Okay, first a small rant and even a bit of advice for those who like to write fics. I read a lot of fanfics guys. I enjoy reading about a number of fandoms really but there are a few things that totally ruin a story for me even if it carries a lot of potentials. The first and probably the biggest is the INTENTIONAL LOWER CASE.
If someone could explain to me why some people write without capitalizing properly that would be great because whenever I see a sentence go: "i looked at him and smile. adrien had been my friend for years. " I wanna stab someone. The whole story upper case is ignored and to me, that is just lazy writing. The description can sound so interesting but as soon as I see the 'lower case intentional' I'm out. Nope. And I feel like I have to ignore a lot of potentially cool stories because of it, so please someone make me understand. Know now, if you even want me to read your book and you don't take the time to use capital letters where it is appropriate, I will not read it. Spelling errors happen, I make them all the time and rarely go back and edit but capitalizing a name or the letter I or the beginning of a sentence is just basic grammar. Please for the love of all that is holy use capital letters.
Paragraph spacing is another one. Sometimes my paragraphs can get a little lengthy don't get me wrong but some stories have zero one whole chapter in a single paragraph with dialog and all. Space your words, especially when people are talking. Otherwise, it is really hard to read.
This one is a little smaller and I don't see it as often as I used to but it still pops up from time to time and that is unnecessary character descriptions. You know those little chapters before the story where it will give an OC/readers general physical description but also all their talents, fears, goals, love interests, hobbies, etc. If you ever read an actual book, they do not have those. That is all information you as the writer should have in mind so that you can progressively reveal it over time so that your readers can get to know and relate to your character. Making a character description page doesn't make me not read a story, but a lot of the time I just skim over it if not skip it completely. I don't want you to tell me the character is funny, smart, and heroic, I want you to show me they are. Show, don't tell I believe is the phrase.
Anyway...
AAAAAAHHHHH GUYS! So, I was finally able to watch Miraculous world as well as some of the episodes of season 4 off a website I would not recommend because it is littered with ads and pop-ups as free streaming sites tend to be, but I was desperate! Anyway! Oh boy, do I like what I saw for the most part and can't wait to incorporate it! Spoiler alert for season 4 if you have yet to see it scroll to the story now!
Gone? Okay, the only real big thing that I found I am now going to have to work around is Luka's father being Jagged Stone. A lot of parents are hardly mentioned at all and I simply figured Luka's dad would be no different thus I created an imaginary persona for him before watching Truth. That being said, I am clearly going to have to change that detail in one way or another, I do have some idea. Zoe is also kind of a wild card. I knew of her existence from promo stuff as well as a google search but due to her being a new character there isn't much given on her or her background as a whole so I'm trying to reframe from bringing her up too much. She and Chloe are obviously very close in age. I am under the impression that Chloe is the older sibling but that is just an assumption and since that's how I portrayed it in a previous chapter that is just how it's going to have to stay in the long run. We of course have some ways to go before then, and hopefully, soon the new season will be on Netflix or Disney plus and I won't have to use sketchy websites to watch it! Now, on with the story!
Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to last in its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last but feelings come and go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called 'being in love usually does not last. If the old fairy-tale ending 'They lived happily ever after' is taken to mean 'They felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were married,' then it says what probably never was nor ever would be true, and would be highly undesirable if it were.
Who could bear to live in that excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be 'in love' need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense — love as distinct from 'being in love — is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would easily if they allowed themselves, be 'in love with someone else. 'Being in love' first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it."
Marinette was in a state of panic. She paced the floor of her room, tugging at her pigtails as her jaw clenched at her own stupidity. After taking down an akumatized baby August once again, Marinette quickly detrasformed on the rooftop of her home as they had conveniently ended up right in front of it. However, Chat Noir reappeared in front of her with the toddler and commented on how often he seemed to run into her after Ladybug had gone off. He was so close to connecting the dots that Marinette came up with the first explanation that popped into her head and had stupidly claimed she was in love with him. To make it worse, her father had come to look for her just as she did so and in witnessing the act invited Chat to brunch in their home tomorrow.
Under normal circumstances, it is very possible that if given enough thought, Chat could have put together that Marinette was in fact Ladybug. However, Marinette, unlike Chat was unaware of the miraculous ability to manipulate a person's thought process like Chat's own had done so many times to Lucy. The miraculous she wore was doing just that as the girl wrapped her arms around her companion and fibbed. Marinette screamed into her pillow.
"This is a disaster!" Tikki looked at her owner sympathetically.
"You shouldn't have lied about your feelings."
"But he was going to figure out I am Ladybug! I had to!"
"No, you didn't," Tikki told her. "Marinette, think about every close call you have ever had when it came to your identity being exposed by someone simply connecting context clues. You're miraculous protects your identity from people putting too much thought into it when they are near you. Even from Chat Noir and vice versa. You really didn't have anything to worry about."
Marinette gapped at Tikki in shock, now feeling even more ridiculous. "Tikki! Why didn't you tell me about that sooner!?"
Tikki gave a guilty smile. "It had never been a problem until now. The only one who has ever openly tried even slightly to connect you to Ladybug was Alya, and her lack of physical evidence made her let go of that theory a long time ago. I'm pretty sure Lucy has also done so once or twice, but like now, the miraculous did its job. But now Chat Noir and your parents think you are in love with him."
Sitting up, Marinette pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts as Tikki watched from over her shoulder.
"Marinette, what are you doing?"
"I have to fix this Tikki, now shh! Hey! Lucy, I know it's late but I was wondering if you wanted to come over for brunch tomorrow?"
OoOoOoooOOo
Adrien detransformed and Plagg rushed over to the cabinet he had stocked with cheese. "You finally got yourself a girlfriend! And not just any girlfriend, the daughter of the best baker in Paris!"
"Marinette in love with Chat Noir," He pondered aloud. "Huh, I didn't think he was her type."
"Before you know it, we'll be enjoying some warm and crispy bread to go with every piece of cheese. Our life is about to change!" Plagg exclaimed as he brought out two pieces of cheese. Adrien frowned at him.
"Stop it, Plagg. You know I'm in love with Lucy." He told the kwami as he made his way into the bathroom.
"So? I don't see the problem in keeping two pots simmering on the stove!" Plagg gazes at his cheese. "Especially when one comes with so much more deliciousness inside." He chuckles and swallows his cheese before joining Adrien in the bathroom.
"I have to be honest with Marinette. I'll go over there for brunch, but only to tell her the truth." Having to do this left a bad feeling in the pit of Adrien's stomach. In a way, Marinette was aware of his feelings for Lucy both as himself and as Chat Noir. Her confession, though flattering was something that definitely took him off guard. He supposed that perhaps even though Marinette knew the reason he could not be with Lucy, the heart wants what the heart wants and Marinette's heart now wanted him. Marinette was really a very special person and Adrien almost wished her could return her feelings, but his heart yearned for another and it didn't seem like that was going to change any time soon
"Are you kidding? At least please wait until after the cheese platter is served!" Plagg begged only for Adrien to sigh at him.
OoOoOoOo
He's not coming." Marinette said smugly the next morning as she looked out for the feline hero on her balcony.
"But, if he doesn't what are you going to say to him? What about Lucy?"
"I'm sure he's not coming," Marinette told the Kwami. "He's in love with Lucy. He's not gonna come have brunch just for macaroons."
"His and Lucy's relationship ended before it could even really start Marinette. Maybe he's changed his mind." Tikki spoke thoughtfully and Marinette frowned a little at the memory of her heartbroken friends. She shook her head in denial.
"Chat Noir, change his mind? Ha! I seriously doubt it. No one's as stubborn and one-track-minded as him."
A few minutes later Marinette was set that Chat would not be arriving and turned to make her way inside only for Tikki to stop her, pointing out Chat Noir's approaching figure.
"Eh? Looks like you underestimated Cat Noir's love of macaroons!" Turning around and seeing Chat approaching, Marinette panicked once more.
"I don't believe it! What a glutton!" Looking down below as Chat lands in front of the bakery, Marinette notices the pink rose in his hand and a nervous look on his face.
"Oh no! What if this doofus has actually fallen in love with me? For what? Seconds? Is that all his love for Lucy is worth? Just one tiny declaration of love and that's it, poof, he changes his mind?!"
"People crave affection Marinette, it might not mean that he quite changed his mind." Tikki tried to explain but Marinette didn't find her words at all helpful.
"Oh no, I definitely have to tell him that I'm not really in love with him. Wait, I can't! If I tell him that I don't love him, he won't understand why I told him that I loved him in the first place! I only told him that I loved him so that he wouldn't figure out I'm Ladybug. But if he sees that I lied, then he'll also see that I did all of that so he wouldn't guess that I'm Ladybug! And he'll figure out that I'm Ladybug! Tikki! You said the miraculous will jumble his mind right!? So I am worrying for nothing! It's impossible for him to put the pieces together!"
Tikki squinted at Marinette. "Well, I wouldn't say impossible...but-"
"Marinette!" Her father called from downstairs and Marinette thought she might throw up from the anxiety.
"Tikki help me!"
OoOoOoOoo
Neither Chat nor Marinette believed there was a time where they had felt more awkward than in this moment right now. Tom seemed to be over the moon about Chat Noir being romantically involved with his daughter, something that kind of surprised both the teenagers in all honesty. You hear so many stories of fathers feeling the need to threaten their daughter's potential suitors that seeing one welcome one in with such open arms was quite off-putting. Maybe it was because Chat Noir was a hero of Paris, and Tom knew he was a good person, or maybe it was that he was simply happy his daughter was showing interest in someone other than a boy she could hardly speak to. Either way, Tom welcomed Chat Noir as if he was a family member who finally found the time to visit. The two sat down at the table while Tom went to grab the first course as they tried to find a way to get out of this terrible situation. It was then that the sound of the front door opening grabbed everyone's attention as Lucy called out a hello.
"Hope I'm not late, Marinette you never answered my text this morning about a time."
Tom looked from the front of the apartment to Marinette with a raised eyebrow.
"Sweetheart, you invited Lucy?" Before Marinette could answer her father, Lucy wandered into the kitchen, giving Sabine a light hug.
"Morning Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-chang thanks for having me...and Chat Noir?" Lucy spoke now noticing the hero beside Marinette. Lucy eyed her pigtailed friend. "Mari, care to fill me in?"
"Marinette and Chat Noir are dating now!" Tom gushed to Lucy who gapped at him a moment before smiling and letting out a chuckle.
"Haha, oh is that it? Good one- oh you're serious." She said, her smile dropping and bringing her eyes back to Chat and Marinette with a raised eyebrow. Chat froze with wide eyes and before he could say anything Marinette rushed over to Lucy and stood in front of her with a nervous smile.
"Yup, he's serious." She told Lucy while delicately moving her head side to side in a no motion. Lucy looked from Marinette to Chat who looked panicked and realized that although she did not even remotely understand what was going on, something was off about the whole situation.
"Right, um. Congratulations I guess?" Lucy said awkwardly a Marinette dragged her over to the table. Tom quickly placed another setting on the end of the table for their new guest before heading back to the food. Although he had not been expecting her, Tom always made plenty of food and had no problem adding Lucy to the mix.
"Voilà!" He calls out as he places a two-tiered tray filled with heart-shaped treats in front of them. Sweethearts' vol-au-vent. For two, of course."
Chat hesitantly taken one a pops it in his mouth and even though it is delicious, as Tom's food always is, he can't get himself to enjoy it very much in this present situation.
"Tell me, Chat Noir, " Tom says as Sabine joins them with a cup of tea in hand, passing one to Lucy. "is being a superhero a steady profession?" Chat Noir nearly chokes on his food and spits it onto the table.
"Tom?!" Sabine scolds, they are children.
"What?" He asks absentmindedly.
"You're right, Dad," Marinette pipes in. "it's gotta be super dangerous being a superhero's girlfriend. Maybe I should rethink this." She says eyeballing Lucy who sips her tea still trying to decipher what is going on.
"Of course, not sweetie," Tom answers, and the three teens look at him with surprise at his nonchalant views on Chats job. "Chat Noir won't be a superhero all his life. Once he's defeated Hawk Moth, he won't need to run on the rooftops with a stick saving people. I know! He could work in the bakery with me! I could train you, young man." Marinette and Chat continue to look at Tom with wide eyes as Lucy has to spit her tea gently back into her cup as laughter emits from her chest.
"Maybe Cat Noir doesn't want to be a baker at all," Marinette argued, Chat nodding in agreement.
"Look at him! He'd love to! Everyone loves bakers."
"Everyone loves bakers." Lucy agreed with a smirk.
Putting up his hands as he imagines the new bakery, Tom smiles. "The "Dupain-Cat Noir" Bakery. Doesn't that sound purr-fect?"
Lucy placed her cup down on the table and quickly brought her hands to her face coving her nose and mouth in a pray-like formation as she tried to hide her smile and laughter. For the sake of argument let's say the defeat of Hawkmoth did in fact make Chat and Ladybug hang up their theoretical capes, wouldn't Chat just come around as...well, not Chat? Or did Tom think he would just keep his identity a secret forever just for kicks?
"Uh, Tom!" Sabine tried to interrupt but her husband was too deep in the fantasy of their future. Bringing her fingers down and forming fists under her chin Lucy smiled at Chat and Marinette.
"This is beautiful. Really. What were we even worried about? Papa-Tom has got it all figured out." She spoke, carefully placing her sarcasm that went unnoticed by the large baker man.
"I can already see the little kittens running around in the house. And pet hamsters." Tom says dreamily.
"Do you mean kittens or kittens?" Lucy then asked suggestively, only to be ignored. Tom then leans in closer to the couple. "Do you like hamsters?" He asks Chat Noir.
"Hamsters?"
" —Because my daughter loves them. What did you want to name your future hamster again, sweetie?" Marinette covered her face with her hands in despair.
"This is a nightmare."
Chat Noir tried to hide his own discomfort, shoving another piece of food from the tray.
"Nightmare! Right. That's a funny name, isn't it? I'm bringing soufflé." Tom says, taking the tray away. He returns only a moment later with his hands full.
"Voilà!" Tom goes, as he presents a heart-shaped souffle.
"Tom, how about we let Cat Noir tell us himself what he wants," Sabine suggests and Marinette is quick to agree.
" Good idea, because he seems like the kind of boy who changes his mind rather quickly." She points accusingly as Chat looks between her and Lucy who leans back in her chair with her arms crossed and another raised eyebrow.
"Well, actually, Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng, Marinette, here's the thing." Chat begins, trying to be honest. "You're really nice people and this meal is delicious and by far the friendliest I've had in a long time." He places a hand on Marinette's shoulder. "Marinette, you're an awesome girl, and I get that you have feelings for me. After all, I'm awesome in so many ways, even I could fall in love with myself!" Chat says, attempting a joke that no one finds funny.
"Anyway, I'm afraid my heart belongs to someone else." Marinette looks up at him and Lucy's amused stare softens. "Even if she and I can never really be together. Even if she ends up loving somebody else. I'm in love with Lucy." He says, locking eyes with Lucy who's shoulders slump slightly as she frowns. Chat brings his eyes to Marinette and looks at her apologetically. "I'm really sorry, Marinette."
Both Tom and Sabine recoil in shock at Chat's confession, unsure of what even to do. Marinette smiles. For a moment she was afraid that Chat was some kind of player all along but he didn't love her, he loved Lucy!
" Oh, this is so— " She pauses, remembering she needs to play the part of the heartbroken daughter. She would have to give Lucy some kind of explanation, but it would have to wait "So sad! Oh, to think I spent all this time following you everywhere to tell you that I loved you Cat Noir!" She cries. "I am so miserable! No one will ever love me!" Tom looks to his daughter with deep concern as Marinette flings herself from the table dramatically. "I'll end up all alone with my hamster, and its name will be Loneliness!" She weeps out, running up her stairs to her room. Lucy bites the inside of her cheek. What was at first a weird and yet amusing encounter for her had suddenly become extremely uncomfortable. She still didn't quite understand what was going on, but what she did know was that Marinette was playing a part and her parents as well as Chat Noir seemed to be out of the loop.
Tom and Sabine go to the stairs and debate if they should go console their daughter as Lucy looks at Chat who sends her a guilt smile.
"You're an idiot." She whispers at him to which the hero quickly frowns.
"I had to tell her the truth!" Chat whispers back in defense. Lucy lets out a scoff-like laugh.
"Yes and admitting to not returning her feelings while also including your feelings for the friend she's sitting right next to is a great way to do that."
"I've never had to do this before! Cut me some slack!" Chat argued.
"You see those god-like biceps, earned from years of dough kneading? If you're not familiar with them you are about to be when he crushed your skull between them like a watermelon for being so careless."
Chat looked down, shame filling his being. He understood why Marinette's parents might be upset with him, but could her father truly hold it against him for not being able to return her feelings? Would he rather Chat lied? Lucy sighed and rubbed her face.
"I still don't even know what is happening right now. Honestly, this whole situation is very bizarre but try not to be so hard on yourself. I am almost positive that Marinette is fine and that there is more to this than either of us is seeing. Just...go. Before that man's concern turns into rage. I'm going to go try and fix...whatever this is.
Chat stood from his seat and looked toward Tom and decided that it was perhaps time for him to leave. He still felt so guilty over the whole situation.
"Well, uh, I don't want to bother you any longer. I'm really sorry. Thanks for having me anyway." He spoke quietly, slipping past Marinette's parents. Tom clenches his fists as the hero leaves and Lucy carefully approaches them both.
"Guys, listen, I don't know what is going on but-"
"What's going on is my daughter's heart is broken over Chat Noir thanks to the harlot she called a friend," Tom growled.
"Whoa!" Lucy shouted in offense.
"Tom that is enough! Stop it!" Sabine scolds, pulling her husband into the living room, mouthing an apology to Lucy as they pass. Lucy closes her eyes and lets out a sigh before heading up the steps to Marinette's room.
As she enters the room, Lucy spots Marinette spinning in her chair looking most definitely not heartbroken.
"Marinette!" She shouts, causing the pigtailed girl to yelp in surprise, nearly falling out of her chair.
"Lucy! You're still here. I thought you would have left with Chat Noir."
"Left with Chat-? Are you missing some screws kid? What is going on? Why do your parents think you and Chat Noir are dating? What is with the theatrics and why-" Before Lucy could finish her rant the building shook and purple clouds formed around them.
"Lucy!" Marinette called out but the girls couldn't reach one another before darkness surrounded them.
Down on the street, Chat began walking away from Marinette's house sluggishly. This had been such a weird situation for him and he had no idea how to handle it. What should he have done? Lied? Left Lucy out of it? How could he? The blonde girl held his heart and Marinette and her parents needed to understand that. He had tried to be as nice about it as he could but somehow it still seemed to blow up in his face.
"I messed up." He muttered to himself only to then hear the building behind him crumble as oversized vines grew from inside it scaling far into the clouds. "I really messed up! Lucy! Marinette!" Chat rushed inside the home under the impression it was Marinette who had gotten akumatized only to find it had been Tom.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault!" He apologized but Sabine wouldn't hear it.
"Of course not, Chat Noir. It's Tom." She tells him with a hand on his shoulder. "No matter how many times I tell him, he always takes things too far." Chat clenches his fists and looks at Sabine with determination.
"I'll bring your husband back to his senses and get Marinette and Lucy out of this. I promise
"Shouldn't you wait for Ladybug?"
" I trust her. She always shows up at the right time. And I can't wait. If your husband blames me and Lucy for Marinette's sadness then I have to get up there before he hurts Lucy.
"You really love her, huh?" Sabine says knowingly.
"Yes." Chat admits but holds his hands up in surrender. "But, um, Marinette's seems like an awesome girl, too, you know. Don't worry. I'll save her."
"I have faith in you, Chat Noir. You're a good person. Never apologize for your feelings."
"Thank you, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng." He told her before climbing the vine. Sabine smiled after him.
"Good luck, Chat Noir."
OoOoOoOOOo
In the castle of thorns in the sky, Lucy and Marinette had been separated. Lucy called out but got no response from her. The space she was in was nothing but large vines and thorns and Lucy couldn't tell if it was to keep things out or to keep her in. Maybe it was both. She understood why this was happening. No parent wants to see their child hurting. However, Lucy couldn't help but find Tom's rage over the top. Heartbreak is a part of life. It happens when we are children and it happens in adulthood. Not allowing people to go through their pain, and protecting them from it, may turn out to be a kind of over-protection, which in turn implies a certain lack of respect for the integrity and the intrinsic nature, and the future development of the individual. Children needed space more than overprotection. Parents who hovered were meeting their own needs, not their children's.
As Lucy wondered the vines aimlessly she continued to call out for Marinette. After a long time of no response, she finally got a shout back. The girls tried to follow their voices to get to one another but alas it seemed the vine prison they had found themselves in was keeping them from doing so. A light glowed in the distance and Lucy peered through the thick plants to see a glowing rose in the distance.
"Marinette!" She called. "I see something! It's a rose! It might be a way out but, I can't get to it!" It was as if there was a never-ending wall of thorns preventing her from getting to the other side where the rose was kept.
"I see it too!" Marinette shouted. "It's far but I think I can get to it!"
OoOoOoO
Chat made it to the top of the vine only for an akumatized Tom to land in front of him Weredad as he called himself. His body is covered in light brown fur, he has dark brown and black areas on his chest and claws. His eyes are dark vermillion with light yellow sclerae and roseish black-colored pupils. He also has vines wrapped around his wrists, waist, and ankles. His mustache is larger, and he only wears vivid green shorts.
"How dare you come back after what you've done?!" Weredad shouts, his voice raspy and cold unlike the Tom Chat was familiar with. The man humps to attack Chat, who rolls away and takes out his staff.
"I will always be here to save Marinette and Lucy." He decrees, deflecting the punches being thrown at him.
"She's safe from you and all the boys who want to break her heart. And as for your little tramp! You will never lay eyes on her again! Nor shall anyone else!" He tells Chat as he comes close to getting the upper hand only for the hero to jump out of the way again.
"Don't talk about Lucy like that! And didn't mean to break Marinette's heart, sir, I swear!"
"Then I swear that I'm about to crush your bones!" Were dad grabs Chat by the waist and hits him, causing the boy to roll off the edge of the stalk platform, almost missing his chance to grab ahold of it.
"Where are you, Ladybug?" He climbs back up. "I'm sorry, but— ah!" Weredad picks him up by the back of his neck. "I can't let you do this!"
"Why not?" Weredad asks as he throws Chat Noir.
"Because I have— whoa! — damsels in distress to rescue!" Chat tries to climb up the stalk but is pulled down by his belt and spun around by Weredad who growls at him.
"I forbid you to rescue her! You don't deserve to save her." He slams Cat Noir into the ground. "From now on, no one else but I will protect her!" Chat can feel himself beginning to weaken from being tossed around by Weredad. The power of the miraculous protects its owners from injury significant, but they didn't make anyone invisible. If Ladybug didn't show up soon, Chat wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to keep this up.
"And are you planning to protect her all her life?" He asked Weredad.
"Exactly! I'll keep her safe from sadness, hardship, and anything else that could hurt her!"
"You can't protect her from what hurts the most. Do you know what hurts the most?"
"My great big punches?" Weredad asks as he lunges at Chat. Chat leaps and lands behind the villain and bends his staff around him as a restraint.
"No! What hurts the most is solitude." Chat told him, thinking about his own overprotective father and how although he knows it comes from a place of love, it has only caused him heartache. "Believe me, I know all about it. Nothing hurts more than isolation. Having to sit alone in front of a cold meal. Is that what you want for your daughter? A lifetime of cold meals in her prison of roses?"
For a moment it looked like perhaps Chat had gotten through to Weredad as the man pauses and frowns at the thought. It only lasts a moment though before he breaks free of Chat's staff.
"She will never be alone! Someday, a prince will come. A prince worthy of her, daring enough to face me! Who will brave the many dangers and pick the magic rose for her! He will be worthy of taking her from my guard!" The two continue to fight but soon Weredad gets a hold of Chats staff. Cat Noir's staff falls to the ground in four pieces. Weredad retracts his wrist vine. Cat Noir falls to his knees and to the ground.
"Not being in love with her, losing my stick, won't keep me from saving her. And it won't stop me from saving Lucy either." Weredad picks him up. "I'll never give up. Never!" He punches Weredad's fist weakly. Weredad brings him to the edge of the platform.
"You're not worthy of my daughter."
Weredad reaches for Chats ring as the hero no longer has the strength to fight him any longer when suddenly the surface shook and Weredad transformed back into Tom as the whole platform began to break apart. Everyone screamed as they began to free fall through the sky. Tikki quickly found Marinette and transformed her into Ladybug.
Chat's eyes widened as he spotted Ladybug coming down towards them. "M'lady! Whoa!"
"I'm coming!" She assured him but Chat shook his head.
"No! Get Lucy and Marinette!" Ladybug smiled.
"I already grabbed Marinette earlier and as for Lucy," Ladybug pointed out an unconscious free-falling Lucy in the distance, and used her yo-yo to snag her as they caught up with Chat and Tom. Chat took Lucy from Ladybug and wrapped his arms around her protectively, whipping her wind-blown hair from her face.
"It's okay Lucy. I got you. Just like I said I always would." He gave her a tight squeeze only then to notice Tom cross his arms, still a little upset. Chat smiled at him sheepishly.
"Not all of us know how to land on our feet. So I guess we're gonna need a little bit of luck! Lucky Charm!" Ladybug calls out. A sailboat appears under them and slows their descent. "Do your thing, Cat Noir!" She tells him and Chat nods.
"Cataclysm!" He touches the hull of the boat. "Hang on!" The sail lifts them higher. Ladybug and Cat Noir tie the sail to the mast and boom to make a hang glider. They glide over the city, landing on the street in front of the bakery. Chat carefully lifts Lucy to bring her out of the street, almost falling over as he does so from his lack of energy as Sabine rushes out of the door.
"Tom!"
"Honey!" Tom calls back, rushing over to his wife and embracing her.
Extending his fist feebly Chat calls out to Ladybug. "Pound it, m'Lady." Before she could even attempt to pull out her fist Chat falls to his knees with Lucy still in his arms. Ladybug crouches down and places a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Pound it, Cat Noir." She throws part of the hang glider frame into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!" The fallen vines disappear, resulting in a woman's foot being freed and a man being able to open his car to hug his son. Chat Noir is healed. With his energy being restored, Chat looks down at Lucy, gently shaking her and patting her cheek with his hand.
"Lucy, hey, come on. Open your eyes Lu." Lucy breaths in a quick gasp of air as her eyes shoot open and a look of panic crosses her features. "Hey! Hey! It's okay! I got you." Lucy visibly calmed down and sat up with still a bit of shake in her movement. She took a few deep breaths to try and slow her heart.
"Wait, where is Marinette?!" She then asked. Tom and Sabine looked to one another before rushing inside while calling out their daughters name. Chat helps Lucy off the ground and the two quickly follow the parents inside while Ladybug tries to assure everyone that Marinette is safe in her room. As none of them listen, Ladybug quickly yo-yos herself onto her balcony and jumps down the stairs while quickly transforming back into Marinette. The four arrive and Tom quickly hugs Marinette tightly. His daughter smiles but alerts him that she can no longer breathe.
"Oh, sorry. I was so scared. You were so heartbroken because of that—" He clenches his fist, looks at Chat Noir, and growls angrily. Chat Noir straightens and giggles nervously.
Marinette had had enough of her father's overprotective nature for one day. "Dad, stop!" She lowers his fist and puts her hand on his arm. "Chat Noir has every right to be in love with Lucy." She walks over to Cat Noir and Lucy, smiling at both of them before resting her gaze on Chat. "She's very lucky to have you." Chat smiles down at Lucy who gives him a weak smile in return. "And just because you and I aren't in love with each other doesn't mean that we can't be friends."
"Really?" Chat asks, wiping his brow. "Phew! I really didn't wanna hurt you, Marinette." He says hugging her. "You seem like such an awesome person." Marinette smiles and chuckles as he releases her. "Even though you're not a huge fan of mine, like I originally thought when I saw you on the roof."
Marinette blinkes at him. "What? You just thought I… was a fan of yours?"
"Well, yeah," He says nonchalantly. "that's what I was about to say when you jumped on me. "Could it be that she's a fan of mine?"
Sabine looks to her husband patting his chest. "You see, Tom? Your daughter is strong and can handle her own disappointments. And even if he's not in love with Marinette, Chat Noir proved himself by saving her today." The irony is that in all reality, Marinette saved herself.
Putting his arm around Chat Noir's shoulder, Tom smiles. "It's true. Your courage and tenacity match those of the greatest pastry chefs. Are you sure that you don't want to learn the trade? If you bring fresh croissants to Lucy every day, she'll surely wind up falling in love with you over and over."
"Momma does lover her some carbs." Lucy joked while patting her tummy earning a laugh from the group.
It wasn't long before Tom and Sabine had gone back downstairs and Chat Noir rushed out, almost forgetting the other appointment that would now be waiting on him at home. Lucy stood in front of Marinette who swiveled in her chair awkwardly under the blonde's curious gaze.
"So, I guess...see you tomorrow..." Marinette said with a nervous smile. Lucy raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
"Oh no, ya don't. You're going to tell me what this was all about now. I got thrown into the middle of this little soap opera and it lead me to not only be thrust into the sky in a thorn prison but then gave me enough of a panic attack to pass out as I then dropped from twenty thousand feet in the air. Oh! And not let forget that your father called me a harlot. Which of course he did apologize for but still, you got me there and now your gonna tell me why."
Marinette fidgets with her thumbs as she tries to come up with a realistic-sounding lie.
"Well, you see, Chat Noir had um...had noticed he ran into me a lot and..."
"And?" Lucy asked.
"And...I didn't want him to figure out that...I was...doing recon for you!" Marinette blurted out making Lucy blink at her.
"You...what?" Marinette let out a nervous laugh.
"It's just that...you were so bummed when everything...went down..and I just thought maybe I should keep an eye on him for you.." Marinette lied. It felt awkward and wrong but what else could she do? "I panicked and told him I was keeping tabs on him because I was in love with him, and then my dad saw and well..."
Lucy gaped at Marinette in bewilderment at her explanation.
"Then my dad invited him to brunch and I thought maybe if Chat saw you...I don't know!" Marinette cried out, placing her head in her hands. Lucy sighed and walked toward Marinette, crouching down in front of her while placing her hands on her knees.
"Okay. First of all, only you would find yourself in such a bazaar turn of events. Secondly, the keeping tabs on Chat thing, I'm going you to need to not do that anymore, okay?"
"I'm sorry," Marinette apologized. "I just thought..."
Lucy holds up a hand to stop her. "I know you mean well hun, but me and Chat..." She trailed off and Marinette frowned. "There is no me and Chat. Not really. We both have had to come to try and accept that...and so do you." Marinette felt like a child being told even though her parents were getting divorced that it wasn't her fault and they still loved her. Although she didn't see Chat as any kind of parental figure, she did see two people who clearly had very strong feelings for one another, and yet...Sometimes love isn't enough you know? Lucy had said that about her own parents back when they had first met and somehow it tragically felt like history was set to repeat itself.
Alright, here it is chapter 43. I hope you all are enjoying it so far. I love to read your comments and thoughts so remember to do that! It's late and I have to be up at 430am but I really wanted to get this out! I really want to get a drawing tablet and almost make this bad boy into a comic honestly but that would probably take forever to put together. But it would be helpful for making the images that I do for chapters sometimes. If anyone has a suggestion of a kind that runs well on a laptop (As I have learned some lag if it's not a desktop) then I am open to suggestions! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and I can't wait to hear from you. As always I will see you in the next chapter! Chow for now!
