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Adrienne had always known from a young age that there had been something wrong with herself, that she hadn’t been made quite right. She looked at herself in the mirror every morning and loathed what she saw.
And a part of him knew what the problem was.
Magic could help, magic could fix the problem, and so magic did. But a simple movement of the hand sent something into his potion and it erupted.
And then he looked at himself in horror, an unexpected variable added to the equation.
That night Gabriel found his daughter’s room all clawed up, glass shattered. And in a horror, he raced out with his hunting hounds to find out who had stolen away his precious heiress.
Glowing green eyes peered out of the darkness, and a shockingly vibrant mane raced through the undergrowth.
The papers all read of the heiress’ kidnapping, and how a monster now infested the woods. Hunters tried, but all failed to capture the beast and myth told of how it was impossible to capture…
The truth, as it turned out, would be far far stranger…
-----
Marinette had always known she had been born different from the others. While most Princesses were content to be married off to handsome knights in shining armor, Marinette… really wasn’t content to sit in her tower.
Or whatever regular Princesses did.
Drawing back her bow, an arrow went whizzing through the air scything through it like a blade.
A skull-faced demon keeled over, blood pooling into the grass below with Marinette walking over and snapping off one of the deer horns protruding from it’s skull. It would make a suitable blade once carved.
They called her La Menue Coccinelle. The Petit Ladybug. Known all throughout France as a famous monster hunter, she now faced a new challenge.
She’d heard all about it in the papers of course, the kidnapping of the Agreste Heiress by a demonic force. Many had tried and failed to hunt the beast down, and now it was her problem.
Drawing her hood over her head, the bluenette strode deeper into the woods, knowing all eyes were on her now.
Whispers traveled fast through the forest, and it was likely the beast already knew she was hunting it. She had to move fast, swift and light as a feather and silently as the ninja. Traverse deeper into the wild without being seen.
Nobody had ever seen the beast of course, and some doubted it even existed. Right until they were bloodily torn apart and their beaten, battered bodies staggered up to their nearest town before expiring.
Taking to the treetops, the huntress crept along the branches keeping to the shadows. There was something moving in the undergrowth just ahead of her. She had it now.
Swinging from the branch, letting out a war cry, she kicked the cat-like beast in the stomach, sending it flying. As it recovered and scrambled to its feet, an arrow lodged itself in its shoulder, blood oozing from the wound. Marinette was ready to fire off the killing shot to the heart before the monster was on her like a whirlwind.
The creature slashed at her, Marinette twirling out of the way as she fired off another arrow slicing clean through the already oozing wound.
It came at her again with simply inhuman speed. Marinette had barely enough time to react swinging her bow as if it were a sword. It was a crazy move, even suicidal, but it just had to work. Otherwise, she was done for. With a crack! that resounded through the forest, the beast howled in pain and finally Marinette got a good look at it. Her eyes widened.
There was something… familiar about the creature, and for a moment it eluded her. But then she began to piece it together. On a whim, she imagined what it might look like if it were even more feminine.
“Agreste?” Marinette asked and the creature nodded, still clutching his shoulder. His blond hair was wild and long, two cat ears poking out of it and twitching in an almost cute fashion. She knew of only a few things that could result in this. “Potions accident?”
Again, a nod.
“...great, my fee just went up.”
-----
“So, this is what has happened to my daughter?” Gabriel sneered, reflexively as if it came simply natural to him. Marinette cringed as he looked over his daughter turned son turned cat creature, with no small hint of disgust. “It seems I got the story all wrong those months ago, and for that I apologize for troubling you Princess Marinette. I shall see what payment I can offer you, and I assure you that it will be worth your time and trouble. Now as for my child… She has done this to herself? How…”
He searched for the right word.
“Disappointing.”
“Your son,” Marinette corrected him. She spared a glance to the young Heir, who was shaking and quivering. He was terrified, and his eyes weren’t those of a trained killer. No, they were of a desperate man. “He is your son now. You could at least offer him the common decency to respect who he is.”
“I shall not respect a monster, because that is what she has become now,” Gabriel said, his voice a dangerous hiss. “She was born as my daughter, she was raised as my daughter and she will be punished accordingly as my daughter. I see now she has become a blight upon my house. Upon my house's reputation.”
“I… see,” Marinette said, her voice a thinly veiled disgust. "Upon your reputation, you mean. Not your house's. Just your own.”
“She has killed people, have you forgotten?” Gabriel pointed out.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Marinette returned. “There’s plenty of beasts in that forest, it could be a simple case of mistaken identity. You don’t know for sure that your son killed anyone.”
“You’re overreaching yourself, Princess. You’ve done your job and you’ve brought my daughter back to me, and for that I thank you. Now please,” Gabriel requested. “Go home.”
For now she would agree, but later that night she found herself sneaking into the Agreste manor. A good princess worried about every one of her subjects, including those who were now supposed monsters.
There had been fear in the Agreste Heir’s eyes, before it had been of her -and for that she felt incredibly guilty- and then fear of his father. She knew she couldn’t just sit idly by, the job of a Princess was to keep justice in the land and protect those who couldn’t protect themselves.
And something was foul in that house.
They said spitefully silver was for monsters and iron for humans. That was a lie, of course. Both worked equally well, and humans could be just as evil if not more so than those that lurked in the dark.
Humans could just hide it better.
Under a moonlit night, she snuck in through a window and drew back her hood.
It took her a minute, but she found the kid and let out a sigh of relief. He was still alive.
“Don’t come in,” a low voice breathed out from the corner of the room, sounding terrified beyond measure. Not that Marinette could blame him. In his position, he should be. “I’m a monster, haven’t you heard? The kind of creature parents warn their children about. The beast under the bed.”
“I don’t believe that,” Marinette said kindly.
“...and yet you tried to hunt me down,” the Heir laughed bitterly. “Oh the irony here.”
“That was before I knew…” Marinette replied, her voice still soft and kind as she sat down beside him. Completely unafraid.
“He’s planning on executing me at dawn you know, making it a whole public display and everything,” the Heir sighed, looking out over the manor grounds. “Probably saying that I’m a demon that corrupted his fair daughter. Possessing her, twisting her shape to his desires. Or some such rot.”
On instinct, Marinette reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder. “People…”
Here she sighed again.
“People like to invent monsters and monstrosities, that way they seem less monstrous themselves. They feel better about themselves, find it easier to live,” Marinette went on. “One sword of silver, one sword of iron. Evil is evil, lesser or middling or great. Makes no difference, the degree is arbitrary.”
The Heir laughed. “...you’re surprisingly cynical.”
“I’ve been out in the world, seen what it’s like. I don’t pretend to think it’s always great and good. Yes, humanity can exist even in the darkest of places but we shouldn’t pretend we’re better than anyone else,” Marinette shook her head before flushing in embarrassment. “Oh look at me, rambling on and on and yet I still haven’t had the decency to ask for your name good sir!”
And he smiled. “Adrien.”
Marinette smiled back, holding out a hand to help him up.
“Well then, Adrien,” she said. “Let’s say I help you get out of here, eh?”
And into the night they went.
-----
“Aren’t you worried about my father following us?” Adrien asked, as they took the forested backroads roads to Paris via covered wagon.
“Not really, and even if he did, there’s not much he could do,” Marinette shrugged, eyes fully on the road ahead of her. Every now and again, she scanned the forests for monsters. “He’s a Lord and I’m a Princess, it’s as simple as that.”
“He could send assassins,” Adrien commented. “Hell, he’s already probably spun that story about me stealing away his only daughter and kidnapping the fair Princess.”
“Well, as soon as we reach Paris we’ll be able to disprove that little story,” Marinette snorted, before apparently reflexively stroking Adrien’s mane. To her shock, he let out a little purr, the deep rumble burbling up from his throat. “Awwwww…”
“Sorry…” Adrien blushed.
“No, don’t be,” Marinette cooed, making his blush even deeper. “It’s cute…”
“You sure we’ll be safe on this road?” Adrien asked, paranoid. “It just looks like a great spot to get ambushed…”
“No more dangerous than any other road- which I realize isn’t that reassuring, but you’ve got me, right?” Marinette practically smirked. “Trained huntress here!”
“Right…” Adrien laughed nervously, running a hand through his wild hair. “...sorry, I forgot. I’m just not used to seeing a Princess who’s so…?”
“Kickass?” his partner suggested.
“Yeah, that works!” the blonde agreed, before eyeing her critically as he shifted in his seat. “...hey, I gotta ask. Like really, I do.”
“Ask away!” Marinette smiled at him. He wasn’t sure why but his heart skipped a beat at it and for a moment, all seemed right with the world. “I’m like an open book!”
“What made you go out into the world, into the wild. Do what you do?” Adrien asked. “What made you decide to become a huntress anyway?”
“I saw… injustice,” Marinette said sadly. “Fear, suffering and all of it was happening under my reign. My parents would have never have approved, me being their only daughter and all but something had to be done. People were dying, needless blood was being shed. I refused to be the ‘Princess who did nothing’.”
“You’re…” Adrien felt amazed, like the Princess exuded some sort of light that glowed ever more brighter the more time you spent with her. “...wow, that’s amazing. You’re amazing, I mean.”
He paused for thought.
“I assume your parents eventually found out, of course?”
“Oh yeah, they did. Word travels fast,” Marinette nodded. “It eventually made its way to the palace, and mom sent me a letter. She was worried, terrified even but I think she was oddly proud of me. I was doing right by the Crown. By France.”
“...I wish I had someone to miss me while I’m gone, like you do,” Adrien sighed. “Well, there’s Lady Chloe but I’m sure my father- and not to mention her mother- will forbid her to see me now. Saying that I’ll corrupt her.”
“I’m sorry,” Marinette said sympathetically, eyes a bit watery. “I’ll see if I can find a way to get in contact with her secretly and invite her to the Palace. I promi- LOOK OUT!”
Men in dark clothing wielding fiendish weapons leaped out of the undergrowth, and Marinette only at the very last second shoved pulled Adrien off the wagon with herself. The horses reared up, whinnying in fear.
“I’m assuming Lord Agreste sent you,” Marinette said, pulling out a short sword. “I’ll be sure to relieve him of his title when I get back to the palace. It’ll be my pleasure in fact!”
“The child comes with us,” the lead thug said, holding a very large human-sized sack. “Lord Agreste requires his daughter and the demon that resides within her. Give them both up and I swear you shall not be harmed, Princess.”
“Well, you can tell him that I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request along with his,” Marinette locked blades with the highwayman, sparks flying off metal. “The simple fact of the matter is, Adrien stays with me.”
She promptly kicked the man in the shin leaving him howling in pain and cursing.
Like a dancer, she gracefully dodged a knife before cartwheeling to the side as an arrow just barely missed her head.
Adrien leaped into action, like literally leaped and tackled the would-be assassin into the mud.
“Damn brat, get off me!” he snarled, his flailing hands attempting to grab Adrien, and pull him off. A knee shot into the catboy’s stomach, and he yowled in pain as the man headbutted him.
Adrien staggered back as with a knife drawn, the highwayman howled: “Die DEMON!”
Marinette was too busy dueling the head honcho to notice, ducking under a slash which ripped bark from wood. She leaped forwards, spinning sideways in mid-air to kick the thug square in the face.
He reeled back, thrusting a palm into her chest and she shot backwards like she’d been fired from a cannon. A loud BANG! whistled through the air as she hit the ground, and a runic sigil was glowing on the brigand's hand.
“Ugh, so you’ve got some magic eh? Basic enchantments, nothing too fancy but… oww, hits like a bitch,” Marinette mumbled, rubbing her aching head before her eyes widened as she noticed the thug advancing on a certain runaway. “Oh no, ADRIEN!”
“Such naughty language, how unbecoming of a Princess. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? She must be so proud,” her assailant said. “As for the demon, there’s nothing you can do to help him now. Shame about the girl, but oh, well sacrifices must be made. We’ll get paid a little less, but eh.”
Adrien had seen the attack coming, and he apparently with practiced ease side-stepped and grabbed the attacker by the wrist. He gave a twist, and the assassin screamed in pain as the knife dropped into the mud.
“Kill him, I think he’s broken my bloody hand!” the man shouted as his two fellows advanced.
Meanwhile, Marinette was still busy with her attacker.
“You bring shame to your guild, working for a monster like Gabriel,” Marinette said, blades dancing in the night. “For your country, even!”
She briefly locked blades with him again, teeth gritted in frustration.
“Money’s money,” the brigand said, breaking away before slashing at her. “It’s the sad truth of the matter, Princess. You yourself have seen it, you’re basically no different from us. Hunting and killing monsters for money.”
“Real ones,” Marinette clarified. “Like you.”
“Bold words,” the assassin said, and again he slashed at her. “But like it or not, we’re not so different, you and I. We do jobs for whoever hires us, and whoever’s right or wrong is decided by whoever’s paying us.”
“Oh shut up,” Marinette said. “You’re only deluding yourself. From where I stand, I see someone who just wants to maim, to kill. I hunt monsters because they’re threatening my people. My people , do you understand?”
From out of his pocket, he pulled a knife. Marinette let out a shout of pain as he plunged it into her side, blood oozing out of the wound.
“PRINCESS!” Adrien shouted, even as he wrestled a thug to the ground and slashed a third across the face.
Marinette despite the pain, powered on through.
“So do I, that ‘boy’ is a monster. He’s killed your people, Princess, don’t you understand?”
“...you’re wrong, and you know it. You’re only saying he’s a monster because that’s what you’ve been paid to believe.”
Her knee shot up to meet his chin, knocking the assassin out with a sickening crack! sound. The other assassins soon fell as well, and were loaded into the back of the wagon to await trial in Paris.
As Adrien bandaged her wounds, he sighed and looked at her, stunned. “...“How are you so certain that I didn’t kill any of those people?”
“Your eyes,” Marinette said. “They’re not the eyes of a killer; back at the house when I was handing you off to your… father,” she sounded hesitant to even use the word. “I saw them. They were afraid, not of what the people might do to you but what he might do to you. You didn’t want to spend another minute in that house.”
“Can you blame me?” Adrien asked. “...you’ve met my father.”
“Yes…” Marinette nodded. “He’s such an obstinate man. He deeply repulses me. Looking into his eyes… they’re black as coal. Like gazing into the deepest pits of Hell. They’re completely soulless.”
“To say nothing of his attitude!” Adrien joked and Marinette laughed, a light musical sound he would admit to wanting to hear more often.
“To say the least!” she agreed.
“When… when we get to Paris,” Adrien said, gathering his courage. “...would it be too much to ask if I could stay with you? Forever? N-Not in a married capacity, you u-understand! I… I just want to get away from my father…”
Marinette’s eyes were soft again, watery. “Of course.”
And Adrien hugged her tight.
-----
They were greeted by a very worried mother as soon as they stepped foot into the palace.
“Marinette!” her mama shouted, hugging her close before her eyes widened upon seeing Adrien. “Oh my… So this is…”
“It’s okay Mama, he’s a friend,” the Princess hastily explained, ignoring the fact that she was probably dripping mud all over the floor. Her boots were covered in grime, and her cape was tattered and torn with a deep slash running through it from a lucky strike in the fight a few nights before. She was hardly the picture-perfect image of royalty right now.
“I… see,” Queen Sabine said, studying the wild-haired feral cat child now in her front hall. “I have been hearing rumors up and down France of a strange cat beast traveling with my daughter, and now I assume I am to welcome him in my home?”
“He’s seeking asylum Mama,” Marinette explained. “His father, Lord Gabriel… he wants to burn his own son at the stake!”
“Oh my…” the Queen gasped, holding a hand up to her mouth in shock and when Marinette hastily explained all she knew… she rushed forwards and embraced Adrien in a tight hug saying: “You poor boy!”
Adrien’s eyes were watery, the very and none other than the Queen of France was acknowledging his gender!
“T-Thank you…” he whispered, trying not to break down crying in front of her.
“Shhh…” Sabine soothed as Adrien’s body shook against hers. “It’s okay, there’s no shame in it dear. Sometimes we all need a good cry every now and again.”
“I’m probably going to have ruined your nice dress…” Adrien whispered through his sobs.
“Don’t worry,” the Queen said. “I have plenty more. Now come on, we must get you cleaned up. You look and smell like you’ve been on the road for weeks and we simply can’t have that, can we?”
“Don’t worry Maman,” Marinette said. “I’ll handle this.”
And again Adrien blushed a shade of beet red. “Y-You?”
“Yes, me!”
The bath was gloriously luxurious, covered in gold and with many nozzles forming a maze of pipes soon bubbles were rising high like storm clouds. Adrien found himself slipping into the waters easily, as Marinette dressed in her tattered garments ran suds through his hair.
“Oh… look at this,” she fretted to herself, practically mumbling under her breath as she continued her caresses. “Way too many tangles and knots, you’re a mess…”
“Well, it’s not like I had much chance to fix my hair,” Adrien said, Marinette still rubbing suds into his hair before pouring a glass of water into it to wash out the soap. “I was constantly running and hiding from hunters and wildlife alike, just trying to stay alive.”
“Hey, well, it’s okay,” Marinette replied gently. “You’re here now, you won’t have to run from anyone ever again.”
The Princess waded into the water, running her hands through his hair and down his back, humming a gentle song.
“...The people of France may not see it that way, you know,” Adrien said, the former heir sighing to himself. “My…”
“Please do not call him your father,” Marinette said, stopping her humming while she continued washing him. Her voice became something of a growl. “He barely qualifies for the title.”
“Alright then,” the catboy admitted, before saying: “Lord Gabriel… he’s probably trying to rouse the populace, spread rumors that I am in fact a demon.”
“What have I said about worrying about Lord Gabriel?” Marinette corrected him, the Princess musing to herself for how much longer the man would have his title. “My parents and I shall handle him.”
Adrien nodded sleepily, before yawning.
He then realized what he had done, and swiftly muttered an apology.
“It’s alright, I suppose we really haven’t had much chance to sleep lately have we?” Marinette admitted, feeling a bit peaked herself. “Constantly on the road, evading assassins…”
“I still feel like I’m imposing,” Adrien said. “Sleeping over like this.”
“Nonsense,” Marinette argued, the Princess gently helping him out of the bath. “Now get dressed, I’ll send some of my father’s old clothes up your way.”
“Thank you.”
The blonde welcomed sleep when it came, though it was a rough nap as he was plagued by nightmares. He shook and trembled in his sleep, his father’s face still taunting him. And then the fire. A great blazing inferno overtook his dreams, as an angry populace chanted for his destruction.
His father strode forwards, tying Princess Marinette to a wooden pole as he proclaimed both had been taken by demons. And now both had to be cleansed of their sins. By holy fire. A mad grin overtook the Lord’s face, apparently having been touched by God himself or believing him to be anyways.
“No no… Father…”
Suddenly he felt an arm wrap around him, pulling him close. Marinette had climbed into bed with him, tugging the catboy close to herself after seeing him shake and tremble in his sleep.
“Hey… it’s okay,” her voice whispered into his ears. “It’s okay, I’m here now, right? Your father will not be able to touch you ever again.”
Their bodies meshed together, tangled under the covers as afternoon sunlight filtered over them, bathing them in a warm glow.
“You’re very brave, Marinette,” Adrien fluttered awake, feeling her heartbeat sync with his as it slowed. “...ashamedly, I admit you’re far braver than I could ever be.”
“When you know about something, it stops being a nightmare. When you know how to fight something, it stops being so threatening,” the Princess said sagely. “I know how to fight the soon to be former Lord Gabriel, in both the political arena- and if necessary, the regular one as well.”
“You would really do that? Draw swords against him?” Adrien murmured, still seeking her touch for comfort and drawing himself closer, if that were possible.
“If it comes to it, yes,” Marinette acknowledged, one of her arms wrapped around his waist and the other hand sleepily running itself through his mane. “But I honestly doubt it will. Now, shh… sleep.”
And so they did.
-----
And the next day threatened to bring trouble. As Adrien had warned, had feared, his father came.
“Return my daughter to me.” he declared, making his demands clear and simple.
“Your son,” the Queen corrected him, her husband the King looking at the Lord with disappointment. “And no, I don’t think we will.”
“He has become a blight upon my house, the demon.”
“Upon your reputation, you mean,” Princess Marinette, now in full royal regalia, said with her arms crossed. Adrien had to refrain from staring at how beautiful she looked in her bright pink gown. Her tiara was covered in diamonds and sparkled like a million stars in the night sky. “I believe that is what I said when we met last, and I still believe it to be correct.”
“The populace will never accept him, Princess,” Lord Gabriel said. “If that is your plan, to steal the demon away from me.”
“No, not to steal him away. To help him. And we shall see what the populace thinks,” the Princess replied simply, before turning to her court. “Is this not a place of justice? Is it not our right to give one lost boy an actual, true family? To save him from an abominable home? Is that not my right as Princess of this country?"
“You honestly believe justice is more than a story, girl?” Gabriel sneered. “I’ve seen the world, we both have. It’s cold, and cruel, and merciless.”
Marinette chuckled as she shook her head, quick with a refute: “But do you know when stories stop being stories? The moment someone begins to believe in them.”
“Such naivete,” Gabriel chuckled, shaking his head. “Someday you’ll learn, I suppose.”
“I believe my daughter has said her piece,” Sabine rose from her throne. “And you, I assume have said yours.”
The implication was obvious, and Gabriel picked up on it. With a final sneer, he took his leave. Adrien let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
“Oh God, I’m…” he stammered, unable to get the words out in his disbelief.
“Yes,” Marinette smiled, the Princess feeling a great sense of relief wash over her. “You’re finally free.”
Adrien laughed joyfully, doing a spin in the court as jubilation overtook him. Like a bird taking flight from an open cage, he was finally free.
“You know, Maman,” Marinette would admit to her mother. “I… honestly feel sorry for Gabriel. He never saw what was in front of him this whole time, the son he could have had.”
“And now the son we have.” Sabine smiled.
“M-Maman!” Marinette was the blushing one now.
The Queen chuckled to herself. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you look at him when you think he’s not looking. You’ve barely removed yourself from his side. You slept with him, even!”
“N-Not like that!”
“My point still stands,” Sabine went on. “I believe France will have a new Prince someday quite soon!”
“Yes…” Marinette admitted quietly. “Perhaps you’re right.”
Maybe they would get married, maybe they wouldn’t and they’d stay just friends. Maybe her mother was reading too much into things.
...but then, she’d always had a knack for being perceptive, didn’t she?
The royal gardens beckoned, flowers all in bloom as the warm sun welcomed them.
“Soooooooo…” Adrien pondered, dressed in far finer clothes than he had arrived in. “What now?”
“Mhmm?” his companion tilted her head confusingly.
“My fa… no, Lord Gabriel will never bother me again, so…” Adrien sighed, before smiling a bit. “...wow, you’re right. That does feel liberating. My point though is, now what? Do I continue to stay here with you?”
“If you want,” Marinette nodded. “My mother seems keen on the possibility.”
She leaned in with a conspiratical giggle and a whisper.
“Truth be told I think she wants to set us up!”
“It… it doesn’t feel right,” Adrien said. “N-Not the setting up part, your mother is free to meddle, but me staying here. It feels like I’m mooching off you, honestly…”
“You’re free to do as you wish,” Marinette said. “You’re now your own man. Your decisions are now your own.”
“I think I want to make something of myself,” Adrien admitted. “Now that I’m not tied down to Lord Gabriel’s wealth, I must make my own money. And you’ve actually inspired me in how to do so.”
“Oh?” Marinette leaned in again, curious. “Do tell!”
“I want to become a huntsman,” Adrien said, his companion looking proud. “You’re quite right, there’s far too much injustice in the world. Too much violence and cruelty. I want to be feared, but for the right reasons. By the right personalities.”
“It’s a dangerous life, with a short life expectancy,” Marinette said, in warning.
“Better to have lived shortly doing something of worth than have lived a long life doing not much at all,” Adrien replied, sounding far more sagely than his age actually suggested. “Don’t you think?”
And at this, Marinette smiled and clapped him on the back. “I think we’ll make a hero out of you yet, Agreste!”
Sabine, watching from a window, smiled. Yes, her daughter had made a fine choice indeed...
-----
Time passed, as it always did. Summer changed to fall, and green became brown as a cold washed over the countryside.
New monsters rose up from the dark depths of the world, uglier and meaner than ever. All foul things began to spring forth from the darker corners of France, monsters long thought hidden.
And the hunt was on again, despite a brief reprieve during the summer months. A few moments of blissful paradise had been forgotten as darkness threatened to overtake the land.
But it wouldn’t. Not on her watch. Nor on his.
The Cat and the Bug protected France, by bow and by blade.
fin