Chapter Text
Ivan didn’t mean to become Stoneheart that day. He was too emotional for even a guy as big & tough as him. He tried to confess to Mylene but it ended up in him getting turned into a supervillain. While he did get with Mylene in the end, when he got home, his parents immediately confronted him about this & he got the bash. His dad told him if he wasn’t such a big softie, this wouldn’t have happened. His mother was equally as mad as he was so nervous. Not to mention they actually beat him up for it. Ivan spent the night in his room with his parents still mad at him for it happening. He always had his parents abusively pushing him to be more confident but they’ve gone over the line this time.
The next day, Ivan came to school still upset from the day before. Nobody spoke to him as he was clearly not in the mood for it. The first school break happened & the first thing he did not want was Kim walking up to him but it happened anyway.
“Hey Ivan. I’m sorry about yesterday,” said Kim sympathetically.
“So what! I got turned into Stoneheart because of you!” Ivan exclaimed angrily, glaring at the athlete.
“Dude calm down. I said I’m sorry. Besides I’m not trying to start a fight here or to get you akumatized again.” Ivan was having none of it. He just got up & left the class still, slightly upset. “Oh geez Max. Do you think he’ll forgive me?”
“Do not worry Kim. He will eventually. Ivan is a nice person after all. My calculations say that he’ll get over it soon, I hope,” replied Max. Marinette watched Ivan walk out the door in anger. By the first look, everyone else thought Ivan was just mad about getting akumatized but Marinette sensed something else under the carpet.
She got up from her seat & turned to Alya. “Hey Alya, I’m going to talk to Ivan for a while.”
“Sure girl. I feel like he might need some calming down,” replied her new friend.
Marinette followed Ivan to the locker room like last time. She entered & found him sitting on the bench in between their class’ lockers. “Had a rough day yesterday?” asked Marinette. Ivan turned his head to face his friend.
“Oh. Hey Marinette. What’s up? Come to check on me?” Ivan asked, still a bit tainted.
“Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you’re ok. What happened?” Ivan was too nervous to answer that question. Would Marinette understand?
“I . . . it’s nothing Marinette. I’m fine. Trust me.” Ok, Marinette was not buying it. She closed in on Ivan with a suspicious face. Ivan was getting more nervous as she got closer. “What are you doing?” he asked nervously. Her face was so close to his he could feel her breathing on his face.
“You know Ivan, when I see people in a state like yours right now, I immediately know when somethings wrong.” She sat down next to him & gently put her arm around his back. “So, naturally, I can read people based on how they look. It’s like I’m a therapist.”
That made Ivan chuckle. “Heh, then where’s your PHD?” he asked, smiling.
“Well, who knows? Maybe I’ll get one in the future. But know I just wanna focus on you. Tell me what happened. I’m right here. All ears from Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” She even said her full name. Ivan could tell she was serious. He eventually told her everything. How his parents scolded him, bashed him for being this big but soft, told him he’s too grouchy & super stubborn, all of that since he was young.
“So that’s the whole story. Thanks for letting me vent Marine-,” Ivan stopped speaking when he turned to face Marinette, eyes wide looking so utterly disgusted & angry. “Are you ok?”
“Give a minute Ivan.” She got up from the bench & walked up to her locker. She couldn’t believe her ears. Ivan’s parents were so abusive since he was young. So that’s why he was so upset today. How long has he been upset for. YEARS?!?!?! Just as she was about to go nuts, Kim, Max, Alix, Mylene, Juleka & Rose walked into the locker room to check on them.
“Hey guys, we just wanted to . . .” Kim immediately stopped speaking as he & the rest walked in on Marinette banging & punching her locker door rapidly, screaming angrily while Ivan was looking at her terrified. None of them had seen Marinette this upset. She abruptly stopped, fists still on her locker & turned to face her friends, still angry, who walked in on them looking shocked. She then turned back to Ivan who still looked terrified. She took her hands off her locker & dusted herself off before turning to Ivan fully.
“Ivan Bruel, you are coming to my home after school today to talk about this issue. If your parents asked, tell them you’re having a study session with me & don’t ask any questions about later. GOT IT?!” asked Marinette with a very serious face, pointing at him slightly, hand near her face.
“Ok ok, Marinette. Just calm down,” Ivan replied nervously. She said his full name. When Marinette called her friends by their full names, she was meaning what she said to whom she called & no one denies her when she’s like that.
“You know what?! I think I will. I’m gonna go do some sketching with Nathaniel in the library now.” She turned to her friends at the door & gave them an angry wave. They all made way for her quickly & she stormed out. They all knew, never mess with Marinette when she’s like that. Coincidentally, Nathaniel was about to check on Ivan too as he walked to the locker room & caught Marinette walking out.
“Oh hey Marinette. Is Ivan alri-.” She put her finger up to signal Nathaniel to stop talking, & he did.
“Nath, you & me, library, now, please. I need to calm down after what happened.” she asked frustratingly. He said nothing, nodded & followed her. He turned to face his friends at the locker room & gave them the ‘What happened?’ look. They all just shrugged as he turned back & quickly followed Marinette.
Kim turned back to Ivan & asked him, “Ivan, what happened?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I just told her some s-stuff & she got mad. I didn’t tell her anything offensive but she just went berserk. Oh yeah, I forgive you Kim.”
“Yeah, thanks. Remind me to never offend you again,” Kim reminded him nervously.
“Yeah, noted,” the giant replied back.
School had ended a few hours later. Marinette was still upset from what she heard from Ivan. Apparently, his parents had been physically & emotionally abusing him since he was 10. That in her opinion was unacceptable. His parents could get sued for child abuse. Even if that’s what she & her parents will do. The bell rang & Mrs Bustier dismissed them. Marinette immediately got up, packed her things quickly & slung her bag on her back. “Ivan, did you text your parents?” she asked subtly.
“Yeah, I did,” he replied back.
“Good. Come on now.” She & Ivan walked out of the classroom & out of the school quickly before anyone could even ask. He was still wondering why Marinette wanted him to come over. When they finally reached the bakery, Marinette led him up to the living room where her mom & dad waited. “Mom, dad, I’m home,” she said as she opened the living room door. Her mother was the one to face her first.
“Hello sweetie. So good that you’re home. Oh, hello Ivan,” greeted Sabine.
“Oh, hi Mrs. Cheng. Sorry to intrude.”
“No not at all dear. Any friend of Marinette’s is welcomed. So dear how was school?”
“It’s fine.” She walked past her mom to get some tea prepared. She passed by her dad on the way. “Hey dad.”
“Oh, hey sunshine. How’s school?” asked Tom.
“It’s ok. I’m gonna make some tea for us & Ivan.” She proceeded to make the tea. Herbal seemed fine according to Ivan’s taste. Ivan made his way to the couch where Tom was.
“Uhh, may sit down Mr. Dupain?” he asked politely.
“Oh, sure thing Ivan. Here.” Tom patted the empty space next to him & Ivan proceeded to sit down next to him. He felt something warm inside of him. His own father never let him sit on the couch next to him before. Marinette finished the tea & set it down on the table in front of him.
“Tea Ivan?” she asked.
“Sure, thanks.” He took a cup & blew it before he drank. Marinette then turned to face her parents.
“Mom, dad. I need to speak with you both downstairs for a while.”
“Sure dear,” they both replied at the same time.
“Ivan, wait here for us, ok?”
“Sure. Can I watch some TV?”
“Go ahead. None of us are stopping you,” replied Marinette. Ivan proceeded to grab the remote from the table & turned on the TV. Marinette on the other hand then proceeded to lead her parents downstairs to the bakery section of their home.
“So Marinette, what do you want to talk about?” asked her father, curious of what she had to say.
“Well, it’s about Ivan. I found out something you both need to hear.” Both her parents waited for her to speak. “Apparently, Ivan’s suffered parental abuse.” Her parents gasped in shock.
“Sweetie, that’s horrible! How long has this happened for?!” asked her mother, in shock of hearing this.
“Since he was 10 from what he told me. It doesn’t end there.” Marinette explained to her parents that he suffered ignorance, they were abusive in the physical & mental departments, they beat him up, they bashed him for being soft, they don’t like that he stands up for himself when they’re forcing him to do something he doesn’t like, etcetera. Her mom & dad were beyond furious. “So that’s the whole story & yes, I was mad as well when he first told me. I kinda freaked out when I heard so.”
“You have every right to do so dear! How dare his parents treat him like that?!?! Don’t they know they could get sued for parental abuse?!?!” asked her mother with pure rage in her eyes.
“I don’t know. Probably not, even if they did they probably did this to him in secret,” Marinette replied sarcastically. Tom looked at both his wife & daughter like they all knew what must be done.
“I think the three of us know what we have to do?” asked Tom, still upset from hearing about Ivan’s abusive childhood.
“Ivan needs an actual, proper family. One that can care for him & that can tell him what’s right & what’s wrong in a proper fashion,” said Marinette.
“Everybody agree with this?” asked Sabine, looking at her husband & daughter. They all nodded. “Alright, let's give Ivan the news but before that, we need to make a call.” With their conversation settled, they went back upstairs to give Ivan the news. But who did they call?
Ivan didn’t mind waiting. He was patient watching TV & really liked Marinette’s tea. Herbal was secretly one of his favourites. It was when Marinette & her parents came back where his life will change forever & for the better. So Marinette & her parents came back, they all took some chairs & sat in front of him, with Marinette sitting beside him.
“Ivan we need to talk to you about something,” said Sabine with a calm tone. Ivan looked past her to turn off the TV & faced her again.
“Sure, uhh, what is it?” he asked politely. Tom & Sabine exchanged glances with each other & sighed.
“Marinette told us about your parents' abusive behaviour Ivan. Is this true? Have they been doing this to you since you were young?” Sabine asked. Ivan was shocked that they knew. He turned to Marinette with a ‘Why did you tell them face’ with Marinette’s reply being crossing her arms & pointing back to her parents, still looking at him sternly.
“Ugh, I . . . ugh, it’s not like they’re abusive or anything, it's j-just that I-I . . .” Tom immediately cut him off. He could tell Ivan was nervous answering that question.
“Ivan, it’s alright. It’s just the three of us. We just want you to be honest,” Tom said, giving him a look of pity. Ivan turned back to Marinette who gave him a nod of approval. He then turned back to Marinette’s parents & gave them his answer.
“It’s t-true. My parents are abusive. They never give the love I need, they're rarely there for me, I always feel left out in the family, they bash me for being soft & they keep forcing me to do things I don’t like doing. They’re just so inconsiderate of me all of the time. I WISH I HAD A BETTER FAMILY!” With that, Ivan cracked slightly crying. Leave it up to Marinette to be the one to calm him down.
“Shh shh shh. Ivan it’s ok. We’re here for you. All three of us." Marinette gave him a big hug, followed by her parents. Ivan had never felt the love of a family since he was 4. He happily accepted their warm embrace as he stopped crying. “And get a better family you will, right guys?” Marinette asked her parents after they let go of him.
“Oh right. Ivan we would like to ask you something we hope you won’t refuse,” said Sabine chiming happily.
“Sure, what is it?” he asked, still happy that they gave him a hug.
“We would like to adopt you,” she said calmly and happily. Those words filled Ivan with shocked happiness.
“Really? You want to adopt me?” he asked, with his eyes tearing up again.
“Yes, after all, you do deserve a better family. Also, we have a lot of spare rooms in the bakery & one of them can become your new abode. Also, Marinette always liked the idea of having a brother,” Tom said with a smile on his face.
“Yeah, it’s true. I’ve always wanted the brother experience,” Marinette said, following suit. Ivan proceeded to pick up Marinette in a tight hug, shutting hsi teary eyes.
“THANK YOU MARINETTE!” he said, happily accepting the offer.
“AAH! No problem Ivan. Pleaseputmedown .” Ivan put her down & then hugged her parents, who would soon become his parents.
“Thanks to you both too.”
“No problem son. We’re your parents now.” Son. That’s a word Ivan hasn't heard his father call him since he was 6. He then let go after realizing something.
“Hold on, if you’re adopting me, then what’s gonna happen to my actual parents?” he asked worriedly.
“Oh, we have that handled. Before we came up after our discussion, we called Roger. He was furious to find out about this & has contacted the Head of Parisian Child Labor Laws. We’re also suing your parents for all the bad things they’ve done to you & banning them from the bakery. We’ll also get all your things moved here by tomorrow. We want you to be comfortable when you move here dear, as part of our family,” Sabine explained to him. He teared up again, crying fully before hugging them again. Marinette joined them in their embrace. Ivan was about to get the family he deserves.
The next day was a bit of a rollercoaster. Ivan returned home from the previous day & slept at his old home. When morning came, Roger, along with Marinette, her parents, the family lawyer & a child labor laws expert arrived at his home that day. The lawyer & child labor laws expert ripped into Ivan’s parents for all they’ve done to him. They couldn’t deny all that they’ve done to him. Roger found his birth certificate in their room, confiscated it & gave it to Marinette’s parents & explained to his parents that due to their abusive behaviour towards the boy, he will get new parental guardians. Marinette’s mother also gave them a piece of her mind. She tore into them roaring out on how badly they treated Ivan. Meanwhile, two of Roger’s officers & Marinette helped Ivan unpack his stuff from his room, along with his drum set into the moving van outside. He brought his suitcase with him as Marinette led him outside. His parents called out to him, wanting him back feeling guilty. He didn’t bother turning around while he listened to them call out for him. He knew they felt guilty but he was going to make sure that they properly felt it. While Sabine, Roger, the lawyer & the expert dealt with his parents, Tom brought Ivan & Marinette to school. Ivan had to bring his suitcase with him.
“Alright you two. I’ll see you both when you get back. I need to back to your old home Ivan, to make sure Sabine doesn’t kill your old parents.”
“I think she has already,” Ivan jokes. The three of them laughed a bit before he & Marinette headed into the school.
“See you both later,” Tom called out.
“Bye papa,” Marinette called back.
“Bye Tom,” Ivan called back as well.
“Bye kids. I’ll see you at the end of it.” With that Ivan & Marinette headed into Françoise Dupont.
“I can see why you love your parents so much Marinette,” Ivan noted.
“Well, that’s my life & now it’s yours too.” They first went to the locker room where some of their friends were waiting, most notably Mylene, Alix, Kim & Nathaniel.
“Oh hey guys,” said Kim.
“Hey Kim,” they both replied.
“Woah, what’s with the suitcase Ivan? Are you going on vacation or something?” asked the athlete.
Ivan chuckled a bit before replying. “No Kim, I’m not going on vacation. I’m moving.” That earned a gasp from them, minus Marinette of course.
“You're moving?! Where you goin, big guy?” asked Alix, in a bit of surprise.
“He’s moving in with me guys,” Marinette responded. They all turned to Marinette with confusion.
“I don’t get it Marinette. Why is Ivan moving in with you?” asked Mylene.
“Marinette is my sister now. Her family adopted me,” Ivan said. That earned a surprised gasp from their friends. That definitely was a surprise.
“Why’d you & your family adopt Ivan Marinette?” Alix asked, curious over the situation.
“Lets just say. Ivan suffered from his old family & mine offered him what he needed, caring.” They all awed as Marinette hugged the loveable giant & he hugged him back. “Cmon Ivan, let’s get you to class.”
“Of course, sis.” With that, they both & their friends headed to class. Marinette asked Mrs. Bustier if she could sit next to Ivan today. She said yes. Ivan sat happily next to his new sister & thought to himself, this is the start of a new life for him. Unbeknownst to Ivan, Tikki was hiding inside Marinette’s purse the whole time watching the show. She was happy for Marinette & Ivan.