Fractured (ON HOLD)

Chapter 9 A new friend

Third pov

The inside of the shelter reminded her of a forest.

There were plants placed pretty much everywhere, hiding places and platforms for the cats to hide on and in.

The cats themselves were many and in different sizes and colors. Eyes watching her from every corner of the room.

"Take a look around, call for me if you find one."

She was left alone.

Marinette looked around a little before taking a seat on a chair by one of the hidden places for the cats to be in.

There's a cat or two that comes up to sniff her and enjoy a back scratching, but no more than that.

At least until an old black cat comes out of the cubby hole beside her. The cat stretches slowly before carefully jumping into her lap and rolling onto her back with a clear "Well, are you petting me or not?" in her eyes.

Marinette was a little afraid to hurt the frail looking cat as she pet it.

"Huh, she usually hates everyone."

There's a woman leaning against a wall, practically melting into the background with the other cats. There's something graceful in the way she moves.

"Does she have a name?"

The woman smiles, and suddenly Marinette is reminded of Adrien's smiles when he was Chat.

"She was owned by a little girl before she came here, the kid named her Sparkles."

"What happened to the kid?"

"Joker happened." There's a flicker of anger that dissapear as soon as it's there. "What's your name?"

"Marinette, what's yours?" Marinette asks, hands continuing to pet Sparkles.

"My name's Selina. Want some help with the adoption papers?"

Time skip

Sparkles looked around curiously when they stepped into the apartment. Marinette put her down to let her explore while she found Butch.

"Butch?" She called out softly. "Come on buddy, I just want to see you."

She looked around until she found her dog laying on her bed, watching her with big eyes.

Marinette held out a hand to him. "Hey buddy."

Butch hesitated but sniffed her hand before letting ger pet him. "I'm so sorry for scaring you. I'm just a mess sometimes."

Something her friends would definitely agree with if they could've heard her.

Sparkles entered the room, looking around on her new kingdom. Butch looked so confused when she jumped up and promptly started getting comfy beside him.

Marinette chuckled. "Butch, meet Sparkles. Our new family member."

******************************************************

"Hello Miss Dupain-Cheng. It's nice to meet the famous MDC, my kids are big fans."

"It's good to officially meet you Mr Wayne. I'm a big fan of Wayne Enterprises and your clean energy initiatives." Miss Dupain-Cheng smiles and it looks genuine.

The dress bags (he can't care to remember the name) are currently filled with Babs dress, Steph's dress and his own suit. All ready for final fitting.

"Thank you. Now, who would you like to meet first? Both Stephanie and Babs are here."

"Let's start with Miss Gordon. I did some adjustments since she does have a wheelchair and I'd like to see if anything else is needed."

The young woman and Babs get along great.

It both puts Bruce on edge and makes him happy. Because Babs has found a friend but said friend is still just a bit off.

He's done reasearch on the young designer.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

19 y/o.

French-Chinese.

Known as having a great eye for detail. Fiercely protective of her close ones.

Orphan.

Time skip
************************************************
*Flashback*

The conversation hadn't been pleasant. Far from it. It was one of few times Chloe and Marinette had been full on screaming at each other.

All because Marinette didn't want to believe that Adrien would truly hurt someone.

She couldn't believe it, he'd been her rock for years, before there was anyone else.

But Chloe had been right and every single one of them had paid the price.

*end flashback*

The heavy, bone crushing sadness and anger in her chest made her feel short of breath.

It overwhelms her sometimes. The crushing grief and the need to know why she is still alive.

Time skip

There's no sun outside when she leaves to get groceries. The streets are filled with a lot less people than usual.

That should have been the first red flag.

She barely gets halfway to the store when something goes off, the shockwave sending her and the five others outside flying.

Marinette hits the side of the apartment building behind her hard.

"Fuck-"

It hurt badly, enough to know that the hit would have killed a normal human.

The wave itself turned her temporarily deaf for a few seconds as she looked around to see just what the hell that was.

"Ladies and gentlemen!~"

Marinette moved slowly to look over the rubble in front of her.

Shit.

Guess who...

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