'Reports are still coming in over what had happened yesterday, when a large creature seemingly appeared to terrorize Paris. Even while the ordeal seems to be over, many are still left baffled over what exactly happened. The mayor has made a comment this morning about the incident. Officially decrying the entire event as a tragedy.'

The monitor's screen changed to show the mayor as he was holding a press conference. At his side was a policeman who looked battered. One arm within a cast. 'As of now, it is still under investigation what exactly led to this tragedy. The creature has been confirmed to be neutralized, but we have no knowledge of its trace of origin. We are attempting to study its corpse, but geologists seem to be befuddled by what samples they have taken.' His words are a bit slurred. It is very possible he had a few glasses of wine before talking to the public. 'I strongly advise everyone in Paris to be cautious, but don't worry. We have the situation under control. As of now-'

That was a lie. A heavy one at that. Numbers were still coming in, but casualties reports have estimated that over 32 civilians were found dead, and at least 71 were injured in the Chaos Spawn's rampage. That was not a situation under control, and if it was, Marinette did not wish to see what would be called a disaster.

Though, she could understand why the mayor lied. People were scared, and they were asking questions. Questions that seemingly no one knew the answers to. Sooner or later, the government would possibly come to investigate. Though it would be a wonder if they could find out anything about such an inhuman creature.

No one knew what to even call the Chaos Spawn. It was a bloated living form of stone and flesh that would mutate with every blow dealt to it. The word "creature" was hardly fitting. Such a word is meant for animals or natural forms of life. The Chaos Spawn was not natural. It was a horror made manifest, a monster that was created, not born.

Adrien had told her it had once been a person. At the time, there was no need to ask hows and whys. What mattered was killing the monstrosity, which they did. The spawn was dead.

Marinette remembered how she smelled the air as its body burned from the inside out. She remembered watching its flesh turn black as coal. It had died. She knew that much. Its corpse was found and was being studied as the news had said.

And yet…

She was still anxious. She felt the muscles in her hand–the same hand that wielded her chainaxe–twitch in anticipation for something to happen. Adrien had said it was not unkillable. But she would not feel satisfied until she knew for sure. Cause she could feel something was still in the air. A lingering presence. A threat. Not just in her room, not just in her home. Everywhere. Something was still out there. Something that made her mind shudder in the wait, in anticipation of another slaughter.

The press conference with the mayor ended, and the screen had changed back to the main news station. The anchorwoman spoke as an image appeared near her shoulder. It was from footage that captured two figures as they stood ready for combat. One looked familiar with his horned skull mask and blazing green eyes. The other was less familiar. Wore what could only be described as a "hardcore medieval American football uniform".

The clothing underneath seemed normal, as common as any other piece of clothing you find in a cheap store. What made the outfit unique was the armor worn over the clothing, bright red and bronze in color, with large spikes that adorn the shoulders. The helmet was the most eye-catching aspect of the outfit, as it had two large horn-like protrusions that seemed to resemble metallic rabbit ears.

It would be considered bizarre in terms of "superhero" outfits. But paired against the boy with the skull mask, it seemed almost normal by comparison.

'Footage has been found online of two strange heroes who appear to have stopped the creature at the local stadium. We will show it now, but be warned, viewer discretion is advised as the footage is very graphic.' The image moves to engulf the screen as the footage begins to play. It was the entire fight that she and Adrien had against the spawn.

It felt surreal to watch. Knowing that figure clad in red armor, the same one roaring in fury and for want of blood, was herself. That less than 24 hours ago, she was fighting for her life against some kind of horror. Now she was sitting in her room, watching the event happen on screen as if it was someone else's doing.

When the Chaos Spawn was killed, Marinette paid close attention to her past self as it happened. Waiting as the realization about nails no longer functioning came. As the thought of freedom became a reality. And it was as she expected. In a matter of moments, her past self was reduced to a mess. Sobbing and laughing, as if driven mad. It was more than surreal at that point. It was a shameful display of Marinette at her lowest.

Then Adrien defended her.

Once more, Marinette cannot help but note how villainous he looked. The black outfit, the red robes, the fur on his shoulders, and the skull mask were already enough. Now, though, his eyes were glowing intensely. Making it appear as if instead of pupils, he had green flames pouring from his sockets. A dagger was held in his hand, the same one he used to cut open his own palm and give her his blood. He was the perfect choice for a cartoonish super villain. Yet, he was politely threatening to sacrifice a person to his gods. Simply requesting some space, to allow her past self a chance to calm down. To "Give her a moment".

It made Marinette's lips give a sudden twitch. She couldn't fathom why.

The footage came to an end, on a still frame of Adrien's mask. It was then pulled back to be placed near the anchorwoman's shoulder again. 'No information has been found of either hero. If we can even call them that. Going strictly by what we have seen, they are to be considered armed and dangerous individuals until more information can be discovered. Please, do your part to stay clear of them. Just to be safe. That will be all for morn-'

Closing the browser of her computer, Marinette finishes getting ready for school as she pulls on her jacket and throws her hood up. There was no disagreement with what the anchorwoman said. The idea of being left alone was a perfect situation for her. The last thing Marinette needed was someone like the new girl again, annoyingly asking question after question.

Then again, she wondered if she ever would be placed in such a situation again. For all she knew, it could have just been a one-time thing.

Deciding to think of it no longer, she turned to walk towards the trap door that leads downstairs, stopping mid-step as the door suddenly opens and her mother comes through, carrying a plate of food in each hand. 'Knock–knock!' The woman had an upbeat voice that was clearly being forced. 'Good morning, Mari. You slept well?' Sabine was tired. Marinette could easily tell. Bags were under the eyes, and the movement was sluggish.

'You didn't need to bring me breakfast. I was gonna come downstairs and make myself something.' She walked forward and took one of the plates from her mother's hands. It was simple, eggs and toast. 'I could have made this myself. You didn't need to-'

'Mari, enough of that. How many times do we have to tell you that we do this stuff because we want to?' Marinette looked away from her mother instead of answering, having no real response to the question. She honestly hadn't been keeping track. 'Besides, I figured we could just eat up here. This way, we don't end up waking your father as we chat over breakfast.'

At the direct mention of her father, Marinette felt a wave of disgust wash over her. Not towards him, towards herself. As she remembers yesterday, when she was forced to relive the worst pain that she had ever felt. As all the built-up emotions she was locked away from were swiftly stolen away from her again. Like some cruel joke.

She remembered how her parents had come, had held her, and cared for her–as they always did–before it all turned black. When she awoke this morning, she found herself waking up in her family's living room. Her parents have slept by her side, either alongside her on the couch in her mother's case or on the floor in her father's case. With it very possible that both of them had spent the entire night watching over her.

It had left a bad taste in her mouth to see them like that, so worried and afraid that they felt the need to watch over her in their sleep. To them, she was their daughter. Regardless of how she acted or what she did. To Marinette, she was a revenant of her past self. A reminder that the Butcher's Nails had taken their daughter. A reminder that came for her in the form of a constant agonizing pain. The pain she has had to deal with for the past two years. In truth, even in sleep, she can't get rid of it. In her dreams, her nightmares, she could feel the torture of the nails. Her cortex being violated, thousands of small needles were constantly grinding away at her being.

It was haunting. It was pitiful. It was rage inducing. The nails were like a living parasite that had nestled into her skull, gorging itself on the aggression and agony she felt, and for the first time in years it had ceased eating away at her very being. Had slumbered. For a few minutes, eight whole minutes. Then it had awoken, and it was ravenous. Had forced her eyes to open with painful pulses of nauseous and vile muscle cramps throughout her mind.

Marinette had wanted to scream, had wanted to lash out. She had been freed and able to feel. For a time, she had her life again, and again, it was stolen. Leaving her only with rage and pain.

Rage and pain.

That was all she felt, all she could ever feel. A horrible pain machine that was empowered by its own feedback loop was within her mind. She would be angry and feel pain, making her more angry and giving her more pain. A constant perpetual cycle that felt to have no end whatsoever. As she stood over her sleeping parents, there was such an urge to reach up to grasp the metal cables that were stabbed into her skull and rip them away. To be damn to the certainty of death if it meant a glimmer of a chance to be her old self once more. To be free once more.

And she had gotten close.

She had her hand at level to her cheek, ready to quickly reach up and grab at the nails and pull at them with all her might.

Then her father had snored and she realized where she was. At home, standing over her sleeping parents. Who worried and loved her, despite all she puts them through. For them, Marinette did the one thing she could do. To let them keep having their daughter. They didn't deserve to lose their only child again.

So, she pushed down the urge. She took several long, deep breaths and counted things in the room. Following the method exactly as her therapist had told her to attempt to calm herself. It took many attempts, but her breath became steady. The pain had lessened to a more manageable level. To something is more than used to. Then, she went to perform her morning routine. Up on her balcony, she did her morning workouts. After an hour and a half, she went to take a shower. She had come to her room to get dressed and watch the news, to see what would be said about the Chaos Spawn.

Now she was sitting down, next to her mother. Eating breakfast together as if everything was normal. Even when it never will be.

Sabine was the first to speak between them. 'I know you are already dressed and ready to go to school, but maybe you shouldn't go today. Education is important, but with what happened yesterday, I can't see a lot of parents who are willing to just let their children go to school after such an ordeal.'

'I assume you're one of them?'

'Perceptive as always, Mari.'

Under normal circumstances, Marinette would have taken the slightest excuse not to go to school. Her mother knew that and was possibly hoping for it. It must have been a shock for the woman, she said otherwise. 'But I want to go to school today.'

'Are you sure?' She tried not to roll her eyes at her mother's bewildered tone.

'An email was sent out earlier this morning saying attendance was optional today. I doubt many would show up, but I will. I ran out of the class yesterday after falling on my face. I missed orientation.'

'I'm happy you're trying to get more involved with class, but wouldn't you rather stay in your room and do your sketches for as long as you want instead?' It was a tempting offer. Drawing was one of Marinette's favorite pastimes. She could also perform her workout routine again or watch some American football. But, her mind was already made up. 'Besides, if I am gonna be honest, I don't feel it is safe for you to go after what happened.' Marinette finished her food and placed her fork on the empty plate a little more harshly than she would have wanted. She hadn't meant to. It caused a loud noise that made her mother flinch.

But, this was not a topic she was looking forward to talking about. She needed to get this over with as soon as possible. 'This is about me sneaking out, isn't it?' There was a long pause, Marinette sees the woman mimicking her. Empty plate, fork being placed over it. With a heavy sigh, she slowly looks up to her mother's face and sees the woman giving a look that could be described as "what do you think?"

'That is fair.' Marinette turned away from Sabine's gaze. Remembering again that Adrien had mentioned the idea of secret identities. She knew that she had to keep what she really did against the Chaos Spawn a secret. But the nails will not make that easy. 'I'm sorry I made you and dad worry.'

'A monster was going around attacking people, and suddenly our daughter went missing. We were not worried, Mari. We were terrified.' While she was only gone for a few minutes at most, she could understand exactly where her mother was coming from. It wasn't the first time she suddenly went missing on them.

Marinette was about to give some measure of reassurance to her mother, only for the words to be caught in her mouth as Sabine reached over and gently touched her face. Fingers brushed upward through her hair, carefully moving the stains so that the nails could be seen. 'Do they still hurt?' Of all the questions to ask, this was one of the hardest for Marinette to never lie about.

'Yes.' Her parents knew somewhat of her condition, but Marinette had done her best to make sure neither of them knew how torturous it truly was. They thought the pain was more like a constant aching muscle, a headache that persisted no matter what medication was taken. They didn't know that it felt more like a rapid animal was sinking its fangs within her very being. Sometimes tearing apart her mind, other times taking constant little nibbles. Both methods lead to an incredibly painful existence. Just one was liveable. 'It is not as bad as it was. It's just the same as usual now.'

'Do you know what caused it?'

'No. It happened suddenly, right as I was getting home.'

Marinette considered telling her mother what had happened but decided against the idea, as what would be the point? To just give the woman some kind of false hope that some odd miracle happened, where said miracle then failed a few minutes later. It wasn't worth the hassle. It would be better to keep it to herself for the time and either see if it never happens again or if something directly causes it. As horrid as that may sound.

Sabine would pull away and collect the two empty plates on the desk. 'I am gonna schedule a trip to the doctor as soon as possible for you. Have them run a scan. Maybe something is happening with the things in your head.'

'Please, don't. When have they ever been able to do something when it comes to the nails? All they're gonna do is poke and probe me for hours while trying to figure it out.' Marinette didn't like the hospital before she had the nails. She hated the hospital after getting the nails. For the past two years, it has been the same, with different doctors who wish to try and experiment with her. Different treatments and ideas, several of which have just been utterly ridiculous.

In her last check-up, a doctor recommended the idea of trying chemotherapy to eliminate the pain she felt. The Dupain-Cheng family had more than a few unkind words to say to the so-called professional at that idea. Since then, they have been much more hesitant about going to the hospital for issues concerning the nails.

'At least we can have them check on it and see if anything has changed.' From the tone in Sabine's voice, Marinette could tell her mother agreed with the dismissal of the doctors but couldn't fault the woman's logic for wanting to see some scans.

After all, Marinette had run, jumped, and bash her head against things numerous times before in the last two years without so much as the slightest bit of a difference in how the nails would react. So what has changed now? And why?

It wasn't like those were the only questions to ask either. Between the Chaos Spawn, the costumes, the powers. The rage she felt within herself each time she looked at the spawn. The words that had invaded her mind and would not leave.

"I am the Eightfold Path."

More and more, these questions continue to plague her mind. With no answers in sight.

Turning towards her computer, Marinette looked above her monitor and saw the symbol that was there yesterday. The Eightfold Path star. She read the words that were on each point that referred to the right speech, the right effort, the right mindfulness, and so on. Eight points that were supposed lead to a better life.

It had been months since that symbol was hung there on that spot. Gifted to her by a relative, she couldn't even be bothered to remember the name of. Many times, Marinette had seen it. Had read the words on it. So why did it seem so wrong? As if the path that it spoke of was the wrong path.

She would not be able to think of it long before her mother would speak up again.

'So, seeing as we got that settled. Help me make sense of it. You came home from school. We saw you go up the stairs and just a few minutes later, when I went to check on you, you're gone.' Marinette took a deep breath and sank her head against her shoulders as Sabine continued, having expected this topic to come up. 'We checked around the entire apartment, and we couldn't find you. So, I went to call your phone and of course you left it here. We tried to call the school to see if you went back for some reason, no luck there. Then we called the police. You can imagine with what was going on yesterday, obviously, their hands were a little full. They made us wait on the line, like it was some damn appointment for a dentist. Your father was close to just running out and looking for you, and then…' As the woman trails off, Marinette could easily guess what had happened as that was when they heard her screaming outside.

There was nothing she could say to excuse herself from what had happened. Her mind wasn't the best at being creative since taking the nails and lying was not an option for the same reason. So, instead, Marinette did the one thing she could do. She told the truth.

'I was watching the news in my room yesterday, and I saw that monster as it was killing people. They were running for their lives. And so many couldn't get away in time. I got angry. Really angry. The police were trying, but they couldn't stop that thing. I saw it throw cars into buildings, cars that still had people inside. I saw a rumble falling and crushing people's heads.' There was a twitch at the memory, as she remembered just how many people were confirmed dead. Too many. 'There were people that didn't deserve what was happening to them. Before I realized what I was doing, something came over me, and I was outside and running towards where I knew the creature would be. I ran out so I could help someone. And I did. I didn't mean to do it, I didn't even think about it. But I couldn't stand around doing nothing anymore. I couldn't.'

At first, her mother was silent. Stunned by the confession and needed time to put the words together into a very obvious question. 'Dear God, Mari, what were you thinking?'

'I told you, I wasn't thinking at all.'

'No, you weren't! Of all the things you ever did, this has got to be the most insane-'

'I will not apologize for it.' Marinette interrupted her mother. Speaking coldly and straightforwardly. 'I know I scared you and dad very much by leaving without saying anything. I am sorry about that. But I am not sorry about leaving. Because I saved someone yesterday. It may seem rude, the way I say it, but it's the truth. If I hadn't run out when I did, someone would have died. It was very risky. I could have died. I know that. I know it is stupid and careless and maybe selfish of me. But I don't care. I am never gonna stand by and let someone be hurt, not if there is anything I can do about it.'

She watched as many emotions went through her mother's face. Most of them being different forms of anger. Though, within a moment, it all seemed to fade. Sabine took a breath, and it was as if all that anger was gone. The woman just looked tired again.

'It's too early in the morning for all this arguing. We can continue this talk later, but I don't think either of us want to. I should just be happy you're safe at this point.' It was a dismissive tone. The kind her mother makes when she realizes a lost cause. It didn't sit right with Marinette to hear that tone of voice, but it was better than a continued argument.

Sabine had begun to head downstairs, stopping only to ask. 'You still want to go to school?' When Marinette nodded, her mother just continued to look bewildered by it. 'And you are sure you are fine?'

'I never said I was fine.'

'I mean, are you okay, Mari? I mean, after everything, you wake up the next morning, and it's as if you're pretending nothing had happened yesterday.'

'I am not pretending. You know I like my routine. And I really want to go to school today.'

'Why do you even want to go to school so much, the real reason this time. Cause I know you don't really care about orientation.'

Marinette paused. She wasn't sure how to answer it. Honesty worked before, so she decided to do it again.

'...I met a boy yesterday.'


When she reached the front doors of the Collège, Marinette sent a text to her mother. Telling Sabine that she had made it safely to school. Almost immediately, there was a response telling her to have a good day and wishing her luck in seeing her "Friend-in-law".

Adrien seemed to be the missing factor that she needed. After telling her mother about him, they reached an agreement on her leaving just as long as she remembered to be safe and return home immediately if anything were to happen again. Marinette promised that she would do what she could. Which was the best thing she could give her mother as she knew if another Chaos Spawn would show itself, she would have to fight it.

The front door led to a courtyard. A usual gathering spot for students in the morning. It was later than when she would usually arrive, which means that by now, there would be other students around. Yet the courtyard was nearly empty. A few students were here or there, and at best, it was less than half of how many usually come to school. Though, she supposed that is no real surprise. Attendance wasn't mandatory today, and as pointed out by her mother, not many parents would be willing to allow their children to leave their homes after what had happened yesterday.

She heard the students speaking amongst themselves and saw them looking at their phones with heavy interest. When she wandered close to one of them, she overhears what had gotten their attention, as her own screams of rage blasted from a phone's speakers. It was the same video that played on the news earlier. The footage that was taken of her and Adrien's battle against the Chaos Spawn. Comments were being made about it, ranging to be about the spawn, about Adrien, and about herself.

Marinette wasn't sure how she should respond to it. If she even should respond to it. With the secret identity being a factor, it meant she would not be able to correct anything that was being said.

Which did not bold will for her, as speculation was in the air. She couldn't help but overhear the few students who were around as they were creating answers to their own questions. Within the few seconds it took for her to find a spot to sit down, Marinette heard wild theories about herself that seemed to be competing on which was the most absurd. Ranging from her being a governmental experiment to a woman bitten by a "Radioactive American".

She did not like having people talk about her like this, as it was the kind of attention she never wanted. She enjoyed being "wallpaper" at school, something that is known to be there but is rarely interacted with. Now, it was like overnight she was a celebrity. An unrecognizable one, but one still being spoken of outloud and wondered about. Just like when she had been recovered two years ago, forced to have her name and face plastered on the news for days on end.

First instinct told her to just leave the courtyard. To get away from it all. She could just sit in the classroom as she has every time she has entered the school, as part of her routine. But she couldn't, not yet, at least. Marinette wanted to wait for Adrien to see if he would come to school today.

As her mother had suspected, she didn't care at all for her studies. Her goal was to meet with Adrien, to hopefully find some kind of answer for what happened yesterday, as he told her he was gonna examine the Chaos Spawn's body. Find out where it came from and what created it.

It would be the first of many questions being asked, as Marinette knew he was knowledgeable about this "superhero" life. He knew what the Chaos Spawn was called. He knew how to kill it. He knew she possessed the ability to heal from blood before even she did. It is only fair that she learns from him.

But that is for later. For now, she needed a place to sit. A place to wait.

She made a choice to sit down on the ground with her back against a wall. Positioned so that she was facing the front doors of the Collège. When Adrien arrives, she will be able to see him. At least that was her plan. But a distraction comes in the form of a voice speaking right beside her.

'Hey, you came today!' Muttering a curse her breath, Marinette turned her head and saw the new girl. This would be their third meeting by now, and if someone were to ask Marinette, none of them have been pleasant. She raised a hand up and childishly pulled her hood down further to cover her face, as if it could help her hide.

It didn't.

The new girl was speaking. 'About yesterday, I really want to apologize for what happened.' The girl was attempting to pass off as friendly but was clearly anxious. Even without direct eye-contact, Marinette could feel how awkward the apology was. 'I didn't mean to hurt you. That was really bad on my part to just pull you from your desk. I was just trying to get you away from that Chloé girl, I totally didn't expect you to fall on your face.' A bitter thought came to Marinette, that of course the new girl wouldn't know her history of being a known klutz. 'See, I wanted to be like the superheroes of the comic books I read. I kinda got too into the moment. But it looked like I ended up doing the opposite. Is your nose okay?'

'It's fine. It only looked like a lot of blood. It's already healed.' Marinette answered while shrugging her shoulders. Having nearly forgotten about the bloody nose due to the events that happened right after. 'I can breathe, so there's nothing to worry about.'

The new girl sighed in relief and started to talk again, but Marinette chose to ignore the words. Focusing her attention on watching the front doors for Adrien. The only thing she saw, though, were the very few students that bothered to come in today. Most of which would end up leaving a few seconds later, usually with someone else. It posed an interesting idea that as soon as Adrien arrived, they could leave together. It would be easy to speak with him and ask her questions as they could go somewhere private. Then she remembered that he wanted to go to school. So much so that he attempted to sneak into it.

It makes her doubt that she could convince him to leave, and it would make for an interesting conversation to have at least. It would be better than the one the new girl believed to be having with her. Despite the attempt at being intentionally ignorant, several key bits of information came to her. The new girl's name was Alya, and was currently droning on about a blog. One that had been used to post the footage of her and Adrien fighting the spawn. Despite herself, she couldn't help but make a comment.

'There was a monster going around killing people, and you thought it was a smart idea to go after it?'

Alya finally stopped talking when the question came and, for a few seconds, seemed at a loss for words. Marinette could tell the girl was trying to buy time. Trying to come up with something to say, to think of an excuse. To not make it sound as idiotic as it was. 'You think that was dumb, huh?'

'If you want me to put it nicely, then yes.'

'My family thought so too. My mom let me have it. Scared the soul outta her when I told her where I was. But seeing my video on the morning news made it all worth it.'

'You're dodging the first question I asked.' Marinette continued to watch the doors, as more students were leaving. The courtyard was becoming more empty by the minute. Soon, it would be a question of just how many students would show up at all today. If it even was worth it for class to happen.

'I needed to see it, I figured if a monster like that were to show up, it would only be a matter of time before a superhero did as well. And I was right! In fact, two heroes showed up to save the day.'

'You read too many comic books.'

'Now you sound like my mom.'

'You sound like you should listen to her.'

Alya laughed, and Marinette figured it would be best not to comment further. She had something more important to do, as a certain blonde boy rushed through the front door of the school. 'Safe!' He cried out in sheer joy, throwing his arms up in excitement. Though quickly realized that he was being watched by the few students who were still in the courtyard. He tried to compose himself as his face turned a shade of red. 'Sorry! It's a whole thing.' He called out as he looked around before noticing her. Instantaneously, he relaxes as their eyes meet, and a smile returns to his face.

'Pretty boy is kind of a dork, huh?'

Paying no attention to Alya's comment, Marinette had shot up to her feet and began to speed walk to Adrien, with him matching her pace to meet her halfway. They stopped within arms reach of each other, and the first thing Marinette noticed was how excited he was, even more so than when he just entered school. 'It looks as if the lady didn't need that escort after all.' He was the first to speak. His tone was mischievous and yet warm.

She remembered the offer he was referring to and couldn't be more thankful that she had rejected it. Obviously, he cared for her. He would have been worried and would have tried to help her anyway he could if he had seen what happened to her yesterday when the nails became active. It wouldn't be fair. He had his own life to live. His own problems. She already believes herself a burden on her family. She doesn't wish to include another.

'I made it home. What about yourself? Did you end up sneaking out again?' She almost expected him to brush off the question. Instead, he gives a playful wink.

'What, sneak out? I would never do such a thing. Now, leave the house without exactly telling anyone where I was going. That is something different.'

'I don't think your dad's assistant and your bodyguard will like that.'

'They don't like a lot of things I do. I'll be sure to add it to the list of things that will make me happy.'

'Am I on the list?'

Marinette watched how quickly he was blindsided by the question. How quickly he blinks his eyes and attempts to stay composed. 'Of course you are. I mean, you're awesome.'

'Good. I like you too.' It was almost impressive how red his face had gotten at the comment. Despite being taller than her, he seemed bashful. Lowering his head to her level very suddenly. Almost submissively. 'Are you okay?' She asked the question, tilting her head in wonder if he was acting on some injury she hadn't noticed.

It was an easy conversation, something to break the tension before they went into more important matters. She didn't want to make demands immediately, as there were many questions going through her mind all at once. But it looked as if she said something she shouldn't have

'I'm fine! Just, you know, nervous. First day of school and everything. Give me the goosebumps and stuff.' She wasn't able to tell. He wore a long sleeve turtleneck T-shirt. Which is odd considering he also wore a white unbuttoned jacket over it, with its sleeves rolled up above his elbow, to expose the sleeves of the shirt underneath. Before she could make a comment about it, he shook his head and quickly attempted to change the topic. 'You recovered from your injuries, right? I mean, the whole front of your armor was banged up, so I am just asking to be safe.'

Her chest was sore, but it was a minor pain. Nothing compared to the constant bite of the nails. 'I'll live.'

'I hope so.' He forced out a chuckle but was still visibly nervous as he spoke. 'I'm sorry I took so long getting to the fight. I can't do those big leaps you can. So I had to be a little creative. I decided it would be faster to steal a car then run.'

'It was a truck.' She corrected him.

'Something with wheels. Still, you got hurt, and I am sorry about that. I wanted to make it up to you, so I decided to do my part in finding out more of the spawn.' He reached into his jacket and pulled out what looked to be a small wrinkled sheet of paper, handing it to her. 'Found this within our stoney friend, it was buried within one of his hands. Had fun digging it out with my digger.'

Marinette was about to tell him not to worry about her being injured, but stop herself from doing so. Seeing it would be pointless as she had similar arguments with her parents in the past. Instead, she read the crude penciled writing that took up the whole page of the paper handed to her and almost immediately had to re-read it.

"You haven't even got the guts to tell Mylène you love her, wuss."

She looked at the words several times over in an attempt to make sense of it, noticing the handwriting and name to be familiar, but came to no clear answer. 'What is this supposed to be?'

Taking a glance from the note towards Adrien's face, she noticed that he looked as confused as her. 'That is the source of the spawn. The entire catalyst for its entire being.' Marinette turns to fully look at him with a sneer. Believing him to be attempting a joke.

'I get it. It sounds insane.' His hands were his waist as he gave a sigh, showing some frustration on his face. 'But trust me on this. That little note was bubbling with wrap taint. Took me hours to cleanse it. As far as I know, the note was the thing that transformed him, nothing else. I wish I could explain, but this is very, very unnatural. I was hoping to find an artifact or a sign that tells me which of the Ruinous Powers had done this. Not a handwritten note of all things.'

Instead of answers, she was getting more questions. Warp taint? Artifacts? Ruinous Powers? It was the opposite of what she wanted. And by the sound of it, Adrien didn't have all the answers as she hoped he would. It made her curse out loud as she looked at the paper in her hands again and read the words. As if there would suddenly be some kind of secret meaning behind them. But it was just a note, someone making a teasing remark over a love confession.

'That doesn't make any sense.'

'I am as confused as you. But it's okay.' He was attempting to be optimistic, even in the face of such a thing. 'I mean, I was mostly excited that I even got to see Chaos Spawn as I had only read about them in my mother's books. But how one is made tends to vary. The most common of ways is when a person seeks to reach daemonhood and is judged by the Gods. But to do so means so much, as not just anyone could partake in such a boon of this power, I mean, this could show there is something new for me to learn for us both. Perhaps-'

He fell into a long ramble. Speaking about things Marinette wouldn't even begin to know about. He spoke of his gods, he spoke of the nature of something called The Warp, he spoke of rituals, and the cultural impacts that would cause differences in said rituals. on and on, he went.

She called out his name. He didn't hear her, too focused on his own words. So, she did it again. Once more, he doesn't hear her. She tries a different approach.

'- there have also been writings about using special rocks so that could be used to decipher and translate ancient text, could be the same with the note, as that has ties to the-' Adrien gives out a sudden feminine yelp. The cause being from Marinette having jabbed her index and middle finger to his side.

'You sound like a girl when you are surprised.' She told him, crossing her arms as he stuttered and looked around. Clearly embarrassed. When he asks why she did that, she tells him the honest truth. 'I had no idea what you were droning on about. I was confused.'

He looked crestfallen at her words.

'Come on, I am talking about–you know. The Gods.' She said nothing. Leaving a silent pause between the two as they stared at each other. Soon, Adrien's expression would change as he grew concerned. 'The Ruinous Powers, the ones that chose us. We are their champions.' She does remember him mentioning such a thing to her. That she was a champion of Khorne. But again, she said nothing about it. Only offering a shrug of her shoulders to show herself as utterly clueless.

'Do you know anything about the Warp? The Gods?'

There was never a point where Marinette felt religious in her life. Even before the nails, she hadn't ever felt she had a reason to think of such things as an afterlife or a soul. What mattered to her was always the here and now, that there was only darkness after death. Only eternal oblivion. She wanted to be respectful to him about what he was saying. But she was also honest.

'I don't believe in that kind of stuff. And I really don't know a single thing you talked about.'

'Oh. That complicates things. A lot of things, actually.' Adrien looked visibly disturbed by her words. Like he was at a complete loss of what to do for a moment. 'I mean, it is more confusing than bad. But–no, you know what, no!' Suddenly, he was smiling. Standing with his head held up high as he placed a hand on her shoulder. 'This is a good thing!'

Marinette tilted her head, giving a low "huh" in confusion.

'I mean, I need to do a lot of explaining. But, honestly, this could be a good thing. Usually, there is a lot of interpretation when it comes to the will of the Gods for all sorts of groups, and it causes clashes of different beliefs. But I can show you the right way, if you'd let me. I can't force you into learning this stuff, but I promise it can be really helpful, and we could also use that time to hang out–if you want.'

Blinking her eyes in shock, Marinette wondered for a moment if she heard right. It was exactly what she wanted, in a way. Just the way he framed it made her unsure. Almost as if he will try to convert her to his religion. That was not what she wanted. Wanting to make that clarification, Marinette opened her mouth to speak, but she was stopped as someone yelled at them.

'Adrikins, you came!'


The classroom was mostly empty.

There were only four students in total that came in today, including herself. Adrien, Alya, and to Marinette's honest surprise, Chloé. No one else. As she predicted, not many students were showing up to class. It was almost a wonder why anyone would even bother to have school open. But, she could make a few guesses why.

The principle was a "political push over". The type that would bend the knee to anyone the moment it could help himself. Like that of the mayor. So, having seen the mayor's daughter happily talking to her childhood friend about how he is enjoying school so far and about taking a tour, Marinette could easily figure out such a thing. It was more of a shock for her that Adrien and Chloé were friends to begin with.

As much as it seemed that their personalities would clash, it appeared the opposite was true. Their banter was natural, showing a warmth underneath it that only an old friendship could have. After a hug, it was revealed that Adrien's chest had been bruised since yesterday. This led to an interesting reaction as Chloé went loud, making demands to know what happened to him.

It was odd to see Chloé openly care for someone. For the years that Marinette has known the girl, Chloé had been the embodiment of selfishness. Yet, there was genuine care for Adrien. Even having a nickname for him that wasn't also a form of insult.

She almost wanted to admit the bruise might have been her own fault, just to see how the "bully" would react. But had thought better of it. No need to make her own life more complicated than it always was.

Within the classroom, Marinette was in her new seat for the school year. The front row of class, sitting directly next to Adrien. Once more, he was excited. Almost "giddy", like a child would at an amusement park despite the circumstances. 'Any last-minute advice you can give me about class?' Adrien suddenly says, looking between herself and Chloé, who sat behind them both. Before Marinette could open her lips, Chloé spoke up first.

'Just try not to do anything too weird. It's your first day of normal school, and that means it is also your first day of trying to be normal. So, ease up on the praying, don't mention anything of the wrap-'

'It's called The Warp. You know this.'

'I don't care. You're normal. Act like it.'

'But-'

'Zip it! Or so help your gods, I'm gonna--Im gonna tell your dad about that time you sneezed on the shrimp dish at the Christmas party!'

Marinette felt her lips twitch at the dramatic gasp that escaped Adrien at the reveal. 'You swore you wouldn't! And that was an accident, I didn't mean to spread Nurgle's gift to everyone that holiday!' Adrien moved to look at her, his hands pressed together, and his head bowed down as if asking for forgiveness. 'It was only a light cold, I promise! I didn't even mean to sneezed, there was this person with a dress that was made entirely of feathers, and I'm allergic, and as I was walking around it-'

'Oh, stop already!' Chloé reaches over her table and pulls him by the back of his shirt so he could sit straight in his pew. 'This is what I mean with you acting weird. You already have four eyes over there giving you the side-eye!'

Alya hadn't made a comment, instead offering a friendly wave towards them while watching "the show" Adrien and Chloé were clearly putting on, as the two had spent that last half hour just playing off each other's personality. Marinette can admit, it was kind of entertaining.

'I'm sorry, okay! I am just a little excited. There's nothing wrong with that.' Adrien tried to defend himself. Crossing his arms and pouting childishly. A display that didn't last as the back of his shirt is pulled again, causing him to gag as his turtleneck tugs on the front of his neck.

'Just don't try to give a sermon or something. You can go a few hours without all your weirdo praying stuff.'

Without a warning, Adrien pulled himself from his seat and out of Chloé's grip, as if suddenly reminded of something. 'By Slaanesh's black eyes! How could I forget?' He moved down on both knees and pulled at his shirt collar till something silver came out. A necklace, one he clutched in both hands as he started to whisper, what sounded to be prayers.

A loud "Oh, come on!" escaped Chloé as she stood up from her pew as well, intent on trying to pull Adrien back to his feet. Marinette watched on, not seeing a reason to interfere. Feeling her lip twitch once more due to such antics.

There was a new voice as someone came into the room, asking what was happening. Marinette was the first to notice the woman, as Adrien and Chloé were distracted, and Alya was busy recording the entire struggle between the two.

'Ms. Bustier.' She spoke in greeting, only to be polite.

'Marinette. I wasn't expecting you today.' The woman was the main teacher for the class, Caline Bustier. Someone that Marinette didn't like, as the woman was one of many who treated her as fragile. 'How are you?'

'I'm alive.'

'Well, I am very happy to hear that' There was no smile, just lips held in a tight line, while eyes scanned across the room to take everything in. Marinette could only guess what the teacher was thinking, seeing the room's nearly empty state. Bustier's head shook in what could only be in sheer disbelief before walking on towards Adrien and Chloé. 'Okay! Okay. Break it up, you two.'

Within moments, things would settle down to an almost awkward tension, as Ms. Bustier would be sitting at the main class desk and looking towards them. Struggling to try and think up what to say. It became less of a normal class, more like a long session of small talk between the five of them. Adrien showed that while sheltered, he was sociable. Able to strike a conversation with the teacher easily about the subjects being taught this year and how it is different from what he was taught.

He would also speak with Chloé and Alya, easily convincing them to take part in the conversation as they would each give their own opinion on things. Marinette is not sure how to describe how he manages to do it. Only that there was a kind of natural charisma about Adrien that seemed to allow him to draw in attention. Having people want to talk to him.

Which is odd, considering it didn't seem to work on herself.

More than once, he tried to have Marinette enter her voice into the topic. She politely declined each invite. Which would make him frown, almost as if he felt it was his own fault for such a thing. She didn't like that.

So she would raise her hand and poke him, making him yelp again. Once done, the conversation was steered towards Adrien's feminine cry and how embarrassed he was of it. It was amusing to watch as he tried to glare at her, yet seemed to struggle in doing so. As if he couldn't handle doing such a thing.

Though such pleasant times did not last.

The tone of the room would change in almost an instant. Marinette noticed it first when Alya became silent. She found the girl staring at a phone screen, eyes widened in horror. Everyone else was still conversing, unaware of what was happening. Least till Alya spoke up.

'Dead body. Dead body!'

The words stuttered out quietly at first but then repeated the words louder as to be heard. 'Someone just posted pictures of a dead body on my blog!' The phone in Alya's hand shook while saying the words. It was a surprise to hear, but nothing too shocking. Given yesterday, there were a great number of people killed. Having a public blog, of course, someone would post pictures of such a thing.At least that is what Marinette believed. 'The comments are saying it's the dead body of the monster, but it's human–I think it is!'

That was what truly got her attention. '

Ms. Bustier tried to deescalate the situation. To tell Alya to stop looking at the phone, yet Alya just continued to speak. 'There is another comment with photos, and it's him but alive and-' Words were falling short as Alya took a moment to scan the room. 'Three of you are in one of them.'

Within moments, all of them were looking at Alya's phone to see what exactly it was the girl was talking about. Underneath the video posted of Marinette and Adrien's battle against the Chaos Spawn, there was a comment that claimed…

"What you call a monster was simply a boy. Your heroes are murderers. Look what they did to this victim. This poor boy."

Attached to the thread were images of a corpse, just as Alya said. Whoever he was, he was badly burned. His skin had turned char black, taking a warped bubbling texture. While not at all a coroner or detective, Marinette would hazard a guess on the cause of death being due to electrocution, being burned from the inside out. The murder weapon was a garden hose that was forcibly thrusted into the back of the corpse's neck. That alone was familiar enough for Marinette. She didn't even need to look deeply at the many openings left on the body, as if someone took a chainsaw to it. Or a chainaxe.

Taking a glance away from the phone, her eyes met Adrien's for a moment, as he was doing the same. He recoiled away, casting his eyes back down to the phone. His face was flush with emotions that Marinette could easily read. He was panicking. Confused. He obviously didn't know this would happen, and he was at a loss.

A sarcastic thought entered her mind that she had a rare moment to empathize with someone else. She shook her head to get rid of it, focusing towards the phone once more.

There were many photos of the same corpse. Getting all sorts of angles on the body, as if wanting to point out each and every injury dealt to the boy. When it came to an end, there was another thread linked to the comment.

There were no words written, just another set of photos, but none of them were of corpses. They were living people. Each of them seemingly taken at different times, different dates. The only thing truly linking them together were some repeated faces in each photo, and only one being in all of them.

Marinette is not sure how long it took for the others to notice. She caught on immediately as she looked at the face of a familiar boy around her age. Recognizing him as a fellow classmate of hers she had the previous year. There were many pictures of him, some of them being taken in class, some of them at home. With friends and family. She didn't want to say his name, but it unconsciously left her lips, just above a whisper. One everyone else heard.

'Oh god. It is Ivan. Oh my god, it's Ivan.' Chloé confirmed it, taking the phone and scrolling back to the photos of the corpse. 'I can see it now. That's him. Oh my god, that's him!' Marinette watched as Chloe's face turned pale and began to be flooded with fear and disgust; it was the most vulnerable Marinette had ever seen the "bully" become.

'We don't know that is him!' Ms. Bustier is the next to speak out, again trying to deescalate the situation. Though it was easy to see the woman was lying to herself, was in complete shock over seeing one of her students dead. 'It could be anyone's body. There isn't proof of-'

'The proof is right here in front of us.' Alya had taken the phone back and scrolled further down. There was another comment, another thread, with a side-by-side comparison of Ivan's face and the corpse. The general shape was the same. Even with most of his face having melted away, having lost his eyes, nose, lips, and hair, one could still tell. Despite the burned skin and mouth opened wide in terrible pain, it was still him. Still Ivan.

She knew her attention should be focused on the image, but Marinette couldn't help but pay attention to something else. While everyone was in some form of horror, Adrien just stood there, utterly baffled. As if he couldn't even begin to comprehend what he was looking at. Through each image, he never flinched, never seemed disgusted. He was just confused. It was an oddity that she notes for later, as she lets everyone continue to react to what they saw. Only speaking up when an uncomfortable silence started to fill the room, as the initial shock would fade.

'Someone needs to tell his parents.' Her words spur the others to react, least to turn their attention towards her. 'He has parents. A little sister too, right?'

Ms. Bustier was the first to truly take a hold of herself. 'Right, right, I need to get to the bottom of this. I need to contact his parents, talk to the principal, and just–pray that this is some demented prank or something.' The woman began to leave the room, only pausing to tell the others that they should leave the class as well. 'No point in staying. Just get home and hope someone can make sense of this. Do be safe, all of you."

When the woman left, Marinette looked at the others. Adrien had taken the phone and immediately began to fiddle with it. Telling Alya he was taking screenshots before the person could delete the comments. 'I can see the photos were taken at the stadium. That place should still be closed off by the cops. Whoever is doing this made an account. It can be tracked, right?' He asks Alya, who stares at him in shock.

'I don't know! I just made the blog last night, so maybe I can?'

'You need to find out; take your phone to the police. Have them–I don't know–work something out. Get an expert. Chloé!' Adrien was officially taking charge, as he moved to grab Chloé by her shoulders. 'Chloé, you can call your friend, Sabrina! Her dad is a police officer, right? Call her and have her talk to her dad immediately about it.'

Chloé was too slow to respond. Muttering something about the man having a broken arm. Adrien didn't seem to have the patience for it. The tone of his voice changed, becoming firm and commanding. 'You will leave and tell Sabrina about the pictures! Your dad too, the more that knows this, the better.' There was something unnatural about it. A weight to his words as they were carried through the air as if they were meant to be felt, not heard. Within Marinette's mind, there is a stir. Similar to the feeling of a cold breeze, yet it is immalleable. Like a blade.

Whatever it is, it causes the nails to bite, seemingly without reason.

She winces as the pain rushes in her mind. Stumbling backward, she ended up falling onto her backside as she clutched at her head. Groaning and threw her head side to side in a vain attempt to try and shake the effect away. With eyes tightly closed, her teeth are pressed together, and she tries to endure. To simply deal with it. But as always, it is overwhelming. Suffocating. It takes all she can, simply to not scream.

During it all, she could hear Chloé and Alya suddenly speak up at the same time, their words overlapping each other, in a monotone voice.

'I will leave and tell Sabrina and my dad about the photos. The more that knows this, the better.' Said Chloé.

'I will leave and tell Sabrina and Chloe's dad about the photos. The more that knows this, the better.' Said Alya.

She also heard Adrien cry out her name. He was at her side, trying to grab a hold of her, trying to speak to her. Her first instinct was to fight against him, to not allow him or anyone for that matter to be close to her when she gets like this. But the firm commanding tone of his voice is gone. He sounded like himself again. Somehow, that eases the nails. Lulling them back down to their natural constant state.

When she opened her eyes, Adrien was kneeling beside her. He was holding her wrists in his hands. Once again, he tried to speak to her, but the words would fall on deaf-ears as she looked around the room, not spotting Chloé or Alya at all. Though she knew they were there moments ago.

'Mary, what in the warp was that?' Adrien had moved to grab her by her shoulders now. Placing himself right in front of her face. While she opened her mouth to speak, Marinette didn't know how to respond. As the pain from the Butcher's Nails came without any warning. It reminded her of when she would look upon the Chaos Spawn. Something within her mind became angry and caused the nails to react. Yet, there was no anger this time. It was purely reactionary, almost as if it was some kind of defense mechanism. It only seems to add to the long list of questions she already had.

Enough was enough. She wanted answers.


There was no longer a point of being in the classroom. Seeing as Ms. Bustier told them to leave, and they did so. On the lookout for somewhere they talk privately in peace, Marinette first thought of her home. Immediately, the idea was rejected as she thought of her parents and how they were possibly still resting. Adrien told her he would offer to invite her to his home but considered against it. Remarking how his father would react to him sneaking out of the house to go to school, and then suddenly coming home early while bringing a girl.

"Gods grant me mercy cause he will not."

Seeing as their options were limited, Marinette was the one to suggest the best place they could go. There was a park near the school and her home. A place she went sometimes to do her sketching.

When they arrived almost immediately, Adrien had run off by himself, making a remark that she could find them a seat and he would get them something to "mark the occasion". As if they were celebrating rather than simply talking. She paid it no mind, finding the usual spot she took up each time she had visited the park. A simple bench to sit on that was under the shade of the trees. A usual calm spot for herself.

From there, she waited. Her head lowered down to face the floor, as she thought about everything one final time. All the questions she had. This new revelation about the Chaos Spawn. About Ivan. It made her think back to the note Adrien had found.

Reaching into her jacket, she pulls out the crumbled paper. Having pocketed away, the moment Chloé had called out for attention. Once more, she re-read the words on the note. "You haven't even got the guts to tell Mylène you love her, wuss." She was able to recognize the name now, and even the hand writing, all due to knowing that somehow Ivan was holding it. Her mind was already forming an idea of what this could mean. But it was hard to think. It was always hard to think due to the Butcher's Nails, but today, especially was too much for her.

It wasn't even noon yet, and Marinette felt mentally exhausted. More than anything, she wanted to stop thinking. To just allow her mind to work on its own without any more of her input. Possibly just to go home and sleep some more if she could. Take up the offer her mother proposed this morning to just return home and draw.

'Hey.'

Those types of thoughts die the moment she sees Adrien standing by her side. He had an object in his hands. A large cup of ice cream with two plastic spoons within it.

'Really?' She gave him the most deadpanned stare she could, seeing the reason he rushed off as soon as they came into the park. 'You are marking the occasion with ice cream?'

'Would you have preferred cake?' He responded with such a genuine tone, not a hint of sarcasm. It made Marinette's lips twitch.

'Nevermind. Just sit down. We got a lot to talk about.'

'Well, first things first.' The instant he sat down beside her, he offered her a spoon. Begrudgingly, Marinette accepted it. 'I didn't know what flavors you like, so I just randomly asked for whatever.' She looked into the cup he held in his hand and saw two large scoops of ice cream. One red and one black.

Once more, she gave him her best deadpan stare. He had no real retort. Simply turned his face away in slight embarrassment. 'I suppose subtlety is dead.' It was the only comment she made about it, before taking half a spoonful of the red scoop. The moment she tasted it, she could immediately recognize the flavor.

'Red Velvet.' Adrien's eyes widened a little at how quickly she knew the flavor. 'My parents own a bakery. So I had a lot of sweets growing up.' She took a taste of the black colored ice cream next. It was her turn to be surprised. 'Coconut?'

He smiled brightly at her reaction. She felt her own lips twitch in response. 'Interesting combination.' She admitted.

'I figured I had to make it interesting. Glad you like it.' Marinette watched as he tried some for himself, even beginning to mix the two flavors. Something she mimicked. She felt it best not to tell him she didn't care much for ice cream. Since taking the nails, everything was the same to her. There was no preference. No favorite flavor, or food in general. Just whatever she could stomach, she ate.

Though, a small part of her told her she should try to relish this while she could. The sun was shining. She was sitting in her usual spot at the park, next to an attractive boy. Sharing ice cream together. Without a worry of going to school for the day. Wouldn't this be what all girls like herself would die for?

Looking at Adrien, their eyes meet, and he gives a smile at her. She…

She shames herself by trying to mimic it. That shame quickly turns to embarrassment, as she sees Adrien's cheek puff as he tries to hold in a laugh. Quickly, she turns her head away as he is trying to apologize. 'Sorry, sorry! It's just that you just look really cute just now! I mean, you smiled so big and happily I just wasn't expecting it, I didn't mean to laugh.'

'Lies.' She mumbled the word out, trying to just take another spoonful of flavor in an attempt to distract herself. Raising a hand up to pull her hood further down over her face. 'Why did I even try doing that?'

'I am hoping 'cause you like spending time with me?'

'I do. But that is beside the point.' She sighs out the words, though paused for a moment as she realizes something about the scenario they are in. Two young teens sitting alone in the park and sharing ice cream together. 'Adrien, are we accidentally going out on a date?'

When she turned back to him, she seemed to have caught him mid-shallow of ice cream. He coughed out his spoon, the plastic utensil falling to the grass as his face turned as red as the red velvet flavor. 'What? I mean it doesn't have to be, I mean if you want to, there is always that possibility, but like-'

She seemed able to silence him by narrowing her eyes. 'Just answer the question.'

'I suppose it kinda is one. If we say it is, do you…' He trails off momentarily, coughing into his own hand as if it could help steady his nerves. '...do you want it to be one?' Marinette thinks about it for a moment. Once more, the thought of relishing this chance comes to her mind. Clearly, it seemed that Adrien was interested in her, though she couldn't fandom why, and it wasn't as if she disliked him. Far from it, in the very short time that she knew him, he had already shown many qualities she liked. The simple kindness he had, how he saved her life twice, how he threatened to kill Alya via sacrifice for her sake, how he was ready to help her the moment it looked as if she needed it. She'd go as far as to say she thought of him as a friend.

Going by what little she knew of romance, Marinette was sure most people their age started dating due to far less.

'Yes. I would like this to be a date.' She reaches upward and pulls her hood back, just enough that she could have a better look at Adrien's face. His eyes were wide and once again seemed in total shock. She isn't sure why, but it makes her uncomfortable.'Is it really that surprising I would want to date you?'

'Kind of.' He stuttered his words. Blinking his eyes in disbelief. 'Gods forgive me, if I knew this is how it would end up, I would have tried something more, something much fancier for a date. I would have gotten a picnic ready or a bike ride, or-' She stops him by feeding him a spoonful of ice cream.

She does so gently, pulling the spoon back so as to not hurt his teeth on accident. 'This is fine. I don't need much at all. Simply sitting here is more than enough for me.' She spoke as honestly as she could. 'This is the first time I've ever been on a date, so I don't have any high standards.' When she shrugged her shoulders at her own statement, it seemed to make Adrien laugh. To put him more at ease.

'To be honest, it's my first date too.' He admitted, coughing into his hand and nervously glancing at the spoon in her hand. 'You know that was like, your spoon you feed me with right?' Marinette gave another shrug as she just took another sample of ice cream for herself. The moment the spoon met her lips it seemed to make Adrien…

She wasn't even sure.

Nervous? Excited? She had gotten quite good with reading people but this was a new situation. She was unsure how to act on it all. 'So you are fine with the whole, indirect kissing thing?' Adrien asks the question, and she offers him another spoonful of ice cream in response. Asking if he would want a direct kiss instead. Her lips twitched as he looked close to fainting. Mumbling about "how anime did not prepare him for this".

When he tried to compose himself he did so by trying to change the subject as quickly as possible. 'You wanted questions–I meant that you had questions! Questions for me, questions for me to answer! Right, I just uh- where do you wanna start? Let's see if I can answer them.'

He was saying it absentmindedly. But it was what she wanted, at least that was the point of them going to the park to have a private place to talk to each other. Though, at the thought of the topic, immediately her mind is flooded with the photos of Ivan's dead body. Of the many questions she had of everything from Adrien's religious beliefs, to the costumes, to the Chaos Spawn. Of the piece of paper that she had re-crumbled again and placed back into her pocket once more. Of what had happened to Alya and Chloé earlier.

Of the Eightfold Path.

She wanted to berate herself over having allowed herself to forget such a thing. But there was that part of her again that wanted to relish this moment. As she looked at the cup of ice cream, and saw that it was still half full. Adrien had gotten it for them to mark the occasion. It was only fair that they at least finish it first. At least that is what she tried to tell herself. The truth was, she didn't want to think about it. The thought alone of Ivan was threatening to build something up in her. The thought that he was an innocent person. With a family and friends that loved him, and that he loved them back. And he was killed. She and Adrien killed him. Butchered him and roasted him alive.

There must have been another way. There must have been something different they could have done. If he was able to turn back to human after death, there had to be a way to do so while he was alive. Adrien said he was a "nothing but a mindless creature now that is just lashing out at others". That something caused him to be made into that. But what if, they co-

'Hey, you okay?' Adrien's voice cut off her thoughts, and Marinette realized she had just been staring forward at nothing. Her mind drifted away to her own thoughts. Her own regrets. 'You just got quiet all of a sudden. If you don't want to talk about that kind of stuff, we can push it off for later? Maybe tomorrow if you prefe-'

'No. It has to be today. I don't think I can sleep tonight without knowing.' Marinette interrupted him, slowly shaking her head. 'I just–'

There is a pause, and once more she looks at the cup of ice cream she realized she was somehow holding onto. 'Can we continue the date first?' She didn't know why, but her voice sounded quieter than usual as she asked the question.

But there is a warmth as she feels Adrien's hand on her shoulder. 'Okay. When you are ready.' She watches as he takes the spoon from her hand, and scoops some of the ice cream. She notes that it was starting to melt by now. Meaning there wasn't as much time to enjoy it, before it just became a colorful soup. Something she tries to mention to Adrien. She couldn't get the word out, because he fed her a spoonful of ice cream.

Seeing him smile, once more her lips twitched.

Since taking the nails, everything was the same to her. There was no preference. No favorite flavor or food in general. Just whatever she could stomach, she ate. But at this moment, if someone were to ask her what her favorite flavors of ice cream were, she could tell them it was red velvet and coconut.


[Sorry for the long wait, writers block had struck me hard, as well as grammar checking, and I ended up getting this chapter to over 40,000 words (that is not be trying to be cute, that is actually how many words I wrote), and that was getting ridiculous. I ended up cutting a lot, so I could save for later one.

Other than that, I want to thank everyone for the commentd, I love to read them so much. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.]