Chapter Text
“Hello, Punisher….”
…
“No…”
Lila keeps promises.
When she says she’ll do something, she’ll do it. Of course, when she’s not lying.
Ever since the day she told Marinette they’d be in war, she meant it. Her friends gave her the cold shoulder. No one talked to her anymore. It hurt. Trying to call out her lies only made it worse. It all came crashing down one day when Alya came knocking, saying she didn’t want to be friends with a bully.
Oh…
Marinette couldn’t even describe how many tears she shed. The mask she had to put on for her parents. And the bottle that kept everything sealed within. The next day Lila came around to rub the salt in the wound. No, she doused it in salt, before spitting on it without remorse. It was so hard to compose herself during class. Alya couldn’t even look at her without pure oceans of hatred boiling in her eyes. She felt like shriveling up and dying. She had noticed an akuma, “Marinette.” The little being in her purse spoke. Her big deep blue eyes looking at her with worry, until she put her red paws on Marinette’s shirt, attempting to think happy thoughts and calm herself. Filling the bottle inside of her, before noticing it fluttering away. She let out a shaky sigh of relief. Not today Hawkmoth, not today.
---
Marinette tried brushing off Lila. Trying to get over her. She shouldn’t let this way her down, she’s dealt with Chloe alone, she can do it now. Drawing alone made her comfortable, at peace. Something to get over. She glanced up at Lila who had a smirk on her face. Marinette ignored her. “What do you want?” She said dully. Before the girl snatched her sketchbook out of her hands. “Hey!” She said. Reaching for her sketchbook as the liar spun around with it. “Oh no! I think I accidentally ripped a page!” She gasped.
Lila began “accidentally” ripping up the book. Marinette could only watch as all the drawings she put her heart into were turned into tiny broken parts. Ruined and unable to piece together. The remains dropped to the ground. “My bad!” Lila giggled devilishly. Walking all over it as she left the scene. Leaving Marinette to clutch the torn-up paper on her knees. Crying mournfully, Why? Why her? Her eyes flickered to the black and purple butterfly. Before she looked at her ruined sketchbook again. That she held tightly to her chest. Tikki’s comforting words couldn’t heal these wounds.
When she tried to tell everyone what Lila did. She made a convincing lie that she saw Marinette ripping it up on purpose. Causing everyone to yell at her. She felt sick, sick to her stomach. Like she could throw up. Her fists balled as she made her way to her desk. What had she done to deserve this? She wasn’t the enemy! Lila was! She was trying to help them, so why? Marinette clutched her stomach. No, not here. It’s time to fill the bottle Marinette.
---
“M’lady?” Chat asked. The pure concern in his voice made the heroine shift. Today’s akuma was difficult. She had almost gotten hit three times. And crashed landed at least once. Ladybug turned around fat tears pouring down her face. Her shoulders shook as she sniffled. “Ladybug?!” He rushed over, holding her as she had cried into her palms. “C-chat-“ She spoke before he shushed her. Rubbing her back and comforting her softly. She hiccupped as she let tears spill. Holding his arms tightly, clutching them, not ever wanting to let go. “I-it’s n-not fair.” She spoke. She coughed sadly as her throat tightened. Chat Noir looked at her with a gentle gaze, his pupils in a rounder shape. “What’s not fair?” He asked. Holding his partner in his arms. “h-how she…how they treated me.” Ladybug nuzzled into his arms. Blinking away leftover tears. Chat narrowed his eyes. A spike of anger surging within him. Who hasn’t been treating his lady right? The heroine shifted so her head could lay on his chest. She wrapped her arm around his waist. Sniffling as she slowly calmed. “I tried to help them.” Chat only held her closer. Hearing and seeing her like this made his body burn. He just wanted to make her feel better, wash it all away.
Ladybug met his acid green eyes. Clear bubbles in the corners of her bluebell ones. It made his leather ears pin against his golden locks. “Chat.” Ladybug said. Her voice was desperate for hope. “I can trust you…right?” Her smile quivered. Ladybug’s eyes searching his expression. Waiting anxiously.
“You can trust me Ladybug.” He grinned. Putting his hands to her puffy red cheeks. Wiping any tears away. She put her hands on his. She was glad she could trust him. He was the only one…The only one who wouldn’t leave her.
---
“I can’t take it anymore.”
Marinette was crying at her desk. Lila in front of her in a taunting pose. She had pushed every button today. It was painful, so very painful. This wasn’t even Chloe level bullying. This was to the point where she just hated existing.
So when everyone came in and saw Marinette crying, it was the last straw that broke her.
“Stop crying those crocodile tears Marinette.”
“No one’s going to give you the attention you want.”
“Stop trying to make Lila Look bad.”
All the bright and colorful colors that once flowed through Marinette was drained all at once. Like someone had sucked all the happiness and positivity from her. Her heart was ripped from her chest and thrown to the ground without a care. Marinette continued to let them flow. Until she was excused from class and pulled to the side by Ms. Bustier. Marinette just smiled and called it nothing, saying she had to go to the bathroom.
Marinette was pretty sure she spent the entire day sobbing after she had thrown up.
---
Marinette had endured the bullying, the mean glares, the whispering. Until there was a tap on her shoulder. There were dark circles under her eyes. She tiredly looked up to see Adrien. “h-hey.” She smiled weakly. His grassy eyes looked worried. “Hey, Marinette.” Adrien sat next to her as she scooted over. “How are you doing? I got you a Mocha Frappe.” He passed the drink to her. The pale girl smiled as she took a sip of the sweet drink. “Thanks, I needed this.” Adrien put his hand on her shoulder. “No problem.” The blonde then stood up and walked away. A blush dusted her cheeks, this is probably the first time in forever she’s actually felt happy. But Lila made sure that it didn’t stay long.
---
It had been a few months since Marinette had officially been broken down. She had hidden in her room from the outside more then she wanted to admit. She was depressed and felt as she had lost everything. But she at least still had some people. Chat, Adrien kind of, Her parents. They were the only light in her world.
Marinette happily waited for Chat. Humming while preparing some warm milk and croissants. She had a very light pink nightgown on. With her signature flowers on it, and a few white frills. Her hair spilled over her shoulders covering some of the dim freckles. The girl didn’t even flinch when the leather-suited Hero landed on the railing of her balcony. She warmly looked up at him, her smile widening at the sight. “Bonne Nuit mon minou.” Marinette whispered loud enough for him to hear as he sat down. Looking up as he had taken a seat. “Have you eaten?” He asked. Marinette fiddled with her dress not saying anything as she picked up her croissant and nibbled on it.
“Marinette…” He said lowly. His eyes narrowed. Marinette’s lip quivered. “Stop. You sound so disappointed and I hate it so much.” She grumbled avoiding eye contact. Gnawing on her croissant with frustration. Those damn kitten eyes got her so much it was annoying. She finally ripped a piece off before chewing viciously. “I brought you dinner because I knew you weren’t going to eat today.” Chat sighed. Putting a little brown paper bag on a chair. She huffed looking a little upset.
“You don’t have to do that…or this at all.” Marinette turned and huddled up in her chair. Turning away from Chat as she looked at the other houses from her balcony. She continued to nibble on the croissant with anticipation and nervousness. She heard her partner shuffle behind her. “I don’t have to. But I want to.” Marinette melted at that sentence. Looking over her shoulder to him with a thankful smile. Small little tears in her eyes. “Thank you Chat.” She grinned. Turning back to face him. “Anything for you purrincess.” He rolled his r’s with a smirk.
Marinette giggled sweetly. They had paused for a few moments. Silently staring into each other’s eyes. Taking in every color and emotion through their masks. It lasted a for one for a minute before they finished their food in silence. It wasn’t awkward, it was good and peaceful. Marinette yawned tiredly. Going to join Chat in his chair. It was something they had gotten used to, friendly cuddles, she sat across his lap and hugged his waist. Nuzzling into his chest and smiling at the warmth fondly as he wrapped his arms around her. The sound of his purring was the best part, it helped her sleep. With a few more contagious yawns, she found herself losing consciousness and falling asleep.
…
Chat purred as his princess slept sweetly in his arms. She looked so at peace. And for once she wasn’t in tears while resting. It made him feel accomplished, he wanted to protect her as much as he could. And he could do that, as Chat. And kinda, sorta, as Adrien. It put him at rest that she was doing well. He felt drowsy and also ready to sleep. But he couldn’t do that here. Marinette could probably sway him off to sleep forever if they had that kind of time. But sadly, they didn’t. She was a really good cuddler too. He gently lifted her up carefully, kneeling to open the trap door and land on her bed. He untangled her arms from him and tucked her into bed. Admiring the sight before returning to the balcony. He carefully balanced on the railing ready to jump off before a hand grabbed his wrist. Surprised, his head whipped around to see a slightly tearful Marinette.
“Please don’t leave me.” She looked him straight in the eye. Her grip was tight with anticipation.
His ears flattened. He put his other hand on hers reassuringly. “I promise I won’t.” He whispered before leaping away from her loosened grip. Marinette watched him. And then went to return to her bed with a sugary smile, with a dusty pink blush across her face.
---
Marinette kept her head down when she made it to school. She probably shouldn’t show that she was happy or Lila would find a way to hurt her again. His words echoed through her head.
“I promise I won’t.”
“I don’t have to. But I want to.”
It made her giddy. Motivated to do better with herself. Drop the sadness for her friend, and family.
When Marinette made it to her locker. She hummed quietly as she opened it putting her stuff away. She saw a note, taking it curiously.
‘Breakfast for my Purr-incess! uwu’
Marinette covered her mouth, muffling her giggle. But she didn’t doubt some people looked at her. She grabbed the brown paper bag. And closed her locker before making her way to the empty classroom so she could eat her breakfast before class started. Or anyone came in.
“Today is going to be a good day.”
---
When Marinette walked to her next class. So many people were crowding a crying Lila’s desk. She clutched her shirt tightly looking down. But it felt like when every glare shot at her. A thousand arrows were stabbing into her painfully. She rushed up and sat down not paying attention to the scene. It’d just make her tear up, and no crying today. Not today.
“Marinette Dupain Cheng and Lila Rossi please come to the office.”
Marinette blinked in confusion. Quickly making her way down the stairs and to the office. Not wanting any confrontation with Lila, she took a seat where Mr. Damocles told her to sit. Lila with a cheshire grin. Made her way and sat down. Her body language told everyone she was uncomfortable sitting next to Marinette. Her olive eyes drooping down to the floor. ‘What does she have planned?’
“I think you know why you’ve been called down here today.” The principal spoke looking at them. Marinette looked up at him with confusion. “I’d like to talk about a bullying situation between you two.” Her eyes lightened with hope. Ice blue changed quickly to Bluebell for a quick second. This was finally going to be over. She wouldn’t have to be sad anymore she-
“I didn’t suspect this kind of behavior from you. Dupain Cheng.”
All at once. Her hope shattered into a million pieces. She choked on invisible tears as she put her hands to her mouth.
“What?”
“It appears you threatened Lila on her first day back. Claimed all she did was lie and never gave her the chance to be friends. And you repeatedly tried to make her look bad.”
She trembled in her seat. Anger burned her like a forest fire. And soon a tsunami came to wash over. All the sadness, loneliness, isolation, anger, irritation, depression. Came to consume her all at once. She couldn’t even hear anything around her. The bottle had burst open. It couldn’t hold anymore. She wasn’t even aware of her actions.
“You’re the bully here Marinette.”
“You’re a liar Marinette.”
“No one likes a bully.”
“I don’t want to be friends with a bully.”
“Why can’t you just give her a chance?”
Marinette stood up and ran into the hallway. She just kept running letting her legs take her somewhere.
“I’m going to make your life hell.”
“Poor little Mari, all broken up and sad.”
“It’s only a matter of time till Adrien is fawning after me.”
“No one gives a crap about you anymore.”
She leaned against the wall. Slowly falling down to her knees as she sobbed helplessly. No one was there to help her. Not like anyone could. If Tikki was there she couldn’t even hear her. She pulled the ribbons in her hair out clutching the pale, old, and ripped ribbons into her hands, letting her raven colored hair drop freely. Thick tears spilled down her face. She was in so much pain. Like she had gotten hit by a truck. She just wanted it to go away, all of it to go away. It was to the point where she was shaking so much. Just make the pain go away. Fix her broken soul.
“It hurts….”
“It hurts so much…..”
“Make it stop…….”
…
“Hello, Punisher….”
Marinette’s eyes widened. A familiar voice spoke in her mind. She clutched her ears in fear shaking her head. "No..no..no! I-I c-can't! I can't do this." She could barely breathe from the hot and salty tears pouring down her face. 'please make the pain go away' her thoughts repeated 'i can't take it anymore' 'anything' 'please' 'someone help me' It echoed in her mind. She got more and more desperate with each thought. "Punisher, I am Hawkmoth. I will give you the power to get revenge on the girl who broke you." Marinette clutched her eyes closed. She wouldn’t bow to his will. Not today, not any day. But she was weak and vulnerable. And the bottle that she closed tight not only burst open, no. The glass shards pierced into her organs. "The one who took your friends away, who tortured you every day." He continued. Marinette gave up. Succumbing to the anger and sadness within her shattered heart. Her eyes burning into the memories of Lila's torment. She weakly stood up. Her hands balling as she took her akumatized ribbon and put her hair into a short ponytail. "I'm Ready." She replied coldly. Black and purple bubbles consumed her body transforming the weak and lonely girl into a merciless Punisher.