@maribat-calendar-events

Link to AO3

Marinette stared down at her phone, a blush spreading from her chest into every part of her body. Was she on fire? She felt like she was on fire. Was Jason talking about her? These videos had to be doctored somehow. Why on earth had Conner sent these to her? And the voice notes weren’t much better, though at least she couldn’t see the faraway look on Jason’s face when she listened to them 

Strikeback AU, Adrien/Cat Noir bashing/salt, Felix/Flairmidable, Adrien OOC, Felix doesn't win here and neither does Adrien, warning: poisoning.

___

Cat Noir watched as Ladybug and Flairmidable were talking together. He was perplexed about the new Dog hero, as she just lent the same Miraculous to a girl just a couple of days ago. He didn't think Miss Hound was a memorable addition to the team but he also couldn't remember her double crossing Ladybug in any way to justify getting her replaced from the team so suddenly. Especially by this random dude, who seemed to try his luck with his lady.

He then noticed how flustered Ladybug was getting around this new hero. "So it's him !" Cat Noir murmured under his breath. "I knew she'd recruit the guy she's in love with in her team eventually, I bet she was just waiting for this moment to finally get rid of him completely by having her crush fight alongside him. Too bad that I came prepared for this day!" He finally took out a croissant, which he Cataclysmed with his finger. However the croissant didn't disintegrate or even change composition at all. "Plagg told me that you can use Cataclysm to destroy the composition of an object but not the object itself so you can trick your opponents into thinking the object it's still intact. This method works on food as well and it makes what looks a completely delicious croissant become literally poison."

"Now it's time to get my payback" - murmured Cat Noir again. He went to Ladybug and Flairmidable and of course Ladybug tried to excitedly introduce him to the new hero, but he was having none of it. "I can't wait to wipe that smirk off your face".

He started eating a croissant in front of both of them and Ladybug scolded him about this not being the right time for it, but Cat Noir argued that he was too hungry to wait any longer. Flairmidable's stomach suddenly started growling much to his annoyance and Cat Noir's satisfaction "And it looks like I'm not the only one who is".

"Of course that loser had to start chewing that damn thing just as I'm quite literally starving over here". The moment Felix saw Adrien was due to leave Paris today he skipped all of his meals so he could come over to Paris to swap places with Adrien before he would leave. He had no other choice, this was his once in a lifetime opportunity to rob his uncle of the jewelery that was holding his life and he already got sidetracked by the fake Miraculous, but at least Ladybug unknowingly gave him the opportunity to outsmart his uncle once and for all. He was willing to deal with all of these annoying people and his body's needs in order to achieve his goal. He wasn't gonna let a hungry stomach get in the way of his mission !

"Hey, dude!", Cat Noir suddenly startled him from his thoughts. "It looks like I'm not the only who needs a bite. Lucky for you I've got a second croissant and I'm willing to give it to you."

Flairmidable: Sorry to tell you, but I don't need anything from you. If you can't see, we've got a villain to deal with, we don't have time to lose to eat sweet croissants ! Flairmidable's stomach started growling again after he said that "Crap!".

Cat Noir: Your stomach is clearly disagreeing with you about that, my cat ears don't lie. And look, we need all the energy possible to defeat this villain and Ladybug's gonna take her sweet time to gather everyone around for her final plan, so you have time enough time to devour this sweet croissant before we get into position.

Flairmidable: Ughh, fine, but I'm only doing this to shut you up.

Cat Noir: And your stomach as well I bet. Cat Noir winked.

Flairmidable started quickly eating the croissant. He didn't want to admit it, but it was delicious.

Cat Noir: I can tell you from what bakery you can find more such delicious croissants if you're a fan.

Flairmidable: Let's stop wasting time and concentrate on the villain at hand. "After all, he was after a much bigger prize later on."

Ladybug gathered and gave everyone from the team her multipled Lucky Charm sunnyglasses so they could go in and defeat Strikeback. As Flairmidable was about to take his pair, his stomach suddenly started growling intensely, making him drop his glasses and clutch his abdomen in pain. Everyone started being worried about Flairmidable instantly except for Cat Noir.

Ladybug: Are you alright Flairmidable ? What happened to you ?

Cat Noir: I think he's still hungry for some more of my delicious croissants. Said Cat Noir smirking.

Flairmidable's face turned green after hearing Cat Noir say that.

Flairmidable: Croissants ... (another intense stomach growling) let me go, LET ME GO !

He suddenly run over to the edge of the rooftop so he could start puking on the streets. And his puking was uncontrollable.

Ladybug: Oh My God Adrien ! Please detransform urgently, I think your Miraculous may have gotten broken and it's affecting your body !

Cat Noir murmured "Adrien ?!? I mean me ? How could that be possible ? Unless ... Oh no !"

Flairmidable detransformed and Cat Noir saw Felix in his earlier disguise of him. He stopped puking, but his face was still green and his stomach was still growling horribly while he was clutching it.

Felix: Help ... me ...

Cat Noir: Felix ?!? How are you here ?!? Why ?!

Ladybug: Wait, Felix ?!? Ladybug suddenly looked at the ill looking "Adrien".

Felix: You ... How could you ... ugh ... you couldn't ... couldn't have known it was me unless you ... you're Adrien !

Everyone suddenly gasped and Ladybug looked at Cat Noir with horror.

Ladybug: Cat Noir, is it true what he's saying ? You're really -

Cat Noir: Look M'Lady, I can explain !

Felix: You did it purposefully, suddenly shouted a green paled Felix. That croissant, you did this to me ! I will destroy you !

Felix got up and tried to charge up towards Cat Noir, but he was stopped in his tracks by more horrible growls coming from his infected stomach.

Felix: Oh no, not that again - suddenly he was back throwing up and this time he was doing it on the rooftop in front of everyone.

Ladybug: Someone needs to take him to receive medical help RIGHT NOW ! Carapace, take him to the nearest hospital that isn't in the radius of the sentimonsters.

Carapace took the almost unconcious Felix and started jumping towards the nearest undestroyed hospital "Please don't throw up on me dude".

Cat Noir: M'Lady look - but Ladybug stopped him in his tracks while she was examining by the Dog Miraculous.

Ladybug: You know Cat Noir, or should I say Adrien, Master Fu warned me that a Miraculous holder can only get sick while trasnformed if their Miraculous is damaged or their body got altered by another Miraculous' power. And the Dog Miraculous looks to be completely intact. So was what Flairmidable said true, did you really do something to him ?

Cat Noir: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -

Ladybug: What did you ?!?

Cat Noir: I cataclysmed the composition of a croissant and then gave it him.

Ladybug: Why the hell you did that ? You could've killed him !

Cat Noir: I didn't want to kill him, just to make him a bit sick and make him unable to complete this mission, I didn't thought he'd get sick that badly !

Ladybug: But why ? Why would you poison your own cousin ?

Cat Noir: I didn't know he was MY cousin, I would've have done it if I knew. And truth be told, I didn't want to lose you !

Ladybug: What ?

Cat Noir: I thought this was the guy you were in love with with the way you were acting around him and I honestly couldn't stand the thought of you two working together, you replacing me with him, I needed to do something, I couldn't lose you, you know I'm still in love with you.

Ladybug looked at him in horror for a couple of moments afterwards, but finally resigned.

Ladybug: I should've done this earlier. She subtly gave a signal to someone behind her back.

Cat Noir: Do wh- Suddenly Cat Noir was paralyzed from behind his back by Vesperia. Ladybug took the Miraculous from him unceremounisly and he detransformed back to Adrien.

Chapter 17: As the Shadow Darkens

Adrien paced back and forth in his lavishly decorated room, his fists clenched in frustration as he glared at the screen of his phone. The image on Marinette's Instagram sent a surge of anger through him, his blood simmering with jealousy and betrayal. How dare she declare herself part of a polycule with Jay, Chloe, and Felix? In his mind, Marinette belonged to him and him alone. The audacity of her to date others ignited a fire within him.

"Who does she think she is?" Adrien muttered to himself, his voice laced with venomous anger. The idea that Marinette could be with anyone other than him was unfathomable. He believed he was the only one worthy of her affection, the only one who truly understood her. As he plotted a way to reclaim her, he believed he held the power to set things right. All he needed was to separate Marinette from Jay, and then everything would fall back into place. In his twisted perception, Jay was a threat to his beloved princess, poisoning her mind and leading her astray. Adrien was convinced that once Marinette was away from Jay's influence, she would return to the girl he believed she should be.

As he plotted his next move to confront Marinette, his phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. A notification from the Ladyblog flashed on the screen, catching his attention. The thumbnail displayed three mysterious streaks of color soaring through the Parisian sky, accompanied by the headline "New Heroes in the Midst."

Adrien's brows furrowed in confusion and irritation. Silver and yellow were not colors he associated with any known heroes. The realization that Ladybug might be preoccupied with these new heroes instead of him only fueled his mounting frustration. If these newcomers were the reason Ladybug had been avoiding him, he vowed to uncover their identities and put an end to their interference.

His mind racing with thoughts of Marinette and Ladybug, Adrien's determination solidified. He couldn't allow anyone to come between him and the two women who held his heart. With a steely resolve, he made a silent vow to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his, no matter the cost.

"Plagg," Adrien called out, his voice echoing in the dimly lit room as he watched the small kwami emerge from the confines of his cage. The air was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken threats hanging heavily between them.

"You're aware of Ladybug's true identity, aren't you?" Adrien inquired, his eyes fixed on the creature before him.

"Yes, that is correct," Plagg replied his voice a soft whisper that seemed to carry the burden of Adrien’s recent anger.

"Tell me," Adrien demanded, his eyes filled with a fierce intensity that displayed his clear obsession. The need for answers burned within him, a relentless flame that threatened to consume everything in its path.

A pained expression crossed Plagg's face. "You know I cannot reveal that information, Adrien. It goes against the very core of our existence."

Frustration boiling over, Adrien's facade of composure shattered. With a sudden outburst, he struck the wall beside Plagg, the impact reverberating through the room. "Tell me how I can uncover it then!" he yelled, his voice laced with anger and anguish.

"I... I can't do that!" Plagg's voice wavered, a note of fear creeping into his tone.

Adrien's patience wore thin, his emotions raw and unfiltered. "I don't want to hear your excuses!" Adrien's retort was sharp, filled with bitterness that cut through the air like a blade. His frustration boiled over, mingling with a sense of betrayal that threatened to consume him whole.

"God, you're just as useless as everyone else in my life!" Adrien's words were a bitter revelation, a stark reminder of the isolation and loneliness that had plagued him for so long. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, as he clenched his fist against the wall before turning away from the small god-like creature.

Adrien continued to let his annoyance rise as he went through the motions of getting dressed for school, the weight of his anger lingering in the air. With each article of c loathing he donned, a sense of irritation settled within him as his mind kept circling on Marinette and Ladybug. 

Upon arriving at school, the atmosphere cracked with excitement and speculation as the students whispered about the new heroes spotted in the city. Adrien’s sour mood deepened as he absorbed the buzz swirling around him, how dare they be excited about new heroes? Traitors each and every one of them he thought bitterly. 

Adrien walked into class, quickly noting that Nino was sitting with Alya today, he went and sat in the row behind them, huffing as he did so. Nino, ever perceptive, noticed Adrien's subdued demeanor and wasted no time in addressing it. "Hey, man, you alright? You're looking pretty ticked off," he remarked, prompting Alya to pivot in her seat to join the conversation.

Alya's voice carried a hint of annoyance as she chimed in, her words laden with disapproval. "I bet he's fuming for the same reason as me. What on earth does Ladybug think she's playing at, replacing Chat Noir and Reyna?"

Adrien's brows furrowed in confusion at the mention of Reyna being replaced, a revelation that caught him off guard. "She replaced Reyna?" he questioned, a mix of surprise and disbelief coloring his tone.

Alya shook her head, her expression a mix of frustration and uncertainty. "It's not official or anything, but I have a feeling that the Silver streak alongside Ladybug is a new fox hero. And honestly, I'm not a fan of it. She had a solid team with Chat Noir, Reyna, and Carapace. Why shake things up now?"

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Discussing the heroes, are we?" Lila's voice dripped with faux sweetness, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she inserted herself into the conversation, sitting next to Adrien.

Adrien's patience had already worn thin and his tone was sharper than he intended as he addressed Lila. "What do you want, Lila?" His words carried a hint of frustration, a reflection of her presence always seemed to bring unease. Adrien glared at Nino, silently annoyed that the boy had chosen to sit with his girlfriend today instead of beside him.

Lila's smile widened a calculated move to mask her true intentions. "I overheard your little chat about Ladybug. It's such a shame to see her ego getting the best of her, isn't it?" Her words were laced with a subtle hint of disdain, a veiled attempt to sow discord among the group.

Alya raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "You mean you didn’t know about this?" she inquired, her tone tinged with skepticism.

Lila's facade cracked, revealing a vulnerability that caught everyone off guard. "No, I had no idea. Ladybug's been pulling away from me, and I can't shake the feeling that those new heroes are somehow involved," she confessed, tears glistening in her eyes.

Adrien's expression softened slightly, the animosity he felt towards Lila momentarily replaced by a flicker of empathy. "Hey, it's gonna be okay, Lila. Maybe there's a misunderstanding. Ladybug's probably just caught up with hero stuff," he offered, attempting to soothe the tension that hung in the air.

Lila's gaze met Adrien's, a mix of relief and uncertainty in her eyes. "You really think so?" she whispered, her voice tinged with hope.

“I plan to fix this,” Adrien said with a threatening tone, that threw Lila, Alya, and Nino off. Adrien stood at the back of the classroom, his gaze fixed on Marinette as she entered the room. His heart clenched at the sight of her hand intertwined with Chloe's, and Felix's possessive gesture over her shoulder sent a surge of jealousy coursing through him. The air in the room seemed to thicken with unspoken tension, each glance and touch laden with hidden meanings and tangled emotions.

Alya's disapproving murmur broke the silence, "Ugh, what a slut," she muttered under her breath, her head shaking in disdain.

Adrien's jaw clenched, a surge of possessiveness bubbling within him at the sight of Marinette with Felix and Chloe. "It's all that damn Jay's fault. He's poisoned her mind and taken her away from me," he seethed, his fists balling in silent anger.

"She should've been mine," Adrien's admission hung heavy in the air, a confession of unrequited love and missed opportunities. The bitterness in his voice was matched only by the intensity of his gaze, fixed unwaveringly on Marinette and the company she now kept.

Nino's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face Adrien, "Woah, you like Marinette, dude?" he asked, a mix of shock and curiosity in his voice.

Adrien's gaze remained fixed on Marinette, his expression a mix of longing and frustration. "At first, I was in love with someone else," he confessed, his voice tinged with regret, "but then I realized who I thought the real Marinette was. Now she's become tainted, and I just wish I could take her away from him and bring her back to how she was before, before they poisoned her mind.." His eyes burned with a fierce intensity as he glared at Felix and Chloe, who continued to display their possessiveness over Marinette.

"What if you just moved on, Adrien?" Lila's voice, though soft, carried a seductive undertone, her fingers tracing a tantalizing path over his skin. The intimate gesture was calculated, a display of her desire to claim him for herself.

Her words, laced with a subtle hint of possessiveness, echoed in the air, a siren's call tempting Adrien to consider a different path. "Surely you could find someone else to love," she purred, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

Adrien's expression hardened as he gently but firmly removed Lila's hand from his arm, his voice resolute. "Lila, I appreciate your concern, but Marinette is mine, and there is to be no questions or double about that," he stated firmly, his gaze unwavering. "I will get her back and I will get her to how she was before."

Lila's facade faltered for a moment, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features before she quickly masked it with a forced smile. "I was just trying to help, Adrien. You know I care about you," she replied, her voice tinged with false sweetness.

A sudden realization dawned on Adrien, a calculated plan forming in his mind as he recalled Marinette's unmistakable jealousy towards Lila. Perhaps, he mused, by showing a closeness to Lila, he could ignite a spark of emotion in Marinette, proving that she still held some care for him.

Adrien's arm casually found its way around Lila's shoulder, his touch eliciting a faint blush on the girl's cheeks. "You know, Lila, you're actually a really good friend," he murmured, leaning in close to her ear. The proximity between them crackled with a tension that was not lost on either of them.

As Adrien glanced back, a twisted sense of satisfaction blossomed within him at the sight of a flicker of disgust crossing Marinette's features. The realization that his actions had stirred something within her fueled a dangerous thrill in him, a game of emotions and manipulation unfolding before his eyes.

 Lila, oblivious to Adrien's inner turmoil, leaned slightly into his touch, her eyes alight with a newfound sense of hope. The blush on her cheeks deepened, a physical manifestation of the emotions swirling within her at Adrien's unexpected display of affection.

"You're too kind, Adrien," Lila replied, her voice tinged with a hint of longing that went unnoticed by the boy beside her. The tension between them crackled with unspoken desires and hidden agendas, a dangerous dance of emotions unfolding under the watchful eyes of their peers.

The bell finally rang and Ms. Bustier walked into the room, however, Adrien never dropped his arm from Lila’s shoulder. In fact, he would occasionally whisper in her ear, and each time he did he watched the same disgusted expression cross over Marinette's face. 

This solidified it for Adrien, Marinette still wanted him, and there was no other explanation for why she would be disgusted when he touched Lila. He let a sinister smirk linger on his face. He had an in, now he would just have to play it up until eventually Marinette exploded, and know his princess and how volatile her emotions were it wouldn’t be too long before she did explode and he would gladly take her back once she admitted to everything.

[ Prefer to read on Archive of Our Own? Link HERE! ]

[ Previous Chapter - Next Chapter ]

After years of dealing with each other Lila Rossi win’s when she  convinces Hawkmoth that Marinette is Ladybug. In order to throw off  suspicion and keep the Miracle Box safe Marinette and her supportive parents leave Paris and head to Gotham of all places. In this new place  away from her friends and her unhealthy routines Marinette is forced to  confront herself and change for the better. Helping her on her journey  is a surprising new friend and potential ally. When Alya missing her  friend learns about the chance to win a free trip to Gotham she  convinces the class to work hard to qualify. When her new life clashes  with her old one will Marinette be able to hold on strong to her new  confidence or will she crumble under the pressure?

( This fic will be for the most part comedic, fluffy, and sweet, with only a bit of seriousness to tie it together. With only the mildest salt  because I don’t think the class or Adrien are bad people just that they  can be naive and selfish thanks to the canon writing. I hope you enjoy  reading this work and have fun with me on this journey. )

Ladybug Look-a-like by @sturchling

This doesn't actually have a title

Adrien salt where Adrien tries to date a girl he thinks is Ladybug, but she's already dating someone and honestly doesn't like Adrien since he keeps pulling the poor little rich boy act. Adrien doesn't give up and it gets him in trouble.

Everything You Deserve [Major Adrien Salt Ahead] by @aliensunflower-fics

“Why would she recognize you dude? Its not like your famous or anything.”

And that hurt somehow. He didnt know why the idea of Marinette’s room being empty of all his photos bothered him but it did. He missed Marinette he wanted her to rejoin there class to help makes things ‘correct’ but Marinette didn’t stop to speak or even look at him, and when he looked her up later he learned she was perfectly happy maybe even happier then she was, she was working hard toward her dreams of being a Fashion Designer, she had many new friends including some old friendly faces like Kagami, Alya, Luka and others.

Ladies and Gentleman: Him by @stormiclown

Ladies and Gentlemen: Stephan Vladislav

”No, you listen to me, Bratdrien,” the Russian model said menacingly, having enough of beating around the bush. “Here’s what will happen. You will stay out of my way and continue being a wet napkin. Something you excel at. Stay away from Marinette. If I catch you trying to guilt trip, gaslight or scapegoat her into catering Lila’s whims, I will expose the liar as well as the fact that you knew and didn’t bother to say anything.”

Chills ran down Adrien’s spine as he finally seemed to register the danger he was in, “Y-you can’t do that. You have no proof!” He wasn’t sure if that was true, but the blonde felt like he had no choice but to say that.

Good luck charm gone by @merry-madness

Adrien was the one who got the classes good luck charm stolen. It was the one thing in his life he regrets and still regrets to this day. Because of that one decision he ruin not only his life but the life of everyone in the class.

All because he made Marinette Dupain-Cheng leave.

Part Two

Remember some chapters are longer than others

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧

Like a lot of mainland French people, Chloe thinks Martiniquais people don't speak 'proper' French and makes fun of Alya for a slip of the tongue. Adrien, rather than calling her out, says she kind of has a point, but Alya 'is one of the good ones' and 'is well spoken' so Chloe shouldn't say that to her specifically. Alya is too floored to even respond to how messed up that is.

Fortunately, Nino has plenty of words in response.

Chapter Twenty Six: Orange Is Not The New Black

guys I struggled so much with this chapter and there isn't even a reason why

---

Alya Césaire knew two things for certain.

One, Ladybug made a mistake taking away her Miraculous and giving it to someone else. And two, the new Cat hero just wasn't cutting it.

Alya scowled up at the black and white figures dancing around the Akuma. She could hear the one in white swearing viciously as she dodged the wave of blood that came crashing out of nowhere.

“Look at this, Ladybloggers! Noir can barely stay alive and we expect her to save us from Hawkmoth?” Alya announced smugly to her fans as she filmed the fight. “And this new hero? What a joke! They don’t even have a name, and they’re barely fighting back! Where the hell is Ladybug? Doesn’t she care about us anymore?”

Alya ran after the Akuma, who was once her ridiculously dramatic teacher Madam Camille. Alya couldn’t believe her teacher turned into an Akuma just because she told her no one gave a shit about her stupid lesson on Jack the Ripper.

“I can’t believe Ladybug is so incompetant that she left us with these idiots! Where the hell is she?"

After stopping in an alley to continue her rant, Alya paced back and forth, stopping to kick a pop can into a nearby dumpster.

"It's so awful that Ladybug abandoned us like--"

A shadow fell across the alley, making Alya freeze in her place.

"Alya Césaire! Still feel that Jack the Ripper is boring?"

---

Orange was not the new black.

That had always been something Chloé firmly believed since she was able to string thoughts together. It was too sharp of a color and yet so, so dull. Everything about it was awful--Chloé never understood why the fake reporter had been so obsessed with it.

It was why she had been so relieved to find her suit didn't have a speck of orange.

Her suit--or the one she made for Noir being Chloé being a fox--was still black, but white gloves with black tips covered her hands. Instead of cat ears, her head was covered with an black hood with new fox-like ears situated on top. Instead of a mask to cover her eyes, Noir now had a white bandana face covering. Falling elegantly from her shoulders was a black cloak with white on the inside.

She looked fantastic, and the murmurs of agreement from inside her head why did she feel like she was going to throw up?

Because you finally gained Ladybug’s trust only to stomp all over it. Plagg pointed out.

This isn’t technically disobeying her though, since Chloé does have the Miraculous. Trixx reasoned.

It was like having an angel and a devil sitting on her shoulder--but since when was Plagg considered an angel?

Swearing loudly, Noir smacked another splatter of blood away from her new suit.

She was wearing white for Kwami's sake, and it didn't matter if the suit was magic, she knew that the stain would never come out.

Noir scowled and threw herself backwards to hide behind a chimney.

This was the dumbest idea ever. Noir thought to herself. Fucking idiot, why did you think you could pull off being a fox on top of being a cat?

Because you're an idiot. Plagg said.

Because foxes are awesome! Trixx shot back.

Noir ducked away from the now collapsing chimmney and pulled out her new weapon, a pure white flute as long as a staff. She leaped out of the way and played it harshly.

If I'm going to keep this whole 'Fox' thing up I need to learn how to play the flute. It looked so easy when Rena Rouge did it, a shame she was such an awful hero--no offense, Trixx.

Eh, she was pretty horrible. Trixx said, but at least she could play the flute.

Plagg cackled inside her head, you sound like a constipated horse.

No, no, no! She sounds like a screaming goose!

You guys are dicks. Noir grumbled, rolling to the side to avoid more blood aimed at her face.

What a fun superpower. Squeezing people like they're apples and drowning people in the apple juice.

That's a horrible metaphor. Trixx scoffed.

Yeah! Plagg giggled. Apple juice looks like pee!

You two have the maturity of second graders.

Yeah and you're so mature, I've seen the hoard of stuffed animals you keep in the closet.

Those were private, Plagg! Why were you in my closet?

I was looking for cheese and your closet had yellow stuff in it.

Plagg you--

"Look out!" The voice was frantic, and Noir turned around to see who it was.

Only to have a wave of blood crash into her.

So much for dry clean only white super suits.

Noir choked, trying so hard to keep her mouth closed. She could feel her body going weightless--and she forced her eyes open.

It was that night with Chat Noir all over again.

Suddenly she was falling and crashing and dying all over again.

And then she was screaming, her mouth was filling with the coppery taste of blood. She was gagging and gasping, everything was too hit--why was the blood still warm?--and burning and she was drowning in blood.

It was just like the other night, her heart was beating too fast and then not at all.

She was dying all over again.

Kid, kid you need to calm down! Plagg was yelling frantically, but the sound of blood rushing to fill her nose and mouth and ears and everything was drowning everything out.

The waterfall of blood ended when she was on the ground in a pool of blood that wasn't her own.

And for the second time that day, she was coated in the smell of old pennies and horrible, sticky, blood.

---

yes, yes I know that Jack the Ripper is british and didn't squeeze the blood out of people but instead he just drained people of blood but I have a bit of an obsession with him so I did that 

---

Masterlist

---

Taglist:

Vermilion grabbed the Cat Boy by his tail, setting them down on a roof. Honestly, it didn't understand what he had been thinking. Did secret identities mean nothing to him?

"Who are you?" He demanded, holding his staff at one end in a doublehanded grip like a sword.

"We are Vermilion." There was buzzing, before a small section of the mask opened and a single ladybug fluttered out.

It landed on its finger and Vermilion buzzed to it. It took off and Vermilion swung into the stadium, wrapping the yoyo string around Stoneheart and creating a mandala reminiscent pattern from the News Crew's view.

The Ladybug crawled into the clenched fist and Vermilion let go of the yoyo when a purple butterfly flew from the fist. Stoneheart was covered in churning purple mist before returning to a human.

"Mundare." Vermilion buzzed, activating the purification function on the yoyo.

Cat Boy was flexing and talking to the civilian whilst looking smug, ignoring the victim entirely.

"You are Media Crew, yes?" Vermilion buzzed as it landed on the side of the helicopter lightly.

"Yes, I'm Nadja Chamack from TVi News! Are you our new superhero?" The lady asked, holding out a microphone excitedly.

"I am Vermilion." It pulled a card from one of its pockets. "I will answer your questions on the date specified."

"Thank you, Vermilion!" Her eyes were wide as she accepted the card carefully.

"It is my job." It gave a nod before dropping back down and landing in a crouch next to Ivan. "Hello. What is your name?"

"My name is Ivan." He said, looking around at the damage caused to the stadium. "Did... Did I do this?"

"No." It shook its head, glancing at its yoyo before giving a buzz.

A marble popped out, it rolling it in its palm before tossing it up with more buzz than words. Ivan looked amazed and relieved as the ladybugs erupted and fixed all the damage.

"Can you explain to me what you remember?" It buzzed, sitting down next to him.

"One of the boys in my class, Kim, made fun of a poem I was trying to write for this girl I like. I started feeling angry, but he gave me this really rude note... I was so mad, I almost wanted to hit him. I remember seeing this butterfly go into the paper, and then it's all foggy and all I can remember is rage." He ended up explaining, Vermilion sitting and listening silently.

He looked much calmer once he'd finished, Vermilion nodding.

"I think, you should give her the poem you wrote, and a gift she would enjoy." It said, offering him a note with instructions. "I guarantee that even in the 0.02% chance that she doesn't feel the same way, she will still greatly appreciate the thought put into it and will be open to a closer friendship."

"Okay." Ivan read the note. "Um... what's your gender?"

"We are an omen." Vermilion said, him freezing.

"That is terrifying." He managed to say, Vermilion offering him a bracelet.

"I try my best." It said, Ivan accepting the bracelet.

It ignored the journalist wannabe that tried to pester it for information, swinging off with Ivan once he was comfortable.

"Do you wish for me to explain to your humans what has occurred?" It paused, Marinette trying to toe the line between odd-and-recluse and I-lived-on-Saturn-and-have-only-arrived-on-Earth-recently-so-I-might-make-mistakes.

"No thank you, Vermilion. I think I can explain most of it." He said, Vermilion giving a nod of acceptance.

"If there are any questions you don't know how to answer, then I will be communicating with the Nadja Chamack from TVi News on the date specified." It handed him a card similar to the one it gave Nadja. "Have a productive day."

"Have a nice day." Ivan replied, waving.

----------MLB----------

"I feel like I made a fool of myself." Marinette groaned, face planting on her bed. "I made a fool of myself, didn't I?"

"You did great, Marinette!" Tikki cheered. "You took charge of the situation and comforted the victim afterwards with time to spare. And you even set up an interview to explain the situation on your own terms."

"I don't like Cat Boy." Marinette lamented.

"He's not one of Plagg's Chosen, he's a very bad Black Cat." Tikki agreed, snuggling down next to her on the bed. "I like our Vermilion Persona! Very blunt and to the point, but also very empathetic and reassuring. You did a good job!"