A/N: Thank you all so much for the love and support on this story. I cannot believe that so many of you have read this. I am so glad so many people can enjoy what I am enjoying as well. Thank you all for making my hobby worthwhile.

Please let me know what you think. All critique is welcome. It only improves the story and the writing.

Food for thought: (I made a few of these and this is the only place I feel I can bring this up) I know a lot of fan fics have Nino become the Jade turtle, but when I watch him in the show, he has blown Ladybug and Chat Noirs cover quite a bit. Has anyone else noticed Nino being the one to mess something up? Like is the show going to have him do something and Adrien and Marinette are exposed to each other. Then all three friends are like "oh... Umm… this is a new discovery. Oh god Alya!" ha ha ha. It's Midnight so this might just be the tired rambling.

Thank you all so much for reading

Love you all

Traditional Twist

Chapter 14: Blame

Adrien was not used to having so many people around. While Sabine and Marinette talked over tea, Tom had challenged Adrien to a round of Video games. Adrien was amazed. His father never would have asked him to do any activity like this. He sees them as a waste of time, therefore, Adrien usually only played them alone in his room. Tom however was quite good. Adrien could see where Marinette got her great gaming skills from.

After four rounds, Tom and Adrien decided a draw was a good way to end their match. "Alright my boy, let's get some lunch," Tom suggested. He stood up to walk to the kitchen. However the man was surprised by a plate with a sandwich in front of him.

"Here papa," Marinette said holding the plate.

"Thanks sweetheart," he said and took the plate from his daughter.

Marinette placed a plate in Adrien's lap. "Here's one for you too, Adrien." She took a seat next to the blonde.

"Thank you," he smiled and picked up the sandwich and taking a bite

Sabine walked into the living area carrying two plates. "Here you are honey, "she said handing the Marinette a plate. The mother walked and sat on the other side of her husband. She grabbed the remote for the television. "Let's see if they have lifted the curfew yet. There supposed to be a message from the mayor in a few minutes.

The television clicked on. A round table of three newscasters and local reporters filled the screen.

"I don't understand why it is taking them so long to fix this hole?" We saw them climb out last night, I don't know. Is it too much to ask Ladybug and Chat Noir to clean up after everything?"

"The fact the hole is not repaired has me quite concerned. We all saw ladybug fall unconscious less than twenty-four hours ago. That may have been worse than we realize."

"They could be hurt quite badly. Let's role that footages again from the Ladyblog. Again this is footage taken at the scene taken by amateur reporter and own of the Ladyblog, Alya Cesaire."

The video played. Adrien and Marinette both winced at the footage. So much had happened in less than a day, yet, people were still expecting them to clean up this mess as they would normally.

"The more I watch this, the more upset I become. Chat Noir leaves the injured akuma victim on the roof and dives after Ladybug. She's a superhero! She's expected to get hurt! What happened to the people of Paris first?"

"She was losing her transformation from the little we can see. You have to respect that he was protecting his partner after placing that akuma victim in a safe place."

"But why would he make a hole this large?"

"He over reacted. They are partners. They probably know each other in and out of the superhero get up. He has the right to worry about Ladybug as well."

"You both are missing the big picture here. Why they caused the hole is not as concerning as to why it is taking them so long to fix. I think both our heroes are extremely hurt!"

"That's part of their job, just like taking the blame when they have messed up. If they had done their job correctly the-" the sound shut off and the words mute appeared on the screen.

Tom had reached over his wife to grab the controller. "Those pigeon heads," he said tossing the remote back onto the couch. "I can't listen to them talk that way anymore."

"Yes those poor kids. I hope they aren't listening to these horrible things that the news casters are saying." Sabine leaned against her husband with a concerned look.

"What do you mean? The reporters are just doing their job," Adrien interjected. "This hole is big news. I mean, I guess it makes sense to wonder why Ladybug and Chat Noir haven't fixed it yet."

"That one reporter is right," said Sabine, "those two could be hurt. They do so much for this city, and this is the thanks they get."

"What is happening right now is an inconvenience," Tom explained. "No one was hurt, except that akumatized waitress who has a small concussion. Everyone else is either stuck at home or at work. These reporters have no right to blame their problems on two heroes who spend their time protecting us and keeping us safe."

The man clenched his fist. "I mean, think about it. Those two can't be far from your age," he gestured towards Adrien and Marinette. "Somehow two wonderful young people have the weight of all of Paris on their shoulders. They have families to worry about as well.

Marinette's eyes had been fixed on her father the entire time. She knew that her parents were Ladybug supporters, but she never realized the amount of support they both gave. Without even knowing it was her, her parents somehow always had her back. Marinette looked at Adrien, he seemed almost as shocked as her, but that look quickly faded and a neutral face filled its place. He was really good at hiding his emotions.

Marinette felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She picked it up to see a text from Alya.

Alya: did u see the news!?

Marinette: yes. The Ladyblog was mentioned quite a bit

Alya: I know! *high pitch scream*

Marinette couldn't help but smile at her friend's excitement. At least this whole hole situation was benefitting someone. Rereading her friend's last text, an idea came to her.

"Alya keeps texting me," she said standing up. "I think she's really excited the news used her video. She wants me to call her. I'm going to take it upstairs so she doesn't have to scream everyone's ear off." Marinette raced upstairs.

Adrien raised an eyebrow. Where was Marinette going? That all seemed like a lie. His assumptions were correct when he felt his phone buzz. He pulled out his phone to see a text from Marinette.

Marinette: I don't think we can wait until tonight. I'm going to go fix the hole now. You stay and keep my parents occupied

Adrien: Woah! Wait are you sure you want to go now? You are just going to be cleaning up after me

Marinette: I am not cleaning up after you. Besides I don't think you should be in the suit. Plagg did say you were grounded. Brb

Adrien sighed. He wished she would have discussed this with him. Marinette was becoming more and more like Ladybug though, and Ladybug always just went with her ideas without discussing them through. What was he supposed to do? She placed him in this awkward situation where he was left alone with her parents. Though his lady had left him in an annoying fashion, that stubborn, act now talk later, was certainly still irresistible.

Ladybug swung through the air, hopping from building to building. She reached the epicenter of destruction. She perched on top of the same building she had been fighting the akuma.

"Alright," she said to herself. "Trust your instincts. This should work. Just be confident."

She tossed her yo-yo in the air. "Lucky Charm!" The lights flashed, and a heart shaped locket emerged from her yo-yo.

"This seems a little random," she said examining it. Her thumb fiddled with the heart, and the case popped open. A picture of Chat Noir smiling filled the insides. Ladybug smiled. "Chaton," she whispered. "Maybe these lucky charms are not as random as I thought." The heroine was lost in thought staring at the necklace; too lost in thought to notice the reporters and camera men getting close to her.

When the Live Update logo flashed across the screen, Tom turned the volume back on the television. The three sitting on the couch watched as the reporter described the scene.

"Ladybug has appeared, and has called her Lucky Charm. We can only assume that she is here to fix the damaged Chat Noir's cataclysm caused."

Adrien's heart sank. He was grateful to not be in costume. Chat Noir's cat ears never hid a single emotion. In his civilian form, Adrien had learned to keep his model composure no matter where he was. As the face of his father's company, he cannot be seen being too emotional.

The reporter continued. "We have reporters on the ground trying to talk with Ladybug. We will switch over to them now."

The sound cut for a moment as the screen filled with the live footage focused on Ladybug. "Ladybug! Ladybug! Where have you been? Why did you and Chat Noir disappear?"

"Chat Noir and I had to take care of ourselves," The heroine answered standing up on the roof top.

"Are you hurt? And what about Chat Noir?" Another reporter called out.

"I'm fine and he is getting better. Now please this is not a place for a press conference. You are all well beyond the police tape."

Adrien turned away from the screen. Ladybug was getting annoyed. Adrien had seen that exasperated look in her eyes before. In all honesty she was right. They need to stop being ridiculous and put themselves in a safe place.

"Why are those reporters harassing her?" Tom spoke out loud. "She has a job to do. They complain about the heroes not doing their job, then they throw themselves in danger to prevent the heroes from doing their job. This is ridiculous!"

Sabine patted her husband's arm. "Relax. Ladybug is there and everything should be resolved."

"That still doesn't give them the right to be pestering her right now," Tom scoffed.

"Won't all the reporters be arrested or fined for not following curfew?" Adrien asked.

"They should be arrested," Tom began, "and they are in danger as Ladybug has pointed out."

The reporters continued to haggle the heroine. "What do you mean by getting better? Is Chat Noir injured? Won't you just fix everything back to normal?"

"Please just step back and let me do my job," the spotted heroine pleaded.

"Does he feel guilty about causing such a problem?"

Adrien hung his head and leaned back against the couch. Sabine noticed his withdrawal into the furniture and averted her eyes from the television. She watched closely as the blond subconsciously started to rub his right arm. "Adrien, are you ok honey?"

Adrien snapped out of his moment of self-defeat and sat back up. "I'm fine."

"You feel bad for what's going on?" The mother asked.

"I guess I can't help but think that maybe Chat Noir does feel bad for causing so much damage."

"He probably does, son," Tom added. "He feels guilty because he is a nice, kind boy. He literally dove off a building for Ladybug. He shouldn't feel guilty, but I'm sure he's kind enough he does. It also doesn't help that these reporters keep rubbing it in."

"Look back," Sabine said. "Ladybug's going forward."

"Miraculous Ladybug!" The red heroine tossed the locket in the air. A light engulfed the city, and magical red and gold Ladybug hearts expanded over the hole. Within a blink of an eye the hole disappeared and the street was repaired. Smiling, Ladybug looked at the location of the hole; happy to know that one problem had been resolved that day.

"Ladybug please," The reporters hollered at her. "Will you please speak with us now?"

The heroine tossed her yo-yo and swung down to the area on the ground where the reporters were standing. "I will take one question," she said.

"Ladybug please, do you have any remarks on what has happened and why you and Chat Noir did not repair the hole sooner?"

"What you, and all of Paris need to know is that Chat and I have a very dangerous job. We fight innocent people who become akumatized, therefore, dangerous. We look out for all of Paris: every citizen, animal, child, and historic landmark has to be protected by us. This includes two other people, ourselves. The only people watching out for myself and Chat Noir in these fights are Ladybug and Chat Noir. I am extremely grateful to have a partner who cares about me so much that he would get himself hurt just to protect me, but that wouldn't have been needed if you all were taking the initiative to protect yourselves. Next time there is an Akuma attack, find cover, stay out of the way, and listen to what Chat or myself tell you what to do. We are here to protect you, not to entertain you."

Ladybug cast her yo-yo off to the distance, and left the crowd of reporters behind, scratching their heads. Ladybug closed her eyes in frustration. Was what she had said too harsh? She wasn't sure. The thought lingered in her head as she swung back to her balcony to transform back into Marinette.