Mentions of abuse, if you don't like- don't read. I do like Tom as a character overall but I wanted to explore what would happen if Ladybug (Marienette) had trouble trusting Chat Noir (Adrien). In this version there will be romance but it will progress into that.
Hope you enjoy
The walls were the wrong colour when she first arrived. A dark blue was meant to be her room, not pretty pink. Footballs were meant to be her interest, not preppy barbie dolls. Love was meant to be what she received, not an abusive father.
It all started with fertility problems. Marienette's mother, Sabine, couldn't fall pregnant naturally so the couple scrounged up just enough money for one attempt. Luckily, it was a success. However, it wad the most likely chance Sabine had of a child-Tom was desperate for a boy.
He didn't need to find out the gender, he new it. From the way the baby kicked, he was a fighter like him! They would go play sports down the park, talk about girls and play video games. Most importantly though, he would carry on the family name.
So guess his surprise when a petite but healthy girl came into the world. Her eyes were bright bluebell. Sabine was overjoyed! Unlike her husband, whom hated the mere thought. He rushed home to make adjustments to what he had prepared.
To make matters worse, Mari's birth made Sabine very ill. The small woman had to have her womb removed. She spent a month in hospital to recover.
Instead of blue, Marienette had plain white walls. Instead of footballs, Marienette had a rotting plain blanket. Instead of love, Marienette had a deluded man.
Sabine was unaware at first of how Tom treated her daughter. When she went out, Mari would be left unattended- shouted at and gripped tightly. Her throat would be dry from crying until she eventually fell into sleep from exhaustion.
Her mother discovered the abuse and ended up with the same result. A constant zipper was on her mouth, she barley ever spoke apart from when she served at the bakery. It hurt not to have a mother stick up for her.
As the months bled into years, the abuse got worse but Marienette became stronger. She pursued her designs as a distraction from the pain. Her voice was incredible too, not that anyone heard it.
For the sake of not being found out, Tom sent Mari to school- with a lot of make-up on. He didn't want the authorities snooping around and discovering his secret if she didn't get an education.
So Mari attended the school a few blocks down. However, the girl could barley trust boys or men so she didn't really talk to others. The only guy she did befriend was Nino- he was also her only friend.
This was life, she was used to it
—
A heavy knocking on her trapdoor awoke Marienette. Her raven hair was a dishevelled mess as she rolled out of bed. Well she called it a bed, it was nothing more than a cheap metal frame and broken mattress.
A large man with angry eyes came into her room and forced her onto her feet. The man, none other than Marienette's father, shook the girl in frustration- knocking her to the ground in the process. He chucked a bag of cover-up at her feet and left in a huff.
"Why did I expect anything different?" Mari asked to herself.
The ravenette applied makeup to her bruises until they were barely visible. She opened her wardrobe and selected a black top with rose embroidery. It covered the cuts on her arms and saved her a job with some of the marks her father left on her. The outfit was complimented with a pair of denim jeans.
As she crept downstairs, Mari heard the rough slam of the front door. Thank God, her father had gone. A frail and shaking figure, belonging to Marienette's mother, sat in the corner drinking tea. Sabine was staring off into the distance- she did so to block the cries and pleas of her daughter.
"Bye Maman," Marienette said, she received a mere nod in response.
The bakery didn't hold a homey smell to the girl. She quickly sped past it, praying not to be noticed by her probably intoxicated father. Luckily, it worked- she managed to slip outside unnoticed.
A warm breeze whipped Marienette's features. The sun reflected of the pavement with such force that she had to cover her eyes. School was only a few blocks away, she would be there in no time.
As she neared a crossing, her eyes landed on an old man trying to get over the road. A red car came hurtling around the corner. Marienette launched herself towards him, dragging the man towards the pavement. Only after she did this, Mari realised she had touched a man without permission.
"I'm so sorry Sir," She starter to apologise, he moved his hand up and silenced her.
"No need to apologise young lady- just get to class," The old man began hobbling away.
Marienette didn't fully understand why she trusted this man. Usually she was deathly afraid, but he still had life in his veins! She couldn't just let him get turned into a pankcake- or die!
Thoughts aside, she still had to get to school. The girl ran across the road and headed towards her destination. People gave her funny looks as she sprinted around strest corners and through bustling crowds. Eventually, the building loomed in sight- she let out a sigh of relief. There were five minutes to go!
A familar friend stood outside, wearing a red and white cap. He waved and sarcastically clapped as Marienette ran over to him. She growled then started laughing. Nino, the friend, sobbered up and asked her his typical question 'how was last night?'.
"Just the usual," Marienette answered.
The usual phrase Mari used to describe her dad's abuse was 'Just the usual'. Nino knew about Marienette's issue after her had to drop her bag off after school. Thankfully, Tom didn't notice him watching so he escaped without getting hurt himself. However, to do so Mari had to aggravate her father to keep his attention on her. This didn't end well, she was kept back from school that week for 'being ill'.
Nino gave the girl a tender hug," Maybe you should tell someone about it Mari. It is only gonna get worse,"
"Whats the point?" Marienette responded," Two more years and I can get out of there,"
With a sigh, Nino hummed a reply. The pair headed into school. Students flooded the hallways as the bell rung. Marienette and Nino were in the same class so they headed there together, with the intent of sitting near each other. New year- same seats.
Much to their dismay, they found Chloe sitting in their usual spot. Deciding it was pointless to argue with the vain girl, Marienette and Nino seated themselves in a new desk. Call them pushovers, they just didn't like confrontation.
Mari unloaded her pencil case onto the desk and smiled happily. She was permitted to by pencils and pens this year- it only took a few beatings and her father allowed it!
A small red pencil rolled off the front of the desk. Marienette got out of her desk and headed to pick it up.
A foot tripped the girl up and she landed on her side. A jolt of pain was sent through her. To make matters worse, it was already terribly bruised from her father. Nino glared at anyone who tried to giggle at his friend. He got up and headed over to her.
A blonde boy entered the class and he rushed to her side. His light tanned skin shone in in the bright classroom. However, he was still a guy-Marienette couldn't trust him.
"Here let me help you," He offered his hand, Mari shrunk away," I'm Adrien,"
Nino lifted Mari to her feet and she hid behind him," I'm Nino- you are a friend of Chloe's right?"
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Adrien asked out loud.
Nino rolled his eyes, guiding Marienette back to her seat,"Take a wild guess,"
Adrien shrugged at Nino and walked to the desk Chloe was gesturing him to. The blonde girl pinned herself onto him, maybe she was a little clingy. But she was his only friend- no one wanted to change that.
His eyes looked to the girl who he had tried to help up. She was taking harsh breaths and was cradling her side. Overall, her figure was thinner than the female models he worked with. Adrien watched as Nino offered the ravenette some food, she took it gratefully. At least she didn't have an eating disorder- maybe she just couldn't put weight on.
"Adrikinns stop looking at her," Chloe hissed," Watch this. Sabrina come with me!"
The two girls jumped up and headed over to her. Adrien felt his muscles tense. His worst fears were confirmed as Chloe started shouting various insults at the small girl.
"This is a message from my friend Adrien," Chloe snarled, looking Marienette dead in the eye," You are trash. No boy would ever love you. And of course, your parents must hate you. I wonder what your dad thinks of a kid who is as ugly as you,"
The last sentence struck closer to home than Chloe was aware of. Marienette felt her windpipe close, she desperately tried to breath but the walls were closing in on her. She knew that damn Adrien coudln't be trusted, he was just like all the others!
Nino's hand on her shoulder grounded her slightly. Mari leaned into his touch. The boy guided her out of the room. Marienette had blocked out sound but could see a brown haired girl shouting back at Chloe. This girl followed them out.
"Are you okay?" The girl asked, Mari nodded faintly.
"Yes I am, thanks. What is your name?" She asked.
The girl sat down next to her," Alya,"
"Thanks for the help Alya, why don't you go back-" Nino began but Mari stopped him.
Marienette looked Alya in the eye," Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes," Alya replied," I won't speak- if you guys are my friends,"
Nino and Marienette agreed to be friends with her. Mari took a deepbreath and told her new friend about what she suffered with at home. Alya's face contorted into all sorts of emotions as the blue haired girl told her story. By the end, a deathly silence echoed around them.
"I'm going to go home," Marienette said," I can't be in that class for a little while,"
Alya lightly grabbed her arm," Is that a good idea?"
"As long as she stays hidden," Nino responded," Just be safe okay?"
Marienette nodded and headed down the stairs. Alya and Nino went back to class-ready to face the brat named Chloe. She seemed pretty proud of herself. Nino had to stop Alya from ripping the smug look off the girl's face.
—
As soon as her daughter came through the door, Sabine ordered her upstairs. Marienette obliged but before she could reach the top, the monster entered. Tom spotted her and his eyes went red.
"Why are you back?!" He shouted, Mari stayed quiet-it was stupid trying to protest," Lets chat in your room,"
Tom roughly gripped Marienette and threw her into her room. He picked up his belt and whipped her side. The girl fought the urge to scream, showing pain would make it worse.
The man slapped her around the face and headed downstairs. Marienette didn't have the strength to move any bone in her body. A simple stale pastry was dropped next to her from her mother. Sabine tried her best to not allow her daughter to starve.
Eventually, Mari began to move. Her muscles were sore but she had a strange new strength. Her eyes landed on a black decorated box on her window sill. She walked over to it and opened it.
Using Marienette's words 'If I hadn't of opened it, I never would of made it beyond the day. Being Ladybug makes me feel the strength to fight within myself. Tikki is my rock and will forever be so,'
