#adrien pepper

Strays and shelter cats aren't the same as hand-raised, pedigree kittens, and Adrien isn't prepared to deal with even one of those. And to make things worse, Adrien hasn’t even adopted a stray cat.

It’s a feral cat. And the only reason he was able to catch it in the first place was because it had a limp on one of its front legs, and wasn’t as quick as the black cat Adrien had actually been aiming for at diving away to safety. This one isn't’t as cool as a black cat, but it’s still cool, because it’s Adrien’s cat! That automatically makes it cool. He still wishes he could have caught the black one though.

This cat is skinny, with long fur that’s mostly white, with some scattered patches of black and orange across its back and sides, an orange patch on one ear, and yellow eyes.

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[ID: a simple digital drawing showing a white, orange, and black cat looking towards the camera. It's fur is mostly white, with black and orange patches on its sides and chest, and an orange stripe across its face. Where the stripe crosses its pink nose, it turns brown. One ear has a black patch, and the insides of the ears are pink. It's eyes are gold-yellow, with a darker gold spot on part of its left eye, and a ring of darker spots on its right eye. End ID.]

(special eyes taken from two of my cats. Dani has a dark spot on her otherwise orange eyes, and Nymphie has green eyes with rings of dark spots around her pupils)

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It would have been cooler if it had green eyes like him and Plagg, but he’ll take what he can get.

He names it Sidekick.

If he’d caught the black cat, he would have named it Chat Jr. But beggars can’t be choosers, and he hasn’t seen that black cat since, so there’s no chance of switching them out.

Sidekick (who he at least remembers to put a collar on) keeps returning from the grounds when he lets it outside with dead birds and mice, sometimes even presenting it to Adrien on his bed! One time he even started putting his shoes on only to discover it had dropped a mouse head in his shoe!

And things keep getting worse. For some reason, the cat can't seem to groom itself properly, and its fur is matted together in large clumps along its back and sides, which means it’s not even fun to pet it, because the rest of its fur is soft, but the mats are weird and gross. And what fur isn't hopelessly matted together sheds all over his clothes and his bed.

Adrien doesn’t know how, and doesn’t want to clean a litterbox for it, so he ordered one of the self-cleaning ones online. It’s huge, and expensive, and looks nice and futuristic and streamlined, and unfortunately for Sidekick and Adrien…the cat is terrified of it. It was all going so well until the thing turned on while the cat was still inside, and the loud noises and sudden movement scared it half to death. And now Sidekick won’t go anywhere near it.

And since Adrien only bought one litterbox despite his bedroom being as large as a house, because he didn’t bother to do any research before deciding he wanted a cat, that leaves plenty more spaces for the cat to pick from as a bathroom. No one told Adrien that you’re supposed to have multiple litter boxes per cat, because he didn’t ask anyone.

One of the corners of his library quickly becomes inaccessible and disgusting, because Sidekick has decided that the corner between two bookshelves and the wall is now a bathroom. All the books and games and DVDs on the lowest shelves are now ruined, and have to be thrown in the trash. And the same goes for by his window, and on the balcony, and at the base of his rock-climbing wall.

And Adrien has to clean it all up himself, because no one can know he has the cat. He orders everything online himself, and has them air-dropped directly through his window with delivery drones. His father never bothers to keep track of Adrien’s credit cards, and never goes near a window long enough to even look up, let alone have a chance to spot a delivery drone with a package.

Thankfully, his father also never comes into his room, and neither does Nathalie if she doesn’t have to. The cleaning staff have successfully been bribed not to tell his father about the cat, but they refuse, point-blank, to clean up after it unless he pays them even more. And he has to draw the line somewhere. He can’t go letting them think they have enough power to order him around and demand fair payment from him, now can he? So he refuses to increase their pay to include cleaning up after the cat, and they get on with their usual duties, dusting, mopping, washing his clothes and the windows and everything else. Except for the corners where the cat is using as a bathroom.

Thankfully, Adrien’s large windows all open, so it’s easy to let in fresh air so that the room doesn’t reek too terribly, and he has access to the best air freshener’s money can buy. The smell of cat waste is easy to cover up, and after arguing with the cleaning staff, he at least accepts the responsibility of taking the trashbags of paper towels and destroyed clothes down to the front patio.

He just wishes Sidekick would just use the litterbox, it would make all this so much easier.

At least it doesn’t do all its business in his room, there’s a few patches in the garden where it’s been going, digging through the grass and annoying the garden keepers.

At one point, Sidekick decides that the best place to pee is nowhere else than Adrien's bed. And it reeks to high heaven, even more so than it ever did on the floor! And it was the most ridiculous thing he’s ever seen, it didn’t even squat down or anything to give him warning! It just jumped up, stood on the edge of the bed, lifted up its tail, and sprayed pee backwards out across his blankets and pillows!

Because unfortunately for Adrien, and the cat, Adrien didn’t realize that cats that aren’t neutered spray to mark their territories. He thought it would just be like a dog, where it would just mark its territory outside while it was going to the bathroom anyways. But no, that’s not how cats work.

So now he has to throw away all his blankets and pillows, and the mattress beneath. Because there’s no way he’s ever using them again, even if they’re washed. The smell is so horrifically strong there can’t be any way to wash that out again! It has to be impossible!

At least the delivery drones have no problem bringing him his new mattress and bed sets, and the cleaning staff don’t argue about making his new bed for him.

This cat is so much more effort than he thought it would be.

The only good thing is that Sidekick doesn’t seem to mind the automatic food dispenser he bought for it, or the water fountain. The problem with the water fountain is that it likes to play in it, and splashed water all across the floor before he bought a waterproof mat to put it on.

It also enjoys the massive cat tree he bought, that towers twenty feet in the air, with bridges and beds and toys on springs, and plenty of scratching posts for it to use. Half the time he can’t find Sidekick, it’s because it’s napping at the very top of the tree where he can’t reach it unless he transforms.

Well, no, there are other plus sides. Sidekick is cute, when it’s not peeing on his bed or the bookshelves or the rock climbing wall. He bought it bells and toys to play with, and watching it run around the room with a toy mouse is almost worth getting real dead mice dropped at his feet. Almost. But not quite. It would be even cuter if it weren’t limping with every step, but that doesn’t slow it down by much.

But despite its cuteness when it’s playing, the cat doesn't seem to love Adrien! Sidekick spends most of its time hiding or asleep, and it took almost two week after he got it for him to even get the chance to see it playing! Before that, it darted away to hide whenever it saw him!

Even with all he does for it, Sidekick always squirms or runs away from his attempts to cuddle with it, and the one time he tried to play with it, it leapt away and hissed at him with all its fur standing on end, and then hid for almost the rest of the day! It only came out again when the automatic food dispenser chimed for its supper!

Sidekick is not the cuddly, fawning companion he thought it would be, it’s a responsibility that, even worse, has its own thoughts and ideas and motivations. And there’s nothing Adrien hates more than responsibility.

More and more, Adrien tries and fails to push responsibility of this cat onto the cleaning staff, but they have their own jobs, and refuse to add another one without being paid for it, and⏤they remind him⏤he wanted this responsibility! He’s the one who wanted to get a cat in secret, without permission. They’re keeping his secret, and if he wants them to do more work, he has to pay them for it. They were hired to dust and wash his clothes, not petsit for him like he isn’t fully capable of it.

Nevermind that what he really wanted was a cute cat that couldn't talk back to him and make him smell like stinky cheese, that he could cuddle whenever he wanted to, but he's starting to find that there's a worse smell than Camembert, and that's cat urine.

To add insult to injury, Plagg and the cat get along great. They get along the way Adrien thought he and the cat would. Plagg keeps trying to tell him that he needs to be more gentle and quiet and try to gain its trust because it’s afraid of him because he’s a big and scary predator as far as the cat is concerned, and Plagg keeps telling him not to keep letting it outside, but what does Plagg know?

Plagg is willing to take some matters into his own hands, mainly grooming the cat. He brushes its fur every day until the matted clumps are gone, and then keeps brushing it to make sure they don’t come back, and actually succeeds in playfully wrestling with it, despite the differences in their sizes. After the second month, Plagg finally convinces Adrien to buy some normal litterboxes, insisting that he will scoop it himself if Adrien refuses to.

Then Plagg cleans the areas where the cat had been going to the bathroom, and puts the litterboxes there, and suddenly Adrien doesn’t have to clean up after the cat everyday, because now it’s using the litterbox, and Plagg keeps his promise and scoops them every day. The only thing Adrien has to do is carry the trash down to the front patio for the staff to take out to the curb.

Plagg also convinces him to get the cat checked out by a vet for the limp on its paw, and fortunately for Adrien, he’s able to find one online that’s a fan of Chat Noir, and convinces them to help out “one of Chat Noir’s best friends, Adrien Agreste”. They’ll be getting paid, of course. The Agrestes have plenty of money. All Adrien had to do was hop over to the vet’s house, and carry them in through his window, with their equipment stored away in his baton.

Unfortunately for the cat, there’s nothing the vet can do about its limp without extensive surgery that can’t be performed in a bedroom. It’s an old injury that healed wrong, though thankfully it doesn’t seem to be causing the cat much pain anymore. But it will never regain full use of its front paw, and can’t even extend its leg out the whole way, which Adrien notices every time its stretching after a nap.

The vet gives it its vaccines, and then informs Adrien that it’s a girl cat, and that it’s pregnant.

Adrien is shocked speechless. How can that be possible?

The vet asks if he has other cats, but he doesn’t. The vet asks if he ever lets her outside unaccompanied, and he replies that of course he does, all the time. Cats need freedom, don’t they?

And then the vet has to explain to Adrien that cats aren’t meant to be outside, that it’s better for them to stay indoors all the time unless they’re on a leash or in an enclosure, and that there’s absolutely nothing stopping this cat from leaving his mansion’s grounds, or another cat from getting in. Cats can get pregnant at any time of the year, and letting her outside without supervision is why she’s pregnant now. Adrien should make sure in the future to either keep her indoors, or walk her only on a harness, or in an enclosed patio.

The vet tells him that the cat can be fixed, and the pregnancy aborted, but the cat would have to come back to the actual vet clinic in order for that to happen, and he would have to pay for it too, because it would be using up more of the clinic’s supplies.

If Adrien agrees to it, the cat can be neutered and brought back within a day. It might seem sad or cruel, but it is what is best for the cat, and the unborn kittens. There are already too many unwanted cats in Paris, the shelters are completely overwhelmed, and unless Adrien would be willing to keep or foster all the kittens, there’s no way to adopt them out right now.

Getting the cat fixed is one of the best things he can do for it, because cats aren’t like people, they aren’t able to think and plan pregnancies. Being pregnant puts a lot of stress on the body, and it’s unnecessary for the cat to be put through that for no reason, especially where there’s no homes waiting for the kittens after they’re born.

Adrien agrees after some very emphatic but silent urging from Plagg to say yes from behind the vet’s shoulder, though the matter is delayed for a few minutes when the vet realizes Adrien doesn’t own a cat carrier, and explains that, no, they cannot just hold the cat while Chat Noir carries both of them. That would be dangerous beyond reconciliation even if the cat were willing to be held, which it’s not.

Adrien of course had to explain to the vet how he got Sidekick, that it was rescued off the street, to explain the injury to its leg. The vet was gratified to hear what he’d done, but had some serious suggestions to improve what he’d already been doing.

He’d done well by taking Sidekick in, and he’d clearly been feeding it properly (it had gained a lot of weight since he’d caught it, and was no longer as skinny as a stick) and cleaning up after it (at this point, the stains and marks from the first disastrous litterbox incidents have been cleaned away perfectly, thanks to the unlimited amount of money Adrien has to throw at his problems) and taking care of its grooming, (thanks to Plagg) and he was right to call in a vet to check on its leg. (Also thanks to Plagg.)

But there was more Adrien should do if he wanted to care for this animal properly, and that started with getting Sidekick fixed, and included no longer letting it outside unaccompanied, or even at all. Adrien’s bedroom was bigger than the vet’s whole house, there was enough room to comfortably house several cats, let alone just one. There was no reason at all to let it outside where it was put in danger and allowed to kill birds and mice, which is harmful for the environment, and worse, can give the cat parasites that can make it sick or even kill it. And that’s even before you get into all the poisons that are in the world for a cat to stumble into.

The delay from the lack of a carrier is fortunately easily solved by a five-minute delivery drone, and twenty minutes later, Adrien heads back to his mansion as Chat Noir, now temporarily minus one cat (Now renamed Purrincess, now that he knows it’s a girl), having promised the very insistent vet that he would take their suggestions into serious consideration.

No more letting the cat outside unless he’s walking it on a leash, or can get an enclosed patio. Which isn’t an option, because his father might notice. So the cat just has to stay in his bedroom all the time, which the vet said would be no problem at all because of how massive it was. If he wanted to give it some more “enrichment”, he could put a set of shelves or ledges right under the windows, so the cat could sit and look outside, or put for-cat videos on one of his TVs that showed birds and squirrels for the cat to watch. He had a good amount and variety of toys that the cat clearly enjoyed playing with, and aside from being predictably skittish from growing up outside, it seemed happy and healthy.

Adrien was told that he was lucky that there were so many people in Paris, because that meant that Sidekick had had more opportunities to observe people before it was caught. If it had grown up with less contact with people than it already had, it would be a lot harder for him to socialize it.

That was a word Adrien had never heard before. So the vet explained that kittens who were raised with people were socialized by being around people, being played with, and getting attention. They learned from the moment they were born that humans were nice and friendly caregivers.

Cats who grew up outside didn’t get that treatment, which was why they were usually afraid of people to begin with. But you can’t un-domesticate an animal, and cats had been bred for thousands of years to be companions. If he kept up the good work, the cat would learn to trust people, and would probably be almost as happy and trusting as any hand-raised kitten. All it took was patience and understanding, and he already had a fairly brave cat to start with, which made it even easier. It would be no time before it had warmed up to him and learned to trust him enough that it could enjoy his company.

So maybe he should have listened to Plagg after all. This was what Plagg had been trying to tell him, this was why Plagg was able to pet and cuddle with the cat but Adrien wasn’t. Adrien was too impatient, and wanted its affection now. But that wasn’t how animals worked.

If he wanted its trust, he had to earn it. He had to prove that he wasn’t dangerous or scary, he had to prove to the cat that it could trust him and would be safe with him.

The vet gave him some tips: don’t run around loudly, because that would scare the cat. Don’t pester or follow the cat around trying to pet it, encourage it instead to come closer by offering treats and special food. Start slowly, and only go as fast as the cat was comfortable with. Let it get used to being around you first, then you can offer pets. Each cat is different, so he would have to figure out how and where the cat wanted to be touched. Some really liked having their heads or chins rubbed, others hated it. He would have to take it slowly and figure out what Sidekick wanted.

He could start by playing with Sidekick with toys, and offering it treats as positive reinforcement. Offering to let it sniff his hand, letting it get used to being close by near hm before he tried to pet it at all.

It would take time, but there was no reason Adrien wouldn’t be able to gain the cat’s trust and affection. All he had to do was prove that he was trustworthy and safe, and be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day, and you couldn’t overcome a lifetime of fear in just a few months. He had to look at it from the cat’s perspective ⏤ how would he feel if a giant kept trying to grab him without warning?

No one ever told Adrien having a cat would be this much effort. He thought he could just pick it up off the street and get straight to the cuddling, purring happiness. But that’s not how it works when it comes to feral cats.

-

It would be easier if it was a surprise, because then he could be shocked and horrified. And he is horrified, but not shocked.

He was handed the script, he read the lines, he said the lines dozens of times. He knew what he was selling. He knew what his father was doing, what he was becoming the face of.

But now he was seeing it in action, now he was seeing the reactions of his classmates.

Now it was finally starting to sink in just what he’d signed up to be a part of.

It was finally starting to sink in, how much of himself he’d happily sold away for the sake of convenience.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it ever since Viperion had tackled him out of the way of Wishmaker’s spell. He’d given up the fight, just stood there, waiting to be hit. Because he couldn’t remember what his childhood dream was, and he wanted to remember, even if it meant leaving Ladybug to fight the villain by herself.

Thanks to Viperion, he would never know what his dream had been as a child. He couldn’t for the life of him remember.

But if he was honest with himself, he thought he could guess.

It had probably been to be whatever his parents wanted him to be.

And what his father wanted him to be right now was a pretty face that only had a voice when that voice was used to earn him even more money than he already had.

The cries of his classmates were raised in anger all around him, and even Marinette, who always looked at him with blushing adoration, was staring at him in horror. He could see her out of the corner of his eye, her mouth open in shock, her eyes wide.

And in front of him, behind the projector screen, so that they could have a better view of him, he can see the crowd of his fans. And they’re staring at him too, the same way Marinette is. With all due shock and horror and betrayal. They can’t see the screen, but they could hear it.

They heard him, in his own voice, advertising privatized oxygen. They heard him being used as a willing puppet to sing praise for the company that wanted to cut down the trees and replace them with oxygen sold by the glass. A mindless gear in the corporate machine, tearing the planet apart peice by peice just so the dead scraps can be sold back to the poor.

Adrien isn’t an idiot. He knows what’s happening. He knows what Project Oxygen is, what it’s for.

You can’t live in the same mansion as Gabriel and Emilie Agreste and not know what the motivation of the rich and powerful always is -- to get more money, to get more power, and to hell with the consequences.

He can’t remember for sure, but he can guess that his childhood dream was to be whatever is parents wanted him to be.

And he knows what they wanted him to be.

He knows why he was born.

So that he could do exactly what he just did in that commercial. Put on makeup, smile for the camera, and sell whatever they wanted him to sell. He was free advertising, nothing more. A walking billboard they could dress up whenever they wanted, and bring wherever they wanted. He was always wearing a patented Agreste™ outfit. Just one pair of his socks alone were worth more than any of his friends’ parents earned in a month.

And here he was, standing in the crowd of protestors who would never be able to afford a week’s worth of his clothes if they combined all the money they’d ever had.

He knew that if Project Oxygen was allowed to continue, if his father and the dictator who called himself a mayor were allowed to poison the city and sell back the cure, none of these people around him would be able to afford it. Their families would be driven further into debt, they would be desperate enough to work even for the lowest wages his father and the dictator could make legal...

And you know hat?

He was tired of doing what his parents wanted. He was tired of being a mindless puppet who did whatever he was told and was happy to do it. He was tired of being a mindless cog in the machine of his father’s corporate empire.

He couldn’t remember what his childhood dream had been.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t forge a new one.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t change. Couldn’t rip the strings that bound him out of the hands holding them. He would bite the hand that caged him. He would bite the hand that made him complacent, that made him cruel and uncaring.

He strode forward out of the crowd, and ripped the microphone out of Dictator Bourgeoise’s hands.

And he took up the chant.

He was going to stop Project Oxygen, he was going to defy his father, he was going to stand up for once and do the right thing rather than the easy thing, and to hell with the consequences.

What was his father going to do about it, anyways? Send him to his room? The room he spent all his time in anyways? The room he could now escape whenever he wanted to to transform?

Let him try. There was nothing his father could do to stop him.

Adrien was done playing the role of the dutiful and meek son, born only to increase the profit margin.

It was time to stand up and fight back.

He explains to her the rules, her responsibilities, how to transform and what powers she’ll have.

And then he tells her, once he’s fulfiled the orders Master Fu gave him, which he cannot disobey, “I hate transforming people. I don’t want to transform you. Please, don’t make me transform you.”

And Marinette...

Doesn’t.

Because unlike Adrien, she’s a good person. She doesn’t laugh at the misery of others. She’s not going to drag Plagg literally screaming into the Ring without even giving him a chance to eat.

So.

Marinette has the Ring of the Black Cat, and Plagg as a kwami, and a much, much deeper understanding of the bond between Kwami and Miraculous and Holder than she would have if she’d been given Tikki, who puts up no protest.

With Plagg as her kwami, Marinette learns immediately and indisputably that the kwami are slaves to the Miraculous and their holders. If he could fly away and never come back, he would. But he can’t. So he won’t.

Marinette has the Ring of the Black Cat, and she has Plagg as her partner, and she refuses to transform, because she refuses to force Plagg to do something he doesn’t want to do.

Together, the two of them have to figure out how to help Ladybug, the other hero given a Miraculous, without revealing Marinette’s identity or putting her in unnecessary danger. Because, unfortunately, if she’s not transformed, she’s not invulnerable the way Ladybug is.

This AU forces Adrien to very quickly come to grips with the responsibility of having a Miraculous and being a super hero, because there’s no one coming to save him if he fails, and there’s no one there to carry him through every fight, and no one but him to fix the damage.

He learns the hard way not to disregard or brush off Tikki, when he ignores her guidance again and ends up having an Akuma smash his bedroom to pieces after he already used the Miraculous Ladybugs. And when he detransformed, and gave Tikki time to recuperate, and cast the Miraculous Ladybugs again, it didn’t fix the damage. 

You get one shot to use the Lucky Charm, one shot to put everything back to rights. You don’t get a do-over, you don’t get a second chance. You have to do it right the first time, or you’ll face the consequences.

Adrien doesn’t like dealing with the consequences of his actions.

So he has no choice but to step up and shape up.

He has no choice but to take responsibility, so he does, kicking and screaming the whole way.

With no one else there to take the heat or provide covering praise for him, Adrien is left to face the scrutiny of the public on his own, and when he does something wrong, and refuses to admit it, or endangers civilians with either sheer negligence or active stupidity, the public makes their anger known, and they are not the kind to forgive and forget. 

And after a few less than stellar incidents involving pissed off civilians, mace, and a disasterous live interview where he made a few casual remarks about girls that led to a dozen simultaneous Akumatizations, he starts taking responsibility for more than just being smart in the middle of battle-he starts taking responsibility for himself, and the way his actions impact those around him.

Being a super hero, it turns out, is a responsibility, not a game. He can’t put the mask on and do whatever he wants. That’s not how it works.

He learns, begrudgingly, at first, how to actually be a good person, how to be responsible, how to be a good super hero.

He’s not even aware that he’s supposed to have a superhero partner working with him. Master Fu didn’t tell Plagg or Tikki anything, so Tikki has no idea that Plagg is out there somewhere with a mystery holder.

Plagg and Marientte, meanwhile, have been working together to find an actual solution to Hawkmoth’s reign of terror. Defeating the Akuma he sends out is just a band-aid solution. It’s playing defence. And with no limit besides his patience, playing defense against Hawkmoth is going to go literally nowhere.

Armed with the double-edged sword that is the knowledge that the kwami are enslaved, Marinette seeks to uncover the location and identity of both Hawkmoth, and the mysterious ‘Guardian’, who Plagg can tell her nothing about, except for their title. And even getting that much information required a long verbal workaround to find a loophole.

Her goal is to stop Hawkmoth, and to find any way she can to safely help Ladybug in the Akuma battles, but her greater goal? Finding this so-called Guardian, and rescuing the other kwami from them.

Because Hawkmoth isn’t only evil because he’s attacking the city. 

Plagg knows the kwami bound to the Moth Miraculous, and he knows that there is no way they would go along with a villain willingly. Hawkmoth is abusing the kwami bound to the Moth Miraculous.

Just the same way the Guardian is abusing the other kwami in their control, by keeping them locked up in the Miracle Box as prisoners, or passing them out to untrained children to be slaves.

Hawkmoth has to be stopped. The kwami bound to the Moth Miraculous has to be saved.

And so do the rest of them.

There are many barriers in their way, but Plagg is determined, and Marinette is clever.

If anyone could figure out the loopholes in the magic, if anyone could figure out how to destroy the Miraculouses, and how to free the kwami...

It’ll be her.

They spend the majority of their time working drafting as accurate a “transcript” of Plagg’s orders as they can, writing it all down so that Marinette can pick through the details and find the loopholes. Every order he’s ever been given gets written down, and one by one, starting with the simplest, Marinette frees him from them.

If only it were as easy as it sounds.

But she is determined, and Plagg, for the first time since he can remember, has hope.

Adrien is learning how to be a good person and a good superhero, and even though he’s fighting alone, he’s getting better all the time. He chose to return to his home-schooling after a month at public school, realizing that the added stress of being in class with Chloe all day wasn’t worth the novelty. And because of his father’s negligence, he has plenty of time and opportunity to get out of the house as Ladybug, something that Tikki actively encourages him to do, because it’s good for him, and she gets to have fun too.

Because when a kwami transforms you, you don’t know they’re there, because it only goes one way, but they see, hear, and feel everything you do while transformed. So when Adrien has fun running around on the rooftops as Ladybug just because he can, Tikki’s having fun too.

It also means that when something goes wrong in battle, she can advise him afterwards with her own observations. Together, they can brainstorm on how to prevent similar situations from happening in the future, and what other options he had at the time that he just hadn’t thought about.

Marinette makes very few excursions as a super hero, because it’s dangerous both to her physical safety, and because she has no magic hiding her identity. If someone catches her, she’s in trouble.

But research and brainstorming can only get you so far, and some sneaking around (and a few incidents involving breaking) is required. She has an outfit she designed herself, meant to aid her in sneaking, while keeping her safe, and making it as hard to tell who she is beneath it all as possible. If she ever does get caught, she’ll tell them her name is Revenant.

She does her best to keep a low profile, and mostly succeeds. There are a few rumors circulating around Paris about a cat burglar, but no one really believes them.

Master Fu never makes an appearance to confront Marinette or Plagg on their going AWOL, which is unfortunately good news for him (not that he’s aware of that), but bad news for Marinette and Plagg.

Still.

Akuma battles are starting to become so short that most people don’t even bother to stop what they’re doing when a fight happens if they aren’t in the immediate vicinity. Adrien is shaping up to be quite the fighter and tactician, and Gabriel grows more desperate and frustrated by the day, and that just makes him sloppy. Especially because he knows that even if he manages to defeat Ladybug, his job is only half done. He still needs to find the Ring of the Black Cat, and as far as he knows, it’s not even on the same continent.

All in all, things are looking good for the good guys. Adrien has gotten good enough that Marinette is keeping more and more tabs on him, and she and Plagg are planning to send him as an ambassador, to see how he reacts to the idea of teaming up.

Tikki, Plagg has told her, wouldn’t willingly reveal that she’s a slave. She likes to pretend she’s happy, so that she doesn’t have to deal with the fact that she’s not. So it’s very unlikely that Ladybug is aware of what the Miraculous really are, especially not if he and Tikki have a good relationship, which they seem to.

Plagg can find them, and report back, without endangering Marinette’s identity, or having to give up any information he doesn’t need to. Marinette intends to keep her identity a secret, and she doesn’t want Plagg to reveal Ladybug’s identity to her, either, unless it’s an absolute emergency.

They have to stay safe, above all else.

Because the real battle has yet to even begin.

***

It was just an average day at Collège Françoise Dupont. There weren’t any Akuma’s caused by anyone the previous day so Marinette was finally able to have a good night’s rest, something the exhausted teenager really missed.

She felt so re-energised she danced in the kitchen as she made breakfast without a care in the world.

.

Before she fell over that was.

“…Owww”

“Careful dear, you wouldn’t want to be hurt before school hours, now just sit tight and I’ll get you something to eat,” Her Maman said. Marinette felt grateful. After breakfast, she gave her Parents a kiss before leaving.

She had loving parents that supported her every beck and call.

…Well most of the time, but that didn’t matter, she would never let Lila manipulate them ever, her Parents were off-limits.

By the time she arrived at school she was one of the first ones there, Nathaniel in the back drawing his comics, texting Marc as well, it seemed like he was in his own ‘do not disturb’ bubble. Max was talking to Markov about some new type of game, and Rose and Juleka were just cuddling.

She made her way to the back feeling a positive emotion before exhaling.

Because it was about to be ruined.

Lila walked in with Alya, Nino and Adrien by her side.

She was telling a story about her ‘one of a kind cardigan-

Wait-

“My Grandmother made this cardigan especially for me carving her signature on as well, it’s the only one in existence because shortly after she made this, she ended up being in a terrible accident that left her bedridden.” They pandered to her of course. But for once she wasn’t focusing on the lie but the cardigan.

Oh, Lila’s only gone and done it now.

“I’ve always wanted to wear it, but I didn’t want it to end up ruined by someone” Her gaze casually went up to a lone bluenette, but she really wasn’t bothered.

“Don’t worry girl, I’ll keep a watchful eye on your cardigan for you. Ain't nothing gonna come between me and my besties property” They hugged before sitting down in their spaces.

‘Oh my god, I have a plan’ Marinette had that thought circled around her head until break. It was all she thought of.

Mind you, she wasn’t trying to expose everything she’d done, just that one lie. And that would be enough.

As soon as the bell rang, she was ready, she gathered her stuff and rushed home.

And thank god as well, Lila would not shut up about that cardigan, through Literature, Science and PE, it was constantly my Grandmother made it for me this, it’s the only one of its kind that.

Ugh, she wanted to rip her ears out at some point but had to endure it. No one else was bothered since they all believed her, even the teachers!

Yeah, you don’t really need any proof if it was handmade, some of Marinette’s earlier stuff didn’t have her signature on, but still, it was the principle of the matter!

And she could right that wrong.

In her room she was frantically searching for that item as Tikki dodged different articles of clothing, one hit her as she wasn’t looking, and she was down for the count.

“Marinette what are you looking for?” Marinette paused to look back at Tikki before continuing a bit calmer.

“Lila’s been lying about that cardigan and this time I can prove it.” Her eyes lit up as she lifted a cardigan up from her cupboard.

“One of Maman’s friends gave this to me a few years back, it was one of the reasons I got into fashion because of how soft it is and I wanted to replicate that. Don’t you think it looks familiar?” As Tikki looked over it her eyes widened, she knew Lila was lying anyway but she had no idea Marinette had definitive proof of it.

“That’s the same cardigan Lila has!” Marinette nodded before wearing it.

At least it still fit.

“But Marinette I thought we were gonna take the high ground?”

“Tikki it's tiring having to listen to them being lied too. I may not want them to be my friends anymore, but I just want the lying to stop. If I go and tell them that she’s lying with this as evidence they’ll clearly see she’s lying”

“But outing her like that won’t make it better!” Marinette wished she could respond with ‘are you sure’ but didn’t want to piss the mini-god off.

“Fine, what if I just wear it until someone notices, that way I’m not actively looking to publicly shame her? Better?” Tikki gave a reluctant nod, she knew her chosen wouldn’t let up about the situation, besides this whole thing was really just pettiness, nothing too serious. If no one noticed nothing bad would happen.

“Bye Maman, bye Papa” As she began walking back, she grew a bit nervous with her plan.

What if Lila made a whole other lie about her cardigan? What if she lied that Marinette had stolen it out of jealousy and everyone would try to take hers? She’d have to run away and live with a secret identity, all before getting caught and going to prison, and she’d never have her three kids and her hamster named-

“Ahem Marinette, is thou there?” A hand brought her out of her trance

“Ahhh!” She waved her arms before composing herself and seeing D’Argencourt in front of her.

“Ah, yes Monsieur?” How long had he been standing there? How long had she been rambling in her head?

“As I was saying, these new garments of yours, where did they originate from?” It took her a while before realising he was talking about her cardigan, she was so used to wearing her jacket it felt strange she had changed.

“Ohh this, well it was a present from Maman’s friend. They were on sale a few years back, so I thought I’d wear it again” He furrowed his brow before telling her to carry on with whatever she was doing.

“Well, that was weird. Do you think he liked the jacket?” Tikki ponded as her head ever so slightly popped out the small handbag.

“He’s always been weird Tikki. But whatever, let's just get back to the classroom.” All she had to do was wait.

***

‘How the hell hasn’t anyone noticed yet?’ Marinette was secretly fuming in her mind right now. None of her classmates noticed the change in her outfit.

Not one.

Bustier did however, the bluenette was sure because she’d see her teacher quickly glance from Marinette to Lila but never said a word. Probably thinking of that whole, ‘be the bigger person’ crap.

And not even the excuse of maybe Bustier didn’t know, bs. By the time break happened everyone in the school knew about that damn cardigan so don’t get her started.

‘Oh well, looks like that’s it. My petty revenge came flat… At least Lila didn’t pull a Marinette ruined my belongings stunt’ That would’ve been the last thing she needed.

Knock Knock Knock

The door opened before Bustier could reply, a teacher would reprimand a student for this type of rudeness, but it wasn’t a student.

It was a teacher.

And it was Monsieur D’Argencourt.

‘What the-’ Marinette didn’t remember this part of the plan.

“Excuse me Caline, but I need to interrupt the class for an announcement.” Bustier was about to deny but D’Argencourt the stubborn teacher as he was, walked straight on through ignoring whatever Bustier would’ve said.

“Lila Rossi, may you please step in front of the classroom?” Lila looking completely confused let go off Adrien, much to the relief of the boy, and walked in front of her desk.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” He didn’t need to repeat the command.

Yes, command not a request.

“Can I ask you where you got your cardigans from?”

“Armand, I don’t think this is appropriate-” He shot a glare back at the teacher.

“I can assure you this won’t take long if I’m not interrupted”

Lila looked over to Marinette and realised with a sinking feeling what was happening. But she would win this time. Just like all the others.

“My Grandmother made this specifically, you see-”

He held a hand up to silence her.

“Yes, that’s quite alright, and Marinette would you like to repeat what you said before?” As Marinette did just that Lila was seething, he cut her off. How dare that simpleton cut off Lila Rossi!

He would pay.

“Well, it appears one of you is lying, and I expect that person to own up to it now” The class gasped as they all looked expectedly at Marinette, they knew she was petty but to do this was so low.

Lila looked at her smugly, she had tried to play with fire but got burned in the process. How could she even think she’d get away with this?

“I was talking about you, Lila Rossi”

“Eh, what?” The class gasped as they tried to say of course Lila was innocent, Marinette was the one lying. Or that Marinette must’ve tricked him.

He shot a glare towards all the class members as they instantly shut up.

“I don’t remember this being a class discussion, if I want your opinion, I will ask for it. Understood?” They nodded before giving sympathetic glances towards the brunette, D’Argencourt almost had the urge to shout at their incompetence but alas they were kids.

“I can tell you why you are lying Lila, with a photo. But as I’m feeling generous, I will give you one more chance to reveal yourself.” The class was silent as they all looked on in anticipation.

But Lila stood her ground defiantly, as if he actually had proof-

Oh…

Oh no she’s doomed…

“Then I don’t suppose this looks familiar? Hmm?” On his phone was a picture. Lila immediately lowered her head, too ashamed to look him in the eye.

3 guesses of what it is?

No.

.

.

No one?

.

.

Too easy?

.

.

Ok, it was the cardigan.

And at a fairly cheap price. No wonder she had it in brand new condition.

“I first knew you were lying once I saw Marinette wear the exact same one, however, hers was clearly worn out, evidently she has worn it for several amount of years. You had already messed up when you said it was the only one made. So please…” Lila looked up to see D’Argencourt giving one of the most frightening glares of the century.

“Don’t ever lie about anything to my face or anyone ever again, you will be court out and I will be keeping an eye on you. Is that final?” She meekly nodded her head, trying to give a frightened appearance to make him have sympathy but he was immune.

“That will be all. I hope your class has learned a valuable lesson of not taking things at face value” And with that, he left. Leaving Marinette with a different impression of her PE teacher, it seemed he didn’t like liars all that much.

Marinette smiled, her plan worked, and she didn’t even out her herself. Tikki surely can’t be mad at her now.

Bustier tried to get the class to go back to normal but she couldn’t. The class erupted into a screaming fit, asking how Lila could lie about that sort of thing?

It wasn’t until someone unexpected said the next few words she wondered if this was a dream.

“Hey if Lila lied about this what else did she lie about? She even said herself she doesn’t lie to her friends but that was a lie” That made the class tick as they soon realised and soon torn into her about it.

Leaving Lila, a ‘sobbing mess’ on the floor. All before she stopped that fake display and arguing back.

But the one who said that…

Was Adrien.

He was able to slip by the crowd and stand next to Marinette.

No words were said, she knew what he would’ve said even without the noise.

‘I’m sorry’

It was a start, and maybe through time, she could start trusting again.

But for now, she just wanted to enjoy this chaos…

.

.

Before there was an Akuma alert.

***

I want more D’Argencourt I want more D’Argencourt I want more D’Argencourt. I probably screwed his speech but oh well this is salt, doesn’t have to be accurate.

Phew, hope you enjoyed it, sorry its shorter than the others but this happened when I was in Year 5 and I was 9/10 years old. Woo 10 years ago, god that makes me feel old. Also, not everything was exactly this way, the teacher did out the person in front of the whole class, but she admitted it and went back to her class, we had two classes for maths. Anyway, I actually have to give Lila credit compared to the liar we had at our school, this person actually knew I had that cardigan and actually complimented me on it like months earlier and still had the audacity to say that. I think that’s the reason why I think if I was in their world I wouldn’t believe Lila because I already had a Lila at my school who would always say they’ve done the exact same thing as we had (They even said they had the same Aunt as me living on the same street, crazy right). Mind you they never said anything to me, I think they were too embarrassed plus, I was a goody little two-shoes there.

Anyway I really hope you enjoy it and if you like real-life stories so much I can always try to ask my friends for more ideas, I did have like some slightly toxic friends there that I may be able to tell you about but I’ll try to think how later.

"Queen Bee, could you do me a favor?" Crouched on top of the Eiffel tower and waiting for Chat Noir to show up, Chloé Bourgeois was pulled from her thoughts by the quiet voice of her role model.

Blinking her gaze away from the parisian skyline, Chloé turned, beaming, to look at Ladybug. "Of course! I'd do anything for you, Ladybug!"

But Ladybug held up a hand to stall her enthusiasm. "I'm serious, Queen Bee. This is a favor, nothing more- if you're not comfortable, feel free to say 'no'."

Hearing the seriousness in her hero's voice, Chloé paused, wondering what was on Ladybug's mind- as far as she was aware, the akuma battle had gone off without a hitch- Ladybug hadn't even needed to use her Lucky Charm again after she came to recruit Chloé, and Queen Bee had not needed to use her power either.

Chat Noir had been tossed by Ladybug straight at the akuma, and thanks to her brilliant aim, he was able to Cataclysm the akumatized object and destroy it. After they had talked to the victim and reassured them, the three of them had agreed (on Ladybug's urging) to meet up again after Chat recharged.

"What do you want me to do?" Chloé asked, turning more fully to face her hero.

Ladybug was perched on the railing beside her, looking pensive and uncertain. She was staring down at her hands, which where curled up in her lap, with her feet swinging in and out against the railing quickly, over and over in poorly-hidden nervousness.

"I want you to flirt with Chat Noir."

Out of all of the words that could have come out of Ladybug's mouth, that was not what Chloé was expecting.

"What!?"

Ladybug clenched her fists at her response, and Chloé took a moment to remind herself this was Ladybug, and she always had a good reason for even the oddest requests, even if it wasn't immediately apparent.

"Why?" Chloé amended, staring at Ladybug's averted eyes, speaking in a quieter, hushed voice. "Do you think another akuma is out there? Do you think he's an akuma?"

That got a laugh out of Ladybug, albeit a slightly hysterical one.

After watching her hero nearly topple backwards off of the railing laughing, Chloé reached out a hand to steady her, feeling the older woman still shaking with that weird combination of giggles and nervousness.

"No, no, nothing that serious!" Ladybug said, brushing her free hand over her face and brushing her dark hair out of her stunning blue eyes, "But, it is serious. It's something that has been bothering me for a little while, and I don't think anyone's ever told Chat, really told him. Explained to him, really showed him. We've never had a chance before, to properly talk, outside of battle, because we always have to run off to transform. I… I also wanted another girl there, here, if possible, so I wouldn't have to involve a random civilian…"

Squeezing the red-spotted hand she was holding for comfort as the older woman spoke, Chloé wondered where this was going. Ladybug wanted her to flirt with Chat Noir, as a way of explaining something to him? What did that even mean?

"But, what does that have to do with me flirting with him?" Chloé asked finally, after Ladybug had trailed off, the ancient hero gazing out at the sunset that was just beginning to paint the city with hues of orange and pink.

Tearing her gaze away from the skyline again, Ladybug let a small smile ghost across her face, the absolute softest expression Chloé had ever seen on her hero's face. "Did I ever tell you I'm in love with someone?"

Shocked at the proclamation, Chloé's brain immediately latched onto the 'someone' in that confession. "But not Chat?" She asked to clarify, starting to see where this was going, "Everyone thinks you're a couple, though! Even Chat acts like it, sometimes."

Ladybug's smile slipped away, to be replaced with a pensive frown. She looked slightly sad, but more than that, she looked aggrieved. Agitated, resentful.

Swinging herself around and hopping onto the small platform behind them, Ladybug slipped her hand out of Chloé's hold effortlessly and began to pace, teeth gritted and pulling on her dark pigtails as she stalked and spoke, starting quietly but gaining volume and vehemence with every word.

"Exactly, and that is the problem. I have told Chat too many times that I love someone else, but he still flirts with me all the time, he still tries to kiss my hand or me! He still calls me buggaboo even though I hate that name, he still tries to tell everyone we'll be dating some day, that we should discuss our nonexistent relationship on live tv; he sets up this super time-involved surprise that I told him I would not be able to go to, and then throws a hissy fit during an akuma battle when I didn't show up! Even though I told him, I wouldn't be able to come to his surprise because I had prior obligations!"

Chloé watched Ladybug ranting, and saw past the obvious anger to see the hurt that lay beneath, she saw the tears shimmering in her hero's eyes, the betrayal.

"So, tonight, I'm going to tell him again. For the last time. But, while I'm telling him, when he arrives, I want you to flirt with him, I want you to insist on holding his hand, I want you to hug him, I want you to try to kiss him, and ignore him every time he tells you he's in love with me- if you're comfortable with this act." Ladybug said, whirling to face Chloé and moving forward until she was the one capturing both of Chloé's hands, staring beseechingly into her eyes.

"You want me to do what he's been doing to you, to prove your point?" Chloé asked to clarify, and saw the relief in Ladybug's eyes at her understanding. "Ask no more, Ladybug, I've got your back! If you love someone else, he should respect that, or if he can't, he should respect you, and your wishes, if he supposedly loves you."

No sooner had Chloé finished speaking than they heard the familiar, distant clang of Chat's baton as he vaulted himself across the rooftops.

Moving back to the railing in sync, Chloé and Ladybug both looked down to see Chat expertly launching himself off of his baton, clinging to the side of the tower so far below them, clipping the shrunken weapon to his back, and then bounding up the tower on all fours, leaping from railing to railing like a true cat.

Chloé often found herself wondering why Chat Noir was able to move so catlike, but could only assume, and thank the kwami, that it looked like feline tendencies translated better to human than insect tendencies did.

… Although it was pretty cool, being able to run straight up the sides of buildings, and stand on the ceiling. Now, if only she could figure out if she could fly…

"I'm going to head up a little higher, before he sees me, that way you can have a moment alone to see how he reacts, but i'll keep an eye on you the whole time." Ladybug said, squeezing her hand once before swinging upwards with her Yoyo and out of sight.

It would be reallly cool if me and Ladybug could both fly. I mean, we're the ladybug and bee miraculous holders! Both of those animals can fly! But, then again, we're more based on our kwami than the actual animal, and i'm pretty sure all the kwami can fly? Are we getting tendencies from our kwami, not our animal-theme?

Seeing that Chat Noir was getting closer, Chloé pushed those thoughts to the side to ask Pollen or Ladybug later, and put on her Acting Face- and not a moment too soon.

"Chat Noir!" She shrieked, rushing forward and sweeping the younger hero up in a hug as soon as he stepped over the railing, "You were amazing with that akuma today! Oh my gosh, that was so brave, how you destroyed it! Ahh! You're my hero!"

Chloé leaned forward and up in his arms, puckering her lips and missing his as he turned his face away, kissing air instead as he pressed his arms between the two of them, gently pushing her away.

"Thanks Chloé! You were great too!" Chat said happily, sleuthing his way out of her hold and maneuvering them until he was beside her, with one hand clapped on her shoulder companionably.

"Heyyyy!" Chloé reprimanded, pouting and waggling her yellow-tipped fingers at his face, "You have to call me Queen Bee when I'm suited up! It's unprofessional otherwise!"

Ignoring how Chat was leaning out of her annoyed reach easily, Chloé leaned into his side again, forcing him to slide his hand from one shoulder to the other to stop himself from falling as she put her weight against him and batted her eyelids up at him in a swoon, "Of course, if you ever wanted to go out some time, off the clock… I'd be more than happy to let you call me Chloé, but only if you let me call you Kitty…"

Chat's face stalled for a second as he processed her words, but almost instantly his face turned into a grimace and he frowned down at her, sad and regretful.

"Chloé- Queen Bee, you know how I feel, I'm in love with Ladybug…" Chat said, sternly taking a large step away from her. "You know I could never return your feelings, I've told you before, and I'm sorry if I'm hurting your feelings, but I… I don't love you."

"But you will, someday, don't you see, Chat? It's destiny! We're both super heroes, no one else could understand me the way you do!" Chloé said confidently, crossing her arms and sauntering forward, "Someday, you'll fall for me, you'll see, that if you just gave us a chance, we're perfect for each other! It's okay that you don't love me back right now, because I know you'll fall for me, I just need to be patient. But until then, can you blame me for being dazzled by your brilliance and your bravery? How can I not want to be near you when my love for you is so strong?" Chloé reached for Chat's hand, and seized it gently when he tried to pull it out of her reach.

"How can I resist telling you how dazzling your green eyes are, here in the sunset above paris? How can I resist your feline grace when I see you running on all fours across the rooftops with such agility?"

Pulling herself closer to him and ignoring how he tried to gently extricate himself from her hold, she pulled him into a hug, using a little bit of her enhanced strength as she rested her head on his chest, leaning against him a bit so she could tuck her head under his chin, listening to his thundering heartbeat. "Will you purr like a cat, when you realize the truth in my words? Would you hold me like this, when normal life is too much?"

"Queen Bee." Chat's voice was sharp, almost breathy, and she could almost feel him shaking as she gradually reduced the super strength she was using, allowing him to push her away. She would have felt bad for scaring him and making him uncomfortable, but she had heard Ladybug's rant, and seen the evidence herself first hand how often he tried to kiss Ladybug, how often he held her hand long after pulling her to safety, how often he invaded her personal space, and how more and more vehement Ladybug had been getting in denying their relationship, in denying his affection, in insisting she did not love him back and there was someone else, please stop, I do not feel the same.

She liked Chat Noir, she really did. Not that way, but she really did consider them friends.

He was a good hero, too.

He just…

He just needed to get his head out of his ass, to put it bluntly.

"It's okay, Chat, some day you'll love me the way I love you." She said as she allowed him to pull away, watching his eyes (avoiding hers, now) that were wide, and how his hands were trembling still, though the rest of his shaking was under control.

"I'm sorry, Queen Bee, but I… I don't feel that way. Where is Ladybug?" Chat said, backing away until there was a distance between them and folding his arms protectively across his chest and looking away from her. His voice, too, was shaky and uncertain, a far cry from his usual confident swagger, clearly very uncomfortable. "She said she wanted to meet up. I thought I saw her up here with you up here, where did she go? I don't… I'm sorry but… I need to get home, if she's not coming. I- I'll have to escort you to the ground, and return your Miraculous if she's busy. I-"

Apparently, Ladybug had decided Chat had stewed long enough, and with a thwip! And the smallest of thuds, Ladybug had re-alighted on the platform from above, landing lightly on her feet next to Chloé.

"Oh, hey Chat! Sorry, I didn't realize you were down here, I went up higher to keep an eye out, but apparently we missed each other!" Ladybug chirped, looking nothing less than chipper, and not like she been crying just a few minutes ago.

"Anyways, I'm glad you made it back so quick, I wanted to discuss a possible change in our line up. I was thinking of maybe bringing Queen Bee in more often, and maybe having the three of us pair up for different patrol routes?" Ladybug said, steamrolling ahead before Chat could get a word in edgewise, "It could be me and Queen Bee one night, Chat and me, and then Chat and Bee alone! That'll give us time to work one of one with each other, and help us keep an eye out for akuma before they start causing havoc! How about it? I was thinking you Chat, and Bee could be the first to partner up, how about patrolling the outskirts of this area together? I know you two are friends, I figure you'll get along well!" Ladybug announced, beaming at the both of them.

Chloé actually found herself disappointed at this announcement; from the way Ladybug kept emphasising Chat and Queen Bee being alone together, she was doing this as part of the plan, probably trying to see if Chat would speak up about the 'encounter' he had just had, or if he would grin and bear it.

Saddened that she would not be becoming a full time hero, but determined to fulfill her promise, Chloé grinned brightly at Ladybug's announcement and moved towards Chat, reaching for his hand, but making sure to move slow enough he would have plenty of time to dodge-

Which he did, immediately retreating to Ladybug's side and placing his hand on her shoulder.

Chloé saw Ladybug stiffen slightly before relaxing, and easily shrugged his hand off, as the practiced motion it had become.

"Oh, but Ladybug, whatever will you do without such a fine cat as myself? Wouldn't you rather paw-trol with the both of us? That way the three of us can purr-sue any villains that pop up!" Chat asked animatedly, stepping once more into Ladybug's personal space until he was slightly behind her, using her as a shield from Chloé's presence whilst still trying to ask like a suave flirt.

"I think you two can handle it on your own, are you feeling up to it, Queenie?" Ladybug asked, and Chloé beamed at the diminutive; she officially had a Ladybug approved nickname!

"Of course, Ladybug! Me and my boyfriend here are the dream team!" Chloé declared, and saw Chat practically jump in the air in shock at her words.

"We- we're not dating!" He protested hotly, dithering as if he were torn between backing away from her for more space and charging forward to emphasis his words. "You're not my girlfriend! I love Ladybug!"

"Yeah, I might not be your girlfriend now, but I will be." Chloé leaned in and conspiratorially stage-whispered to Ladybug, "We're destined to be together, I just have to wear him down."

Ignoring Chat's spluttering, Chloé winked at Ladybug and turned to Chat, offering him her hand. "C'mon, loverboy, we've got a date on the town!"

Chat shrank in on himself, tucking his hands close to his chests, crooked into claws defensively. Then he shook his head and stood upright, taller and shoulders spread wide. "No, I'm sorry Chl- Queen Bee, I'm sorry Ladybug, but I'm not comfortable patrolling alone with Queen Bee at the moment." Chat confessed, fiddling nervously with his Miraculous, spinning it idly around his finger.

Where he could not see, Ladybug smiled.

Ladybug moved as Chat was still speaking.

"I understand how you feel about me Chloé, I feel the same way for Ladybug, but I…" Chat trailed off in his speech.

Ladybug had come to stand beside Chloé once more, shoulders touching, a united front.

Against Chat, who had not realized he was an enemy.

Ladybug spoke, and the transformation was so drastic from the moment before, that Chloé wondered how the evidence of her tears had been so invisible before. "You understand?" Ladybug asked, voice cold and hurt. "You understand how she feels, because you feel that way for me?"

Chat was frozen across from them, apparently shocked and confused about Ladybug's sudden change in demeanor. His eyes flickered to Queen Bee's face, and stared at her as she let her love-struck expression fall away, leaving cold disdain behind.

"Yes…?" He whispered out, ears pinned flat against his head as he surveyed their position, how both Chloé and Ladybug's body language had changed so dramatically: Ladybug abandoning her cheerful obliviousness in favor of cold betrayal, and Chloé dropping her manic infatuation like it had never existed.

"Y-Yes," Chat said again, more strongly, tail twitching with unease behind him,"Yes, Ladybug, I love you. What… What is going on? What's wrong?"

"You understand how Chloé feels, because you feel the same way for me," Ladybug repeated slowly, enunciating, "Yet here, now, when you stand where I stand everyday, you still do not understand how I feel."

Okay, even Chloé was a little lost on what she just said.

"What?" Chat asked, face screwing up as he tried to understand what she was saying, "What do you mean? What are you talking about? Why are you… are you mad at me? Why?" The beginnings of agitation were slowly taking root in his tone, over coming his uncertainty; he was going to go on the defensive soon enough.

"BECAUSE, CHAT!" Ladybug burst out, fists clenched at her sides and feet stomping into the platform below them with such force it dented, "You stand there! And you tell me you're uncomfortable with Queen Bee flirting with you! With her calling you her boyfriend!" Ladybug could stand still no longer, apparently, as she began to stomp forward, one hand on her yoyo, the other pointing and jabbing accusingly at Chat Noir, who backed away, cringing in shock as she advanced on him, back to pure confusion as his 'Lady' screamed at him.

It was like watching a volcano erupt, pressure had been building and building, and it had finally found its release in an explosion of pain.

Blue eyes flashing with tears and hair becoming disarayed as she clawed at it with the passion of her speech, Ladybug shrieked, "You stand there, and say you don't feel comfortable, or safe, patrolling alone with her! You stand there, and say this, when I stand there every day, dealing with the same! Exact! THING!"

"You stand there, and you say after five mintes that you don't want to be alone with her! That you're uncomfortable! But you! You, Chat Noir, YOU! What do you think you do to ME!?" Ladybug screamed, voice echoing off the empty spaces around them, and Chloé could only be grateful she was not the target. Chloé stayed back, letting Ladybug have the stage, but ready to leap if things got too out of hand.

"DAY AFTER DAY, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, BATTLE AFTER BATTLE! YOU FLIRT AND HUG AND HOLD AND TRY TO KISS ME! YOU LITERALLY PUT MY LIFE, YOUR OWN, AND CIVILIANS IN DANGER BECAUSE YOU THINK THE MIDDLE OF BATTLE IS THE TIME TO CRACK A JOKE OR FLIRT!" By this time, Ladybug had stopped advancing on Chat who was huddled on the ground, staring with wide eyes at her as she stomped away from him and began to pace agitatedly, clawing at her own arms repetitively as she shrieked her pent up emotions to the fading sun, stars beginning to appear as the sky around them darkened, casting them in deepest shadow.

Ladybug's pacing was literally carving a rut into the platform below her, but as her fingers continued to claw at her crossed arms, Chloé was glad to see her suit was protecting her.

Turning from Chat and slamming her hands down on the railing until it twisted under her fists, Ladybug screamed.

On it went, growing hoarser by the second, until she stopped, jaw clicking shut in the dark, and even then it echoed around them as she slumped against the damaged railing, panting but clearly trying to gather herself.

When the primal cry had finally faded, a tense silence fell upon the trio, filled only with Ladybug's ragged breathing and the quick, anxious panting of Chat.

"I…" Chat tried to speak, looking pale and shellshocked after Ladybug's outburst, "Bugaboo, I-"

"NO!" Ladybug burst out again, rage rekindled in an instant at the term of affection, she whirled around to glare at him, blue eyes blazing and tears tracing glowing trails down her face. "STOP CALLING ME BUGABOO!"

There was an almost inaudible…

Flutter?

The slightest movement, of black against black sky and-

A glowing purple mask flickered into view, framing Ladybug's face, highlighting the teartracks and bloodshot eyes, tinting her disarrayed, dark hair violet.

Heart stopping in her throat, Chloé felt all the breath leave her in an instant-

Chat let out a strangled scream, a cry of denial, of despair-

Brain clicking into high gear, Chloé's eyes frantically took in Ladybug's appearance⏤

Trying to catch a glimpse of her earrings⏤

Of her yoyo⏤

To see what item was holding the akuma⏤

One of her hair ribbons! It was black! It was⏤!

With a feral snarl more terrifying than her screaming, Ladybug shook her head, dug her finger into her mask like claws, and⏤!

"NO!"

"YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS FROM ME!"

There was a flash of light, Chloé prepared herself to fight the hardest akuma she would ever fight⏤

Then there was a black butterfly, falling out of the air as though stunned before it steadied, flapping frantically to regain height and aiming for Chat Noir⏤

There was a snap, a click, a thwip, and Ladybug's yoyo flew out, scooping the akuma out of the air before it even got within a yard of Chat Noir.

The brief flare of pure white light from the purifying chamber before it snapped shut clearly illuminated the scene for a moment:

Ladybug, standing against the railing still, a look of pure determinated etched across her face even as it was still puffy and flushed from her crying; her tears had dried, leaving her looking exhausted and spent as she stood triumphant, rejected and captured akuma safe within her yoyo.

Chat Noir, crouched on the floor, halfway lunged forward, one hand outstretched still towards Ladybug, looking absolutely devastated as he stared at the now-full yoyo she clutched so tightly in her hand.

Chloé found herself breaking the silence.

Weak kneed, Chloé fell to the dented walkway, clutching her heart through her suit. "OH! MY! GOD! THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!" she shrieked, feeling as though her heart was going to pound its way out of her chest.

That broke the tension.

A huffy, watery laugh escaped Ladybug, and she too slumped to the ground, clutching her yoyo to her chest with both hands, knees drawn up in front of her. "Yeah," She laughed, hiccuping, "Yeah, it did."

Hysterical laughter bubbled up in Chloé's throat until she was giggling uncontrollably, shaking in relief so strong it was like someone had suckerpunched her, her hands were shaking so badly from adrenaline.

Ladybug had been so upset, she'd nearly been akumatized⏤

Ladybug was almost akumatized

And Chloé would have had to fight her idol.

She's not sure that would be a fight she could win, but for Ladybug, she would move heaven and hell to prove to her that Chloé could be a better person, a good person, a worthy hero…

"I'm sorry." The voice was croaky, choked, and Chloé clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles as Chat Noir spoke.

"I'm sorry, Ladybug. I am so, so sorry that I never listened to you before," Chat said, and when Chloé looked in his direction, she saw that he had gathered himself up from his sprawled position and was now curled up against the railing, arms locked tightly around his knees, tears coursing silently down his face as he looked at Ladybug, and at the full yoyo in her hands, glowing faintly.

"I'm so sorry that I never listened to you, when you told me you loved someone else, I should have listened when you told me you did not like me back, I should have listened when you told me to stop flirting and trying to kiss you, I should⏤" A sob interrupted his words, and he visibly tried to control himself, roughly scrubbing the tears out of his eyes, ears pinned against his skull as he began to fiddle with his Miraculous again, spinning it like a top around his finger, unceasing.

"I should have listened to you, I should have respected you, I know better, I just… I thought that was how a super hero is supposed to act, untouchable, confident, always getting the girl, but… I should have listened to you. I should never have forced you into a position where you had to… where you had to force me to see it from your perspective." Chat whispered, shoulders shaking and refusing to meet Ladybug's eyes. "I understand, if you can't forgive me."

"Chat…" Ladybug began, hesitating, "Listen, I'm sorry⏤ I shouldn't have blown up at you the way I did, I⏤ I shouldn't have gotten so upset that I was nearly akumatized, it would have been all my fau⏤"

"Don't you dare say that!" Chat burst out, suddenly animated, scrambling out of his ball, crouched to slam his palms onto the walkway below them with a bang, "It would never have been your fault! It would have been mine!"

Extending his fingers, Chat clawed at the metal below him as he spoke in a desperate rush, sending slivers of metal curling as his claws carved through it like a hot knife through butter. "I'm the⏤ I'm the one that made you feel trapped! I'm the one that made you miserable! I'm the one that broke your trust, I'm the one that…. I'm the one that got you upset enough to bring an akuma, it would have been my fault. It is my fault." His words, shouted at first, gradually became quieter, smaller. "I hurt you so badly that Hawkmoth almost got you."

Chat looked up at Ladybug, "I'm sorry. I am so sorry. I understand if you can't forgive me for my behavior; Queen Bee, I'm sorry to you too, for how I acted, but I am so proud of you, that Ladybug was able to trust you, even when she couldn't trust… me."

Chat's chin was trembling, and Chloé watched, no longer laughing, as he held his hand in front of his face, contemplating his Miraculous. "I understand if you can't forgive me," He repeated again, and squeezed his eyes shut, tears slipping out of the corners. "But if I can even begin to make up for it, I will surrender my Miraculous to you. Plagg… Plagg deserves a worthy wielder, someone who is worthy of you, because I'm not."

"No, Chat."

Chat flinched as though struck, but Ladybug continued speaking, "No, Chat, you are worthy of the Black Cat. You are a worthy Chat Noir. Master Fu chose you for a reason. When you're focused and on task, you are an amazing superhero. You just need to…" Ladybug sighed, before fixing her gaze on Chat.

"You need to learn to respect me, you need to learn to respect women, and you need to be professional. This isn't a day job where you can joke around with the customers or slack off, this is a sacred obligation where we are saving lives and the entire world.

"If you really, truly believe that you are not suited to wear that suit, to wear that ring, if you truly do not want to be Chat Noir anymore, If you don't want to be my partner anymore, then I will gladly accept your Miraculous when you are ready to give it up... but not a moment sooner!" Ladybug declared.

Chloé watched as Chat slowly relaxed from his flinch as he listened to her, bowing his head in shame before jerking and staring at her in shock.

"My Lady…" Chat began, but paused, uncertain. "Is… is it okay if I call you My Lady still?"

Ladybug smiled gently, "Just so long as it's not 'bugaboo', and as long as you remember that I might be your partner, and your friend, but I… I am not yours."

Chat nodded, looking determined. "I know that now. I know how you feel, and I know how I made you feel for all this time. I was a jerk, and I should have known better. But I want to make it up to you. If you still want me, then I will prove it to you, and I will be the best Chat Noir you could ever ask for. I'll stop flirting, I'll stop distracting you during battles, I won't try to kiss you, and I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, even from myself."

Ladybug took a deep breath and let it out again, smiling a small, uncertain smile, before biting her lip and speaking: "About that Chat… please. I appreciate you saving me, I really do, but please… it would mean the world for me if you could keep yourself safe, too. Please, no more taking hits for me when we could both be safe if you just pulled me down or to the side, no more jumping to your death to avoid fighting me without giving me a chance to come up with a plan- we're partners, Chat, and that means I need you as much as you need me. We're a team, not a hero and sidekick; you shouldn't be acting like you're expendable."

Chat blinked at Ladybug, looking dumbfounded. "But… but I am expendable. You're the only one that matters, aren't you? You're the only one that can bring everyone back! If I fall it's one thing, but if you fall, how will I rescue you and everyone else? I'm not as smart or clever as you!"

"But Chat, don't you see… don't you see how hurtful it is? To hear that day in and day out? Of course you're not expendable! No one is expendable! But just because I can bring you back doesn't mean you should be reckless! I can't do this alone! It's terrifying, every time I lose you! Do you know what it's like, to see you fading from existence, or to have to fight you, to see you die or taken over by an akuma over and over again?"

Ladybug was crying again, only this time there was no trace of anger to mask her sorrow.

Clutching the glowing yoyo to her chest, Ladybug hunched over her knees, sobbing, "Do you know what it's like to watch everyone you know and love, dead and gone or taken or hunting you? Do you know what it's like, having the weight of the entire world on your shoulders? Knowing that one mistake, one mishap, and the entire world is gone? It doesn't even stop when the battle does! It seems like no matter who I am, everyone is relying on me, and it never ends!"

Unable to watch silently any longer, Chloé crawled along the walkway on (less shaky) hands and knees until she had enveloped Ladybug in a sideways hug as her mentor cried. This night really had been a long time coming.

"Ladybug, I'm sorry you've had to feel that way, if there's ever anything we can do to help, just tell us!" Chloé said, shooting Chat a stern Look over Ladybug's shoulder where Ladybug wouldn't see it.

Chat Noir stared back at her, looking nothing less than a deer in headlights, apparently thinking she was glaring at him. Rolling her eyes as dramatically as possible, Chloé subtly waved him over, pointing empathetically at Ladybug's shoulder and giving her another, exaggerated hug, all while Ladybug was oblivious to the game of inter-superhero charades going on.

Chat's ears flicked up, looking uncertain as he got her message, before he began to cautiously move closer, crawling on all fours until he was just out of reach, looking like he didn't trust himself to not upset Ladybug further.

Thoroughly put out, Chloé gave up on being subtle. "Chat Noir, get your furry butt over here and join this group hug this instant!"

Ladybug started giggling between tears, especially when she caught sight of the expression on Chat's face. "Oh, c'mon, mon minou, you're allowed to hug me still."

Chat needed no further invitation, rushing forward and nearly knocking the two of them over as he cried, shoulders shaking as he gasped out over and over "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" until his voice was hoarse.

His arms were long and gangly enough to encircle Chloé and Ladybug, and while Chloé usually hated being on the outside of a hug (outside of her control), she found she didn't mind it so much right now.

Especially when Ladybug shifted around so she was hugging Chat and Chloé with one arm each.

Especially when Chat did indeed, after an eternity had passed and all the tears had dried up, start purring.

That got a round of clear, genuine laughter out of Ladybug and Chloé, and Chat himself started to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Hey Ladybug, can I ask you something? Something serious?" Chat asked, scooting back a bit until he was at a polite distance. Chloé followed suit when Ladybug didn't reached out for more comfort, until they were just people, sitting down and talking things through.

"Of course, Chat, what is it?" Ladybug asked, turning to regard her partner.

Chat smiled devilishly. "Was that a pun I heard earlier?"

Ladybug smirked, even as Chloé shot her a confused glance. What was Chat talking about? "That depends, kitty. Which pun?"

Chat's expression froze, and Chloé could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes as he thought furiously, eyes darting back and forth. "Uh…." He finally said, "something about me being suited to wear this suit?" he poked at his super suit, and it wasn't until that thought crossed her mind that Chloé got it.

Chloé burst out into loud guffaws, mostly because it was such a bad pun, but also because Ladybug put it into a dramatic and serious speech.

"Oh, c'mon kitty, that was the easy one. You're telling me you didn't catch the others?" Ladybug teased, raising an eyebrow at him in challenge.

"Wait," Chloé gasped out between giggles, "There were others!?"

Ladybug nodded proudly. "Of course! Our fine feline friend here isn't the only one capable of kitty comebacks."

Stretching her arms over head as Chat Noir frantically began to mutter under his breath, counting on his fingers, Ladybug rose nimbly to her feet, offering Chloé one polka-dotted hand.

Chloé grinned and accepted the aid, before turning to Chat Noir and giving a dramatic flourish as she offered her own hand to him, "No hard feelings, Chat Noir? I promise you, you are definitely not the man of my dreams. No offense, but that would be ridiculous!"

Chat gave up on counting on his fingers, instead accepting her hand up, his suited hands feeling so soft in her own, especially after she had seen the marks he had carved into the floor with his claws. "Of course, Queen Bee, I understand that you were just helping My Lady, it shouldn't have been so bad that she needed someone to give me a taste of my own medicine, but I'm glad you were willing to help her."

"Oh, anything to help out my bestie, Ladybug and Chat Noir, isn't that right?" Chloé said, following Ladybug back to the twisted railing where the akuma had tried to overtake her.

Ladybug was looking out over the star-strewn sky, a full moon coming out from behind the clouds to bathe them all in it's light as they came to stand beside her.

Just as Chloé was opening her mouth to ask what time it was, a shooting star flashed across the sky, there and gone in the blink of an eye.

Gobsmacked, Chloé turned to stare at Chat and Ladybug, who also looked surprised. "Did you two see that, too?"

Both heroes, ancient and young, nodded dumbly. "Make a wish," Chat said, smiling at both of them, but this time, his smile was genuinely excited, "Shooting stars are good luck!"

"Good luck, huh?" Ladybug contemplated, holding out her yoyo, before sneaking a glance over her shoulder with a small giggle at the destroyed platform they had left behind, "Well, let's hope luck is on our side and they don't have security camera up here to see us destroy a national monument."

"Agreed," Chat and Chloé said at the same time, and when he caught her eye, she smiled back at him.

"So, here's wishing for new beginnings!" Ladybug said with a hopeful smile, and cast out her yoyo far overhead.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah. That’s the fic that Adrien Stans are up in arms about. That’s the fic that has prompted multiple people to leave me rants in the reviews about Adrien not “deserving” this, or that Marinette was “too cruel”, or that, specifically, “Adrien doesn’t deserve this, he’s not sexually harassing Marinette! If anyone is, CHLOE is the one sexually harassing Adrien!!” With like......... zero brain cells and reading comprehension. 

I can only assume all these Adrien stans are targeting this particular fic because No Bitter End’s first chapter is 20k words long and they’re too lazy to actually put effort into reading an actual good fic lol.

Here are the noteworthy reviews from angry stans, so far, complaining about how cruel I’m being to Adrien and that “It’s not his fault his father is shitty! Adrien is abused, he doesn’t know what boundries are!” etc.

It’s VERY interesting that all of these reviews were submitted without Accounts attatched to them...... I can only assume they don’t want any backlash XD