Author's Note; I'd like to take this opportunity to rant about why I hate Kagami and Luka so much. All my life, I've seen paring after paring that I wanted to become fully realized, only to be disappointed when they get together at the moment when it's too late. Too many writers hide behind the false concept that it's more entertaining to watch a couple before they get together and it just wouldn't be any fun to watch their relationship progress. LIES! TRICKERY! There is so much fun, drama, comedy to be had with a couple after they've started dating. Take for example Bob and Helen Parr from The Incredibles. They get married near the beginning of the film, the idea of them breaking up is treated as a non-possibility, and they have more real drama then most movie couples. Take for example the sitcom couples of old; Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy were funnier than most parings written today. Take for example Nino and Ayla from this same show. What real life relationship is without its ups and downs, disagreements, struggles the likes of which would make excellent viewing material? Yet we are constantly handed this lie that dragging the crush faze out for decades is "more entertaining". Let me tell you real reasons they tell you that; it's either because they lack the talent to write a fully realized relationship or it's because they are using a cheap method of dangling a carrot at the end of a stick, hoping the lack of resolution will trick their audience into watching more. So what do they do to keep this disgraceful agony prolonged? They introduce useless obstacles like Kagami and Luka, designed for the soul purpose of wasting the audience's time. I've heard someone defend Adrien and Marinette dating Kagami and Luka with an argument that incorporates the fact that Marinette and Adrien are going to date each other in the end. . . . THAT! IS! THE PROBLEM! There are going to get together at the end! The END! No one wants to watch them get together at the END! I certainly don't. I want to watch the episode where Adrien and Marinette go on their first date and Marinette freaks out every time anything goes even a little bit wrong, but I can't because Kagami and Luka are in the way. I want to watch the episode where Adrien sits down for dinner with Marinette's parents and he keeps putting his foot in his mouth, but I can't because Kagami and Luka are in the way. I want a show that dives deep into the complexities that come with being in a relationship; one that prepares people for the real challenges that await them in their own lives. But I can't have any of that. And do you know why I can't have any of that? Because the two worst things about the show are in the way! I am insisting that Luka and Kagami being the worst things about this show is NOT debatable. Every time they're on screen, I can't feel anything but anger. Every time they have a romantic moment with Adrien or Marinette, I like the show a little bit less. I love this show, and yet these abominations almost got me to drop it twice. And what makes this even more infuriating is that the creators of Miraculous Ladybug know they are frustrating their audience and they keep doing it.

The identity reveal is something that has made me excited for years. But as the years go by and my patience is stretched thin, I've found myself less and less invested. By the time it does actually happen . . . I might not even care anymore.

Now I see you there, wondering why I care so much in the first place. I hear you thinking I should calm down; that it's just a show; it's just a few cartoon characters. But a show is art. And art is to be taken seriously. As for the characters; everyone has found a fictional character they can relate to; a character whose struggles parallel their own and whose victories give them hope. What kind of hope are we supposed to gain from a shtick that everyone is sick of?

Miraculous Contempt Chapter 4

"I picked the wrong day? You say that as if you haven't been waiting for this."

Adrien replied, "I haven't; but maybe I should've; should've been waiting to tell Marinette how unstable you are after I beat the nail polish out of you."

"You, stay away from Marinette!"

"Luka, if you think I'll stay away from one of the best friends I've ever had because some stoned hipster sucks at dating, you're twice as delusional as everyone thinks you are!"

Luka's shook with rage. He charged forward and threw a right cross which Adrien deflected and followed up with a four-hit combo. Luka stepped back quickly, then Adrien slowly walked forward. Luka didn't actually think the model would fight back, but he wasn't about to stop. Luka kept moving backwards, prompting Adrien to spread his arms to the sides and taunt, "Are you running already?"

"Just trying to get you away from my girlfriend!"

"Don't call her that!" Adrien growled.

They ran across the streets and into the park. Luka stopped suddenly, turned around quickly and wrapped a hand around Adrien's neck. He punched Adrien in the stomach while keeping his grip. The next time Luka tried to hit him, Adrien blocked the attack, but Luka head butted him and continued punching him again. Adrien pulled Luka in and struck his knee into Luka's gut. Once Luka's grip on Adrien's neck was broken, Adrien pushed him away. Adrien caught his breath and ran after him. Luka ran, stopped near a bench, and waited for Adrien. Adrien raced towards him with a fist in the air. Luka stepped the side, letting Adrien rush passed him. When Adrien stopped and turned to face him, Luka grabbed his hair and plunged Adrien's head toward the bench. Adrien put both hands on the bench and pushed just in time, saving his head from the hit. Adrien took one hand off the bench and elbowed Luka in the face, breaking his grip on his hair. Adrien swung at Luka multiple times, usually with great success. Luka backed into a tree and was caught between it and Adrien. Luka ducked and Adrien's incoming fist hit the tree. Adrien pulled back his hand, trying to shake off the pain. Luka, still lowered, grabbed Adrien by the shirt and pulled his head into a collision with the tree. Adrien clutched his forehead and backed away. Taking advantage of his pain, Luka struck Adrien three times. He threw a fourth punch which Adrien grabbed and used to throw Luka over his shoulder. When Luka was on the ground, Adrien didn't let go of his arm. Instead, Adrien started dragging him toward the carousel. Luka struggled and thrashed, but that just made it more satisfying. Adrien dragged him onto the carousel-floor and stomped on his stomach to keep him down for a moment. Adrien climbed on the airplane shaped seat and jumped off it with his elbow in a position to strike. Luka rolled out of the way and Adrien just hurt his arm when he landed. When they were both on their feet again, Luka jumped off the center part of the carousel and kicked Adrien in the face. Adrien stumbled away, but then he grabbed one of the bars, swung around, and kicked Luka with both legs. Luka slammed against the center part and said venomously, "Nice moves, poll dancer."

Adrien grabbed Luka by the neck and threw him tumbling out of the carousel. As he rolled, Luka filled his hand with dirt and when he was on his way back up, he threw it at Adrien to blind him. Adrien spun around so that instead of blinding him, the dirt just dusted the back of his head. Adrien finished his spin with his fist swinging the whole time. He used the momentum to increase the damage done by a punch that dug into Luka's face and knocked him off his feet.

Adrien was ready to finish the pathetic snake that dared challenge the lion. But then . . . "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Marinette was there. The pain in her soul could be viewed through her eyes. She was panting. Clearly, she had rushed over as soon as she saw them from her balcony. She thought miserably, "Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse!"

Adrien and Luka pointed at each other shouted their opinion on what happened. Marinette understood them say, "HE . . ." and the rest sounded unintelligible because there was too much shouting at the same time.

"Luka, why would you attack Adrien?" Marinette asked.

"Because I know that he . . ." Luka stopped. His mind caught on something very telling. Anger rose in his harsh, but not loud voice. "Did you just . . . Did you just automatically side with Adrien over me?"

Marinette's heart skipped a beat. She didn't even realize she had done it until he pointed it out. That was her first instinct; wasn't it? Luka looked like he was about to explode. "Luka, calm down," Marinette said.

Luka walked towards her, his finger pointed accusingly. "You love him more than me!"

Adrien stepped quickly between him and Marinette. "Don't get any closer to her," he said.

"So it's true, then! You've been cheating on me with him!" Luka shouted.

Marinette squeaked, "No!" in panic.

Adrien said, "No," in annoyance.

Luka ranted, "All I ever hear is how shocked everyone is that you're dating me instead of him! They tell me they thought you two were made for each other! But you dated me anyway. Do you know how much it hurts to know the person you're dating would rather be with someone else? To be their second choice?"

As much as Adrien had learned to hate Luka, his words did give him something to think about.

Luka reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife.

"LUKA DON'T!" Marinette screamed.

Adrien's jaw dropped for reasons that had nothing to do with fear. "Oh, really?" Adrien could hardly believe Luka's audacity. "That's how you want to do it?" Adrien pulled the button up shirt off his shoulders and let it fall off his arms, leaving only his black t-shirt.

Marinette cried, "Adrien run!"

"Don't worry. I can take him."

Marinette had one last resort before it was time for her secret weapon. "Luka, if you don't put that knife away right now, we're done!"

Adrien told her, "You should be done either way. He's gone too far already." Marinette knew he was right.

Luka ran for vengeance while Marinette ran for her secret weapon and Adrien stood his ground. Luka plunged the knife forward, Adrien slapped his hand to his side and hit Luka a few times afterward. Luka slashed multiple times, only managing to cut through the air as Adrien kept dodging. After a series of slashes, Luka had a breach in his defenses. Adrien tackled Luka, slammed him on the ground with their combined weight and quickly rolled off of him. Luka slashed everywhere as he laid there. When he finally realized that Adrien was out of range by then, he started getting up. Halfway up, he started telling Adrien with a weakened voice, "You probably think you're better than me."

"I think most people are better than you."

"You wouldn't understand. You're a spoiled rich kid born into a fancy career you didn't earn. You wouldn't understand what I've been through!"

Luka held the knife upside down and stabbed downward into Adrien's trap. Adrien grabbed Luka's wrist on its way down. He forced Luka to move the knife to his own throat. Luka wanted to back away, but Adrien grabbed his shirt with his other hand and held him in place. With the knife at Luka's throat, Adrien stared menacingly into his eyes. "You wouldn't survive what I've been through."

Luka dropped the knife and caught it with the other hand. He swung the knife, cutting through Adrien's shirt. He missed his skin by less than a quarter of an inch. Keeping his grip on Luka, Adrien pulled Luka's head into a collision with his knee. Luka clutched his head and fell onto both knees. Adrien took advantage of Luka's lowered position by punching him over and over, not giving Luka an instant to try a counter attack. Blood flew as Adrien mercilessly beat Luka to his breaking point and beyond. When he was finished, he kicked him in the chest, sending him back to the dirt where he belonged. The knife flew out of his hand. It was too far to reach and he wasn't about to walk over to it. He was beaten. Luka brought a knife to a fist fight and Adrien won anyway. That wasn't just defeat; that was humiliation.

Suddenly, Ladybug dropped out of the sky, landed near them, and shouted, "Stop!" She was disappointed by her timing. She hoped to stop the fight, but it was already over.

Adrien pointed at Luka and shouted, "He . . ."

"I know. Marinette told me the whole thing. Just go home, Adrien. I'll make sure everything is alright."

Adrien took a moment to consider defying her suggestion. But he resisted the urge to stay. "Make sure this maniac doesn't come near Marinette," he told Ladybug.

Ladybug didn't think she needed his concern, but she still appreciated it. To assure him, she said, "I won't let him do anything to Marinette. I promise."

Adrien nodded his head and walked toward the exit, only stopping to pick up his button up shirt and put it back on.

Ladybug turned her attention toward Luka. He was devastated to see all that anger on the face of his hero. Ladybug shouted, "What were you thinking?! You tried to kill someone just because you were jealous!"

"I . . . I just couldn't take knowing that . . ."

"'Knowing'? Do you really have that little trust for . . ." Ladybug stopped talking and shut her eyes tight. She was captured by a wave of guilt, having recognized the hypocrisy. Ladybug took a deep breath through her nose. "Luka, when I spoke with Marinette, she said she could forgive the fact that you didn't trust her, but the fact that you attacked Adrien is unacceptable. She never wants to see you again; even when you get out of juvie."

"Juvie?! Wait! You don't have any proof!"

"But I do!" Ladybug and Luka just then noticed that Alya was there with her phone recording the event. "What a story. Troubled youth tries to kill famous fashion model, Adrien Agreste over suspicion of disloyalty.

Ladybug asked, "Alya, have you been recording everything?"

"Everything."

"Everything, everything?"

Alya nodded her head giddily and said, "Every everything, everything."

Ladybug smiled and thought, "That's my girl." She looked at Luka with that same smile, but in his eyes, it was terrifying.

A police car came racing from around a corner and came to a screeching halt. Roger popped out of the vehicle and ran into the scene. "I've received reports of a hipster with weird nail polish attacking a fashion model!"

Ladybug explained, "That's right, officer. Alya has a very interesting video to show you.

One video viewing later.

Roger slammed the car door with Luka on the other side. Ladybug thanked Roger and swung away. She landed on the roof of her house and said, "Tikki, spots off." After she transformed back, Marinette whispered, "Goodbye, Luka. You were . . . probably the biggest mistake I ever made."

There was a brief moment of silence. Brief because her phone vibrated.

Marinette pulled out her phone and saw that she had two missed calls and three missed texts. They were all from Adrien. The first text read, "Marinette, are you okay? Ladybug showed up and took care of everything. I came to your house to check on you, but the door was locked."

The second text from Adrien read, "Marinette, where are you? You don't have to hide. Everything's alright."

The third text from Adrien read, "Marinette, why won't you reply? Are you scared? I promise you that you don't need to be afraid of me. I just want to know you're okay."

Marinette was brought to tears. She leaned against a wall and slid down until she was sitting on the floor. She texted back, "I'm okay." She had more to say, but she wanted that message to get to him as soon as possible. This concern Adrien had for her was eye opening. He was the one all along. She had felt so much for him and she had thought it was gone. But it came back. The truth was that her love for him never died; it had simply gone missing.

Her second text read, "Adrien, I'm not afraid of you."

She thought about sending a third text to ask if he was still in front of her house, but she had the better idea to go down stairs and see.

Marinette came to the first floor and saw Adrien on the other side of the window, reading her texts and breathing a sigh of relief. He was still there. By then it was dark and looked like it could rain soon, but that didn't make him want to leave any sooner. Marinette dried her tears and ran to the door. She swung the door open. "Adrien, I'm sorry I left you hanging. Please, come in; I'm sure you want to sit down and relax after all that."

Adrien walked through the door, but he didn't sit down. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

"Am I okay? You were the one he was trying to kill! Are you hurt?" Marinette looked over him and freaked out when she saw the hole in his shirt. "Adrien, that cut!"

"It's alright; he missed." Adrien lifted his shirt just a bit to show the lack of a mark on his skin. "See? Nothing."

"That was way too close, Adrien! What if he had stabbed you?! What if someone else comes at you with a knife and you accept that challenge, too?"

Adrien put his hands on her shoulder and said, "You don't need to worry about me, Marinette. I'll be alright."

Marinette said while becoming increasingly choked up, "You say not to be worried about you, but you were pretty worried about me. You always cared about people. You were always . . . so . . . good." Marinette uncontrollably started crying again. "I never should have dated him!"

"Don't feel bad, Marinette. You didn't know . . ."

"I did know it was wrong! I never should have given up!"

Adrien asked, "What do you mean?"

Marinette stared into his eyes, summoning her courage. Finally, she was ready. "I should have told you how I feel about you."

Adrien would have been shocked if this wasn't just confirmation of what he was already told. Adrien said, "So that part was true. Marinette, I . . ."

"I know . . . you have a girlfriend. But she's not the one for you. I can wait as long as it takes for you to break up. I know now that you and I are meant to be together."

He had to think. He thought about what Marinette meant to him, what Kagami meant to him, what Ladybug meant to him. All he came up with was, "Marinette . . . I . . . I don't know what to say to you right now."

"You think I can't handle the truth?"

"I don't know what the truth is."

Marinette said, "That's alright. I didn't expect it to be now, but one day we will be together; I'm convinced of that. I'm not going to give up this time. I can wait ten years as you date ten other girls if I have to. Unless you tell me you want me to stop, I'm not going to give up this time. I love you that much."

Adrien's pulse shook his entire body. He said slowly and weakly, "I need to think about pretty much everything. And I think I need to do that alone."

"Okay." She opened the door for him and said, "I'll see you later."

Adrien walked outside, each step was lacking in energy. Then, they noticed that it had started raining. It wasn't that heavy yet, but it was getting heavier. Marinette gasped and said, "Adrien, wait! Don't go anywhere!" She ran upstairs, leaving Adrien to wonder what was going on. She returned as quickly as she had left with something in her hand. Marinette stood in front of Adrien and held out an umbrella.

Adrien pointed to it and asked, "Is that . . ."

"It's the same one you gave me the day we first met. I've kept it this whole time, but now you need it more than I do."

Her face; those eyes were bloodshot from crying, but Adrien could still find the sparks in them. Her smile wasn't big; it only stretched on one side and didn't show her teeth, but it felt so sincere. Adrien reached out and accepted the umbrella. He opened it and held it above his head. Adrien said, "Thank you," and he walked away.

As soon as he was out of sight, Plagg flew out of his button up shirt. "That. Was. A lot."

Adrien said, "That was so much. Even when I heard that Marinette felt that way about me, I didn't think she felt THAT way about me. She just told me she's going to stay single for the rest of her life if I don't date her. What am I supposed to do with that?"

"You know; you could give her a chance. If nothing else, she's right about you and Kagami. She's had you in such a bad mood, you almost left Ladybug. How do feel about Marinette, anyway?"

Adrien took the time to figure out how to put it into words. "She's always been a good friend. I've always had respect and admiration for her. But I was always too in love with Ladybug."

"So why did you date Kagami and not her? I mean, if you could date Kagami despite Ladybug, why couldn't you date Marinette despite Ladybug?"

And then Adrien realized the answer to that question. "Kagami was the one to show interest. I always thought of Marinette as just a friend because that's how she presented herself. But now that I think about it, I never even loved Kagami as much as I loved Marinette."

"So what are you going to do?" Plagg asked.

"I'm going to do the right thing. I feel like I should do a lot of things; I just don't know what they are. But there is one thing I know I should do."

Adrien kept walking, careful not to let his weakened knees drop him. Rain poured the whole time. In the darkness and with the sorrow, Paris had never felt this heavy with emotion. Places and objects he had seen many times before looked different. A sidewalk wasn't just a sidewalk; it was a sidewalk on the night he would never forget. While he was walking, the night seemed like it would last forever. But when he reached his destination, it felt short lived.

Adrien took a deep breath, released it, and knocked on the door. Adrien waited patiently until it was opened by Kagami. "Adrien?"

"Can we talk?"

Kagami was confused, but she said, "Of course."

Adrien thought that Kagami was about to invite him in. Not wanting that to happen, he started talking quickly. "Kagami, you are a very capable and intelligent person."

His words weren't surprising, but his sad tone was troubling. "Thank you," she said with uncertainty.

Adrien continued, "And you deserve someone who will love you more than he's loved anyone else in this world. I've been doing something terrible to you. I've been wasting your time when I wasn't that person."

It was then that she understood what was going on. Kagami shook her head and said miserably, "Adrien, you are that person. No one has shown me as much love as you have."

"That's just because you haven't found the one who can love you the way I can't."

"You're just confused right now. That stupid game messed with your head. You will realize how silly are being when you've had time to reflect. We love each other. That's why you dated me."

Adrien looked at her with shame in his eyes. He didn't want to, but he knew he had to admit the truth. "I dated you because it was convenient."

Her chin quivered. Tears formed in her eyes.

Adrien continued, "I settled for you because I thought I'd never be with the one I really loved. I can't do that anymore. I can't make you live your life as my second choice."

Kagami stared hatefully at him. "I wouldn't ask you to." And then she slammed the door.

Adrien was hurting, but he found a small amount of solace, knowing it was over. He turned away from the door, but stopped when he heard crying from the other side. Whatever solace he had was gone. He knew that staying would just make things worse, so he walked away.

Plagg flew out of his shirt and asked, "Where are we going now?"

"Home."

"Are you sure you want to be there? Your dad is going to be pretty upset that you were out so late."

"Yeah, especially since I was just in a fist fight." The way he said it was so matter-a-fact. He would have sounded more emotional about it, but he had bigger things to worry about.

Marinette had her pajamas on. She danced, not walked, toward her desk with a dazed smile on her face. She sat on her chair, put her elbow on the desk, resting her face on her hand, and said with low eyelids, "What a wonderful day."

Tikki looked at Marinette with her mouth agape, wanting to ask her, "ARE YOU A PSYCHOPATH?!"

"Oh, Tikki, today I figured out who Hawk Moth is, ended a relationship that never should have started, and best of all, I finally told Adrien that I love him."

"It wasn't all good. Remember, Cat Noir is still mad at you for not telling him your secret identity!"

Marinette wasn't bothered in the slightest. She kept smiling and her eyelids didn't open any wider. She said in the same dazzled, daydream-filled voice she had been using, "Yeah. I'm gonna tell him."

Author's Note; What's this?! A chapter of Miraculous Contempt that ends on a positive note? Truly, there is a first time for everything.

This fanfic was never meant to be a never-ending pile of sadness and negativity. The first three chapters ended with possible team separation and hatred, but I always wanted there to be hope. Now before you go, I have a huge announcement to make.

Beasts who had given up their humanity and objects animated by artificial souls were ready for a task most heinous. Their mistress stared at the castle with murder in her heart. It was she who would give us chaos and dare call it righteousness. It was she who would have the whole world stumble blindly through darkness. She had set a trap for the royals she despised. And she would have blood.

Disney Princesses: Extermination

Coming March 22nd

Don't worry, Miraculous Contempt is not going on hiatus. There will still be a new chapter every Saturday until it's finished and it's not almost over. There will just also be a chapter of Disney Princesses: Extermination every Sunday. I'm going to be writing Disney Princesses: Extermination in a way that's easy to keep up with, even if you haven't seen all the movies. So if you are only a fan of some of them, you'll still be able to follow along with it. In fact, I would ask you to try it, even if only because you like Miraculous Contempt.

Thank you for reading and I hope you come back for more of my work.

(This next part was added in later.)

I have a YouTube Channel now. I review fictional couples, talking about how well their written, how good their chemistry is and the story of how they get together. My first video is –

Spider Man and MJ (Homecoming and Far From Home) - Couple Reviews by MVPKnight

My second video is –

Cortana and Master Chief – Couple Reviews by MVPKnight

And my third video is –

Spider-Man and MJ (2002) – Couple Reviews by MVPKnight

I would provide a link, but that's actually against the terms of service here.

My channel title is the same as my penname here, so you might be able to find me by typing it into the search engine.