It was a usual Saturday night for Marinette and her family. The bakery was closed on a Sunday and so whilst they did stay open until seven o' clock on Fridays and Saturdays, the Dupain-Cheng's were minus the usual after-hours rush to get the ovens cleaned, dishes washed and all utensils lined up perfectly for the morning. Saturday nights also meant that they all managed to get in the family time together that they never really managed to have during the week, where they all either sat and watched the television, played a family board game or had a mini game tournament which Sabine always joined at the start, only to simply give up a couple of rounds in and watch her two favourite people compete.
It happened that on that specific night, they had all settled for a nice, calm game of Monopoly. Which then inevitably devolved into an argument between father and daughter ("I know you cheated, how else would you have gotten an extra 250?" "Uh… Maybe the banker accidentally gave it to me?" "You are the banker!") in the end, Sabine Dupain-Chen had firmly put a stop to their childish behavior and the board game was packed away and the television was on. After a brief tussle (when had their daughter gotten so strong?), Sabine's severe admonishment stopped Marinette and Tom in their tracks and Sabine found herself in charge of the remote.
"Now, I don't know what has gotten into you two tonight, but you are both going to sit down and watch the news like adults and you two are going to get along, because that is what family does." Sabine reprimanded, settling in between her daughter and husband.
"It's just friendly fun." Marinette assured her mother, Tom nodding vigorously. Sabine stayed silent, seeming to be engrossed in the scandal about Disneyland Paris apparently charging Germans double the price.
"And onto breaking news with our correspondent, Nadja Chamak. Nadja?" The presenter interrupted. The screen cut to a scene of chaos in what must have once been La Défense, but was now effectively a war zone.
"Thank you, Julien. It is an hour into the akuma attack and there is still no sign of Ladybug. The latest akuma, calling themselves L'anonyme, is currently engaged in battle with Chat Noir, but it is as yet unknown if Chat Noir will be able to contain the akuma himself. I-" Nadja was cut off as a beige coloured beam hit her. "Wha- who are you? Who am I?"
Marinette stiffened in her seat, glancing across at her parents. Biting her lip, she tried to act as normal (read – sketchy as heck) as possible in front of her parents. Not daring to meet their eyes, she looked down as she spoke. "I – uh – I need the bathroom!" She blurted and stood.
Before she could race to the door, Marinette's wrist was ensnared in a vice-like grip she would have expected from her huge, muscled father and not her petite mother, but Sabine was full of surprises that night.
"Now, now, Marinette. We see what's going on here." Tom said, sharing a look with his wife.
Sweating now, Marinette gulped. "You – you do?" Tom tugged Marinette down so she was nestled between him and Sabine, both holding her soothingly. Sabine opened her mouth to speak and Marinette flinched, a defense on the tip of her tongue
"Of course, sweetie. You're scared of Ladybug, aren't you?" Sabine asked
"It's a lie I'm not Ladybug!" Marinette yelled at the same time, ripping out of her family's embrace.
"Wait, what?" They all said at the same time. Now standing, Marinette blushed and a bead of sweat trickled down the nape of her neck.
"I-I mean, I'm not scared of Ladybug! Yeah, I'm not scared of me – I mean, Ladybug. Who I am not. Because of course I'm not Ladybug. I mean, she wears a skin tight suit. I don't have anything like that in my closet, you know that. N-not that I'm saying that Ladybug has one lying round anywhere – there aren't any buttons or zippers. I-it's probably magical or something. Not that I'd know if Ladybug wears a magical suit, which I'm not. Ladybug, I mean. I'm not…" She trailed off as she caught sight of her parent's face. "I'm out, aren't I?" Her mother sternly nodded while her father paled drastically.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady." Sabine scolded, but then sighed. "But first, I think you have a city to save."
Marinette sheepishly nodded, racing to grab her bag with Tikki and race up the hatch to her room.
"Wait a minute. Or daughter's… Ladybug?" Tom asked slowly. Sabine pinched the bridge of her nose briefly, but then leaned up to kiss her husband's cheek.
"It'll work out, honey."