Work Text:
Another idea discarded.
Another paper thrown out.
Marinette was both frustrated and determined to find a plan to get the physical part of the Instincts under control. So far things haven't gone great. Outside of her everyday life, gym classes have been especially difficult in the last few months. Some days doing simple tasks had become extreme challenges and nearly impossible to do.
Picking up objects could end in them being crushed in her hand, walking could cause cracks or dents on the floor, moving too fast had the double danger of damage and exposing her, occasionally her Ladybug muscle memory would act up and she would make incredible acrobatic tricks as Marinette.
It couldn’t go on like this. Not only were the physical Instincts not done - and wasn’t that terror inducing - she was getting funnier and funnier looks as time went on. She was at a serious risk of exposing herself if she didn’t get this under control. Her excuses could only go so far, freak accidents, lucky breaks could happen but at this rate? It wasn’t normal.
Alya had jokingly said the other day she had to start getting her accidents on camera because they were so unbelievable that no one would believe her. And wasn’t that another terrifying thought? She had been caught on camera a couple of times - the kitty incident was especially notorious - but so far it was more freaky than superhuman. Getting caught on camera performing a superhuman feat was literally nightmare inducing.
Then there was the other problem - she hadn’t reached her peak. Honestly, realizing she still had at least another year and a half - according to Tikki - before she was done had added to the stress. When Tikki had first told her what was happening she had focused a lot more on the problems the emotional side of the Instincts might bring her but she got them under control within a couple of months. It was slightly ironic that when she got the emotional side under control the physical side reared its ugly head.
Marinette had surpassed the superhuman barrier within weeks and from then on she was trying to catch up. The biggest problem with it wasn’t just the out of control strength or speed it was finding a way to disguise just how much she had changed. She had a lot of accidents with superhuman reflexes she couldn’t just explain it as dumb luck, especially since she had always been known for being very clumsy.
Every time one of her friends or her parents looked at her with a confused look she feared that look would become one of realization. Someone would figure out the superhuman feat she had just done was exactly that - superhuman.
That fear had become worse when she realized she could hurt people if she didn’t get this under control. A couple weeks ago during a boxing class Kim had gotten hurt fighting her and although she knew it wasn’t totally her fault it didn’t make it any less a wakeup call. Before, a clumsy incident from her could mean someone getting caught and maybe a little hurt. Now, a clumsy incident from her could very likely kill someone.
It was a terrifying difference.
So, she had taken a notebook and had a long talk with Tikki asking about the physical aspects of the Animal side effects from prior Miraculous users. From there she created a division between people who had practiced some type of physical activity and people who hadn’t. She asked Tikki tactics previous users had to try and make a list of possible ways to gain control.
She also has been brainstorming ways to improve her control over the physical side of Instincts with Chat Noir. He has advised her to pick a sport she can do alone, since starting team sports right now could be too dangerous. He had also told her to find time everyday to practice either her strength or her speed, going too long without practice was a surefire way to lose control.
With all of the information she collected she created several plans. First up, was using bags of flour as weights to try and gain a better concept over her strength. It ends with her covered in flour from tossing one with too much strength and her parents questioning how she tossed a 15 Kilos (34 pounds) so hard it broke. After that Marinette decided against using things from the bakery too much trouble to explain if something went wrong.
Second plan was to jog more often. The plan didn’t fail because she couldn’t control her speed. She had an app for that. It failed because every time she wanted to go jogging either one of her friends tagged along or an akuma would attack. Both were frustrating for different reasons. She loved spending time with her friends, but not when she had to figure out a way to get this under control. In the end she had to scrap the idea because it was costing her time she didn’t have.
Third plan had her buying some jumping ropes and some weights. It had been what worked better and was definitely an improvement over the first two but it was a very limited plan. She would train in her balcony and it had helped with her balance and a bit with her speed, which was great but not her strength. The weights weren’t too heavy since she didn’t have the space and the only abnormal thing she had been able to do with them was juggling. Chat Noir had gotten a good laugh from it when one night he went there to calm down the Instincts and saw her juggling. He was also now under the impression she lifted bags of flour in her free time.
Fourth plan was to join a gym and honestly felt like the stupidest part of her plans. The few times she went the place was overcrowded and she couldn’t use the weight machines without half of the gym looking at her with either apprehension or disbelief. The other times she tried to go either an akuma attacked or her own life would get in the way.
Fifth plan was the last one - join a sports club at school. This was tricky for a lot of reasons. One the school year was already half way done, meaning most sports didn’t have open spots for new players. Two, any team sports were out for fear of hurting someone. So, with limited options she had tried for badminton and swimming failing to enter any of them. Badminton had ended with her going a little too fast and getting tangled in the net.
Swimming had ended with her smashing her head into the wall one time, but it was enough to put a slight crack on the wall. Thankfully no one had noticed but it had been enough to keep her out of the team. Kim and Ondine had invited her to come back and practice with them but Marinette declined. Before she smashed her head against the pool’s wall she had one of the best times they ever recorded and that had attracted praise, which was exactly what she didn’t want to do.
Marinette groans and resists the urge to smack her head against her desk. She cannot continue putting holes in her room.
Tikki flows to be near her. “Don’t worry you’ll find another solution.”
“How? No seriously how? I ran out of plans. Nothing I tried so far worked.”
“That’s not true. The weights and rope helped you a lot and in the few times you went running your control over your speed improved.”
“Yes, but the jumping rope and the weights aren’t enough anymore. And I haven’t been able to go running alone in a week. Time isn’t stopping, every single day I don’t try to train my body. It's another day I can’t control my strength.” Marinette looks up lost at Tikki. “I’m scared I’m going to hurt someone.”
“I know, but I know you. You won’t let that happen…”
“Won’t I? I mean it already happened, Kim…”
Tikki interrupts her. “Had an accident caused in great part by himself. You aren’t to blame.
Marinette rubs her head. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, especially now I don’t have any more ideas.”
“What about Chat’s?”
Marinette snorts. “The advice Chat gave me would have worked if I had my own private gym or if I’ve been doing sports for a long time.”
“What about your teacher?”
“I doubt Ms. Bustier…”
Tikki cuts her off. “Not her. Your gym teacher.”
“What can he do?”
“Tell you about some individual sports or exercises you can do alone.”
He does organize a lot of sports events at the school and he always has his door open. He’s also her best chance of getting a new plan.
“I’ll try.” Marinette ends up saying.
“Great.”
…
Marinette had stayed behind after class to try and ask her teacher if he had any ideas for individual sports she could try out. She had gone over this with Tikki to explain her sudden interest in sports after avoiding them like the play for years. Her classmates had discovered she had tried two different sports in the middle of the school year and had become curious, which was something she wasn’t counting on.
Marinette had tried to explain her newfound interest as just something to better her coordination and her friends just accepted it. Adrien even went as far and offered to help her try again with fencing. Sadly she couldn’t take this offer. It would be the worst thing to do. Her clumsiness already aggravated every time she was near Adrien, adding superhuman strength and a sword to the mix could only end in epic disaster, which was exactly what she was trying to avoid.
She had to stop having disasters and near misses when it came to hiding her enhanced physical capabilities. Yet, she was afraid of going into the office asking for help and it would lead to another failure. She couldn’t keep failing. This was literally her last plan and if it went wrong she would have nothing. Chat had tried to help again, but it was clear both of them had completely different starting points. Chat was someone who did sports all his life and had access to a great gym.
Marinette hadn’t done a lot of sport and didn’t have the time to start going to a gym now. Perhaps, if the two of them were able to meet without the mask it would be easier. After all, being able to train with someone without fear of hurting the other would drastically help her improve. Sadly, it just wasn’t possible. She couldn’t compromise her identity and Chat’s just because she couldn’t get the Instincts under control.
It brought back memories she would rather forget. A destroyed Paris under water, another Ladybug turned to stone who then turns to ashes and a white clad cat looking at her with such sadness. She couldn’t risk it, never.
“Marinette?” Her teacher is peeking out of the office to look at her. “What can I do for you?”
Marinette nearly jumped out of her skin. Marinette was so busy trying to convince herself to go in she forgot her teacher would sooner or later see her. “Hi…err…I was hoping you could help me?”
The teacher raised an eyebrow and nodded. “What is it?”
“I’ve been trying to find a sport activity to do…to try to help with my coordination, but I haven’t found anything.”
The teacher nods and turns thoughtful. “I remember seeing your name on the trying list for a couple activities. We don’t have a lot of them still open since we’re half-way done with the school year, but we always have something open.” They pull out a tablet. “Do you have any requests?”
“I don’t want to do anything too violent or that involves a lot of other people. I think it might end badly.” Too many close calls came from gym class for her to ever want team sports.
The teacher laughs. “I guess boxing is out?”
Marinette sighs and nods. “I also have a problem. My parents sometimes need my help with the bakery or something comes up and I don’t know if I could make a schedule very well.”
Her teacher waves her worries away. “Don’t worry about that. Since Hawk Moth appeared most teachers have turned to figure out schedules that can work for most students. The only real exceptions are team sports, which you don’t want to anyway or Mr. D’Argencourt, who stuck in his old ways. Most will be glad to help you keep a schedule that helps you and doesn’t overstress you.”
"That 's great.”
“I have two suggestions for you. One is something the school has been sponsoring this year to help combat Hawk Moth influence. It’s Yoga or Tai Chi. There is a class every day after school ends and it’s not mandatory assistance so you could adjust your schedule around it. The second one is not actually at the school. A nearby gym has gymnastic classes and from what I recall you’ve done incredible feats and I suspect with a little training you could become a very good athlete.”
Marinette laughs nervously at that. She really shouldn’t be surprised her teacher had noticed her gym feats - it was literally their job - but she didn’t think it would turn into a ‘you-have-great potential’. “I guess….I mostly just don’t want to continue to risk injury when running or walking or just standing still…”
The teacher lets out a laugh. “I understand, but you don’t have to worry. I would advise you to do Rhythmic gymnastics. You perform on the floor usually with an apparatus, such as a ribbon, rope, hoop, balls or clubs. You do it alone so you don’t have to risk hurting anyone and it will help you a lot with flexibility, coordination and agility. That particular class aims to be more of a fun workout so you wouldn’t have to compete anywhere, but the gym offers options if you do become interested.”
“I don’t think I’ll go down that route even if I succeed.” It would be beyond cheating even thinking about doing something like that. Marinette knew no matter if people thought she could become an Olympic level athlete - whom she was far, far above - she could never compete
The teacher shrugs. “It’s your choice. Is there anything from the rhythmic gymnastics equipment you would be interested in?”
“Probably ribbons…” It’s the closest thing to a yo-yo and could help her come up with cool tricks for when she is Ladybug, which would be a great bonus. “But, I have to try it first.”
The teacher nods and pulls out some forms giving them to Marinette. “The gym is partnered with our school, so it will give you a great discount. If you don’t like rhythmic gymnastics they open slots for different sports or activities every month so you should at least check out their other activities.”
That is such a big help, even if this doesn’t work she will have other options, meaning she could create other plans if this fails. “I will. Thank you so much.”
The teacher gives her a smile. “You’re welcome and good luck.”
Marinette leaves with the forms and goes home feeling a lot better than when she had first come.
…
Turns out rhythmic gymnastics were a great way to get the Instincts under control. The first couple of classes didn’t go great, Marinette’s clumsiness got in the way a couple of times, but the coach at the gym helped her a lot and gave her a ton of helpful tips to improve her balance. It also helped that they didn’t immediately start using apparatus, and started to do simple exercises.
She caught a lucky break and the amount of times she had to leave the gym to go fight akumas was very small. Marinette noticed a pattern in the amount of akumas occurring after her school ended dropped a lot. She went a couple hours after classes on Monday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s. It seemed Hawk Moth either had to do something during that time or there weren’t as many candidates for him to akumatized.
She wasn’t sure which was which yet, but she was going to find out.
Alya had also gotten the girls to sign up for the class and although most of them weren’t into gymnastics as much as she was, all of the girls found something to do at the gym. It was great leaving the class and getting to go eat ice-cream with the girls or just hang out. There was also the added bonus of Lila failing to come around a lot since she couldn’t exactly claim to be a star athlete when she suffered from so many “diseases”.
Marinette also tried to go to Yoga or Tai chi classes at school, but they were too crowded. When she told her parents, her mother said she could help since she had taken classes for many years. They had already done meditation together - since it helped a lot with the emotional side of the Instincts when they appeared - and it came full circle when she also started to do Yoga with her mom.
Besides starting to do gymnastics she also ended up mixing bits and pieces of her plans. Started doing runs to control the speed, started to lift kg flour bags to be unjust to her strength (without tossing them), and started to do Yoga to help with her flexibility. It seems all the solutions she came up with ended with the same result, a little improvement to fight against the “super upgrades” that at times made her effort feel useless, but they weren’t.
She had told Chat Noir she had finally found something that worked and he had brought her to her own Bakery to celebrate, which had been awkward, but she appreciated the gesture. When he told her he had started to improve his control over needing a nest she had gotten bakery goods and they had a celebration at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Little by little she started to get more and more confident in herself. It was a constant work in progress and it would have to be until she reaches the end of the line. It feels similar to fighting Hawk Moth, you win the small battles, you don’t see the end but you know there will be one and Marinette will persevere no matter what.
The Instincts had been one of the biggest challenges of her life - and they still weren’t over - but she could honestly say things were starting to look up.