinette. And she would put a stop to it. As Lila approached the group, she heard Alya say, “Marinette! We saw the latest news about MDC and we wanted to tell you-” But before Alya could finish her thought, Lila jumped in. If she had listened to what Alya was saying, she may have thought again about what she was going to say. But she was so focused on getting the attention off Marinette and back on to her, that she went to her usual plan. Lie. But this time that was the worst thing she could have done.

“Oh Alya! You all are talking about MDC?” Alya turned back to Lila with a smile, slightly irritated though that she had been interrupted. “Oh yeah, we were just going to tell Marinette-” Lila cut her off again. “Oh MDC is such a sweetheart. We actually met at the Milan Fashion Week, before she used MDC as her name. MDC are the initials of her mother who got her into fashion. Its her way of honoring her mother. I was so happy to hear she will be at the Paris Fashion Week, maybe I could introduce you all and get us tickets to her show? And Marinette, maybe she could give you some pointers on how to break into the fashion world?” Lila put on her best shy smile and waited for the class to gush about how awesome that would be, and how sweet Lila is. But that never came. Instead the class was staring at her in shock and anger.

“Lila? What are you talking about? Why are you lying?” Alya asked, hoping maybe she had misunderstood Lila, though she didn’t see how she could have. “What are you talking about? I’m not lying! I’ve known MDC for years, we are very good friends.” Lila immediately got defensive. Nino spoke up, saying “That isn’t possible.” Lila, forgetting to appear sweet and nice, snapped at Nino. “And why is that Nino?” Marinette stood up from her desk. “Because I am MDC.” Lila scoffed. “Do you guys actually believe her? She is obviously lying for attention since her fashion business isn’t doing as well. You should be ashamed Marinette, taking credit from a hard working designer! I thought you were better than that!” Lila expected the class to drop the conversation. They always did when this happened, if only to keep the peace. But they just doubled down. Alya walked towards Lila, furious that this girl had been lying to them, likely since she joined the class. “Marinette isn’t lying. She is MDC. And if you hadn’t interrupted me earlier, and listened, you would have heard us congratulate her for her success. She has used those initials for years for her fashion. MDC stands for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. You haven’t been friends with her for years, and you certainly haven’t been friends since you got here!” Lila was backed into a corner. She had no way out of this.

The class started yelling as they realized that not only did Lila try to lie about Marinette as MDC, but had likely been lying to them the whole time. Lila couldn’t lie her way out of this one. So she ran. She ran out of the school and all the way home. The class continued with the celebration, congratulating Marinette and then treating her to a picnic in the park after school to celebrate. They had a great time, and went their separate ways that night, glad to not only have congratulated their friend, but defended her from a liar.

Later that night, Lila would convince her mother to send her back to Italy, saying that she was scared of the akumas and didn’t want to stay in Paris. Lila wished she didn’t have to leave Paris, but her mother wouldn’t just let her transfer to another school in Paris. And she couldn’t risk transferring to a new school in the city and then Mrs. Bustier’s class spreading the word that she is a liar. Lila knew that if she just asked her mom to transfer because she didn’t like her school, her mom would say to tough it out and not let her transfer. But if she was too scared to stay in Paris entirely? Her mother would listen. So, Lila reluctantly left Paris behind and returned to Italy. She would be living with her grandparents until a new school, likely a boarding school since her grandparents couldn’t care for her long term, could be found. Lila sat on the plane to Italy, lamenting her mistakes in Mrs. Bustier’s class. If only she had listened more than she lied.

Beginning

Last Chapter                        Next Chapter

Ivan was never the smartest guy, he knew that, but what he lacked in brain he thought he more than made up in heart. That’s what his Mama always said and surprisingly that is what his former friend Marinette would also say to him when he was having a bad day. Contrary to popular belief, he and Mylène were not the perfect couple, they had their fights, they annoyed one another on occasion, they even took jokes too far. More often than he would care to admit it was because he put his foot in his mouth and said something stupid, or didn’t think things through and they would end up in a misunderstanding, but his mothers’ and Marinette were always there to help him cool down and think things through whenever he needed them. Before this whole Lila thing he used to be able to just call up Marinette whenever he needed help or just whenever he wanted to talk with her. 

She was his person and he liked to think he was hers, she would vent about her frustrations with Alya and the Girl Group, she would lament her failures and by failures Ivan meant little mistakes that Marinette was overthinking but that was okay, he knew she couldn’t help it. That was something he didn’t like that the girls and some of the guys in class teased her about, her tendency to spiral, they acted like it was just one of her quirks or it wasn’t a big deal. It was no secret that Marinette had anxiety, but he didn’t know if the others knew she had to take medication for it, but then even if they didn’t they still shouldn’t tease her for something she can’t control. Ivan had even said as much to said girl, he would never forget the smile she gave him as she told him he was a loyal friend.

Loyal. The memory made his stomach tie into a knot. No, he was not loyal, not at all, he was a coward, he was weak and he had tricked himself into believing he was strong. He didn’t know when it happened, but at some point Ivan got it in his head that if he just kept Mylène happy no matter what, everything would be okay. It didn’t matter if she didn’t want to go to a concert with him because she would rather they go and protest some issue she was passionate about (never you mind the fact that passion seemed to change every month or so), it didn’t matter that he couldn’t play some of his favorite songs around her because she thought they were too scary (she only listened to one verse), and it didn’t matter that she never wanted to hang out at his parent’s house (the décor was too intense she said). He couldn’t really remember when it started exactly but he knew it was after Lila returned from her trip or whatever.

Apparently Mylène had gone to the girl and expressed her concern to the Italian about how often they fight, which he thought was a small amount but apparently his girlfriend didn’t agree and it had begun to make her question their relationship. Ivan had been heartbroken and desperate and when Lila gave him the advice to just make sure Mylène was always happy he took to it like a duck to water. He liked Mylène a lot, she was the first girl he ever actually considered confessing too. He had crushes, but with Mylène it was just different. The crush didn’t fade away like the others, no, in fact it grew day by day to the point he just had to tell her how he felt. She was important to him and oh so special, and well, he’s a teenage boy and this is his first relationship, of course he didn’t want it to end. So he took Lila’s advice and it was like he could think of nothing else but Mylène.

Then time passed, his bottled emotions grew and he was finally able to take a step back when his older sister was home from university and pulled him aside for a talk. She noticed how different he had been and that’s when it hit him. He had always been proud to be him, sure he had insecurities, what teenager didn’t? But he loved rock and metal music, he loved horror films, his favorite color was black, and yeah he wore eyeliner. All that stuff made him happy and he believed it was what made him, well him. The point was, he had been raised to be proud of who you are, no matter if what you are going through is a phase or not (he fondly remembered his sister’s pastel phase, and so did his parents) because ultimately even that is you. It is just you trying to find what you are most comfortable in and in some cases broadening your tastes. It was that talk with his sister that made him realize he had not been himself in a long time, and that really upset him. 

He decided he needed to take a step back from everything and really take a moment for himself so he could reflect and just think. He maybe, sort of, forgot that the trip to Gotham had been coming up but it honestly was a blessing in disguise because it gave him time away from Mylène. Which was sad that he thought of that as a plus, but he needed time away from her because it was his time with her that had been what had changed him and not for the better. So yes, he was more than content to use this education trip as his own personal getaway from everything, even if it was only when they were back at the hotel since Mylène decided that this trip had to be some romantic thing for them. Ivan had already tried to tell her that this trip was an educational one and they should treat it as such and not mess around, more so because they were specifically in one of the most crime ridden cities in the world. 

Apparently what he said had been ‘totally mean’ and ‘inconsiderate’ so Mylène was giving him the silent treatment until he apologized. Another bonus, only if she remembered she was ignoring him, because sometimes she would be talking to the girls and come over and hang on his arm the way Lila did to Adrien and it took a lot out of him not to pry her fingers off him. He remained polite though, his mothers’ did not raise a rude son, they always made sure he was polite because they knew people would always judge their family for their looks and choices. His Mum said politeness was a weapon and he truly believed her. So he made sure to always be polite when he reminded Mylène about the silent treatment and why he didn’t believe he had to apologize and maybe they both needed to think about it. The boys were surprisingly on his side, especially Nino. What was a big shock to Ivan was that even Juleka, not one for talking Juleka, had even stood up for him and taken his side.

Distantly he hoped he hadn’t caused any problems for her and Rose. He really liked his bandmates but he was closer to Juleka he would admit. They both were people of few words and were more comfortable being in the background even if they were proud of who they were. He and Juleka could sit there in silence for hours without it going awkward because they both knew they were hanging out even if they didn’t say anything, they just appreciated each other’s presence. Nowadays though, the two hadn’t been able to just hang out with each other like they used to and Ivan hated to point the finger without proof but he blamed Lila. Everything changed after her lengthy return after her first day in the class. Ivan hadn’t noticed at first, he was admittedly not the most observant, but by the time he noticed it felt like there was nothing he could do. 

No. The feeling was true but he knew he could have done something, he could have stood up for Marinette when he finally saw just how horrible the class was being, he could have broken up with Mylène when he first noticed her change or even sat done with her and her dad and talked over with both of them how the girl had been changing and not for the good, he could have spoken up for Nino and Juleka when he noticed they had become the Italian’s latest “projects.” Everyone in the class that had sided with Lila had been changing, and it had not been for the better, not at all. That had become all the more clear when he had heard Alya say they had to teach Marinette a lesson. It was the way she said it, there was so much anger behind it and she said it out in the lobby of Wayne Tower with a bravado that told him she didn’t expect them to get in trouble. The sad truth was they wouldn’t, not with the blatant favoritism Mme Bustier gave Lila. 

That was all Ivan could think of throughout the rest of the tour, then the hostage situation had happened and everything happened all at once and much too fast and it had been utterly, devastatingly overwhelming. His heart had still been racing by the time they had made it back to the hotel and even then he didn’t remember getting back on the bus, he didn’t even remember getting out of the lobby. It had taken a much needed bath and a long time of blasting music from his headphones as he laid on his bed before he finally felt himself come back into focus enough to realize they had left Marinette behind. They had left a classmate behind in a fucking hostage situation, and it made his stomach drop so harshly he thought for a brief moment that gravity had ripped it out of him. It made him rush to the bathroom to puke up whatever he had eaten for lunch because for the life of him he could not remember. 

They really had left Marinette back there to an uncertain fate and Ivan had never been more grateful that he was the odd boy out with his own room considering Nathaniel had fallen ill before the trip. So no one was around when he broke down, he cried, he sobbed, he muffled his screams into his mountain of pillows and even then it hadn’t felt like enough. The grief he felt, the anger, the guilt, it was all too much and the string that had been precariously holding him together before the start of the trip snapped. He needed…well he wasn’t entirely sure what he needed, he knew what he wanted and that was to make sure Marinette was okay. He wanted the old Mylène back. He wanted Kitty Section together again and rehearsing and just planning out new performances. He wanted to be able to write songs with Rose once more without fear of her taking them to Lila for her “expert opinion.” Ivan wanted to hang out with a friend group that didn’t just stand around and listen to one person’s stories or opinions without getting to share their own. 

Yes, Ivan wanted a lot of things.

But first he had to get his nausea under control.

So with great reluctance he pushed himself out of bed and walked out of his room determined to go downstairs to the lobby in hopes the restaurant was still open, if it wasn’t then he would try and find a vending machine, and if that all failed he would ask an employee to go into the bar section of the hotel for him. He needed sparkling water or something with ginger in it, or even peppermint tea. Though he loathed the stuff, his Mama always told him those were the best for nausea. It was after their curfew but…well they didn’t exactly have a teacher or chaperone around to enforce said curfew and it’s not like Mme Bustier actually did anything if she caught you outside your room, or so Alya and Lila had said after they told everyone they had to go to the lobby after curfew the first night because Lila absolutely needed something, something dumb he was sure. The girls said the most they got was a gentle admonishment and made to promise they wouldn’t do it again. 

Yeah Ivan could see why Caline Bustier was being investigated and honestly he wished it had happened sooner. If it had, maybe Marinette wouldn’t have had to plan and prepare the trip for them all and do her best to make sure they were safe. You know, like the teacher should have done. Oh Ivan knew it was Marinette who had won them the trip and not Lila who had claimed it so. He had been so grateful to the pig-tailed girl, he had never left Europe before and he had been so excited to have the opportunity to do so. But that had been a childish dream, or that’s how it felt anyhow, because as soon as they got the trip started Caline Bustier continued to fail as a teacher. Once upon a time, Ivan would have claimed the woman was his favorite teacher but after all the shit she let slide and he had been witness to that shattered. Caline Bustier fell from her self made high-horse throne and Ivan didn’t care. 

He was glad that Mlle Mendeleiv would be her replacement for the trip, no matter what others said about the teacher, Ivan respected her no nonsense attitude when it came to rules and safety in her classroom and lab. He knew they would be in good hands, along with whatever chaperones would be coming. It was those thoughts that renewed a bit of hope in him that things would look up, a little voice in his head reassured him that things would get better. It suspiciously sounded like Marinette. Ivan huffed at that and willed the ache in his chest to go away as he reached the lobby and was about to head to the restaurant to see if it was open when he saw a familiar person sitting on one of the chairs in the lobby’s lounge. 

“Alya?”

Said girl jumped in her seat before turning her head and wiping her face, Ivan pretended not to notice. “Ivan. Hey.”

Ivan looked at someone he had once considered a friend, not a particularly close one, but a friend nonetheless and decided they needed to talk and just be there for one another. Even if both weren’t exactly that close. So he sat on the seat next to her, his quest for a carbonated drink or ginger one put on hold. “I’m not going to ask how you’re doing because that would be pretty dumb, but it is the polite thing to do. So how are you feeling, Alya?”

“I…” At first it looked like she was going to lie or laugh him off but after a minute the girl’s face scrunched up tight before it seemed like all the fight had left her as she sagged into the seat. “Not the best I admit.”

“Me too.”

“I just…I didn’t think. When we left, my mind was on Lila and I didn’t think…”

“Didn’t think of Marinette.” He didn’t pose it as a question because he knew.

Alya looked like she was about to snap at him for even speaking the ‘forbidden name’, but she merely bit her lip and nodded. “We left but I didn’t…I knew we left Marinette there. And before you yell or lecture me or whatever, I know, I know that’s bad. The police had a grand ol’ time letting me know that. It’s just…I really didn’t think Ivan. I didn’t think she would…”

Ivan had to take a deep breath, but he did get what she was trying to say. “You didn’t think she would get hurt. Or taken off the trip. But Alya, before you yell at me, what did you think would happen? Honestly? Because from where I have been sitting and seeing, you haven’t cared what happened to Marinette the moment this trip started.”

He held his hand up when it looked like she was about to argue. “Alya. You asked me not to yell, I asked you the same, please. Look. You and Lila and Rose and…and Mylène have all been making this trip hell for her. Like it or not but Lila tried to leave her back in Paris. You may not believe that but that’s how it came across. You guys talked Bustier into leaving the hotel early our first official day to tour and you guys didn’t care that we left her here. You didn’t care when her friends argued or worried. You guys didn’t care. I should have spoken up. I know I should have when I noticed what you guys were doing. That’s my fault. But…but I don’t think I believe you when you say you didn’t think she would get hurt or be hurt.”

It was quiet. The silence grew and grew and it was wrapped around them both like hands pressed to their throats. Tears were gathered in both sets of eyes but they had yet to fall. “We left her behind in a hostage situation. She had a gun to her head Alya…we had no way of knowing if she was okay and we left and I hate myself for letting us leave.”

Both were crying. “Ivan…I…”

“You’re a good person Alya. But…you…you’re not acting like yourself anymore. You may jump into things without thinking, be a bit short tempered, but you always strived for information. For proof. For justice. This? This isn’t justice. When you…When you suggested teaching Marinette a lesson in the lobby…it sounded like you were suggesting…” Ivan never spoke this much but he wanted Alya to listen. He wanted her to see exactly what was wrong, or at the very least plant a seed of doubt of some kind.

Alya gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, she was unbelievably pale. “Ivan…please, please tell me you didn’t think I was suggesting…Mon Dieu…beating Marinette up!”

Ivan shrugged half-heartedly. “That’s what it sounded like but I know you’re not like that.”

“Ivan, I swear that’s not what I meant!” Alya denied. “I just…I was so mad at her because of what she did to Lila, but I didn’t mean hurting her. I swear it. I meant like…getting even. Playing pranks or something. Calling her parents! But never, never would I mean hurting her! I…look, we may not be friends any more but that doesn’t mean I want her to be hurt or to hurt her.”

“I want to believe that, and I think you want to believe that too. I think you need to take a step back from everything and just think about what’s happened. Not just here, back in Paris too.” He advised.

Alya licked her lips before looking him in the eyes sharply. “Like you did? Like with Mylène?”

“That’s!…Yeah…Yeah like me. Like that. It’s been an experience…Mylène has changed and so have I and I’m not convinced either change was for the better. So I took a step back. I had hoped she would understand and I’ve been trying to give her space…” He admitted.

A voice, a familiar heart-breaking voice, cut off whatever Alya was going to say next and it had Ivan stiffen in his seat. “Ivan? Why are you down here with Alya? Alone?” 

Mylène.

“Hey Mylène.”

Ivan tiredly watched as his girlfriend looked between him and Alya with a frown on her face, her hands on her hips and one foot tapping the floor impatiently. It would have brought him some amusement-she looked like a cartoon character-but he knew if he laughed it wouldn’t be appreciated. “You didn’t answer my question. Lila says-”

“Mylène.” Alya cut in as she stared at her friend in confusion and something else that Ivan could not identify but he was grateful that Mylène’s attention was not on him. “He…He wasn’t feeling well. I just wanted to see if he was alright.”

It wasn’t a complete lie, but it wasn’t the full truth but Ivan appreciated it all the same. “Yeah. I’m actually going to head to bed. Night girls.”

Without hearing their replies the boy got up and made his way to the elevators. He wasn’t one for many words, he didn’t really enjoy talking but this was one conversation he knew he would have to have many times over. For Marinette he would do it. For his friends he would do it. For himself…he would do it. So once he was on his level, Ivan squared his shoulders and passed his own room only to stop at another and knock. Once the door opened he stared down at a former friend, one he missed. He knew from experience that people found him intimidating given his size and his apparent ‘resting bitch face’ but Max just glared up at him with all his anger and determination. It made Ivan smile despite the situation.

“Can we talk please?” 

_______________________

Swanky Hank@iamsadlynotkingofahill

Guess who got fired! UnU

#imeanfair #butitsucks #butfair #imeanididgiveoutprivateinfo 

Ello@nahimjustawormRetweeted

That’s rough buddy

           Swanky Hank@iamsadlynotkingofahill

           Guess who got fired! UnU

           #imeanfair #butitsucks #butfair #imeanididgiveoutprivateinfo

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Summary: Marc was determined to find his redheaded friend and finally have a talk, whether said friend wanted to or not. They couldn’t ignore each other forever.

Marc never liked confrontation. He hated it in fact. It always made his heart jump in his throat and made his skin tingle uncomfortably like there were tiny hairs all over his body that you always mistook for bugs. It was a sensation he was very much not a fan of, but one he felt too often for his liking. But even though he hated confrontation and the feelings it brought along he knew he couldn’t put this off, nor did he want to. Nathaniel was his friend, his business partner, his crush, as much as he didn’t want to talk to Nath about the Lila thing and the Marinette thing, Marc deserved answers and Nathaniel had been avoiding him. Sure in the beginning he had been avoiding the redhead as well but he felt that was to be expected, Nath knew him, knew what he was like and really the whole situation was very overwhelming. One of his closest friends was turned into an akuma, the deadliest and smartest akumas to date, and she went missing. There was no trace of her. Then there was the fact that apparently her class had a big hand in her akumatization.

Now it was just speculation but all be damned if there wasn’t some circumstantial evidence that helped “prove” that theory. It was a theory that was not hard to believe, everyone in the school could see the change in Mlle Bustier’s class, and they could see it hadn’t been a good change. But it didn’t matter how many times Marc asked Nathaniel if everything was okay in his class, it didn’t matter how many times Marc asked Aurore to help him talk to Mme Mendeleiev about what was maybe going on in Mlle Bustier’s class, nothing was being done, and nothing he or his friends did seemed to make a dent in the infamous ‘Akuma Class’s’ walls. The class had a reputation of being close, but where once it was admired and seen as a good thing, it grew to be something intimidating and off putting. It seemed like no matter what you did, no matter how hard you tried, there was nothing you could do to get close to anyone in the class. There was no way to break through or be invited past the walls. 

Marc had been lucky, or it had seemed that way for a while. Marinette was always the anomaly in the ‘Akuma Class’, she would talk to kids outside her class, she would try and make other friends, and other kids tried to be friends with her too. Marinette just had this gravitational pull to her, she was a star and many wanted to be a part of her constellation, but her classmates always seemed to keep her just out of everyone else’s reach. When Marinette had started talking to him it was nothing short of feeling like he was speaking to a goddess and he wished he was joking, because that is exactly how he felt when she approached him. Of course there was his whole akumatization but that had been a stupid misunderstanding and he still felt bad for blaming her and even thinking she was malicious enough to want to embarrass him on purpose, even if it was for a brief moment. It was what happened after that made him feel like he had received a blessing, he met Nathaniel, someone he had always admired, whether it was his art or simply just his looks.

 Marc thought Nathaniel’s art was incredible and that the boy himself was cute, then Marinette happened and he soon found himself in a partnership with the artist and next thing he knew they were making a comic series together. A rather successful one at that. Marc couldn’t have been happier and really it was all thanks to Marinette, he had wanted to find some way to thank her ever since, but everything he thought up always seemed subpar. And yet he still kept thinking of ways to thank her but in the end he would never get a chance to, because Marinette was gone. No one knew where she was. She was still an akuma and it was more than likely her classmates that drove her to being possessed by said akuma. The boy huffed when he realized his thoughts had just done a complete circle yet again. That had been happening more and more recently. 

He would think about how Nathaniel was really not being subtle about avoiding him, then his thoughts would predictably turn towards Marinette and how kind and amazing she was. Then of course his thoughts would go to her disappearance and of course the fact that not only did she disappear, but she disappeared as an akuma. There had been no Miraculous Ladybug to cure and repair everything that had gone wrong, and boy had things gone wrong. It was like Paris as a whole had been the one to be akumatized rather than Marinette, everyone acted differently or just completely out of their minds. Marc couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of the overzealous-and that was putting it mildly-followers that The Protector had somehow garnered after her disappearance. He had never run into any of them thank goodness, but all the stories he had heard and read about from eyes-witnesses had him glad he was never one to go out much anyways. But it was those overzealous sycophants and the rowdy self-righteous kids in school that had him worried and wanting to find and speak to Nathaniel. 

He had checked all of Nathaniel’s old haunts, he had been very surprised that the redhead had not been in the art room but then he remembered the club’s attitude towards the ‘Akuma Class’ and he felt foolish for even checking there in the first place. So he basically just went on a blind hunt for Nathaniel and hoped he would be able to find the boy before lunch was over. Thankfully he knew Nathaniel always had lunch at school since his parents weren’t able to pick him up to take home for lunch and back to school after. So he continued looking for his friend, at least, he hoped they were still friends and if they weren’t then hopefully they could work towards being friends once more. Though he knew if he did manage to find Nathaniel, the talk they had to have wouldn’t be pleasant, he just hoped that both of them could manage not to blow anything out of proportion. 

Both of them were driven by their emotions, and they both tended to jump to conclusions, point and case being their individual akumatizations. Marc grumbled as he shut the locker room door as there was no redhead in sight. He hated having to be the rational one. He was just fine being the hot mess he was, he was content to be that and proudly made sure everyone knew it. Though he liked sharing the role with Marinette, the two of them bonded over the fact that they couldn’t go through one day without something happening because they were always in a tizzy. It was great to find someone he shared that with, they had even joked about making a club, but overall it was just great to have a friend that understood when he spiraled over something so little as misplacing his journal. Marinette made him feel seen, she helped him come out of his shell, she was the reason he was able to make friends. She would always deny it and say that was all him but he knew if she had never talked to him he probably would have been content to just stay in the shadows away from everyone. 

It was when he was getting frustrated and decided to just eat his lunch in Mme Mendeleiev’s homeroom class (he wouldn’t dare try and eat in her lab even if it was closer to him after the lecture she gave to one of his classmates that decided it was a good time to snack while in the lab) and try again tomorrow that he saw a familiar head of red hair sitting at a desk at the back. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

“Marc? What…what are you doing here?” Nathaniel asked, it was clear he had not been expecting anyone to walk in. To be fair, not many people had permission to eat their lunch in Mme Mendeleiev’s homeroom and not many of them ran into each other.

“I did just say, ‘So this is where you’ve been hiding,’ I think that is rather clear.”

“You were looking for me?” Nath asked cautiously and Marc had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes even if he was getting frustrated. He found himself getting frustrated easier and faster nowadays. Stupid hormones. 

“Well yeah. You’ve certainly haven’t made it easy. You’ve been avoiding me.” 

“I haven’t-”

“Don’t lie to me.” 

“Well what do you want me to say Marc?” 

“I-” Marc started but he realized it was a bit more heated than he wanted it to be, with a sigh it was like all his frustration and determination left him. “I didn’t come here to fight Nath.”

“I’m…Look. I’m sorry Marc. It’s just, that’s all anyone seems to want to do nowadays.” Nathaniel did look sorry so Marc didn’t hold it against him, and to be fair he himself came in a little hot headed so he just nodded his head as he walked closer. He didn’t sit at the desk with Nathaniel but since the boy was sitting on the edge anyway he decided to sit in the desk across from him. “I guess that’s why I’m…hiding. Everyone just wants to fight, or, or yell at me- at us, about how awful we are and how we let her down!”

“Well…” Marc began as he picked off lint from his fingerless gloves, it was a nervous habit. Thankfully he hadn’t accidentally picked a stray string and unraveled the gloves but he knew it was only a matter of when. “I didn’t track you down to yell at you.”

“Are-Aren’t you mad at me?”

“I was. I’m not going to lie. But I think you’re mad at yourself enough for the both of us.” Marc said as he gestured to Nath’s bandaged hands. He was one of the few people that knew how self-destructive Nath could be when upset, especially when he was upset at himself. He would force himself to work on a wood carving project, something he rarely did, but he wouldn’t put on the protective gloves, so if he got nicked by a tool he would feel it. Marc tried his best to get Nath to stop, and he thought he had succeeded. Looks like he in all actuality failed. “I wish you wouldn’t do that..”

“I know.” Nath admitted softly. 

“Have you been…working on a project recently?” Marc asked softly, still looking at Nathaniel’s bandaged hands. There were so many band aids he could barely see the boy’s pale skin.

Nathaniel shook his head, it was then that Marc noticed the red hair that was usually well kept was greasy and a mess. His heart clenched at the knowledge that his friend was neglecting his self-care. “No…I haven’t had the energy to really work on anything. I’ve thought about it…but no. No new projects, er, carving-wise.”

It was Marc’s turn to nod. There was a moment of silence and where once it would have been comfortable like all the silence shared between them was before, now it was long, it was uncomfortable and it was nerve wracking. “Nath? What happened?”

“I don’t even know what to say Marc. Or well, I do, I just don’t know where to start.”

“Start wherever you’re most comfortable.” 

“I…I didn’t really pay attention to Lila. I know that doesn’t give me any points. I know it doesn’t make me better than my classmates, but I genuinely didn’t really pay attention to her.” Nathaniel started with a far away look in his eyes. “Sure she had amazing stories and such but they just never hooked me. Like, I don’t know how to explain it, there were stories for everyone to hear, to relate to, but there was always a constant. Her.”

“Everything was about her.” Marc muttered, he remembered hearing her regale her posy with a tale of herself meeting some big name author and he had felt like her eyes had been on him but he had just kept walking to his table with his friends. 

“Yeah. Exactly. And well, we were so busy with our comic, I just never really paid attention to what was going on in class. You know how I can get.” Nath said as he ran a hand through his hair. 

Marc nodded, he did know how Nathaniel could get because he was the same way. When they were in the zone everything else was like a haze, if they didn’t set alarms in their phones they would definitely forget to eat or take breaks. The alarms had been Marinette’s doing. “We both get like that when it comes to the comic.”

“So when I get like that, I usually have Alix tell me what’s going on in class and with our friends so I’m in the loop.” Nath explained as he looked down at his hands as he clenched and unclenched them. “But…I should have known better. Alix, I love Alix, but Alix is stubborn and rash, and….but she’s loyal. So when she told me Marinette didn’t like Lila and she explained that Marinette was being a bully…I was confused because Marinette has never been like that but at the same time I wasn’t her friend till this year…”

“So you-”

“So I listened to Alix, but it wasn’t just Alix. Everyone was talking about it! How Marinette had changed and how she was being mean to Lila! I…I listened to them. I didn’t partake in anything but I knew they were pulling pranks on her.” Nathaniel’s words were choked out on a sob. 

“I didn’t want to get involved. I-I hate situations like that, and I didn’t want to get involved so I didn’t,” Nathaniel cried. “And I have never regretted anything more. I should have looked into things more, I shouldn’t have just taken things at face value, I should have done something!”

At this Marc himself was crying too so he stood up and pushed Nath more into the desk so he could sit beside him and hug his friend. He didn’t know how long they sat there like that, just crying for anyone to hear, but it felt good. It felt good to hug his friend again and to just cry with someone he trusted. Yes Nathaniel made a mistake, but at least the boy realized that himself and felt ashamed, there was no need for Marc to punish his friend more. He knew people wouldn’t understand him forgiving Nathaniel but he didn’t care, people are allowed to make mistakes, especially children. This was a mistake, a big mistake, but it wasn’t made intentionally and everyone was already suffering because of it. Marc didn’t see the point of continuing to place blame on Nathaniel, what happened was terrible and one of their friends was missing because of it, but there was no way to heal and move forward if he decided to continue to be mad and hateful. 

“You might think it’s too late…” Marc began softly, “but the fact that you recognize what you did was a problem and feel regretful, shows how sorry you are. Nath, I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t mad at you, because I was. But you can’t keep punishing yourself for the past.”

“How can you forgive me?” Nath asked around his choked out sobs.

“Because you’re my friend.” Marc said firmly as he hugged Nathaniel tighter. “And…and because it’s what Marinette would do.”

The room was quiet as Marc had memory after memory of Marinette flooded his brain, he imagined the same could be said for Nathaniel who was still crying but had managed to calm down enough to stop his choked out sobs. Now all that could be heard from him was sniffling. They just sat there hugging each other, remembering their friend and hoping to muffle and forget everything going on outside for just a moment. One moment was all they needed, away from the chaos and the crushing weight of judgments and expectations, just one moment to be just them. A moment where no one would yell or laugh at their misery, or have people expect them to jump on the bandwagon and treat the class like social pariahs. In that empty classroom they could be just Marc and Nathaniel, two boys who desperately missed their friend. 

“She was always too forgiving.” Nathaniel mumbled with a sad chuckle. “Even when someone didn’t deserve it…she was always ready to forgive.”

“She really was. Marinette,” Marc tried to ignore the pain in his chest at her name, “Marinette was amazing, and kind, and selfless, and so so much more.”

“She was…” Nathaniel sighed as he gently pulled away from Marc and ran a hand through his hair. “And-and it hurts that people, well a majority, only see her as The Protector. That’s not Marinette, that will never be her. Marinette was many things, and I want to remember her as those rather than…than the akuma she left us as.”

“Sometimes…Sometimes people only want to see the akuma. They only want to see the bad in people or they only see what they want to see.” Marc supplied with a tilt of his head and shrug of his shoulders. It was depressing but it was the truth. 

“She’snot her akuma! We’re not our akumas!” Nathaniel said hotly.

Marc flinched even though he knew Nath wasn’t yelling at him, but he nodded all the same. “You know…people were still wary around me after the whole…Reverser incident. It was like they expected me to turn into…him at any moment. Some of my classmates even stopped talking to me altogether.” 

“Marc…That’s awful.”

“It is. But it stopped eventually.”

“How? W-Why?”

Marc gave Nathaniel a bright smile. “You happened. You suggested making my akuma a hero in the comic. Like how you turned Evillustrator into Mighty-Illustrator. And we paired up to make the comic which definitely helped, but really, it was the comic itself that helped me. People saw my akuma not as Reverser, they saw the hero you made it to be, they saw it as Contrary Wise.”

“You did that too, you know? You wrote your akuma as a hero fantastically. You write fantastically Marc. I don’t know where I’d be without you.” 

“My point is,” Marc laughed and bumped Nath with his shoulder to try and hide his blush, “you helped everyone separate me from Reverser.”

Marc watched as Nath smiled and rubbed the back of his neck before the boy stopped and sat up suddenly, no longer slouching. He turned to Marc with wide, excited eyes. “That’s what we need to do!”

“What?”

“We! I’ve been wanting to make something for her anyways but I didn’t think I could because I didn’t know if you still wanted to work with me. But you’re here now! It can happen! We can make it!” Nathaniel babbled as he gestured wildly with his hands. 

“Make what, Nath? I just want you to make sense!”

“We make another comic!” Nathaniel announced as he fumbled with his backpack before he yanked out his ‘Ideas’ journal. “Only this time it won’t feature Ladybug. Ladybug is gone. Marinette…well Mari as Ladybug promised to always protect us. She never realized she was a hero all the time. To all of us. Mask or no mask.”

Marc started getting excited and a bit sad when he realized what Nath wanted. “A comic dedicated to her but her as Marinette. The everyday hero. Our everyday hero. No mask.”

“We show everyone she’s not The Protector. Not just Ladybug. She’s human. Like all of us, we show Paris that we can be heroes too. Not…not like we, we.”

“I know what you mean, Nath. We show them that Paris…that we, the people, can be heroes like Marinette.” Marc beamed with pride at his friend. 

Nathaniel nodded and gave a more bittersweet smile. “Like Marinette.”

Next Chapter