Chapter Text
Marc Anciel was never very loud or courageous. He was shy, quiet, and never talked to anyone. Teachers were never too worried- some kids were just like that. They didn’t mind if he spent his days with his nose in a book, or writing some new silly little story. At least he never caused trouble.
Other kids noticed, though, and they rarely approached him. Why talk to someone who didn’t talk back? Marc never could work up the courage to talk to anyone himself, either. His parents worried- would he never have any friends? He couldn’t live with his nose in a book, he would need someone outside of family to talk to.
And some kids noticed who had no qualms about talking to someone who wouldn’t respond. Those kids often preferred it. Marc suffered the wrath of many bullies in his early years of school. He was different, and the bullies knew it. They would mock him, take his notebooks, sometimes be more physical.
Marc was fine now, though. With a new school, and a new start, he got a lot better luck this time. There were a few mishaps (*cough* reverser- *cough*) but then he started making friends. Granted, there was the whole nightmare of Hawk Moth that was probably pushing people to group together more, but he actually enjoyed these people's company.
And of course, there was Nathaniel. He was amazing. Marc had never had a proper boyfriend before, the only relationships he had been in only lasting a few weeks at most. Nath was sweet, and made beautiful art (not as beautiful as Nath himself, of course), and they just fit together so perfectly.
Of course, some things were still going wrong. Nath’s parents weren’t the most accepting, and even if Ladybug had talked some sense into them, his mom got akumatized. Over a comic. About love. It would happen again, too. Any negative emotion could turn someone into a monstrous villain, if only temporary, it was likely that one day, Ladybug wouldn’t win.
This new Hawk Moth needed to be stopped. Surely there was a way, right? There had to be. Currently, Ladybug wasn’t even trying to find the Hawk Moth. It was hard, as they never made public appearances, and revealed even less about themselves than the original Hawk Moth.
Marc huffed. He was a writer, for goodness sake, this was his job. He just needed to think of something. “Why have we never actively pursued finding the butterfly miraculous before?” He wondered aloud. Orikko nodded in agreement. “No action! These holders take no action!” The rooster kwami crowed in annoyance. Marc narrowed his eyes, thinking of how he could find the butterfly holder.
“It’s no use, I have no inspiration, nothing to spark an idea. Orikko, you got anything?” Orikko huffed, eyes narrowing. “How did Ladybug defeat the first Hawk Moth, again? Perhaps that would give you an idea.” Marc’s eyes widened. “Orikko, you’re right! I can use sublimation to look into the past!” Orikko nodded. “Of course!” Marc smiled, “Orikko, sunrise!”
Marc always felt more confident in costume. Something about a mask felt like all your fears were irrelevant, because no one could know it was you. Even with Nathaniel, who knew who he was, the mask just- felt right. Made him feel invincible. “Sublimation,” Marc spoke, determined, “The power to look into the past.” Marc focused for a moment, thinking clearly ‘the original Hawk Moth’s defeat,’ and then he was plunged deep into the depths of a memory.
It was a bit like watching an old tape. Starting black, the world faded in, the powers of the rooster clearly sensing Marc’s desire of when he needed to see. It was a bit grainy, stained with yellow and with faded colors. Marc saw a grand area, underground, perhaps? There was a garden and a steel pathway cutting through the middle. At the end, two figures, one spotted with red and black, the other- a white suit?
Marc’s perspective drifted closer, catching words now- “-power is used for personal gain, it causes disasters.” Ladybug- no, Bug Noir. And the other? “Power of any nature should only be used for the greater good.” It was- Gabriel Agreste? Adrien’s dad? Surely not- but no, those were all the other miraculous on him, in the form of 15 even, steel rings.
Gabriel- because it had to be Gabriel, no matter how unbelievable the supposed hero was to being Hawk Moth- was half kneeling on the ground in front of Bug Noir. The noise cut back in, “-even though it won’t be as perfect as we want it to be.” Ladybug is looking at Gabriel with expectant, hopeful eyes, and Gabriel gives a small nod. Marc is reeling.
Ladybug gives a small nod back, relieved. She straightens up from where she sits in front of the villain. “Spots and claws away,” she says, closing her eyes in a show of trust. Marc is frozen, even if he could move in this state. That was- Marinette? Marc would growl, if he could. Why would she do that?!
Marinette smiles at Gabriel, as the two kwamis come to float beside her. She stands, offering him a hand. “This is impossible!” Tikki squeaks. “Marinette, don’t trust him!” Plagg adds. Marc has to agree. WHY TRUST THE ONE PERSON YOU ARE TRYING TO DEFEAT? She’s revealed her identity, she’s transformed, taken off all protection. Marc might understand an offer of redemption, but trust?
That’s when Gabriel takes her hand, and pulls her forward. “Venom!” He cries, freezing her in place. Marinette barely has a moment to gasp in shock before she is paralyzed. Gabriel smirks and stands, starting forward to take her earrings. Marc is seething. Why would Ladybug trust him? Why would she give him an opportunity?
Gabriel places the earrings in his own ears, before moving on to the ring. “I already have my solution, Marinette.” Gabriel’s tone is final. “Tikki, Plagg, reveal yourselves!” And the kwamis shudder in fear before glowing, and becoming- something else. Plagg has six arms now, and six wings. Three eyes open on his head and green electricity crackles around him. The kwami starts to say something but Marc can hardly hear, for his mind screams with thoughts of rage and ignorance.
Tikki is similar- she sports three pairs of wings and four insectoid arms. She says something too, but again, Marc is hardly paying attention. This is how Ladybug defeated Hawk Moth? This wasn’t a defeat. This wasn’t winning. “Gimmi, reveal yourself.” and suddenly the room changes, a complex design glowing under Gabriel’s feet as Tikki and Plagg are replaced by the kwami of reality.
Marinette unfreezes now- but it’s already too late. She already made her mistakes. Gabriel makes his wish, in the end, and perhaps Marinette changed something, as it clearly wasn’t his original plan, but he is not defeated. He won, if he only gave his own life. Marinette stands still, unable to stop him.
Marc’s perspective fades, and suddenly he is back. His eyes open, blurred and wet with tears, face tensed in a snarl. He couldn’t know how she was so foolish, how he couldn’t have done something earlier.
He needs to keep looking back.