Hidden in the sand

Eye of it all

Nino was having a lovely time in his room. Simply relaxing, listening to some tunes, checking his email on his computer while waiting for his laundry to come out of the dryer,

Then a very large bug flew through his window.

That large bug happened to be Adrien.

Nino almost fell out of his chair.

"Ladybug?"

"Mister Bug!" Adrien corrected before brushing off some debris from his chest. "Nino Lahiffe, this is the miraculous of the black cat, it grants the power of destruction, you will use it for the greater good, can I trust you?"

Nino took the ring into his hand, "You can count on me Mr.bug."
———————————————-

Deep in the Agreste household, right passed the sleeping Marinette and through the kitchen was a nervous Nathalie stress eating chowmaine out of a take out box.

There was a storm a brewing and she had no umbrella. Gabriel was cooking up disaster and she was supposed to help.

She had to help

She had no choice in reality.
If she didn't he would take away the only thing that held her frail body together.

God she wished she knew what she was getting into when she said yes those years ago.

When she gave up her strength for the peacock miraculous, only for it to inflict those wounds onto her.

Gabriel and his knowledge of the magic was the only thing between her own free will and crippling Nathalie into severe agony.

She put her fork down when Gabriel came out of his "office".

"It's time for phase two, Nathalie." He said emotionlessly before walking past her.

Gabriel was nothing but the cold empty husk of a man. No longer was he the bright young designer she met in college.

His grey eyes lost their spark years ago, his voice was rarely ever heard unless it was to give orders.

One may even wonder if he had blood in his veins if not for the pity full thumping of his heart that lulled him to sleep each night.

Why did she fall in love with someone who didn't exist anymore.

It was no matter, Adrien asked her to finish putting together an inspection on the school faculty.

And who was she to say no to the blond light in her life.

——————————————————
After that Akuma fight, mr. Bug was invited to hang out in Ninos room and help fold laundry as Nino spoke about his personal troubles.

"And she tells me to, 'Stay out of this Nino it's a girls thing!' Like Marinette is my best friend dude! I deserve to be heard out when I see things as un reasonable!"

"Have you tried talking to her?" Asked Chat, handing him a matched pair of black socks.

"She won't listen, she has this complex where I guess I don't matter to her anymore. I just want my girlfriend to listen but, I don't think she's the person that I thought she was." Nino said looking down for a minute.
"Maybe I deserve it, I've been a bad friend to Marinette by not saying anything earlier."

Well that hit Adrien in the heart for a minute, but he remembered what Plagg told him and Mr.Bug put his hand on Nino's shoulder.

"Hey don't say that, you had no idea what was going on don't beat yourself up about it. Adults are supposed to take care of schoolhouse harassment and bullying, you didn't have to fix this alone. Marinette was afraid to speak up over threatening and I'm not gonna let you feel silenced two."