AN: Hello! This is my fist ever Miraculous Ladybug fanfiction. The word count for the main portion of this chapter is 961 words. I'm apart of a Miraculous Ladybug roleplaying server on Discord that is currently looking for more members so if you're interested check my profile for a link to it and the other servers I'm on [all of which are Miraculous Ladybug related in some way]. A huge thanks to Jadenova7w7, Robo_Gecko, kopycat101, The Youngest(TM) (UN), Fin, Mnoeln, and others from the NathMarc Multiverse server on Discord for letting me use some of their ideas and prompts to write this or helping me proofread . Thoughts are placed in plain italics for easier reading. I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir [I wouldn't have had to ask how the full was spelt if I did]. Happy Reading!
Right in Front of Me
Chapter 1
No One's POV
'How did it get to this point,' Nathaniel thought as he watches his precious children get taken from him. They are the light of his life. Each one are his pride and joy. Silent tears build as they were taken further and further away from him.
Divorce and a corrupt judge, that's what caused this pain. A judge, paid off by the new fiancé of his now ex-wife Lila, deciding that the children should go with their mother first before going to him, switching weekly, despite the charges of child abuse and neglect he levied against her with the help of his closest friends (Alix Kubdel, Marinette Dupain-Couffaine, Luka Couffaine, Juleka & Rose Lavillant-Couffaine,... and Marc). He still had a hard time believing it though. Believing that his- no. not his... not anymore- Believing that the woman he married six years ago after dating for a year, was a lying, cheating, backstabbing, power-hungry gold digger all along. All of their happy moments... tainted by the dark sludge that lurks in her heart. Seven years of his life wasted on what Nathaniel thought was love but actually wasn't. The only good to come out of those years were his children. His sweet, chaotic children that he loves more than life itself.
Nathaniel shook his head. No use becoming an akuma over this. The separation isn't for long, just a week. 'Just a week,' he reminded himself, 'a week until I can see them again. My precious inspirations. My masterpieces.' So lost in thought, the redhead didn't notice his comic book partner Marc Anciel come up behind him until there was a pressure on him right shoulder.
"It'll be okay," Marc says trying his hardest to stay strong for his best friend since junior high. Nathaniel gave a small nod as his tears finally slipped from his eyes as the door closed. The week long separation begins now. His other friends pull him into hugs, Luka giving him the bro hug variant, hoping to reassure the crying artist that everything would work out.
He only halfheartedly listened to the probably false statements of those closest to him. He just couldn't get the looks on his treasured children's faces from when they were told that they were to live with their mother out of his mind: Rainbow's look of fear, Impulse's going blank, and Miriam's smile falling into a frown. Those expressions stayed on them as they were marched out the door by their mother and her new fiancé. Each child slightly dragging their feet to where ever it was their mother was ordering them. She pulled on both Miri and Rain's hands harshly while that b-erk did the same to Imp. Those expressions were so unlike any of them. They were more telling than anything he'd seen in light of his- no... Lila's treatment of their kids. Those looks with eyes that pleaded for their father to save them like the superheroes in the comics he illustrates. Nathaniel was powerless to the system where money, fame, connections, intelligence, and power gets you everywhere and everything, and he still couldn't save them from the vicious clutches of their mother... not this time.
He let Marc drive him back to his place not really in the condition to be behind the wheel. Nathaniel watches as the house he lived in with his kids and Lila came into view. It's more of a large apartment really what with its three bedrooms, to bathrooms, a balcony, and an American style living space. It's actually one of the few apartments to have a small utilities room that's just big enough for a washer and dryer with a clothes rack to hang dry certain clothes on too. He and his kids lived here with their mother. That is until a week ago, when Lila and Nathaniel filed for divorce and she moved in with her finance, whom she revealed the day she left.
Marc walks him to the door. "It'll be alright. Just take care of yourself, and hey don't worry if the illustrations don't get done this week, take your time. Okay, Nath?" Marc's small reassuring smile was strained trying to hide all the emotions and words he never got the chance to show and tell. Nath just nods, too tired for words, as he flops onto the green couch. Usually, such an action would cause a round of laughter from the twins with giggles from Nath's youngest, if they were in the room that is. It felt so weird to the two males. This apartment, home to such lively, loud, and creative children with an equally creative father, is now quiet save for their breathing. The atmosphere is as despondent as the lone man on the couch. Marc looks at his watch, 2:30 pm. "Hey Nath! I'm gonna make some lunch before I head out okay?"
Nathaniel just nods, his tears soaking a pillow to his face. Marc sighs going to the kitchen and making a sandwich for the upset artist. Once done, he placed Nathaniel's on the coffee table before eating his own. The two staying in silence all the while when a sudden alarm alerted from Marc's phone. He glanced at the device and then back to the redhead, who looked up at the sound. "Guess that's my cue to leave," Marc tries to joke as he gets up from the couch. Nathaniel says nothing, his mind still haunted by his kids expressions. He silently watches as his best friend leaves the apartment. An apartment that just doesn't feel like home.
AN2: Final word count is 1,136 words. Feel free to leave a review! Thanks for reading! ~lumigo