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the-delta-42 · 5 years

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Taken to be Returned

Inspired by This by @lenoreofraven

This one-shot will have mentions of torture, death and assault, read at your own risk.

Taken to be returned

“M’Lady, I know that this may be a bad time, given we’re in the middle of dealing with an Akuma and,” Chat dodged a rock thrown at him, “My Girlfriend and I were talking and we were thinking of expanding our relationship.”

“That nice.” Muttered Ladybug, ducking a rock, “Why are you bringing it up?”

“Well, she and I were talking and there’s this other girl that we both like and we don’t know how to tell her.” Said Chat, jumping from roof to roof.

“Have a normal conversation with her, ask her if she wants to join you two.” Said Ladybug, ignoring the sharp pang in her chest.

“Do you think Marinette will really want to?” Asked Chat, making Ladybug stumble and nearly fall off the roof.

Before Ladybug could recover, an arm wrapped around her neck. Her blood ran cold as the mocking laughter of Hawkmoth rang out.

“Oh, this was too easy.” Sneered Hawkmoth, as he started to drag Ladybug away.

Ladybug thrashed and screamed and bit Hawkmoth, who only tightened his hold around her neck, squeezing until she passed out.

TtbR

Ladybug woke to a cage inside a big plastic cube, inside another cage. Her hands immediately went to her ears, finding them bare. A lump started to form in Marinette’s throat, Hawkmoth now had Tikki. Marinette’s heart then froze when she realised that Hawkmoth now knew who she was, he could target her friends and family at any time.

“I hope you find your accommodations suitable,” Said Hawkmoth, as he walked into the room, “Having this built wasn’t easy.”

“Where’s Tikki?” Demanded Marinette, jumping to her feet, “What have you done to her?”

“It is where it belongs, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng.” Said Hawkmoth, as the door unlocked, allowing him to stalk towards her, “If I were you, I’d be more concerned about myself.”

Marinette smirked at him, “I guess that was sets us apart, you only care about yourself and how it’ll benefit you, I much prefer to have others experiencing things with me.”

Hawkmoth Glared, before drawing his hand back and hitting Marinette, knocking her on her to the ground.

“Where’s the Miracle box?” Demanded Hawkmoth, as he stood over her, “I know the Guardian left it with you and I know it’s not in your room, because I would’ve found it.”

Marinette suddenly felt violated, having Hawkmoth tell her that he’d been in her room. It also told her that he didn’t look very hard.

“You really think I’d tell you?” Asked Marinette, her face set in complete defiance.

“You will.” Said Hawkmoth, as he drew his leg back.

The beating Hawkmoth gave her lasted at least three hours, Marinette was satisfied that she had managed to get a few hits back on him.

A couple of hours later Mayura walked into the room, presumably to continue Hawkmoth’s work.

The next day the beatings continued, then the next week they started to electrocute her, burn her, cut into her, stripped her, jam two very hot needles into her back and near drown her. Marinette coughed up water, as Mayura stared down at her. Hawkmoth had to leave because Marinette bit down on him.

“You know that if you just tell us, all this will stop.” Said Mayura, running her hand along Marinette’s back, “Just tell us where the box is, and we’ll let you go.”

“Fuck off.” Marinette grumbled, trying not to shiver.

“Well, you can’t say you weren’t offered an alternative.” Said Mayura, drawing her hand back.

TtbR

Marinette lied on her side as Mayura entered the cell, she had been stuck here for over a month and yesterday they made the mistake of giving her a metal knife and fork. If she recalled correctly, Mayura was bringing her food today. Marinette heard a tray be set down.

“You’re lucky.” Growled Mayura, “Hawkmoth is on a business trip, so you won’t be getting your usual treatment this week.”

Marinette heard Mayura walk closer, before she quickly rolled over and jammed the fork into Mayura’s ankle. Mayura screamed as her leg buckled, allowing Marinette to repeatedly punch her in the face, before she grabbed the Peacock Miraculous and tore it off her. Marinette then slammed her head against the wall, until she was certain Mayura wasn’t going to get up again any time soon.

Marinette looked down at herself, before she decided to take Mayura’s clothes. Marinette rolled Mayrua over and recoiled at the sight of Nathalie Sancouer, Gabriel Agreste’s Assistant. Marinette quickly put the pieces together in her head and started removing Nathalie of her clothes and putting them on herself.

Marinette though she looked ridiculous, since the clothes were slightly too big for her, before holding the Peacock Miraculous tightly in her hand and limping out of the cell. Marinette wandered through the labyrinth of corridors, before she came across the door. She struggled to get it open, carefully ramming her shoulder against it, until it suddenly swung open before she could make contact with it again.

TtbR

“Okay,” Said Alya, as most of the class and Kagami sat in Gabriel Agreste’s office, “so, Ladybug has been missing for what, six weeks?”

“Six weeks, three days, 12 hours, nine minutes and seventeen seconds.” Said Max, looking up from his laptop.

“And Marinette’s been ‘on a trip’ for roughly the same amount of time.” Said Alya, “We can’t look for Marinette because,”

“The Police don’t know she’s missing and will try and fine us if we walk around with her picture.” Said Sabrina, her arms folded, ever since Chloe had been placed under house arrest, Marinette had been her main friend.

“And someone will eventually realise that maybe there’s a correlation between two missing girls and say ‘Hey, I found Ladybug’s identity!’.” Said Alya, as Adrien looked up from his father’s safe.

“Alya, I had to tell you and even then, you didn’t believe me.” Deadpanned Adrien, as he started looking back into his father’s safe.

“Along with the official story of Marinette being on a trip to her aunt being a reasonable cover, seeing how we met her Aunt Maeve a couple months back.” Said Mylene, before Alix shushed her.

“I hear something.” Said Alix, as a soft thump came from the other side of the painting of Adrien’s mother.

“Okay, that one leads to a safe, where does that on lead to?” Demanded Alix, pointing at another portrait of Emilie Agreste.

“No idea.” Said Adrien, as he slowly approached the painting. A few more thumps sounded, before he grabbed the corner and tugged at it, before he quickly grabbed the other side and tugged, making it swing wide open, allowing a certain French-Asian girl to topple through.

“MARINETTE!” Yelled a multitude of voices.

“Wow, she looks like hell.” Said Alix, as Marinette struggled to get up.

“Earrings.” Marinette rasped, as she tried to look around.

“Hey, hey,” Said Adrien, fishing the studs from his pocket, “I have them here, see?” He held his hand out, presenting the earrings to Marinette, which flickered as she touched them, allowing Tikki to take form.

“I already told you, I’m not going to serve someone who- MARINETTE!” Tikki shrieked as she caught sight of her chosen.

Marinette’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and her world went dark.

TtbR

The heart monitor that was linked up to Marinette held a steady beat, as orderly’s and other medical practitioners walked around the room.

“Multiple burn wounds, possible nerve damage,” One orderly listed for the doctor, “There seems to be some tearing around her genitals, but we haven’t checked any further. The x-rays show that she’s had some broken bones, along with some severe fractures along her arms and legs, some minor internal bleeding. The police are going to want a full report on this, since it’s doubtful that she was alone.”

The doctor frowned, casting an eye over the girl, “Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, 18 years old, currently studying at College Francis Dupont, at least that’s what I’ve managed to find out about her. Is she a frequent patient?”

“No, the last time anyone remembers seeing her here was ten years ago when she broke her arm falling out of a tree.” Replied an orderly, “She’s had quite a few visitors, mind you, Classmates, friends, extended family, I hear that even her brothers and sister have come back.”

“You’re familiar with the family?” Questioned the Doctor.

“Yeah, Toby and I go way back, long before he caught the travelling bug from his grandmother and took off to see the world.” Responded the orderly, before they cast a quick look around and leaning towards the doctor, “Although, mind you, there have been rumours that this girl isn’t, um, how do you say it? Not all there.”

Before the doctor could respond, a nurse stuck her head in the door, “The police and Dupain-Cheng’s are here to get the diagnosis for the patient.”

The doctor sighed, he hated being the barer of bad news for families.

TtbR

Everyone was packed into the lounge when Tom and Sabine returned, the door closing with a slam, making everyone jump.

Tom stormed past them and towards a cupboard, while Sabine shuffled into the room. Her eyes were red and swollen.

“What’s the damage?” Asked Alix, her tone sombre.

“Marinette might not be able to see or hear out of her right side anymore,” Snarled Tom, “She’s going to have some trouble standing once her leg’s fixed and that’s not counting any of the psychological issues she’ll have to deal with.”

“T-they also believe that she m-may have been r-r-” Sabine was cut off by Ivan.

“They think she was raped.” His tone was level, but his face showed a storm that was brewing underneath his wall.

Sabine let out a choked sob, as the air in the room grew thick.

“Where did you all find her?” Asked Tom, looking at the class.

Everyone was silent, unsure how to break the news to the pair.

Adrien broke the silence, “My father made alterations to the mansion.”

Tom stilled, before he slowly turned and looked at Adrien.

“Your father,” Said Tom, slowly, “had her?”

“Nathalie knew, although I haven’t seen or heard from her all day, which is weird,” Said Adrien, his mind deviating slightly, “but she was being kept in a room hidden by a painting of my mum, we wouldn’t’ve found her if Alix wasn’t there.”

Tom looked at Alix, before looking back at Adrien, his expression darkening.

“If I find out that you knew, I’ll-” Tom was interrupted.

“Adrien didn’t know about the doorway,” Alya interrupted, making Tom switch from Adrien to Alya, “he was the one that actually started the search, especially considering the little fact that he told us.”

“Fact?” Demanded Tom, his gaze back on Adrien.

“In my defence, I only found out by accident, I saw Marinette de-transforming and-”

“De-what?” Asked Tom completely lost.

“Wait, you don’t know?” Came Adrien’s response.

“Know what?” Asked Sabine, looking at the boy.

There was a continuous silence, which was broken by a cackle.

Everyone jumped at the sudden noise, before a small black cat floated out of Adrien’s chest. The noise was almost nasally, cackling away as they floated to the centre of the room.

“I have to say, kid,” Laughed the creature, “telling the Ladyblogger pigtails is Ladybug is one thing but outing her identity to her parents takes the camembert.”

“I thought they knew, Marinette has a great bond with her parents, she would’ve told them!” Adrien protested, his face going red in shame and embarrassment.

The creature only continued to laugh, while Adrien tried to hide in his own shirt.

TtbR

Marinette took a sharp intake of breath, she cast her eyes around the room she was in. It looked like a standard hospital room, completely filled with flowers, chocolates and other gifts. What drew Marinette’s attention was the sight of Kagami sleeping in the chair next to the bed.

Marinette tried to sit up, only to get a sharp sting racing through her nerves, making her let out a grunt of pain. Kagami jump and looked straight at Marinette.

“You’re awake!” Cried Kagami, throwing her arms around Marinette, who let out another grunt, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”

“What happened?” Rasped Marinette, making Kagami disappear and reappear with a cup of water.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Asked Kagami, leaning forwards.

Marinette thought back, “Tikki.”

Marinette froze, before she started looking around the room frantically, moving to get out of the bed.

“The earrings are safe, they’re with Adrien.” Kagami exclaimed, trying to get Marinette to lie back down, “Adrien is with your parents and they’ll be here later.”

There was a cough from the doorway, making the two girls look over. Adrien stood awkwardly in the door, looking as if he had a gun placed against his back.

“H-hi, Marinette.” Stuttered Adrien, making Marinette cock her head.

“Adrien,” Stated Marinette, “is everything alright?”

“Y-yeah, everything’s fine.” Adrien stammered, “W-why do you ask?”

“Because you look like you’ve had a vibrator set to its highest setting shoved up your butt and you’re trying to hold a conversation.” Came the deadpan reply.

There was a little giggle behind Adrien, which then turned into a snorting laughter. Marinette looked behind Adrien, spotting the majority of the class standing behind him. Alix was snorting away, while Adrien tried to keep his face from going red.

TtbR

“Okay, so,” Said Marinette, looking around her, “you guys couldn’t look for me, because I wasn’t listed as missing, Adrien found out my identity and blurted it out to Alya, who in turn told everyone else and then they found out Agreste was Hawkmoth.”

“More or less.” Said Nino, who shifted uneasily, “Luka wanted to be here, but his job wouldn’t let him.”

Marinette absently nodded, before her eyes widened, “Shit, Adrien, you need to get home, Nathalie has a concussion from when I smashed her head against a wall.”

Adrien was silent, Nathalie had been removed when the Police had searched the house and it’s many hidden areas, he didn’t have the heart to tell her that Nathalie was dead, Marinette’s mental state was fragile enough as it is.

Marinette picked up on the shift in tone, “She’s dead, isn’t she?”

Everyone remained silent, not sure how to respond.

“W-well, the police are classing it a self-defence a-and aren’t going to charge you with anything.” Said Sabrina, trying to sound optimistic.

“Are you alright?” Asked Rose, staring at Marinette with concern.

“Y-yeah, I, um,” Marinette whispered, “I think I’d like to be alone for a while please.”

No one wanted to leave but allow themselves to be herded out when Marinette had repeated her request. Marinette was staring down at her hands while everyone left the room. She’d killed someone, sure it was one of her captors who had violated her on a personal level, but she didn’t want to kill her. Her hands had turned red, Marinette first thought that it was her suit, only to notice the lack of spots, then she saw how it smeared. Marinette then knew what it was, blood. Marinette started rubbing her hands together, slowly picking up the pace, until she was frantically scrubbing away at her hands, everything was becoming blurry, then the world went dark.

TtbR

Marinette woke up to her parents next to her, how could they look so calm? Why weren’t they repulsed that their own child was a murderer?

Marinette started to curl up into a ball, as her frame started trembling, her mouth speaking without her thinking, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry,” repeating continuously, until they could get a doctor in to sedate her.

Tom and Sabine shared a look, this was going to a long and painful process.

Adrien had heard Marinette from outside the room, he had agreed to helping the police try and get his father back into the country. They hoped that he’d fall for it.

TtbR

Kagami and Adrien were sat on the bed next to Marinette, with Marinette in between them, they found that Marinette slept better when someone was with her. Adrien didn’t know how he was going to bring the relationship idea up to her again, since he didn’t know how she was going to react. Marinette stirred slightly, Kagami scooting down to place and arm around Marinette, who started to settle back down.

“Have you told her yet?” Asked Kagami, looking up at Adrien.

“I told her who I was, and I think she connected the dots on her own.” Adrien replied, “I don’t know what her answer is, though.”

“Did you tell her that I knew?” Kagami questioned, making Marinette sit bolt upright.

“WAIT, WHAT?!”

Adrien and Kagami winced and covered their ears, while Marinette gaped at them.

“Marinette,” Squeaked Adrien, his face pale, “I thought you were asleep.”

“You revealed your identity to a civilian.” Said Marinette, her jaw agape.

“Actually, she figured it out on her own.” Adrien lied, getting a thump from Marinette, “OW!”

“Don’t. Lie.” Marinette seethed, rolling over, facing away from Adrien.

“Are we going to get an answer?” Asked Kagami, looking down at Marinette’s head.

“Yes.” Came the muffled reply, before Marinette tugged them down.

TtbR

Marinette nervously shifted as the car pulled up at the Bakery, she had just been discharged from hospital. The doctors had said that most of the issues now were psychological and had arranged for a counsellor to be placed at the school for her. There was the odd stare from a random passer-by, apparently someone had leaked that she had been missing. Which of course blew up with theories and speculation, with no one willing to give any answers.

Marinette let out a little whimper, as the paparazzi photographed the car.

“Well, this is going well.” Kagami commented, idly, “Let’s wait for the crowd to clear up.”

There was a sound reminiscent of a gunshot, making everyone duck.

“That’s our que.” Said Adrien, he and Kagami grabbing hold of Marinette and running into the Bakery, where Marinette saw Michael holding a rifle.

The door closed rather noisily on a reporter’s face, with Michael giving a smug grin and wave to them.

“Idiots.” Muttered Michael, as Marinette was guided up the stairs.

Adrien pushed the door open, Kagami gently ushered Marinette in, everyone getting to their feet. Alya rushed towards Marinette, wrapping her arms around the French-Asian girl, it wasn’t long before Marinette broke down.

Adrien’s phone buzzed with a text message, glancing down, his father was demanding where he was and where Nathalie was. Cold hatred coiled in Adrien’s gut. Gabriel had kidnapped Marinette, beaten her, assaulted her, tortured her within an inch of her life and performed unspeakable acts on her, just because he felt he had the right over everyone else.

Adrien ignored his father’s text, quietly sending a message to Officer Raincomprix, telling the Police Officer that his father was at the Mansion.

Kagami held onto Marinette, gently caressing her hair.

“Can someone turn the tv on?” Asked Adrien, “I want to watch the news.”

“Why?” Demanded Alix, “Marinette’s just come home and the news is going to be in the paper tomorrow.”

“I think this is something Marinette is going to want to see.” Said Adrien, as the tv turned on.

“Don’t be bemused, it’s just news,” Said Nadja, as she appeared on screen, “Earlier this evening, Police received an anonymous tip that the location of Hawkmoth has been found. Hawkmoth has terrorised Paris for the past five years and has managed to evade both the Police and our resident Super-heroes, Ladybug and Chat Noir, he has also killed thirteen people in the past two months, since he abducted Ladybug during one of his Akuma attacks.”

The room was tense.

“It is unknown if Ladybug is still alive, but Police are converging on the docks of Paris, in the hopes of cornering Hawkmoth, with the intention to bring him to justice. Chat Noir has refused to give a statement on the matter, as have the three new heroes who arrived to assist him since Ladybug’s abduction.” Nadja looked directly into the camera, “I say this now as a citizen of Paris, not as a News caster, Hawkmoth, if Ladybug isn’t alive, then there will be blood.”

“The fun fact is, the Police aren’t going to the docks,” Said Adrien, leaning back in his chair, “Gabriel isn’t going to know what hit him when he gets home.”

“Unfortunately, more of Hawkmoth’s minions are being routed out, as well as the number of dead growing.” Said Nadja, “The list of Hawkmoth’s minions now includes Andre Glacier, Lila Rossi, Samuel Marcus, Richard Allen, Felix de Graham-Villani, Hector Damocles, Simon Jonas, Jalil Kubdel and, the now deceased, Nathalie Sancoeur.”

Marinette flinched, making Kagami and Adrien wrap an arm around her.

“Nathalie Sancoeur was killed when a previous captive managed to break free, that captive has not been named, nor will they be prosecuted, as they were acting in self-defence, they were found in an alley not far from College Francis Dupont. They are currently still in hospital with both Police and Medical professionals monitoring them, as of yet, they have not woken or shown any sign of waking up. Sancoeur’s body was found not far from where the captive was found, with a Miraculous in her possession, Chat Noir has been reported to believe that Ms. Sancoeur was Mayura and aided Hawkmoth in his abductions.” Nadja continued to report, “The List of the dead now include Otis Césaire, Rolland Dupain, Andre Bourgeois, Amelie de Graham-Villani, Christopher Lahiffe, Fredrick Haprele, Wang Fu, Marianne Lenoire, Wang Cheng, Man-Manon Chamack,” Nadja’s voice cracked, “and Xavier Ramier. Marlena, Nora, Etta and Ella Césaire are still in hospital in critical condition, and Tomoe Tsurugi, Gina Dupain, Caline Bustier, Audrey and Chloe Bourgeois and Anarka Couffaine have all be stabilized and are recovering.”

“Hawkmoth’s started planting bombs.” Said Kim, “Every time a minion of his is found, another one goes off. The most recent one was at School, during the PTC.”

“And that’s not counting those attacks in the streets, that’s how they got Ramier.” Said Alya, bitterly, “How they got my family.”

“Apparently, Lila had been feeding Hawkmoth information, when she was caught, the number of attacks reduced, but not enough to save more people.” Murmured Nino, “They say the full list is a good fifty-one-hundred and fifty people, they actually brought the army in.”

“Lila’s parents have practically disowned her, given her connections with Hawkmoth.” Said Rose, her voice quiet, “This is possibly the best news we’ve had since all this started.”

“What is?” Asked Marinette, looking at them.

“You came back.” Said Mylene, “We all thought that you were one of the first victims, but Adrien said, ‘no body, not dead’, every time it was brought up.”

“They’re talking about setting up support groups to help the traumatized,” Said Michael, leaning into the room, “And anyone else who’s been fortunate enough to survive, although they may not see it that way.”

“Do we know who else is missing?” Asked Marinette, looking at the class.

“Madame Mendeleiev, Marc, Mirelle, Aurore, a couple of people from Adrien’s fencing group and some others from the higher and lower years.” Responded Alix, “We think they were taken because they either tried to intervene or because they’re close to you.”

“He was demanding to know where the Miracle Box was.” Marinette murmured, “He didn’t look very well, since he said he couldn’t find it in my room.”

“Because it’s not there.” Said Adrien, “After you were taken, Kagami and I snuck in and hid it somewhere.”

Marinette stared at the two, “Where did you hide it?”

Kagami looked over at a basket next to the sofa. Marinette shuffle-limped over and lifted the lid, spotting the Miracle Box, unopened.

“Your room was trashed, by the way.” Said Kagami, moving to stand next to Marinette.

“I think I’m just glad it’s still here.” Said Marinette, looking down at the box.

“News just in,” Came Nadja’s voice, making everyone look at the screen, “Gabriel Agreste has been arrested in the charges of being Hawkmoth. Police observed Mr. Agreste entering a hidden room in his home, before he became Hawkmoth, Police were alerted to Mr. Agreste being Hawkmoth by his son, Adrien, after he stumbled across the room whilst exploring the house. Adrien alerted Police and Emergency Medical services after he discovered one of the missing people, as well as the body of Ms. Nathalie Sancoeur. Mr. Agreste has been loudly protesting his arrest, claiming that he needed the Miraculous to being back his wife. Mrs. Emilie Agreste has been missing, and presumed dead, for six years, more information will be given as the situation unfolds.”

“Game, set and match.” Said Adrien, folding his arms, “What do you think will happen to him?”

“Life in prison.”

“Give everything up.”

“Get a light slap on the wrist and placed under police protection.”

Everyone looked at Alix.

“Alix wins?”

There were mutterings of agreement.

“Now what do we do?” Asked Marinette, making Adrien and Kagami appear either side of her.

“You go up to bed and get some rest.” Said Adrien, as he and Kagami linked arms with Marinette and led her up the stairs.

TtbR

Marinette looked around the school.

“They’ve redecorated.” Said Marinette, looking at a poster, “I don’t like it.”

“I’m amazed that they pulled everything together so quickly.” Said Alya, making Marinette blush, “You had something to do with that, didn’t you?”

“Well, I couldn’t bring the dead back, so I figured that I could at least help with the repairs.” Mumbled Marinette, twisting her fingers together.

“I suppose Adrien and Kagami couldn’t stop you.” Stated Alya, “How long have you been helping out?”

“…three and a half months?” Came the sheepish reply.

“Girl, you are going to be the death of us all.”

“I hope not, I like you being alive.”

“Hey.” Marinette and Alya turned around and spotted Chloe as she wheeled towards them.

Chloe had been rendered paraplegic from the explosion that killed her father, ironically it had been the same explosion that pushed Chloe and her mother closer together.

“Did you see what happened yesterday?” Asked Chloe, as Sabrina hurried up to her.

“If you’re referring to Adrien almost killing Gabriel, I was there in person.” Said Marinette, “Luka still has the black eye.”

“Adrien punched Luka?” Asked Sabrina, cocking her head.

“No, security punched Luka, he was helping Adrien.” Said Marinette, folding her arms, “Kagami wasn’t sure whether she should punch them or if she should kiss them.”

Chloe nodded, “And, how are you?”

Marinette nervously shifted from one foot to the other, “I’m getting better, I’m still relegated to behind the scenes work, since the last impression I left on that guy.”

“I heard his brains were leaking out.” Said Alix, as she appeared next to them.

“No, they weren’t.” Said Marinette, folding her arms.

Everyone was silent.

“Do you think anything will happen?”

“To what? The school? The city?”

“To us.”

Marinette was silent as she pondered on Sabrina’s question.

“I think that past few months have shown what would happen, and besides, we still have a few more things to clear up.” Said Marinette, “I hear that we’re merging with another school.”

“Makes sense, since our Principle preferred to bend over backwards for the rich and the Head of IT was a paedophile,” Said Alix, “I heard that they were going through with this because they were broke.”

“building wise or money wise?” Asked Alya, looking at the pink haired girl.

“Dunno.” Shrugged Alix, folding her arms, “I just know that all the teachers are doing a refresher course to bring them up to date with the common practices.”

They were silent.

“So, what happens now?” Asked Alya, as the rest of the class started to file in.

“We move on, rebuild,” Said Marinette, leaning against Adrien as he sat down, “We heal.”

Okay, I just spotted an error in this, I listed Marinette's age as 16 but then said Hawkmoth had been active for five years, which would have then made her 18, so I changed Marinette's from 16 to 18 to keep the continuity, because otherwise it would mean she became Ladybug when she was 11

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pessimisticlatte · 5 years

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Glass Roses - Chapter 9

~Marichat ~ Adrienette ~ Lukagami ~ Nino x Alya ~ Chlobrina ~ Nathalie x Emilie ~ Tikki x Plagg ~ Duusuu x Nooroo ~

~Eventual reveal~ Quick notes: the nickname Plagg gives Duusuu, ‘Dus’, is pronounced ‘Doose’. Kinda like goose but with a ‘D’. Sorry if it’s confusing~

~~~~~~~~

A tingling in the base of her spine pulled Tikki from the nap she was having in Marinette’s school bag. There was a Kwami in the area with their aura on full blast; they weren’t hiding, in fact, Tikki wondered if they were looking for someone. For another Kwami. Tikki pressed her find together in worry and felt down the bond she had to Plagg, who was currently eating his weight in cheese in Adrien’s satchel a few feet away. Before Tikki had known that Adrien was Chat Noir, she’d been actively ignoring his presence in Madame Bustier’s classroom, he annoyed her to no end and she would rather pretend that he hadn’t bonded to her than ask why the hell he was in the same classroom as her. Plagg hadn’t moved, and as far as Tikki could tell, hadn’t sent his aura careening out across Paris. She’d forced him to dampen it the first time she saw him after they were given to Marinette and Adrien; Tikki had practically slapped sense into Plagg saying that he didn’t know where Hawkmoth was and Nooroo’s fragile state could be very, very dangerous if the Butterfly Kwami caught his aura.

Plagg felt Tikki’s tug on the bond and yanked his side, drawing an angry huff from the Ladybug Kwami. She turned herself invisible and passed through the fabric of Marinette’s bag and the wooden floor beneath them, floating, unseen, through the glass window of the class below, Tikki followed the strong pulse of magic up to the roof of the school. Across the roof, a small lilac figure sat, playing with the feathers of her tail; Tikki hadn’t seen Duusuu in so long and she felt a joyous laugh bubble up in her tiny chest at the sight of her friend. At an incredible speed, Tikki charged at Duusuu and lifter the Peacock Kwami into the air, spinning her into a hug.

“T-Tikki?” Duusuu’s voice was strained from how tightly Tikki was holding her.

“I can’t believe you’re here, Duusuu!” Tikki released the Peacock Kwami and looked her over, making sure she was in good health. “How did you get away from Mayura? How did you get away from Hawkmoth?”

“It’s a story that will take a bit of explaining and I don’t have long, I need to get back to Mayura before Nooroo realises that I’m gone,” Duusuu grabbed Tikki’s fin and dragged her over to the gutter to sit beside her.

“Is Nooroo alright?” Tikki’s eyes widened at the sound of the Butterfly Kwami’s name. She hadn’t seen him in so long and he’d always been the most fragile out of all of them; his deep connection to the emotions of others meant that he was easily spooked, and stressed.

“As good as he can be with what’s happening,” Duusuu’s voice was sad. “He doesn’t like what Hawkmoth makes him do, he really doesn’t like having to use his power to hurt you and Plagg but he’s long past arguing. I’m all he’s got right now and the longer I’m gone, the more he worries that I won’t come home.”

“You bonded to him?”

“Yes, but I can’t tell you all about that right now, Tikki, I really don’t have much time,”

“Yes, alright, well, I’m happy for both of you, Duusuu, I know that there isn’t a better Kwami to take care of him and keep him stable than you,” Tikki took Duusuu’s fin in hers and spoke with earnest sincerity.

“N-Mayura and I want to get Nooroo away from Hawkmoth,” Tikki’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Why would Mayura want to take the Butterfly Kwami away from Hawkmoth? Did Mayura want to become the reigning supervillain in Paris? “We realised that what we were doing was wrong and that it would be easier to stop Hawkmoth if there was someone on the inside.”

“But why, Duusuu? Why now?”

“She’s worried that Hawkmoth is going to endanger her son, Tikki, Mayura doesn’t want anything to happen to him and she’s already lost enough,”

“Why did she join Hawkmoth in the first place then?” Tikki was angry. This was too little, too late. Marinette and Adrien had risked their lives countless times against the villains utilising Nooroo and Duusuu’s powers; Mari had been battered and bruised and broken, she’d lied to her family and friends and sacrificed so much for someone barely verging on adulthood. Why would Mayura join Hawkmoth if her son was at risk?

“He made promises to her, promises to bring the person she loved back from the dead,” Duusuu had heard the anger in Tikki’s tone and had laced her own voice with urgency. “Mayura only just realised that bringing the woman she loved back to life wouldn’t help her son, but hurt him. He’s a fragile boy, I really don’t know him well but she talks about him a lot, and he’s already lost one mother, Mayura doesn’t want to tear him apart by bringing her back.”

Tikki replayed Duusuu’s words in her mind. Mayura thought that she was doing what was best for her son but she’d recently come to the conclusion that it wasn’t what he needed. “Why does Hawkmoth want to bring Mayura’s love back from the dead? What tie does he have to her?”

“M-Mayura’s son is not hers by blood, her beloved and Hawkmoth were married, the boy is theirs but Mayura loved him and raised him as her own. Hawkmoth neglected the boy and never gave him the family he deserved because he was too busy with work and now with bringing his wife back; Mayura knows the boy better than his own father does and she knows what the boy’s mother would want her to do. She wasn’t her son to be happy,”

“Who is Mayura, Duusuu?” Tikki gently squeezed her friend’s fin. As a Kwami with the power of creation, Tikki had a deep connection to life. The plants that grew around her and the animals that played, Tikki could feel the beautiful thrumming of their life force everywhere. She didn’t have the power to take it away but it was her job to preserve it. Plagg’s destructive powers tied him closer to death, thus they were yin and yang. He was also insufferably annoying. “Are you able to tell me? You don’t need to say who Hawkmoth is but if I can get Ladybug or Chat Noir in contact with her as a civilian, it will be so much easier to save Nooroo.”

Duusuu glanced at the horizon briefly. “Her real name is Nathalie, Nathalie Sancouer, she works as an assistant for Gabriel Agreste,”

“She works for Gabriel Agreste?” Tikki’s heart hammered against her chest. “I-,”

“Gabriel Agreste is Hawkmoth, Tikki, and he’s trying to bring his wife, Emilie, back to life,” Duusuu’s voice was low and urgent, a far cry from the high pitched, million miles an hour way she normally spoke. “Nathalie is trying to protect Adrien Agreste, he’s lost so much and he’s finally reaching a point where things are evening out. He’s happy, and Nathalie doesn’t want that taken from him if Emilie comes back. Nathalie knows that Emilie won’t forgive Gabriel for what he’s done to their son and that her reappearance will send Adrien spiralling.”

“I can’t believe it, Duusuu, and if it had been anyone else but you or Nooroo who said it, I would’ve accused them of lying. I-it makes sense though, Adrien has been without a mother for so long and so fragile, I can understand Gabriel wanting to bring her back but I understand Nathalie’s want to protect him too,” Tikki looked out over the rooftops of Paris and allowed her eyes to linger on the shining white of the Agreste Mansion in the distance.

“So you’re going to help?” Duusuu’s large eyes took up most of Tikki’s peripheral vision.

“Of course we are. Plagg doesn’t have a choice,”

“Aw, geez, Sugarcube, you’re not even going to buy me dinner before signing me up for a dangerous adventure?” Plagg’s lazy voice drawled from behind them, immediately annoying the ever loving shit out of Tikki.

“Plagg!” Duusuu released Tikki’s fin and flew to the Cat Kwami, embracing him.

“You’re really bad at hiding, Dus,” Plagg looked absolutely thrilled to be making physical contact with someone. The grimace on his face and the annoyed twitching of his ears definitely gave away just how much he was loving Duusuu touching him. “Ya maybe wanna stop broadcasting your damn location before someone comes looking for us?”

“Who, exactly, would come looking for us, Plagg?” Tikki folded her fins across her chest and shot Plagg a glare. “Nooroo is locked up with Hawkmoth, Trixx and Wayzz are literally on our side, and the others are in the Miraculous box back at my guardian’s house.”

“I turned it on hoping to find one or both of you,” Duusuu released Plagg and floated between the Ladybug and Cat Kwamis, watching the angry gaze Tikki had Plagg trapped in.

“We haven’t seen you in, what? Maybe a thousand or so years, Dus, how the fuck did you find us?” Plagg didn’t break the staring contest he was having with Tikki as he addressed Duusuu.

“I traced your sentiment,” Duusuu floated between the two and glanced between them. “You have some really weird placed that you’ve marked as sentimental locations but I thought that checking here on a school day would be the best first option. Your sentimental auras were also a lot stronger here than the other places you’d both marked them at.”

“I forgot you could do that,” Plagg tried to look around Duusuu to make a face at Tikki, Duusuu floated directly in front of his face to stop him; drawing a dark laugh from Tikki.

“I haven’t seen you guys in a long time though so your auras were very faint, but coming here was my best bet. You said that Trixx and Wayzz are here too?”

“They are, their guardians are friends with ours,” Duusuu turned to face Tikki as she spoke, swiping her fin out to stop Plagg from floating around her and annoying the Ladybug further than he already had.

“Rena Rogue and Carapace,” Plagg nodded and tried to round Duusuu again, who stopped him by moving directly in front of him each time he changed positions.

“Do they all know who each other are?” Anxiety was rising in Duusuu, what if one of the guardians wouldn’t be able to help them? She couldn’t imagine anything worse than putting her friends, and her bonded, in danger because of the unpredictability of humans.

“Rena, Carapace and Chat all do. Ladybug knows who Rena and Carapace are, I don’t know if Rena and Carapace know who she is though,” Tikki played with her fins in her lap.

“Gees, Sugarcube, how many times are you gonna say ‘Rena Rouge’ and ‘Carapace’ in one sentence?” Tikki glowered at Plagg, who actually had the good sense to shrink back behind Duusuu to protect himself from the Ladybug Kwamis cutting gaze.

“A-...w-...would you be able to tell me who they are?” Duusuu’s anxiety was reaching boiling point, she now wasn’t sure if it was because of her terror surrounding Paris’ only hope or that Nooroo might be reaching out to find her.

Plagg and Tikki shared a look, one of the calmest ones Duusuu had seen them give each other in the past few million years that she’d known them. “No,” Tikki shook her head. “It’s too dangerous.”

“D-don’t you trust me, Tikki?” Duusuu’s eyes gleamed with tears. Plagg placed a fin gently on the Peacock Kwami’s thin shoulder.

“We do trust you, Dus, but it’s for the safety of our guardians. If Hawkmoth gets a hold of you and uses Nooroo to draw the truth from you, they could die,” Duusuu wan’t used to Plagg actively providing physical contact. He wasn’t very touchy feely, he actually hated when anyone or anything touched him without permission. Duusuu was well aware that he hadn’t enjoyed the hug she gave him earlier but she hadn’t been able to stop herself. “They’ve got families and friends and lives, taking down Hawky is different than stripping some teenagers of their lives if they fail.”

“You have to understand, Duusuu, Ladybug is the best guardian I have ever had and I can’t betray her and put her in danger if we can’t get Nooroo away from Hawkmoth,” Tikki floated over to Duusuu and took the Kwami’s fins in her own, her large eyes pleading with her friend. “If we fail and Hawkmoth finds out, that’s the end of the line for Plagg and I. It’s the end of the line for Wayzz and Trixx and all our guardians too no matter how hard they fight.”

“I-I understand,” Duusuu looked between her two friends and nodded. “May-...Nathalie would want to keep them safe too if she knew that they were high school students.”

“I think she’d want to keep them safe even if they weren’t,” Tikki’s voice dropped volume as she reassured her friend. Looking to Plagg for assistance. “Tell her that Plagg and I will talk to Ladybug and Chat Noir. We’re going to get them to help, we’ll also talk to Wayzz and Trixx. I’ll also talk to Sass and Longg, they’re guardians are Viperion and Ryuko, who are also friends of our guardians.”

“Pollen? I know that Pollen has a guardian now?” Duusuu squeezed Tikki’s fin and glanced worriedly at Plagg.

“Pollen’s guardian is...temperamental, to say the least,” Plagg didn’t sound too happy as he spoke about Pollen’s guardian. “But Pol is back at Tikki’s place with the others.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘the others’,” Tikki frowned and looked at Plagg again, briefly.

“Ladybug was able to restore the Miraculous temple in Nepal so there’s more than just our Miraculous box now, and yours and Nooroo’s, even though the rest of your box was destroyed,”

“My-, Nooroo and my box are alive?”

“Yes, but we don’t know where they are, Dus,” Plagg had taken all the joking undercurrents out of his voice. Duusuu had never heard him so serious.

“We’ll find them, though, Duusuu, once you and Nooroo are safe. But in Plagg and my box, back at Ladybug’s house, has Mullo,” Tikki tipped her head like she was counting off the names in her mind. “Ziggy, Xuppu, Daizzi, Orikko, Barkk, Stompp, Kaalki, and Roaar.”

“I..I haven’t met any of them,” A shiny tear dripped over Duusuu’s cheek. “You weren’t all together when I saw you and Plagg last.”

“I know, Dus, but they’re good and you would like them a lot. Nooroo too,” Plagg put his fin on top of Tikki and Duusuu’s joined ones.

“I..I haven’t actually met Longg or Sass either,” Duusuu’s admission was sheepish.

“Them and their guardians are top notch, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” The end of day school bell run out across the campus, almost deafening the three Kwamis on the roof.

“You need to get back to Nathalie, Duusuu, you told me that you didn’t have much time and the longer we keep you here the more stressed Nooroo will get,” Tikki released Duusuu’s fin and pressed a kiss to her friend’s smooth cheek. “I’ll get Ladybug in contact with Nathalie and, if you need to speak to either of us,” Tikki gestured to herself and Plagg. “Send out a pulse and one of us will come to you. We cannot come if it’s at the Agreste Mansion though.” Plagg shot Tikki a weird look which Duusuu definitely didn’t miss, she didn’t understand what it meant but she knew better than to ask. “It’s too dangerous for either of us.”

“Okay, I understand,” Duusuu returned Tikki’s kiss by embracing the Ladybug Kwami and gently pecking her cheek. “Stay safe, both of you.”

“You know us, Dus, we always stay safe, safe is my middle name!” Duusuu chuckled through a sob as she turned to Plagg and gave him a kiss too.

“Your middle name is Vladimir, Plagg, and it’s also your last name because we don’t have last names and you’re the idiot who decided that you need one,” Tikki sounded so weary.

“Yeah, Plagg ‘Safe’ Vladimir,” Plagg puffed his chest out proudly like that made total sense. Tikki shook her head. “You stay safe too, Dus, I don’t know what Sugarcube here would do if something terrible happened to you.”

“I’ll stay as safe as I can,” Duusuu was unexpectedly embraced by Plagg as she made her promise. She flew to Tikki and squeezed her friend one more time. “G-goodbye, you two.”

“Bye, Dus,”, “Goodbye,”, Tikki and Plagg’s farewells melted into one as Duusuu began to fly away. Suddenly, Duusuu was knocked into a spinning embrace by a zooming red figure.

“Give Nooroo a hug for us, Duusuu,” Tikki slowed their spin and looked into Duusuu’s eyes, tears of her own shining along the irises. “Don’t tell him that it’s from us but it would make me feel like he knew we were coming for him. We are coming for him, we’re going to save him and stop Hawkmoth from destroying Paris.”

“I will, Tikki, I’ll give him the biggest hug I can,” Duusuu tried to make her voice sound as strong as she possibly could.

“Congratulations on bonding with him, I’ve been waiting way too long to say that to you,” Tikki smiled brightly. “You two have been skirting around each other for millennia. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you...so much,” Duusuu squeezed Tikki and pulled away. “Catch you on the flip side, Tikki.”

Duusuu made herself invisible and, just like that, left Tikki floating in the middle of space a metre off the roof of Francoise Dupont with Plagg behind her, more silent than he ever had been in his entire existence. Tikki floated back to him and let Plagg hook his fin around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. Normally, she hated being this close to him, he was annoying and smelt like bad cheese but he made her feel safe and calm. Tikki would rather launch herself into the sun than admit to Plagg that she actually did love him, despite how much he annoyed her, and the parallel between Marinette and Adrien’s relationship and theirs was hilarious. Plagg kissed the side of Tikki’s head and rubber her arm.

“Dus is a strong gal, Sugarcube, don’t worry about her too much,” Tikki leant her head into Plagg’s embrace as the two of them watched the spot where Duusuu had disappeared. “What did you mean by ‘she needs to get back to Nathalie’, by the way?”

“Oh...I forgot that you hadn’t heard the beginning of that conversation,” Tikki looked up at him. “Nathalie is Mayura, Plagg, and she wants to stop Hawkmoth for Adrien.”

“Ah, I heard that conversation,” Plagg squeezed Tikki into his side. ‘Between Adrien and Nathalie, he called her mum and thanked her for raising him. If I was in her place, that’d be a huge change of mind for me too.”

“A-adrien called her mum?” Tikki’s voice was laced with disbelief. “That’s why Duusuu called Adrien Nathalie’s son. She has been there for him since his mother disappeared, so I can understand how much him saying that would mean to her.”

“He deserves to be happy, Sugarcube, and Dus was right in saying that Emilie’s reappearance would tear him apart,” Tikki could feel Plagg nodding against her head.

“So you didn’t hear that Nathalie was Mayura but you heard why she wanted to stop Hawkmoth?” Tikki pulled out of Plagg’s grip slightly and looked up at him with slitted eyes.

“Nah, I did hear that she was Mayura but it was a good way to bring up Adrien calling Nathalie ‘mum’,” Plagg’s laugh was loud but not the mocking tenor that Tikki was so used to.

“You’re an asshole, Plagg,” Tikki pulled away fully and punched Plagg in the side with all her might, sending Plagg tumbling through the air, laughing.

“Should we get back to Adrien and Marinette? I mean, the bell went like 20 minutes ago and what’s the bet that they’ve both noticed that we’re missing and trying to avoid each other as they look for us?” Plagg stopped tumbling and looked at Tikki upside down, his ears moving slightly as he moved from side to side.

“The bet is very high that they’ve both noticed that we’re missing but I doubt he’s avoiding her as he looks for you, if anything, Adrien is trying to find me before she does so he can reveal that he knows that she’s Ladybug,”

“Adrien knows that she’s Ladybug?!” Plagg immediately flipped himself the right way up, his tail swaying in agitation. “How long has he known?”

“Uh….a while?” It was Tikki’s turn to shrink back, Plagg would never hurt her but she didn’t like when he raised his voice at her.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Sugarcube? I’ve been trying to get them together for ages,” Plagg immediately lowered his voice as he saw Tikki cower from him. “That makes me happy, so happy for him. He’s got a mum now and is closer to getting his girl.”

“They-they’re dating, Plagg,” Tikki floated closer to him and allowed him to wrap her into a hug again. “But she doesn’t know who he is yet, she’s dating Chat Noir and has asked him to wait until she asks him to reveal himself to her.”

“It won’t be long, Marinette is a curious girl, I really haven’t spent long with her but the time I did spend with her after we fought Reflekta and Reflekdoll was like being interrogated,” Tikki giggled, rubbing her head against Plagg’s pointed chin as he spoke.

“We should get back to them,” Tikki pulled out of his embrace and rocked gently in the air.

“Yeah, we really should,” They floated down to the roof. “She’ll be fine, Sugarcube, she’d stronger than you know.”

“Thanks, Plagg,” Tikki gave him a thin smile.

“You know I love you, Sugarcube, and that I’d never lie to you. If I didn’t think Dus could take care of herself, I would’ve gone with her. You know I would’ve,” Plagg placed a fin on Tikki’s cheek, his slitted green eyes glowing with such heartfelt sincerity, Tikki felt it light a fire in her chest.

“I know,” Tikki blinked slowly. “I love you too.”

She whispered the last part as she sunk through the roof and made herself invisible. They’d never been the most careful when meeting all over the school but the events of Kwami Buster had made them so much more cautious. Tikki followed her bond to Mari through the halls of the school as she grinned to herself. Several million years and a life bond but she’d never said those three words to him; he probably didn’t hear them but it didn’t take back the fact that she’d said them.

Plagg floated on top of the roof, his eyes blown wide and his head spinning. She loved him too. She’d finally said it. She loved him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kagami sat on her bed with her tablet balanced on her knees, the messages app open with Luka’s name at the top. For the last 15 minutes Luka had been writing her a message, the three dots appearing and bouncing within their bubble before disappearing, then reappearing. She was growing jittery.

The bubble disappeared and didn’t return. With a sigh, Kagami dumped her tablet on the bedspread beside her and smoothed out her skirt. With a sudden loud vibration, Kagami grabbed the tablet and looked at the glowing screen.

‘I like you’

‘And I haven’t known how to tell you’

‘I’m not scared of you rejecting me but I am scared of you never knowing’

‘You are incredible, Echo, so so so incredible and I want you to know that’

Each text was sent in its own bubble, not the paragraph Kagami had been expecting.

‘I don’t know if you’ve read these but I really do like you’

‘I wouldn’t tell you that I did if I didn’t’

‘Please respond when you read these, I just need to know that you have seen them’

Her chest felt weirdly light, a white sparkling light danced on her eyelids as her eyes kept skipping over the words ‘I like you’.

A giddy smile broke across her face as she responded: ‘You’re pretty alright too, Strings’.

Kagami pressed send as she giggled at the stupid nickname she’d just come up with for him. The bubble appeared again then was replaced with a message in a few seconds.

‘Pretty alright? Pretty alright, Echo? You wound me’

Kagami: ‘That was my intention after all’

Luka: ‘I just confessed to liking you and I’m pretty alright?’

Even though she couldn’t hear his voice, she knew he was joking around with her. Luka was such a happy go lucky guy and Kagami understood that he would never actually get mad at her and talk about it over text. Luka didn’t do arguments over text, he preferred calling or being in person, Kagami was actually surprised that he hadn’t called her to admit his feelings for her. Oh god, he had feelings for her. He-he liked her back...he’d written a song for her and allowed Nino to play it out loud knowing that Kagami would translate it. She flopped back on her bed pressing her lips into a wide smile.

Kagami: ‘Maybe you’re more than pretty alright’

Luka: ‘What is more than alright miss Tsurugi?’

Luka knew that Kagami wasn’t a fan of bad grammar and he’d just gotten her to stop adding fullstops to the end of her text messages because he said it made her sound angry all the time. Her response, of course, had been “Well, I am angry all the time” but she’d relented.

Kagami: ‘Pretty attractive’

Kagami: ‘Pretty talented’

Kagami: ‘Pretty intelligent’

Kagami: ‘Pretty funny’

Kagami: ‘Pretty lucky’

Luka: ‘Why am I pretty lucky?’

Kagami: ‘I’m jealous of how awesome your girlfriend is’

Luka: ‘My girlfriend?”

Luka: ‘Did you just call yourself my girlfriend?’

Luka: ‘Kagami’

Luka: ‘Kagaaaamiiiii’

Kagami: ‘Well, you won’t know until you ask me to be your girlfriend, or you can keep calling your left hand ‘babe’...?’

Laying on the couch in the living room of the houseboat, his guitar resting across his stomach, Luka let out a roaring laugh that was immediately shushed by Juleka, who was sitting at her computer scrolling through pictures from her last modelling shoot.

Luka: ‘Oh please, darling Echo, will you be my girlfriend?’

Kagami: ‘Are you really going to ask me out over text, Couffaine?’

Luka: ‘Shit, my bad,’

Kagami’s phone, which was sitting on her desk a metre or so away started to buzz. She picked it up and swiped answer call to Luka.

“Beautiful Kagami, your eyes are like pools of honey and your hair shines like midnight, your laugh is more intoxicating than any drug a human could create, would you please do me the honour of being my girlfriend?” There was a small bit of noise in the background of Luka’s call, the sound of waves lapping on the hull of the houseboat. Kagami stifled a laugh. “Echo? You there?”

“Well, Mr Couffaine, I’m going to have to read over your application and call your references to make sure that you’re fit for the job,” Kagami licked her lips, trying to keep her voice from cracking as the strength of the laugh growing in her chest edged toward overpowering her.

“Dammit, ‘Gami, you’re killing me,” Luka put on a fake wounded tone, pleading.

“I’ll call you back soon with my answer, Mr Couffaine,” Kagami immediately hung up and threw herself onto her bed. She released a loud, happy squeal into her pillow; feeling like a normal girl for the first time in her entire life. Her whole life had been pressing her feelings down and keeping them to herself but now she’d let them out. Kagami Tsurugi was so overwhelmingly happy that she was literally screaming into her silk covered pillow. Once her screams had died down and reduced to joyful giggles, Kagami picked up her phone and called Luka back.

“Ka-,”

“Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend,” Kagami cut Luka off before he could finish saying her name. He let out a cheerful whoop and took the phone away from his year to let out a loud shout.

“God, Echo, never do that to me again,” Luka’s voice was mirthful but hoarse as he returned to the phone.

“I can’t promise that, Strings,” Kagami rolled onto her back and looked up at the white painted ceiling above her.

“Strings?” Luka chuckled at the new name.

“That’s my nickname for you now, because you’re a guitar player,” She let out an awkward chuckle and felt her cheeks burn. “You don’t like it do you?”

“No, no, no, I don’t like it,” Kagami felt her heart sink. “I love it.”

“It’s not creative or anything, like yours,”

“It’s perfect, like you,” Luka’s voice was soft and reassuring, sending Kagami’s heart soaring. “You really couldn’t have given me a nickname anymore...you. You have a tendency to be very literal and even hearing you call me ‘Strings’ is absolutely perfect.”

“I’m sorry,”

“Sorry for what?”

“Being so literal,” Kagami kicked her already untied sneakers off her feet and off the bed.

“Don’t apologise for that,” Luka let out a thumping sigh like he’d just thrown himself onto a bed or a lounge. “It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

“Well, I’m glad you like it because I don’t think I can stop it,” Kagami wriggled her stocking covered feet against her bedsheet.

“Good,” Luka imagined Kagami laying on her bed with her phone pressed to her ear as she spoke to him. Her short, inky hair splayed out on her pillow as her long fingers traced along the wrinkles in the sheets beneath her. The new couple fell into an easy conversation, complaining about the assignment Takayama sensei had assigned them to complete in German, laughing at each others jokes. Time drifting away in the sound of their voices.

~~~~~~~~~

Marinette was sitting on the top stair of the flight leading up to her classroom, chewing her already very short fingernails. When she’d slipped her pencil case into her school bag, she’d noticed that Tikki wasn’t in there. She’d pulled open her purse, the one that she kept slung over one shoulder and bouncing on the opposite hip, and moved around the small collection of things inside it, hoping that the Kwami had merely changed where she’d decided to have her nap.

Tikki wasn’t in Mari’s purse either, which sent Mari’s heart racing. Adrien had asked her what she was looking for and she’d immediately fallen into her old awkward way of speaking to him. Babbling about not being able to find her phone, Adrien had given her a cheeky smile and pointed out that it was in her hand which had turned her entire face neon red, sending her falling into a bookshelf and knocking several textbooks crashing to the floor. He’d helped her pick them up and put them back, of course, asking her questions about her plans for the weekend.

She tried not to think about Chat and how her curiosity had piqued when she’d returned to class and received a short message several minutes later. ‘I love you too’, her head had felt so light it could have lifted her off the ground and sent her crashing into the roof, she didn’t respond because she’d been too busy trying to hide her blush from Adrien who was paying a disturbing amount of attention to her today. Not that she didn’t enjoy being the center of Adrien Agreste’s attention but it made her think of Chat and how much she just wanted to chill in his company.

“Marinette?” Marinette whipped her head around at the sound of Tikki’s soft voice, looking for the Kwami. Tikki slowly regained her visibility.

“Tikki! I was so worried!” Mari reached her hands out, Tikki immediately took a seat in them and allowed Marinette to press a slightly shaky kiss to the top of her domed head. “Where were you?”

Tikki glanced around. “Can I tell you when we get home? I don’t feel that here is the safest place,” Mari nodded and clicked her purse open with one hand, gently slipping the Kwami into the soft bag.

“Okay, we’ll be home soon, Tikki, then you have to tell me everything,” Picking up her school bag and slinging it over her left shoulder, Marinette walked down the winding stairs and out the front doors of the school. Nino was leaning on the wall beside the door once Marinette exited them, his headphones over his ears as he bobbed his head along to the music filtering through them. With a small wave and a grin that Nino returned with finger guns and a tongue click, Marinette pushed her earbuds into her ears and started playing one of Jagged Stone’s new songs; it wasn’t technically released yet but Jagged had given Mari an early copy of the album because she was, afterall, the best album and clothes designer he’d ever worked with. Against Marinette’s protests, Jagged had set up a savings account for Mari under her name and deposited the pay that she wouldn’t accept into it. After she’d turned 16, he’d been insistent on paying her for the work she did for him, Marinette had said that being able to work for him was payment enough but Jagged wouldn’t take that for an answer. She was several thousand dollars richer than she had been a few years ago now thanks to Uncle Jagged.

Humming along to the song, Mari thought of snuggling up with Chat tonight and telling him all about her day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“‘Sup, Adrikins,” Plagg dropped through the ceiling and clunked onto the top shelf of Adrien’s metal locker.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Plagg,” Adrien clutched his heart. “You just scared the actual shit out of me.”

“Just how I like it,” Plagg rolled around on the shelf and looked up at Adrien with indifferent green eyes. “Got any cheese?”

“Of course I don’t have any cheese! You ate it all,” The Cat Kwami laughed maniacally.

“Huh, maybe I did,” Adrien shook his head and slammed his locker closed. Plagg materialised through the metal and floated next to Adrien’s ear, whining. “That’s not fair.”

“Get in the bag, Plagg,” Adrien held his bag open and shook it at the floating creature who gave him a disdainful grimace.

“Did you even notice that I was gone?” Plagg rolled around in the air, ducking away from Adrien in case the blonde boy tried to grab him and put him in the bag. Of course, Adrien knew that he couldn’t grab Plagg if Plagg didn’t want him to, so Adrien let out a weary sigh and sat on one of the wooden benches, glaring at his Kwami.

“Not until you thunked into my locker, I stopped keeping track of you since I learnt the extent that you’d go to for cheese,” Adrien slumped against the metal pole behind him that held the clothes hanging rack students would put their clothes on when they changed for physical education.

“Ouch,” Plagg floated over to Adrien in a corkscrew whirl. “Why so antsy?”

“I wanted to kiss her,” The teenager slammed his hand against his forehead, angrily, and groaned loudly. The groan morphing into a quiet scream before dying down.

“I’m guessing you mean Marinette?” A smile broke out on Plagg’s face. Adrien didn’t know that he knew about Marinette and Chat Noir being an item.

“Um...yeah...how did you know that?” Adrien raised his head and looked at the Kwami with suspiciously slitted eyes.

“A little Ladybug told me,” Plagg’s voice turned sing-song as he made yet another corkscrew loop in the air in front of Adrien’s face.

“Tikki told you that Mari and I are dating?” Adrien clenched his hands into fists on his knees.

“Well, you didn’t tell me, did ya?” Adrien flicked Plagg just enough to get an ‘oof’ from him. “Don’t worry ya little blonde head, pretty boy, Sugarcube wouldn’t tell Marinette that you know unless she asked first.”

“You are such a little shit sometimes, did you know that?”

“Tikki’s been telling me since the dawn of time,” Adrien grabbed his bag and began zipping it up. “Woah, woah, woah, you gonna let a passenger get in his seat first or is this one-a those unsafe carnival rides?”

“Nino is waiting for me outside so it’s either you jump in now or try to hitch a ride as I leave,” He held up the bag.

“I’m goin’, I’m goin’,” Plagg floated into the bag and nestled into the pocket made to hold Adrien’s phone or whatever. Adrien zipped the bag closed and hooked it over his shoulder none too gently, knockin one of his textbooks against Plagg who yelled at him loudly.

Adrien met Nino out the front, the DJ leaning against the wall playing on his phone as he listened to his music. Seeing Adrien’s shoes in his peripheral vision, Nino flipped his headphones off and paused his music.

“I just saw Mari head off home,” Nino ribbed Adrien and smirked at him. “You gonna go all cat-man and pounce?”

“Shut up, Speilberg,” Adrien rolled his eyes. “I’m going to go see her as Chat tonight.”

Nino’s smirk widened. “You gonna blow her mind?”

“Ew! Nino, no!” Adrien pushed Nino with a disgusted look on his face. “We’re taking it slow! She doesn’t even know who I am under the mask yet! Like hell we’re going to have intercourse.”

“Sex, Adrien, it’s called sex,” Nino laughed as the two boys started walking together toward the Agreste Mansion. It’d taken Adrien ages to convince Gabriel that he was completely fine to walk home from school and not be picked up; Gabriel had only relented as long as Adrien was still picked up after fencing along with Kagami, who would then have dinner with Adrien while her mother and Gabriel ate together.

“God, Nino, stop it,” Nino poked his tongue out at Adrien who rolled his eyes.

“So, was it weird today? Being so close to her and not being able to be boy-friendly?”

“It was shit, absolute shit,” Adrien shook his golden head. “Do you know how hard is it to see her smile and not want to kiss her?”

“No,” Adrien looked at Nino, confused. “Oi, she’s not my girlfriend, man. My girlfriend knows who I am and has no problems making out with me in public.”

“You’re so gross,”

“Says you, lover boy,” Adrien’s glare was pure venom. “Come on, you’ve been all ‘Mari this’, ‘Mari that’, ‘look at Mari’s hair today’, since we walked to school this morning! It’s been less than a day and she’s got you whipped.”

“I haven’t spoken about Mari once today,” Adrien let out a grumble.

“That’s a lie and you know it,” Nino bumped Adrien with his shoulder.

“Fine, okay, I might’ve spoken about her once,” Nino raised an unconvinced eyebrow. “Twice,” Nino continued to look unconvinced, quirking his eyebrow higher. “Three times?” The shake of Nino’s head told Adrien that there was no way he was going to believe that Adrien was not whipped. “Okay, I’ve spoken about her a lot.”

“Glad to see that you’re finally out of the denial stage, I’m so proud of you,” Nino ruffled Adrien’s hair was a grin, Adrien tried to duck away and crashed into a lamp post. They had to stop their walk as Nino absolutely lost it laughing and Adrien rubbed his head, grumpily. Once they resumed their walk, Nino kept poking fun at Adrien for the dilemma he’d brought upon himself.

Reaching the outside steps of Casa de Agreste, Nino waved Adrien goodbye and continued on his way home. Adrien pressed the buzzer next to the gigantic double oak doors and waited for a response.

“Agreste residence, how can I help you?” Nathalie’s voice filtered through the small speaker. Adrien pressed the return speech button below the bell he’d rung to get her attention.

“It’s me, Mum, I’m home from school,” Calling Nathalie mum was still new and ever so slightly awkward but the more he accepted her as his mum, she’d been the only motherly figure he’d ever had afterall, the happier he became.

“Hello, Adrien, the door is unlocked, I’m in my office if you need me. The door might be locked so just knock to let me know that you’re outside,” Nathalie sounded happy, out of breath for some reason, but happy.

“Thanks, Na-Mum,” Adrien grinned as he responded then he pushed one of the large doors open and walked into the cavernous foyer of the mansion. A large marble staircase took up most of the space, leading up to the next level and splitting off to different sides of the second level. Checkered black and white floors covered the space as meagre artwork and decor sat very spaced out around the room. Adrien walked up the stairs and made his way to his room, the back up phone in his pocket buzzed as he pushed his bedroom door open with his shoulder and dumped his bag in front of his closet. Leaning casually against the wall, Adrien dug his phone out of his pocket, the normal one not the back up. The normal phone had a couple of messages, which Adrien ignored and chucked onto his bed with very little worry for it landing safely. Digging deeper for the backup, Adrien’s heart skipped a beat.

The nickname ‘Buggababe’ shone on the screen above a text signalling that she’d sent him a picture. Ever so slightly worried about what she might’ve sent, Adrien opened up the phone and saw that Mari had sent him a meme. How did he get so damn lucky? She’d sent him a goddamn meme!

The meme was one of a lady being held back by another while she yelled at a white cat who looked bewildered. On the screaming lady were the words ‘Mari’ and on the bewildered white cat ‘Chat putting himself in danger’; she’d made it for him. Marinette had made him a meme and he couldn’t feel more loved if he tried.

Furball (Adrien was unaware that Mari’s contact for him was ‘Furball’): ‘Did you make that meme for me, purr-incess?’

Buggababe: ‘Would you be mad if I didn’t?’

Furball: ‘I’d feel less special if you didn’t’

Buggababe: ‘Yes, silly kitty, I made it. No one else knows that we’re together so who else would have made it?’

Adrien felt the irony of her statement rock through his body. Others did know that they were together, Nino and Alya, two of her best friends, knew but she hadn’t even told them at school.

Buggababe: ‘Chaton, would you be mad at me if I told my best friend about us?’

Furball: ‘The journalist or the fencer?’

Buggababe: ‘Alya, the journalist. I’m not sure Kagami would know how to react’

Furball: ‘By all means, shout it from the rooftops, Corazon, let all of Paris know’

Buggababe: ‘I’ll take that as a yes’

Furball: ‘So you’re going to shout it from the rooftops?’ Adrien attached a smirking emoji with that message.

On the receiving end, across Paris, Mari snorted out a laugh and rolled over on her bed. Tikki said that she needed a little while before she told Marinette where she’d gone at school so Mari used that time to message Chat.

Buggababe: ‘No’

Furball: ‘First you tell me that you wouldn’t endanger yourself to get me out of class and now you tell me that you’re not going to announce our love to the entire world? Rude’

Buggababe: ‘You’re rude’

Furball: ‘You’re rude’

Buggababe: ‘You’re rude’

Furball: ‘You’re cute’

Buggababe: ‘Shut up’

Adrien badly wanted to send Mari a picture of him poking his tongue out but he remembered Alya’s threat and Tikki’s begged request to let Marinette ask him who he was in her own time. He couldn’t imagine anything worse than upsetting her balance.

Buggababe: ‘I’ve got to do something, I shouldn’t be too long but I won’t be able to text while I’m doing it’

Furball: ‘Okay, don’t die’

Buggababe: ‘Aren’t I supposed to say that to you? You’re the one with no sense of self preservation’

Furball: ‘You wound me’

Buggababe: ‘Try not to set Paris alight while I’m gone’

Furball: ‘I’ve lasted nearly 18 years without burning anything to the ground, I think I can last an hour or so’

Buggababe: ‘Just because you’ve almost lived to adulthood doesn’t mean you won’t accidentally destroy Paris’

Furball: ‘Oh, ye of little faith’

Buggababe: ‘If your boyfriend was a notorious idiot, you’d have little faith in him too!’

Furball: ‘I guess I’m lucky then that my girlfriend is a gorgeous genius’

Buggababe: ‘If you saw me at school, you’d eat your words’

Buggababe: ‘Brb’

Furball: ‘Miss you already’ [read 17:37]

Adrien grinned and headed off for a shower.

~~~~~~~

“Tell me what happened, Tikki,” Marinette was cross-legged on her bed looking intently at the Kwami. Her phone had been tucked beneath her pillow and she’d assured Tikki that she would have her undivided attention.

“Duusuu came to see me,” Tikki spoke quietly and fidgeted with her fins.

“Duusuu? Duusuu is the Peacock Kwami, right? The one belonging to Mayura?” Mari saw the uncomfortable look on Tikki’s face as she used the word ‘belonging’. How could she forget that Kwamis liked belonging to people as much as humans did? Tikki and Plagg and Duusuu were all sentient and had a right to choose what happened to them, even if that right was limited; they weren’t objects. “The one working with Mayura?”

“Yes, Duusuu is bonded with Mayura,”

“Why would Mayura’s Kwami come looking for you?” Marinette toyed with the tasseled edge of a throw blanket she’d tossed carelessly over her bed this morning.

“Mayura doesn’t want to work with Hawkmoth anymore,” There was a pregnant silence between Tikki and Mari as the words hung in the air between them.

“How do you know that Duusuu isn’t lying to you, or playing with you?”

“I’ve known Duusuu for a long time, Marinette, I would have known if she was lying to me,”

“She could’ve changed, Tikki, you haven’t seen her in god knows how long,”

“Marinette, I’ve told you about Kwamis bonding, right?” Marinette nodded, confused as to why this meant anything right now. “Duusuu and Nooroo, the Peacock Kwami, bonded. They’re tied together. They are nothing like Plagg and I. I love Plagg to pieces but I would sell him to the devil for a stale corn chip and a ball of lint. Duusuu would rather die than let anything happen to Nooroo.”

“But something has already happened to him, he’s being used to make supervillains,” Marinette’s voice was taking a hard edge. Tikki was sweet but she was also an immortal being who should know better than to trust people who appeared out of the blue and dropped a too-good-to-be-true opportunity into her lap.

“Nooroo is the Kwami of emotion, just like I’m the Kwami of creation and Plagg is the Kwami of destruction. My ties to the life forces of this world are like Nooroo’s ties to the emotional auras of the people around him. Because he feels so much all the time, he’s in a near constant state of stress, he couldn’t fight back if he tried,” Tikki knew that her words weren’t exactly the truth. Duusuu had hinted that Nooroo had tried to fight back but had given up. “Duusuu is the Kwami of sentiment, because her magic stems from people’s love for things or places or people, she’s not as fragile as Nooroo but the thought of causing him more pain terrifies her. I could see it in her eyes.”

“Why now?”

Tikki rubbed her fins together and looked uncomfortably around the room, praying that Adrien would pick that exact moment to drop onto the balcony as Chat Noir and send her into a hiding place. “For you to understand why Mayura chose now, I think you might need to ask Chat to reveal himself. It would be best for you two to find out together, as civilians,”

“B-but that could put his family in danger...and mine…,” Mari’s bottom lip wobbled slightly. She was curious to see who he was under the mask and she had been planning to ask him to show her tonight but if Tikki thought it was better for them to discover Mayura’s identity together then she must be very dangerous. Mari couldn’t put Chat’s family in danger, she didn’t even know them.

“I know, Marinette, this is why I didn’t want to tell you when we were at school. But Mayura could be the only way of stopping Hawkmoth and saving both my friends,”

“Nooroo and Duusuu are your friends?”

“Kwamis aren’t inherently bad, it’s our guardians that choose to make us so. Nooroo didn’t want to help Hawkmoth create supervillains but he didn’t have a choice and when Duusuu bonded to him, she was willing to go to the ends of the universe to stay by his side. Mayura wouldn’t have willingly sent Duusuu to find Plagg and I if this was for malicious means,”

“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘willingly’,”

“If Duusuu hadn’t been sure that Mayura wanted to protect her and Nooroo and help them, Duusuu wouldn’t have left to find us. Sometimes, sentiment and intent go hand in hand, if Mayura intended to hurt them then I promise to you on my life, Marinette, that Duusuu would not have put herself in danger to find Plagg and I,”

“Okay,” Marinette rubbed her eye.

“Stop rubbing your eye, it’s not good for it,” Tikki flew forward and pulled Mari’s fist away. “So you’re going to ask Chat to reveal himself?”

“Yes, but you have to promise me that it’s going to be safer for him and I to know who each other are so we can take down Hawkmoth,”

“It’s safer for you two to know, I promise,” Tikki wrapped her arms around Marinette’s fist as much as she could and squeezed. “And we’ll have to reveal ourselves to Alya and Nino eventually too. We’re going to need all the help we can get if we want to stop Hawkmoth and save Nooroo.”

“I trust you, Tikki,” Marinette kissed Tikki’s head and spoke with the quiet sincerity that Tikki adored about her guardian. “I’ll ask him to come over.”

“Wasn’t he going to come over anyway?”

“Well, yes,” Marinette’s cheeks flared crimson. “But I want to prepare him so he doesn’t freak out when I ask.”

Tikki’s laugh was like tinkling bells. “Trust me, I don’t think you could freak him out if you tried,”

~~~~~TAGLINE~~~~~ @maniic-pixie-dream-girl @lady-charinette @katieykat513 @mochegato @starkerismyking @nifflerstorm @aussie-lesbian

DM to be tagged :P

Can someone draw some super cute fanart of Plagg holding Tikki on top of the school? You would absolutely make me cry

120 notes · View notes

rayraygo1267 · 1 year

Note

your hawknath headcanons??

Hawknath Headcanons

Note: I love this ship sooo muuuch

Hawkmoth likes to go visit Nathalie at her apartment on her days off

Hawkmoth will avoid areas that Nathalie is in when akumatizations occur

Hawkmoth likes to take Nathalie to explore the city at night

Nathalie secretly watches all the clips of Hawkmoth on the news (fights, interviews etc)

Nathalie loves the sound of Hawkmoth’s voice because it’s deeper and has a more evil tinge to it

Nathalie is sometimes jealous of Mayura (yes I know that they’re the same person) because of the way Hawkmoth looks at her

Hawkmoth is much more physical with Nathalie then he is when he is Gabriel

Hawkmoth will akumatize anyone who takes a romantic interest in Nathalie

Nathalie gets very flustered whenever Hawkmoth gets close to her

Hawkmoth likes to tease Nathalie by randomly showing up out of nowhere and scaring her

Nathalie has definitely come across Hawkmoth x reader fanfiction and gone down a rabbit hole

Hawkmoth doesn’t like when Nathalie calls him Gabriel and vice versa

Their theme song would be “Criminal” by Britney Spears

Hawkmoth once saved Nathalie from his own akuma attack

Hawkmoth is the dominant one

Nathalie tries her best to comfort Hawkmoth after failed akumatization attempts

Nathalie loves the feeling of Hawkmoth gloves on her body

Nathalie makes memes of Hawkmoth and posts them on various fake social media accounts

Nathalie is Hawkmoth’s only voice of reason (the only person who can convince him to change his mind about things)

Hawkmoth always puts his plans on hold to take care of Nathalie when she isn’t feeling well

Nathalie is the one who came up with the name trend “Hawkdaddy” which Hawkmoth hates

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rayraygo1267 · 1 year

Note

please can we have some more nathalie headcanons??

Of course :)

More Nathalie Sancouer Headcanons

Note: Nathalie is a queeeeen

Nathalie loves Italian food (usually any type of pasta)

Nathalie was in the delivery room when Adrien was born and cried when she got to hold him for the first time

Back in her days of being a tour guide, Nathalie kept up an avid habit of scrapbooking, which she still indulges in whenever she goes on trips with the Agreste’s

Nathalie likes to clean whenever she’s stressed as it helps take her mind off things

Nathalie’s favorite clothing item is blazers

Nathalie once tried to learn sewing because she knew how much Gabriel loved it but she kept pricking her fingers so she gave up

Nathalie was always the first one to be able to tell the difference between Adrien and Felix whenever they pretended to be one another

Nathalie loves to sing in the shower

Before she goes home, Nathalie will always check in on both Adrien and Gabriel to make sure they’re okay

Nathalie is a workaholic

Nathalie’s favorite holiday is Halloween

Nathalie often wakes up in the middle of the night with bouts of anxiety

Nathalie is self conscious about her appearance and never looks at herself in the eye when she’s looking into a mirror

Nathalie secretly seasons Gabriel’s food so that it will actually have some flavor and not taste like cardboard

Every morning Nathalie will wake up extra early just to put her hair in that intricate bun

Nathalie loves crime shows and horror movies

All her life, Nathalie’s dream has been to see the world

Nathalie hates wearing contacts

I love her sm!

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rayraygo1267 · 10 months

Text

A Gabenath Fanfiction: Threads of Warmth

Note: OMG YOU GUYS! I’VE BEEN GONE FOR SO LOOOOONNNGGGG! I’M SO SORRY!

I’ve had a lot of stuff in my personal life going on and I did kinda lose my motivation for a bit but I’m back now. I do not know if I will be posting daily like I used to, but I will still be posting much more frequently. As a way to make it up to all of you I made this little fluffy gabenath one-shot. I hope you all enjoy and again I’m so sorry I’ve been gone for so long. 😭😭😭

Rated: K

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2,674

Summary: Nathalie and Gabriel find themselves both awake in the wee hours of the cold, wintry night and decide to take a midnight stroll. Some minor angst and fluff ensues.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The frost on the window was pristine and crisp. A fog trailing along the opaque glass, curling in various designs that reflected out to the sparkling puddles of snow from the outside.

Nathalie Sancoeur exhaled sharply. It was the first snowfall of the season — the sky was a sea of flying diamonds. She had to bite her lip to prevent a burst of laughter at the small childish desire that coursed through her, the desire to go out and wait for flakes of crystallizing snow to fall on the tip of her tongue and dissolve with a flourish.

A gust of a windchill met her as she popped the latch of the door. Flurries dashed past, causing her eyes to widen in awe. It wasn’t as if she’d never seen snow before but the first remnants of it never failed to leave her mesmerized.

She walked on the white powder, her silky slippers crunching in the icy mist. The moon was a balm of white light shimmering down on her, making the small icicles hanging from tree ledges and house fronts sparkle and gleam.

“I didn’t think you’d be one to go out on midnight strolls,” came a soft intone. Nathalie felt a spritz of shock waver through her system, a poignant gasp leaving her lips. She hadn’t thought anyone else was out, much less at this hour.

A chuckle reverberated, adjacent to the sound of doming bells. “Sorry I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Nathalie paused and upturned her gaze, her expression regal despite the quick patter in her chest. “I figured you’d already be retired for the night sir.”

Gabriel Agreste sighed, running a hand through his hair, pushing back the black beanie that obscured his head. He wore a pair of tight knit leggings that perfectly aligned with the outline of his hips and a maroon colored turtleneck sweater that climbed up his chest.

Nathalie pursed her lips, a small pink flush rounding her cheeks. He seemed to be dressed quite appropriately for a winter night promenade; unlike her who only adorned a light nightgown, which although kept her covered was still quite flimsy, as it draped over her bodice, flowing lightly in the rashful breeze. In short, not the best choice of clothing for an icy outing on her part.

“I couldn’t sleep. I tried to work on some designs to clear my mind but…” he paused, his throat working as he sighed once more, a puff of air fogging out into the wind. He trained his eyes on the snow covered path ahead of them as he spoke his next words.

“My thoughts get too crowded sometimes, especially at night.”

Nathalie was aware of this. As much as Gabriel tried to hide it, Nathalie could see through the dark circlets under his eyelids and the container of empty coffee pouches, accompanied by the kitchen sink full of various drained coffee mugs, that Gabriel rarely, if ever, slept.

Not that she could blame him, she herself didn’t get much sleep either. Perhaps that was something they shared in common, in the wee hours of the night their hearts would race and thrum due to the constant whispers of their anxieties and misfortunes daunting them.

“I understand that. Sleep is…well…sleep is just difficult,” Nathalie chuckled lightly, brushing a stray wisp of her hair behind her ear.

Gabriel scoffed ruefully, “yes, well it doesn’t get much easier when all you can think about is the smell of rosemary poppy lotion and light feather skin…”

Nathalie could hear the lonesomeness anguish in his voice as he spoke. She could practically feel it seething in her bones.

He always got like that when he spoke of his flower — his Emilie.

Nathalie felt the sprinkle of dots of snow dropping on the tops of her own skin, causing a sparse gooseflesh, as she reached out and placed her hand on Gabriel's padded shoulder in a supportive embrace. She knew there were not many words out there that anyone could say to soothe the heartache of the loss of a loved one.

She knew enough of her employer to know that the torch he carried for his dear Emilie was one that could not be extinguished, in fact it only seemed to grow more vibrant — a pipe of gasoline dousing the remains of a nearly burnt out candle.

Nathalie’s gaze roamed down Gabriel’s body, right from where her hand pressed on his shoulder, their mingled breath was meshed between them in moats.

“I know this is your first winter without her sir. I know…” she blew out a breath, “I can see that you’re hurting.”

She speaks with tenderness almost as if she were trying to coax a wounded animal out of a den. Though in this case she might be the wounded animal considering that Gabriel was known to always be ready to pounce.

She waited, her heart a soft tick like a hummingbird's wings.

To her astonishment, Gabriel’s eyes seemed to soften, though whatever thoughts he had on her statement he had chosen to keep to himself.

He turned and headed down the gilded footpath in front of them, his eyes lingered on her, seeming to signify that he wanted her to follow and despite her lack of proper dressing for the occasion, she couldn’t stop herself from allowing him to guide her.

They walked on in silence for a while. Their surroundings were too vacated in darkness to differentiate in which direction they were headed, but Gabriel appeared as if he knew where he was going, so Nathalie did not feel the need to comment.

Her eyes studied the treks Gabriel’s long fur-lined boots made in the sleet. The firm imprint that his feet made in the ground was an easy compass for Nathalie to follow. At some longer intervals Gabriel would stop and look back over his shoulder to make sure she was still keeping pace with him. Although she would find herself taking lengthened strides to match his own, he never made out to rush her. He would wait for her until she stood only a few short feet away from him, the heat emanating from his body washing over her.

Mixed in with the brisk air, the sparkling icicles and the illuminated moonlight, Gabriel stood out — his golden hair a shining beacon in a world of shadows. He was a tall man with a firm build, easily recognizable. He always held himself in a stoic manner, one pertaining to confidence which was partly why Nathalie could always spot him in a crowd. He was hard to miss.

Eventually they reached a small secluded grove, shrouded by wistful bare willow trees. From the tips of the elongated branches hang glacier spears that glistened and sparkled. Muffin-like puffs stuck out, covered in mounds of glitter that was snow. These puffs enlightened into bushes during springtime, but for now they were starry abstract shapes that swayed and danced on a pond of frost that Nathalie imagined had been gilded on by the ice skates of many neighbor children in the past, perhaps even Adrien as well.

Despite the desolate beauty of the landscape before them, this meadow of crystals still had a cold bite. The adrenaline and the flush rounding Nathalie’s cheeks had kept her aboard and heated earlier but now here, in a stalemate with this whimsical winter wonderland her eyes couldn’t help but drift to the warm concealed body next to her.

“Emilie and I shared our first kiss here, right in the center of that circle of ice.” He lifted his finger, pointing out where he and Emilie had stood. Nathalie’s eyes drifted to where his finger lay. She can imagine it. A young and dumb Emilie pulling a head over heels Gabriel onto the ice. Emilie’s hair would be voluminous, dashing around in the breeze, her eyes a plume of periwinkle. Gabriel would follow her lead, hanging on her every move.

Nathalie could see vividly in her mind the moment their lips touched, warm and passionate despite the fierce chill surrounding them. Nathalie felt a prick of an unpleasant indescribable feeling strike her, a flurry, like a jab of ice.

A poignant, feverish shiver ran down her spine, filling her from the inside out. Suddenly the adrenaline pumping her didn’t seem so potent, as it felt as though a mask of icy glaze was overcoming her. The corners of her vision were clogged, perhaps with flakes of snow or perhaps tears, she didn’t know. Even out and fully alert, her tiresome thoughts did not cease.

“Are you cold?”

Gabriel’s inquiry pulled Nathalie from her musings. She shrugged, a crimson coating her cheeks.

Gabriel’s brows creased, “you’re shivering.”

Nathalie chuckled nervously. “Am I?”

Gabriel smiled softly, the corners of his mouth perching up. He placed a warm gloved hand on her shoulder. Her body stiffened and stilled.

“You’re not even wearing a proper coat!”

His voice sounded as a drumbeat — exasperated.

Nathalie felt the crimson dotting her cheeks begin to slither down her body like an unforgiving snake.

“Well I didn’t think we’d be walking this far!” She argued, with a furious, maddening flush that didn’t seem to want to disappear. Gabriel chuckled softly to himself, causing Nathalie’s blush to only deepen.

“Here,” his hands moved to his abdomen, “why don’t you take my sweater?”

Nathalie’s brows raised to her hairline.

“Sir—“

She couldn’t even muster another word, before the maroon velvety sweater was sliding off Gabriel’s body. The heated flush consuming her insides was like a replant to the bitter cold. She imagined her skin was as red and bright as the steaming star of mars. Then it was in a flash of a second. Everything seemed to move at the speed of light and then abruptly slow like a hockey puck sliding on withered ice.

Underneath his sweater, shining out against the droplets of snow was Gabriel Agreste’s chest, though not completely bare due to his clear white undershirt, the contours and flexes of his chest were clearly, unmistakably visible.

A puff of air that appeared as smoke escaped Nathalie’s lips in a plume as her mouth fell agape.

“I…” she somehow mustered out, though her throat was croaky as full of rasp from her shock.

“Here Nathalie. Please, I insist,” his hand was outstretched, his arm as light and pale as the balming moon. His bare, naked arm. Nathalie’s breathing shaked, the warm puffs of it in the air quivering like notes rising up a music staff.

Her fingers twitched and grappled at the texture of the cotton sweater. Her eyes darted down to it. It was long and slim and smelled of cologne and of newly dried laundry.

Her gaze traveled back up to the eyes of her superior. His steely bluish gray eyes were misty and soft — kind. Nathalie felt as though she were deflating like a balloon.

“Are you sure about this sir? I don’t want to be of any trouble…” she gulped, her throat closing for a brief pause. “Won’t you be cold sir? That…” she cleared her throat with a forceful swallow, “that is a very light shirt you are wearing.”

Her rambling ceased though when she felt a gentle squeeze on her fingers.

“Please Nathalie.” His tone was fierce and sincere however churned with a slight undertone of sternness.

And yet with the way his eyes were pleading with her and how his grip on her hand did not loosen in the slightest, she could not bring herself to deny him.

“Yes sir.”

She didn’t allow herself to think, as she threw the sweater over her head, permitting it to mold with the shape of her torso. Though she should have because her senses were suddenly overwhelmed by a potpourri of stimulants. The cologne and musky scent of Gabriel’s sweat filled her nose along with the cloud of fuzzy warmth that soothed the goosebumps and trembles racking her body. The fringe of the turtleneck coursed around her neck and the fabric clung to her body, complimenting her curves.

She felt as though she were wrapped in a warm comforting shield that would hold her up so she wouldn’t be blown away from the winter weather wind.

Her eyes found Gabriel’s again. He stared at her a moment, his lips parted as if he were about to speak but couldn’t get the words out.

He eventually closed his mouth, choosing not to comment at all.

“Thank you sir.” Nathalie murmured, not knowing what else to say for this moment seemed so oddly intimate and yet so oddly fragile — a bubble that could pop at any moment.

After another pregnant pause Gabriel finally spoke, though his voice was in a hush as if he were trying to whisper a secret.

“Emilie gave me that…it was the first thing she ever gave me.” His fingers played with the lower hem of the turtleneck, turning Nathalie’s heartbeat from soft pitter-patters to blazing gunshots.

A sound of surprise and awe left her throat. Suddenly it felt a lot harder to accept this gesture. Gabriel didn’t seem to notice her unease.

“I had stopped wearing it,” he admitted with a withered, grief stricken sigh. “In fact, I couldn’t even bear to look at it…it hurt too much.”

A gust of air left his lungs, a confession finally free from his conscience.

Nathalie nodded in understanding, her gaze never leaving his. As he spoke she didn’t comment on how she could feel him guiding her forward. She didn’t comment as her feet turned to crystals when they met the ice. She didn’t comment as she felt herself sliding forward into a moonlit abyss.

Suddenly they were standing in the center of the frozen over pond.

Right where Gabriel and Emilie had once stood, hand to hand, mouth to mouth.

Gabriel’s hushed voice returned, the only sound reaching Nathalie’s ears.

“And then I think to myself…perhaps this sweater that holds so many memories and so much happiness and heartache deserves a new beginning. I am a man of my roots, a fashion designer at heart and I think…” he exhaled slowly, a plume of smoke arising from his mouth. “I think this sweater, fueled with the stitches and threads of Emilie and my love, deserves a new home.”

Nathalie’s eyes widened, her glasses fogging with her breath and the watery glaze covering her irises. Her heart rate doubled when she fully managed to comprehend his words.

“You want me to keep it sir?” She murmured, overwhelmed, confused and slightly unsure.

Gabriel did not hesitate with even a breath on his response. He lowered his head, looking down upon her. His hand found its way around the side of her moisture covered and frost coated cheek. His hand was warm yet cool at the same time — cold with a warm interior, just like Gabriel Agreste himself.

He pushed back an errant strand of the scarlet streak in her hair, curling it back behind her ear.

“Yes…” he breathed, his puffs of breath mingling with her own.

Could this really be happening? Were they really this close, mere inches apart?

The warmth of Gabriel’s hand and the comfort of his sweater took everything surrounding them away. Was this how Gabriel and Emilie felt when they were here at this pond? Nathalie pondered. Like they were at the center of this rink and even if they were to fall through and sink to the bottom it wouldn’t matter because they were all that mattered?

Did that even make sense?

Did any of this make sense?

Nathalie decided that didn’t matter. All that mattered was this, her and Gabriel were at the center of this pond, breaths away from each other, surrounded by diamond filled weeping willows.

It didn’t matter if Gabriel walked off now, even though Nathalie knew he wouldn’t.

It didn’t matter because she knew his gift — this sweater — concealed with so much history of love and loss would keep her warm.

Gabriel’s threads of warmth would keep her warm always.

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A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! Please don't hesitate to tell me what you think, I love feedback. Also if y'all have any fanfic requests let me know and I'll get to them as soon as I can! Again I want to apologize for my absence and I hope this little fic will be a good way to make up for it.

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