𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑅𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑘!*

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The vehicle sped off, leaving her standing alone in front of her family's bakery

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The vehicle sped off, leaving her standing alone in front of her family's bakery. She clutched the small black phone Damian had given her, its weight feeling much heavier than it should as she stuffed it into her bag.

She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension from her encounter with Damian. But as she turned toward the bakery's entrance, she froze.

Her mother stood just inside the doorway, her arms crossed and a look of concern mixed with disapproval etched across her face. Marinette's heart skipped a beat. Sabine's eyes flickered from the limousine, now just a speck in the distance, back to her daughter.

"Marinette," her mother began, her voice calm but with an edge that made Marinette's stomach twist, "who was that? And why are you coming home in a limousine?"

Marinette's mind raced. She hadn't prepared for this. "Um, it's not what it looks like, Maman," she stammered, trying to find the right words.

Sabine raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Not what it looks like? Because it looks like my daughter is being chauffeured around by a stranger in a luxury car."

"He's not a stranger," Marinette blurted out, then immediately regretted it as her mother's eyes narrowed. "I mean, he's just a friend... from school. Remember Damian? From yesterday?

"A friend?" Sabine repeated, her tone sceptical. "Since when do your school friends drive limousines?"

Marinette bit her lip, searching for an explanation that wouldn't dig her into a deeper hole. "It's... complicated. He's... an exchange student. His family is very wealthy, and he offered me a ride home. That's all."

Sabine sighed, her expression softening slightly but still tinged with worry. "Marinette, I know you're growing up and meeting new people, but you need to be careful. Accepting rides from people you don't know well, especially in situations like this... it doesn't feel safe."

"I know, Maman," Marinette said, her voice small. "I promise it won't happen again."

Sabine studied her daughter for a moment, the tension in the air slowly dissipating. "I trust you, Marinette," she finally said, her voice gentle but firm. "But please, be more cautious. And if something is going on, anything at all, you can talk to me. You know that, right?"

Marinette nodded, her heart aching at the concern in her mother's eyes. "I know. I will. I'm sorry, Maman."

Sabine's expression softened further, and she reached out to gently squeeze Marinette's shoulder. "Alright, let's go inside. The orders are piling up this afternoon."

As they walked into the bakery together, Marinette couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She hated keeping secrets from her parents, but there were some things-some dangers-they were better off not knowing.

And with Damian Wayne's mission weighing heavily on her mind, she knew this was one secret she'd have to bear alone.

But where did that leave Tikki? She went into her room and she still wasn't there. It wasn't like her to disappear. The creature could have its own alone time but it was never without telling Marinette. She reached out to her left earring as she sat down onto her rotating chair. All her favourite places, all her wants and needs where in this room, so if she didn't get captured, then she just left all on her own.

Marinette didn't like the feeling growing in her chest. A sense of distrust in her kwami was beginning to grow. Just because she was good hearted, doesn't mean she couldn't be out there doing something Marinette was against. After all, Hawkmoth's kwami sat back and watched as Gabriel manipulated people.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Marinette sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the small black phone Damian had given her. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic storm, the weight of her double life pressing down on her. The encounter with Damian, the looming threat of Blackfire, and the sudden reappearance of Hawkmoth had left her feeling more isolated than ever.

Her gaze drifted to the open window, where the soft evening breeze carried the distant sounds of Paris into her room. She had always found comfort in the familiar noises of the city, but tonight, even that seemed foreign and unsettling.

She let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair as she tried to make sense of everything. But before she could gather her thoughts, the black phone in her lap buzzed to life, startling her. Marinette's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the screen, the number flashing unknown.

Hesitant, she picked up the phone and answered, bringing it to her ear.

"Hello?"

A cold, distorted voice crackled through the speaker, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Ladybug."

Marinette's blood ran cold, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't recognize the voice, but the way it dripped with malice made her skin crawl. "Who is this?"

The voice on the other end let out a low, mocking laugh. "You don't need to know who I am. But I know who you are. And I know what you've been up to."

Marinette's grip tightened on the phone, her mind racing as she fought to keep her voice steady. "What do you want?"

"Oh, it's not about what I want," the voice sneered. "It's about what you want. Like keeping your little secret safe. Or maybe making sure your friends and family stay out of harm's way."

Her heart pounded in her chest, the implications of the threat hitting her like a ton of bricks. "If you hurt them-"

"You're in no position to make demands, Ladybug," the voice cut her off, sharp and icy. "You're going to listen very carefully. There's a new player in Paris, and she's not as forgiving as I am. Cross her, and she'll turn your precious city into ashes."

Marinette's breath hitched. "Blackfire," she whispered, more to herself than to the caller.

"Smart girl," the voice replied, the smirk almost audible through the phone. "But here's the fun part-you're not going to do anything about it. You're going to stay out of her way, or I'll make sure you regret ever putting on that mask."

Panic surged through her veins, but she forced herself to remain calm. "And what if I don't? What if I stop her?"

There was a pause on the other end, a silence that felt like it stretched on for eternity. Then, the voice spoke again, softer but more menacing than before. "Then you'll wish you hadn't. And so will everyone you care about."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Marinette staring at the screen, her heart pounding in her chest. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and anger, her mind reeling from the sudden threat. She had faced countless villains before, but this felt different-more personal, more dangerous.

She clenched the phone in her hand, her resolve hardening. Whoever was behind that call, whatever their plan was, they had just made a grave mistake.

Because Marinette Dupain-Cheng wasn't just a girl with secrets. She was Ladybug.

And no one threatened her city and got away with it.

ミ★ ✩𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕖𝕤𝕥 ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥, 𝔹𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤✩ ★彡Where stories live. Discover now