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mochinek0 · 9 months

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Daminette December 2023: 29-Disappointment

Marinette watched in disappointment as everything about Françoise Dupont was revealed. She thought she would feel justified, feel happy. Instead, she felt nothing. Caline Bustier had been fired in the middle of class. Lila had been arrested. They didn't tell the class anything; they just told them their parents were there and they had to speak to them before they left. Even their parents seemed confused.

Adrien stood with Natalie in a line. Everyone was spaced out. They had all been told that the students weren't allowed to talk to each other and if a pone was seen, it would go straight into police custody. Adrien looked behind him to see Marinette leaning against her father's large frame and her mother stroking her hair.

Once they were led into a room, they were all let out through a different direction to make sure there wasn't anything yelled out. When it was Adrien's turn, they quickly learned this was mostly about Lila Rossi. Natalie began to ask questions of her own, as they had hired her. At the end of the session, they were told to head straight home. No one was allowed to stick around on campus. As they got in the car, Adrien asked if they could stick around.

"No. The officer said we should head straight home, Adrien." Natalie stated.

"Please. I just want to talk to one person." Adrien spoke, " They were behind us in line so they should be coming out soon."

"We will wait ten minutes and not a second more." she declared, "If an officer tells us to leave before the time is up, we will leave."

"Yes, Natalie. Thank you." the model, smiled.

Just before the time was up, Marinette and her parents walked out of the school. Adrien perked up and unbuckled his seatbelt. As he reached for the car door, another car showed up. A guy he had never seen before, quickly walked out of the car and hugged Marinette. He watched as the guy kissed her head before turning to Tom and Sabine. He could barely make out what was being said.

"Let's go, Angel." he said, "Tom and Sabine said I was to take you away for a few days. How are you feeling?"

"Disappointed. I feel nothing." she answered, causing her parents to tear up.

"Where will you go?" he asked her parents.

"We will be closing the bakery for a week." Tom replied, "We'll be with some family memebers."

"I've already gathered her things." he spoke.

"Thank you, Damian." Sabine smiled.

Damian took ahold of Marinette's hand and led her to his car. It didn't take long for them to drive away.

"Adrien." Natalie called out.

"Uh, we-we can go." he whispered, "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I can ask at a later date."

The school was declared closed for a week. No one still knew what was going on until Tvi did a special on their school. It was under investigation. Their principal couldn't show specific footage to the school board or police. He was arrested for money laundering, as he had never updated the school's equipment as he stated he had. Once he was arrested, they began to dig into the footage and found many inconsistencies, regarding some students. Tvi went onto explain there had been expulsions that were never approved of by the board. The board was now frantically expunging records and reaching out to families. During the special, it was announced that a student had been arrested for lying to not only the school, but also the staff. They announced that a few of the students' parents were now suing the young girl as she took money and items from their classmates, claiming to be well connected with celebrities. They had also claimed to put money towards charities of their choice or would help them get their dream job. Dupont was called a school of dreamers and nativity. The class couldn't help but think of Lila, Marinette, and Ms. Bustier. When they had been questioned about Lila, they instantly got defensive and threw Marinette under the bus as a bully. They were quickly finding out, they had made the wrong choice and Marinette was rigth about Lila all along.

Adrien had snuck out and was hoping to meet up with some of the class for answers. He had no idea his father was one of the people suing Lila, once he had learned she had lied on her resume and forged her mother's signature. The model hoped he could talk to Marinette, as well. He never expected to see her outside of a hotel.

"Hey, Marinette!" He called out, "Did you tip off the school board?"

"No." She answered.

"Then, how did they know?" he questioned.

"Because of you." Mari replied.

"Huh?" he asked, not understanding.

"This ended exactly they way you wanted it to." she continued, "You wanted me to let Lila lie and she would catch herself in her own web of lies. Her going to jail, being sued; this is all your fault. All I wanted to do was tell her lying could get her in trouble. I wanted to make sure everyone was cautious about what she said. They could have double checked, knew she lied, and then went along with her lie, for her sake."

Adrien looked at her, surprised.

"This isn't you, Marinette." he replied, full of disappointment.

Mari shrugged, "Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. I don't really know anymore."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Adrien questioned.

"I put up with Chloe, with the teachers looking past my harassment for year, with Lila defaming me." Marinette spoke, "I feel nothing, anymore, Adiren. I don't know how to be happy anymore."

Adrien wasn't sure how to reply, when Damian walked out of the building.

"Are you ready?" Damian asked Marinette.

She nodded her head.

"Wait! Mari-" the model began.

"Go inside." Ordered Damian.

Marinette nodded again and went inside, past the security out front.

"Leave her alone." Damian growled out.

"Who are you?" Questioned the model.

"Her boyfriend." Damian stated.

"No. She would have told Alya and Alya would have told Nino. Nino would have told me." Adrien babbled in shock, "She would have told her best friend-"

"The same 'best friend' that pours drinks on her head and her sketchbook?" Damian retorted, " The same one who trips her in the halls and steps on her hand until she had to wear a brace and couldn't design? The same one who would drop her sisters off without any notice because Lila needed her?"

"That girls isn't friend, Agreste. She is a bully." Damian stated, "My girlfriend is seeing a therapist because of your idiotic high road philosophy. Do you have any idea what it was like to come to Paris, to surprise her, and instead, I find she swallowed a whole bottle of pills! She was dying when I found her."

Adrien paled at the thought.

'Marinette tried to kill herself? I'm to blame for all of this?'

"You almost got her killed. Would you have done the same, seeing as how you were 'in this together' with her?" The Wayne heir continued, "I'd tell you to stay away from her, but her parents signed over guardianship to my father so that she can get out of Paris. She won't even be in the country by Friday. Marinette will get the help she deserves."

"You silenced her. You made her feel useless. You made her feel like trash. You are lucky you have nothing tying you to her harassment or I would be suing you; trust me, I looked." Damian concluded.

"Huh?" Adrien asked, still in disbelief.

Damian rolled his eyes, "I called the board when My Angel was in the hospital. Did you know that Lila isn't even her real name? It's Cerise Lerouch. She is signed up at another school, here in Paris. She was never a transfer student from Italy, just a girl who likes attention. All those 'trips out of the country' was just her going back to her other school because she wasn't 'sick' anymore. In fact, she wore a wig and contacts to your school, every day."

Adrien remained speechless.

The Wayne heiress sighed, "I do not understand what she saw in you."

"Who?" The model questioned.

"Marinette. She was in love with you. I believed I had competition and would have to strive hard to earn her favor. All I ha e seen is a boy who is completely and utterly disappointing. " Damian announced, "Be sure to tell your little friends that the only thing they have done is earn the wrath of the Waynes. Same for the supposed 'best friend'. My family owns her dream job and now she'll never have it. How disappointing for her."

The young Wayne turned away from the model and entered the hotel. After a moment, he tried to run in after him, only to be told 'only people with special clearance were allowed in'.

Unfortunately for Adrien, the entire Lila Disaster had only fueled his father's intentions of keeping him homeschooled. He still kept in contact with Nino, but the others were busy with their own things. Nino had told him Alya had hysterical after learning she was being sued by the Waynes. They were suing her for emotional distress, for all the babysitting she had forced on Marinette. Alya had to pay all the money she never gave Mari, once her parents found out. Marinette had kept a detailed planner listing what times and when Alya had dropped off the twins. She had even recorded the twins, asking what Alya had told them and why they were dropped off. Her parents were upset with her and grounded her for the rest of the year. They weren't going to be able to go out on dates and she was now the twins sole babysitter. Nino recanted how Alya said her family was disappointed in her. They were barely looking at her and the twins kept crying how they preferred Marinette. She had also learned that she was blacklisted from the Daily Planet. After that, she shut down and barely said a word.

Nino went on to explain that he was trying to get music files he had given Lila because she knew some DJs. Other classmates were learning that what she had promised them, wasn't true. Juleka had called her father, Jagged Stone, and asked him about knowing Lila and saving his kitten. She quickly filled him in about her tinnitus disability when he didn't remember her, but he claimed to never own a cat of any sort. Even Jagged Stone was looking to suing Lila. After Juleka told Rose, she quickly emailed Prince Ali and was anxiously waiting for a response back. Ivan and Mylene had given Lila money for charities, but were unlikely to see any of their money back. Nathaniel had given her some art to hold for when she went to America to give to her connections. Nino told Adrien they were signed in invisible ink so it was being looked into.

The class itself was slowly falling apart. Max was worried about his grades and how a new teacher would approach everything so he asked to transfer to a private school. There was no evidence he had participated in the bullying so he had been free to leave. Kim no longer had someone to help him focus so his grades fell and he was cut from the team. Kim no longer bet on anything and was even spending less time with Alix. His relationship with Odine was falling apart. There were whispers of the Mayor being tied with Damocles about the money laundering and hints of an investigation looming over his head. Chloe seemed upset and waas pouting, but never answered what was wrong. It wasn't until later he learned that Sabrina had transferred school to the other side of Paris. Adrien couldn’t believe all the chaos that was caused because one person had lied.

Adrien had finally broken down and cried. Natalie found him and once he had calmed down a bit, she asked him to explain.

"I messed up." he sobbed, "I knew Lila was lying, but I used Father's logic: lies don't hurt people. I didn't think any of this would happen. Marinette tried to commit suicide and is now moving out of Paris. Alya is depressed. Lots of our friends are trying to sue Lila and get their things back. Some changed schools. Others are flunking! I got blamed for Marinette and her boyfriend said ther was nothing to stick to me so he couldn't sue me."

Adrine cried himself to sleep. Natalie informed Gabriel and it was only then he saw how naïve he made his son, by keeping him home. He was grateful that ther was nothing holding Adrien accountable, but he knew he needed to do something fast. He called up his sister-in-law and pleaded with her for Adrien to attend school with his cousin. As much as he hated it, Felix would help beat the naivety out of his son.

Meanwhile, in Gotham, Marinette had moved into the Wayne Manor. All the Waynes had been very welcoming. Damian had even introduced her to Jon; Damian explained that Jon also helped him express his emotions. She had an appointment for a therapist next week.

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alpydk · 19 days

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@littlelostmabari - Some Angst and comfort as requested. Hurt? I'm not so sure, but then my standards for hurt are very high.

1849 words - Enjoy ^^

youtube

Gale watched as she danced, her feet light on the shadow kissed sand, a smile he so rarely saw brightening up the campsite as if she were the flames of the fire itself. Sitting in the confines of his tent, his eyes had been drawn to her repeatedly as the evening had progressed, nerves building within him as he’d made his plans to tell her the truth.

Notes of the spells needed to conjure the stars for her lay dotted on parchment around his bedroll. Various poems had been scribbled and then crossed out, the idea of wooing her in such a way appearing too desperate even for him to bring them to light. All he wanted was to explain how he felt about her before the end came, an end that he knew was finally near.

The orb in his chest gave a gentle thrum as she spun, her dark hair whipping around her as if it were the Weave itself called into being. His eyes met hers briefly, and he hoped she wouldn’t see the pitiful yearning in his gaze, see the lovesick puppy that would apologise should his feelings somehow break free from his lips. Her fingers gently entwined with that of her dance partner, and he wished for a moment that he had found the courage to step up and court her in such a way.

But there were no dances for Gale, there never would be, no fingers delicately entwined with his, no Weave carried locks he could run his hands through. For him, there was only a cruel fate, a sentence that he rightly deserved. Love was not a consequence after what he had done.

Her eyes focussed on the man before her as they knelt, and Gale found he could no longer watch the spectacle taking place. It was one thing to see her dance, to imagine standing in his tower of Waterdeep, her body clutched tightly to his as they swayed with a quiet melody from the piano; it was another to see her give herself to someone he considered a friend, to imagine her wine-tinged lips upon his own. In the darkness of his tent, he bowed his head, a deep ache in his chest emerging, one that he was unsure was the orb or heartbreak.

---

Morning arrived, but the Shadowlands had no sunrise to greet them, not that Gale would have noticed as dark clouds obscured his sight. To him, all was grey, shadows or not, and the feeling went far deeper within him than he wished. He struggled to find the words as Tav made her daily rounds, checking that everyone was ready for the battles ahead. On some minute level, he’d thought he'd stood a chance, that maybe in some realm she would have chosen him. Now, though, all he felt was embarrassment that he could have possibly been so naïve and stupid as to think such a thing.

“Toril to Gale.”

Her voice drew him from his thoughts, soft with the lilt of the northern accent he wished he could spend the rest of his days listening to and memorising. “Ah… Tav, my dear. Apologies, it appears you’ve caught me at a rather inopportune moment. Just shaking off some sleep.”

She smiled at him as she always did, her eyes warm and comforting, her hair hanging loosely over her soft cheeks. “Get something warm in you, you’ll be right as rain before you know it.”

It took all his power not to reach out and brush her hair aside, to feel her skin beneath his fingertips as he’d been dreaming of for so many nights, to just touch her.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay today? You seem a little distant?”

“My dear…” To say my love would have been so easy, a quick slip of the tongue as his eyes fell on her longed-for lips. “…Truly, I am quite alright. In but a short while, I will be back to my regular long-winded philosophies of the Weave, and you will yearn for the distance once again.” The distance would certainly make things easier, he felt.

The day passed in a whirlwind of battles, shadows, and death, and as they made camp at Moonrise Tower, Gale secluded himself under the covers of his tent once again. He’d barely spoken as the day had progressed, too lost in contemplation and waning self esteem to be fully present in all that was going on. Tav had subtly checked on him, and he’d responded as he always did by offering her any assistance, but his heart had remained closed to her, as cracked and worthless as it always was.

Summoning a long dreamt for valley, forests and crisp grass, enchanted stars around him, he accepted what was soon to happen. He could feel it deep down, as if Mystra were whispering to him once again, calling out to him to tell him it was time. The twinkling stars reminded him of home, of nights of Simril where he had searched for his own star, and he wondered if he would join them in the days to come. He hoped he would. The night was fantasised in the image he wished his afterlife to be like: the most beautiful of fantasies.

The crunch of grass behind him almost made the illusion falter, his eyes focussing on the swirling aurora above him. He knew who was approaching. He’d listened to their footsteps so many times before at night when he’d been unable to sleep, his nerves burning and sweat beading on his brow, and too many nights those footsteps had resulted in her at his side with a magic artefact or simply a comforting embrace.

Tav sat down beside him, close as always, as if physical contact were something she could not go without for too long. Placing her head on his shoulder, she sighed. “So… Are you going to talk to me or are we going to keep doing this little dance?”

“Well, you are quite the dab at dancing.” Gale’s words were curter that he’d wished, a slither of hurt emerging against his will.

“Ah… That’s what this is about.”

She lifted her head, shuffling away from him ever so slightly, and Gale couldn’t help but feel the icy chill that now passed over his body. He wanted to correct her, inform her that what happened amongst their party was none of his business, but the words would not come to him.

“Gale… Me and Wyll…” Tav wanted to find a way explain it all, but it was proving difficult. “It’s complicated.”

“Matters of the heart normally are, but surely you must know.”

“You’re putting me on the spot as to whether, after a few short months, I wish to be with him, love him even?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.” The answer was needed if he were to go through with his actions come their battle tomorrow. To leave with doubts, even the smallest chance of her love; he couldn’t do it.

Shaking her head, Tav rose to her feet. “I’m not discussing this, Gale.”

Her tone suggested she was annoyed, and he could not figure out why. He had merely wished for clarification, to know for sure where he stood. “You would leave without answering such a question? If it is my feelings you hope to spare, worry not, for come tomorrow the pain will be but a glimmer in the night sky.”

She scoffed at his words. “Of all the things you could say… Do you not realise how much your words can hurt sometimes?”

Everything was happening so quickly. How had he messed this all up so fast? As she departed towards the treeline, he observed her lifting her hand to her face, as though trying to wipe away something. He hoped it was only hair. He couldn’t be the one to have made her cry, to have hurt Tav, whom he loved so deeply.

A broken whimper emerged from his lips as he stood and reached out to her. Fearful words spoken that on so many pained nights he had not needed to say, as she had wrapped a caring arm around him. “Please, Tav. Don’t leave me. Not now.”

Halting in her tracks, she lowered her head, her shoulders tense in the situation she was struggling to remain calm in. “Give me one good reason to stay.”

Gale’s mind was awhirl with what to say, so many expressions of love to her and yet he knew doing so would potentially ruin everything between them. That she would reject him, leaving him willing to detonate the orb without question, or worse, accept him leaving him with something to live for. “I…” The words stuck in his throat, his hand lowering, the precipice he teetered upon calling out to him.

The rising sound of her voice broke with the emotions she tried to fight back, her hand again going to her face to hide how she felt. “Why Gale? Why should I stay?”

It was now or never. To leap from that precipice, to die with no regrets, knowing he had revealed his heart to her. “Because I love you!” He exclaimed desperately, his words stated so firmly, so without doubt. But with them came the creeping acceptance, the knowledge that it was all out in the open and could not be taken back. “I love you…” He repeated quietly, more unsure that he had chosen the right path.

“It was only a dance…”

He didn’t quite understand what she had uttered until she turned around and he saw the tear-streaked cheeks and wisps of dark hair that covered her face.

“Me and Wyll simply danced. He may have fallen for me, but my heart was long ago given to another.”

Gale dared not hope that the other was him. It couldn’t be, not with who he was, not the man with the sword hanging above his head threatening to drop at any moment. As she stepped towards him, his heartbeat quickened. It couldn’t be him, shouldn’t be him, he who would be hurting her again so soon. He averted his gaze in the hopes she would vanish. That this would all have just been some cruel dream, an illusion of what-ifs as the power of the orb overtook him and his body became stardust in the night sky.

A warm palm cupped his cheek, one that he leant into without hesitation. Tav lifted his head ever so slightly, bringing him into her view, and with a tearful smile, she kissed him gently. “I love you, Gale. You, and only you,” she whispered, her lips staying brushed upon his, their warm breath merging between them.

There was no want or need to rush ahead from either of them, no desperation or fiery passion. There was only the comfort as they had found one another, their bodies held together under conjured stars, a dance of hands through weave carried locks, and the distant quiet melody of a piano playing just for them.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 gale #bg3 fanfiction #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #gale bg3 #galemance #i love damocles references #also this has comfort!#sort of!#Youtube

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