It had been a long time since the last akuma attack. Hawk moth had been less and less active over the years leaving two superheroes with more time as their civilian selves. While Marinette agreed this was a good thing for the citizens of Paris and more time for studies, she was curious as to what had changed Hawkmoths constant attacks and demands for her and chats miraculous. She missed swinging around Paris and hated the lack of action in her boring routine life, sure her designs were coming on somewhat well. Her own little online boutique was stirring up more and more custom. Helping hands at her parents bakery was always welcome, but it wasn't the same without being ladybug and patrols weren't as satisfying as saving the day.
The 19 year old beauty was brought out of her thoughts by the grating noise of a chair as a man slid heavily into the bar seat next to her. She downed her shot in one with a crinkled nose before signalling the man behind the bar for another. The small pub around them filled with hoarse laughter from the mostly male customers around her. The stench of cigarette smoke and spilt liquor clung to the old dark blue carpet beneath her heels. The surrounding walls bore an off gold spiral patterned wallpaper, that hung loosely in the corners of the large room. The bar she sat at was sticky and littered with half full ashtrays and faded drink coasters.
"so what's a good looking lady like yourself doing here drinking all alone" a gruff voice asked beside her.
With a humourless laugh she turned to the older man next to her. She eyed his dirty clothing concluding he was some sort of builder who hadn't yet changed his work clothing; given the dirt and dust on his face and clothes. She caught the predatory look in the brown eyes staring into her own, And the fun begins she thought with a smirk.
"Having a drink alone just like you said" She replied bluntly with a cocked eyebrow. The young woman shifted her body to face away from him not liking the way he was leaning closer to her, feeling the heat of his heavy breath on her exposed neck. The man's deep chuckle at her passive reply sent a unpleasant shiver down her spine, he didn't seem to sense her rejection or didn't care. This is exactly what she was looking for.
She nodded a thank you to the bartender as glass was placed in front of her. She handed over money for the drink, which she downed in one and shot up ready to depart the local pub. Enjoying the tingling burn of the alcohol going down her throat she idly wondered if Tikki would allow her to transform later in a drunk state, a light smile played on her lips thinking about the scolding she would be In for already. Tikki hated her drinking alone in bars, often questioning why her charge was becoming more and more reckless. Marinette had pondered that question herself but pushed it to the back of her mind and resigned to reassuring Tikki she was just luring out creeps to teach them a lesson, before they preyed on girls who aren't secretly superheroes. Tikki struggled to argue with that being a negative but knew there were more the young girls antics than just trying to prevent harm to the young woman of Paris. The little red god knew her charge was bored without taking down hawk moths victims as often as she used to, it was obvious Marinette felt empowered beating up bad guys without the help of her miraculous. Tikki thought it might also be down to missing a certain Chat, who was hardly around lately due to the lack of akumas. Marinette would never admit missing Chat Noir, meeting up for patrols once a month simply wasn't enough.
Hoisting her small bag over shoulder and walking towards the exit. she was stopped by two large warm hands gripping her waist from behind. She smacked his hands away turning to glare at him menacingly. Her reaction just seemed to encourage him given the wide grin stretched out on his tanned dirt specked face, as he stood hungrily examining her.
"Wait for me lovely." He added in a low voice his eyes roaming her body, his tongue licking the corner of his mouth in appraisal.
"No thanks." She answered, her voice indifferent knowing and hoping he would follow regardless.
Marinette reached the doors and saw him following close behind. She started down the road heading towards a dead end alleyway she had snooped out months ago for CCTV. Adrenaline surged through her as the sound of heavy footsteps got closer. She walked to bottom of the alley, too dark too be seen by anyone passing. She placed her purse holding Tikki at the side of a dumpster out of harms way and waited in the shadows on the opposite side, ducking beside an assortment of discarded planks of wood.
"Where are you girly, I know you're down here." The man sounded too confident for a man about to have his arse handed to him. "There's no way out my lovely, you shouldn't be out in that pretty little dress on your own if you're just going to tease." He chuckled quietly, creeping closer scanning the darkness for her.