Hey all! Sorry I didn't update earlier. Hurricane took power out for a full two weeks and clean up has been a royal pain in the butt. No damage to the house thankfully but whooo man did we have some trees fall and several areas are still underwater. The river near my house is about 15 feet higher than normal too and we are still being slapped around by thunder storms. Ah well Florida am I right? In any case here is a new chapter and I will try to get one out next month too. No promises since my free time to write went out the window with the power last month.
Dragon Lord Draco ... I have played numerous pokemon games in my time but pokemon go is the first that really makes you get out of the house and interact with people. I play it with my mom a lot of times and its really quite fun. I also enjoy meeting new people in my area since for the most part the players in my area are pretty chill and we all have at least one thing in common. The raids are also pretty entertaining seeing as its a bunch of adults standing on street corners in groups hitting their phones in unison. Lol you should see some non-players faces.
Thousandsmiles... I know it may not seem like it but this is plot and character building. These places will be revisited and the people will be important in later sections of the story. Plus Marinette and Adrien are learning each other right now and in real life that kind of thing takes time and situations that shove you together. I mean I could just write "they went to parkour and had fun" but really where is the entertainment in that?
Marinette is a detective who can't keep a partner while hunting down the notorious Hawkmoth gang. Chat is the new cat burglar on the streets who never gets caught. After Marinette gets handed his case it's it won't be long before their fates collide especially when monsters start roaming the streets.
Trouble
They walked back to the main hub chatting all the while as they went over different jumps and ways to escape a pursuer. Apparently Marinette had gone easy on him when she chose do dive through the hole to escape his tag and that almost made Adrien want to drag her back to the Hide and seek building to let him chase her again. It was way too fun chasing Marinette and he knew better than to ask her to chase him out here. There was no doubt in his mind that she would win in these surroundings. Marinette knew this place too well and would be able to get in front of him easily to catch him if he tried. Briefly Adrien wondered what Plagg would think of this place, but then realized Plagg would probably love it. There were tons of holes to hide in and everything was shrouded in shadow. The only way Adrien would probably get Plagg to come back to him out here would be to bribe him with cheese.
"I'm really glad you are having fun Adrien." Marinette said patting his back as they made their way across a final bridge.
Unable to resist since she was already so close Adrien wrapped an arm around her shoulders briefly hoping his armpits didn't stink. "I told you. This is the most fun I've had in years, since meeting you I've actually been able to have fun without worrying and its nice."
Marinette felt herself blushing at Adrien's easy touch but she also felt concern as she managed to look up at him. "This might be a personal question so feel free not to answer but why would you have to worry about having fun? Even adults need to have some fun. It bleeds off the stress of life."
Adrien bit his lip as he tried to find an answer that wouldn't oust himself out as Chat. Hunting underworld criminals didn't allow for much fun time and if he were being honest it was only lately that he had gotten his mind in the right place to allow for fun. Marinette had been the last piece he needed to let his playful side back out into the world. Before he could answer however, they walked across the threshold to the main hub and found trouble looming.
When he had been in the main hub before it had been loud with people talking, laughing, and the sounds of bodies hitting whatever apparatus they were falling off of at the moment. Now however the building was almost quiet with a majority of the people crowded near the lockers. They could both hear the angry murmurings going on at the base and Adrien noticed that there was a distinct separation between the larger group of people and four others. A single individual sprawled out across a table and chair seemed to hold everyone's attention.
Seeing the mass of people Marinette hissed "Crap I wonder if someone got hurt."
Slipping out from under his arm Marinette flung herself over the side of the higher balcony grabbing a fireman's pole at the last second so she slid safely to the lower floor. Following swiftly Adrien was right beside her as she tapped the closest shoulder.
"What's going on?" She asked making the fellow she tapped glance over.
Relief colored the fellows face instantly "Hey they found Marinette!" he called making the rest of the people shift back revealing a spiky haired individual who's back was currently towards Marinette.
"No one found me but can someone tell me what's going on?" Marinette asked again able to feel the animosity in the room. It seemed to be directed at the spiky haired guy. "And also who are you purple spiky hair?"
"My name is Spike who's asking?" The lanky spiky haired man asked turning in the chair as several people eyed him with distaste. He was a sallow looking individual, although he was skinny with purple spiked hair. It looked as if the man were trying to go for a punk rock kind of look with his near all black ensemble but it didn't quite work with his skin tone or lanky body.
"I am." Marinette answered ready to step in if this fool was here to make trouble. Adrien put a hand on her shoulder both a warning to stay calm and a show that he was there to back her up if needed. It gave Marinette a warm glow in her chest as the man stood to face her, his eyes going wide and a leer stretching across his face as he took in her lithe form.
"Heellllo lovely lady. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" Spike asked taking a step forward much to the grumbles of the surrounding crowd.
Marinette crossed her arms shifting to the side to block Adrien since she could practically feel the sudden spike of annoyance pouring off of him. His hand tightened on her shoulder and Marinette sighed mentally. Instead of commenting on the horrible pickup line Marinette simply tilted her head to the side as if she were slightly confused and countered.
"Oh no, I didn't fall from heaven, I climbed up here from hell."
Spike looked taken aback while Adrien snorted then turned away laughing as some of the other parkour goers gleefully hooted outright. Most of the people here knew Marinette well enough that her comment was a bit of sass she infrequently showed, so when she did it was always hilarious to hear.
Noting the fury on Spikes face and wanting to stake his claim Adrien bent slightly so his mouth was right by Marinette's ear and whispered. "So that's why you're so hot."
Marinette made a strangled sound jabbing an elbow into his ribs lightly and Adrien laughed again since he was able to hear the sudden spike in her heartbeat and feel how her body suddenly heated from a blush.
Spike however didn't like being laughed at much less being showed up. "What's so funny eh? You trying to stir things up man?"
At his tone several of Spikes posse moved so they were at his back. Almost unconsciously the rest of the parkour people shifted towards Marinette clearly wanting nothing to do with these suddenly angry people.
Marinette took a step forward showing that she wasn't intimidated even as she held out a placating hand. "No one is stirring up anything and you shouldn't use awful pickup lines if you don't want women to respond in kind. Names Marinette."
Spike eyed her hand with a small amount of distaste but reached forwards a small black shape catching her eye as he clasped hands with her. As he released her Marinette caught his hand turning his palm into the light only to glare down at the shape there. It was a small stylized purple butterfly, tattooed on the web of flesh between his thumb and the rest of his fingers. The mark meant he was part of the Hawkmoth gang and Marinette's gaze sharpened as she looked at the rest of his friends. Spike scoffed at the look on her face clearly taking her for a weak or scared woman, not realizing she was memorizing their faces.
"From the look on your face you know what that mark means. Maybe you aught to be apologizing?"
Marinette released his hand and took a step back feeling Adrien hover at her shoulder something akin to a growl buzzing in his chest. He had seen the mark as well and now he too had their faces memorized in case he had to go on a hunt later.
"I don't apologize for the truth and gangs have no reach here. This is a free running spot and all street issues are left at the fence. If you have problems with that then get out." Marinette snapped her voice deadly with cold.
If this was a normal street encounter and she had her badge on her Marinette would be tempted to book this idiot. It wouldn't really do anything but teach him a lesson in how he wasn't invulnerable but like the college kids and the other gang runners she had left her badge at the gate. Outside this place she may be a detective but in here she was simply a young woman out for a good run. Spikes face soured further clearly upset that he didn't intimidate Marinette in the slightest, but before he could make any further comments an angry hiss echoed through the room.
"What are you idiots doing back here?" Stormy suddenly growled out from behind Marinette.
Spike caught sight of her in moments and a sneer flicked back onto his face. "Oh look its dark and dismal again."
"My name is Stormy you piece of sewer trash. I thought we made it clear you weren't welcome here." Stormy snarled as she came to Marinette's side clearly ready to start something.
Spikes lips twisted in a way that left him totally unappealing "As the lovely dark haired midget said this is a free running spot and all issues are left at the fence wanna be bad weather."
"Midget?!" Marinette snarled as Stormy echoed her and both girls moved forwards ready to rip the idiots head off.
As annoyed and pissed as Adrien was with this fool, he knew it would be a bad idea to let the girls rip the spiky haired idiot apart. Marinette would be sad when she realized she killed a man over insults so he used a bit of speed and strength to grab hold of both girls by the collar and pull them back behind him. Marinette snarled again and Adrien caught an elbow from Stormy for his trouble but his ice cold words made both girls pause.
"Clearly you are not welcome here Spike and clearly you have a death wish antagonizing them as you are. If you want to run then hop to it and don't let the fence shred you on your way out. Do not antagonize anyone else especially since you don't seem to have many friends here."
Spike jerked forwards trying to go nose to nose with Adrien but he was shorter and Adrien was far better built than him making Spike look almost childish in comparison. "You threatening me man?"
Adrien grinned savagely making Spike flinch and take a step back. "Not yet, but looking at you I don't think you would be much of a challenge running anyways."
People ohhed in the crowd and Spikes fists balled as his cheeks flushed in anger. Clearly he didn't like being put in his place and the boys behind him were shifting uncomfortably knowing that he was rapidly losing what little face he had before all these other runners.
"I'll do a run alright you smug fool, and I challenge you to run in the outside courses against me." Spike snapped jabbing a finger at Adrien.
Marinette eyes went wide and knowing Adrien would accept the challenge even though he didn't know the courses yet, she stepped up putting a hand on his arm to stop him from snapping back. Then before he could make a sound she said "I'll accept your challenge. If you lose you get out of here tonight and when you decide to come back, never make trouble here again. If you do we will hold a court to ban you and your friends."
Spike looked a bit surprised at the fact that she spoke up then grinned "Challenge accepted but this is gonna be a partnered race so it's you two against me and my main man. If you lose you have to leave and never come back."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "You can't use banning as a racing bet Spike. Banning doesn't work like that hence why I didn't state it as my bet."
Spike frowned clearly put out that he couldn't get rid of them. All the sudden though he smiled and Marinette got a nasty feeling in her gut. "All right, if I can't get rid of you then you can serve me instead, you and ugly weather over there."
Stormy snarled "Accept his challenge Marinette. I wanna see you cream his ass."
Marinette looked between Spike, Adrien, and Stormy then sighed knowing that this had gone way too far to back out now. "Fine as the challenged we get to choose the start time. We will start the race in 30 minutes, as the challenger you can choose the course."
"We call the Dangers Run." Spike hissed making Marinette freeze.
"You're kidding." Marinette stated as what little activity in the room ground to a halt as well.
"Pick another run Spike people get hurt out there and…" Stormy started but Spike cut her off.
"I'm the challenger and they have already agreed so we either do the Danger Run or you get to forfeit." Spike growled clearly enjoying all the attention he was getting.
Marinette eyes narrowed and all the sudden she had the feeling that Spike along with his little buddies were going to do all they could to cheat to win. "Fine Dangers Run it is, the flags are already set in the center of the run I assume and there will be a person standing to make sure the flags are claimed, but don't come crying to us if you get injured. There is a reason it's called Dangers Run. Also stay in the building till the running time. We will be keeping an eye on you."
Spike scoffed at her and waved to his buddies before moving to another corner of the room away from everyone else. Marinette waited till they were out of earshot before saying "Someone get me a map please and tell the flag watcher to get moving. Adrien you need to sit and I need to show you what we are about to encounter."
That said Marinette opened her locker and pulled out the box that had the pastries and other treats in it. Plopping it down on the table Marinette slid into a chair as a roll of paper was handed to her. Curious Adrien came forwards and a still growling Stormy threw herself into the chair on the other side of the table. For the most part everyone else moved away although one or two asked if they could steal some of the food that was in the box. Even Stormy stole a tart and began to angrily nibble on one end. Taking a small pastry Adrien sat, before taking a deep swig of water.
"Are you going to yell at me?" he asked noting the frustrated look on Marinette's face.
"No, I shouldn't have antagonized him. Especially once I knew he was part of Hawkmoth. Stormy, what's his story? He can't be very high on the ladder with that level of arrogance." Marinette asked and Adrien felt a pleased buzz go through him.
Marinette was accepting him as a partner and backing his decisions. Sure it was just with parkour for right now but it was a start in the direction he wanted them to go. Plus she was asking for information from Stormy right in front of him which was a definite move in the right area. He had also noticed that she hadn't sent anyone away when they had come to her with their problems which to him at least showed that she trusted him to keep his mouth shut.
"He's not but he is desperately trying to act like he is." Stormy groused more than a little miffed at the situation Marinette had found herself in "He has been causing trouble around here on and off for a few weeks now. I've been trying to get into it with him but he keeps slinking off when he sees me if he hasn't already trapped someone. From what I understand he starts arguments and tries to settle them with races like he did just now. Thing is everyone who races against him ends up injured somehow and he really likes choosing Dangers Run. If it was just you I wouldn't be too worried but…" Stormy paused for a moment eyeing Adrien and he gave her a wry grin.
"Its because I'm going to be her partner isn't it?" Adrien asked
Stormy nodded "No offence especially since you made it through the obstacle course without falling and from what I've heard you were a beast playing tag. Still this run is a rough one."
"How so?" Adrien asked taking a sip of water.
Marinette stood rolling out the map someone had given her revealing the area they were in covered in different colored lines. "These are all the runs we have created in the running zone. Some courses are obviously harder than others and some can only be run with a partner since you need teamwork to get over some of the obstacles. Dangers Run is a partnered race in many places."
"Yeah but you and Tiki could both run it on your own." Stormy pointed out. "You know you never did show anyone how you guys always managed to do that."
Marinette waved the comment away. "It doesn't matter. Point is Dangers Run is a multi teared course, the easier and safer the route, the longer its going to take you. The shorter harder areas contain obstacles that are more dangerous and even though the obstacles are as safe as we can make them, most of the time its where runners get injured by trying to shave off time. There are two flags in the center of the course that you have to collect and this course is a circular route so you never go over the same area twice. It's also a decently long course so it can take up to 20 minutes decently paced to get through. You have to be in good shape to stand a chance on this run alone."
"So we will take the shortest route then?" Adrien asked eyeing the paper. He was in excellent shape and knew he wouldn't have trouble keeping up in a straight race. The obstacles would be the real challenge here, although falling off wouldn't get him sent back to the start like on the course he did earlier.
Marinette gave Adrien a slight glare that he answered by smiling sheepishly, realizing that his words were more than a little foolish. Stormy snickered and waved at the people starting to crowd them. Other than Tiki Marinette rarely ran with anyone and although she was more than happy to share some pointers on how to get over obstacles, it was almost never heard of to see her go over a whole run with someone. Most people had found that Marinette was a firm believer in people figuring things out on their own.
"Alright everyone scat. Planning going on over here and you all know how Marinette hates revealing her secrets!" Stormy called making several people complain. Still they respected Stormy's request and with the exception of two tired teens and a few people who were clearly minding their own business everyone else scattered to the rest of the room. Even Stormy stood up slapping Adrien on the back.
"I'm not sure whether you are lucky or unlucky Adrien but I hope to see you come out of this race in one piece. Marinette try not to kill him or your opponents." Stormy said and meandered away an odd look on her face.
"Ignore her." Marinette stated seeing Adrien's questioning look then tapped the map before her drawing Adrien's attention to the task at hand.
He watched her features change, the laughter seeping from her eyes as a deadly serious one took its place. She bit her lip her eyes flicking over the map before she looked him over in a way that made the hair go up on the back of his neck. It was the look a predator gave its prey before deciding to pounce and Adrien was suddenly very glad she wasn't angry at the moment.
"Marinette I'm going to be honest, not many things make me nervous but the look you're giving me? You're making me nervous. Is this run really that bad?" Adrien asked keeping his voice low so no one could her their conversation.
Breaking their intense eye contact Marinette reached into her jacket and pulled out a very odd metal contraption. Setting it down on the table Marinette sighed her shoulders slumping a bit. "I've never done this run with anyone but Tiki and she knew it better than me. I've done it a few times on my own but I haven't been out here in a while so I don't even know the conditions of the course. Some of the areas are sketchy without any extra interference and I have a feeling that our challengers are going to try and pull something when we are out there. For instance this line here shows the medium part of the course. One passage you have to go through is literally some thin boards draped across gaping holes in this one floor. The boards follow the struts and the ones I run down are barely as wide as your foot, which makes most people nervous alone. It doesn't help the rest of the floor is like swiss cheese because the builders used subpar materials so you can see that you are rather high up. If you fall off or step off the path in favor for another you can fall quite a ways possibly to your death. Most of these areas are also quite dim since we haven't had the chance to hang proper lighting everywhere we run yet. I don't think you will do anything stupid or crazy on any of the obstacles but…"
"Marinette I won't deviate from the path you set out for me. I will follow in your footsteps and cover your back. I promise ok?" Adrien said interrupting her as he covered her hand with his.
Marinette's face flushed but she nodded seeming to trust his words. "Ok… ok then. First off you will need this." Tapping the odd metal contraption Marinette pulled her hand out from under his to reach into her sleeve. Pulling the weight and a foot of line out she rested it next to the contraption. "That metal thing is something very similar to an ascender that people use on rope when they go rock climbing. This was Tiki and I's own design and I modify them myself. At one point we may need to use my jacket to get across an obstacle or two so if we go swinging you can clip this right onto my line and not worry about grabbing me or burning your hands on the metal line since you don't have gloves."
Adrien grinned swiftly figuring out how the Ascender snapped around the line locking into place with surprising ease. "This is how Tiki jumped off the roof after you in Alex's story isn't it?"
Marinette nodded "They're easier to put on than take off and if you squeeze the secondary grip together you will slide down the line so don't squeeze it mid swing. The harder you squeeze the faster you will go down the line. Also no one else really knows about these in here and I'd like to keep it that way. Well I guess Stormy does but she doesn't really count." She watched Adrien unhook the ascender with little issue and she felt a touch of pride that she didn't have to show him how to work it.
"Awesome, do I get more cool gear to play with?" Adrien asked the eager look on his face making Marinette chuckle.
"No that's it for now. But now I need to go over the course with you and tell you every problem we may encounter." Marinette answered.
Adrien nodded slipping the ascender into an easily accessible pocket and gave Marinette his absolute full attention. Seeing that he was ready Marinette gave him a thankful smile. "Alright this isn't the course I would put you on since I don't know your whole skill set but I think with what I do know we will make it through just fine." She started pointing to the middle yellow-red striped line that traced its way parallel with a green-red striped line and a solid red line.
Taking her time Marinette explained the course giving him as much detail as he needed and being more than happy to give him measurements of certain rooms or obstacles when he asked for them. Even though she wasn't planning on them dropping down into the lower or higher sections she even gave him information about the obstacles there as a backup. Eventually Marinette had shared everything she could about the course and Adrien was eyeing the lines down on the paper as she ate a small pastry.
"Hey Marinette? Would the course go faster if we used one of the higher obstacles to swing over the lower ones?" Adrien asked making Marinette perk up a little.
Looking at where Adrien was pointing she grinned nodding. "Yeah actually Tiki and I used to use drop over the rope bridge here and swing into the harder course that's lower in that area." Marinette answered
"Does it really save time?" Adrien asked
Marinette nodded "The easier course takes longer because it meanders whereas the shortest, hardest course cuts right through. In the spaces where the courses merge there are different obstacles and it's not against the rules to switch courses."
"Is there a way to avoid the obstacles?" Adrien wondered and again Marinette nodded
"There are ways but it takes too much time and that is cheating."
Tapping a finger to his chin Adrien kept the idea of using one obstacle to avoid another in his mind. Like Marinette he had a feeling that these Hawkmoth idiots were going to try something sneaky and cheat. "So all we have to do is get to the center, grab the flag, and get out right?"
"Basically." Marinette answered as her phone chirped an odd tune. Clicking it off she stretched in her seat. "Welp 30 minutes are up. You feeling ok to run?"
Adrien nodded eagerly "I was born for this Princess. We are going to cream these idiots."
Marinette rolled her eyes at the nickname but held up a fisted hand towards him. Adrien eyed her curiously, unsure as to what he was supposed to do. Realizing this Marinette chuckled. "It's a fist bump Adrien, to our successful creaming of these idiots. Pound it."
His eyes lit up and curling his hand into a fist he bumped their knuckles together. "Pound it!" he agreed and together they turned in time to see Spike walking towards them.
Shoulder to shoulder they moved to meet him more than ready to take these fools on.
