Started teaching and uh yeah... Utter chaos is an excellent description. Wish me luck! On another note Marinette finally gets to go home! yay!
GoldenPhoenix21...I would say we are about halfway through if not a little more.
sockdragon... Glad you have enjoyed it so much!
(Slow Burn Detective AU!) Marinette is used to working alone on the streets of Paris as she strives to take down the Hawkmoth gang. When the thief Chat Noir comes crashing into her life things are bound to get magical, especially when co-detective Adrien returns to Paris and seems to want to be her new partner. Will their fated partnership end in a capture or a kiss?
Homebound
The next day started bright and early as doctors bustled into the room at 5am, scaring the hell out of Alya. Marinette had jolted awake to her scolding the poor doctor but it was all good news. They were happy to report that Marinette was well on her way to healing and that she could go home later that afternoon. The paperwork had to be filed and presented, but that just meant that Marinette had time to get herself together and alert Adrien that she could in fact go home. Alya was thrilled, and since she had work in the afternoon she traded out with Adrien once he arrived. Alya did promise to stop by Marinette's flat later that evening in case she needed help taking a shower or anything. It made Marinette happy that Alya wanted to help and be there for her, but it also made her sigh in exasperation. She had planned to heal herself the second she walked through her door, but since Marinette really didn't want to freak Alya out by being unresponsive practically all night again, that would have to wait.
Even though the day had started stupidly early, the morning seemed to fly past and finally the last of the paperwork was signed. Marinette was officially discharged from the hospital. While the nurse left to go grab a wheelchair Adrien took her hand in his. "Fu lent me a car to bring you home in. Do you have anywhere you need to go first?"
Marinette's free hand reached up to the small bag that held her Miraculous stone and Tiki's earrings. "I need to go visit Tiki."
"I figured, but I wasn't sure if you would be up to it. Do you want to see Fu as well or do that later?" Adrien asked.
"Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow." Marinette assured, "If we go today he will poke and prod at me, and I've been prodded enough for today. Then he will probably say I shouldn't heal myself too fast or some such."
"Well you probably shouldn't." Plagg butted in, flying out of Adrien's pocket to eye her. "As strong as you are, I would give yourself one more day and heal yourself in Fu's presence. He may not be a healer like you, but he's been around long enough that he can tell you how to do it better."
Both Marinette and Adrien gaped at Plagg who puffed up in agitation. "Oh don't give me those surprised fish faces. You are both driven workaholics that will push each other to work harder. Someone around here has to be the voice of relaxation. Besides Marinette, you are not in excruciating pain nor will you be allowed to go to work in the next few days. Allowing your energy to balance out before working with it again will help your control."
Marinette found herself nodding in agreement, even if she wasn't really pleased with the initial idea. "Alright, but I am going to see Tiki before going home and the second we get home I am taking a shower."
"Fine by me." Plagg cackled rolling about in the air, "I'm sure Adrien here would love to help you shower."
"Plagg!" Adrien scolded even as both he and Marinette turned red. He didn't get the chance to further yell at the chortling cat since the nurse arrived with the chair. Thankfully she was looking down, allowing Adrien to snatch Plagg out of the air and shove him into his pocket before the nurse looked up. The nurse saw the quick movement and eyed the two of them curiously so Adrien muttered something about going to get the car as his cheeks turned red. Grabbing Marinette's bag he quickly made his way out the door, hoping that the nurse hadn't noticed Plagg. She hadn't seemed to, which was a good thing, and it made Adrien ever thankful for the odd glamour that surrounded the Kwami. Plagg, the little shit, was practically vibrating in his pocket from suppressed laughter as Adrien tried to regain his composure while walking out to the car. By the time Marinette slipped into the passenger seat Adrien's face was no longer burning, and the silence that stretched between them was comforting rather than awkward. They drove for several minutes before Marinette spoke.
"I am a little surprised you haven't asked me any questions yet." Marinette confided.
"About what?"
"My choice to go see Tiki rather than going right home I guess. Alya would have bombarded me, Nino probably would have taken me home no matter what I asked, and even Fu or one of the Whisperers would have tried to talk me into going tomorrow. But you… you just asked and when I told you you just accepted." Marinette concluded.
Adrien shrugged, coming to a gentle stop at a light, "It's your choice Marinette. I've said it before and I will say it again. I will follow your lead as long as I feel like it's safe for the both of us. Besides we… connected briefly just after you got hurt. You were unconscious at the hospital and I had just passed out after coming out of my rage haze. I remember you asking me to remind you to go to Tiki's grave. I just assumed you remembered on your own."
Marinette's hand closed over the pouch on her neck. She hadn't taken out the stone yet, nor had she put Tiki's earrings back in her ears. The time didn't feel right yet. "I… I sorta do remember that? If you hadn't mentioned it I would have sworn it was part of a dream. I don't know why I feel the need to go to her grave. I just do."
Adrien nodded solemnly, "I don't mind. I need to pay my respects anyway. We can grab some flowers on the way in."
"Ok." Marinette agreed softly, her hand never unwrapping from the pouch around her neck.
Seeing the distant look in her eyes Adrien wrapped his hand around her free hand, allowing the conversation to drop once again. Plagg had settled in his pocket and stopped laughing, but Adrien was a touch surprised that he had not come out and teased them again. Maybe he was just listening to the conversation between them or maybe he too could hear the hesitant tone in Marinette's voice. A part of Adrien wanted to ask why she felt so conflicted about this decision but it felt oddly personal so he let the rest of the drive pass in easy silence. Other than a brief stop where they got flowers, they made it to the cemetery quickly and there was no one really around as they climbed out of the car.
Marinette cradled her bouquet in her arms as she silently made her way to Tiki's grave. It was located towards the back of the cemetery, on a small patch of greenery in a shaded corner where fallen cops or detectives were placed. The small bunch of flowers that had been placed there previously were dry and on their last legs. From the looks of things, Adrien was fairly certain that he and Marinette were the only ones in the precinct who came to visit Tiki's resting site. Adrien had a feeling that the Whisperers probably visited at times since there were little cards and burnt candles at the base of the grave. With a sigh Marinette lowered herself to her knees to clean the grave site up a bit. Adrien was happy to help throw the old flowers and faded decorations away before coming back to stand by Marinette's side.
"Do you want a few minutes alone?" Adrien inquired after the gravesite was clean to her standards.
"No, please stay." Marinette sniffed, "Tiki doesn't mind I don't think. She liked you and Plagg as much as me."
Adrien nodded and remained where he was, although he felt a bit like a coward as he looked away from Marinette's tear streaked face. Hearing his name, Plagg phased out of Adrien's pocket, but he didn't say anything as he flew up to rest on Adrien's shoulder. As if coming to a decision, Marinette slowly slipped the small bag off her neck.
"Hey Tiki. Things have been a little crazy here." Marinette began as she opened the pouch. "I don't know if you have been keeping an eye out or not from the other side, but the Hawkmoth gang struck again, landing me in the hospital."
A tear slid down her face, and Adrien couldn't keep himself from settling down on his knees next to her. Feeling her sorrow was new, and it felt like an icy wave that rocked against the solid bond that tied their souls together. Knowing this was something she wanted to work through on her own, Adrien placed a hand on her shoulder, but he didn't try to soothe her sadness from his end like he desired. Right now he was just an observer and a pillar of comfort if she needed it.
It was clear she appreciated the sentiment since she mentally leaned into the bond for a moment, soaking up his comfort, but all too soon she shifted forwards. "I've been meaning to come out, but between Hawkmoth and Roger and everyday stupid stuff I just haven't managed it. It took me getting shot again to make me realize that I needed to come. To be honest, I'm going to feel really stupid here if nothing happens but…"
Marinette leaned forwards and on the base of the grave she gently dumped the pouch over, allowing two earrings and an oddly colored rounded stone to slide out. They clicked softly against the grave base and the stone rocked slightly as Marinette pulled back, but other than that nothing happened. The gold ladybug style earrings glinted in the afternoon sun and the stone's colors seemed to dim a tad out in the sunshine, but no spirit appeared, no magic lights flashed. To her at least there appeared to be no reaction whatsoever. The tension that had built up in Marinette came out, in the form of a hollow laugh even as she slumped against Adrien's side.
"You ok?"
Marinette rubbed a hand over her face, glaring at the stone, earrings and grave. "I feel like an idiot."
Adrien laughed, and finally wrapped his arm around her shoulders, nestling her against him in a one armed hug. "No need for that Mari. Maybe the stone isn't bonded enough to you to connect like this."
Marinette trembled against him and Adrien sighed, trying to find the right words to comfort her. "Tiki has probably been looking out for the both of us all this time, so maybe she just isn't here right now, or unfortunately, there might not be enough of Tiki's presence for the stone to reach here. Either way it's good to pay our respects, you know?"
Marinette nodded mutely, placing her flowers before the grave and watching as Adrien did the same. It was odd, she had felt so driven to come here, felt so driven to place the stone at Tiki's grave. All Marinette had wanted initially was to go home, but even through her steadily rising exhaustion she knew she wouldn't really rest unless she came here first. Even the stone had seemed to agree, its periodic vibrations stopping the second she had stepped foot within the cemetery's walls. Initially she had thought that maybe they would find Tiki's spirit or something, but now Marinette was wondering if maybe she was just a little crazy from almost dying again.
"I wish Tiki was here." Marinette confided. "She always seemed to know what to do. Gabriel actually listened to her and asked her opinion. I thought he respected me the same, but instead he dismisses me even when I have evidence of something. Half the time I think he still sees me as that fresh faced clumsy intern who tripped over thin air."
Adrien sniggered, "You still trip over thin air Mari."
"Only when you distract me!"
Adrien laughed outright, hugging Marinette a little closer to him, feeling her sadness slipping back into a normal range. "And your adorable, flustered frustrations, are worth your grumpy sentiments after the fact."
Marinette rolled her eyes, but she wasn't mad or even annoyed at Adrien. Instead she felt comfortable, safe, and dare she say, loved. It was a nice feeling even though she sat before her partner's grave. Nostalgia washed over the two of them and they sat there for over an hour, telling each other Tiki stories and laughing through the pain of her loss. It felt almost cleansing to the both of them, talking of Tiki like she was still with them; it kept her spirit alive within their hearts. Leaning against Adrien, Marinette felt at peace for the first time in a long time but as nice as this stolen moment was, she knew that they would eventually have to leave. She didn't realize it but even Adrien sensed their time was coming to a close, and he eyed her in loving concern. Marinette's energy was starting to flag badly, and Adrien could practically taste her exhaustion along the bond they shared.
Plagg had been oddly quiet through the whole last hour and neither of them had noticed him silently watching the stone. They certainly hadn't noticed him slipping off Adrien's shoulder to wrap himself around the stone and earrings. Marinette only noticed it when her phone beeped with an incoming text and she had to pull it out to see who was messaging her. It was then that she saw the black lump curled up in the sunlight. It seemed odd to Marinette that he had curled up not only around the stone, but had pulled the earrings under him as well. It was pretty cute seeing him act like some kind of tiny dragon protecting his horde though. Shaking her head, Marinette checked the message and found that it was her parents asking if they could stop by that evening to visit her in the hospital. Quickly she told them of her release, and they practically demanded that she stop by to get a decent dinner for later that night, and a good lunch. Adrien was pleased with the idea and Marinette promised her parents that they would be on their way in a few minutes. Her exhaustion would just have to wait until they got some decent food.
"I guess this means we have to go. Mind giving me back my stuff Plagg?" Marinette asked, reaching down towards him.
Plagg uncurled and shifted to the side before Marinette could poke him, causing her fingers to connect with both the stone and earrings at the same time. A rainbow of light burst from the stone blinding her and Marinette yelped, closing her eyes against the dazzling light. In the next moment Marinette knew something had happened, because silence seemed to envelop her form, and the weight of Adrien's arm around her was suddenly gone. Forcing her eyes open, Marinette was greeted by the sight of flowers.
"What the?" she breathed, looking around her. She was in a field of flowers with every color and species under the sun blooming about her. There didn't appear to be anything but flowers around her until Marinette noticed a small ladybug perched on a leaf nearby. The moment she noticed it, the ladybug lifted off the leaf and landed on her nose making her sneeze.
"Bless you." A female voice offered, making Marinette's head jerk up. Tiki stood before Marinette in her favorite outfit of ladybug patterned sleep pants, and a cute garden print shirt that Marinette had made for her. Without prompting the ladybug flew off her nose and landed on Tiki's outstretched finger where it vanished. Slowly Tiki smiled at Marinette before lowering herself to the ground. "We're not quite ready yet, but don't worry, I am with you."
Marinette opened her mouth to speak but no words came out since she was too stunned to even think of a proper reply. Tiki just grinned at her, even as her form seemed to waver. "Time's up." In the next instant she seemed to explode into ladybugs, making Marinette yelp in surprise and come bolt upright in Adrien's arms.
"Marinette?! Are you ok?!" Adrien begged, sounding terrified.
Marinette blinked as she looked around, feeling oddly detached from herself. Something in her palm vibrated, drawing her attention down to her hand where a now egg shaped, blood red stone covered in black spots sat next to a pair of silver onyx studs. "What?" Marinette weakly replied.
Adrien pressed a hand to her cheek looking her over critically as Plagg hovered in the air nervously. "You picked up the stone and earrings, there was a bright flash of light and then you keeled over backwards. I had to catch you. You were only out for about a minute though before popping right back up. It scared the hell out of me!"
"Oh… I saw Tiki."
Adrien went totally still next to her but Plagg practically flew into her face. "Did she say anything?!"
Marinette nodded "She said that we weren't ready yet but that she was with me." The detached feeling was fading, allowing her senses and emotions to slowly come fully back online. "The… the stone changed again… I think it broke Tiki's earrings..."
Plagg darted for her hand, eyeing the earrings and stone before letting out a whoop. He flipped in the air happily not minding the odd looks he was receiving from Marinette and Adrien.
"You two should be celebrating! Not crying!" Plagg declared, flying up into Marinette's face again to swipe away a tear.
"So I really did see her?" Marinette asked, wanting assurance even as Adrien demanded "Why celebrate?"
Plagg grinned wildly, "Because! Marinette is truly compatible. Not only with us but her stone as well! Eventually Marinette will become a Miraculous user and Tiki will be the one who will connect to form the bond needed to make it happen! Tiki will be like me!"
"I'm just happy I am not going crazy." Marinette sniffed, wiping at her tears even as a smile flickered on her lips.
Adrien however frowned further. "But that means that Marinette will have to die and I won't let that happen!"
At his words Marinette tensed but Plagg just grinned. "Kid just because we were stupid enough to die doesn't mean that Marinette has to die to fully activate the stone. It would certainly be easier and it would force the transformation, but it doesn't have to work like that. You two idiots really need to go see Fu."
"Not today!" Marinette snapped, glaring between Plagg and Adrien. "I just don't have the energy, we now have to go see my parents, and I desperately need a shower. If I have to wait to see Fu to heal myself you will just have to wait with me. I'm not planning on dying this evening so any questions can wait, yes?"
Plagg sniggered, holding his paws up in surrender, while Adrien shifted looking annoyed but accepting. Neither of them tried to fight her on the subject though, so Marinette turned her attention back to the stone and earrings in her hands.
"The eggish shape is new but the stone has been changing since the first time I picked it up. I really can't say that I am surprised that it changed again… Why did Tiki's earrings change though? They were ladybugs and I liked them like that!" Marinette demanded, looking up at Plagg who floated down to her hands.
Carefully he picked one of the earrings up in his paws, and Marinette gasped as the earring changed back to its original colors right before her eyes. Plagg nodded to himself then dropped the earring into her palm again where it returned to being a silver onyx stud. Adrien picked one up too, but unlike Plagg it didn't change, simply remaining an onyx silver stud.
"That's freaky… but cool. They are like the ring now." Adrien commented as he dropped the stud back into Marinette's palm.
Marinette glanced at him in confusion but Plagg snorted, drawing her attention, "To answer your question you first need a bit of a run down Marinette. First off, while humans are great at wielding the power of a miraculous, the human body itself is a terrible medium to hold the miraculous stones true powers in. It can be done, don't get me wrong, but it's a really bad idea since it makes that one person both the Miraculous stone and user. The stone has to be active though, which means that there is a secondary soul already within the stone when this process begins. Basically the stone is absorbed by the person and the soul that inhabits it binds itself to the body. That's totally different to how Adrien and I work when we become Chat Noir. The transformation that Adrien goes through when he becomes Chat Noir is undone everytime he says "Claws In," but if he had absorbed the stone into the body his transformation would have been permanent. Because the transformation can't be undone, it ends up being two souls trapped within one body for the short amount of time that the idiot lives. It doesn't matter how close the souls are or how compatible, it's like a person with split personalities going to war in the head but worse. The few that do manage it usually die very quickly because it tends to tear the physical body apart in response to the stress of two souls."
At Marinette's horrified look, he tapped the stone in her palm drawing her attention to it and continued, "That's why a secondary medium is needed, so that the power a transformation uses, or releases doesn't short out your brain or soul. That shorting out bit is the reason why only truly compatible people can wield the miraculous. Anyways, usually the secondary medium is a piece of jewelry or a weapon that the stone binds with. Pretty sure in olden days the pair of people chose something special between them and then there was a ceremony to bind the stone to the object right away. Then those two would carry around the object instead of a rock and whoever became the Kwami was born from the object or weapon when the stone went fully active. Since we don't know the ceremony and at this point I doubt you would have willingly used the earrings anyways, you Marinette have been carrying around the stone. Unfortunately for you, the stone likes the earrings, and since Tiki's soul has proven to be present she obviously approves of her own earrings. When you finally start transforming, the earrings will be the medium between you and Tiki's souls so your body doesn't short out from having two souls dwelling within it. The change you see right now is a glamour. After all, the stone is alive in its own right. Think of it being more akin to an egg at this point rather than a magical rock. When it fully activates or 'hatches,' I suppose it will become a Kwami like me. Right now the stone has chosen its medium and so it's protecting a potential true match. For instance…"
Plagg flew over to Adrien's hand and Adrien seemed to know what he wanted, since he put his hand out showing off the silver ring he had on his finger. Hovering just above the silver ring Plagg pressed a small paw to it and the silver leached away revealing a black band with emeralds shaped into a paw on the rounded face.
"This ring was Plagg's. He gave it to me like three days before we… died." Adrien admitted, "It was already silver by that point."
Plagg looked guilty. "I gave it to him out of selfishness. The stone had changed the ring a week or so before and I didn't want to be carrying both items in case something happened to me."
"You didn't want your soul to be trapped?" Marinette guessed
"No, but to be honest at that point I was too far attached to the stone to truly back out. The stone changed the ring and I stupidly figured I could let Adrien wear it, and introduce him to the whole Miraculous thing slowly. I was going to tell Tiki about it when I told him so I would have backup in case he tried to have me instantly committed. Instead a few days later we died." Plagg confirmed, "Like I said. The bond between us was a super lucky break. You and Tiki however, when you finally transform, will be far more stable. The earrings will remain camouflaged as long as you are holding them within your power however. Like you can take them off and as long as you don't reject them they will remain camouflaged. The glamour on them will keep them hidden from everyone in almost the same way I am hidden. If you accidentally lose one of them you won't be able to ask anyone but us to help you find them. Other people's eyes will just skip right over them. Truthfully though you shouldn't be able to lose them. Now that they are bonding you should be able to sense the general area they are in anyways."
Marinette blinked at Plagg feeling mildly grateful that she was sitting down. "Well then… that's… a lot to take in."
Plagg swooped lazily in the air. "Kid, you have no idea. Now, put the earrings in and hide the stone away so we can go get some cheese bread. I'm starving!"
That made Marinette laugh even as Adrien scolded Plagg, trying to snatch him out of the air to get him under some kind of control. Slipping the stone into her waistband pocket Marinette noted that even though it was egg shaped in her hand it didn't make her waistband stick out. She ran her fingers over the band twice to reassure herself that it was in fact there, and the third time she did it the stone hummed at her as if it were trying to sooth her fears. Rolling her eyes and feeling a bit ridiculous, Marinette put Tiki's earrings back into her ears.
They felt right to her, like they now belonged to her in a way they never had before. At one time they had represented a reminder of her failure, but she had worn them because they had been Tiki's. When Marinette had finally accepted the fact that there had been nothing she could have done to save Tiki, her earrings had become a kind of badge of honor. They were a reminder to Marinette that she was doing her best to survive and do her job to the absolute best of her ability. As this past year had gone by, the earrings had rested in her ears and now with the stones' activation they had come to be a physical representation of the bond she and Tiki had once shared. They now represented the bond that they still shared, one that not even death had been able to sever. Knowing this now, wearing Tiki's earrings made her feel lighter, like she'd shed some burden Marinette hadn't even been aware of. Finishing just as Adrien caught Plagg, Marinette climbed to her feet with a smile. She felt warm, comforted, and even with the exhaustion nibbling at her mind she felt ready to take life on.
"Alright you two. Let's go see my parents." Marinette called, pressing a hand to Tiki's gravestone one last time. The contact made her feel better, just like the purring vibration coming from her waistband was helping her feel stronger.
Adrien shoved Plagg into his inner pocket and stepped up to Marinette's side, his tone gentle as he asked "Are you really ready to go Marinette? We can stay for a bit longer if you need or we can even go home and I'll just talk to your parents for you."
Marinette smiled at him and brushed her fingers along his jaw. "That is courting all kinds of trouble Adrien, but thank you for the option. I'll be ok. I just… before we came I just wasn't sure where to go or what path to take and even though I still really don't know, I feel better somehow. I know that Tiki is with me no matter what I decide and I just feel better knowing that I guess."
Happy that Marinette was feeling fulfilled, Adrien took up Marinette's free hand and gently pressed a kiss to it. "I'll follow you to the ends of the earth, My Lady."
Marinette felt her cheeks flush and she pushed on his nose forcing him back a step. "Bad kitty, we are in public."
Adrien grinned, wishing he could take Marinette into his arms and kiss the life out of her. Instead he ducked his head before holding out his arm like a gentleman, "Yes Princess."
Marinette rolled her eyes but took the offered arm and together made their way back to the car.
Enjoying the story? Review if you have the time! Tell me what you liked/didn't like! It helps me map the story better!
