Chapter | Fifteen

Chloe was worried, and that alone was an understatement. She had been light weight surprised when Marinette gone back to New York the same day as her parents' funeral and barely said a word to anyone. She did see her friend speak to both Alya and Nino, and even come in with an American boy. Chloe also understood that maybe it was just too much to talk to people, especially after a day where everyone was giving their condolences.

Time was what Adrien said Marinette needed, especially after losing both parents. He understood the empty feeling of losing a parent, but she had lost both all at once. There was more emotional damage there, more to sort out, more to grieve. Which was why both Chloe and Adrien had left her alone the past few days, to give her that time to sort through everything and try to come to terms with what had happened.

Then the other miraculous holder appeared one night when both Chloe and Adrien were out on patrol. That was when Chloe stopped being sure about what was going on, as well as Adrien since Marinette said nothing about handing out the other miraculous to their holders.

The night life in Paris that evening was silent, the city still in mourning over the loss of the beloved bakers who brought joy and warmth with each pastry they baked. Outside the bakery doors was a shrine of flowers, candles and other small items of condolences and memories. It still felt surreal that Tom and Sabine were gone, and that Marinette's life was turned upside down.

Trying to shake the memories of the day away, Honey Bee refocused on the course her and Chat Noir were in route of taking for their patrol. It concerned her how silent Hawkmoth had been, made her wonder what he had in plan or if he had one at all. It had been too quiet for days, too many opportunities for akumas that she just didn't understand what he was waiting for. Did he suddenly have a change in morals and grow a heart? Or was it possible he knew Tom and Sabine personally, or even Marinette and out of respect he left situation alone?

"Hey Bee, did LB ever mention to you if she was going to hand out the other miraculous to the other holders?" Chat Noir asks as they came to a stop on one of Paris's rooftops.

Honey Bee shook her head, "Last I know about that she was still debating if she should. I think she worries about the risk of involving more people and our families. Especially since Paris is now more exposed than ever and under the watch of governments."

Chat Noir hummed and nodded, "That's what I thought too, but look to your left and right. We have some visitors."

"Akuma?" Honey Bee frowned, turning to look at what he was looking at, and to her surprise she watched as four other people were making their way towards them.

Rena Rouge, Carapace, Viperion, and Ryuko were all leaping across rooftops towards Honey Bee and Chat Noir. Marinette had said nothing about distributing the fox, turtle, snake and dragon miraculous and for a second it made Chloe worry that maybe this wasn't her choice. Which would mean it was Master Fu's choice, and his reasoning would remain unknown to all of them besides Marinette- and that was if she even knew.

"Did Ladybug give you all your miraculous?" Chat Noir asks right off the bat, his tail flickering in anticipation. She usually gave them the miraculous to help with akumas that were particularly more difficult than the usual. Yet this time there was no akuma, no threat, and no Ladybug.

Carapace was the one who stepped up, "No. I came home and found the box in my room. Wayzz said that it was time for the kwami's to be with their true holders."

"Trixx was in my room as well, and she said the same thing." Rena says, and out of everyone there she looked the most uncomfortable. Chloe took the awkward tension between Nino and Alya being the thing to make her uncomfortable, but at the same time it wasn't her business and quite frankly it was at the bottom of her list of things to care about.

"Longg says that things are about to change, that there's a change in the air here in Paris." Ryuko says, and Chloe had to bite back her remarks of saying 'yeah no shit'. The blonde also had to remind herself these holders didn't know about Marinette being Ladybug, and that everything had changed in the matter of days.

"Whatever the reason it doesn't change the fact that there is a reason that you all have your kwamis." Chat Noir remarked, tail now a little annoyed at being kept out of the loop again. He glanced at Honey Bee, seeing this was news to her as well. At least he wasn't the only one. "We need to locate Hawkmoth and get back the miraculous he has in his control."

"Where is Ladybug?" Viperion wondered aloud, not seeing the red suit anywhere in sight. "Surely she would have an input on this assignment."

Honey Bee and Chat Noir glanced at each other, trying to figure out how to word this. Luka was smart, too smart really. How they were supposed to go about this was beyond them but this was the risk Marinette had taken leaving the city. She would just have to understand.

"She hasn't been around much." Rena also commented, as if she had to think about the last she'd seen her idol.

Ryuko raised an eyebrow, "They do make good points. Where has she been?"

Honey Bee sighed and shook her head, she'd let Chat take this one. She couldn't talk to redeeming idiots right now.

"Emotionally compromised for a few months now, and with recent events in her personal life she had to leave for a while." Chat Noir wanted to explain more, but what more could he really explain to people he knew Marinette didn't fully trust? He knew that her and Luka were still rocky after his last encounter of being an akuma. Kagami and Marinette were friends, just not that close. Alya betrayed her like he had and Nino was probably on the only one she would fully forgive first- if she already hadn't.

Looking at Viperion, Chloe could tell it had clicked in his head as well when the realization settled in. She wasn't surprised, he had all the pieces there and just needed the extra help piecing them together. Now he had the full puzzle.

"She's helping from outside of Paris with information found here." Honey Bee added, "We should fill you in since it seems you lot will be around a while, so listen closely because I'm saying it once."

Chloe had filled them in on the NDA's, the bank statements found in the Mayor's office and how that was currently getting tracked. Realistically it didn't seem like much to go off of, but it surely was a hell of a lot more than they had for months before that. Especially since the other holders had been inactive for so long, they only needed to know the key points of what her and Adrien had known. It still didn't explain why the others got their miraculous silently without a real reason. Chloe knew Marinette would have given a reason as Ladybug, but given the last time she was in Paris was for her parents funeral- it made the blonde wonder.

Picking up her phone, Chloe pressed the call button on Marinette's contact and held it to her ear as she listened to the dial tone. She had given her friend enough time alone in her thoughts, Chloe knew how Marinette got and she only hoped that this Peter boy was making sure she was okay. The phone rang a few times, and deep down Chloe was expecting to go to voice mail but then she heard a click of connection.

"Hi Bee." Marinette's voice was soft, a small tremble there as well.

"Hi Maribug, I was calling to check in on you." Chloe kept her voice gentle, "How are you doing? Are you still living with Peter and his aunt?"

"I feel useless here but they keep telling me it's okay. I've been better, but I just feel tired." Marinette sighed, "I'm sorry I'm not being much help in Paris-"

"Stop." Chloe cut her off carefully, "We don't expect you to be able to focus on that, and that's partly the reason I was calling. Luka, Kagami, Alya and Nino have their kwamis. Did you give them their miraculous? It's okay if you did and forgot to tell Adrien and I."

The line went silent for a moment, and it caused Chloe to worry that maybe she said too much or had the wrong tone and Marinette was taking it the wrong way. She could hear the tiredness from Marinette though, and could only hope that she was getting enough sleep. Adrien had said sometimes the nightmares were just too much, since he got them time to time and remembered Marinette telling him as Ladybug she got them too. He also admitted there were events that only she could recall, a burden to bare due to the miraculous cure Tikki had the ability to. It was completely possible that she was now having new nightmares that were about Tom and Sabine's deaths.

"Master Fu gave them their miraculous and kwamis as his last act as guardian."

Chloe frowned, "His last act as guardian?"

"He transferred guardianship of the miracle box to me when I was there in Paris. The transfer wiped his memory of everything to do with the kwamis, and now I don't know what to do. Chloe I really don't know what to do, not with all these emotions and there's something else."

"What is it Mari?" Chloe wished she could lighten the load on Marinette, but she also didn't understand exactly what was going on.

"Master Fu didn't transfer guardianship to me because I was ready. I'm far from ready, but someone discovered our identities and I don't think it was Hawkmoth. He told me I needed to leave Paris. Permanently. I can't come back, not without risking the rest of the kwami's. I was able to bring the Miracle box and have it securely hidden, but I can't finish the fight I started there with Chat."

It was news that Chloe wasn't expecting at all, and now she understood that Marinette had a completely different fight going on. One that she said nothing about, but then again she had just figured that out and needed to process that with everything else going on. Sighing, Chloe closed her eyes and hummed softly.

"I need you to take care of yourself Mari, to stay safe." Chloe was now looking out over the city from her bedroom window, "Don't worry about Paris, I'm sure that's why Master Fu did what he did- to balance us out without you in the equation. Stay near Tony Stark, and the wizard guy. I know they at least care about your safety there."

Marinette sighed, "I will do my best. You stay safe too Chlo, please. You and everyone else, I can't bare the thought of anything happening to any of you."

"Even Alya and the other three?" Chloe raised an eyebrow.

"Life is too short to hold grudges, time can heal and forgive but baby steps. I need you all to stay safe."

It was how Marinette repeated the last part that Chloe knew exactly what haunted Marinette, one of her biggest fears. She wouldn't let anyone get hurt on her watch. No one would touch her very dysfunctional hive.

"We will be fine, but you stay safe too Mari."


Natasha Romanoff had done a lot of various missions on a wide spectrum of impossibilities. From escaping the Red Room, to becoming an assassin and then an Avenger. Then of course there was the whole Loki with the Chitauri fiasco, then Ultron and of course the fight between Steve and Tony. Anything, realistically, was possible.

Which is how she ended up in Paris with Clint after he chat with Tony and the return of Marinette to New York. She had come by the tower with a man named Stephen Strange, who was apparently a renounced neural surgeon that was now a Sorcerer Supreme. Not the weirdest thing she encountered.

"Hey kid, I'm sorry for your loss." Tony was the one to say it, seeing the distraught look in her eyes. "If you need a place to stay, you're more than welcome here."

Marinette shook her head, "Peter and May are taking me in, they don't think I should be alone. Even though I have Tikki."

"They don't know that." Tikki says, coming out of Marinette's purse, despite Natasha being there. The small goddess already knew who she was, and that Tony more than likely told the redhead the truth. "I think it's good for you to be with them."

Natasha blinked twice and shrugged her shoulders. She met Thor, and knew there were other worlds and planets out there with different lifeforms. This little floating bug thing was just another one of them.

"Marinette here is now the Guardian of the Miraculous." Stephen says, and the announcing of it made Marinette's chest tighten. "She's still learning Tony, and she needs a safe place to secure the rest of the miraculous."

"I was hoping that maybe you could help me create an advanced safe place for the miracle box. There are now six active holders in Paris, eight if you count Hawkmoth- who we believe also has the peacock miraculous. I can't afford anymore to be out." Marinette says, trying to stand straighter to look more confident in what she was asking.

"Like a contraption only you can get into?" Tony suggests.

Marinette nodded, "Exactly. The kwamis have the ability to phase in or out of objects as they please, so I'm not worried about them. It's other people finding them. Master Fu told me people knew our identities, but never said who."

"Can't you ask him?" Natasha questions, eyebrow raised. "It doesn't help you at all if you don't know." She wanted to see if the girl knew anymore that could help figure who the hell had the file in the first place, but she was disappointed when the teen shook her head no.

"When a Guardian transfers ownership, it wipes the pervious Guardian's memory of the miracle box and kwamis. I guess it's like a safety precaution." Marinette remarked, "He would be no help now if I asked him. He wouldn't remember."

Tony hummed loudly and nodded, "I'll make a thing for you. I'll have to program it specifically to your DNA though, and it would take a few days."

"I appreciate, Tony." Marinette offered a small smile, the first one she really had since coming home from Paris. "Thank you."

It was after Marinette had left with Tikki back to Peter's that Stephen told them it was time to end things in Paris. Somehow, and god knows Natasha wished she knew how, Stephen knew that they knew exactly was behind Paris's current situation. That was how she and Clint ended up in Paris on a mission to infiltrate the Agreste Mansion under the impression she was a high ranking working here for Tony.

Ringing the bell on the gate, Natasha was met with a stern voice on the other end of the voice box, "Who's there?"

"Hello, I'm here on behalf of Stark Industries. I'm Taylor Cothran." Natasha puts on a smile for show, knowing that Clint was setting up on a rooftop where he could see where Gabriel was.

"Please come in Mademoiselle Cothran."

The gates open then, and Natasha proceeded to walk up to the front doors where a woman shorter than her had already opened the doors. It was easy to get Tony to contact Gabriel, wanting to go into business as an investor for the brand. Natasha and Tony both knew that it would be the easiest way to get the attention of Gabriel Agreste, who was always looking for more potential investors in his company.

That's where Natasha came in under a false name and employee badge, coming as a step in for Tony since he had a 'busy' schedule. Clint was here to help with extraction if she needed it. Honestly this would be easy.

"Bonjour, I'm Mr. Agreste's personal assistant Nathalie Sancoeur." The woman, Nathalie, offered her hand which Natasha shook.

"Bonjour Miss Sancoeur." Natasha said the pleasantries easily, falling in line next to Nathalie as she led her to what Natasha assumed was Gabriel's office.

The mansion itself was cold and lifeless, and she noticed the lack of photos from the halls. There was no sign of the fashion designer's only son. It was a typical story of a man turned bad after the loss of his wife. Natasha had done her research after Tony spilled the beans to her about what exactly was going on, and Gabriel Agreste definitely fit the profile of wanting to make a wish to return is deceased wife. It was a dangerous wish, life and death wasn't something to take very lightly and to change the concept of how it worked? It just sounded like an idea bound to back fire.

Money was something this man definitely had, and in her line of work money was enough incentive for people to help hide secrets. That was really why this was allowed to go on so long, because Gabriel had enough money to hide his secret plan from the world and terrorize this city. Natasha felt for the teenagers that were given the responsibility to protect this city, but she also felt had it been left to adults who were capable and had the experience then this could have ended quickly.

"Hello Miss Cothran." Gabriel Agreste says in the normal business voice every business man Natasha ever met used.

Natasha forced a pleasantry smile, "Hello Mister Agreste, pleasure to make your acquaintance." Her eyes scanned the man front of her, trying to see exactly where the man would keep this miraculous on him. Of course it was right in plain sight pinned to his shirt. Quickly she flickered her eyes around the room to make it seem as if she were merely looking around.

"The pleasure is all mine really, with a man like Tony Stark taking an interest in investing into my brand. An honor really." Natasha caught the hint of suspicion in his voice, and she would give him credit.

Gabriel Agreste was not a stupid man, in fact he was far from it. There was no coincidence that Tony Stark took an interest in him and his brand after revealing the world to Ladybug, Chat Noir and himself as Hawkmoth. Yet when he looked the woman up in front of him everything checked out. Social security, proof of employment, address- it was all there for this woman in front of him, Taylor.

Yet as much as he knew this meeting would help further the business, he needed to somehow get Marinette Dupain-Cheng back to Paris. He finally figured it out, sensing the Ladybug miraculous the strongest there in the chapel when he went with his son to pay respects to the bakers that were the parents of Adrien's friend. He felt the presence leave with the girl, and then completely out of Paris when the girl left back to New York.

Which meant Ladybug currently resided in New York, and there was a chance she enlisted the help of Tony Stark and maybe this was all a ploy. It was a fifty-fifty shot, a risky move for him but an even bigger gain for his company if this worked in his favor.

For Natasha, the man in front of her was quiet. Too quiet and she knew that he had to know something. Forcing a smile, she scanned him again and the room once more. There were no weapons or camera or even anyone else in the room.

"This can go one of two ways." Natasha mutters suddenly, her face turning into a neutral expression. She was standing in front of Gabriel on the other side of his desk.

He furrowed an eyebrow at that, confused by the sudden changed in character but Natasha was faster to grab his tie and yanking it. Her fingers worked quick to rip the brooch off his shirt and slam his face against the desk, hard.

"I prefer my way through." Natasha breathed, applying pressure to her hold. "Where is the other miraculous? These are now official property of the Avengers and to be returned to who they belong too. In exactly five minutes you will be arrested for terrorism, murder, bribery, fraud and god knows what else. If you hand it over willingly, your assistant out there will be pardoned."

Gabriel grunted, feeling blood on his face from a broken nose, "This was a set up."

"You are in over your head."

"You're taking the word of a seventeen-year-old girl." Gabriel hissed, "She doesn't understand what these miraculous could do, the power they hold. I need them-"

"No." Natasha cut him off, "She knows all too well about this, and honestly this situation is long overdue for an ending."

Yet to her surprise a purple thing that looked like the red thing Marinette had was floating in front of her holding a different brooch. And honestly, she wasn't sure exactly what the second one she was looking for even looked like. Yet looking at the kwami, (she needed to remind herself of the word they were called), she nodded and took the other miraculous. Without a word the purple kwami disappeared.

"Good luck with the police." Natasha shoved Gabriel to the floor and walked out the the office. Natalie didn't even stick around long enough, but Natasha saw her slipping away down the street. She must have heard the commotion and skipped town, not that Natasha blamed her. Yeah, this was easy and honestly it was technology that did most of the work.

Paris authorities were given a file anonymously that day, containing information about Hawkmoth and proof. Within the hour police cruisers both swarmed the Agreste Mansion and Le Grand Paris with warrants for the arrest of Gabriel Agreste and André Bourgeois. The comatose body of Emilie Agreste was also discovered after a search warrant, as well as multiple different bank accounts for Andre.

At least the news station was never boring anymore.


The past four days felt as if the world was moving in slow motion for Marinette, and they felt pretty shitty over all. Peter was fretting over her while Aunt May had told him to give her some space so she could process everything at her own pace. She knew that she was just causing Peter to worry extra about her, but she just wasn't sure how to process it all. The nightmares were only worse now than before, and most of the past four nights ended with Marinette in Peter's arms as he soothed her fear and anxiety.

Her appetite came and went, realistically she was eating for everyone else but herself. Even when she ate, there was no taste or joy in it. It was purely to function and the low rate she was functioning. Tikki tried to help her when she could, but the kwami herself was overwhelmed with the emotions coming from Marinette.

This was heartbreak, pure and raw heartbreak of the worst kind. Tikki listened as people told her holder that everything would be okay, but there was nothing okay for Marinette about this situation. The grief that plagued her would not just go away overnight, it never would completely. Marinette had to find a way to live with it, and Tikki knew she deserved time to absorb all the past events this week.

"Mari, are you sure you don't want to come with me and May tonight to Mr. Stark's charity event?" Peter asks, lingering by his bedroom door watching her.

Usually May would be all for keeping the two separated now that Marinette was technically living with them, but the first night she was woken up to heartbreaking cries from the teenaged girl. She had watched coming into the living room as Peter rushed into the living room and scooped her into his arms, taking no time in trying to pacify the girl. It was as sweet as it was heartbreaking. May knew there was something there between the two, and there was something Peter knew that she didn't. It was just obvious with how much more attentive he was.

"But we aren't going to force you honey." May added as she grabbed her purse walking past Peter's room, "I'm sure a public charity is the last place you'd want to be right now."

Marinette tried to offer May an appreciative smile, though it was small, "Thank you, but I think I'm actually going to go back to my apartment to grab some more things."

Peter frowned, "I can go with you instead-"

"It's okay Pete, really." Marinette says, "I can't have you fretting over me all the time Peter. One step at a time to stand on my own, right? Please let me try myself, and if I can't handle it I will call you but you don't need to be missing any more of your time by watching over me today."

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's not a waste of my time Mari, I'm here for you." Peter had noticed her trying to push him away, and it stung. He also understood that it was a defense mechanism she had, and according to his aunt it was a normal action for someone who was grieving.

"Peter, I'm sure she'll be okay for a couple hours. And if she needed help then she would tell us." May gave a pointed look at Marinette, earning a nod from the teenaged girl.

"I promise." Marinette vowed, clasping her hands together on her lap.

Peter still looked unsure, but it was Aunt May who grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of the apartment as she told Marinette they would only be gone for a couple hours tops. Marinette sighed softly once she heard the front door closed, shoulders slumping as her mask slowly crumbled.

"I know it's hard right now Marinette, but time heals." Tikki reassured, pressing her cheek against Marinette's hand.

"Sometimes I expect my phone to get a call from them. There's a hope that fills me but they never do." Marinette admits softly, "I call the bakery to hear the voicemail, just to listen to their voices again. Then I remember they're gone, and that I'm Guardian and that I can't go back to Paris. I left my team, but then again I haven't been part of it for a while. I'm a horrible friend and teammate."

Tikki shook her head, floating up and giving Marinette a stern look. "No Marinette, you are an amazing Guardian so far and teammate. You just have different things going on, and that's okay. Life and fate always have different things in mind for everyone. Your path is just a bit different from the other holders."

"It doesn't seem fair to them though." Marinette sighed, "I feel like I dragged them into this."

"They were bound to be involved eventually Marinette, it isn't your fault at all." Tikki tried to offer a smile. "Let's go get your stuff before it gets too late, it will make Peter worry if he gets back before you."

It was a good distraction for now, because it got Marinette up and out the door. She made her way through the forever busy city streets and into the overly crowded subway. She found it funny how life kept going, never really waiting for anyone. This time on her way to her apartment, Marinette found herself looking more at people and taking an appreciation for life. She was lucky to be here, even though she felt like she was going to fall apart multiple times now.

Within forty minutes, Marinette had made it back to her apartment. Nothing was different, the place was just cold since she left the heater off. There was a light layer of dust on certain things now, but everything was all the same. She needed to be quick, so she made a haste to her room to grab some more clothing and some shoes. Audrey had nicely given her the month off, so she didn't need to worry about that for now.

"Anything else you need?" Tikki asks, seeing that Marinette was almost ready to go back to the Parker's. Yet Marinette didn't get to answer as a knock came from her front door.

Marinette frowned since wasn't sure who was at her door, given she had only really told two people where she was going. Slowly she walked up to her front door and looked through the peep hole, surprised to find Lucas there with flowers and coffee in hand. Opening the door she tried to offer a smile, but it was realistically just a twitch of her lips.

"Lucas," Marinette says, surprised to see her former client there with a bouquet of flowers and coffee. "What are you doing here?"

Lucas gave her a sad smile, "Audrey told me about your parents and I thought to bring you some flowers and give you my sincerest condolences." He offered her the coffee first, which she took with the smallest smile.

Taking a sip of the coffee, she offered him to come in. "Thank you. Um, you can just set the flowers down on the counter."

Lucas nodded, walking into the apartment and setting the roses down on the counter top. "I hope you like mochas, I wasn't sure so I though a mocha would be a safe bet for you."

Marinette had taken a few drinks at this point, humming as a hazy feeling started to settle over her. "It's good. Which coffee shop did you go to?"

"I made it myself." Lucas simply replied, watching as she set the cup down on the table and went to grip the table to balance herself upright.

Lucas watched as Marinette frowned, her eyes becoming unfocused as she tried her best to stay standing up. She glanced at the coffee cup with a calculating look, then at him with eyes that were trying to connect something. He could tell she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be collecting. Slowly Marinette's gripped loosened, knees buckling and she fell to the floor unconscious.

Lucas's sincere look fell away into a smug look as he watched the scene before him. Getting up, her walked over and kneeled next to her, nudging her arm with his hand and got no response back. Standing up he pulled a phone from his pocket, unlocked it and made a call the only number saved on the phone.

"She's out like a light, have the van ready and fry the security cameras in this place." Lucas ended the call, eyes scanning the room slowly and calculating, "I know who she is and who you are Tikki. Might as well come out because Marinette is coming with us today."

Tikki flew out of her hiding spot, blue eyes narrowed into a glare. "You knew the whole time. You aren't taking her anywhere!"

"I'm not taking her anywhere personally, the people I work for on the other hand are." Lucas shrugged, "Either you can come with her willingly, or I can guarantee you will never see her again. Given the fact that she is the current Guardian, you are obligated to come."

"How do you know she is Guardian?" Tikki's tone was accusing, "That's secret information!"

Lucas chuckled, "Wang Fu had a run in with some friends of mine, knew nothing about anything. Let's just say he will never know anything again."

Tikki's eyes widen in horror at the hint, but she didn't have enough time to dwell on that as people rushed into the apartment. Knowing she couldn't do much now, not without risking Marinette's safety, Tikki flew into Marinette's pocket to go with her as people with masks lifted her onto a gurney. She'd give it to them, the medic rues was original as they rolled Marinette out into an ambulance she knew was never going to reach a hospital.


This is the most frequent I've updated, I swear haha. I had a red bull today at work and here I am! Hopefully you guys liked this chapter! I am going to try to update as often as I can before my classes start up again at the end of the month, then it will probably be once a month updates again for four months. Just a heads up!

Thank you all so much for the support. I can't believe this story had 25.8K reads, and honestly I appreciate it!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Also, spoiler warning. The next chapters will be influenced by Black Widow and WandaVision in concepts, I will do my best not to really mention anything. This is set before Endgame currently, so later chapters will be influenced by the MLB New York special, and Loki.

It's almost 2 am, off to bed I go. Please stay safe everyone ❤️