177A Bleecker Street was a building Marinette wasn't expecting, in fact she wasn't sure exactly what she was expecting to find at the address. For the past few weeks Marinette had been in New York, the city itself had surpassed every expectation she had that she gotten through watching movies. People here weren't as welcoming as Paris, they were colder and more hostile. Life here was busy, always moving and never stopping for anything.
It was get with the pace or get left behind in the busy life blood of the city. Luckily Marinette was a quick adjuster, able to adapt as needed. It was a life skill she was able to pick up quickly. The building itself that she stood in front of was older looking but it held history. Her blue eyes studied the architecture, her eyes settling on one circled window that stood out in place of the others. Thus building was laced with magic, she could feel that and Tikki buzzing.
"This is the place, Marinette." Tikki says, head popping out of her purse. "I can feel the ancient one here."
Marinette didn't bother to respond back as she raised a hand to knock on the door, but was greeted with the door opening and coming face to face with a tall seasoned man that was dressed like a wizard?
"You're younger than what I was expecting for a Guardian of the Miraculous." The man who Marinette was assuming was Stephan Strange says with an eyebrow raised at Marinette.
Marinette raised her own eyebrow in return, "I wasn't expecting a wizard to greet me either but here we are."
Stephan simply sighed, but couldn't help the small chuckle that left his lips. He had seen her coming, but he still couldn't believe the girl in front of him was the next to be the Guardian of the Miraculous. No one so young trained in the Mystic Arts, so it was concerning having one so young in the line of work she was in. It meant she had little to no normal life. The only one who he knew in a similar situation or he has seen coming is the young man named Peter Parker- the boy who Tony Stark had taken under his wing.
"Marinette!" A smaller voice scolded the girl and a small red blur came out of her purse. It took Stephan a moment to realize that he was in a miniature goddess's presence and he couldn't believe how fairy like she was. "Hello Ancient One."
Stephan shook his head, "I'm not the Ancient One, I am the protector of the Time Stone and a Master of the Mystic Arts."
"Time stone?" Marinette questioned, stepping inside and taking in her surroundings. "Is that another set of miraculous?"
"No." Stephan says, glancing at Tikki who was quick to take over.
"There is a lot that Marinette is still learning as a Guardian in training. Master Fu hasn't told her about the Infinity Stones yet." Tikki answered for her holder, earning another nod from the stone keeper.
"Infinity Stones?" Marinette repeated, frowning. She could already tell she had a lot to learn but maybe she was way in over her head here. Did Master Fu really make the right choice with her on being the next Guardian?
"You may be young but not misguided Marinette." Stephan says, seeing the look in her eyes he used to see when first learning the ways of the mystic arts. The uncertainty in one's self. "As the Guardian of the Miraculous your sole duty is to make sure that the Miraculous jewelry is protected and kept secret from the world."
"Which is why I can't become Ladybug here in New York." Marinette says, earning another nod.
"Exactly. If Nick Furry got wind of the Miraculous and how they worked they would be seized for selfish gain. The Miraculous is something much more sacred than the Infinity Stones, and it's safe to say they are the last line of defense we have in the Mystic Arts." Stephan says as he walked Marinette deeper into the building.
"Are the miraculous a part of the mystic arts?" Marinette asks, not sure exactly why she was here for training purposes that Master Fu couldn't teach her himself.
"Yes." Stephan says, turning to look at her. "The Infinity Stones are scattered all throughout the galaxy, maybe even deeper than that but they are as powerful as a Miraculous. They all have a unique ability and if someone get's ahold of the Infinity Stones then that said person can make anything happen."
"It's similar to putting my earrings and Plagg's ring together." Tikki says, "The Infinity Stones are highly dangerous and if it was discovered that all the miraculous were together- then it would be much more dangerous for you Marinette."
Marinette frowned, looking back and forth between Stephan and Tikki, "Then why am I here exactly?"
"I can feel the promise you have within you for the Mystic Arts, meaning you have great potential becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts. Learning would be beneficial to yourself and in protecting the Miraculous." Stephan says, pulling out a book off the shelf. "It's something I would highly consider learning."
Marinette couldn't help her curiosity spiking, "So I would become a wizard?"
"A master of the mystic arts." Stephan corrects her, eyebrow wanting to twitch.
"Whatever you say!" Marinette grins, growing excited. "When do we start?"
Nino wasn't sure who he was anymore, he couldn't help it. He loved Alya with everything he had but she was doing things now that he just couldn't agree with and stand by watching anymore. His mother had raised him to always do what was right and follow what he believed in, but recently he hadn't been doing much of either.
He had wanted to be a good boyfriend that was loyal to Alya and supported her through everything, but what was the breaking point? Was the cost worth it? Lately he had been going against his morals to accommodate a relationship that seemed to be dying. He loved Alya, but he couldn't stand by and watch her make the same mistakes over and over again.
All the two of them ever really did now was argue and the main point of the argument was always Lila. Sometimes Nino had to wonder if he was in a relationship with both Alya and Lila because of how she was, and it wasn't what he had signed up for. Nino knows Alya doesn't see it yet but when she's around Lila she becomes someone else entirely.
It was a reason Marinette left, and he knew that deep down.
Lila Rossi brought out the worst in everyone, and Alya was victim to that. Yet that doesn't excuse how Alya treated Marinette, or how he treated her as well. If there was one thing Nino regretted the most it was how he treated Marinette. Instead of questioning everything he heard because he knew Marinette, he knew all that he heard about her character was false, he had supported Alya who had done nothing to prove Lila correct in her stories.
Nino knew that Lila was lying for sure when she said she knew a certain DJ in America, a DJ who died two years earlier. There was no way for Lila to know the DJ and it only continued. She knew all the celebrities and yet had no photos with them, only more and more elaborate stories to tell.
Maybe that was why he stood in front of the Dupain-Cheng bakery fidgeting with his hands. This was a family who took him in without questions when he was younger when he parents got into the worst of their arguments. They were the family that reassured him that it was normal for parents to fight, but at the end of the day they loved each other and they loved him. That sometimes we do things for love that others can't understand, but he would come to understand in time.
Is that what turning a blind eye means?
No.
By turning a blind eye to Marinette's situation he had disrespected their friendship, her character and her family. By not sticking up and protecting his friend, he had let down the girl he had considered his sister and family long before meeting Alya and falling in love with her. That was not right, it was not who he was.
Yet who was he really? Recently he was doing more and more things that made him unhappy with himself. Could he really support and be with Alya when it made him question his morals. Was that love? Self sacrifice? To change himself to accommodate the her?
He was supposed to be a protector, he was Carapace for a reason. Ladybug had seen something heroic in him that made her think he deserved to be trusted with such a responsibility. Yet he was letting Ladybug down time and time again. How could he call himself a hero when he let down so many people, including letting Alya stray away from being who she is? For letting Adrien be dragged around by Lila and under his father's neglectful thumb for so long?
"Nino?" Sabine's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. In front of him the older asian woman stood holding the bakery door open, her ever kind eyes showing him concern he didn't deserve. "Is everything alright?"
Nino tried to get a hold of his thoughts but only one thing could come from his mouth, "I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry." It came out rushed and for the first time he felt tears well up in his eyes and heard his voice crack. He felt the guilt hit him harder than a freight train, and he felt a sense of relief for admitting it out loud for the first time.
Sabine felt concern for the teenager in front of her. After all she watched him grown up with Marinette, watch him grown into a good hearted young man. She knew exactly what he was apologizing for though. He had hurt Marinette by being a bad friend, but Sabine knew that these kids were still young, they were still living and learning through every experience- good or bad. It was the same for her own daughter, and she knew Marinette had forgiveness in her heart. She just needed time.
"We all make mistakes Nino." Sabine pacified, a kind smile on her face. "It's a part of life, to make mistakes and learn from them. To become the best version of ourselves that we can be, but sometimes we get a little lost before we can be found."
Nino wiped at his eyes, "I have been the worst friend to Marinette. I don't deserve her forgiveness and understand why she won't talk to me. I just wanted to apologize for how I acted."
"Let me tell you a secret." Sabine says, her tone of voice never an octave above caring. "I have watched you and my daughter be friends for years. You were there for her when no one else really was. You are as human as me, we make mistakes. We live and we learn and we grow from them. Marinette needs time, I can't force her to talk to you or anyone else but she will eventually come around. Be patient with her. She's also trying to make as much sense of everything like you are."
"Do you think she will forgive me?" Nino asked, looking like a little boy all over again in Sabine's eyes.
She could only offer a sincere smile, "She's never been one to hold a grudge against someone, but she needed to leave. She will talk to you when she's ready. Until then, come on in and have a cookie or two."
Nino couldn't resist Sabine's offer of cookies and a familiar warmth that seemed to be a memory now. He couldn't say no to the offer of how everything used to be, and so he didn't as he followed her into the bakery and accepted the cookies with a small smiled that hadn't been there for a while now.
New York was a place that Marinette was slowly getting use to navigating, and maybe that was something to do with her Ladybug abilities. To know where were she was, but the irony was that she was just lost in general. Her morning with Stephan Strange was basically an introduction to what was to come, all the reading she would have to face and learn. He explained that she would be able to use the Mystic Arts, the he even foresaw she would be a great master of the mystic arts and she didn't understand what he meant.
Everyone tells her she was meant for something great or good at something. Master Fu says she was to be one of the best Guardians to come. Tikki says she was the best Ladybug she had and Stephan Strange sense a greatness in her that would become clear as time goes by. Even Audrey Bourgeois says she could see Marinette at the top of the fashion world- and as much as Marinette once wanted that, she didn't now.
She was trying to find herself. Her identify in this world but she wasn't one person, she felt like she was multiple. Yet standing in front of the apartment buildings she was standing at in Queens there was an easiness she hadn't felt for a while. There was something in the presence of Peter Parker that brought a sense of comfort.
It was unusual for her to feel safe with someone she barely new, and the only person she ever took to like this had been Chat Noir- but even now that safeness she had felt with her Persian counterpart was unsteady. When the apartment door opened to reveal a fumbling mess of Peter Parker, her smile was on her face without permission.
Maybe it was the normality the teenaged boy brought her that made her feel safe. There was no strings from Paris here, not even the fashion world. He had been someone who wanted to be her friend and checked on how she was. Even if recently she was bad at replying to text, he was there and that alone meant the world to her.
Peter's lips parted to greet Marinette but another voice beat him to it, "Peter! Who's at the door?!"
Marinette grinned up at Peter and in a low whisper asked, "Aunt May?"
"Yeah..." Peter trailed off as his aunt rounded the corner and gleamed happily.
"Is this the girl?" She asked in a loud whisper, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile. It caused Peter to flush.
"n-No!" Peter stammered out, wondering why his Aunt wanted to be evil now.
Marinette decided to step in, knowing all too well the telltale signs of being embarrassed . "I'm Marinette! You must be Aunt May."
Aunt May's eyes widen a little at the french accent, then she was pulling the french girl into a hug. "You're so cute! Just like Peter mentioned!"
"AUNT MAY!" Peter was horrified. He was going to die here, and if Aunt May didn't embarrass him to death there was a line of people who would finish the the job.
Marinette only laughed, straightening her shirt when she was released. She could see where Peter got his warm personality from, and once again it was like a breath of fresh air experiencing it from Aunt May. Americans were nothing like the rumors back home. They were nice and welcoming.
"Of course he only told me the good parts." Aunt May winked at Marinette, causing the teenager to laugh.
"Touche, he did the same for you." Marinette says, getting distracted when Peter made to grab her hand and he started to pull her down the apartment complex hall.
"We have to go!" Peter called over their shoulders.
"Nice meeting you Aunt May!" Marinette says, waving with her free arm as she tried to not trip over her feet as she was pulled.
She had forgotten what it felt like to be wanted by someone else, in a totally platonic way. Peter was her only friend besides Chloe and she was scared to cling on to the friendship too fast. He texted her daily since the met on the subway. He was there and she was scared for the day he might not be.
Yet she shoved those thoughts into the back of her head, suppressing those emotions with an ease she perfected as they made it outside. It was then she notice her hand still in his, and how nice it felt.
It never felt nice with Adrien the few times in happened on accident. It had always been weird, awkward. She could never be normal with him, but right now in those moment she could bare her soul with every ounce of who she was.
"MJ and Ned are looking forward to meeting you!" Peter said excitedly, grinning at Marinette.
"I'm looking forward to meeting them as well!" Marinette smiled, falling into step next to Peter as he lead the way. "Where are we going anyways?"
"You mentioned you liked video games, so does an arcade sound good?" Peter asked, hoping he remembered what she said she liked and didn't mix it up with something she didn't like.
Marinette couldn't help the smile, "Sounds great to me. I haven't been to an arcade in a long time."
He never let go of her hand, not until they walked what seemed like a few miles. That whole time Marinette took in the new surroundings and businesses. She was admiring the city as they walked, even in the fading daylight it was something new to her in the area. The people seemed the same, rushing somewhere but there was a community as she saw people greet each other and ask about family.
Peter couldn't help but admire the girl next to him, and that was something new to him. He didn't really think about girls to much anymore- not with interning for Tony Stark and being the friendly neighborhood spider-man. No one really caught his eye, and MJ had become more like a sister. Yet the moment he bumped into Marinette, he felt drawn and hadn't been able to shake it. He wanted to know her, everything he could.
And god forbid if Aunt May told Tony about Marinette one day before he could figure her out. It was hard to live life being Spider-man, but it had been a little easier since Aunt May and MJ figured him out. It made being a super hero less stressful by not having to hide from his friends and family.
"How big is the difference here than in Paris?" Peter asks, looking over at Marinette. "Is it true that Paris can be dirty sometimes or was that Americans lying?"
Marinette cocked an eyebrow, "Paris being dirty? It stays as clean as any city can be." She didn't understand why someone would think Paris was dirty, and it dawned on her that it was something American's assumed or it could be all of the NDA's tourists would be given. There had to be different NDAs that tourists got and that actual citizens got.
"What is Paris like?" Peter asked as they continued their walk in the city streets. "I've never been to Paris or have had the chance to ask someone from there."
Marinette went through her head for an answer. Telling someone that Paris was over ran by an emotional terrorist would bring alarm, especially if there was no solid proof she could provide. She'd come off crazy and besides, any of her links she had in Paris wouldn't connect out here in America. She tried and got nothing in return on her end. Besides, she was supposed to not alert anyone's attention to the miraculous, so that would include Paris's issues.
"It's not too different from here." Marinette says, giving a small shrug. "There's always people going about their business. People sitting out on the sidewalk waiting on cafe goodies. Friends hanging out. Then, of course, the whole other language being spoken."
Peter chuckled, "I always wanted to go, but it's so expensive."
"I found that out traveling over here." Marinette says, even if it was a little white like. Audrey had taken care of all the expenses, including airfare- but she still looked at the prices. "New York lights up at night the same way Paris does, although New York is more lively. The life here goes on and in Paris there is a sense of calm in the night."
She missed her parents, and she missed the feeling of running on the rooftops. She yearned to do that here but she couldn't. She was somewhat normal here. She had a chance to be at least a little normal finally.
"Here we are!" Peter gave a grand gesture to the building he just stopped in front of.
It looked like a normal arcade, not too different from the small and few there was in Paris. Walking in there was a line up of different games, some she was familiar with and some she wasn't. She couldn't help the grin that took place on her lips, her excitement shinning through. Inside of Marinette's purse, Tikki hummed to herself in content. Her bug was buzzing with happiness for once, and it felt good to know she was okay.
"Peter!" A female voice called out, causing the two teens who just entered to turn towards the voice.
"MJ!" Peter waved, grabbing Marinette's hand once again and pulling her towards the table MJ was sitting at with Ned.
MJ was pretty, that was the first thing that Marinette took note of. She reminded Marinette of Alya for a moment complexion wise. Her hair was curly with some waves and she dressed casual. Another thing she took note of was the way MJ was watched her. It was the gaze of a reporter, which caused Marinette to put a smile onto her face as she got to the table
"This her?" She asked, eyes darting back over to Peter.
"Yeah! Marinette meet MJ. MJ meet Marinette." Peter then moved to point at the other teen. "That right there is Ned."
Ned was looking at her with welcoming brown eyes and a cheerful smile. He seemed to also be of asian decent or islander, with his sun kissed skin. Marinette could also tell that he was the nerd type and he was goofy. It was refreshing.
"Nice to meet you both." Marinette greeted, realizing then her hand was still holding onto Peter's when MJ looked down with a raised eyebrows. Marinette had to fight the blush that seemed to raise to her cheeks as she pulled her hand away. In turn that seemed to make Peter realize they were still holding hands as he looked the other way.
"There's two of them now." MJ stated, amused.
Ned leaned forward, "But one has a cute french accent."
"I thought he was lying about the accent." MJ says, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "What brings a french girl like you from Paris to New York?"
Marinette couldn't help the feeling slightly flustered at the sudden attention. These were Peter's friends, he had brought her to meet them and that meant he told them about her. She probably had this expectation of being this interesting new girl in America to live up too.
"I'm an intern for Audrey Bourgeois." Marinette informs, causing the three's eyes to widen.
"As in fashion icon Audrey Bourgeois?" Ned repeated, earning a nod.
"That's the one." Marinette confirms, "I'm here for the summer and maybe after that I might work for her in designing."
MJ hummed, slightly impressed. "I heard rumors about her being strict on her designs. Do you design custom orders?"
Marinette could only nod again, "Yes. I've designed for both Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale. It's been a life dream of mine for this internship."
MJ stared Peter in the eyes with one of those most serious looks Marinette had ever seen, "She's basically the female version of you that is in fashion. Does she know who you intern for?"
Marinette couldn't help but glance in question at Peter, "You intern in New York too?"
At some point Ned got nachos ordered to the table and was munching on them when he decided to out his best friend, "Peter interns for Tony Stark- but more for the science aspect than fashion."
Tony Stark.
Marinette could feel her body freeze up at the name, because that was the name of the billionaire, playboy, philanthropist that was also Iron Man as in an Avenger. Ohhhh Tikki was gonna tell her to be careful, even more so than normal. Yet she was quick to look at Peter with a surprised look.
"So you're abnormally intellectual?" Marinette raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't say abnormally-"
"Just a little it Parker." MJ cut him off, pinching her fingers in front of her face to emphasizes it.
"Peter is really good with science and math, any numbers he can figure out. Same with equations." Ned says, hyping his best friend up.
Marinette couldn't help laughing, "Good to know if I ever need help with science and math. Unfortunately I'm not skilled in those areas, more skilled the arts and english. I spend most of my time designing now a days."
MJ's eyes didn't look any less calculating, at least that was how it felt to Marinette who could still feel the other girl's eyes. She understood that it was a friend looking out for another friend who met a girl and decided to bring her along. She didn't know her, and Marinette didn't blame her. In fact, Marinette wished she had a friend like that back in Paris.
"Marinette." MJ's voice snapped Marinette's attention, her blue eyes meeting the other girl's brown. "Peter mentioned you came here partly because you were bullied-"
"MJ!" Peter groaned, running a hand over his face that she outed him for saying Marinette's business.
Marinette merely rose an eyebrow again, wondering why that was relevant to this girl. "I used to be my class president in Paris. My classmates had been friends I had for years, did a lot for them in the form of small favors like clothing designs or helping with school work to bigger favors like babysitting last minute and helping in a pinch. One day we get this new girl who really likes to lie about everything. Anything that comes out of her mouth is a fabrication of the truth, and because I knew that she spread lies about me."
Marinette's eyes bore into Mj's without flinching, suppressing her nerves. "I lost my friends one by one. Was threatened and pushed around, and I was asked to stand aside and wait the lies out. Told it would get better. I had to leave Paris to get better, and my internship was all I had. Peter was the first person besides a girl named Chloe to be nice to me in the past year."
MJ frowned, because she understood about being the oddball out. To be the one people whispered about and no one was really friends with. She understood, to a degree because no one spread lies or actively tried to ruin her life. So, being uncharacteristic and unnerving both Peter and Ned, she offered a small smile. Almost minuscule.
"You have friends here in New York now. You aren't alone." MJ offered some words of comfort.
Ned grinned, "Yeah! Especially with Peter here holding your hand and all!"
"Ned!"
Marinette couldn't help but give a joyful laugh as she fell into place with the trio, playing games and ordering a burger and fries.
It was nice feeling wanted again and normal.
Paris had always been his home, it was where his family was- where his career really took off and flourished. It had been his home until four years ago, until he lost the one thing he cared for the most in this world- his wife Emilie. He knew it was selfish of him to say the one he cared the most for was his wife instead of his son. Yet no matter how hard he tried to care more for Adrien, he couldn't.
They had been a happy family once, and Gabriel knew he loved his son then. His son was so much like his mother, and yet Adrien didn't even know. He didn't know that his whole character had been nearly identical to Emilie's and Gabriel knew that it was because Emilie had been the one parent who spent majority of her time with their son.
Gabriel had always been in his work, and a part of him wished he could relive it all to enjoy the family experience. Now his family had fallen apart, and Adrien was no where nearly close to him. In fact Gabriel knew that of Adrien had the option, he's leave for good to someone who would care and love him. And Gabriel was too cruel to allow that.
Too selfish.
Sometimes he resented his son for merely looking so much like Emilie, reminding and mocking Gabriel of what he couldn't achieve. The Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous. If he could only get those damn earrings and ring then he could fix everything. He could have Emilie back, and everything would be right again. Time and time again his plans were soiled, ruined and tossed back into his face that he could never win.
Ladybug was smart, given her young age. Sure she was lucky, it was her ability- a pro to the Ladybug miraculous. Yet her intellect is what made her even more dangerous to his plans. He could tell Chat Noir followed Ladybug, that she was the one leading. She knew more than any of the other holders.
What made her so special?
For the past few month he had observed the heroine, and he wondered how she managed. She saw the tension that had grown between her and Chat Noir. Hell even he could feel the balance thrown off between the two, but something had changed. She had gotten more violent in her plans, less mercy to be given and relying on her lucky charm to fix everything.
There was only so much a teenager could take, and he knew it was weighing down on her now. Trying to balance the lives of a normal teenager and a super hero. What she had to be missing out on, the responsibility of it all.
Gabriel wouldn't deny it that he stayed in his butterfly room more often in hopes to feel that pure desperation of her breaking emotions, but that was another thing. She was hard to read. Every now and then he would feel these spikes of anger, of malice and sadness. It had been so strong it could make him even feel it, and he knew exactly who those emotions belonged to. He just had no clue where to find her.
And then one day those feelings disappeared altogether, and when he was searching for those emotions he noticed something. He didn't sense the Ladybug Miraculous. He gave it a few days, thinking maybe the Ladybug Kwami taught the holder something knew to mask her emotions- but they never resurfaced.
Even when he sent out a few akumas they were quickly dealt with by Chat Noir and Honey Bee- the most dysfunctional duo of heroes. Gabriel was surprised to see the bee miraculous out, and it was enough to make him stop attacks for a few weeks and really thing out a strategy here. He had been given an opportunity he couldn't pass up when he noticed Honey Bee catching his butterflies.
Ladybug was not in Paris.
Which mean one thing.
"Natalie." Gabriel called, reentering his office to find his assistant waiting there for him already.
"Yes Mr. Agrest?"
Gabriel pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "I no longer feel the Ladybug Miraculous in Paris. Please look through the files and NDA's to see which resident of Paris has recently left."
Maybe, for once, he could have the upper hand if he could figure out a damn teenager's secret identity.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years! Hope you all are staying safe! It took me a minute for this chapter and I hope it came out okay! I'm slowly building the character interaction but it's getting there!
Let me know how this chapter was! I'm going to rewatch the Spiderman movies with Tom Holland so I can write MJ and Ned more correctly. I did it by memory in this chapter and hope it came out okay!
