This is the only time I will offer a "Trigger Warning" to any of my stories, mostly because this one chapter deals with something that can and does happen. Abuse. Nothing about this subject is funny, and I have no intentions of doing anything other than showing the weight of what happens when an adult physically hurts their child. As such, this is the only chapter with such an action, and I will admit that I fast-forwarded over this part of the story because it made me uncomfortable just typing it out.

Contrasts and Conformity

Tikki's antenna twitched as she slept, her face nuzzling against Marinette's hair. At a sound, her head poked up with her eyes blinking sleepily. A motion over the corner of her eye caused the Kwami to open her eyes wide. Her antenna made a motion against her chosen's ear, prompting the young woman to make a motion with her hand in just enough time to slap Vixen's thigh. Phasing through the bed, she stayed underneath as the young woman woke up with a shout. "Who are you?!"

Marinette's eyes opened to see Vixen in her room, a dagger in her hand. "Wha-?! Who are you?!" she shouted as she moved back, the dagger going down to pierce her bed.

"You've ruined everything, Marinette," Vixen growled, "EVERYTHING!" Reaching out, she grabbed a hold of her intended victim's ankle, yanking her forward. With the young woman fully on her back, she brought the dagger up, only for the baker's daughter to kick her square in the face. Vixen staggered, grabbing her nose, only for a pair of incredibly strong arms to wrap around her. The feeling of compression blasted all the air out of her lungs.

"I don't know who you are, young lady, but nobody enters my home unin-" he stopped as Vixen brought her head back, slamming it into his nose. Tom dropped her to grab his face, but the moment she rushed for Marinette she realized her mistake. Her dagger was turned away with a simple slap to the back of her hand before her wrist was grabbed. Vixen's eyes widened as a foot connected with her lower abdomen, upper abdomen, and face in a rapid three strike kick.

Shaking her head, she staggered to the side before a flat, wooden board slammed against the side of her head, sending her nearly flying against Marinette's wall. Sabine stood there with a bread paddle, twirling it like a master of the staff. "Get the hell out of our house!" she growled. Vixen looked at the dropped dagger, and knew she wouldn't be fast enough to retrieve it before the entire family would be on top of her. The sounds of pounding feet reached all their ears.

"Marinette!" Everyone knew that voice, and them looking back to see Adrien gave her just enough of a distraction to allow her to leap back through the window. Hurdling the window sill like a pole vaulter, she landed on her shoulders on the other side, before rolling onto her feet.

Going to the window, Marinette watched as Vixen ran through the forest, her eyes glaring at the villain. "I'm in here, Adrien!" she called out as Vixen disappeared into the darkness. Turning her back to the window, she looked at the dagger that had dropped when she kicked her opponent in the stomach. Upon seeing her betrothed and Nathalie, however, she smiled. "I'm alright."

"What happened?" Nathalie asked.

For several seconds she just stood there, remembering what she had done. "I... fought her." Her eyes widened. "It was like an instinct. Vixen came at me with a dagger," she looked down at the weapon, "and I was able to fight her off bare-handed."

"You truly are amazing, Marinette." Adrien commented as he held onto her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. They watched as Nathalie walked over to the blade, and placed a handkerchief over top.

Turning to look at the family, she stood. "Can you both keep the children safe while I tell the militia about what happened?"

Sabine set the end of her bread paddle on the ground with a nod, while Tom smiled. "Of course. We'll be here when you return."

Nathalie nodded, giving the mother and father a brief smile, before she ran off to the local militia office. She was nearly there when a militiaman stepped around a corner, causing her to skid to a halt. "Miss Sancoeur? What's the problem?" She recognized the short black hair graying at the temples and trimmed goatee starting to go gray by the lips. He was still fit and trim, his slight paunch hidden by the militia armor.

She recognized the man. "Phillipe, how many times have I told you to call me Nathalie?" she asked.

"Off-duty, or did you forget that part?"

A chuckle escaped her as Nathalie shook her head. "Just had to be sure you were you, Mr. Dubois. How are the wife and kids?"

"What do you mean you had to be sure I was me?" he asked. At the question, he shrugged. "Vera is getting moodier lately, so I think we're expecting a third, but the eldest is sick while Timmy is doing fine." Looking at her, he blinked. "Now why are you running hell for leather toward the militia tower?"

"A young woman was attacked, and I'm on my way to the militia tower to make sure they get the evidence of the assault."

He nodded, "Come on, I'll get the evidence and take it back with me. My shift is nearly over anyway, and it will be a good way for my night to end."

"I couldn't agree more." Nathalie admitted, and the pair turned toward the bakery. When they arrived, Phillipe spent the next hour taking their statements, before picking up the dagger. At the sight of the jeweled hilt, it proved to him that whoever possessed this weapon had both money, and influence. He learned that the assassin had attacked the young baron first, but he could tell the young man was holding something back, before Vixen deciding that she wanted to take out the competition. He also made sure that the young man was sure Lila Rossi was the assassin.

"That little... she killed several of my friends during the coup, including my best friend Roger." he shook his head. "I'll make sure to get this back to the tower, and inform them of what happened. You all have my word. Hopefully, we'll have her in custody before the end of the week."

"What if you don't?" Nathalie asked.

Phillipe shook his head. "Figure something went wrong, or her mother is protecting her ass with political plate mail."

Leaving the bakery, he started back toward the militia tower while the quintet continued their conversations in the pastry shop. He was only a block away when he was stopped by an arm coming from out of nowhere, and sinking six inches of steel into his upper abdomen. Phillipe opened his mouth to say something, but found a strong, feminine hand clasping his face, and pushing him back into the alley. Ripping her dagger out, she slashed across his neck, sending out a gout of crimson.

'I'll have that, thank you.' Lila smiled as she took her dagger back, and laid the man down in the alley, before leaning down to look at him. "Sorry, but I can't have anyone knowing who I really am." she then looked up. "I'll have to deal with the baker and his wife, but it will have to be when they least expect an attack, or I might be overwhelmed." A giggle left her lips seconds later, 'Then I can spend as much time as I want with that little trollop they call a daughter.'

oOo

The following morning saw Kagami with her eyebrow twitching at the soft giggles that came from the garden. Her mind wandered to the fact that Mary was being visited by Kim, and she knew just what they were doing. Considering she was on a break, the young Japanese woman knew with every fiber of her being that it was fine, but the constant distraction was making it difficult for her to relax. In a few more seconds of giggling she found herself unable to concentrate, and decided to stand up. Going over to the wooden and paper door, she opened it with a whoosh. "Mary..." she stopped immediately, her face burning as she turned away.

"Oh, um..." Mary gently pushed Kim away as she fixed her clothes, "i-is there something you need, Lady Kagami?"

"I-It's fine..." she stammered, "I was just going to ask about some tea."

When she took a step away, the young handmaiden shook her head. "No, please. It's my job." she then looked at Kim, before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Maybe we can continue this later?"

Nodding, he placed a kiss on her lips. "I'll be looking forward to that." He bowed to Kagami briefly, "Lady Tsurugi." before turning and heading for the front gate.

Mary headed off to make tea, her cheeks nearly crimson at being caught. Her charge entered the kitchen as the water started to boil. "You and Kim seem to be getting along rather well." She tried not to think about seeing her handmaiden sitting on his lap, one of her hands conspicuously missing while the militia guard had his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Even now, when she glanced to the side, she could see the evidence poking up through the fabric of Mary's dress.

"He's wonderful." Mary nearly gasped. "I couldn't be happier." She glanced at Kagami. "What about you? Any prospects?"

"No, but that's doesn't really matter." Kagami stood there, stoically, "Mother has charged me with keeping the household running while she works with the arrondissement. After the deaths of the royal family, Baron Agreste and Countess Rossi have kept her rather busy." She watched as Mary added the proper tea into the kettle, before pouring the boiling water. Letting the tea steep, she brought up a lacquered ceramic cup. Pouring a liberal amount inside she handed it over to the other young woman. "Thank you."

"That's why they each added a couple of others to help with the running of each section, right?" Mary asked.

"It's true." Kagami nodded after swallowing the tea. "The problem is that each has their own personal agendas, and I can tell mother is getting rather frustrated with some of their bickering."

Rubbing at her chin, Mary nodded. "What would she normally do when she was frustrated like this?"

Kagami looked to the side. "I'm unsure, all I know is that she seems more tense when she gets back from her nightly meetings."

"I wish we could help."

"That makes two of us."

Hearing the padding of feet, Mary poured a second cup of tea, and approached the door. Poking her head out, she saw Tomoe heading toward her. Holding out the cup, she spoke softly with a bow. "Some hot tea, mistress?"

Tomoe stopped, looked down at the cup, and at the young woman bowing to her. Taking the cup she nodded. "Thank you, Mary. I definitely need this." She then looked at her daughter. "Wake me only if Paris is in flames." With that said, she continued on to her bedroom, and shut the door. Kagami took a pointed look at Mary, a shrug of her shoulders as the young woman glanced back. The two young women sat in the kitchen area, each drinking tea as they brainstormed ideas about how best to help the exhausted council-woman.

oOo

"You had one job!" Zoe Rossi yelled as her hand struck the side of her daughter's face, sending her to the floor. "ONE!" She shook her head. "You were supposed to distract the Beetle and Cat during the coup. What happened?"

Wiping the slight trickle of blood from her lower lip, Lila looked at the ground. "I... I looked for them, but..."

"Enough of your useless excuses!" Lady Rossi glowered as she walked over to the cabinet to the side of her main hall. Pulling down the horizontal door, it revealed several decanters full of colored liquids. Pouring a liberal amount in a glass, she took a long drink. Heat flowed from mouth to stomach as she refilled the glass. Turning around, she glared at the teen once more. "Cat! Beetle! Find them! Take their gemstones, and kill them! I can't have them messing up our plans again!"

"M-Mother, you don't understand..."

"Shut up!" Zoe shouted. "If I want your opinion I will give it to you!" Taking another draw from her glass, she walked past her daughter. "Useless..." she muttered. "If I didn't need you..." she let that threat die in her throat as she walked toward her personal chambers. "Wake me if you can find any other way to screw everything up, so that I can properly discipline you. Other than that, you best be more quiet than a church mouse."

Bowing her head, Lila nodded. "Y-Yes, mother."

oOo

"Jamil! Alexandria! I'm home!" Liam stepped into the hall of their home.

A young looking girl about half his height ran in and leaped on him, "Papa!" she called out, while giving the older male a kiss on his cheek. Her long red hair was pulled back into a messy bun, that flowed back into a ponytail. Although she wore a dress, the young woman wrapped her legs around his waist. "How was the meeting?"

"Boring, but insightful. There are several people on the council that I find quite intriguing." he commented with a smile.

"You're not falling in love again, are you?" Alexandria smirked.

Kissing her on the cheek, he shook his head. "You know there's only room for one lady in my heart." In spite of herself, Alex giggled as she felt his mustache brush against her skin. It was then that he saw his eldest emerge from a side room. "How goes the studying of the ancient tablet?"

"It would be better if I had some help..." he made a point to look straight at his sister.

Looking back with a smug smile, Alexandria stuck her tongue out at her brother. "Now, now. I don't want you two bickering, I've heard quite enough of that in council."

"I'm sorry, papa, it's just that having to study all these ancient dialects is too boring for me." Alex commented as she hugged her father.

Setting his daughter down, he smiled. "I know, my little princess, but you really should go help your brother while I get some rest. These all night sessions are starting to wear me out."

"When do you have to go back?" Jamil asked.

"Thankfully, six. I'll be here for supper, but before that I want you both working on those ancient tablets from Giza." Giving his daughter a kiss on top of the head, he hugged his son. "I will see you both when I wake up."

Heading into his bed chambers, the two children watched him go, before Jamil sighed. "Come on, I'll have you help to translate the Isis tablet."

"Why? Because I'm a girl?" Alexandria asked with her hands on her hips.

"No, because you're better at Egyptian while I'm better at Sumerian." He then shrugged, "Besides, maybe if you finish one tablet from Giza it will take more of the workload off of both of us later."

Alexandria scowled, "Fine, but you have to promise to take me out for at least an hour after I'm done."

Jamil rubbed at his forehead. "Okay, but only for an hour. You know how hard it is for me to translate ancient Sumerian." A smirk quirked up one side of her lips as she followed her brother into the study, preparing herself mentally for the task ahead.

Thank you for reading, and if you feel so inclined, I recommend "A Stunning Revelation" posted by Lady Rhi of which I had quite a bit of fun typing out the fight scenes, and developing the Akuma "Stunner". If you haven't read any of Lady Rhi's stories, I highly recommend you correct that rather egregious oversight and straight up follow them as soon as possible! They are a wonderful writer, and an even better friend!
Some of my personal favorites are "Last Resort", "Cover Story", "Declaration Day", "The Vast Divide", "Change in Dynamics", "Stuck in an Elevator with you", and the newest one "In Your Arms". The last two have a Lemon/NSFW warning as the former has some seriously erotic scenes, and the latter seems to be shaping up to have some of the same.