"So I've been going through the papers", Ladybug notes from the bathroom. "And it seems like the city's pretty fucking torn over 'Ladybug's descent into the dark side'. They can't figure out if I've been akumatized, if I've been replaced, or if I've flipped my kettle. It's kind of entertaining actually."
Marinette stares down at her bloody knuckles. She flexes her fingers, sighing at the subsequent pop she receives, and flips them so that her palms are face-up. "This is the sixth person we've put in the hospital, Lady. Come sunup, it'll be the third person we've killed. I'm all for peace, but how is hurting and killing people accomplishing anything?"
"Lighten up, Mari, we're just doing what needs to be done." Ladybug drags her hands underneath the running faucet, gathers a puddle of water in her palms, then splashes the water onto her face. Sighing in relief, she reaches for a washcloth on the towel rack and presses it against her face. "And, all things considered, I think we're handling this well. I mean, we've been dealing with Hawk Ass for how long now? His attacks have been especially grating this past year. Ah, and cruel, I was getting there, calm down. My point is, he's only getting worse." She tosses the rag back onto the rack and walks back into the room. "And he's gonna keep getting worse unless we limit his supply."
"But maybe there's another way", Marinette murmurs as she wipes a tissue over her knuckles. "We were doing just fine before-"
"'Fine'? 'Fine'?" Ladybug stomps over to Marinette, snatches the tissue from her hands, and tosses it away. It doesn't draw the fierce display she wants, instead gliding to the floor in fluid swipes. Marinette snickers at the sight, stopping only when Ladybug turns back around and presses a finger into her chest. "'Fine'", Ladybug spits. "Is for chumps who take whatever's handed to them. 'Fine' is for losers contempt with getting their asses handed to them simply because they don't have the balls to make the decisions necessary to keep the whole damn city from collapsing." She presses the finger further before pulling away. "We have the power, Marinette, to make Paris what it needs to be, and we waste it saving the very people threatening its safety. Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?"
"...Kind of. I guess."
"There's no guessing. Listen to me." She takes Marinette's hands into her own and brushes her pinkies over her palms. "With great power comes great responsibility; you had a crush on Tobey Maguire long enough to know the shtick. You happen to be one of the two strongest beings in creation. And it is your, our, responsibility to make sure the people we protect aren't posing a danger to themselves. If we have to enforce controversial means to ensure their safety, then that's just the way it's gotta be. They've proven themselves incapable of managing their own lives, so we'll just have to step in and manage it ourselves."
Tikki shoots from behind Mari's hair and zips across the room to Ladybug. She pauses just before her nose, her wings flapping furiously as she says, "You stop this nonsense immediately, you heinous shrew. Talk like that'll take us back the times of Guerre. Although, knowing you, that's probably exactly what you want."
Ladybug rolls her eyes. She swipes a hand beneath Tikki, giggling at the indignant shriek she receives; an uneven breath expels from her mouth, and she bends over, resting her hands onto her thighs. "Let me know when you've squashed this insolent little insect", she calls to Marinette. "Once you have", she resumes, eyes locked on Tikki's tremoring little body, "Then we can really have some fun." With that, she walks towards the window. She crawls onto the desk, knocking over a glass angel figurine, and crawls out the window. Before she hops away, though, she pokes her head back in and says, "Oh. And protect the city of course."
Tikki turns to Marinette.
"I know you're worried", Marinette asserts as she waves a hand. She takes a seat at the computer, tossing a glare at the shattered angel, and presses the power button. The screen blinks to life, and she hums in approval before looking up at Tikki. "But I'm fine. Really."
"Marinette. You are not going out tonight."
"Don't be ridiculous." She clicks onto the Internet Explorer icon, awakening the Tumblr mainscreen, then proceeds to type in her account information. "I can't just not go", she says as she's greeted by her dashboard. "Chat's still MIA, and I don't see anyone else stepping up to look after Paris."
"A night off might do you some good." Tikki hops onto her keyboard and presses the backspace button. Marinette growls and picks her up, setting her on the long-since abandoned canister of needles and thread at the edge of her desk. Tikki's antennae stand upright, and her tiny legs kick beneath her. "Lately, you've been hurting more people than you've been saving", she pleads with barely suppressed frustration. "It might be best if you just give Ladybug some time to cool off, let your noodles settle some."
"My noodles are fine, Tikki, I just need to stretch my legs." She jumps back to her page and, as she's waiting for it to finish loading, looks up and stares out the window. Ladybug's disappeared, again, but Marinette has a nice view of the sunset. The colors, a lovely blend of yellow, orange, and red, are almost mesmerizing, and her fingers itch to take the image in her hands and capture it on a sheet of paper; maybe even take it a step further and knit a t-shirt dyed with the colors. But a sunset is not just a sunset, and, as alluring as it may be, it also signifies that it's time for Marinette herself to disappear. "Ladybug can be kind of intense, but I know when to draw the line", she explains as her eyes dips back to her computer.
"The line should have been drawn the moment she materialized, Mari. Miraculous Personas were never meant to be earthbound."
"Well, I don't see why. She's not the best company, but it's not like I'm gonna let her corrupt me or anything." Her fingers pause over her keys, and she bites her lip. "I'm not like Nanette."
Tikki sighs. She floats over to the mouse and drapes her body over the back of Marinette's hand. "I know, sweetie, but I'm afraid it's not that simple. It doesn't matter how alike you and Nanette are. You both have the Ladybug Miraculous, and, whether you admit it or not, you're both struggling with life. When Personas take form, their base desires are magnified and latch onto your psyche. There is no fighting it; you have to put her down."
"I know what I'm doing, Tikki." She huffs out an impatient breath. She withdraws her hand from underneath Tikki and clenches her fists at her side. "Why can't you just trust me", she asks, eyes swimming in betrayal.
"This has nothing to do with trust. It's about fact. And the fact is that you don't understand the type of magic you're exploiting."
"Exploiting!" Her fists burst into sparkling flames. "I'm doing my fucking job!"
Tikki folds her arms. She takes quick note of the energy surrounding Marinette and rolls back her shoulders, pushing out her chest. "And you seem like you're enjoying it just a bit too much."
Marinette glares. She thrusts her seat awayu, rolling until the back of the chair meets the bed, then stands. She fingers her earrings. "It's getting late." She turns to the window and closes her eyes. "Spots on, Tikki. I need to transform."
"You can't possibly-"
"Tikki. This is my job." She turns back and steps forward, her stature obstinate and menacing. "You're preventing me from doing my job. Is that what you want? You want me to leave Paris unprotected?"
Tikki stares. She remains standing on the desk for a moment before allowing her shoulders to droop and reluctantly fly to Marinette. She takes a brief detour towards her ankle, dragging her fingers over the charms of her anklet, then shoots upward and activates Marinette's earrings. Marinette keeps her eyes closed throughout the transformation, relishing the electricity tainting her blood, and tilts her head back. Upon opening her eyes, she feels warm fingers against her neck and shudders. Something sharp pricks her ear, followed by a chilling voice saying, "Now. Now, we're getting somewhere."
. . .
Later, she won't remember the dash to the Fresnes Prison. Clips of before and after will plague her for months, years, afterwards. Most of what she knows of the Beginning of the Second Guerre will come from news clippings and a semi-reluctant Adrien. She'll watch herself combat the escaped felons. She'll watch herself activate her Lucky Charm to summon sparkly ornaments of tear gas, pepper spray, and Brugmansia powder. She'll watch the crowd of prisoners collapse to their knees and convulse, rashes breaking out across their faces and silent screams bursting from their mouths. And she'll feel an immense hatred when the camera pans to her face, the girl that looks a lot like a disguised Marinette Dupain-Cheng gives the cameraman a manic smile before exploding into a mist of red powder.
