a/n: hey guys! long time no see....aha...

it's been what? three years??? i don't really have an excuse for you guys, i've gotten to writing again but i haven't actually updated or posted anything because not only have i kinda disliked everything i've written, but i've been refining the plot a bit. i have a google doc of every chapter i have out for this and i've been touching it up as i go but i haven't published them here yet. probably won't do that until i finish this book.

ALRIGHT!

so here's the thing! i really don't like recreating, or even just writing fight scenes. it's one of the many, many reasons i haven't updated in a while; i literally could not write it. my plan is to only write some portions of the fights, but will likely just do a timeskip/linebreak to separate it from the rest of the story. i'm just not good at them and i wouldn't be able to give you guys what you deserve if i tried.

i am also doing this for reasons, mind you. my focus is more on the interpersonal realtionships between the characters and character development rather than the fights (unless it's something really important, like the first fight against hawkmoth/papillon or the future ones where more important events take place y'all know what i'm talking about).

i hope you guys understand and continue to read because with the amount of time i've had to think on future chapters, i've got so much planned.

it's good to back :) <3

-Squishy

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"𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜
𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜
𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜
𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖"

-unkown

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Anyone who has met Marinette, Adrien thinks, knows exactly how she is as soon as she speaks to you. She is blunt and straightforward in a way that shows that she is confident about not only her knowledge, but in herself. Her actions hold little to no hesitation and she is brutally honestly even to someone who is superior to herself- the walking definition of the phrase 'respect is earned not given.'

The loud cracks that near sound like thunder followed by screams from Alya and Manon had Marinette's calm demeanor falter and for the first time, Adrien can truly say that Marinette showed an emotion of her usually stoic face.

She had turned so quickly (it had to be from dancing, the quick reflexes) and her eyes were wide, pupils dilating and brows furrowed.

Then she yelled.

"ALYA! MANON!"

The raw emotion in her voice sent a shock through his system.

For a brief moment, he honestly thought someone like Marinette couldn't possibly get bothered like the rest of them. He learned, in this instance, that Marinette had to truly care about someone to show anything other than apathy.

As he ran to hide so he could transform, his heart ached at the thought.

He was not one of the people she cared about.

(Oh, how wrong he was about that.)

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Marinette ran up to the carousel and splayed her hands on the ice. She grit her teeth as one hard curled into a fist and she hit the ice, uncaring as the freezing temperature burned her skin.

"Marinette..." Manon's voice was wobbly, tears in her eyes and her her breath shuddering with the beginnings of her tears.

"No," she snaps, "do not cry, Manon. You stay strong, and believe." Her eyes flicked to Alya who held the smaller girl in both arms, Alya's eyes steeled and she nodded at her. "Alya is with you, you and her stay quiet, and wait. Help will come, I promise."

Manon sniffled, wiping her tears and her cheeks puffed a bit as she tried to show a brave face.

Alya suddenly flinched, her entired body jerking and she yelled, "MARINETTE, WATCH OUT!"

Marinette almost didn't breathe as she turned and there was Stormy Weather, eyes glowing eerily, smile wicked as she aimed her umbrella- her weapon- at her and her mind ran through as many scenarios as it could before that beam would (could) hit her.

Before she could act, her legs were swept up from under her and her vision blurred for a few moments. She heard the tell-tale cracking of ice as the shot aimed at her hit where she once stood.

Her arms were around sturdy shoulders and she drew herself back once the movement stopped in order to meet cat-like green eyes hidden behind a mask, wild blond hair that had tickled her cheek for the brief moment her head had been over his shoulder.

"Chat Noir," she exhaled, her tense muscles relaxing as her her brain registered safety.

"Hey there Princess, saw you needed some savin'," he practically purred, having already shifted into the persona that came with the freedom of being Chat Noir.

Adrien watched in fascination as a flush spread across Marinette's cheeks and even dusted her nose and forehead, and her brows furrowed at him.

"Don't call me that, weirdo," she smacked him lightly on the chest and Adrien felt his heart flutter at the reaction. Before he could respond, his pupils dilated, ears flicked and he tightened his hold on her as he jumped from their spot to avoid another attack from Stormy Weather.

Marinette grunted at the sudden jerk of movement, it was faster than she was used to as just herself. She needed to transform into Ladybug and help, but she had to get away from Chat Noir first.

"You have to leave me," she told him once they landed again, hidden away from Stormy Weather once again. They could hear her still, calling out to him and the screams of civilians as they ran or became victims or her attacks. "You need to concentrate on her, you can't do that if you keep lugging me around."

He sighed dramatically as he set her down, "Just as I was enjoying our time together, but un-fur-tunately, you're right."

She scoffed, he wasn't sure whether at him or at the pun, "You don't even know me."

"Something we can change together, no?" he wiggled his eyebrows, and he had to keep himself together as her lips twitch into the semblance of a smile.

"In your dreams, kitty," and gods did he almost melt into a puddle right then and there. She glanced around before beginning to distance herslef, "I'll go hide...I- please," she seemed to force herself to bring these words out. He wonders for a moment if she has ever had to ask for help, "...save my friends, Chat Noir."

"You can count on me," he assured, "once Ladybug arrives, we'll have it in the bag."

"I'll hold you to it."

She turned a ran, slipping around a corner to find a better spot to hide.

He smiled doppily at where he last saw her before shaking himself out of the stupor, he had a city to save and his word to uphold.

"Now, just have to wait for My Lady to arrive and then we can get this show on the road!"

"I genuinely believe you could do that all on your own, Kitten," he jumped and whirled around to meet Ladybug's amused eyes and pretty smile. "Playing Prince now, are we?"

He spluttered as she laughed, "My Lady! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Sorry, Kitten," she twirled her yo-yo, "you ready to kick some butt?"

He grinned, extending his staff and spinning it before slamming it onto the ground, "Fur sure."

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"Alya, Manon!" Marinette closed her eyes in relief once she wrapped her arms around the little girl and held Alya's shoulder, squeezing it. "I was worried," she whispered.

"I stayed brave, like you told me," Manon murmured from where she smothered her face into the crook of her neck. Marinette felt the warm tears hit her skin and she hugged the girl closer.

"You were great," she agreed, allowing the girl to let out the tears she had held in. "Let's go get you that balloon, yeah?"

"Can we...can we get some ice cream instead?" Manon shuffles her feet, twiddling her fingers and Marinette huffs, but smoothes her hair.

"Sure thing, kiddo."

"Uh," the three girls turned to look as Adrien awkwardly rubbed his neck as he shuffled closer to them, "would- would you guys mind if I joined you?"

Both Alya and Manon turned towards Marinette, who was staring him down. Adrien held her gaze as long as he could before he looked away from her, already feeling the dread of being rejected.

Marinette tilts her head back, looking at the sky for a moment before returning her gaze on him, "You sure you have enough time? Are you even allowed to go anywhere other than here and back home?"

He jerked at the question, but nodded furiously. "I-I have extra time because the shoot was cut short! As long as I'm back here before Gorilla comes with the car, I...I have time..."

Marinette hums and something in her eye seems to twinkle.

"Then sure," she stood, her hand slipping into Manon's. "Let's go get some ice cream."

Adrien smiled so brightly, and Marinette turned away from him quickly to gather herself mentally and emotionally. She had let herself slip earlier, with the panic of Alya and Manon in danger.

"Let's get going," she muttered walked along with Manon swinging their arms, and both Alya and Adrien jogging lightly to catch up.

Alya smiled at Adrien, if Marinette thought he was okay that means he could be a potential friend. "So what's your favorite flavor, Adrien?"

"Chocolate," Adrien answered at the same time as Marinette blurted without meaning to. Both he and Alya blinked in surprise and looked at Marinette (who was berating herself mentally). "How'd you know that, Marinette?"

She glanced behind them, memories dancing in her head, and for a moment an emotion they couldn't place flashed in her eyes before they filled with mirth and her lips twitched.

"You seemed like the type to like to like chocolate, is all."

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