There's some joking about killing people in this, but that's just what dialogue felt natural for the situation.

Chapter 12: A Very Important Meeting

Fluff floated behind Alix nervously as she knocked on Fu's door.

"Come in," Fu called.

Alix herself refused to be nervous, as this was an important conversation, so she swung open the door and walked in confidently.

Fu was alone, having walked in from another room with a cup of steaming team.

"Ah, Bunnyx," he greeted. "What a surprise."

Alix shut the door behind her for privacy. "I have an important question."

"Yes?"

Two days after Sandboy, Marinette called an all-hands meeting. Chloe had suggested using her room again, so they'd have privacy, and Lacy came over early to help her "prepare".

"So what do you think the meeting is about?" Lacy asked, eating expensive snacks while lounging on Chloe's bed.

"I bet she's found something super smart about the miraculous," Chloe suggested. She was setting out snacks on the floor, leaving room for the treats Marinette was sure to bring. "Or maybe it's about Alix telling Nathaniel."

"I vote for the first option," Pollen chimed in, before diving for one of the chocolates.

"You're going to eat all the snacks before everyone gets here!" Chloe complained.

"Marinette will bring more," Lacy commented.

"You are not being helpful," Chloe replied.

Alix was the next one to arrive.

"Wanted to have some chocolate before Pollen ate it all," she said, picking up a bowl of candy and joining Lacy on the bed.

Chloe huffed.

Eventually, everyone else arrived. Mylene and Sadie joined Lacy on the bed, Fu pulled up a chair, and the rest sat down on the ground.

"I bet you're all wondering why I've gathered you today," Marinette said.

Alya gave her a high five.

"I actually have something I need to say," Adrien said. "After you, of course."

"And I and Fu have something we wish to discuss," Alix added.

"Yes," Fu confirmed. "But first, can you pass me that bag of chips?"

Alix nodded and tossed him the bag.

"Is this about recruiting new heroes?" Rose asked.

"No. Maybe?" Marinette answered. "Alya and I have talked about something, and I guess this is a good place to bring it up, but first there's something you should know."

Marinette took a shaky breath in, and then again. She tapped her fingers against her knees, and scrunched her face up.

"Is something wrong?" Lacy asked. "Whatever you tell us, we probably won't be mad."

"Probably?" Alya questioned.

"I mean, if she killed someone-"

"If Marinette killed someone, they'd deserve it," Alya argued.

"That is probably true," Marinette agreed. "But that's not it."

"Are you sure?" Sadie asked. "I'm pretty good at hiding bodies."

"No, it's - wait, what?"

"I think she's joking," Lacy said.

"Think?" Marinette repeated. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Back to the topic at hand-"

"We had a topic?" Kim asked.

"Yes."

"Marinette is very stressed about this," Tikki chimed in. "It would be nice if you could pay attention."

"Right," Alya said. "Marinette, you have our full attention."

"Thank you." Marinette took a deep breath. "I - um, kinda told my parents? About me? Being Ladybug?"

"Oh," Alya said, chuckling.

"Oh good," Luka added.

"Here I thought it was something bad," Alix said. "Like the killing people thing."

"I am very curious as to why that keeps coming up," Fu said.

"You're not mad?" Marinette asked.

"Mad? No," Alya said. "Why would we be mad?"

"I'm relieved," Luka added. "Now your parents can be the ones making sure you sleep."

"Your parents are wonderful," Adrien added. "I'd trust them."

"But I kept telling all of you to keep your identities secret, and then I was the one to fold and tell mine-"

"Of course you were," Lacy interjected. "You've been under so much stress, no one blames you. And especially if this is related to Sandboy-"

"AKA the akuma we are not talking about," Sadie added.

"Yes, that, and knowing what your fear is, it's understandable," Lacy continued.

"I would have preferred you kept it a secret," Fu said. "But secrets are hard to keep, especially when under such stress."

"Besides, you've been doing this longer than us," Alya added. "Except Adrien, but that's another story."

"Even before I knew he was Hawkmoth, I wasn't going to tell father," Adrien said. "But your parents are different, Marinette. Actually, did you tell your parents anyone else's identity?"

"No," Marinette said. "Knowing mine is risky enough."

"Right," Adrien agreed.

"But telling them has been extremely helpful," Marinette continued. "I wouldn't trust all of your parents, but if you think you can, and it'll help, you can tell yours as well. It's only fair."

"And I am no longer on sleep patrol," Luka said. He leaned back in relief.

"Don't get your hopes up," Sass said. "Not everyone has said they will."

"I definitely will," Lacy said.

"Me too," Mylene agreed.

"And me," Rose added.

"I would like to tell my dad," Max said. "Probably not safe to tell my mom until we're face to face."

"I'd have to decide if I want to tell my parents," Alya said. "But I'm definitely not telling Nora."

"Yeah I'd have to think about it," Kim said.

"Take as much time as you want," Marinette said. "But I would like to keep track of who knows. Okay, next topic of conversation."

"Adrien should go first, mine's pretty heavy," Alix said.

Adrien sighed. "Okay. So, um, this is awkward."

Chloe frowned. "Did you kill someone?"

Fu sighed.

"Don't worry," Max told him. "Most kids our age are like this."

"That does not help me not worry," Fu replied.

"What were you going to say?" Marinette asked.

"I, um, wanted to apologize," Adrien stuttered.

Lacy frowned. "For killing someone?"

"No," Adrien replied.

"Did Plagg kill someone?" Sadie asked.

"No," Adrien replied. "No one killed anyone. At least that I'm aware of."

"So what did you want to apologize about?" Lacy asked.

"I - uh, I don't think many people noticed, but I - uh, well." Adrien awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "When my dad went to jail, I reacted badly."

Marinette frowned. "That's not something you need to apologize about."

"Yeah, if it turned out to be one of my parents, I would have reacted horribly," Alya said.

"As someone who went through something similar, I think you handled it well," Kagami added.

"That's not what I'm apologizing for," Adrien said. "The thing is, I - I wanted to grab onto anything that wasn't changing, but everything was - so I - I guess I didn't want any permanent heroes, because - well, you know - and I may have taken it out on all of you."

"I didn't notice," Rose chimed.

"I did," Nino admitted.

"I also did," Sadie added. "But only because I've had my life change abruptly."

"I was suspicious something like that was going on," Kagami added. "Though I couldn't understand why."

"Well, I'm sorry," Adrien said. "Whatever was going on in my life, I shouldn't have taken it out on you, and I definitely shouldn't let it get in the way of fighting Mayfly."

"This isn't the first time you've let your feelings impact your fighting," Marinette pointed out.

"I know, I know," Adrien said. "I'll try to be a better partner from now on."

"Trying to improve is all you can do," Chloe said. "But if I can improve, you can too."

"What brought on the apology?" Kagami asked. "How did you overcome this - this feeling?"

"Sandboy," Adrien said. "I got stuck, and if we hadn't had you all, Ladybug would have been by herself. Never mind that without Bunnyx, we never would have found the akuma."

"That's right," Alix said. "You can thank me by buying food."

Marinette threw one of her pastries at Alix.

"Look, Adrien, you've been through a lot," Alya said.

Lacy nodded. "You're allowed to feel whatever you feel about it. And it's hard to not take that out on others."

"As I'm sure some people here can attest too," Alya said, giving Chloe a pointed look.

"But that doesn't give me the right to take it out on you," Adrien finished. "I - yeah. I know I need to do better, it's just - it's hard."

"We know," Alya said. "We don't expect you to be okay with what happened."

"Thank you," Adrien said.

"Okay, Alix?" Marinette prompted.

"Okay, so," Alix started out. "Has anyone noticed that kwamis have to do everything we tell them?"

"Wait, what?" Marinette said.

"They're magically bound to obey us," Alix clarified.

Lacy frowned. "That doesn't sound right. Orikko doesn't do half of what I ask him."

Orikko reappeared, landing on Lacy's shoulder. "That's because you never intend to make me do something."

Fu nodded. "Miraculous magic is intention based. As long as you didn't intend to control your kwamis, you wouldn't. This is why I didn't tell any of you."

"But I figured that it would be better if we knew this, so we could avoid it," Alix added.

"Yes," Fu agreed. "When I originally gave out the miraculouses, I could only hope I found good holders. I had no way - no time - to make sure they wouldn't abuse the power. But you all have proven to be kind, and it's less likely you'll abuse that power purposely than accidentally."

"And if you do abuse it," Sadie added. "I will fight you."

"So how do we change that?" Marinette asked. "There must be a spell or something that can release the kwamis."

"There is," Fu said. "The problem is, all the miraculouses must be return to the miracle box for it to work."

"This is the part where you'll want to throw things," Orikko said.

"What?" Marinette asked. "Why?"

"You remember why the miraculouses were formed, correct?" Fu asked.

Marinette nodded. "The kwamis have a lot of magical energy, but they can't control it. So they made a way for humans-"

"Or human-like creatures," Longg interjected.

"Right," Marinette continued. "For those who could control that power to be able to use it."

"Which is why the miraculouses' magic is intention based," Fu added. "Originally, it was meant to be a partnership."

"But then the human side screwed it up?" Adrien guessed.

"Not everyone holder we've had has agreed with it," Tikki said.

"But none have tried to stop it?" Adrien asked.

"My last holder did," Trixx said.

"Kesiah, right?" Alya asked.

Fu nodded.

"Kes was very outspoken about her dislike of the situation," Trixx commented. "It was one of the ways she was manipulated."

"You mean, this Circle - the bad group of people, wanted to free the kwamis?"

Lacy was officially lost. It was like Alya and Fu were having a conversation on their own. The rest of the group looked equally lost, which made Lacy feel better.

"No," Sass said. "They lied. The Circle treated us worse than the guardians at the time."

"And most of the guardians did not treat their kwamis well," Fu added. "There was Kes, of course, and the current ladybug and black cat holders."

"And you," Nino said.

"Ah, I was not officially a guardian at that point," Fu said. "Nor was I trusted with a miraculous. When I was given this miracle box to protect, I chose the turtle for myself."

"Back to the issue at hand," Marinette said. "Why do we need all the miraculous?"

"Grab something to throw," Orikko said.

Fu ignored him. "The guardians made it so that all the current guardians have to agree to release the kwamis."

Marinette shot straight up. "What? That's ridiculous!"

"Agreed," Alya said.

"And there's no way to circumvent that?" Max asked.

"I'm finding a way," Alix said.

"I've looked," Fu said. "But you're all welcome to look as well."

"Oh, I will," Alya promised. "I will-"

Everyone's phones buzzed with an akuma alert.

"But I guess we should deal with that first," Alya said.

"Well, we're all here," Marinette said. "Want to ambush this akuma?"

"Sounds like a plan," Alya agreed.

Lacy hesitated at the door to her apartment.

"Well?" Orikko asked, impatiently floating next to her.

"Maybe I shouldn't," Lacy said.

"Why not?" Orikko questioned. "Do you think they'll be mad?"

"Well, no."

"Would you rather keep it a secret?"

"Not really."

"Then why not tell them?"

Lacy sighed. "I don't know."

She had already told Marinette that she was going to tell her parents, and Marinette had approved. Orikko had also agreed it was a good idea, saying that things would be easier once he no longer needed to hide. Lacy was suspicious that meant he would be screaming louder in the morning, which would not make things easier, but he did have a point.

But staring at the door, Lacy was suddenly questioning her decision.

"Come on," Orikko urged. "You're not the wielder of the chicken miraculous now, are you?"

"But... roosters are chickens?"

"No they're not," Orikko argued.

"Yes they are?

"No," Orikko repeated. "I am not a chicken." He crossed his wings, and turned his head.

Lacy chuckled. "Well, no, you're not a rooster either. You're a kwami."

"Yes, the rooster kwami," Orikko said. "Not the chicken kwami."

"Sure, okay." Lacy sighed. "Well, I guess I should get this over with."

She reached to open the door, before remembering to dig her keys out of her bag.

Her father and Elisabeth were in the kitchen, cooking and joking around. Her father spotted Lacy first.

"Welcome back," he said, putting down the bowl in his hands. "I hope you didn't get caught in that akuma attack."

He walked over, giving Lacy a welcome home hug.

"Um, well," Lacy replied. "I guess I did?"

"Are you alright?" Her father's forehead wrinkled in concern.

"I'm fine!" Lacy replied. "I just - I have something to tell you."

And then she told them.

Her father handled it about how Lacy had expected him to: with lots of questions in regards to her safety. Elisabeth was initially shocked, which Lacy had expected as well.

But Lacy was caught off guard when Elisabeth burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry," she said between giggles. "It's just, we moved here, to - to- but, but you still - it's - I'm sorry, it's not funny."

Lacy chuckled.

"Okay I'm calm," Elisabeth said. And then burst out laughing again.

"I do have to ask," her father said. "Does this have anything to do with the screaming we've been hearing in the mornings?"

"I, uh-"

"Yes!" Orikko replied, choosing that moment to phase out of Lacy's bag and into full view of her parents. "That would be me!"

Elisabeth managed to get enough control of her laughing to look Orikko over. "Who are you?"

"I am Orikko, the kwami for the rooster miraculous. I'm what gives the miraculous it's powers."

"And you scream every morning?" Lacy's dad asked.

"Yep! For I am a rooster!"

"I'm sorry, I've been trying to keep the noise down," Lacy said. "But it's not like I can force him to stop."

"It's fine," her father said. "As long as you're still getting enough sleep."

"Yep," Lacy said. "I've been sleeping better, actually, recently."

"We've noticed," Elisabeth said. "You know we're proud of you, right?"

Lacy felt her cheeks heat up.

"That was true before the hero thing," her dad added. "You don't have to fight supervillains for us to be proud of you, squabbie."

"I know."

"But we are proud of you for that, too," Elisabeth added.

Her father nodded. "It is pretty cool. Now, I still have some questions-"

So the free-the-kwami thing was inspired by a post I saw on Tumblr. Having the "good" guys have that type of power imbalance with their kwamis doesn't work, so I found a way to bring that into this story.

Also, the tell-their-parents part wasn't going to come this early, but it snuck in without my permission.