Chapter | Eleven

When May returned home, she wasn't very surprised to find the two teenagers passed out cold still on the couch. If there was one thing in common that the two had, it was being fashionably late due to sleeping in. Only she knew that yesterday had been a more emotionally stressful for the both of them.

What these two had between them was rare, and May knew that. Especially for their age and to be this connected, it reminded her of Ben. She couldn't help the smile that made it's way onto her lips seeing how Peter curled against Marinette protectively. Chuckling to herself, she took her phone out and snapped a few photos of the two.

It took about another hour for Peter to eventually stir from his sleep, softly groaning as he went to stretch his body of the oncoming aches of sleeping so still. Then he felt a weight weighing him down and frozen, momentarily forgetting he had fallen asleep watching to movie soon after Marinette. He glanced down, a smile adoration pulling at his sleeps seeing Marinette snuggled up against him with drool coming from the side of mouth. She was cute, and that was all he could really process in the moment.

He took note of how relaxed she looked here. How the wrinkle she usually had in her forehead from stress was no longer there. She looked peaceful, and he couldn't help but run his thumb along her cheek. As much as he knew about her, he also knew Marinette hadn't let him in fully. She still wouldn't talk about Paris, and sometimes the topic was enough to upset her. Peter just wished he could help, in anyway.

A flash disrupted his thoughts, brown eyes snapping up to find May standing there with her phone out and grinning an all knowing grin. Remembering the exact position he was in, he flushed but refused to actually move. That would cause pushing Marinette to the floor and waking her up. He knew she barely slept with how she got into her creative mode.

"You better marry her." Was the exact thing May mouthed to him, pointing at Marinette and then giving him a look as if to say he better do as she said.

"Can I ask her out first?" Peter mouthed back, eyebrows knitted together to say leave me be, I'm going at my own pace.

"No." May shook her head.

A soft whine drew both Peter's and May's attention down to the Parisan girl that was burying her head further into the crook of Peter's neck. May had to withhold a laugh seeing Peter flush again, because sure she knew he was clumsy but embarrassed was still new. He also looked awkward, and she was sure it was because she was in the room which made it all the better and amusing.

"Five more minutes." Marinette murmured, stretch her own body and not realizing she was still pressed up against Peter.

This is what caused May to break and laugh out loud at Peter and how red he got. It was enough to make him consider jumping ship and pushing Marinette to the floor. He didn't of course, but the thought seemed tempting.

Marinette's senses slowly came back to life after a deep sleep she hadn't had in a while. It felt nice sleeping so good since it was a rare type of sleep she hardly ever got anymore. Opening her eyes cued her more on what was going on. First she noticed skin that was not her own. Second, she felt another body pressed against her. Third, she heard laughing and looked over to see May. Horror settled in as Marinette looked back and up into the eyes of Peter Parker.

Yelping, she stood quick. A little too quick since her knee hit Peter down south, causing him to groan in pain and curl up on himself. May was laughing harder at the scene that just got more and more chaotic. It was a great start to her morning coming home from work.

"I'm sorry!" Marinette quickly apologized to Peter, over and over again realizing she kneed him in the groin. "Oh my god I am so sorry Peter!"

"It's fine." Peter coughed, "I'm fine."

"You sure over there?" May asked with amusement, "Peter tingle isn't broken?"

"May!" Peter groaned while Marinette said it with surprise and horror.

"Oh my god." Peter muttered, wondering who the hell he pissed off for his aunt to be like this.

"Will ice help?" Marinette squeaked, trying to offer some sort of help.

"No." Peter slowly sat up, shaking his head. "I'm fine."

"On that note kiddos, I'm gonna sleep a little bit." May says, still laughing on her way out of the living room.

An awkward silence engulfed the two. Somewhere in the closet Marinette knew Tikki was laughing away and getting ready to tease her when the chance came about. Oh all the teasing Tikki could do with new events that happened. This was the second time in the past twenty four hours, but she didn't want to dwell on the why. She was too scared to think of it.

"Are you hungry?" Marinette asks in a rush, "How about breakfast? Breakfast sounds good. I'm going to go make some."

She made her way to the kitchen, completely missing Peter trying to reach out to grab her hand. He watched her scurry away into the kitchen, heard her going through the cabinets for pans and sighed. Why was it so hard to admit his feelings? Maybe these were just signs to keep things the way they were for now, that it wasn't the time yet. Hell, she just ran away.

Grabbing the tv remote he flipped the channels after turning it on and let the news play. He couldn't be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if he didn't know what was going on in the city. Running a hand through his hair he stood up and tossed the remote to the side, getting up to follow after Marinette in the kitchen to help her out.

"On today's breaking news and number one topic, Paris's Ladybug and Chat Noir. The duo suddenly started trending in the middle of the night out of the blue. Just who are these mysterious heroes of Paris? How did they fly under the government's raider? Should we be concerned for more magic users? How did they manage to stay away from the Sokvia Accords?"

It caught his attention quick, mainly because Marinette mentioned none of this to him before. A loud crash came from inside the kitchen then, this time Peter rushed in. He found Marinette scrambling to pick up the broken pieces of the glass bowl she was whipping eggs in. Right then and there he could tell something was different with Marinette. No longer was she embarrassed, she was on edge.

"I'm so clumsy." She was muttering to herself, "So so clumsy, always making a mess of things somehow." He felt she wasn't just taking about the mess on the floor. He couldn't help but glance back towards the living room where the news woman was still talking.

"Aliens, gods, super soldiers and heroes all exist. Who's to say magic doesn't? It seems as if Paris has been under hostage of an emotional terrorist with teenaged heroes keeping him at bay. Is it safe to assume that the government will step in or even the Avengers? What exactly is Paris's government doing to help the situation? Who are these other heroes that come and go?"

Marinette's thoughts had gone straight to Chat Noir and Honey Bee. She exposed Chloe to this world. Not only Chloe, but Luka, Kagami, Nino, and Alya. The world would see them, they would ask about them. She painted a target on all their back, at least her own, Chat's and Chloe's. People would poke and prod for answers, try to find their identities. They would know the truth of the existence on miraculous jewelry, hell even the kwamis.

Suddenly Marinette could hear her heart pounding in her ears, her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't breathe, panic settled in that this was it. This was how she was going to go out. Her end was caused by herself.

"She's having a panic attack Peter." May heard the crash in the kitchen, and it had been loud enough to cause concern. Rushing to the source, she found Peter unsure what to do and Marinette frozen on the floor stuck in her own head.

"What do I do to help her?" Peter asks, kneeling next to Marinette as carefully as he could with the glass.

"Have her focus on you, or your words and calm her breathing." May says, trying to guide him on what to do.

"Mari." Peter gently touched her arm, slowly moving his fingers down and wrapping his hand around her wrist to get her to drop the glass she did manage to pick up. "Marinette, can you hear me? Focus on my voice, I need you to calm down. I need you to think of something happy, somewhere safe."

Tears pricked at her eyes, because where was safe? She could hear him, loud and clear over the thudding in her ears. She tried to take slower breaths, but her mind lead her to the one place she felt the safest in a while. It was was she slept in such a deep sleep with her guard down, and that was in Peter's arms. He calmed her down without even knowing it. He had grounded her without her realizing how much he truly became too mean to her.

Slowly she focused on his voice, letting it lead her back to the reality she didn't want to face. She felt his touch on her wrist and the sting on her hand from where the glass nicked her skin. Her breathing turned normal slowly, and her eyes met his worried ones.

"You're okay." Peter tells her, and how she wanted that to be true.

"I need to go." It was rushed words that spewed from her mouth, and before anyone could stop her she was out the door with her purse in hand with Tikki.

Peter made to go after her, but May stood in front of him. "It might be a form of PTSD, triggered by the news. You said she didn't tell you everything about Paris, clearly, but let her come to you. Check on her later so she knows you still care."

Peter could only nod, glancing back at the mess in the kitchen. "I got the mess."


The phones had been going off all morning for the Le Grand Paris, which wasn't unusual. It was just that today the phones had been particularly persistent and never ending. Now that was unusual to Chloe, especially when the receptionists usually were pretty good at answering the calls. Today they just couldn't keep up.

The front office area was a mess, the workers themselves running around like chickens without their heads. Something was off, Chloe could feel it deep within her core. In fact something inside her was buzzing out of warning that everything was about to change. If there was one thing she learned by now it was to trust her instincts.

She made her way into the elevator, needing to see her father. He would know why everyone was a mess, but she found him inside his office in a worse state. Andre Bourgeois had dark eye bags adorning his face with a frown on his lips. Stress was evident in his tired eyes as he frantically picked up phone calls to only hang up abruptly for the next.

"What's going on?" Chloe questions, eyebrow raising up when he gave her an exasperated look. Now that was a look he hardly ever gave her, meaning this was something utterly big going on.

"Not now Chloe." Andre says, shooing her away with his hand dismissively, "I'm busy."

It was a tone that was final, telling her to get out and leave him alone. Now that made her bristle from a newfound annoyance she hadn't had in a while. She had been doing better on personal growth, which of course came with the help of a few people she considered friends. Realistically it was redemption she was finding through Marinette, who given her a chance with entrusting her with Pollen.

Chloe always knew selfishly that Marinette was her own personal redemption. It was poetic really, how she once tormented the baker's daughter when they were younger and now that they were older it was the same girl who she once hurt that helped bring the best version of Chloe out. Marinette inspired her to be better, to be the good in the world that was limited on that. Of course Chloe had Adrien, who was trying his best not to drown in self pity and guilt that threatened to consume him.

Plagg had been the one the help her break through to the blonde teenager, telling him that every miraculous holder had an origin story.

"Kid, you can't let this get you down so much. Marinette needs you to be strong for her here, because she can't be. I can promise she will forgive you, because you are her friend and partner." Plagg tells him in a rare case of seriousness.

Adrien still had a doubtful look, "I don't know about that."

"Listen. It is very rare for these many holders to be the true holders of the miraculous." Plagg tells Adrien, floating right in front of his face, "I've been around a long time to know that something big is in store, that it was fate that everything is happening. It's because you are true holders, that being you, Chloe, Marinette and the others that you are true heroes. Every hero has their origin story, and that doesn't mean it's when Master Fu gave you us kwami."

"It's what you make of it." Pollen interjects with a smile, "It's when a hero has an awakening, like Chloe. Her origin story did not start with getting me and exposing herself as Queen Bee, it is when she found herself, her true self and decided to make a difference."

"When she helped Marinette." Adrien whispered with realization,

"You and Marinette were given us out of duty to protect Paris, but this doesn't mean that it's your true origin story kid or true calling as a hero." Plagg says, explaining softly, "You are still finding who you are, and that's okay."

"We did so much for this city, how can it not be our origin story?" Adrien muttered.

"Because you have not found who you are, nor your true calling. You think you're Chat Noir solely for the recovery of the lost miraculous jewelry?" Plagg shook his head, "I know that's not true because of how many true holders Marinette and Tikki found. You are meant for something greater than Paris, this was just a warm up. Once you find yourself, your purpose- then and only then you'll realize what I mean."

Chloe had been warm after that conversation, understanding what the two kawmi's were trying to tell Adrien. It was something she had already gone through personally, and figured out herself. She knew Adrien would too, he needed time to heal. Marinette wasn't the only person affected in Paris, but she was one of the more deeply traumatized ones. The other holders were going through their own shit too, and it made Plagg's and Pollen's words that much more haunting.

Her mind was brought out of its speculative with the shrill of her cellphone ringer going off. Reaching into her pocket she wasn't too surprised seeing Adrien's name on her lock screen, and that was because the two of them were on better terms since the reveal and that they were actually becoming friends. Still a work in progress friendship, but a friendship nothing less.

"Hello?" Chloe answered, looking at her nails as she debated which color to go with next. "Any reasons why people are going bonkers calling my father?"

"Have you not seen the news Chlo?" Adrien's voice was tight with worry and stress, "The world knows about Chat Noir and Ladybug. They know about us and want to know why they never did before. My guess is that they're going for your father's head since Tony Stark just went live to announce the signal jams his AI, F.R.I.D.A.Y , found."

"Tony Stark outed us to the world?" Chloe repeated slowly, processing the words. Out of all the ways to be outed for the world to see, Iron Man was the one?

"You should see the memes. People work fast, they're actually kind of great. The Chat Noir ones are purrfect."

"Adrien." Chloe hissed as she walked back to her room, "Focus."

"I am, I just thought I'd share the pawsome memes."

Chloe almost groaned when she felt her phone buzz with a text, already knowing that it was Adrien sending her something. Pitching the bridge of her nose she dared to look at the screen, and there in all it's glory was a range of different Chat Noir memes.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous." Chloe muttered as she brought the phone back up to her ear, "You do realize what this means right? That Chat Noir and Ladybug are on display for the world to see. Which means that the miraculous are bound to get sought out after. We have to think of governments, outside forces like aliens or gods like Loki. Hell, even the Avengers."

"Chlo breath." Adrien says, "I know. I went through my initial freak out this morning with Plagg, but he pointed out a few things to think positively about. Hawkmoth is probably shitting his pants too, because now it's not just us. The world sees us, but they also see him. Governments can be dealt with, they can't take them from us. They don't know the secrets, just Master Fu and Marinette. Kwamis also can't be seen on camera-"

"Oh my god, Marinette." Chloe gasped with realization, "She's probably freaking the fuck out. She was stressed here over Hawkmoth akumatizing her, I can just imagine her freaking out even more now."

"We can't do anything about it now. She can't cast a miracle cure and make everyone forget. The world knows, we just have to be even more careful with ourselves." Adrien was oddly calm about all of this, but then again he was the one who always had a leveled head. Well most times that is.

Chloe took a deep breath, "So what do we do?"

"Not much we can do really. Even Plagg said that. Basically roll with the punches, keep a vigilant eye on our surroundings. If Tony Stark can unjam the signals here, I'm sure he has some sort of programming to identify people, even teenagers in a mask. I'm pretty sure he knows Spider-Man's, since he recruited him and all."

"Yeah, that's not very reassuring to me at all." Chloe huffed, "There's a high chance our identities are already compromised."

She could hear Adrien take a breath, and for a moment she wondered what was going through his head, "Marinette is the one that's alone, and that's why I worry. She has no one to really talk too over there. She hasn't come back to Paris, just once for Luka being an akuma but even then she was different."

"She will never be the same girl we knew before." Chloe softly tells him, "That girl never really existed if you think about it. It was a front she put on to fool everyone with over time, and sure it was once who she was a long time ago, but I'm sure that girl died the moment she got Tikki. She was never going to be the same then."

"I just worry that I'm not doing enough."

"There's not much you can do or even I can do. She needs time to make these choices-"

"There's going to be a time soon where she won't have time to make these choices Chlo, and that's what worries me. Before you were here with me as HB, I was with her out there. She was aggressive, angry, and violent. What if she lost that kindness she once had?"

"Then that's something we'll have to live with as a consequence to our actions. We can only grow ourselves, not her. She will grow in ways she needs in order to survive, and so will we. Met later?"

"Same spot as every night Chlo." Adrien agreed with her, "Then we can look at the memes together.

Chloe closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose again, "I said it once and I'll say it again, ridiculous-"

"Utterly ridiculous." Adrien mocked, laughing when he was met with the dial tone as his only response.


Stephen Strange would like to say he was surprised when it came to Tony Stark outing the existence of the miraculous to the world, but coming from the man who announced to the world that he was Iron Man in front of a press conference- it wasn't a surprise at all. It was because Tony leaked the existence of the miraculous to the world that Stephen wanted the said man to be educated on the backlash that would surely come their way, or more specifically Marinette's way.

The teenager was under a lot of pressure, and the moment Tony leaked the existence of Paris's heroes and issue at hand she had a panic attack. Which was all information Tikki told him first handed since they came straight here from Peter parker's residence. There would be more media coverage, more questions and a lot more stress on the situation in the days to come. It wasn't something a teenager should have to deal with, but the matter of the fact was that it was something Marinette would have to deal with. She was Ladybug, and she was also the next Guardian to be. She had to figure these things out, and she would have to deal with being known globally.

It also meant a lot more attention on not only her, but her partners in Paris. She had their safety to be concerned about, and would stress over it because she was the type of girl to stress over everything. It was safe to say Stephen was not pleased with Tony.

"Tikki, Master Fu is going to be so upset." Marinette muttered in distress to her kawmi as she held her phone rewatching the footage of Tony exposing the miraculous.

Tikki shook her head, flying in front of the phone, "This had nothing to do with you Marinette. Though we will have to figure out how he came to figure it out. It will draw attention to you Marinette, and paint a target on your back as Ladybug."

Marinette sighed, looking over the book Stephen had given her to look over. She was learning fast, almost ready to try to use actual spells. Yet her mind couldn't focus at the moment, not when she kept replaying the news clip video.

"On today's breaking news and number one topic, Paris's Ladybug and Chat Noir. The duo suddenly started trending in the middle of the night out of the blue. Just who are these mysterious heroes of Paris? How did they fly under the government's raider? Should we be concerned for more magic users? How did they manage to stay away from the Sokovia Accords?"

All valid questions. How would she manage to keep people safe? Herself safe or her partners? Even her parents? Maybe it was time to go back. That everything here in New York was not meant for her no matter how much it slowly became what she wanted. Paris just became a liability, people's attention were now watching and waiting. Yet she had more reason to worry about organizations like Hydra, terrorist groups who would do anything for power or even governments. Yet they don't know about the Miraculous. It was only a matter of time though. Would the American government come after her and her partners because they were not apart of the Sokovia Accords?

"Maybe you shoulder consider having the other true holders in the game. It will help me keep up with this city, and because you need to heal emotionally. You need that time. Please take the time to heal."

Chat Noir's words echoed in her head even louder than before, reminding her that she exposed others to this world as well. Deep down she knew rationally that they were all true holders, and that realistically she could do nothing to keep kwamis away from their true holders. How could she when she had Tikki? Without Tikki she felt incomplete now. Yet maybe Chat had a point, maybe this was really bigger than the three of them.

Honey Bee and Chat Noir needed more in people their corner, but the real question was if identities should be revealed? Now that Marinette herself knew first hand how it felt to have someone know, to be able to vent and talk to someone- well how could she truly say no to that for the others?

"Maybe I should consider Chat's request Tikki. Maybe it's time to make the other true holders permanent heroes." Marinette says softly, because only true holders can remove their own miraculous. Once they accepted the kwami, the true holders were bound for lifetime. No one could remove the designated miraculous. "It might be safer that way for the other kwamis too. For Paris, the people."

"It's something to consider." Tikki says, agreeing with Marinette's view point. Each and everyday she became more of a Guardian, and lost more of herself.

Tikki could see it, how Marinette tries to keep everything normal. How much she tries to be a normal teenager with Peter. It was nice, the moments Tikki could hear Marinette laugh a real laugh and feel happiness radiating through their bond. It was those moments that she knew Marinette felt normal, having a sense of safety that Tikki didn't realize Marinette had lost.

Stephen looked over to his student, seeing her eyebrow scrunch up in thought as she looked over her phone. The way her shoulders were slumped seemed as if she had the weight of the world on them. Out of all the other humans he had interacted with, even as a surgeon, there were only a few he didn't mind. Marinette being one of them.

It was why he grew angry and Tony Stark, and it was also why he opened a portal to the Stark Industries right where Tony was working and made sure a paper with address made it to the billionaire philanthropist.

"Everything will change Marinette, and I know you're scared of change." Stephen decided to take a seat next to her, trying to offer some sense of comfort, "Someone once told me that sometimes one must break the rules in order to serve the greater good. Do what you think is good for you and your team."

"The world is watching us now, and I haven't really been Ladybug for months-"

"You are Ladybug. With or without the the magic suit." Stephen was quick to correct her, "You're also so much more now. You'll figure out what to do."

It was nice to know that someone else besides Tikki or Chloe had some sort of faith in her. It made her feel as if she hadn't completely failed in being a hero, even when everything she worked hard to accomplish seemed to fall into place. She knew rationally she couldn't hide from the world, not entirely since they already knew. This time she'd roll with the punches. Yet she needed to talk to Chloe and Chat Noir. Oh and of course Master Fu and the other kwamis.

A knock was what brought Marinette's attention back to reality, mainly because Stephen never had any visitors. No one brought him mail or packages, so someone knocking was a little more alarming. Yet when she looked over at Stephen he didn't seem to have a worry in sight, not even as he went to answer the door.

She didn't make a move too follow, but when Stephen was heading back with someone else the voice sounded familiar. Moments later she got to see why that was. There stood Tony Stark in all his glory, and she couldn't help but not be impressed. This was Iron Man? One of the Avengers? His whole aura screamed self centered, nothing hero like. Yet maybe that was what self proclaimed heroes were like here in New York.

"You're Marinette-"

"Please don't tell Peter." Marinette plead was the first thing out of her mouth. She knew Peter interned for this man, and the last thing she wanted was for Peter to be swept up into this world that she seemed to be bringing more and more people into, "I'll explain, but please don't tell him. I already freaked out on him and May this morning because the world knows the truth."

Tony took in the teenaged girl, finally seeing why Peter was interested in this girl. She was the female version of him, and to top it all off they both were bug themed heroes. Specifically bugs found in a garden, oh it was great. There was nothing dangerous about her, not like Natasha level dangerous. Maybe dangerous as Peter could get if he really tired, and half the time that was because he was too reckless. It was enough to ease Tony a little bit.

"So it's all real?" Tony raised an eyebrow, "Magic jewelry?"

"That are tethered to us kawmi's." Tikki was vibrating with visible annoyance as she came out of her hiding spot to face the man that just made their lives a little more complicated than before.

Tony blinked in mild surprise. Anything after the Chitauri fiasco rarely surprised him now. If anything he was fascinated by the situation, "What is a kwami?"

"Pocket sized gods and goddesses." Marinette answered before Tikki could chime in, "Tikki is the goddess of creation."

"Isn't your mythological name Eurynome?" Tony inquired, earning a weird look from the small goddess so he further added, "I took time to learn after meeting Thor, god of thunder."

"Those are confidential secrets." Tikki was almost vibrating from her annoyance, "Ones that will not be shared with a man so careless for secrets that are not his own, or even the ones that are his own Iron Man."

Marinette winced inwardly since she's never heard Tikki take that tone of voice before and now knew that this was Tikki openly being hostile to someone she did not like. Through their bond, Marinette could feel how angry Tikki was, and she also understood. It put Tikki and the others at risk.

"In my defense I didn't know when I unblocked the signal." Tony defended himself lazily.

Stephen shook his head, "The one thing that people like you and the rest of the world who fight with bbad language and guns don't get is the consequences of bad choices made by people with the worst intentions."

"The miraculous are very powerful artifacts that with the wrong person can lead to disastrous measures." Marinette cut in, "Natural disasters didn't happened naturally, but were the consequences of bad choices."

"Which contain what exactly?" Tony continued to muse.

Tikki hovered right in front of Tony so her eyes were boring into his soul, "The sinking of Atlantis, the black plague, extinction of dinosaurs, Pompeii."

"You killed the dinosaurs?"

"That was an example of a bad choice, it wasn't a person that time. Just a stupid stinky sock." Tikki muttered the last part more so to herself.

"Kwami's were also the reason why the Infinity Stones were created, correct?" Stephen never got to ask Tikki the question before, and mostly hesitated because it was now lost knowledge and mere speculation. "You would know, being the kwami of creation."

Tikki turned to look at Stephen, surprise showing in her eyes. There was a lot of things people never knew now a days, knowledge that died out with a creation generation and the rest were never taught. Information that should probably stay secret and lost, but glancing at Marinette made the decision for her. Tikki wouldn't let Marinette suffer not knowing anymore.

"It was easy to let scientific 'discoveries' cover for us, seeing how the times had changed. It was easier for people to believe that science was real and true rather than magical reasons. The big bang did not create-"

Tony raised his hand, "Exactly what are the infinity stones?"

"They are believed tp be six immensely powerful gem-like objects tied to different aspects of the universe, but the truth is that they were a creation of the miracle box and of us kawmis. We were young when they were created, and not even we understand the full reason on how they came to be. The stones are Space, Reality, Power, Soul, Mind and Time."

"Kaalki is the kwami of teleportation-" Marinette started, slowly piecing it together.

"The space stone was created with a mix of Kaalki. Reality was Trixx. Power stone was Plagg. Soul stone was me. Mind was Duusu. Time was Fluff." Tikki looked at Stephen, "With it came the mystic arts and Anciet One, they were the original guardians of the miraculous. Yet it became known how dangerous the Infinity Stones were, so it was agreed on that a new order named The Order of the Miraculous was watch over the kwamis and the Ancient One would help separate the stones amongst the universe." Tikki took a small breath, her eyes hardening in seriousness. "This information stays here, because it can't be known."

"They saw no one can use the stones." Stephen tries to ask the unasked question.

"Together they seem to make a wish come true, and of course it has a consequence. Probably because of Plagg and I. Anyone can use them, except two. The Power stone reacts like Plagg, it will kill and wipe out anyone around it. Then the soul stone, it is guarded and there is a price for it. The only ones who can truly use them are true holders of miraculous." Tikki's eyes were the most serious Marinette had ever seen, "This information is to stay in this room or you are not going to live to tell the tale."

Three set of eyes looked over at Tony, who had his arms crossed looking unamused, "I can keep a secret, but you expect me to believe you're a goddess? Why are you in such a small form?"

"That's not your business." Tikki was not letting anything else go, "Not all books are right."

Stephen took a step towards Tony, gaining his attention, "This information is very sensitive. You are only being allowed to know this because Tikki and I believed you should understand what problems could only happen if people knew what we now do. Now you will help Marinette discreetly take down Hawkmoth."

"Why is she in New York when she is supposed to be swinging around Paris?" Tony's eyes narrowed, "She's already messing up being her neighborhood friendly Ladybug."

Marinette flinched at that, and this caused Tikki to get right into Tony's face, "She isn't Spider-Man. She doesn't have a mentor in Paris to help, just a partner who is learning with her. She was compromised emotionally to stay there, and she's here for training with Stephen. We don't need your help with our situation, a man like you couldn't understand our situation."

"Excuse me?" Tony's jaw flexed, "Did you just call me stupid?"

"If the shoe fits you wear it yeah?" Tikki quipped back.

"Tikki!" Marinette called for her kwami, but was ignored.

"You don't have to believe me, but I swear if any of this gets out you'll end up like the dinosaurs." Tikki swore to the billionaire.

"Tony," Stephen stood in front of Tony, "Just keep this to yourself. It will help a lot better than you sharing this as well or her identity. People like hydra or other governments would try to weaponize these kids. Don't get their blood on your hands."

Tony couldn't help but think of Peter, how he couldn't stand to see the boy struggling like Marinette did. Then there was the fact that Peter and Marinette were friends, and they liked each other. He would be devastated if anything were to happen to her, and he could tell that she had no clue that people already knew her identity. It also dawned on him that Natasha and Clint found those pictures before this reveal to the world, so Marinette was already in danger before hand. Probably more so now.

He didn't exactly understand, but her understood enough the potential danger this could bring. The kid didn't deserve this, and he had been a pretty big asshole in the past. Yet Tony couldn't understand why these teenaged superheroes kept coming across him. Maybe, just maybe, he could help these kids in ways no one had for them. Like Peter, he can ensure they don't die young because they were alone and unskilled. Peter would want him to help her.

"Kid." Tony looked at Marinette, "Just let me know how I can help."

Marinette took a moment and nodded, "Okay, but please don't tell Peter."


Thank you like always for the support on this story. It makes me so happy that people enjoy this story enough to keep up with it, so here is another update! I honestly had fun writing this chapter and next one we will see a bit more of Paris. Welcome to the second story arc officially!

Marvel history and Miraculous history is changed in this story to make it fit the plot line and smaller storylines within. Sorry if anyone is upset it is not movie or show accurate.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you again for the support! Happy early 4th of July! Stay safe everyone!