Chapter |Twenty-Six
Yelena watched with Natasha as both Steve Rogers and Tony Stark went back and forth with what they needed to do about Lucas. They were currently tracking anything they could for the man, even sending his face through local and national databases but came up with nothing. Lucas was like a ghost, only seen when he wanted to be seen. A very dangerous ghost at that.
One of the teenagers, Adrien, had brought forth that they haven't been able to get in contact with one of the others who left the city without notice. It was enough to get Tony to start searching the videos of street camera throughout Paris when they did find a purchase of a plane ticket from New York to Paris on Luka's bank account.
"Lucas Valentino." Steve says the name, looking at the two widows in the room. "If you were in Marinette's shoes, would you kill him or arrest him?"
Yelena gave him a look, "Seriously?" Then looked at Natasha, "Does he not know about Dreykov?"
"Who?" Tony questions, looking at the redheaded assassin then back at Steve as F.R.I.D.A.Y ran facial recognition. "You realize that you just asked two assassins if they would kill someone right?"
Natasha just wanted to pinch the bridge of her nose and get these two to stop having a pissing contest. She may have wanted to keep some of her past a secret, but with Yelena saying things she shouldn't be it was proving to be difficult to do so.
"He was the director of the Red Room." Natasha answers before Yelena cut her off.
"She blew up a little girl thinking she killed Dreykov, said little girl was his daughter." Yelena tells the two, "Turns out she missed the targets and he continued the Red Room- chemically subjecting people's wills to his own. Lucas was part of the families involved in that as well."
Tony opened his mouth, then closed it. "Hold on a second, you blew a little girl up?"
"Not my proudest moment, I'll admit that." Natasha sighs and shakes her head, "Despite the point though. She lived as well as he did. He was a dangerous man who cared little about others. Lucas is no different than him, and the world would be a better place without him."
Steve was frowning and gave the red head a look, "I could have sworn I saw a file saying Dreykov was deceased."
"As of last year, yes." Yelena pipped in, "Natasha blew up his facility with help. I left to search around the world for other Widows still chemically subjected and then I met Marinette."
Tony was looking at Natasha as if it was his first time seeing her, "Yeah no more explosives for you. I didn't know you were a pyromania."
"I don't do it for fun Stark." Natasha quipped back, refocusing on Steve. "Lucas is the type of man who poses a threat. I don't disagree with Marinette's line of thoughts, but I also don't believe she should be the one to carry out his sentence. She's been through enough to change who she is for a life time, she doesn't need this added to her plate."
"I'll kill him." Yelena volunteered with a hand raised, "The kid has grown on me and he hurt her. I also understand how she feels because unlike Natasha, I was one of the ones chemically subjected to carry out missions for the Red Room. You're fully conscious but you don't know which part is you. I'm still not sure myself but I do know that the feeling of no control is not fun."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, "You know the last thing I expected was for you to adopted a teenager."
"Well what can I say? She's great with a sewing needles and baking." Yelena replies, but then she refocused on the topic at hand when she saw footage of Lucas shaking someones hand. "There's our guy."
"Our family was never real, so there's nothing to hold onto."
"You weren't really my sister. It wasn't real."
"That wasn't real, who cares!?"
"Don't say that. Please don't say that, it was real. It was real to me!"
Natasha knew though, knew that Yelena longed for a family. It was something she wanted when they had been children, and even when Natasha reunited with her. Family was vital to Yelena, and Natasha could see where the blonde assassin connected with the teenager. It was because Yelena saw herself in Marinette, and somehow in a short amount of time Marinette had become family with Yelena.
"And with Luka." Tony says, watching Lucas say something to Luka before the younger man collapsed and a car came to pick both Luka and Lucas up.
"That was too easy, especially after the months it took to even get a lead on Marinette." Steve says, eyebrows knitting together in thought, "He wanted to be found."
"Of course he does." Natasha's eyes looked over the footage as Tony replayed it, "He took someone in plain sight where there were camera, because he wants to draw Marinette back out. That's his goal here, but we can't just let her go running after them because that's exactly what he wants."
"Do we even tell her?" Steve questioned, earning a laugh from Yelena.
"You'll be in hot water with her if you don't." She said it seriously, all laughter gone in a second. "You weren't the one there when she was running away from this man because her mind was in fragments. You never saw the fear in those eyes or the confusion. I was the one who watched her fall apart and come back together slowly as she regained her whole self that could never truly be the same. The real reason she didn't want to stay here last night was because of her nightmares."
"Nightmares?"
"She relives the moments hardest for her to accept." Yelena tells them, because she was the only one who knew the truth of those nightmares. "Her parents death, her torture, her killings, and her one biggest fear- losing control of the power she possesses. She is still learning what she can do, but when she gets wind that her friend was taken by the man who causes her to lose so much there won't be anything else on her mind to get him back no matter what. That type of anger and hurt can't just go away like that." She snapped to emphasize her point with a shake of her head.
Tony frowns in response, "She can't just kill him Yelena."
"We've all been through shit in our lives." Yelena remarked, "We've all done things we aren't proud of, but that man cannot be allowed to go to prison. Let's say, yeah, he gets arrested and goes to a high security prison. Who's to say he won't network and get a following? Then bam, a new Red Room or Hydra is born."
"She may have a point." Steve was the one who gave, and it surprised Tony. "Don't look at me like that Tony. I've experienced Hydra first hand, and so has Bucky. Natasha and Yelena experienced the Red Room. An organization like these in the making needs to end before it can begin. But I do agree that Marinette shouldn't be the one to deal with it, she's still a kid."
"Her innocence was stolen a long time ago." Yelena stands up from where she was sitting, "These kids can't play hero and expect not to get hurt, at least some of them understand that."
"They still deserve to have some normality." Tony tries to argue, but it's futile because he knows the truth. It was what he was trying to protect Peter from, but realistically Peter would find the hardships of being a hero, let alone being associated to the Avengers. "We need to find out where Lucas is keeping Luka."
That was when F.R.I.D.A.Y spoke up, "I have located a single financial record of Lucas Valentino. he purchased the Dupain-Cheng bakery in Paris, France approximately one week ago."
Yelena turned to looked at both men in the room, "Want to keep her out of it now?"
"He just keeps making it personal." Natasha mutters, shaking her head already wondering how this would end.
Peter Parker stayed home all day in the apartment with Marinette, who decided she didn't want to go back to the compound quite yet. The morning was spent having breakfast with Aunt May, who took to being by Marinette's side as they cooked french toast and catching up. There was just something about watching Marinette fleeting around the kitchen with more of a smile as she worked along side his aunt that just made his heart flutter.
When May left for work, Marinette turned to look at him after doing the dishes with a questioning look. It was a look she didn't have often, the way her mind worked usually figured things out rather quickly so it made him curious.
"Will you ever show me it?" Marinette asks before he could question what she had on her mind.
The question itself stunned him, caused him to open his mouth and then snap it close rather fast. What the it was in this equation was beyond Peter, and it took only a few seconds for Marinette to figure out why he had blush on his cheeks before a matching one adorn her own pale cheeks.
"By it I meant your suit, ugh your Spider-Man suit!" Marinette was quick with her rambling, and Peter couldn't help but laugh at the situation. At least she hadn't changed in this part of her personality.
"Sure, maybe I can take you across New York's rooftops." Peter offers, taking pride in how her blue eyes light up with delight.
"Do you mean that?" Marinette asks softly, "When I was in Paris, I used to love running across the rooftops. At the time I didn't know Adrien had been my partner, but we used to have a great time scaling those roof tops for hours."
Peter's own eyes soften, "Of course I mean it...but maybe you can tell me a little bit more about Paris? I know you as Marinette, the girl who came to New York. I met your friends and team from Paris when they came here, but I don't know you yet that you hid from me Mari. I want to know all of you so I can understand you, so I can be here for you."
Marinette looked him in the eyes, and those brown eyes she trusted with her life. She wasn't expecting to ever fall in love with Peter, hell she thought she knew what love was but Peter was something else entirely. He was something she never knew she needed, the calm in her life while everything else was a storm. He was her anchor, and he sat in the dark far too long.
"I was thirteen when I was given Tikki and became Ladybug." Marinette tell him, going to the living area and sitting on the couch. Peter took the seat next to her. "That was around the time I met Adrien, and when Chat Noir appeared in my life. Despite the mistakes Adrien made as my friend, Chat Noir never failed me once. He was there for me to watch my back."
Thus Marinette dived into the story of Ladybug and Chat Noir, and the story of her life. Peter sat there and listened to the tales of Hawkmoth, or akumas and of the other miraculous holders. She had truly been through a lot as a teenager, and it made sense why she more mature and why she was a leader. Of course she also told him the story of how she became Guardian, and how she learned under Stephen Strange.
"So you're a wizard too?"
Marinette looked at him, and then let out a loud joyous laugh while shaking her head. "I guess you could say we are sorcerer, or my case sorceress?"
Peter nodded, accepting that answer with ease. The world was attacked by aliens once, so it made sense that magic could and would exist. Yet there was still one thing that bothered him, and no matter what he tried to do to shake it he just couldn't. It was always there in the back of his mind, a small nagging that he was able to ignore but now he just couldn't do that. Of course Peter was told not to worry about it, but he needed to hear it from Marinette.
"Luka...what happened between you two?" Peter asks, remembering the words that Chloe spat at Kagami in one of their more recent argument. "Did you two ever date?"
The silence from Marinette made Peter's stomach drop, but the reality was that Marinette wasn't sure how to answer the question. She never got to speak with Luka about the situation, to come to an understand and put water under the bridge. And maybe he didn't want to speak with her, after all he wasn't there to greet her back but he had every right not too. Luka never needed to be there for her, he didn't owe her anything.
"We never dated." Marinette admits him, "We spoke about it before, but I could never commit to a relationship being Ladybug, training to be the Guardian and trying to maintain my civilian life. It had all become too much at once for me to juggle, but Luka had been Luka- always there for me no matter how far I tried to push him away. He was probably the only people in Paris that was able to read me like an open book before I left. Of course I cared about him too, and then I came to New York for a break when it became suffocating in Paris. We spoke relatively constant until the day I mentioned you. He asked me who you were to me."
She paused for a moment, reaching to take his hand into her own and felt his racing pulse through his wrist. "I told him that you were special to me and that you were my best friend. That I thought you saved me from myself. This was the day I shadowed you at your high school, and I left early because he had become an akuma. We still have never talked about what happened that day, but I know one thing for sure is that I do love you Peter Parker."
Peter brought her knuckle up to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her hand. He was visibly pleased to hear that. "Then will you do me the honor of officially being my girlfriend, Marinette Dupain-Cheng?"
Marinette wished Tikki could be here now to share the happiness she felt, knowing it would warm the creation kwami fully. All Tikki ever wanted was for her to be happy, and Marinette just wished she was here to see how right Tikki was about Peter. She could envision Tikki flying around in her excitement for her, hear her squealing her congratulation when she thought Peter wasn't listening.
"Of course I will Peter Parker." Marinette smiles at him, her hand squeezing his. "I wished you could have met Tikki. She adored you when she was hiding in my purse. You would have liked her."
"I'm sure I would have." Peter agreed, pulling Marinette closer and placing a kiss on her lips. "I've heard stories of you two, but how about swinging across New York roof tops? Formally introduce you to Spider-Man."
A laugh bubbled out of Marinette right then and there, but she couldn't help the shrill of excitement that flared to life at the thought of going across rooftops again. She had truly missed that feeling, and despite not having Tikki to run with she would at least have Peter. It seemed like the last bit of Tikki's luck allowed her to at least share a hero responsibility with Peter, or at least he would understand what she felt.
A knock at the door caused Marinette's laugh come to a slow end, but a smile remained. "Expecting MJ or Ned?"
"I'm not expecting anyone. Are you?" Peter asks, and he's suddenly on high alert as he goes to open the door to reveal an older woman. "Can I help you with something?"
She looked around past him before looking Peter in the eyes, "Is Marinette here? I'm her grandmother, Gina Dupain."
There was something about hearing her grandmother ask for her that got Marinette moving to the door hesitantly. Marinette could only stare at her grandmother standing before her, and she wasn't sure how to feel. Where was she when she needed someone to help her through her parents funeral? Marinette remembered seeing Gina there but she was gone before the service was over. She was even more confused how at ease Gina seemed to be with Marinette being missing and back in New York.
"Nonna?" Marinette's unasked question was left in the air, but there was enough tension in the room that Peter decided to excuse himself. He gently put a hand on Marinette's shoulder as he walked past in reassurance, then went into his room and closed the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"
Gina let out a soft sigh, unsure how to go about this or where to even start. There was always a part of her that wished she was closer to Marinette, that they had the normal grandmother and granddaughter bond. Yet the fact was that they didn't, and they never would. It was too late to mend the time she let go past, and Marinette was old enough where she didn't need those little bit of memories to hold onto. Even now, Marinette didn't smile or show excitement like she did before. She had been through an ordeal that Gina wasn't even sure she would let her in about.
"Before you were born I was recruited to be an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D, and after you were born I couldn't just walk away from my work." Gina admits, letting Marinette absorb that information. "It's why I wasn't around a lot for you growing up, and sometimes I do regret that but I never once regretted my work."
Marinette wished she could wonder why her grandmother was telling her this, but the look in her eyes told Marinette all she needed to know. Gina was feeling guilt, and maybe it was because Marinette had been taken. Or maybe it was because she was never there for Marinette growing up. Always was the cool grandma who traveled all around the world and brought back the coolest gifts.
"So all the stories about you traveling the world was your missions." It wasn't a question, it was a statement that earned a nod.
"True. I did travel a lot, I was tasked with following people considered targets as a protection unit or people deemed dangerous."
Marinette was quiet for a moment as she looked at the floor, but when she finally looked up at Gina her blue eyes spoke volumes. "Why didn't you ever call me? Make contact after the funeral? Why are you here now of all the times? I grew up without you in my life really, been through things you weren't around for either."
"I came to see you in person, and I found out that your were taken." Gina admits, hand cupping Marinette's cheeks gently. "I traveled all over looking for you but was always one step behind you. As for the funeral, I could see you needed time. You had also taken off fast after the services that I thought you needed a bit more time."
"So you know what I've done? The people I've killed?" Marinette's voice is harsh, the judgment for herself visible in the tone. "My parents would hate me for what I've done, so why don't you?"
Gina shook her head, "You weren't of your own will, so you can't blame yourself. Men like Lucas are vile creatures. Plus I already know you are a hero, and could never truly be a villain."
"What?" Marinette frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
Gina chuckled a bit, "My dear, you were always destined for great things. Your parents knew you were Ladybug, it's why they never really questioned you. They had faith in you, as did I. You made them proud."
"They knew?" Marinette repeated.
Gina nodded, "Since the beginning. You always made them proud, and yes they did worry but they had faith in you. When you went missing, I felt my whole world shift. You are the last of my family, my love. You are vital to this world, more so than you believe. You may have killed those people, but your morals are the same and you know it wasn't of your will. Don't make yourself to be the bad guy."
The words Gina spoke brought Marinette more at ease, and she could see it too. The way Marinette's shoulders dropped was a sign of that. She was still young, and even Gina knew that this was the world Marinette was going to be in. The world of the Avengers, of heroes and world situations. There was no ways of her to truly keep her hands clean of blood, but Gina prayed that Marinette would find a way to cope with it.
Peter chose this time to pop his head back in, a frown on his face as he put his phone in his pocket. Looking at his face, Marinette already knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say. It was the face of a barer of bad news.
"What happened?" Marinette asks.
Peter glanced at Gina, trying to act like he hadn't heard their conversation at all. He had just gotten off the phone with Tony, who gave him strict instructions to bring Marinette to the compound and say nothing on the matter until then. But he couldn't do that, she needed to know.
"I'm going to need you to take a deep breath Mari."
Marinette rose an eyebrow, "Why?"
"Please don't explode our home." Peter pleaded.
"You live here?" Gina asks and shakes her head remembering Marinette was older and mature enough, "Not my business."
"It's Luka." Peter tells Marinette slowly, "Lucas has him."
Sorry this chapter was a little bit of a bore! Hopefully you still enjoyed it!
Like always, thank you for the support!
