Chapter Text
Speaking of well-dressed, let's check in on our favorite fashion brand, shall we? Gabriel has just announced its new perfume, Eau de Nuit…
Marinette yawns and turns the computer off, glancing through her window at the sun setting outside. She leans back in her chair and looks at the stack of stuff on her desk. Unfinished projects, work for Kitty Section…
"Ugh. Tikki, I have so much to do but I don't feel like doing anything!" she exclaims, looking at the red kwami sitting on top of her computer.
"Maybe you can do me a favor then."
Marinette startles and whips around to find Bunnyx standing right behind her. The superheroine waves at her sheepishly.
Marinette immediately turns wary. "What happened in the future? Do you need my help?"
"Nothing's happened to the current timeline, don't worry," Bunnyx replies. "But I do have a job for you."
She opens a portal and then jumps through it, coming back out with a little girl in her arms.
"I need you to take care of this little ball of energy for like three days. Think you can handle it?"
Marinette studies the girl thoughtfully. She looks about four or five, with pink cheeks and raven-black hair that shines blue in the light, just like Marinette's. Her eyes are peridot green and familiar in a way that Marinette can’t put her finger on.
The girl tilts her head curiously as she stares back at Marinette, and then she looks back up at Bunnyx. "Why is Maman so small?"
Marinette chokes. "Maman?"
Bunnyx rubs her neck sheepishly, putting the girl down. "Yeah, this is Emma, your future daughter."
"Bunnyx…"
"Hey, I wouldn't be coming to you if it disturbed the space-time continuum!"
Marinette sighs. "Fine."
"Thanks, Mini-bug. Catch you later!" Bunnyx jumps back into the portal, which closes behind her.
Marinette gets off her chair and crouches in front of Emma. "Hi, Emma."
The girl giggles and throws her arms around Marinette's neck, startling her. "Hi, Maman!"
Marinette melts and hugs her back.
"This shouldn't be too bad," she murmurs to herself.
…
Marinette has never wanted to eat her words as much as she wants to now.
Bunnyx was not kidding when she called Emma a little ball of energy, as Marinette quickly learns. The young girl zooms around, grabbing things off shelves and knocking other stuff to the ground.
"Look, Maman, I'm a princess!"
"Emma, put the hat away!"
"What's this?"
"Do not touch my diary, Emma!"
"Wanna see me do a cartwheel, Maman?"
"Not here, Emma."
"Look!"
CRASH!
"Emma!"
Before her daughter can hurt herself, Marinette hurriedly suggests, "How about we draw for some time?"
Emma brightens. “Draw?”
“Yeah, draw!” Marinette rushes to grab crayons and paper and gives them to the little girl. “Here.” She catches sight of Tikki peeking out at them from behind a pillow.
“Are you going to draw with me, Maman?” Emma asks.
“Uh…” Marinette looks at her, then sighs tiredly. “Sure, sweetie.”
“Yay!” Emma squeals. She eagerly grabs a red crayon and starts doodling on her paper.
Marinette cracks a smile and sits down beside her.