Chapter Text
Fingers tapping against his pencil Nino keep his eyes forwards, doing his best to not look like he wasn't paying attention. It would do no good to be caught now, not when class would end soon.
Adrien was being a lot more ballsy, his head was down and he was actively writing and he could tell it was not related to class. It was a Valentine's poem, he could tell by the way he kept crossing out parts.
Valentine's day. That was today. He had ignored it originally, hoping the day would pass, but now it was here and he was stressing. Today was The day he could confess to Marinette and... He didn't feel ready.
Far from it.
He wished for nothing more then to turn around and look at her, see what she was doing but he couldn't, not when he was at the front of class and she was behind him. Too obvious, Too noticeable. It was one of the reasons why he had liked sitting at the back of the class, and sure, Mrs. Bustier had to reprimand him a few times about not getting his work done but he still felt cheated out of not being able to see Marinette.
" Marinette, Adrien, I hope what you're writing has to do with my lesson. " That snapped Nino out of his thoughts, and given that the attention was on those two he half turned so he had both of them in his view.
Marinette would never stop looking so breathtaking. Even now, as she looked slightly afraid and was trying to slyly stuff a bit of paper into her workbook.
"That's why in most fairy tales, the prince breaks the spell by kissing the princess because only love conquers hate." Nino blinked as he looked back to Adrien. How had he known that? Surely Adrien didn't have that much awareness... Did he?
Mrs. Bustier smiled at him giving a nod. "Very good Adrien," The schools bell tolled, signalling the end of the day. "Now, everyone, don't forget to finish Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault tonight, and happy Valentine's day, students!"
Nino didn't want to stick around for anything, he just wanted today to end as fast as possible, pretend it never happened.
Back in the classroom Alya looked at Marinette as she finished packing up and peered down at Adrien, who looked a little defeated over whatever he was writing. Getting Marinette's attention with hand movements she gestured to Adrien.
Marinette looked confused at her and simply tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. Alya increased her movements for a moment until she just lowered them before pinching the bridge of her nose.
Marinette walked down the stairs. "Have a good day Adrien." The boy gave a non committed hum in acknowledgment at her as she walked out, before sighing in frustration, screwing up his paper and throwing it away in the trash can as he walked out.
Alya knew, knew, that if she didn't act then there was no way her bestie would be able to confess her feelings for Adrien if she never made a move to begin with.
What was the point in admitting that you loved someone if you kept denying it? Cause Marinette had told her about her crush on Adrien after one too many times she had been caught daydreaming in class. No doubt on the blonde haired boy himself, yet, anytime she brought it up Marinette denied it and avoided talking about her real crush.
Alya could hear Adrien talking to Chloé, something about hamsters, whatever, she didn't care. She waited until it sounded like they where gone before she moved over to the bin, pulling out the one she thought had been Adrien's she unfurled it.
It was most certainly his handwriting. Her eyes scanned over the words, with each line her eyes widened bit by bit.
"Holy... MARINETTE!"
Nino wasn't sure what had caused it but he found himself walking down the road from school next to Alix. Probably the least enthusiastic person about Valentine's day.
Now they weren't as great of friends as he and Kim, but Kim hung around with her and Max and so he had a fair enough friendship with them for them to know something about each other, aside from the obvious things.
"So... Whats got you all worked up?" He flinched slightly at her... Abrupt attempt to start a conversation.
"W-what do you mean?" He did his best to not stutter, really he did, he scratched at the back of his neck as he looked away. Seeing all of the couple's walking together or the single people holding roses and such items.
How nice would it be to be that organized?
"That." Alix pointed at him. " The stutter, scratching, avoiding eye contact. " Alix stepped around a few people before coming back to nudge his shoulder. "All sign of you being nervous."
Knowing she had hit the nail right on the head, Nino didn't say anything. What was there to say?
"It's Marinette isn't it?"
Nino choked on his breath for a moment before recovering, walking slightly faster to not let the short pink haired skater see his growing blush.
"Oh wow. I was right." He could still hear Alix right behind him but he supposed that wasn't surprising, as she did a lot more exercising then him.
Well... Before he became Carapace.
"I'd say I understand, but I don't, so all I'm gonna say is... Go for it?" He could hear her confusion, imagine the way her eyebrows crossed down as she spoke.
He snorted at her words, not harshly, just disbelieving. How could Marinette, the nicest girl he had ever met, ever choose to go on a date with him? "I thought you hated Valentines?"
"No? Annoyed yeah, cause... I don't get it." He could hear her jog to catch up to him with her shorter legs. " And don't change the subject, just go tell her... Not like it could be worse then Kim confessing to Chloé. "
"What!" Quick as anything he Stopped walking, spinning on one foot to face Alix. He moved so fast that she didn't have enough time to stop and collided with his chest and bounced off of him.
Grabbing her shoulders he stabilized her. "Kim's trying to confess to Chloé?" Seeing her nod he groaned. "And you let him? This is bad. Kim can hardly deal with people not being friendly with him but to be turned down, and Chloé will, harshly might I add, it'll crush him."
" Hey! Max is the one helping him. Not me. " Shaking his head Nino stepped around her before he started walking back in a fast pace. "Where are you going!?"
" To help him! " He shouted back before he started to run, he hoped he could reach Kim before he did something stupid.
"Marinette! Slow down." Alya struggled to write in the heart shaped card, she had already written down her own poem towards Adrien for Marinette, she just had to sign it with Mari's name then it would be done.
which would be a lot easier if Marinette wasn't dragging her to the post box already. The biracial girl was already busy with trying to hold two heart shaped candy apples and some post her parents asked her to put in the post box while also keeping one hand held onto her as she dragged her with her.
Marinette stopped for a moment and Alya let out a breath, finally she could sign the damn poem and possibly get the Adrienette ship started.
Or she would have, had Marinette not swapped the poem in her hand for the two candy apples in the blink of an eye. "Woah girl! Hold up!" It was too late unfortunately, as she had already pushed all of the post into the box.
"What's wrong Alya?" Oh, she couldn't stay mad at her bestie for long and just slumped forwards slightly.
"I didn't sign the poem." The look of regret was enough to make Alya regret being the cause of it. "It was going to be perfect, Adrien was going to read it then he was totally going to fall for you and..."
" Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, " Marinette waved her hands around wildly, interrupting Alya mid-speech. "Adrien?" The girls eyes darted around in thought before realization set and she groaned. "Alya!" She whined.
"I've told you I'm not crushing on Adrien. Ok? There was no need to try to play matchmaker between us."
Alya just shook her head before putting a hand on her hip. " ok then, who is your crush then? Cause you got one. "
At the thought of her green wearing superhero partner she could feel the blush grow on her face but she refused to admit that she was crushing on him. Her tall, broad shouldered, gentle eyed partner.
Was she drooling?
"That's what I thought girl," Alya wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "I get it, you're too afraid to admit your crush on Mr. Model so what? A lot of people can't."
Well, she understood that, given the gathering of girls she saw outside of schools, all of whom were looking at one of his newest posters. Marinette understood that Adrien was, admittedly, good looking but she didn't feel anything for him beyond friendship.
There was a faint sound of splitting air before something hit Alya in the chest, the girl stumbled away as Marinette spun around to look up from where it had come from.
She could see the red and black winged Akuma soaring way above them and for a moment she thought they would shoot her too. Yet, they turned turned and flew away.
quickly spinning back round to Alya she was ready to get her best girl friend away but stopped at the cruel look and black lips that had graced her face. "Alya... You alright?"
She was entirely unprepared for Alya to shove the two, sticky, candy apples to her chest before cackling on her face. "Look at you! Acting all concerned, like we're actual friends. Pathetic, you don't even have the guts to admit you have a crush." The auburn haired girl ran away cackling and Marinette could only state in confusion.
as hurt as she was she wasn't going to dwell on it for long, there was an Akuma loose. She ripped the apples off her clothes before throwing them to the floor as she sprinted to the closest alleyway.
She popped open her purse and Tikki's head popped out. "Come on, we got an Akuma to deal with. Tikki, Spots On!"
Flying had become a natural thing to her, swerving left and right between buildings and even just being well above everything have her a level of freedom that she didn't realise once could possess.
all in all, she had believed that, in an odd sense, that the sky's of paris had belonged to her. So seeing an Akuma that could fly definitely made her feel... Threatened. That wasn't even to mention that Carapace would be at a disadvantage against Kim.
And to think this had been because she had convinced him to chase after his mystery girl. How was she supposed to have known it would be Chloé, Chloé of all people who Kim knew didn't get on well with her.
But that was a conversation between Marinette and Kim, right now was for Ladybug And Dark Cupid to settle things out.
watching Kim land on a Rooftop she wasn't too surprised to see him trying to take a shot at her. Trying being the key word as she knocked his bow just a second before he fired, the misplaced shot had impacted between all of the people down on the floor and in the corner of her eye she saw them scrambling. "Stop, Kim!"
"I'm not Kim," He turned to point his bow at her and she began to spin her yo-yo in front of her. "I'm Dark Cupid! I'll never stop! If I can't have love, then no one can!"
She was defiantly having words with him later. "Okay, Dark Cupid, I get it. Chloé totally burned you. But that doesn't mean you have to take it out on all of Paris. "
"Of course I do! If I can't have love, why should anybody else?" He fired an arrow at her and it swiftly disintegrated against her Yo-Yo.
Taking advantage of us moment she dropped down to the roof tiles before jumping up to kick off of the chimney, fist reared back to deliver a swift punch.
With one powerful beat of his wings, Dark Cupid was far off the roof before she could reach him and she went sailing over the rooftop due to her momentum. Her wings kicked in before she began to fall and she hovered in place, legs bent slightly in preparation to fly off.
She spun to intercept the arrow with her tool before she tucked her legs up, back arching to allow her wings to fly her towards Kim from where he was flying above her.
She spun out of the way of an incoming shot before she managed to close the distance between them. flipping over him She grabbed hold of the tip of his wings, pulling them up and began to drag him back with her, his full weight was caught in her hands as his body dropped from the inability to fly and she hoped she wasn't causing any real pain by doing this.
"Get off!" He thrashed for a moment before reaching into his quiver, pulled one of his arrows from and tried to jab it into her leg.
She's was lucky enough to see it coming and released him before kicking off his back, her wings fluttering to assist her in her midair backflip.
Kim dropped a few feet before his own wings kicked in, he propelled himself away, body spinning rapidly before curving upwards. At the apex of his height he drew back an arrow and shot it towards Ladybug.
For a fleeting moment Ladybug believed that she would be at the complete mercy of the arrow, she wasn't sure the full extent of what it could do beyond making people hate other people but she really didn't want to find out.
The whizzing of air caught her ear and a green blur shot up between her and the arrow, said arrow exploding upon impact. Leaving nothing but black smoke before dissipating.
Both Akuma and superheroine looked down below them, Ladybug let a smile grow on her face as seeing Carapace so far below them, her wings fluttered faster and she had to resist to not do a loop right there in the air.
"Stay out of this you stupid turtle!" That snapped her out of it, her legs tucked up and she brought her hands to her hips as she curved to allow herself to fly forwards, right at Kim. "Hawkmoth doesn't care abou-urk!"
He sputtered as Ladybug landed a heafty kick to his sternum, she didn't let up, whipping out her Yo-Yo she wrapped it around his ankle before she tugged hard, flying higher, dragging him out of his flight before she spun him around and flinging him to the ground.
Dark Cupid tried to right himself with his wings but only found himself face to face with a mean looking Ladybug before he received a hard punch to the face. His body fell the last few feet down to the ground.
Performing a rolling flip Ladybug slide landed on the pavement below, just I front of Carapace. The green clad hero raised his hand to catch his shield as it returned to him.
"He is not stupid." There was conviction and power behind her voice and she felt herself stand to full height as her shoulders squared. "He's my partner, best I could ever ask for."
"Ugh..." The Akuma groaned out as he stood up from the cracked pavement, Hawkmoths symbol was over his eyes as he shook his head. " I hate this lovey dovey nonsense. "
Shaking himself off he reach one hand back to grab an arrow. "And once I'm done with you!" He knocked the arrow, aiming it at Ladybug as Carapace moved in front of her with his Shield raised. "Those feelings will be no more!"
He released the draw string, the arrow flew through the air for a second before breaking apart on Carapace's shield. Leaping forwards Ladybug threw her Yo-yo out, the tool skimming past his head before he took off into the sky again, spinning as he drew yet another arrow.
With a twitch of his fingers it was released into the air, Ladybug spun to dodge, hearing it impact something before hearing a sharp gasp come from behind her.
Seeing Kim begin to fly away she turned back to her partner, seeing him clutching his stomach while on one knee. She could see his lips going the same dark black colour as Alya's lips had early. "Carapace!" She dropped down to her knee, hands resting on his shoulders. "Don't listen to it, fight it. "
"Bug... I... I..."
Grabbing hold of his chin Ladybug turned his head to face her. "It's alright, you can fight it, your strong and I known you can beat him."
He hands came up, fingers wrapped around her wrists gently and he stood up. At first she was smiling, ready to go off with him to fight Dark Cupid, then she noticed the differences in his behavior. He was more stoic, shoulders more taunt and stiff, eyes lacking the same level of emotion that she had been used to seeing. Lips blacker than Black, she tried to pull her hands away but he kept a strong grip on her.
"You talk about me being strong but I think you fail to realise how you pale in comparison to me." Marinette flinched slightly from him, his eyes just... Didn't look right, too angry, too harsh. "You who failed to be a success the first time around, caused more problems then you solved, I'm always watching your back to make sure you don't mess up again."
She could feel her heart breaking, old insecurities coming up again. The idea of being a failure and a fraud hitting her like a hammer to the chest.
But this wasn't Carapace, no this was Dark Cupid's influence. "I'm sorry Cara." Her wings fluttered and she launched herself up, delivering a hard kick to his chin before flipping back down to the ground, landing on her knees as Carapace stumbled back.
Her wings flared out, twitching with need, she let them take her off the ground and in the air. She couldn't leave Carapace at Dark Cupid's mercy, just in case he could force him to give up his miraculous freely.
"Well, if you're so much better then me, then prove it! Come get me!" She was sure Chloé would be fine, Protecting Carapace's miraculous was more important. He did it for her before, it was time to return the favor.
Chloé and Sabrina were both hiding behind one of the tables inside the hotel, eyes watching the door in case the Akuma came after them again.
The twang of a string made them flinch and Sabrina cried out in alarm as one of dark Cupid's arrows struck her in the chest, her lips turning a deep black.
Chloé scrambled to get away, keeping her eyes on Sabrina as she was running. She collided with something, falling back into her butt she looked up to see the Akuma in front of her. Her eyes fell into to the very familiar Pin as Kim drew back his bow.
The arrow exploded against her chest and she was sure her lips had gone black too and... She didn't feel any different. "Huh?" She looked at her hands, she was still in control of herself. "What did you even do?"
Kim laughed at her, almost mockingly. "I destroyed every last ounce of love that was in you. Your friends, family and even yourself, you hate it all."
" I don't feel any different. " Kim's posture shifted to confused as he watched Chloé stand, one hand on her hip and demeanor exactly as it had been previously.
"Do-" he hesitated, fingers pulling on his bow string. "Do you hate yourself naturally?"
Ducking under a swing Ladybug spun her way around her partner, using his slightly slower form to her advantage.
"That's enough Cara!" Their hands collided together, both trying to wrestle the other to the ground. Unfortunately, where she had advantages, so did Carapace. She could feel her hands beginning to move away, being forced by Carapace to be pulled away from herself. Kicking off the ground she flipped over him and used his grip against him, sending him over he shoulder and off the edge of the rooftop they had been on top of.
"I'm never gonna hear the end of that." Jumping down to street level she ducked under Carapace's thrown shield before sending out her Yo-Yo to strike him in the gutt.
To her surprise he managed to catch it in his open hand, her eyes widened in surprise and she reflexively began to pull on the string. Carapace began to wrap the wire around his arm, slowly bringing the two of them together as the words length grew shorter.
"See, you're nothing!" She's flinched at his words, his aggression and... And hate. "Can't even fight without me." She could see the look in his eyes, anger and hate, aggression and frustration. It looked like it was overwhelming him.
"Why do you allow yourself to be consumed by hate?" She had to try to break through to him, make him see reason, there was barely a meter distance between them now, just a few more steps and they'd be chest to chest.
"Because hate overpowers all." He pulled hard on the string, bringing them face to face. One of Ladybugs hands was keeping the string tight, stopping Carapace's wrapped arm from moving. Their other free arms grappled until Ladybug had good of his collar and he had her wrist.
"You're wrong hate doesn't conquer..." Her eyes widened as she remembered what they had been talking about in class. "Love does." She spoke softly, eyes darting to his blackened lips as she leaned in slightly.
"What? " He leaned back slightly, his hood hiding more of his face in shadows and it only made him look more roguish, mysterious. "What are you doing?"
Despite his attempts to pull her arm away she pulled their faces closer, a blush running up her cheeks as they got so, so close. "Something..." She licked her lips, breath going shallow. "I've..." So close, a little more. "Wanted to do for..." Her eyes focused on his goggles, seeing the reflection of Dark Cupid in them.
Kicking back into high gear she spun them around, the arrow hitting Carapace in the back, yet making no changes.
Her eyes narrowed up at the Akuma. Jerk.
Relaxing her yo-yo's string she pulled it off Carapace's arm, delivering a strong kick to his chest she sent him down on his butt before using the momentum to flutter up into the air.
She'd had enough of this. It was time to end it.
Sharply flying upwards she dodge another arrow. "Lucky charm!" The ladybUgs swirled around until they form and down came a... "Candy apple? How's this supposed to help? "
Looking around her she surveyed the area, the fountain, Carapace, Dark Cupid, his bow, the apple. Breathing in she focused, it was won or lose right now.
diving down she spun her Yo-yo one hand, she flipped over Carapace's shoulder, thing the wire around his torso, arm trapped to his side. Her feet hit the floor and she threw the apple at Dark Cupid, where it stuck to his head.
She didn't have a lot of time, quickly flying back up she dragged Carapace with her, pulling him up until she was holding him by his collar.
Throwing away the sweet apple, Dark Cupid growled before pulling back the bow, aim locked in Ladybugs exposed back. His fingers twitched to release the arrow and much to his surprise the string stayed stuck to him. "What! No!" Spotting the fountain he flew down to it.
Up in the air Ladybug wished she could stay like this, wished she could stare into those eyes forever. There was no time for that, despite his attempts to pull away she leaned on and locked their lips together, it was... Warm and awkward.
What with his goggles pressing into her face and all that.
Pulling back she could see the black on his lips recede, his eyes came into focus and brimmed with life and emotion. "Ugh... Bug?"
" No time to explain! " Using her Yo-Yo she spun him around until she launched him at Kim. "The broach on his chest, now!"
His didn't allow himself to think, he just acted, he put his arms forwards, catching Kim by the shoulders sending the two of them sliding across the floor before he pushed the taller boy down. Pulling the pin off his chest he flicked it behind him.
"Ladybug!" She caught it in midair before she examined it.
" Is this for me? What a lovely gift. " she dropped it before crushing it underfoot. She put her hand in front of her mouth in mock disbelief. "Oop's."
Quickly catching and purifying the Akuma before it could escape she relaxed as he let her cure rush over the city.
Nino helped a confused Kim to stand before walking over to his partner. "Pound it!" Then came the ringing of her miraculous, she waved goodbye as she flew away and he was a little confused as to Why her face was beet red.
picking up the broach he handed it back to Kim. "Be more careful dude, you've got a sensitive heart. " He elbowed him in the ribs, much like he would as Nino. "Try to go for someone a little... sweeter, next time yeah? "
"I guess, I just thought... I really thought... Nevermind." Hands wrapping around the broach Kim curled in on himself.
"Hey." He wrapped his arm around Kims shoulders. "Love Hurts, try pining for someone for over a year and not have the courage to even admit it to them."
He snorted. "Sucks to be you I guess. "
"Gee, Thanks." Removing himself from his childhood guy friend Nino made a few steps away from him. " Anyway, got Places to go, superhero stuff to do, you know How it is. "
"I guess."
Nino shook his head in mirth body he jumped up the side of a building , having to scale up most of it since he couldn't jump as high as his more mobile partner.
looking back down he could see Marinette running after Kim. He laughed as Kim began to run away from their smaller friend, still... She could be scary when she was mad.
Shifting through all of his mail Adrien sighed in disappointment, it wasn't any different then the previous years, Lots and Lots of mail from fans.
People who loved his face and looks and status, not that he was judging them. No. That would be rude.
truthfully he was hoping to receive mail from a specific someone and it didn't look like it was going to happen.
Picking up a loose heart shaped card he opened it, eyes reading the words half heartedly until he re-read it... It, it was an answer to the poem he had thrown out earlier... How?
His eyes darted for a name, hoping and praying. Nothing. No name, No signature. He'd hoped to be lucky.
he was about to write it off as a coincidence and a fluke, then he caught sight of the little Ladybug insect that had flown onto the paper.
Carefully scooping it up he let it crawl over his finger until it flew off and out his open window. He stared after it wistfully.
"Love you too Ladybug. "