#exitway

[the-kingshound]

Mordred snippet as a gift to my lovely followers❤

Arthur will get married.

Mordred thinks of that, instead of reading the book that is open in front of him on the library's desk. The book is interesting, in his opinion, but he can't help but wonder about the new Consort.

A spark of longing makes it way through Mordred's chest. If the person Arthur is marrying, as Mordred understands, is from a rival House to the Crown, then he and Evaine won't be the last outsiders in the castle.

Looked at and spoken to differently. Left horribly out of place, like plants eradicated from their soil and left in a vase to whither.

He doesn't belong here.

He wants to belong, though. His... Arthur has tried very hard to help, but... As Mordred takes the perhaps too heavy tome, cradling it against his chest, and getting up from the seat to leave the library, hardly anyone spares a look in his direction. And if they do, it just ends up making Mordred feel uneasy.

He hastily goes through the exitway, having to push quite hard in order for the heavy doors to open. He thinks about going to Evaine, but then discards the idea, because instead a more pressing thought, or rather a realisation, takes up his mind.

Mordred is generally ignored, no one looks at him for more than a few instants, and though it sometiems makes him feel uneasy, it also generally sits well with him. He prefers to be left alone anyway, and Arthur provides enough company for when he doesn't.

But the thought of being ignored by the Consort too, just as everyone else, makes Mordred's insides twist.

But to avoid that, Mordred probably has to make the first step... maybe, he thinks as he walks, maybe a gift will make him be noticed? Just enough for Arthur's spouse to see that Mordred wants to be friendly them.

And then... they can talk. Maybe.

But... Mordred stops walking and takes a look around to locate the eastern tower, where the servants reside. Because he has just remembered that they are mute, as Arthur told him.

So Mordred has to learn to sign.

With a pointed focus that doesn't waver has quite a lot of servants greet him politely as he passes, Mordred walks towards a room he has been to before. He knocks, and waits, face set in a very serious expression.

A servant that Mordred doesn't know answers the door, his eyes widening as he recognizes Mordred.

"Greetings, my Liege. What can I do for you?"

But before Mordred can talk, his shoulders drooping a bit as his plan loses shape, a more familiar voice comes from behind the man.

"Oh, hello, Mordred."

His spirits lifted, he nods in greetings. Gwyar murmurs something to the other servant, who excuses himself, and Mordred gets inside the room.

He breathes in and gathers the courage to ask, "Can you teach me sign? Please."

[fatefought]

where: cadie's hotel room

who: cadie kentwell & coriolanus snow ( @ofxcadences )

lights were off, other than a set slightly dimmed by the obligatory office space in the hotel room. cadie kentwell was a tremendous victor of the hunger games. she chose an incredibly drab hotel to reside in. opulence should adorn her, though he supposes clove meeting her demise may have permanently hindered the older sister. such a shame ; such a waste. coriolanus would have preferred a victor from district two the previous year as well. had cato and clove been the final two, a sudden rule change would not have been necessary.

still, he waits. peacekeepers stand guard at hall exitways. should cadence attempt to forgo this sudden meeting, she will be stopped. it's never wise to turn a back to president snow when he wishes to have a conversation with another. it's only poor manners to deny.

[the-arcade-doctor]

*Z pulls out an M16 and begins to duel-wield it and the strange techy-looking revolver*

I think I see an exitway over there.

[ alright! you lead the way! ]

[the-observer-squip]

I FOUND THE EXITWAY I USED SPINSTAR HERE I COME

[srvoskliemalt]

IN THE EVENT OF CATASTROPHIC HOSTILE CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENT MOVE THROUGH THIS EXITWAY

GENERAL ADVISORY TO REFRAIN FROM DOOR USE UNLESS NEEDED

[mr-aftons-rotting-pussy]

Freddys Cuberia

took some inspo from some other remaps, i REALLY wanted to remove the weird security hallway jutting out the way it did in the og game but i wanted to keep that undeniably iconic double door 2 hallway situation and i feel good abt how its placed now :) also like the idea of pirates cove being inset a bit into the wall, the arcade is a bit narrower but i like the entry and exitway on either side since its also another high traffic are. the two party rooms hai♡ the little rooms in the corners r like closets r smth idk for specific supplies. huge fan of saferoom placement too♡♡♡

who wanna see...... hypothetical freddy fazbears pizza number 1................ smirks

[frans79]

Foto del #progetto365 del #giorno 3 #marzo. Uscita del #parcheggio #sotterraneo del centro #commerciale. #picoftheday #project365 #365project #3rdmarch #parking #parkinglot #undergroundparking #underground #exit #exitway #commercialcenter #instaplace #instagram #instagood #instalike (presso Centro Commerciale Le Vetrine)

[sofiaadriano2012]

Ok coronavirus the exit is this way !!! . . #exitcoronavirus #exitway https://www.instagram.com/p/CCG_FLfBAda/?igshid=13kkejnn5o8fu

[phantasmalnightmare]

As the head of the Shadow Operatives, it was Mitsuru's duty to keep tabs on any possible shadow and persona related activity throughout the world. Whoever was changing villain's hearts in the big city of Tokyo, wasn't even bothering to try and be incognito. The Phantom Thieves, they were called, and she had no doubt that they were persona users. Even more concerning than the changing of hearts, were the so-called mental shut downs. One could argue that changing evil to good was not such a bad thing, but these psychotic breakdowns were taking lives.

With Akihiko out of the country, and Aigis on another mission, it was up to her to come and investigate. She effortless wove through the traffic on her motorcycle, wondering why it was so thick at this time. Perhaps another "accident?"

Suddenly, her skin pricked, and her nerves went onto high alert, as her persona, Artemisia, picked up on something unnatural. As her power wasn't as accurate as Fuuka's, she couldn't tell for sure that it was a Persona user, but surely they had some sort of latent abilities. It could possibly even be a shadow.

She parked her bike, taking off her helmet, her long, red hair spilling down her back. The feeling was getting stronger, and she walked towards the subway station, when a man appeared from the exitway. It was surely coming from him, so it wasn't a shadow, but who was he? The Empress must have been staring too hard, because he suddenly went back down into the station. Well that was suspicious.

She decided to follow him, eyeing which train line he'd gone down. She struggled to use the ticket machine though, never having used one before, and the employee had to help her. She rushed down as she heard the train approach, and just barely made it inside the doors as they closed. Hopefully she'd gotten the train correct, since she'd lost sight of him, but she thought she could still feel him nearby. She began to check the cars, looking for the suspicious stranger.

@phantasmalnightmare

Goro Akechi stepped through the threshold between reality and Mementos. He'd just wrapped up a pretty banal mission for Shido; hitting a taxi driver to cause yet another pileup on the highway. As usual, collateral damage was a bonus for him. More blood in the water for his political campaign. The ignorant masses would happily swim into the proverbial shark's mouth if they believed it would make the disasters stop.

Of course, Akechi didn't enjoy of pointless bloodshed, but it was a means to his end. To give Shadow his kingdom before he burned it down. He reminded himself of that as he climbed the stairs of the Shibuya subway station back to the ground level.

He was suddenly struck by an odd feeling. It was faint, but it felt like a familiar presence. He thought of the phantom thieves for some reason. A persona? Impossible. This was the real world. As soon as he dismissed that thought, he finally saw her. A woman with deep red hair, her eyes locked on him. A fan? It wasn't exactly uncommon, but still he didn't want to draw too much attention to himself. He'd just technically committed a crime after all.

There was something about the way she was looking at him that he didn't like. Like she saw something he didn't want anyone seeing.

He turned back, heading back down the stairs into the station. He'd take a train somewhere else and lay low for a while. Maybe his apartment? No. If he was followed they'd know where he lives. Somewhere else. He thought of Leblanc. That little cafe in Yongen Jaya would make a decent hiding place for a while.

He felt cold sweat on his forehead. Something was wrong. Had she seen him somehow? Was it possible for someone to sense his power? No way. Impossible.

"Tch!"

He gritted his teeth. Surely he was just being paranoid, right?

[elibeeline]

This new house will take some adjusting I think :')

[keldabekush]

Wretched likes Coruscant well enough.

He doesn’t mind the constant noise as much as some do, doesn’t complain about the speeder traffic making it hard to sleep like Feerit, who tosses and turns and sometimes sleeps with a pillow clutched over his head, all very melodramatic.

Personally, if he was going to complain about anything it would be the people - and he does.

Gods, does he complain about the people.

It’s like they walk around all day thinking of ways to be fucking irritating. They walk like they’ve got somewhere important to be and ten seconds to get there, and that it’s somehow his fault, too.

He’s going to start shouting “RAMMING SPEED” every time he gets shoulder-checked on the streets.

But aside from that, it’s not the worst posting. He has his siblings, he only has to run headfirst into blasterfire a couple of times a month, and the nightlife is nice.

He likes that if he sticks his head out of the window, no matter what time it is, he can usually always hear music in the distance, people laughing. He doesn’t mind the people so much when they’re far away from him.

It’s just as busy in some of the lower levels as up-top is, busier by far in a couple - but the lower down you went the more subtle the sounds became. Loud laughing and shouting turns into low murmuring and machinery working, droids coming back and forth with pistons whirring, but alive with habitation nonetheless.

Patrol down here can be dangerous, if you’re as visible as the Guard are. Best to go in pairs, but Wretched had sent Pallas back up ahead of him with three broken fingers, after some idiot kid on a BoostBoard had almost thrown them both over a handrail.

Kid was fine, Wretched had frog-marched him home without his board, which had disappeared over the edge with no hope of retrieval, and handed him to his Mom like a spitting lothkitten.

Now he’s keying his clearance code into the pad by the lift, and he’s ready to be back in the barracks.

There’s a particular spot where you can stand on level eighteen-oh-six just outside the old powerbank building (long defunct, used now as a storage facility by some up-top firm) and hear a conversation being had forty levels above you, echoing strangely through the thermavents.

It's where a lot of ghost stories must come from, Wretched thinks, stepping into the lift car. The doors are a little sticky, but they slide shut just fine.

Tell your kids that if you hear people talking but there's no one else around, you’re actually eavesdropping on the dead and you better keep walking before they notice you’re there. It’s rude to listen in.

Or, well. That’s what he would do, if he had kids. It’s what he would tell his little brothers if they had the time for stories, anymore.

When the lift ticks past level eighteen-oh-six, he wonders what the voices from the pipes are saying today.

It’s a long way up from the lowest levels - the bottom rungs, as low as the lifts go. They don’t go all the way down, not by far. Coruscant below the lifts exist in theory, but Wretched has never seen it; just the grimy orange tape blocking off the sealed exitways, and stomach-swooping voids where staircases have been demolished.

It’s strange to only see the shape of something in absence, he thinks.

Anyway, he’s never stopped for more than a glance at the sealed ports - if you don't stay sharp down there you might as well draw a bullseye on your forehead.

The lift whirrs in the comforting way that machinery does, and carries him further up. He checks his sidearm, shrugs his electrostaff out of the way so he can lean against the wall. It’s a long way up.

The vibration of the lift hurtling skywards on its rails rumbles through the meat of his shoulder. He wishes that the installed seating wasn’t so thoroughly vandalised - only the brackets where fold-down seats used to be remained bolted to the inner cabin walls, and he wouldn’t sit down on the floor if you payed him the Chancellor's salary.

Ten minutes later he’s almost dozing, when the tone of the mechanical hum changes. The vibration winds down, like the lift is preparing to stop.

There’s no way he’s reached the surface yet, so frowning while he shakes off his comfortable haze, he double-checks the control panel. The little light above the level-count tells him that the lift is still locked to public access - no one should be able to call it from any level without Guard clearance.

Maybe Beeju was running as late as him, Wretched thinks. It must be him, calling the lift from one of the three-oh levels.

The display readout tells him he’s on twenty-four-thirty-six. Could be wrong. He flicks the screen.

It resets to 0-0-0-0, so he flicks it again, harder. Perhaps a little frustrated. The numbers flicker back on reluctantly, one at a time. Something very cold rises in his gut as he reads.

Seven-zero-six-zero.

It’s not a level that exists - yet, anyway.

Coruscant hasn’t yet finished a six-thousandth level, let alone a seventh, but it’s a number he knows, because it’s attached to every piece of paperwork about him from his decanting to his clock-in this morning.

He could recite it as easily as he breathes. The number is his.

The lift shudders against its rails, and stops. The doors are grinding open before he can get a hand on his sidearm and then -

Loud, wet gasps echo in his ears. His breath is gone, his lungs won't take in more than a teaspoon of air. He shouldn’t be here.

The gasping is him, he realises, drool rolling over his lip while he heaves, open mouthed. His fingers are numb, he can see his hands in front of him clawed against the dirt-packed-over-steel but he can’t feel them and he can’t look up. His blaster is lying by his left hand . The clip is empty, he knows.

He doesn’t know where he is, his neck is tight and straining with the tension and he can’t look up because he doesn't want to see what might be there if he does - he shouldn’t be here he shouldnt be HERE—

— He steps out into the senate district.

The artificial sunshine is overwhelming on the upper levels, and his visor takes two-point-six-seven seconds to adjust - lagging again.

He wipes the blood off his palms, shoulders his electrostaff. Ignores the wash of warmth on the back of his neck like a breath, like someone following close behind. He doesn’t turn around as he walks home, and he doesn't have an answer when he’s asked where his sidearm is.

Stolen, he says eventually, and he fills in the paperwork while Feerit tuts over his shoulder.

He hesitates before he types out his number, just for a second.

[alittlehumandisaster]

i love that idea but i’m gonna go with shiny petals and vines obscuring my entry and exitways

@lowly-wizard-apprentice READY TO DECORATE

[danco110]

“Here, Kenneth. I’ve been working on a new recipe. Eat it, it’s good!”

The kraul outstretched his arms towards the viashino, claws weighed down by some sort of fungus dish. The lizard gritted his teeth as he gave his nervous reply.

“Hkrar, I can’t…possibly stop you from tasting your own creation first!”

“Oh, but I have!” the kraul buzzed excitedly from his mandibles. “And let me tell you, it is a real palate-pleaser!”

Kenneth flicked his tail nervously, eyes darting back and forth as he searched for an escape route. Just when he spied an exit - a dimly lit tunnel leading back to the surface - the cavern became abuzz with activity. A swarm of kraul emerged from the exitway and flew to surround the viashino. Some of the insects were living, and some reeked of undeath, but all of them intently eyed Kenneth and the meal Hkrar had offered him.

“Well…if you insist.”

Kenneth hesitated, but ultimately grabbed a piece of the questionable food and popped it into his mouth. The viashino made a spectacle of arduously swallowing the mushrooms, after which he gave his friend a very strained smile.

“It’s…” The lizard swallowed again, this time downing mostly bile. “…good.”

Hkrar squealed in delight. “Oh, I’m so glad you like it! I’m sure it’ll be a hit with the above-ground crowd!”

Hkrar quickly flew through the exit passage, all the while oblivious to the kraul still gathered around Kenneth. As soon as the aspiring chef disappeared through the tunnel, however, one of the insects quickly performed a Heimlich on the viashino, forcing him to cough up the food and begin retching.

“Ugh! Ahhhh…”

“You okay, pal?” the kraul asked, all animosity forgotten. “That bad, huh?”

Kenneth shook his head. “No, no. I’m sure if you’re a fan of mushrooms, Hkrar’s dish is amazing. For me, though? I’m glad you pretty much had me at knifepoint, because there was no other way I was eating that.”

—

[As Kenneth mentioned, Hkrar’s cooking has really improved! Now if only Kenneth weren’t so averse to mushrooms…Too bad that’s really all the Golgari do.]

[evening-primroses]

so I was re reading maurice bec I wanted to study its symbolism (insert meme 'I do not control the hyperfixation' here) about power in social classes, nature, and entryways/exitways (or viewing) and I noticed something v interesting that forster sometimes made combinations with these three subjects when he wanted to convey something rlly important (for example during the laying head on knee portion, there's mention of scents floating through the window, and Maurice seeing Clive's window at the first glimmer of dawn before they say I love you to each other for the first time) hence a combination between viewing and nature

then further on forster makes a combination between all three aspects, and these occur when Maurice interacts with Alec (when he's journeying back into town, peers out of the window when they're passing through dog-roses, and sees the 'keeper chap')

idk but this rlly stood out to me and sort of highlights how poignant the relationship of Maurice and Alec is in comparison to Maurice and Clive, and how Forster chose to show that

also pls feel free to add your own thoughts to this!!

[itsthe-neo-zone]

Ablaze - Choi Yeonjun x Reader

[15+] [Morbid-suicidal Angst]

Ever since a young age, you have been one to think up of the most disastrous and extremely morbid ends of the world. Your world to be precise.

Whilst most kids would have cowered and even fought back tears at the thought of a natural disaster or a man-made corruption of social order you would have grinned from ear to ear, thinking of all the possible ways you would have dealt with the situation.

The dystopian theme in movies and series quickly became your top favourite genre as you got older. And like the measly 2% of the world that thought like you...

Whenever your world did come crashing down your dreams and mental plans you had in place did absolutely nothing to protect you.

The faint stench of burning filled your nostrils the strong heat quickly consumed the room you were in and suddenly everything was overcome with that blazing orange amber colour that screamed at you to run. To save yourself.

You did it. You're finally ending your world...

But at what cost.

At what fucking cost!

'Wake up. Snap out of it. We need to leave!' you could still hear the echoes of the last few female students running for their lives.

They cared, they had something to continue living and breathing for, whatever it was it kept them going.

You have never seemed to understand that.

The ringing came back but now all it did was remind you that you dropped the match you were the instigator but you couldn't bring yourself to feel guilty. You just felt numb. Not even the infernal blaze of the flames around you felt uncomfortable.

"I don't want to go."

What was the point. He saw that there was no hope. He knew it too.

"Stay."

Yeonjun pasued, the tall male coughed slightly the guttural noise and the poisoned crimson fluid at his lips showing proof that it was inevitable, Yeonjun was starting to get used to the metallic feeling that consumed his senses.

Yeonjun was only going to survive if you were to survive. Because he felt like nothing without you.

And if he thought he was dependant then you were obsessed. Like a life force you wanted to die and end it all here.

Just like how it started.

And as selfish as it seemed you wanted to end it with him. You didn't want him to save himself or find a new life with someone different.

'Even if you're still fixable, even if your heart will and can endure it...'

You wouldn't let him save himself, Not with your closest friends and not with his friends.

Because if didn't matter if the whole universe was burning down, all you needed was Yeonjun.

A bittersweet ending really.

You didn't feel any remorse when the flames got closer, Yeonjun didn't flinch when they cut the only two exitways you would ever have and as the dancing heat cornered you both in, you took his hand.

This world was cruel, it was hurtful and ruthless. Showing no sympathy for either of you and instead of ending it alone in silence you would have your hearts slowly come to a stop.

"Do you regret any of this?" he whispers and somehow over the cackling spread you were able to hear him. Maybe it's because your head was resting so close to his.

"No," you hum but shifted to hold him closer, he felt a trickle of heat tickle the ends of his legs. He didn't have much time.

"Do you?"

"I'm ending it all with you, I don't regret a thing." His eyes were warm, they glistened slightly but no sign of happiness was evident in either of you.

"I love you." you felt the squeeze of his hand as it intertwined with yours after your confession, he slowly submitted himself completely to the flames letting them feast on the two of you.

But you never got a response...

You never heard that 'I love you too' .

[flightfoot]

When You Fell In Love With Me Chapter 1

Ladybug and Chat Noir fought off a new akuma, Heartbreaker. Apparently she’d confessed to her crush and he hadn’t believed her - something about thinking she was joking? - so now she was shooting blasts of light at everyone.

It wasn’t quite clear what her power was. Some people were totally unaffected, while others keeled over on the ground, unconscious. Sometimes when one person was hit, a second person would fall asleep, even though they weren’t anywhere NEAR the first person. It was very strange and made Ladybug antsy. 

If she didn’t know WHY some people were falling unconscious even though they hadn’t been hit, she couldn’t guard against it. She or Chat - or worse, BOTH - of them could be knocked unconscious with no warning.

Luckily she’d called in reinforcements. Carapace and Rena Rouge were keeping Heartbreaker busy while she attempted to come up with a plan. It meant that she also had to worry about THEM being knocked out, but since only a maximum of two people seemed to get knocked out at a time, there should be enough of their team left to drag the unconscious members to safety. Hopefully.

“Ladybug! Watch out!”

She turned around just as a blast of light fired towards her.

It didn’t get her.

She was suddenly aware of Chat hugging her, having taken the blast. She was about to say something, chastise him for sacrificing himself AGAIN, maybe, perhaps prepare to carry him away to safety until the akuma was defeated, when she felt suddenly dizzy. She felt Chat start to slump at the same moment.

The last thing she saw were Rena Rouge and Carapace rushing over towards them, Carapace activating his shield. 

Then everything went black.

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

What just happened?

Ladybug had expected to pass out. What she HADN’T expected was to be awake and STILL not see anything.

She attempted to get up, thinking that maybe she’d been struck blind somehow, or perhaps just put in a really, REALLY dark room. She didn’t move.

She tried to wiggle her fingers. Nothing was there. 

She tried to raise a hand. Still nothing.

She tried to kick her legs. Nada.

She tried to open her mouth to scream. It didn’t respond.

She attempted to concentrate on her breathing. And then realized that she WASN’T.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH LET ME OUT LET ME OUT HELP ME SOMEONE ANYONE PLEASE CAN ANYONE HEAR ME PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

It took Ladybug a moment to realize that wasn’t HER shouting. Well, it wasn’t shouting per se. She didn’t really HEAR it, so much as sense it. Like... telepathy?

She shook herself (mentally). Whoever was shouting, they NEEDED someone to respond.

She tried to send out a message. 

I’m here. Are you trapped in this dark place too?

She waited for a moment, hoping that the other person heard her.

A response came quickly. ...Ladybug?

Yes! But how did you know? I can’t recognize ‘voices’ in here, can you?

She heard a relieved chuckle. I can’t either, but if anyone was going to help me, it would be you, milady.

Wait, Chat?!

Yeah. I’m sorry you’re in this situation too, but I’m really, really glad I’m not here alone.

Me too. She thought about how panicked he’d sounded when he thought he was alone. She’d been on the verge of shouting, but the level of terror in his voice... she would’ve managed alone. She wasn’t so sure that HE would have. She’d never known her kitty was this afraid of being alone.

Color returned to the world.

Ladybug was relieved. She could feel her body again!

She attempted to speak, to move, SOMETHING, but her body didn’t respond.

Then she noticed some other oddities.

Like the giant rock monster on the Eiffel Tower hacking up akumas.

...Did I time travel?

She heard an answering thought. Wait, milady, you’re in here too?

She would’ve jumped if she had any control over her(?) body.

Chat? You’re still here?

Yeah. I can’t control my body though. It’s doing everything on its own.

Wait, YOUR body...?

As Hawkmoth monologued, a suspicion formed in Ladybug’s mind.

Watching HERSELF slowly walk towards Hawkmoth, clapping, confirmed it.

Oh CRAP, Chat, we’re both trapped here in YOUR body, in the past.

It took a moment for him to answer. I guess we are? That’s... really, really weird. How would the akuma do this. WHY would the akuma do this.

Ladybug’s mind whirred, trying to come up with an answer. She felt like one was close, but she needed more info. I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out.

Of course we will, milady. We always do. So long as I’m with you, I know everything will be okay.

She didn’t know how to respond to that, so she settled on watching, hoping that she could figure out what was going on, and more importantly, how to get out of it.

She watched her past self start to run towards the Hawkmoth cloud. She couldn’t help it anyway, she couldn’t close her eyes or move her head. She was trapped doing whatever Chat had done all those months ago.

“Nice try, Hawk Moth, but we know who the bad guy is. Let's not reverse the roles here. Without you, none of these innocent victims would be transformed into villains. Hawk Moth, no matter how long it takes, we will find you, and YOU will hand us YOUR Miraculous!”

She could feel her - could feel past Chat’s - breath catch as he watched her make her proclamation. As she watched HERSELF make her proclamation.

He was awestruck. She could feel it in the way he held himself, the way his eyes widened, his heart beat faster. 

And... maybe something BEYOND awestruck.

This is when I fell in love with you.

She could ‘hear’ the wistfulness in his thoughts.

I’d thought you were cute when we first met. I thought you were crazy awesome when you came up with that plan to defeat Stoneheart that first time. But this? This is when I fell for you. Your courage, your commitment, your refusal to let Hawkmoth have his way... I was a goner.

She would’ve blushed if she was able to. 

Chat... Chat, I wish I could return your feelings. You’re a great guy, but...

I know. There’s another guy, right? The boy you like. I’m not going to push you. Just... know I’m here, if that doesn’t work out. And if he ever treats you badly...

She gave a mental laugh. I don’t think that’s possible. There’s not a mean bone in his body.

She settled into a companionable silence as they watched Ladybug’s past self purify the akumas. 

Past Ladybug stood on a beam on the EIffel Tower, declaring to Paris, “Let me make this promise to you. No matter who wants to harm you, Ladybug and Cat Noir will do everything in our power to keep you safe!“

As the past Ladybug released the swarm of purified butterflies, she felt the past Chat Noir rise from his stupor.

“Wow. Whoever she is beneath that mask, I love that girl.”

And I still do.

Ladybug startled. That’s it!

What’s it?

I think I know what the akuma did!

I knew you’d figure it out! What did it do?

The akuma was mad because her crush didn’t believe her confession, right? So I bet she thought that if everyone could see, could experience, what their crushes did when they first fell in love, they’d REALIZE they were sincere. That’s why it only affected some people! It probably only affected people who had crushes on someone. And that’s why two people were sometimes affected, when only one was hit! I bet in the cases where we only SAW one person being affected, it was because the second person wasn’t in the area!

Chat was quiet for a moment. ...So it’s my fault you’re trapped in this too?

Oh, kitty... She tried to reassure him. You were protecting me. I would’ve been affected either way. Besides, I couldn’t stand it if you had to go through this alone.

She felt him mentally smile. Thank you, milady.

A sudden jarring feeling ripped through her. It felt like someone had jerked her suddenly to the side, so fast that it blurred her vision.

When she jerked to a halt, she was in a far more familiar situation. The height, the weight, her gait.

This... this is my body! I’m back in my body!

She attempted to say that out loud, but her mouth didn’t move. 

That’s great, milady, but I’m still here. I’m guessing you can’t control anything either?

No... oh NO.

What is it? What’s wrong?

She started to panic. This is me as a CIVILIAN. You might learn who I am!

...I’d close my eyes and plug my ears, Ladybug, but I can’t do that right now.

I know kitty, I know. Just... I’ll try not to panic too much. Whatever happens, happens. Not much either of us can do about it now.

As past Marinette walked towards the entryway of the College Francois-Dupont, Chat perked up.

Is this... is this your school?

You know I can’t answer that, kitty.

But is it?

She ignored him. If he found out, then he found out. But she wasn’t going to hand the answer to him.

Her past self reached the entranceway - or exitway, in this case.

It was raining outside. Stuck out a hand, feeling the rain.

Oh. OH. I know why we’re here. We saw when you fell in love. Now you’ll see when I did.

So I’ll learn who my competition is, then.

Kitty!

Kidding, kidding...

“Hey.”

Marinette’s past self looked away, grunting slightly. She caught a glimpse of a white shirt and blond hair out of the corner of her eye, but not much more than that.

She heard Adrien give a quiet sigh, then the sound of his umbrella opening as he walked forwards.

���I just wanted you to know...”

Her past self looked at Adrien.

What...?

Marinette would’ve frowned if she could. Chat sounded... surprised? Amazed? Maybe even a bit disbelieving. 

“... that I was only trying to take the chewing gum off your seat. I swear.”

Marinette felt herself blink, her heart starting to race as Adrien looked back at her, trying to persuade her of his sincerity.

“I've never been to school before. I've never had friends. It's all sort of... new to me.”

He looked back at her, giving her that soft, kind smile she’d grown to love so much.

Then he held out his umbrella, giving it to her. 

She looked up and down, from his hand, to his face, smiling at her with those damnably gorgeous green eyes.

Slowly she reached her hand out, attempting to take the umbrella. It took her a moment, as the first time her fingers collided with his. But at last she grasped the umbrella.

Then it closed on her.

She heard Adrien burst out into laughter, and felt herself joining in a moment later.

“See you tomorrow.”

Adrien turned and walked away.

That’s... that’s the guy you have a crush on?

Marinette couldn’t quite place the tone of Chat’s thought. He definitely didn’t sound upset, or sad, which was kind of strange. He seemed almost breathless. Disbelieving, but... in a good way? Hopeful maybe?

Yeah...

Chat seemed almost confused. Why... why did you fall in love with him? He just apologized and handed you his umbrella...?

He still had that strange tone. 

She tried to explain as best she could.

When I first met him, I jumped to conclusions. I accused him of putting gum on my chair, when he was actually trying to take it off. He tried to tell me he didn’t do it, but I’d already made up my mind.

And then... and then he walked out here with me. He told me with such sincerity that he didn’t do it, that I HAD to believe it. He trusted me enough to open up to me, telling me something private, showing a vulnerability I didn’t know was there And then... and then he handed me his umbrella. To me, a girl he didn’t know, a girl who’d written him off when he’d only tried to help me. He gave it to me and walked through the rain himself instead, because I had farther to go. His sincerity, his kindness... I couldn’t help but to fall in love with him.

Chat was quiet for a moment.

...When we get out of here, can I show you who I am?

Chat, you KNOW our identities must remain secret...

Marinette, please?

Y-you know who I am? But no one said my name!

If I show you, it’ll become clear why I know who you are.

...Fine. Come to my balcony after 9 pm. Then we’ll talk.

Thank you.

The world whited out.

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

Ladybug came to. Rena was staring down at her, relieved. “Ladybug! You’re up!”

Ladybug looked to her side, where Carapace was watching over Chat Noir. He started to stir as well.

Satisfied that he would be alright, she turned her attention to getting more info from Rena. “How long were we out? Is the akuma still on the loose?”

“You were only out for about five minutes. Carapace and I grabbed you and Chat as soon as you went down and took you here to hide in the hopes you’d recover. Most of the people who were hit earlier are awake by now, but Heartbreaker’s put a bunch of new people to sleep in the meantime.”

Ladybug stood up. “Then there’s no time to waste. Chat, you ready?”

Chat stood up. “Always, milady.”

As they walked out of the building, preparing to face Heartbreaker once more, Chat breathed in her ear, “Your place, 9 pm, right?”

So he DID remember.

She gave a small nod. 

Hopefully she’d be able to concentrate well enough to finish this fight without getting hit.

She had a lot to think about.

Next Chapter