When you live forever...
Family is more important then you know
"The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other."
-Mario Puzo
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Marinette
We've met many descendants in our travels. Some of them we knew personally, from before what happened, in the beginning. As time past, they knew of us from their parents, who were direct descendants. Some of them had met their grandparents, but most hadn't.
The Immortals stayed away. Descendants were to good of hostages.
As more time passed, most families forgot about their ancestors all together. They thought their heightened abilities were just from genetics. Some had family stories. I knew of one descendant who, around the middle of all this stuff, helped collect those stories with our help. He made a book of fairytales, based off of those stories, one story for each immortal. In the few years we stayed around him, we helped spread those books to descendants. We didn't tell them the whole story, just what story was their ancestors.
It helped keep my friends' memories alive. I wouldn't let them disappear, when they had done so much for this world.
When technology came into play, many years after that descendant had died, I made an online copy and kept it in a flash drive. I had a few paper copies with me, but it was nice to just be able to email someone the book if need be. There aren't many descendants out there -Gabe wanted them gone too- but finding them became easier with social media.
But long story short, there's something magical about reunions, even if the people have never met. Adrian and I never dated anyone or had kids, so we had no one out there to visit. Neither did George and Mason, if I remember correctly. So seeing the dead immortal's descendants… it was always somber telling them.
But Fred. Fred, who, I'm sure I remember correctly, only ever had one kid. Only one line of descendants. This far down the latter, the genes that they shared were low, but they were there. Parts of her family might've been born without them, they might've been completely normal. But her family… her mother or father, herself, and maybe even her siblings… they were descendants.
Alya recognized him immediately. With his hair dyed red and her skin darker, they only shared the same eye color. The exact same eye color.
There were more differences then similarities, but, for some strange reason, they looked almost identical. I didn't get it.
Fred stood up, and Mason and George stopped their wrestling to watch. He stood in front of Alya for a few seconds, before opening his arms. "Can a great grandparent get a hug-"
He didn't get to finish, but Alya shot into his arms, crying what I assume to be happy tears. Fred grunted at the force before laughing, letting her get out all of her emotions before letting go. "How are you feeling now?"
Alya sniffed. "I was sceptical, with everything." She started. "What Mari And Adrian told me- I had hope but I doubted it so much… but I know. I dunno how I know but I know!" She opened her mouth before pausing, glaring slightly. "What! You're, like, thousands of years older than me, but why do you look younger? I look older than a few thousand year old grandad!"
It was silent for a moment, before George bursted out laughing. "Ha! She called you a grandad!"
Mason bonked his head, since they were still in the position they had been in wrestling. "Shh, that's because he is."
He pouted. "Doesn't make it not funny…"
Mason smiled, shaking her head. "You act like a little kid."
"Forever bachelor." He teased, and there was something there. How am I just now noticing?
"Alya, dear," Fred started, after glaring at his twin. "Did you forget that I'm immortal?"
"Is that red hair immortal, cause it needs to either go or be redone." She remarked, grinning widely. Mason and George both burst out laughing again.
"Like you're any different!" Fred yelled at his twin, before turning back to his descendant. "To be honest, this is not how I expected this to go."
"They're usually the ones teasing others." Adrian supplied. "Fred, she's your descendant, of course she's teasing you."
"You guys are actually very much alike." I said with a smile. Fred laughed softly, turning back to Alya.
"I meant to visit you earlier, but I had some... things get in the way." He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
George scoffed. "Ha, things? Some man with no nose wouldn't leave us alone, you somehow almost died to him, and we had to save Mason from Gabe!"
They what? I turned towards Mason, who was berating the person she was sitting on for telling them about it. She grinned at me when she looked up, but did nothing besides that.
"Who's no nose man?" Adrian asked, eyes squinted. I could tell why he was interested, not only because of the name but because of the fact that he apparently almost killed an immortal.
"Don't worry about him." Fred started. "He's Dead now." George said. "It's just that." "He found Trix and Rabi once." "And got really interested in our business." "Even kidnapped us at one point." "Tried to Avada Kedavra me." "He was out for a week afterwards." "Long story short." "We made sure he suffered in the end."
George had a slight demonic look as he finished the story off, and I was suddenly very worried.
I think Alya felt the same way, and she quickly changed the subject. "So, if I'm a descendant, and there are… 20? of them… who else is a descendant that I know of?"
Mason looked back up. "I'd like to know that too. This place is a beacon for them."
"Well." I looked around the room, before going to sit down on the empty couch. Adrian sat down after me, and Alya took the last open arm chair. Mason and George stayed as they were, since it seemed like Mason was still upset about some ice cream. "You should know, Alya, that no one else in this room besides Fred ever had any kids."
Alya's eyes widened. "No, seriously? But you guys are, like, super old." She narrowed her eyes. "You guys were around before birth control!"
My face turned into a bright crimson, as did Adrian. The other three immortals, though, exploded into laughter. Alya looked confused.
"Alya." Mason started. "Marinette and Adrian never even got into that aspect of life. They've never dated anyone- I don't even know if they ever kissed anyone." Her eyes glittered in curiosity. "I'd be proud, you have more experience in something then two thousands of years old immortals."
Adrian sputtered next to me. I pouted, before continuing. "Yeah, Yeah, so we've never dated anyone." I said. "Not our fault, we were always together and it scared off possible suitors."
"Suitors?" Alya said softly, before falling into laughter. "You're so outdated!"
"Do you want to know who else." I almost snapped, but it got her to quiet. "Nino, first of all. He's a descendant of Wu."
Mason's eyes hardened, and her face went stoic. George tilted his head at her, moving up to lean against the armrest of the couch. It looked like he was about to push her off, when Mason came back to reality (oops there goes gravity-) and adjusted, bopping his head again and hissing some ice cream related threat.
"Chloe." I said. "We think she's a descendant of Nonna. Most of the kids in our class look like the could be descendants, but it's hard to tell. Their auras are hard to read."
"So." Mason started. "We have at least three different descendants to keep a watch on."
"Not exactly." Adrian spoke up. "Nino and Chloe should be fine, since their immortal ancestors are… dead. Gabe knows that we know them, but he also knows that we don't have such a strong bond with them as their own immortals would have, so there's less of a reason to go after them. Alya, though…"
"I'm still here." Fred said. "And because of that, she's still a target. I don't think Gabe knows Forge and I are here yet, but he knows we're alive."
"Ok, time out," Alya put her hands together like a referee would. "This is important and all, but I have a question that I'll forget if I don't say."
"Go for it." Fred turned towards her.
She stared at him, before her eyes narrowed slightly. "Why do we all live to be exactly 100?"
X.
A quiet 3 weeks had gone by with no problems and no akumas. The twins and Mason 'somehow' managed to snag the apartment (which was occupied before them) next to our own (I just hope they didn't con anyone out of a room. The twins would do that-) and had started working in LAX, the modeling company we worked at.
Of course, Mr. Gracestone loved them all. All immortals had an ethereal beauty to them, so once all of the winter clothes were done with we all just went onto regular modeling, and not just for clothes. Our faces started popping up in magazines, posters, and on digital boards in the city.
Adrian had the biggest crowd, since he was in it the longest. People loved Fred and George, probably because they were identical twins and the girls loved that (for some reason.) Alya didn't come in as much as before, not wanting the attention cause it got in the way of her blog. Mason and I didn't really bask in the new attention we were getting. It was mostly boys, and they were all nice about it, but the other immortals seemed upset about something and we just thought it better to not go signing stuff.
The boys did the same. When they turned down a girl's poster once and we asked about it, they said something like, 'I wanted too, but your face was promising eternal torture if I do.'
We looked at each other, positive that we didn't have an upset face, and that it was them. In hindsight, it was all of us (but Fred.)
Christmas was close and it was snowing outside. We were walking back from LAX, but then the twins saw something interesting and dragged Mason away. That left Adrian and I walking home together, like it use to be.
"Oh Adrikins!"
Ugh oh my Paris no.
A blonde ball of brattiness barreled into Adrian, almost knocking him over. Chloe got in three cheek kisses before Adrian plied her off, holding her by the shoulders to keep her there. "Hi, Chloe."
"Oh Adrikins, we barely ever hang out anymore!" Chloe pouted, side eyeing me. I smirked right back. "You're the talk of the town now, though! I'm so proud."
"Thank you." He smiled. "But, honestly, I think Mari's gained more fame then I have, and in a quicker amount of time." That smile turned to me, and it seemed to get just a slight bit brighter.
"You were the one who introduced me to LAX." I replied, eyes darting over to catch Chloe's upset face. "I couldn't be where I am without you. You gave me a home and helped me get a job."
"Wait…" Chloe looked very confused. "Do you two… live together?!"
"Yeah." Adrian said. "We have been, since she moved here."
"Adrikins." Chloe pouted. "You could've told me you were taking in… the homeless. I can find a spot for her to live, I'll get her out of your shoes!" She immediately turned to her phone.
"Don't worry, Chloe." Adrian assured with a waning smile. "I like living with her. My apartment's made for two, so I needed the extra person. Besides, we had been planning this even before I moved here. You don't need to worry yourself."
"You were…" Chloe looked dumbfounded. "Living in a large apartment, by yourself, for years? Why didn't you say anything, I could've come and given you company!"
I'm glad he didn't say anything. I didn't want Chloe giving him company.
"Well…" Adrian looked around as he came up with a quick lie. "She was supposed to come earlier, but there were problems which delayed her."
"Oh, she left you on your own?" Chloe was starting to glare. "I would never do that to you!"
"But you would." I murmured.
"What?" She looked at me like I was dirt under her shoe.
"But you would." I said louder. "And you did. Do you watch the LC blog? Lolpi? Not only did you leave him to fend for himself, but you threw him in the way to protect yourself." Barely any of that was caught on the actual blog, but Ladybug caught it all. "Didn't Ladybug scold you for that afterwards? She denounced you as her favorite fan, right?" I smiled. "Now, if you please, I need to start making dinner."
I grabbed Adrian's hand and pulled him away. "That was a little much." Adrian murmured.
"For us, yes." I said. "For Chloe, it was just enough to get through her head. Besides, I'm still upset for what she did during Lolpi. Right after you saved her, too!"
"She was scared." He himself sounded like he was making up excuses.
"Lolpi could've killed you!" I spun around, placing a finger on his chest. "She was going to run you through with a gigantic sword! And you had no suit, a tired Plagg, and no sword or saber or whatever-the-hell you call it, and you were going to die."
"I didn't, did I?" Adrian smirked. "Cause My Lady kicked her ass right before she skewered me." Adrian frowned, before pulling me in for a hug. "I didn't know that had you so worried. You should've said something."
"I did." I stayed there for a moment, before releasing him. "I said it to Chloe. Now, come on, Mari's probably hungry, and we haven't cleaned her litter."
X.
We had just finished dinner when an akuma came smashing through the window. Before I could get up, a tight, hard yo-yo was wrapped around my stomach, trapping my arms, and I was being pulled back towards the window.
"What- Mari!" I'm pretty sure that was Adrian, but I was too busy focusing on the akuma. I should've seen it coming, probably.
The yo-yo whipped backwards and released me into the cool Paris air. Stories above the ground. Well then, akumatized Chloe really wanted me dead. "Tikki-!"
I transformed around twenty feet from the ground, lashing out at a hereby light post with my yo-yo. My heels scratched the ground as I swung back up, hitting the side of a building with a dull thud. Shaking my head, I looked around, trying to gain a sense of direction.
Chloe had never come back out of the apartment. She was still in there with Adrian. And even if she never wanted to hurt him, she now was one of the only things that truly could. I didn't know if Adrian would think of transforming right now.
My yo-yo wrapped around another post, and I used it to swing myself back up to our broken window, diving through the sharp hole and missing any cuts on the way. I rolled to a stop, freezing immediately.
Adrian was still in the kitchen, talking with a calm voice but panicked eyes, arms up in a peaceful, non threatening way. He was probably worried since Chloe, in a knockoff outfit of mine, was playing around with a yo-yo. Said yo-yo had razor blades protruding from every side, at least four inches long. That would hurt.
But he had seen me, and Chloe hadn't. It didn't matter in the end, though, since the front door clicked, and our newly found old friends (who we just so happened to give a room key too-) strode in. Since the kitchen hid the door somewhat, it took a second for them to see the damage, and to see who caused it.
I held a finger up to my mouth, and they all listened, stopping whatever they were about to say from coming out of their mouths.
Chloe, though, zero'd in on Mason. "You." She said in familiarity, even though her face showed none. "Are you a rabid fangirl too?!" She lashed her yo-yo about. "Stay away from my Adrikins!"
A few things happened next. The twins had to stifle their laughter, as if wasn't the time for that, and Adrian rubbed a hand over his face to hide his embarrassment from said laughter. The most important thing, though, was that a yo-yo with a razor problem was heading straight towards Mason's stomach.
She didn't look the slightest bit scared, though. In fact, she was smiling. As if being in this situation was familiar and she loved it. Without breaking a sweat, she sidestepped, pushing Fred out of the way while simultaneously grabbing George and falling backwards. The yo-yo cut a thin line on the tip of George's nose, too fine and too small for blood but big enough to see.
Chloe brought the yo-yo back and paused. She blinked, before a purple masked covered her face and she growled, a voice that wasn't her own speaking. "You survived."
"Don't be so surprised." Mason growled back, smiling as she jumped back up on her feet. "That's what you get for not finishing the job!"
I caught eyes with Adrian. Had they met since the last time Mason was with them? Had she almost… died? The twins haven't been seen in ages, but suddenly now they're here with us, and they showed up with Mason…
What had happened?
Chloe was rounding up for another lash of her razor yo-yo, and I couldn't think any farther into it. I threw my own yo-yo, and it wrapped around Chloe's chest, covering her arms and her own yo-yo. She helped, mask disappearing as I pulled her back to me, aiming for whatever the akuma was. Her outfit didn't help much, but it had to be something important to her.
When she got to me she jumped up, using both of her feet to kick me in the gut. I, not at all prepared, coughed up my lung and fell to the ground. Chloe detangleed herself from my yo-yo and raised her own, probably planning to stab me.
A hand caught her wrist. Adrian threw her back as I got my organs back under my control. She growled, to angry to speak anymore, when Fred skipped up behind her and tapped her back. "What?"
"Nothing." Fred shrugged, and then George did the same, going up to her other side and poking her. "What?!"
As she was too busy dealing with two twins annoying her, she didn't even realize when Fred plucked her yo-yo out of her hand, replacing it with a coaster of around the same size. Both twins were chattering about anything and everything, but behind George's back he had his hand out, asking for something. It clicked in my mind before I even really understood.
My lucky charm was, strangely, a framed photo of Adrian. I glanced at him, showing the picture before sneaking up and placing it in George's waiting hand.
"See." George brought the picture up and towards her like he had it all along. "No one is trying to stop you." "Yeah." Fred joined in. "Everyone knows how close you two are."
Despite the fact that Fred and George didn't know anything about Chloe and were pulling this from their asses, they had done a good job. Chloe took the picture, looked at it for a moment, and sighed, eyes closed. With a quick hand one only had from stealing... a lot, George grabbed the mask around her eyes and tossed it to Adrian.
Chloe fell to the floor as Adrian caught the mask, tearing it and catching the butterfly. He seemed to realize halfway through that he needed to be transformed to do that, and after a moment gave the dust to me.
At the beginning, I was worried, but Chloe as an akuma hadn't actually been all that hard. Maybe it had to do with the twins and Mason being here, but I'm happy they are.
It would never be the same, but it did feel like, even if just a little bit, like I was back home, before all of this happened.
