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Lady Bug ducked into the dark alley and waited, dagger drawn.
Quiet footsteps sounded nearer and nearer, then the figure following her turned into the alleyway.
They were all in black, hooded and clearly armed, and were a little taller and larger than herself. Likely male, she decided. Why was he following her?
She lunged at him, hoping to use her smaller size and utilize her agility and speed to her advantage, but he was surprisingly well-rounded, not letting his size and higher centre of gravity affect his skills.
He withdrew a long, curved blade and wielded it against her short, sharp attacks with long-practiced ease.
They danced back and forth in the dark alleyway, neither gaining much ground for long.
Finally, he pulled his hood off and let the dim light fall across his features.
She paused, then resumed her attack.
“Don’t trust me to stay loyal to my new family?” she spat at him. “The Dragon said I could return whenever I pleased.”
“I wasn’t following you to spy on you, exactly,” he said placatingly, spinning around her to face her back.
She spun to face him angrily, huffing a strand of hair that had loosened from her braid during their spar out of her face.
“I was following you on your family’s request.”
“Which family?” she asked suspiciously.
“Your mother asked me to bring you back so you could talk .”
“Why did my mother ask you for that?”
“Because you were back in Paris and weren’t coming home. I’m assuming that has something to do with your shameful new fiance?” he taunted.
“It’s–” she sighed. “Never mind, you wouldn’t get it. Fine, I’ll face the music.”
He strode up her doorsteps like he lived there, not her, opening the door like a gentleman and bowing after her.
Marinette was immediately bombarded with several different voices scolding her and welcoming her back with equal vigour. Sabine, Tom, Gina, Kagami, and Tomoe all crowded around her and carried her off to Gina’s office.
Once everyone had reassured themselves that Marinette was back safely, they settled in the cushy chairs around the small conference table to hear what had happened.
~~~~~
Jason had arrived in Paris and immediately headed to the Nieri base, assuming Marinette had headed there first when she arrived a flight ahead of him. To his surprise, he was met with a much more hostile welcome than he’d expected.
Once he finally convinced them he was there peacefully, he was given the lovely job of explaining what had happened in the past week without the main instigator there by his side to provide her reasoning.
They were understandably shocked by the information he gave them, and worried as to why Marinette hadn’t returned to the base or made contact with any of them yet.
He volunteered to find her, and soon enough, he came across a little bug not far from the base.
It was easier than he’d thought to bring her back willingly. He hoped that didn’t mean she was planning something else.
He was so curious about her, he wanted to follow her across the world and observe what made her tick and why.
Alas, once he finished directing Talia’s contingent coming to help the Nieris, he had to return to Gotham. It was finally time.