#dezdee

4. What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done? 

xX A guy like me doesn’t do embarrassing things. Xx

9. If you had 30 seconds to send a message to the entire world, what would you say?

xX Fuck you bitches for spitting in my face. I’ll show you. I’ll show you all. Xx

10. If you received enough money to never need to work again, what would you spend your time doing?

xX Being an assassin isn’t work. It’s a lifestyle. Xx

18. What terrifies you the most?

xX While I’m not afraid of anything, per se, I maintain a healthy respect for His Honorable Tyranny. Xx

23. Do you consider yourself the hero or the villain of your own story?

               It’s been three years since Papillion’s defeat, Paris is on the road to recovery.  One year after Ladybug and Chat Noir disappeared, the magic holding his victim’s memories in place broke. The LadyBlog is used to help those victims deal with the memories.

               Nobody has been more affected by this than Alix Kubdel.  Her memories haunt all of her waking moments.  Amongst those memories, she alone knows the identity of Chat Noir.

               Gabriel Agreste leaves to find his missing wife, leaving Adrien to run the company.  Marinette has taken on an internship, but it’s with his company’s largest rival.  While reconnecting with Alya, she learns of the horrors Akuma victims are dealing with and resolves to help them.  She just has to do it without revealing her own identity.

               Sequel to All Good Things.

Warning:  May cause you to feel

Rating: T+

Thank you to my beta readers @ace-fox​ and @fuchsrenard​

All Good Things

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Chapter 13

FanFiction.net

AO3

              A light touch to Nino’s fingertips caused him to stir.  He blinked slowly and rolled onto his side.  To his left, the mattress flexed with an obvious shift in weight.  A soft click triggered dim light to flood his blurry vision. Reaching towards the end table, he blindly fumbled for his glasses. Grabbing the smooth plastic of the frames and placing them on his face.  Happily, Alya filled his view instead of the dark shadowy figure that had had been standing in her place a moment ago.

               “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”  She purred and strolled around the bed.  Dragging her finger along the sheet that encased the lower half of his body, she paused and flicked the edge of it before continuing on.  When she reached his bare chest she applied enough pressure with that single digit to pin him in his current spot.  Taking advantage of the prone position, she pressed her lips to his forehead.  Alya quirked her lips in a sad smile as she stood up.

               “As much as I like to finish what I start; I have to get down to the station.”  Despite her words, she stayed in place, staring into his eyes.  

               “Seeing you in nothing but my shirt makes me want to argue with you, but it also means that you have to get dressed so I can have it back.”  He sat up just enough to place a quick kiss on her lips.  

               Alya giggled and stepped away from the bed. Nino took the opportunity to untangle himself from the sheets.  She flung her hair back dramatically and strode out of the bedroom.

               “Can you start the coffee maker?  I don’t think there’s going to be time to stop for any today.”  She called from down the hall.

               “I could always get it for you and bring it down to the station.”  He offered.

               “Just make the coffee.”  She said flatly, then closed the bathroom door.

Nino readied himself as much as he could without his shirt.  Stepping into the kitchen, he went for the cabinet above the coffee maker, pulling out a filter and the bag of grounds.  After setting up the basket, he poured in grounds until he felt there was enough.  Grabbing a few bottles of water from the fridge, he poured them into the well. Alya would pour the finished product over his head if he used tap water, then complain about how the minerals from it would build up and ruin the maker.

               By the time her shower was finished, the smell of coffee was wafting throughout the whole apartment.  She wrapped herself in a terrycloth bathrobe and stepped out of the steamy bathroom, Nino’s shirt cradled in her right arm.  Stalking slowly down the hallway she approached the kitchen. His back was to her.  Perfect. Silently, she balled up his shirt and took aim.  

               He never saw it coming.  Mostly because his focus was on his phone, checking his email for gigs of various kinds.  He was startled by the something soft coming in contact with the back of his head. When he looked down he saw his shirt on the floor.  Turning toward the bedroom, he witnessed the door slamming shut.  The soft ‘tick’ told him she had locked the door.  

               Nino rolled his eyes and bent over to pick up and shake out the large black tee.  It was slightly damp from being in the steamy bathroom, but he shrugged it on anyway.  He had no clients to meet with today.  His phone buzzed on the counter.  It was a text from Alya, reminding him he had to set up a time with Adrien, followed by a phone number.  He assumed it was Adrien’s.  

               Adrien had been his friend, hell, his best friend for a very long time.  He knew the poor guy had been through something pretty unsettling.  More so than his usual family issues.   Instead of pressing him about it, he simply sat back and gave him some space.  In the end, it was Marinette that had brought Adrien out of that funk.  Something had changed about the way they interacted with each other.  

There had been a few group outings.  He, Alya, Adrien, and Marinette had always been places together, but there was a change to the group dynamic as a whole.  Many times it was as if he and Alya didn’t even exist, but at least they were all hanging out.  Then, the world broke.

It didn’t hit everyone at once.  Some people had subtle things:  weird dreams, subtle senses of Déjà vu, or feelings of unexplained guilt. Others had straight up nightmares and flashbacks.  Everyone coped differently.  Drugs and alcohol were a popular solution for some.  Therapy was enough for others.

               At the time, he had gone through his own thing. The memories of being The Bubbler weren’t the worst anyone should have to deal with.  Overall, his emotions weren’t driven by selfishness, but out-right care for his best friend.  The very friend he could no longer be close to.  Honestly, if it would have been possible to be re-akumatized, it would have happened at that moment in his life.  In a weird and twisted way, his guilt over being a villain would make him feel guilty for not getting past it and trying to reconnect with Adrien.  It felt like being caught in a loop of guilt that eventually led to severe depression.

               He was lucky enough to have Alya.  She’d been by his side through the whole thing. It was her dedication to the LadyBlog that inspired him to get better with computers.  Seeing her struggle to balance so much made him want to help as much as he could.  By the time he started to get a grip on his life, he’d lost all contact with Adrien. He didn’t know how he would even go about getting in contact with him again without seeming like some kind of stalker.  He did promise himself that he wasn’t going to distance himself from anyone again, if he could avoid it.  

               The phone buzzed in his hand again.  Alya was threatening to set up the meeting for them if she hadn’t heard a confirmation from both him and Marinette by noon.  He sighed.  There was no way out of this.  He smiled and sent her a text back, promising to follow through at a decent hour.  When she responded, he had to laugh.

               “If you aren’t going to cook me breakfast, get out.”

               His lips settled into a grin.  

               “Love you too!”  He shouted loud enough for her to hear through the door.  After conducting the standard self-check for keys, wallet, phone, and laptop case, he took his leave of Alya’s space.  

               Outside, the sky was that special shade of navy-purple that only appears just before sunrise.   Yellow light from streetlamps stood out in contrast on the sidewalks below. This time of day always felt fake to Nino, it reminded him of the simulated night skies he’d seen on theme park rides.  It felt entirely too close, but still appeared endless.  He chuckled at the thought.  This sky was obviously real, maybe the theme parks knew exactly what they were doing after all.

               On the walk to the van, Nino’s stomach groaned. The pang of hunger reminded him he had also left without getting any coffee for himself.  Despite her pleas of not having time, he was fairly positive that she would still stop in at the café by the station for breakfast.  

               He hopped into the driver’s seat of the black panel van he used to haul his DJ equipment.  It also assisted him in some of the more remote gigs for his other line of work.  He purposefully kept it non-descript, if even a little dirty.  Nothing sticks out on the street like a well-kept vehicle. Even if it were noticeable, washing it was easier and less traceable than getting a new paint job.  

               He shut the door and cemented his plans. Heading for the café he knew she frequented, Nino was going to surprise Alya by treating her to breakfast.  It wasn’t a long drive, but parking a large vehicle was not always the easiest thing to do in the city.  It was still early enough that he found something within a block of his destination.  Once the office workers started pouring in, he would be in prime real-estate.

***

               Adrien parked at the curb in front of Lyon Creations.   A large black van was in the spot he usually used to drop her off, but neither of them paid much notice.  

               “Nino is supposed to call you about where you’re going tonight, right?”  Marinette confirmed.

               “Yes.”  He answered for the fourth time.  “Alya hasn’t stopped texting me about it since you gave her my number this morning. I’m surprised she hasn’t already set a place and time for us.”

               “She can be a little……. enthusiastic.” Marinette mentally searched for the least offensive word to use.  “Would you expect anything less from her?”

               “No.”  He chuckled. “I think I’d be more worried if she wasn’t pushing for this.”

               Adrien’s phone buzzed from its spot in the cup holder. His face lit up a little when he took a look at the screen.

               “Who is it?” She asked as he picked the phone up.

               “It’s Nino.  Looks like Alya’s been hard at work on both ends.”  He started typing a reply.

               “I’ll leave you to it.”  She leaned over the center console and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.  “Just remember, you’re picking me up from Alya’s place when you get done.  We both have a long day tomorrow, so don’t be out too late.”

               “I don’t consider dinner with your family a long day.”  He smiled and returned the chaste kiss.

               “True, but it’s been a really long week already.” Her eyes were tired despite her polished appearance.  She took in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh.  “Not even counting this place.”

               “Wait right here.”  Adrien unbuckled his seatbelt before getting out of the car. She watched in confusion as he ran around the vehicle and came to her door.  He reached for the handle and pulled it open.  He bowed with a bit of flourish and held his hand out to her. She took it and he pulled her close.

               “Remember, no matter how they treat you in there, you are my lady.”  He placed a light kiss on her lips.  “You say the word, and I’ll make sure everyone in there knows it too.”

               She smiled up at him, tears of happiness forming in the corners of her eyes.  She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace and he returned the action.  She loosened her grip first.

               “I don’t think it will come to that, but hearing you say it definitely helps.”  She gave his bicep a light rub before he released his grip on her.  “See you tonight.  Have fun with Nino.”  

               Adrien watched as she ran up the steps and into the building’s front entrance.  After closing the car door, he made his way back to the driver’s seat.  Nino had sent him a time and an address.  The response he sent confirmed that he would be there. Checking the traffic, Adrien pulled out onto the street and headed for work.  

***

               Marinette stepped out of the elevator.  She had already grown accustomed to the dread that hit her as she neared the end of the hallway, but put on her happiest smile before reaching the desk.  Nichole was already at her computer typing away.

               “Good mor…..”  The usual paper was shoved into her face.  Nichole never even looked in her direction.

               “Hurry little bird. There’s an early design meeting this morning.  At this point, you’re already late.”  

               “But I… no one told….”  Marinette began to protest, but took a deep breath and steadied herself.  “I’ll be right back.”  

                She snatched the paper and turned tail.

***

               Nino sighed as he checked the clock on his phone. He had been wrong.  Alya really wasn’t stopping through today.  He had set up a time and place with Adrien, then forwarded the info to Alya.  He was getting ready to leave the café when the entry bell rang.  Fairly hidden in his spot at the back, he could clearly see the woman coming in through the door.  Her hair was different, but her build and facial structure were unmistakable. It was Marinette, obviously out of breath, most likely from running.  She didn’t speak, just handed the paper to the barista and tried to steady herself.  

               Nino stayed in his secluded spot.  Seeing her for the first-time in years, even he felt the need to walk up to her and pick up as if they had spoken yesterday.  That feeling scared the hell out of him. Taking into account the conversation he and Alya had yesterday, he should just leave and pretend he never saw her, but there was something nagging him in the back of his mind.  Too much had gone down too quickly yesterday. Then, they were supposed to just pretend it never happened?  

               There were a few things that he and Alya had rubbed off onto one another.  She picked up on some of his computer skills.  He picked up on her investigative spirit.  They both used them in different ways, but the combination had definitely been more beneficial to his more secretive line of work.  

               He watched as she finished paying and collected her order.  Waiting about thirty seconds after she left, Nino made his own way out the door.  The pace he kept was casual, but his focus was on Marinette.  She was doing her absolute best to bob and weave through the crowd, eventually making her way into Lyon Creations.  Nino chuckled to himself, turning to see his own van, already parked in front of the building.  

***

               Marinette steadied the stack of coffees and trays in her grip.  The empty elevator allowed her access to the wall and railing for support.  When her floor approached, she readied herself for the small jerk that always came before the doors opened.

               In the last three days, Marinette had worked out the coffee delivery into an art.  She could glide past the desk, leaving Nichole and Mme. Lyon’s drinks. She would be able to quickly drop off the rest as she passed their work stations.  

               “This is for you and Madame……”  A hand on her wrist cut off the statement.

               “Leave the coffees here.  Everyone can grab them on their way in today.  You have other stuff to do.”  Nichole made no effort to help her place the coffees, but continued to speak.  “There was a special rush fabric order placed to this shop.  We need it back here ASAP.”

               Marinette took the paper after setting down the beverages.  She looked at the address and her eyes grew wide.  

               “This is on the other side of the city.”  She shook her head slightly.  “I’ll be lucky to make it back before noon.”

               “Then you should take this too.” Nichole tossed another piece of paper in her direction.  Marinette read it over.

               “Lunch orders?”  Confusion hung in the air.

               “You said it would take until noon.  Just grab them on your way back in.”  Nichole said it like she was doing her a favor.

               “I don’t have a car.”

               “Not my problem.”  Nichole flicked her wrist.  “Shoo little bird.”

               Marinette stood speechless for a moment.  Nichole continued to type on her computer.  After a few tense moments, she began to hum the first few bars of “Alouette.”   Marinette regained her composure and put on her biggest smile.

               “I’ll be back.”  She saluted and took a quick pace toward the elevator.  

               Once Marinette was out of earshot, Nichole ceased her humming and whispered under her breath.

               “I will break your spirit, little bird.”

***

               Nino didn’t have to wait very long for Marinette to emerge from the front of the building.  Somehow, she looked even more flustered than before.  She stepped in front of his van and waved down a taxi, never even looking his way.  When she jumped into the backseat, he turned the vans ignition. The taxi pulled away and Nino waited for a few cars to pass before heading into traffic to follow.

               A good distance was kept between himself and his target.  He’d worked plenty of jobs that required him to tail a person or two.  Being mobile also made you harder to find.  He even made sure to drive past them when the taxi parked and Marinette stepped out.  Nino drove slowly enough to see her enter the fabric store, but not so much that it drew attention.  After parking around the corner, he took up residence at a nearby bus stop to wait.

***

               Marinette entered the store and looked around. She’d never been to this particular establishment.  There were large racks reaching from floor to ceiling that held multiple bolts of fabric. They reminded her of giant colorful toilet paper rolls.

               “May I help you?”  A woman with bright red hair smiled from behind the counter.  It took up the limited floor space in the middle of the store.  Her name tag read “Maude.”  

               “Yes.”  Marinette was relieved to see a friendly face.  “I’m here to pick up a special order.”

               She handed over the paper Nichole had given her. The smile on Maude’s face faded as she looked from the order to Marinette.  

               “Don’t tell me it’s not ready.”  Marinette pleaded.  This would be the perfect way for her day to go.

               “It’s ready.”  Maude stated.  “Are you sure you can take it?  It might be a bit hard getting it out of the store alone.”

               “I’m stronger than I look.”  Marinette smiled proudly and flexed her bicep.    

               Maude didn’t seem convinced.

               “Ok, we have to walk around to the loading dock in the back.”  She grabbed a set of keys and motioned for Marinette to follow.

               “Loading dock?”  Marinette whispered, just out of ear shot.

***

               Nino spotted Marinette trailing a tall woman with bright red hair that stopped to lock the front of the store.  He stood up to follow them around the row of buildings to the alley that ran along the back.  Not far from where he had parked.  The weird feeling tickled his brain again.  He needed to start parking further away, twice was just too much of a coincidence for his taste.  

               He crossed the street so he could watch the alley without being spotted.  He pretended to stop and check his phone, but all of his attention was on the strange interaction going on in the alley.  

               When the red-haired woman disappeared into the opening of the loading dock, two large men came out carrying a nine-foot tube wrapped in plastic.  They placed it on the ground, went back inside and brought out another.  When they went in again, the rolling bay door closed behind them.

               At that moment, Nino saw something break in Marinette.  She stopped in the middle of the stairs leading up to the loading platform and sat down.  He could see the gears turning in her head.  He’d been following her all morning, if this is what she was here to pick up, there was no way she was getting it back to the office.  The sheer size made it impossible for her to fit them into a cab. She needed a truck……….  or maybe a van.

               “Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!” Marinette finally screamed into the sky. There was no way this was a mistake. She could take the cold shoulders as she delivered coffee and meals.  She could take the nit-picky orders and ridiculous filing.  All of that still put her in the presence of real industry professionals, and she could glean bits and pieces from that. There was no making a mistake on an order like this.    “This is just a wild goose chase!!!!!”  

               “Marinette?”  She looked in the direction of the voice.  He was a little taller than she remembered, but it was most definitely Nino.

               “Nino?”  She wanted to make sure, her luck had not been the best this week.  He nodded in response.  “What are you doing around here?”

               “I was in the area.”  He kept the answer general as he approached.  “Everything okay?  You seem frustrated.”

               “That’s an understatement.”  She said flatly.  “Not having the best day so far.”

               “Anything I can do?”  At this point he wasn’t sure if he was genuinely asking or being compelled. He was fighting internally with the urge to help her and not simultaneously blowing his cover.  

               “Not unless you know someone that can help me transport two industrial sized bolts of fabric.”  She was still seated on the steps.  The fact she hadn’t even offered a proper greeting gave him some insight to how badly this was effected by the incident.

               “I do, actually.”  He pointed to a black van parked just outside the alley.  “That’s mine over there.”

               Marinette blinked her eyes in disbelief.  She looked from the van to Nino and back again.

               “I couldn’t ask you, I need to get these across town and pick up lunch orders.  I don’t want to put you off your schedule like that.”

               “Nonsense.  How could I spend time with Adrien tonight, knowing I left you out here in alone in an alley?”  He pointed to the cargo sitting on the dock.  “How heavy are they?”

               “I could drag one by myself, so the two of us could carry them pretty easily.  Honestly, they’re just super awkward to hold.”  She stood and brushed off her bottom.

               “I’ll get the van in closer.”  Nino smiled.  “Just give me a sec.”

***

               Nichole looked at the clock on her desktop.  It was nearly eleven-thirty, she had long expected a call from Marinette about the obscene size of the fabric bolts.  Sure, she could have scheduled a delivery, but what would be the fun in that?

               Every year, she had the distinct honor of breaking in the intern.  The fashion industry was tough, working for Lyon Creations was even tougher.  There was no room for the weak.  Marinette was the seventh intern she’d dealt with, and something about the girl bothered her to no end.

               Not a single intern had made it past two-weeks with her.  Only two had ever made it beyond the first.  To work here, they needed drive and a touch of darkness.  Marinette was too sparkly.  Her smile, her general effervescence, and her absolute dumb luck were verifiably supernatural.

               Since no interns ever stuck around, the design team never even took the time to learn their names.  Over time, that automatic coldness had worked to her advantage. Still, this girl came in every morning and greeted everyone by name as she handed out drinks or lunch orders.  She was something beautiful that needed to be destroyed.

               One day, Nichole had tried tripping the unsuspecting girl while she carried a stack of drinks.  Marinette had stumbled, but managed to all but one coffee from falling. That coffee had fallen directly into a trashcan without spilling a drop anywhere outside of it.  The drink had been Nichole’s.

               The fabric errand had been a stroke of genius. She would have to treat herself after this one.  Now, it was just a waiting game.  Would the little bird come back defeated?  Would she even return at all?  If she hadn’t heard anything by the end of the day, Nichole would take that as a resignation.

               She began to lightly sing her favorite tune again.

               “Je te plumerai les yeux……”

                  “I’m back!” Marinette’s bright chirp echoed from the elevator.

               The sound of her voice sent a chill down Nichole’s spine.  There’s no way she could have pulled this off.  How could she sound so happy?

               The first thing to emerge from the hallway were the ends of the fabric bolts.  Bags containing food had their handles looped around them.  Not only had she managed to pick up the fabric, she had picked up the lunch orders.  

               Marinette’s small frame appeared next.  Carrying one end of a bolt on each of her shoulders, simultaneously blocking her peripheral vision and head from view.  Holding the other ends of the bolts was a tall man with striking golden eyes.  His caramel colored arms were wrapped around the bolts so that he was carrying them on level with Marinette.  He spotted Nichole and gave a friendly smile.  

               “Where to?”  He asked.

               “Fabric storage.”  She managed to reply.

               “Hold on, Nino.”  Marinette kept the bolts balanced as she shimmied down the length of them to the bags of food.  She carefully removed them and placed them on Nichole’s desk.  “I’ll be back for those.”  She smiled and led Nino to their drop-off point.

               Nichole seethed in her spot.  

               “Little bird, I will pluck out every last one of your feathers.”