#mlb 2018

A thing I wrote for a prompt from @minnesota-fats post on Chat Noir defending Marinette from Lila and the class freaking out over the "his princess" slip. Hope it turned out okay!

Marinette only allowed the strained smile to drop from her face only after she dropped her school bag and threw herself onto her bed, Tikki hovering worriedly over her slumped form.

"Marinette? Don't be sad, you know what Lila said was wrong." the kwami's heart broke at seeing the girl's shoulders trembling.

Marinette took a deep, shaky breath, voice muffled by the big cat plushie she had buried her face in, "I know Tikki it's just...Lika is just so full of lies! I don't understand why everyone believes her!" she groaned.

Tikki flew closer to Marinette's head, smiling gently, "Adrien doesn't."

Remembering her conversation about Lila a few days back comforted Marinette slightly, still... "I can't believe she told everyone she was good friends with Ladybug! And the thing she lied about going out with Chat Noir after discovering she "found someone better"?" Marinette sat up, clutching the cat plushie in her hands tightly, "How can she say that Tikki?! How dare she?! Chat Noir is the kindest guy I know! He doesn't deserve this! Especially not from someone like Lila! Ugh!" Marinette threw the plushie against the wall, burying her face in her hands.

Tikki's worry spiked when she heard the quiet sobs escaping her and slowly levitated close, comfortingly nuzzling against her cheek.

"I don't understand Tikki, I can't. Lila lying about traveling the whole world and meeting famous people, Lila lying about being friends with Ladybug and Chat Noir..." Marinette clenched her fists and stared down at her kwami in sadness. "Why Tikki...how can people be like this?" Marinette's sad voice made Tikki only nuzzle her more, patting her cheek and trying to comfort her wielder.

"People are different Marinette. Nobody is completely evil, there is evil and good in all of us. It's just that... people act out on what they feel more comfortable with." the small ancient kwami hoped her words offered at least a bit comfort to her charge.

Marinette gently craddled Tikki close to her, sobbing.

Until a tap on her window made her freeze and before she could tell Chat Noir that she was busy, the cat had already opened the window.

That was weird, he usually waited for permission before-

"Princess!" he jumped down onto her bed, his warm gloved hand on her shoulder and his worried, panicked eyes scanning the tears on her cheeks and the redness in her eyes, " I'm so sorry, Marinette."

And then, he was hugging her.

Marinette didn't know how Chat Noir knew what happened, but at that moment she didn't care, instead hugging him back and holding onto him for dear life. He had been her rock for so long.

Chat Noir soothingly stroked her back, feeling the shivers wracking her body, his mind replaying the scene in class just before the period ended.

Lila and Marinette had gotten into a verbal fight, Marinette had been so upset when Lila had lied about dating "clichee, boring" Chat Noir and personally knowing Ladybug (he snorted, his Lady would never want a friend like her).

But what really made him angry was what Lila had told her in front of the whole class, "You're just jealous you don't have such a luxurious life like me, admit it, you're nothing but a little wannabe designer, one who can't even draw a pretty italian dress. You won't get to see all the awesome stuff I saw either,"

And then, the threat, "If you dare try to get between me and what I want, that little backery of yours will be closed down forever and your puny future in the fashion world? Just a distant fantasy. I'll make sure of it."

He had immediately transformed to go after Marinette.

Chat's body trembled in rage and he gently broke the embrace to look at Marinette, all puffy eyed, with red cheeks and tears trailing down the smooth skin. He tenderly wiped her tears away, feeling his own heart breaking at seeing her like this.

His resolve hardened, fueled by anger, "Stay here, princess," Chat Noir had been about to leap through her window but a tug on his tail stopped him.

Marinette, still teary eyed and red faced, gazed up at him questioningly, "C-Chat Noir? Where are you going?" she could sense the anger, the way his body moved agitatedly. Years of teamwork and fighting akuma had taught her a thing or two about reading him, just like he could read her.

Chat Noir lowered himself to her level, grasping her hands tightly in his, "My apawlogies princess, but there's something I need to take care of first. I promise I'll come back as soon as I can." he brushed her hair away from her forehead and in the next moment he was gone.

The students of Dupont had immediately taken their phones out to take a picture of the unexpected arrival of Chat Noir, who had burst through the double doors of the school looking like a man with a purpose.

A dangerous purpose if the angry expression on his face was anything to go by.

He was quick to locate his class, where a few of his classmates still had art.

He slammed open the doors and his gaze immediately found Lila in the second row, looking delighted at seeing him, "Chat Noir! Darling!" she waved excitedly.

He only partially registered the excited cheers around him and rows of questions, instead, he went straight for her.

Slightly towering over the italian girl, Chat's poisonous gaze narrowed, "How dare you attack Marinette like that? She didn't deserve any of the awful things you said to her!" he pointed a clawed finger at her, around him some of his classmates gasped.

Lila blanched, a nervous smile slowly stretching her lips, "Uh, w-what? Don't be silly kitten, I never attacked Marinette that wa-"

Chat's ears pulled back threateningly, "Stop lying! I know all about your little game! Being friends with Ladybug? She only ever saw you once after defeating you as an akuma! And the thing with me dating you?" his gaze turned icy, "I would never fall for a girl who treats other people like you do Lila, like they're beneath them."

He turned around, walking toward the door when another thought hit him and he stopped, "And threatening my Marinette?" he pointed at her with his staff, a warning lacing his words and in his eyes, "If you ever do that again, I won't bother saving you from an akuma. My princess is the kindest person I know who helps everyone, she is the last one to ever deserve insults, especially from someone like you. You don't deserve her kindness." He turned his head, "I know I don't."

With that, Chat Noir exited the class. Sprinting out of the school and back to Marinette. To his princess.

Alya paused the record button, looking overwhelmed as Nino blinked owishly at the door Chat Noir had ran out of, "Babe, did just happen what I think happened?"

Alya gripped his shoulder, "His Marinette."

Nino blinked, "Did Chat Noir just threaten someone?"

Alya's grip tightened, "He called her his princess."

Kim suddenly spoke what was on everyone's mind, "I didn't just imagine that, right? Chat Noir did call Marinette his princess...his Marinette....right?"

The class remained silent until all hell broke loose when Alya shouted, "I RECORDED IT!!"

Marinette had calmed down by the time Chat Noir came back, with a sincere apology, a basket full of sweets and a small ladybug plushie.

When Marinette had giggled over the sweet gesture, she smiled up at her kitty, "Thank you Chat Noir, but I really like the cat plushies best."

Chat Noir's brain had stopped working by that point, only to spring back to life when, after they planned on watching a movie online, a new update was posted on the Ladyblog.

A video to be exact.

Chat Noir froze when he read the caption underneath.

That’s the greatest Red Sox team I have had the privilege of watching. Debates are raging already on the whole “but how great were they really?” and those debates can go fuck themselves because they were really, really great. Much like in the ALCS, after the tumult and craziness of the previous two games, behind David Price the Sox just settled in and beat the Dodgers because the Red Sox were the better team than the Dodgers. And yes, as much as I loved Steve Pearce, I do think that Price or Eovaldi should’ve received the World Series MVP nod. 

I’m not really processing everything about the game in the correct order, because the game, the playoffs, and the season as a whole are rolling into one. When I think back to that incredible start to the season, I remember that the only other team in the whole of the MLB that looked anywhere near as dangerous as we were was the Mets. And things did not go the same for them as it did for us. 

But I’m getting distracted. This is about last night’s game, not the whole of the last seven months (spoiler alert, I’m probably going to dwell on the last seven months). Last night’s game was awesome. All the bright sides:

David Price rewrote his Red Sox and postseason story. On short rest, and putting teammates first, he went seven innings, giving up one run on three hits, striking out 5 and walking 2. Up against one of the best pitchers in baseball, he over-performed. Seeing tears in his eyes when asked what it felt like to be considered a good teammate, watching him walk his wee boy around Dodgers Stadium after the victory, it was just great. His full redemption was so great to see. He stepped up all year: when Sale went on the DL, when the chips were down against the Astros. I’m glad he’s a Red Sox.

Speaking of redemption, I don’t know what Joe Kelly worked on to go from disaster-area to absolutely fucking lights out, but he struck out the side in the eighth and posted an ERA of 0.00 for the World Series.

While Chris Sale struck out the side in the ninth. Cora saving him for the end was perfect, and the final pitch to get Machado out was so fucking filthy that the flailing and falling over that followed will be rewatched by me again and again and again. I hope he gets the rest and recovery he needs over the off-season.

Steve Pearce hit a two-run homer in the first, which turned out to be all the Sox needed to win. He then hit another homer because why the fuck not. His contributions have been huge, though I would still venture that the MVP might have been a bit much. Sort of like Cody Ross for the Giants in 2010 (loved Cody Ross back then though).

Mookie hit a homer!

JD Martinez hit a homer!

We just watched one of the greatest baseball teams in history win everything they could possibly win, against three teams that pundits claimed were ‘better’ in spite of having worse records. To see a team full of kids we’ve watched since they were drafted stay together and play to the very height of their potential was just so much damned fun. They’re so young! 

This whole thing, from Spring Training to now, has been incredible, hilarious, astonishing, and couldn’t have been predicted by anything. I stick to my fan-fiction allegory. This was the sort of season that a wildly optimistic Red Sox fan might dream about... “they look so good on paper... what if they just played so that they really are that good...”

Watching Alex Cora manage, and the genuine warmth that his players have for him, was incredible. I loved him as a utility guy. Love him more as a manager. Contract extension, please.

Everyone did their job. Raffy Devers growing up, and becoming a postseason RBI machine, and throwing out Machado like a boss. Mitch Moreland rediscovering his swing when we needed it most. Christian Vazquez with clutch hits. Sandy Leon basically managing the entire rotation for a month. Fast Eddie Nuñez playing hurt. Brock Holt bringing new meaning to super-utility. Xander getting his groove back. JBJr with the triumphant comeback. This is a team with legit superstars that had the help they needed when some of the brightness faded. 

That last fucking out. Machado buckled by a slider, Vazquez leaping into Sale’s arms. 

Chat: Watch how the purrfessionals do it.

Chat: *confidently walks up to Marinette* Hello purrincess, there's something I have to tell you. *looks deep into her eyes* You know how cats have nine lives? Well, today is my ninth and there's nothing more I want to do than spend it with you.

Marinette: *blinks* Thank you kitty, that's....sweet of you.

Luka: *smiles calmly* Hey Ma-Ma-Marinette.

Marinette: *pouts at the tease*

Luka: Say, did you use that Jagged Stone pick I gave you? *puts hand to chest* Because you've been tugging the strings to my heart ever since we first met.

Marinette: *Marinette.exe has stopped working*