Miracle 4- Malediktator
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{10/11/2040, Sunday, Marinette's Bedroom- 9:30}
Marinette, the anxious ball she is, somehow woke up early on a non-school day. Though part of that may be due to how she passed out right after yesterday's activities. She didn't even have the brain energy to put the comb on and talk to the Kwami.
"Your exhaustion is probably a combination of things," Mullo spoke up as her holder got dressed. "Using your power for the first time, it being late at night, anxiety because you'll need to reject that bootleg barbie..."
"Audrey Bourgeois is the queen of fashion worldwide!" Stubbled out the now clothed human, "she could end my career before it's even started!"
"Couldn't you just run the bakery?" The kwami asked, "you're incredible at baking so it's not like it's a lost cause."
"That may be..." she was now brushing her hair. "But my dream is to be a fashion designer. I may be good at baking and enjoy it, but it's not my passion."
The mouse remained quiet, contemplating on what her holder had said. When finally presentable, Marinette grabbed the bee comb from the desk it was hastily discarded upon.
It's a good thing the miraculous can change shape like they do, because this comb is literally in the shape of a bee!
Placing the comb teeth underneath her headband on the left, it turned full white with a lotus made of tulle and wire. Creating the illusion that it and the hairband were one in the same. At the same time, a yellow light stemmed from the accessory revealing the bee kwami.
"How may I serve you, my queen?" The bug kwami bowed only to open up her eyes in surprise, "you're not my holder."
"Cause she's my holder, Buttercup!" Grey landed atop yellow's chibi head.
Literally buzzing with excitement, the bee laughed in delight, "Mullo!"
"Long time no see Pollen," the mouse kwami laughed along. "Anyway, this girl here is both my holder, and the guardian's trainee!" She flew over to the miracle box as emphasis.
"The guardian finally chose someone?" happiness radiated from the shaking bee.
"Afraid not," Mullo came back to their side. "The guardian's in critical condition, and we were lucky enough to have someone good find the box."
"Figures, their far too self-reliant to undertake a trainee of their own volition," the antenna's on the bee drooped, before facing the human. "I can remain out of the miraculous, with your permission, if you place me in the box. Wearing more than one miraculous at the same time can be draining."
"I see." Removing the comb from her hair Marinette opened the box up, placing the comb in its designated slot. "But what happens if I need your power?"
"As long as my miraculous is in the box, you should be able to have access to it through your weapon," pollen sat on the box once it closed. "But like I said, try to avoid using both at the same time."
"Got it. Anyway Pollen, since you'll be living with me for now, what do you like to eat? Though if we're out in battle the only thing I'll have on hand will be cheddar cookies."
"Oh, I love honey!" Pollen beamed as Mullo nuzzles her side.
"K, I'll store some honey madeleines in my room for you to much on." Marinette's gentle face then took on a much more serious look, "but don't take any from the bakery, it's a business and we can't risk anyone seeing you."
"You've got it my queen!" Despite her elegance, Pollen gave a firm salute to her new owner.
"Now that's all settled..." the trainee's face took a deep breath in and out, face full of nervous resolve. "Time to tell my parents about my rejection."
Taking the first stiff step triggered the second, the third following motionlessly after. Opening the trap door had her halt for a second, a sweat aroma hitting her nostrils. Setting up a business in another country, even if it's well off, can take time, time her parents didn't have. They think this'll be our last breakfast together for a while.
Keeping her rigid pace as she descends, her mother and father take note of her when she finally hits the ground.
"Morning Marinette/bao bun."
"Morning mama, papa," searching for a distraction, sapphire eyes landed on the lavish breakfast spread. Egg and cheese barbecue toast, mini black forest trifles and orange spice mulled tea. A pit formed at the glorious spread.
"Marinette?" Snapping her daughter out of a trance, Sabine took Marinette's hand, gently leading her to her seat. "Are you okay?"
"Actually..." eyes stared down at her plate, even as her father took his seat on her right.
"Whatever it is, you can tell us," Tom gave a small smile.
"The thing is..." what if they're disappointed that I turned this down and think I'm not taking my dream seriously?
Calm down blue! Mullo yelled in a firm yet gentle way. If your parents care about you so much, wouldn't they want to stay with you as long as they can? Watch as you make your dream a reality next to you, not away? You told me they even gave you expensive fabric for your birthday!
The holder's mind pulled the bolt of fabric to the front.
So, take a deep breath, steady yourself, and tell them you don't wanna go.
Closing her eyes, Marinette does as her kwami instructed. Opening them to drown out the unease with resolution. "Mama, Papa. I don't wanna go to New York with Audrey."
A minute of silence passed, the teen's commitment stated to stagger, only to falter in confusion when her parents let out a relived sigh. "Oh, thank God," her mother prays to the heavens as her father lays a hand on his heart.
Okay... "You're not upset?"
"Of course, not sweetheart!" Tom placed his giant limb on her shoulder, "if anything, we're relived you won't be going with that poor excuse of a mother!" His face changed to disgust at the end.
That deals with having to make up an excuse. "You never said anything!"
"Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!" Her mother's palm touched her cheek, "we didn't want to stop you from pursuing your dream."
The baffled look was replaced with joy and a hug, "thank you."
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{Le Gran Paris, Conference Room- 11:30}
The Bourgeois family, a pair of police officers, and four lawyers sat in stern silence. Audrey sat on the left with her lawyer to her right, Andre and his lawyer sat opposite to them. Going down that line was Zoe's lawyer, Zoe, Chloe and finally Chloe's lawyer. The police officers stood at the head of the table.
"I'm glad we could come to an agreement," Chloe's lawyer spoke with her eyes to the officers. "While mademoiselle Chloe Bourgeois is a minor, she was still fully aware of the risks of endangering so many people's lives. Thus, she is to spend over three hundred hours in community service and mandatory therapy."
Their charge held her head down in shame, the scornful look of not only her mother, but her sister, father, and heroes, fresh in her mind.
"That is indeed correct," the officer held their own copy of the contract, they were sent in the stead of Roger due to his personal ties to this family. "Thank you for your time."
Chloe, Zoe, their lawyers, and the officers left the room, leaving the couple in a much heavier tension than before.
"Finally, over with that worthless affair," Audrey let out a scoffed. "Let's get down to the real business."
"The prenup we signed should make this divorce much smother," Andre huffed.
You heard right. By the power invested in my fanfiction, Andre and Audrey are getting divorced, and Chloe's getting punished too. Of course this affects the life of their privileged children, thus their own lawyers present.
"And of course I get custody over Zelia and Claressa as the mother."
The father slammed his fist on the table, "you've never even been present in their lives!"
"It's good press," the woman looked down at her nails, "Zira holds no blood relation to you whatsoever."
"Zoe, is still my daughter!" Considering he can actually remember her name, yes. "And did you forget she's legally an adult? She can choose her own path in life!"
"But what about Cassandera?" Audrey didn't spare her soon-to-be ex-husband a single look. "She has wished for my approval since day one."
"If you two cannot come to an agreement, then a judge will assign who will gain custody." At the sudden faulter in his employer's demeanour, Andre's lawyer spoke. "Considering you called your own daughter unexceptional on live TV, it's more likely that Mounier Bourgeois will gain custody."
"Chloe is sixteen-year-old," Audrey's lawyer spoke up. "The law states that a child at the of sixteen can choose which parent with whom they will live. She will most likely choose Madame Style Queen."
Audrey rose from her seat, "if you need me, I'll be in the spa." sending Andre one last victorious smirk over her shoulder, she left for her destination.
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{Chloe's Bedroom}
Chloe leaned against the headboard of her bed, a Cinnamon Roll plushie clutched to her chest. Try as they might, her parents were terrible when trying to hide something. Andre was easy to read, and Audrey was far too honest and vocal in her opinions.
They're getting a divorce. Mother and daddy are getting a divorce. I'll have to leave one of them behind. Chloe glanced out her balcony window to the late morning sky when a knock was heard from her door.
"Come in," expecting it to be Zoe she didn't bother looking up.
"We need to talk Chloe," that wasn't Zoe. Head shot up to see both Adrien and Sabrina, both sporting disappointed looks and the male spoke. "It's important."
Sitting up straighter, the blonde girl placed the plush on her side, "what is it?"
The orangette took in a deep breath, releasing her words in the next, "I don't think we can be friends anymore."
Pause. "What, what did you just...?"
"We can't be friends with you anymore Chloe," Adrien took a step forward. "Not after you put all those people in danger."
"B-but they never got hurt!" Weak argument.
"Regardless, they could have. Do you even feel bad for what you've done?" The silence told them everything, maybe if they got hurt she would.
"I'm not saying I'm any better than you Chloe, considering all the schemes I helped you pull," Sabrina curled her fists. "But even I have my limits, and after what you just did, I plan to change."
"I'm sorry Chloe," the conversation with Multimouse played through the model's mind. "I can't remain friends with someone who's okay with making other people's lives miserable."
The duo turned their backs to the heiress, refusing to take a single look back as they left the room. Once the door closed behind it was like a rope snaped, the tears building up withing her eyes escaped to the blanket below. Curling up in on herself all the spoilt girl could think was one thing.
This is all my fault.
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{Andre's Bedroom}
Andre sat in his room alone, leaving his lawyer to deal with the divorce proceedings. The reality and reason as to why he never got divorced in the first place numbing his limbs. He stared at the wall before him, deep in regret that he could never take back.
"The only exceptional thing about you, my dear... is your mother."
But when Audrey uttered those words with no remorse! If he hadn't been worrying about Chloe, he'd have hit that woman right then and there. He just couldn't stay with her anymore after she demeaned her own daughter like that.
While Zoe never said it, she made it painfully obvious she had been through the same thing. His eyes landed on a CD, old but still in mint condition. Audrey hadn't bothered to even say something to Zoe. Yet, the light in Zoe's eyes when both he and Chloe had flown all the way to New York to see her school play is one he will never forget.
Now, Audrey was going to steal her. His baby girl. He knew Zoe would stay; she's always done her best to visit him. But Chloe? She's always idolised her mother, dreamed of getting her approval to the point of copying all her mannerisms.
Yes, he loved her most, but would Chloe want to stay with him and not her mother? He fiddled with his mayor sash, knowing the answer his youngest would give him.
Clearing away the tears before they could spread, he moves over to his desk and takes out a writing tablet. He wouldn't tell Chloe now; he didn't want to pressure her to choose him. He wouldn't force her to spend time with him either. But he had to tell her.
One last time, no matter what, she was his daughter, and he will always love her. Now, and forever.
I'm sorry Chloe, this is all my fault.
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{Centre Commercial Beaugrenelle}
"Thank you so much for paying for my meal Mari," Lila smiled. "I'm just so forgetful sometimes."
"It's alright, I'm just glad I was able to tell you guys I'm staying," Marinette's grin then turned to a grimace. "Though I will have to tell Audrey about this. Hope she doesn't take it too personally."
Juleka gave Kamar a side eye when said girl opened her moth to say something. "What?" The Arabian asked, "I was just gonna tell her to be honest and straight forwards."
The goth girl rolled her eyes, "no offence, but you don't seem to have any tact with your advice."
"Rude. I'm telling Rose you're bullying me."
Juleka's eyes thinned at the threat, "you wouldn't dare."
"I would," a challenged was made.
"Okay, calm down you two," Marc got between the two, "we're here to celebrate the fact that Mari won't be leaving Paris."
All the attention was making the female blunette turn red, "so what about you guys? Anything exciting happen before school starts up?"
"Oh, oh, oh!" Playful anger left the goth for simply playful. "Ivan has officially joined Kitty section, and we've officially entered Bob Roth's independent singing contest."
"Mademoiselle Mendeleiev sent us all an email that we're having another student joining our class next term," Marc held up said email.
"That's pretty efficient of her, informing you all in advance," the Muslim commented.
"As strict as she is, she's very dependable as an instructor," Marc put phone away.
"Well..." Lila tapped her cheek in thought. "My father is sending over a gift; I'll be sure to show you when school starts up again."
Marinette gave her bestie a mischievous smile, "any hint as to what it is?"
"Only that it'll go really well with the dress you gave me," she held up a gift bag looking identical to the others, excluding Marinette who didn't have one.
Within each of them was an upcycled design made by Marinette herself, catered towards all her friends individual tastes. She's been working on them for a while now as side projects since finishing Jagged's album cover. A gift for all the support they've given her.
"I need to use the restroom, so I'll be back in a second," Marinette disappeared into the woman's bathroom.
Marc glanced around at the ladies, "so what do you wanna do while we wait?"
"We could-" Juleka cut herself of with a confused look, "does anyone else hear that?"
Lila gave the others a bewildered look, "hear what?"
The goth knitted her borrows together with a hand cupping her ear, "it sounds like... a helicopter?"
"By the powers vested in me...," a voice from above turned the crowds attention to a helicopter in the air. "...I declare two of each set of items for my daughters!"
A bright yellow light was thrown down at them before they could react. Their will at the back of their being with one objective. Gather items for Chloe and Zoe Bourgeois.
And that is exactly what they did, herds of people entering shop with two of each item. Placing them in a pile in the centre of the building. If an item came in two by default, then a second pair was attained. Even food and drinks were placed neatly in to-go containers for the heiresses. All this happened in the ten minutes that Marinette, and a few others, had been in the toilet.
"What on earth?" A woman behind the blunette gasped.
Marinette's eyes landed on a figure literally hanging on a helicopter by the edge.
"An akuma?"
No time to stall Blue!
Leaving the toilets, the Chinese French girl darted around, dodging mindless humans in their drive to horde. She even found someone taking apart a pair of security cameras, creating a blind spot. Perfect.
"Mullo! Get squeaky!"
Too bad she had to come back to a giant heap of metal on the roof.
"Hey, you!" Cat Knight waved over at the blue akuma, "do you have a demolition permit for this Mall?"
"I don't need a permit. I am Malediktator, the all-powerful super mayor of Paris, and this is my city." Well, that takes care of his identity.
Extending his staff in the air, Cat Knight flung himself at Malediktator. Once close enough he shortened it and wacked the akuma across the head. The akuma was too slow to dodge, but didn't seem fazed by the attack. Making his own move to punch the cat in the face. But as everyone knows, those high on defence are low on speed, as cat easily retreats back to his previous place on the roof.
Yet despite the entire fight, Lady Ruby was nowhere to bee seen. Even after Marinette alerted the appearance of an akuma with the app. Was she in the mall when everyone went crazy? Yes, but only us readers know that.
"By the power vested in me, I declare that your Miraculous are my property!" A golden glowing orb formed at the tips of Malediktator's fingers, aiming straight for the black cat, another following right after.
"Okay, so don't let those glowing orbs hit us," turning her head over her shoulder, Aspik had joined Multimouse in observing.
"He only has that sash on hand, so the akuma has to be in there," the blunette pointed.
"Question is how are we gonna get close enough to grab it without turning into the walking dead." Snake boy had a point, with Andre's defence it'd be hard to just snatch it from him. Unless...
"We could use the bee miraculous!" Read my mind.
"Of course!" Aspik grinned, "so who's gonna use it?" Oh, right.
"I don't feel comfortable going without Mullo... and you probably feel the same with your kwami," Mouse looked down. "I doubt there's anyone who we could trust to use it either."
"Yeah," fangs frowned, "to the public, we're against the heroes."
In the middle of her musing, Mullo spoke up. There is one way.
There is?
If you duplicate yourself, and have one of your clones use the miraculous, the exhaustion won't hit you immediately. but you only get one shot, and you need to be fast getting home.
That's a risk I'm willing to take. "Aspik."
The golden eye boy was a bit caught off guard by the intense look in the girl's eyes. Though that soon thinned into concern at suggestion, "you can't seriously be risking your life right now!"
"My clones will allow me to stay conscious for longer, and we need your rewind for if we mess up. We don't have a choice!"
Their conversation directed their attention away from a pair of blondes popping their heads out from the helicopter. The shorter one requesting something of her father, who just couldn't say no.
Any protest the boy hero had died with a pained hiss, "you may be right, but I still don't like it!"
Their eyes lay back up in time to see the bootleg dark knight jump at the akuma again. "By the power vested in me declare that you are a cat!" Panic overtook the teen's face as the lack of movability in his current position, led to him easily being captured.
"Smart, but..." the mouse was cut off by the sight of her partner recording the embarrassing display before them. "Make a burner account."
"I plan too," the demonic grin spoke volumes for their moment of respite from the situation before them. "So how much you wanna bet Ruby's one of the mindless hoarders?"
"Not enough," pink eyes catching sight of Zoe and a dead eye Audrey playing with the human cat. "At least we know she won't spoil the plan."
"We shouldn't do it while he's in the air, if we wanna avoid that blunder," Aspik placed his harp away. "But with powers like that, he probably has guards at his disposal. We need one chance to get you close enough, but even that'll be hard."
"Isn't it obvious?" Black gloved hand pointed to the fallen knight as he licked his paw- er... hand. "Just use the cat with superhuman strength," running into a near by shop to find the item they needed.
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{Le Grand Paris Hotel}
"Chloé. Where are you, sweetie? I've done almost everything you wanted me to do. So you can stay here with Mommy and Daddy. Come on, Chloé; you don't want to upset me, do you?!"
Beads of sweat ran down the blonde's neck, crouched on the ground, peeking out at the man searching for her. Hands flung to her mouth to stop a gasp as his steps closed in.
Creek. The sound of her balcony door halted her father in his tracks. Never did she think she would be so glad to have left it open. As Malediktator steps out, she took the opportunity make a leap to the door, her ballet flats cushioning any sound her feet would make. Chills rand down her spine as her father's voice faded from her ears.
"My patience has its limits, Chloé. Don't make me show all of Paris just how powerful I can be!"
Her escape to the stairs to the ground floor stopped as a brainwashed employee strut in. how did she know they were brainwashed? Surveillance system. Before they could spot her, Chloe ran the other direction to the fire escape. Not a single sound echoed through, giving her ample opportunity to leave.
The door flung open and close with a thud, ragged breathing as she continued to run. Clinging her black capelet for both warmth and security, tears which had dried up previously returning. Why is this happening to me?
Chloe didn't know how long she ran for, but knows that when she stopped, she was once again facing a familiar pair of faces in an alleyway.
"Chloe? What are you doing here?" Aspik gasped.
Not a single sound left her lips, just a gaping fish with shaking legs.
A small yet frustrated groan left Multimouse's lips, hands dragging down her face. "Whatever you're doing here, you need to leave."
Even in the dim night, the heiress' gaze made out the bee shaped comb in the mouse's hand.
"Pollen."
Pink eyes raised at the quiet breath, "come again?"
"Pollen," swallowing saliva, she wiped her sapphire eyes clear. "Let me help save my daddy!"
"Absolutely not!" Quick response.
"But I have too!"
"Why? So, you can play hero?"
"I'm not playing hero! I need to save my dad!"
"You just want to use a miraculous again!"
"It's because it's my daddy!"
"Maybe we should-" Aspik wasn't even acknowledged.
"That's rich coming from the one who caused more than half the akumas in the city! And mine!"
The silence following the revelation held pressure strong enough to turn rock to diamonds. Both the snake and blonde's eyes widen at the panting blunette, her own eyes wide yet held no regret.
Finally, Chloe took a shaky breath. "I... did?"
"Yes," squaring her shoulders, the shorter girl took in a deep breath. "You did something to me that nearly risked my life, and your only regret was how everyone knew it was you. So, forgive me if I have an ungodly amount of hatred towards you."
Aspik placed a comforting hand on his partner's shoulder as she steadied her breath.
Aqua eyes wondered over to a cigarette butt on the ground, "you won't have to deal with me much longer."
The black hair boy's eyes moved to her, "what do you mean?"
"I'm leaving Paris," she took another shaky, yet steadier breath. "My parents are getting divorced, and I'm gonna choose to stay with my mother in New York."
"So, you're running away?" The snake was the one glaring this time.
"Running away?" While the civilian was the one who spoke, even the heroine seemed shocked.
"Yes, running away." Voice so calm yet carried so much weight, "you've caused so many problems for the entirety of Paris, and now you're running away from it all?"
"B-but nobody wants me here!"
"And you mother does?"
"She's all I have left!" The cry out shot the other as her legs gave out, "nobody wants me here, I have no friends and all I do is cause akumatizations!"
Golden eyes soften at the weeping girl before him, kneeling to eye level. "What about your sister?"
"She'd be glad to get rid of a disgrace like me!"
Not true. "Then what about you father?"
"I'm the reason he's akumatized!"
"Because he doesn't want to lose you!" firm hands startled the crying girl to look up. "He's akumatized because he loves you!"
Black sleaves whipped away the tears still falling, "I love him too, but..."
Sighing in exasperation, Aspik decided it was decided to make a drastic decision. "If you stay in Paris, then you can help save your father."
"What?" As predicted, Multimouse didn't take too kindly to this, "I didn't agree to this! And how do we know she won't just run off with the miraculous herself?"
"If she does, then I'll stop her." He turned around to present his miraculous to the other girl. "And it's already risky to use two miraculous, so please. It's her father."
Pink glared against gentle gold for what seemed like an eternity before eliciting a ground of exasperation. "Fine! But I'm staying close by, so she doesn't try anything funny."
"That's fine," Aspik raised both himself and the civilian up.
Multimouse reluctantly, handing over the comb, "I assume you already know how to use it?"
"Yes," The comb turned to a plain white semi-circle, Pollen reappearing before her.
"My queen!" A warm sight for the bee to cuddle up to the maiden's cheek, whipping her tears away with fur.
"I'm glad to see you two pollen," someone will forever deny melting at the sight before them.
Tell her to changer her cloths!
"Change her cloths?" That attracted a pair of raised eyebrows, "my Kwami told me you need to change your cloths."
"Oh, that's right!" Pollen buzzed, "we can't have my queen appear when everyone knows who she is under the mask. We take secret identities very seriously."
"So, nobody will know if I saved daddy?" While the tears had dried up, Chloe's voice still held a slight crack. "They'll still see me as just an akuma magnet?"
"Chloe," a scaly touch held her. "You can fix your own messes. You, too, can serve a purpose," smile changed to a calm firmness. "But you have to want to change, and show the world, without powers."
Giving a nod to Aspik allowed him to release the civilian, allowing her to steal her resolve in a deep breath. In, and out. Pale eyes gliding between the two before her, the ones giving her a second chance. "Pollen, buzz on!"
Golden light engulfed the heiress, the scent of honey fulfilling her nostrils in that moment before evaporating. Her attire of a less royal one.
Her turtleneck was a cross between a keyhole and hoodie, black over the chest before turning goldenrod yellow. The hole on the shape of a small hexagon, chocker holding several hexagonal blue mist crystals. Black evening gloves reaching all the way to the forearm with white fur on the ends and thin gold on the wrist. Black wrap around belt with white fur edges and crystals in the centre, spinning top at the back. Black hight heel boots with yellow lace, sole and edges, and crystals in the middle of the bow.
Rather than a normal fabric mask, Chloe had what looked to be, eyeshadow in the shape of a mask. Yellow silhouette in the shape of bee wings with black over the eyes and edges. The hood was black with a yellow strip on the edge and a pair of antennas.
Eyes and bee wings seemingly made of crystal while still looking bug like. Golden hair in a high bun, with braid from the right to her left ear with a streak of black. The miraculous tucked snug between the bun with blue mist flowers.
"So... what do we call you now?" Aspik's eyes landed between himself and the girls, "I mean we still need to call you something."
The bee girl tapped her chin in thought, fingers threading through her collar fur to the hidden crystals. The shades of blue and gold reminding her of the flowers the shades were taken from. "Golden mist? Like a combination of goldenrod and blue mist."
"Great, now that that's out of the way..." Multimouse pretended not to notice the inspirations taken from her and her partner. "...time to execute the plan. Aspik?"
"Don't worry, I'm ready!" He held up a red light, shining it on the floor for a second.
"What are you gonna do with that?" Golden mist questioned.
"Cat knight it currently behaving like a cat at the demand of Audrey and Zoe." The mouse smirked, "and what is something all cats can't resist?"
"But how will that help save daddy?"
"By the power vested in me," three pairs of eyes landed on the figure atop of city hall. "Give me your Miraculous!"
"Just trust the process and follow me!"
Given zero time to explain the mouse led the bee to the building floor, a golden orb expanding to the sky. Hiding in the shadows away from the swat members their backs hit the wall. Swiftly and silently, one climbed while the other flew up the side. When they reached just below the roof edge, their eyes returned to the snake, the grey girl sending him a thumbs up.
On que, he shone the red dot right in Cat Knight's sight, an excited mew escaping the blonde boy's lips, pouncing on his prey. But as we all know, it wasn't that easy, the red dot teleporting from side to side, landing on an unfortunate swat member. Why unfortunate? Because the superhuman decided to grip onto him in his attempts to reach his goal. One by one, each member was knocked off balanced, some may even be wounded by his claws.
Combined with Malediktator's current actions left his completely vulnerable for the taking.
"Venom!"
The sight of the unknown bee had indeed caught the man off guard, too late, but the shock was paralyzed in place. Someone else was using the exact item his daughter used to just yesterday to get her mother's attention. With his current state, another figure came from behind and tore his sash off, freeing him of his anxiety.
"Da-mph!" A black glove smacked the bee's lips shut, the other held a silver staff, dragging her back to the snake.
"You can't call anyone mum or dad, or you'll give away your identity!" Pink eyes glared down at the bee, "anyway... we should clean this mess up."
Aspik remerged from behind a bin, "why do you have Cat Knight's staff?"
"I'm gonna use it to release the mind wash placed on everyone," she flipped the staff open effortlessly and took out a green gem.
Golden's comb beeped, "but can't only Cat Knight do that?"
"Only one way to find out, right?" Though there was something she wanted to test out, "miraculous miracle!"
For reasons I wanna hear the guess of, Multimouse successfully activated the miracle cure from the cat staff.
"How did you do that?" The now de-transformed Golden Mist asked, though her smile dropped to worry at the panting mouse.
"I'll... be fine."
Aspik took the staff and gave her his shoulder to lean on, "maybe it's because the miraculous isn't yours?"
"Regardless... we need to... leave," she held her hand out for the comb.
Chloe places a gentle hand on the miraculous, eyes darting towards the duo and pollen before a sigh left her lips, "goodbye Pollen."
"Goodbye my queen," with their farewells said, the heiress removed the accessory from her head, returning it to the awaiting heroine's hand. "Take care of her for me."
No reply came from lotus lips, just a simple nod before throwing her tail to a roof. Taking a deep breath, tucking the comb into her pocket, she left the secure hols of the snake, taking to the roof.
Blue eyes followed the grey figure as she left before shifting to the teal one still present. "Do you think she, or my friends... will ever forgive me?"
For a second, his eyes widen, only just sinking in the vulnerable state in which his childhood friend was in. A state he hasn't seen her in since prior Audrey's departure. He found a random cigarette on the ground to be very interesting in that instant.
"If you change, then surely."
"Really?"
He licked his dry lips, letting out a deep breath before his gaze meets hers. "Really."
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{Le Grand Paris Hotel- 21:30}
Audrey Bourgeois struts through the hotel to dinner, wearing the black empire waist dress Gabriel had specially tailored just for her. Her belongings still in her suitcase despite her planned departure being delayed thanks to the divorce.
I really didn't understand why, after all, Claudeen would obviously want to stay with me. She's always sought my approval, and the media will see a businesswoman with an ungrateful daughter.
The restaurant was empty on account of the late dinner from the akuma, the only other people present apart from the employees being her daughters. Their cloches already gone, but only one was eating her meal.
"Cadenza," the woman sat down without sparing the teen a single glance. "You'll need to start packing now, I don't want you to complain about having left anything behind."
The fork fiddling with its vegetables continued, though more gently, "why would I need to pack."
"Because you're moving you New York," the woman sighed.
Chloe still wore the comfort cloths from earlier, the jacket draped gracefully on the chair behind her, "why would I be going to New York?"
"Because Andre and I are getting a divorce," the designer groaned in exasperation. "Honestly, how clueless can you be?"
Jasmine tea gave life to pale pink lips, "I never said I would go with you."
The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, eyes frozen to the mother's devoted daughter.
"What?!"
"I said, I never said I'd go with you," Zoe's stared in confusion and awe at her sister's words.
"But it's a given, isn't it?" Audrey's eyes bugged out, "you look up to me."
"I used to look up to you," and still do. "But do you even love me mum?"
"But..." the lady trailed off, causing a delay in her response. "Uh— Of course I l-l-love you."
"If you do love me," fork set to the side, "then can you answer some questions?"
"Of course!"
At her mother's confident response, Chloe took a deep breath before her first inquiry. "What are my hobbies?" No response. "What's my favourite food?" No response. "How long have I practiced ballet?" No response. "What did I do for my last birthday party?" No response. "What was my grade last year?" No response.
The entire time Audrey struggled to respond Chloe gave her less and less time to answer. "Do even know what the gift I got you was?"
"I never got it!" Finally, a response, but not the one she wanted.
"I left it on the desk in your room, it was a custom bottle necklace with a poem inside for you." Chloe let her eyes go back to her untouched plate, standing up. "I'll retire to my room early today. I'm not hungry."
Once the door locked behind her, the fragile child fell to her bed, face planted firmly in her pillows. The silent tears fell through the room. She didn't need a confirmation to know the poem met the trash.
But it wasn't her fault.
____________________________________(A/N) ____________________________________
I didn't go heavy on the Chloe angst; I have no idea what you're talking about!
In all honesty, I just couldn't see Andre and Audrey lasting in my rewrite. And Marinette is going to be a jerk to Chloe for now because this is the girl who bullied her. I need her to be distrustful before trustful.
Words: 6021
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