-Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir-
It was going to be another white and snowy Christmas for the city of Paris and it would be easy to say that all citizens where at least a little overjoyed by the thought of all the fun they could have. Crafting snowmen, leaving angels lying in the snow, snowball fights in the streets! Long peaceful walks across their gorgeous city of lights, trudging through the snow. Cuddling up with family in a loving embrace, clinging for warmth. Watching beautiful and intricate fractals of ice fall slowly into the palms of onlookers of their decent from the sky above. What wasn't there to love? And yet a single onlooker stood, high above the the rushing world beneath, staring at the sky with tears forming in their eyes, saddened by the memories that plagued their consciousness. That onlooker was no other than Ladybug, saviour of Paris and hero to all, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. And the thoughts that plagued her on this Christmas Eve night? Thoughts of a white cat and...
A
Love
That
Could
Never
Be.
-Miraculous-
Her skin burned as hot tears escaped her eyes, no matter how hard Marinette tried to keep them in. She refused to quiver. To break and show her inner turmoil to the world, so the tears that shun on her cheeks where the only indication of her sadness. Her face remained still and cold, even as her eyes continued to fail to keep her emotion inside.
"Why did it have to be another snowy winter?" She thought to herself as her lip began to quiver. Noticing it, Marinette focussed her will to stop it and once agin her face was as cold as stone, at least except for the tears. Why wouldn't the tears stop?
Whenever she would look to the sky and see the icey blue, or look to the ground at the fallen white snow, all she could see was him. His cold, icey eyes. So full of malice, madness, hate, regret, brokenness, longing, hope, adoration and, most heart wrenchingly sickening... love. Unwavering devotion to her and how much she had ment to him. She saw it in him, her partner. The love that would destroy everything. The unrelenting force that was his feelings. The feelings of Chat Blanc. And even worse is that she loved him back. Marinette Dupain-Cheng loves Chat Noir with a power strong enough to destroy everything and everyone. It will never stop. If they collide it means the end of everything. And it... it rips her apart. To know her feelings can never be satisfied. Her mind will forever be a mess of chaos and destruction.
And now Marinette looks down to the ground and looks into the snow, trying so hard just to see the frozen water and nothing else. Trying so hard to forget what she could have had with him. But she can't. As below her, staring up at her, is the loving and crazy eyes of Chat Blanc. And all Marinette can do was run.
-Miraculous-
Ladybug fell to the ground, exhausted. She had used everything she had to get away. To escape. She knew that he wasn't real. He was just a lingering memory, refusing to fade into the dark corners of her subconscious. But it still hurt. To see him. The reminder that she was never allowed a life with her beloved partner. A family, even. And she knew that she and Chat already wanted the same life, the same home. She closed her eyes as tears fell. She tried so hard not to picture it. The perfect life with Chat Noir. Their three kids, beautiful and small, perfect in every way. Their home, cosy and small, but still big enough to fit three of them. Chat entering into an area of physics, her fashion. Home cook meals almost every day and never ever running out of baked goods. The two sleeping together, cuddling, or resting under the night sky. A world where they could divulge anything to each other. A world where they could see each other without the masks.
A sad, small smile spread across Marinette's face as more tears began to run down her face. She wanted it so badly. But she couldn't. Because the universe was cruel. And as she raised her head to the ground in hope of seeing the sky, all she saw was him. Chat Blanc stood over her, the same look he had given her when he had sent her down into the streets of Paris when they had fought. It was the look of disappointment. And it broke her. Tears flowed even more as the full weight of everything her life could have been fell in on her. She wailed in loss and sadness that could be heard through the streets of Paris. She trembled, no longer able to hold everything in. It was a horrible sight, to see someone so broken. She was shattered. Her mind tried to rearrange the broken pieces of her composure, but they would just crumble again, creating more horrific wails. She cried and cried and cried until she had no more tears and her wails became a dry wheezing. And then, a single voice cut through her crumbling mind.
"M'lady?"
-Miraculous-
Adrien stared wide eyed as an akuma flapped rapidly past his window. "Plagg!" He called. "There's an akuma!"
The kwami of destruction let out a loud yawn, stretching his small arms. "Whyyyyyyyyy?" He whined, his head rolling back. "Can't Hawkmoth be happy in a world where you can get free Camembert from a magical man in a red and white suit."
"I know it's Christmas Eve, Plagg, but we have a job to do. Plagg, Claws out!"
In a flash of green light Adrien disappeared and the miraculous Chat Noir stood ready to jump into the streets. With a inhale of the icey night sky air Adrien shot in to the air. Using his baton he propelled himself up and used his blazing green eyes to search for the purple butterfly. Spotting it, he quickly sped after it. The cool air whipped at his face and a feeling of true freedom and happiness filled every fibre of his energetic body, even if it was accompanied by the light worry of the akuma. Chat Noir's suit was keeping him warm and comfortable even in the cold snow. Now Chat Noir runs across the rooftops, gaining on the akuma. With it in reach he called upon his cataclysm.
The akuma crumbled in his hands and a small smirk spread across his face. Hawkmoth was gonna be mad that his akuma hadn't reached his target and that thought gave Adrien a smug sense of accomplishment. That feeling was cut short as a horrific wail of dread reached his ears, so broken that it sent a cold shiver right through his very core.
Using his heightened hearing abilities Adrien turned his head in the direction of the wail. Something was wrong. He knew that voice.
-Miraculous-
"No." Ladybug thought, her eyes widening in fear. "Please no! I can't stand it!" Marinette twisted around to see her partner, Chat Noir, landing on the building with her. His own features displayed his worry and confusion. About why her eyes stared at him in an almost like horror. It sent a stabbing pang through his chest. He took a step forward to touch Ladybug on the shoulder, but at the contact she instantly recoiled and practically threw herself across the roof away from him. That really hurt. "Ladybug, please!" He begged. "What's wrong?"
She looked away from him, hiding her once again watering eyes. As tired as she was, more tears threatened to break free. She couldn't bare to listen to his hurt and caring voice and stare into his green eyes that peel through every one of her barriers. "I can't! I just can't, Chat." Marinette whispered at the floor. With a shudder that threatened to cause her body to collapse, she turned her watering eyes to face his. It wasn't fair to him for her to push him away, but it didn't make it any easier. Having to be closer than anything but lovers, but never being able to pursue any further into her affections.
"Why, bugaboo?" He questioned, his green piercing eyes searching her face for an answer. "Please, just tell me what's wrong?"
"It's- it's fine, Chat." Tears slowly escaping her closed eyes. Why did he have to call her such affectionate names. "Please Chat! Just accept that it's fine!"
"It's not fine, M'lady." He answered back, making sure to keep his voice caring and comforting. "I know you're hurting. I saw an akuma! It was coming for you. You know what that means. Just tell me what's wrong."
"I can't, Chat!" Her eyes opening again to stare into his, truely broken and sad.
He had to stay strong. "Why not? Where partners. We help each other. Just tell me."
At the mention of partners she burst into more tears. "No. I can't! Don't make me! I won't!" She screamed.
"Please, bugaboo. What's wrong. Why won't you tell me what's wrong?" He pleaded.
Maybe it was the loving nickname. Maybe he had worn down her resolve. Maybe the desperation in Chat Noir's voice was too much for Marinette to bare, but she finally answered in one finalising, defeated, yell.
"Because I love you!"
-Miraculous-
Silence followed, as the air was thick with the words that hung in the air and rung throughout Paris. The pair stared at each other, both shocked silent by the declaration neither expected. Marinette's lips quivered and Adrien's mouth rested slightly open. Both pairs of eyes, blue and green, where full of fear. One fearing her partner would hate her or worse, that she had started the end of everything, and one fearing his Ladybug would run and leave him.
A beep of Chat Noir's ring broke the silence, shaking the two out of their paralysed state. As Marinette's focus shifted to his miraculous as she stood, Chat stared up at her, confused and... hopeful? "You- You love me?" He asked.
Marinette couldn't take it and she took another beep of his ring as an opportunity to escape. For the second time that night she ran, leaving the begging calls of her love behind her, to scared to face the reprecutions of her actions. She ran from him, and the life he represented. She ran from her feelings and the true extent to which she loved him. She ran and ran until again she was out of breath, leaping into an abandoned alley. Slamming herself against the wall of the place.
She stared up and held her breathe as the black silhouette of Chat Noir flew over and away from the alley. Feeling weak, she lowered herself against the wall. Wrapping her arms around her legs she broke into quiet wheezing and sobbing.
-Miraculous-
It is lucky she didn't look up then. Because if she, had she would have seen the pitying blue eyes of Chat Blanc looking down at her, eyes full of sorrow for her. For them. And she was pretty sure she would have died.
-Miraculous-
It was long past twelve but the time she had gotten home. Marinette had made sure to turn off her Miraculous tracker as to stop Chat from finding her. She slipped in through her balcony and detransformed. Upon laying down on the bed she instantly fell asleep.
Her dreams where anything but restful.
-Miraculous-
Marinette opened her eyes, bright light shooting into her eyes as she sat up. Sweat covered every part of her and her pyjamas stuck uncomfortably to her skin. Her breathing was heavy and her sheets sprayed across her bed. It had been a restless night of nightmares and tauntingly alluring dreams. They had taunted her with her fears and desires. How cruel. How horrible. How disgusting. It took Marinette a moment before she realised she was voicing her thoughts and opinions on what she had done last night. She had told Chat Noir she loved him. She had told him she loved him and ran away! She was a monster.
Tikki floated up in front of her, only to then zip away at the sound of nocking on her trap door. Soon her parents, Tom and Sabine Dupain-Chang burst through yelling, "Merry Christmas!"
Pushing back her thoughts as to not worry her parents, she plastered a surprising realistic smile and grinned at her family. "Merry Christmas!"
Her parents quickly scurried out of the trapdoor and over to her bed. Marinette, mimicking the energy jumped down off the bed to her parents. The enveloped her in a warm hug, Tom lifting them both up into the air until they playfully screamed to be put down. With large grins, the trio made their way down the stairs, into the living room, where a stack of boxes rested under a small tree in the corner. With the rather limited space in the living room it kind of had to be, but it wasn't a problem. The grand choice of decorations on the Christmas tree and all around the room well and truly made up for its lack lustre size. Colours of gold, green and red wrapped around the house in the forms of baubles, tinsel, and ornaments of every kind. It was so warm, and her parents so inviting, that she was able to pull her thoughts out of her gloom. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
-Miraculous-
The day had gone off without a hitch. Her family had exchanged gifts, and Marinette had given everyone different clothing she had made for each of them. They all had loved her gifts and the ones she got back where awesome. They had pooled together and bought her a gorgeous material for her to work with along with a new sewing machine patterned with a blossoming flower. It was beautiful.
After a couple hours of family time, playing board games and watching some classic Christmas movies, the sun began to set and members of the Dupain-Chang began to head home. Marinette stood out on her balcony, staring out at nothing. The cold wind bit at her skin but she couldn't be bothered to move inside. She was punishing herself really. Halfway through the day she'd glanced at her phone and saw a post on the ladyblog. Leave it to Alya to update her blog even on Christmas. It had been a short speculation on Alya's part with hardly any merit but one thing she said Marinette knew was true. Chat Noir had been out all Christmas day, looking for her. It made her feel more like a an asshole. Because of her Chat had missed the majority of his Christmas, and yet she couldn't bring herself to transform and go to him. Selfish, she knew, but she was also scared. Scared of how her partner would react and even more so how she would. She'd proven already that she didn't handle this topic very well. she didn't want to mess it up more. She looked out at the streets of Paris, and as she turned to move inside she tried to ignore the black blur she saw streaking in the distance.
-Miraculous-
As much as she wished she could ignore it, she knew she had to head out. An akuma had been sighted and no matter how much she didn't want to see Chat right now the safety of Paris was more important. So, begrudgingly, Marinette transformed and leaped out towards where the akuma had last been sighted. The Agreste Mansion.
-Miraculous-
Ladybug was frozen in her place. Infront of her stood her very nightmare, the same chilled blue eyes that had haunted her for months on end. His pale skin in such contrast to his usual tanned colour and his grin shifted from fun and happy to mad and desperate. It was as if he had been ripped out from his time and been placed infront of her. She fell to her knees, unable to look up from the ice covered floor. Chat Blanc crouched down infront of her, brushed her chin with his cold hand. He lifted her gaze up to his. "It's okay Princess," his whispered "I'm going to take your miraculous now."
She shook her head, but didn't move away as Chat began to move his hands towards her earrings. She felt helpless. She felt like a failure. Just as it had in the other timeline, her love had once again hurt those she cared about.
His cold hand brushed her earlobe and she felt him remove her left earing. Pink light began to glow across her skin as her suit slowly began to dissolve. She couldn't bring herself to care as he moved his hand to her other earing.
"LADYBUG!"
Marinette shot her head in the direction of the yell. Chat Noir was leaping towards her! Her head shot back to Chat Blanc. It's not him.
Knocked out of her phase she shoved out her fist at Chat Blanc and grabbed back her earing from his hand. She leaped back and quickly replaced the earing onto her ear. Her suit stopped dissolving and rapidly spread back across her body. She felt Chat Noir land next to her and she looked up at him. His eyes scanned her, looking for any sign of harm. This was definitely her Chat. "What were you doing m'lady? That akuma was taking your miraculous and you were just letting him?"
She couldn't say anything, she was so relieved. Her eyes began to water as a small smile spread across her face. She threw herself around Chat, making him stagger back a bit as he looked down at her. "M'lady?" She could see in his eyes that he was still confused, with how she had just been acting aswell as how she had acted before.
"I'm sorry Chat. I swear, I'll tell you everything, right after we beat this akuma. I mean it. Everything."
"Okay, M'Lady. I'll hold you to that."
-End Chapter 1/2-
Hi people who think my writing is decent enough to follow me, or who went as far to read this whole thing. Sorry I've been away for a while, it's been crazy. I hope you enjoy this shorter story while I work on finishing my original story, and fixing up the earlier chapters that are, in my opinion, straight trash. For the final chapter of this though the story will continue to after the fight is done and both have recharged their miraculous and are ready to talk. I'll see you all then. Bye!