Chapter Text
Adrien Agreste wanted to be face down in bed. Watching a comfort show and trying to ignore the pain.
He did not want to be at this photoshoot. Groaning he set down his cane and stood, hiding a wince as the pain flared briefly. Straightening and walking "properly" to the stage. Following muscle memory in his poses, Adrien tried to genuinely smile and seem to enjoy what he was doing.
Glancing up over the photographers shoulder to a window he caught a glimpse of school children playing in the school yard. A genuine soft smoke graced his face. Once again wishing for a more normal life. To be able to have friends and peers his own age that weren't bound by the same lifestyle. He winced as the next pose strained sore muscles. The photographer tutting and reprimanding him.
Adrien didn't listen. He'd heard it too often.
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"If you do this it'll do more harm than good! Miraculous aren't meant to be used for personal gain or cause harm. It always backfires on the user! It'll happen again!"
"I am your Master! I hold the Miraculous! Wait, what do you mean again ?"
Nuuruu shakes
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Marinette jolts awake. Shaking her head to clear it of sleep. The teen had passed out late last night after spending hours designing. Sighing, she cleaned her workspace and changed into fresh clothes. Grabbing her phone she flicked through the news: typical worldly shenanigans. Paris was a lucky place, in fact France and some neighboring countries seemed least affected by super powered people and odd occurrences.
Slipping down the ladder into the main living area she opened the cupboard for breakfast. It was already mid morning, so her parents were downstairs in the main bakery working. The business day is in full swing. Eating, her thoughts turned to the odd dreams. Of tinted red mist and a distant voice calling. She wasn't ever scared, but an odd sense of familiarity always hung behind. Marinette put her dishes away, grabbed her bag and went downstairs.
"Bye!" She called, slipping around the line. "I'm heading out for a walk!"
They called back and she smiled, exiting the bakery.
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"We have to do this." The Guardian sighed in response before replying.
"This is risky, we don't have the Order to back us up. Trying to get in contact with others is either too risky, impossible, or we don't even know where to start."
"But in the wrong hands the Butterfly can do too much damage. And we don't have the time or resources to train a less risky but still strong enough team. Not to mention the Ladybug is the only one who can purify Miraculous Corruption that we have." A small green creature countered.
Sighing again, they pulled two pieces from the box, setting them down. "I guess we have to trust their judgements on this one."
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Adrien collapsed on his bed, groaning. It had been a long day, not helped by being ignored by his father. Trying to visit had been turned down and admonished for disrupting important work. The blond was jealous of more normal families. At least children didn't eat alone at an empty oversized table. And a parent comforted them as they took their medication.
Maybe he would have the dream about running and jumping across the rooftops of Paris again. Impossible, but still wonderful and freeing. Turning over he watched the sun lower in the sky. It wasn't dark yet, but he was too exhausted to care.
Hopefully his father would consider his case for going to a public school this year. He'd framed it as good for the brand, as bitter as it made him that it seemed to be the man's only concern. Closing his eyes he drifted off as finally, the pain medication kicked in.
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"That one?"
"Yes! He'll be a perfect match for me."
"I do have my concerns."
"Like what?" The tone was challenging and they couldn't help but wince.
"As a public figure he may be at risk. Not to mention slipping away to do his duty would be difficult, what with constantly being monitored."
" Ah, don't worry, my kittens are always clever and sneaky."
The other creature giggled before chiming in. "I have picked as well. She will be brave and a creative thinker."
"Let me see. Oh, quite an interesting match. I guess it's just getting you to then so they aren't thrown into the fray. Hopefully whoever has the Butterfly isn't moving too quickly."
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Growling the man dropped the transformation.
"Stop. Fighting. Me." He growled, poking the kwami, shoving it back a few inches. The small creature shudders, but tries to hold a firm stance. "We wouldn't have that issue if you obeyed ." The man interrupted before they could even open their mouth. "Your duty is to me and my wishes. If you don't want me hurt than you'll do what I want. And if you don't. Well…" He held up a familiar brooch. And Nuuruu almost cried.
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"You're up early." A crouched figure called, looking up from their phone.
"Don't tell me you don't feel it."
"Oh I do, that's what I'm doing." They replied, waving the screen.
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"Well, guess this is up to us."
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"The debate continues on the origin of powers and creatures. Many theorize it's magic, leaking back into the world. Or some quirk of science. But it's undeniable that it's been more active in recent years. With multiple villains, heroes, and creatures cropping up, there are very few safe havens that are free from this. Or so it seems."
Marinette hummed as she worked, not really minding the documentary playing in the background. Not noticing a small creature watching her with a soft smile.