For "Anne Camp aka Obi-Quiet"'s Dark!Bug Challenge:
A/N: All dialogue is to be interpreted as a translation from French.
Words in italics are used either for emphasis or, such as the case of 'Chat Noir' (which is literally translated from French as Cat Black), imply that they are meant to remain in their original French.
Ladybug's appearance is similar to that of the series, though her hair is darker and worn down in later years. Marinette's appearance is ultimately unchanged.
Chat Noir's appearance is similar to that of the series, though his hair is longer than Adrien's, and his uniform comes to a V-shape at his upper chest in later years. Adrien's appearance is ultimately unchanged.
Akumatized
Chapter One: I See a Darkness
Sitting atop the ledge of a tall, isolated building as the sun slowly set beneath the warm, golden skies above the city of Paris, one boy and one girl gently bumped their fists together and smiled at one another. The battle was over, everyone was saved, and the city was settling into a gentle, peaceful rest.
"We did it," the boy happily declared as his blond hair blew in the warm summer's breeze. His bruises would soon fade, and his energy was still surging. "We make a pretty amazing team, huh?"
"Definitely," the girl proudly agreed, her eyes closed and her smile bright. "Mr. Pigeon was pretty tough, but it's all good now. You know, Chat, I feel like this is what we're destined to do. You know, inspiring Paris, beating Hawk Moth, saving those we care about: It's like living one hundred-thousand days in the sun." Gazing at the sun, the girl felt a heavenly light like hope shine within her heart.
"As long as I'm with you, that sounds like the perfect life," the blond boy warmly smiled. Those moments passed by so many years ago.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir have once again saved Paris from the clutches of Hawk Moth and his Akumatized victims," Mayor Bourgeois announced into a microphone as a local news team filmed him. "The latest of Hawk Moth's Akumatized, known by the name of Hellspawn, was identified as a student attending Collège Françoise Dupont."
Watching over the city of Paris from atop the roof of a tall building, their costumes glistening under the gold and red hues of the sunset above them, Ladybug let her legs dangle over the street as she sat atop its edge, while Chat Noir stood beside her. After what felt like an eternity of silence, the blond-haired young man looked down at his partner and friend. "Hey," he finally spoke up. "You alright, M'Lady? You don't seem like you lately."
"It's nothing, Chat," Ladybug plainly answered without looking up. "Don't worry about me."
"Usually, we celebrate purifying an Akumatized with a fist-bump and bad jokes," the feline Miraculous persisted, his voice filled with growing concern. "Did you know that guy?"
"I've seen him around," the dark-haired young woman lied, fearing the exposure of her secret. "It's just…so many of Hawk Moth's victims are kids…probably no older than you."
His partner's plan to use humor to defuse the situation having failed, Chat continued to worriedly study her. "You can tell me if something's wrong," he promised with a warm tone. "Maybe I've gone through the same thing. We are partners, and…"
"Chat, it's nothing," Ladybug insisted with waning patience. "I…No…no. No, it's not nothing. It's just…it seems like more and more people are getting akumatized. It's like it never stops. No matter how many times we save them, more keep taking their place. I don't think it's ever going to end."
"It will end," Chat promised with certainty in his voice. "We're going to find Hawk Moth, and we'll stop him once and for all. We'll make sure he never hurts another person ever again. I promise you that."
"Thank you, Chat," the raven-haired young woman warmly replied. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Call me if anything comes up, okay?" Chat nodded his head and extended his hand for his partner to take. Smiling, Ladybug accepted his hand and stood up. "You take care of yourself, kitty."
"You too, Bugaboo," the blond-haired young man replied as his friend leapt off the building and into the heart of the city. Even after she had vanished from his sight, the black cat continued to stare in her direction as a cold wind began to blow against him.
Knowing she hadn't been followed, Ladybug silently dropped onto her family's rooftop, lifted the door to her bedroom, closed her eyes, and let herself drop into her warm, quiet sanctuary. "Spots Off, Tikki," she whispered as she gracefully descended. Slowly, her Miraculous form began to dissipate: Her red and black-spotted domino mask faded into a red streak around her eyes and across the bridge of her nose, her uniform loosened and took on the shape of her normal wardrobe before its color faded, and her earrings became a dull shade of purple. However, her hair simply dropped against her neck and upper back. With a loud sigh, Marinette laid down atop her bed before closing and locking her rooftop door.
A small orb of red light floated from the girl's earrings before forming Tikki's small body. "Why didn't you tell him the truth, Marinette?" the Kwami asked as she levitated beside her friend's head.
"You know I can't, Tikki," Marinette groaned through her reddened eyes and groggy voice. "Even if I did, there's nothing he could do. We haven't been able to find Hawk Moth, all the people we've saved are still at risk of being akumatized again, we never know who'll transform next, and then, when I'm at school, I see all the people I've had to fight: All the people I couldn't stop from turning into monsters. And when I finally tear myself away from them, I see Adrien and Lila together." Tikki watched as her friend's expression grew sorrowful. "I've liked him for so long…and Lila and I could've been friends. But I messed up with both of them. I never told Adrien how I feel, and with Lila, I didn't even give her a chance."
"It sounds like you're feeling lonely," the Kwami gently replied as she wiped a tear from Marinette's cheek. "You've been beating yourself up a lot, too. Marinette, you're only human. We all make mistakes. You can't punish yourself for not being perfect. Besides, you're not alone. You've got Alya, and Adrien is still your friend, and you've got your parents…and you've got me!"
"That's always a plus," Marinette smiled as she gently rubbed her little friend's head with the tip of her finger. As Tikki giggled, the young woman pushed herself up onto her knees before standing up and stepping down to the main floor of her room. "Tikki, can you help me get my shirt off? My arms feel really weak."
With the Kwami's help, Marinette removed her top and managed to unfasten her bra before turning around and looking at her reflection in her mirror. Her back, once soft and fair, was now coated with cuts and fresh, red claw marks. Letting out a hiss of pain as she reviewed her wounds, the young woman turned away, kicked off her shoes, and struggled to remove her pants and panties. Scratches and bruises lined most of her body, and though most would fade by dawn, they still weighed down on her.
"You poor, sweet thing, Marinette," Tikki sobbed for her friend as she gently kissed some of her wounds. "You fight so hard to protect Paris, then you look down on yourself for not doing more."
"It's not a big deal, Tikki," Marinette declared as she stretched and grabbed a towel. "I'm gonna take a shower. I'll see you in a little bit, okay? Love you."
"I love you too, Marinette," the ladybug Kwami answered as she watched her partner slowly make her way out of the room. Without her Miraculous form, Marinette's movement was slowed, and her injuries were making their presence known. "I just hope you're okay."
Far from the Dupain-Cheng home, eyes long clouded by darkness and unholy light began to focus in on the young woman once filled with so much hope and joy. Since his coming, Marinette's carefree life had grown ever more difficult, and she was forced to gaze upon the darkness of the world more and more every single day. Still, for so long, she had endured. She found strength in those around her, and all those she had saved. But now, it was all becoming too much. The failures and mistakes began to mount, and were slowly choking out the hope she brought and the changes she fought to make. Though his dark eyes could not see her true form, Hawk Moth knew who it was that his Akuma now gazed upon.
Leaning her forehead against the wall of her shower, Marinette let the hot spray of water wash over her weary body. The young woman let her tears flow freely as she choked out cries and gasps of sorrow hidden under the hiss of the water. In that span of time, though she didn't know how long, the young woman felt the swelling surge of emotions slowly pour out and wash away the fear of becoming akumatized. Pulling herself back from the wall, Marinette opened her reddened, swollen, teary eyes as the beads of water. Every trace of her youthful optimism had vanished from the young heroine's face to allow the pain to heal.
Turning off the water, Marinette dried her eyes, wrapped her body in her towel, and returned to her room. Her cell phone recited Alya's tune from atop her desk, but the dark-haired girl chose to ignore it and tuck herself into bed. Even Alya felt distant now. "I love you, Tikki," she whispered. "Sometimes, I think you're all I have."
"Oh, Marinette," Tikki attempted to comfort her friend. The Kwami gently hugged Marinette's cheek, trying so hard to convince her she was not alone.
Alternative Casting for Miraculous
Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug
Quinton Flynn as Adrien Agreste/Cat Noir
Richard Epcar as Hawk Moth
Kimberly Brooks as Alya Césaire
Kira Vincent-Davis as Chloé Bourgeois
Brittney Karbowski as Sabrina Raincomprix
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Nathalie Sancoeur
