Les Hors-la-loi || Outlaws

10

1167, fifteen years ago

"Maman, why can't I tell Marinette everything? I want to show her how to summon her fairy. Mama Beenie said she would need help in learning to use her skills properly, and I can't help her like the fairy can."

Marlena turned around sharply. "Nora! You will do no such thing! That child is to have no contact with the fairies. She's five years old, if the fairies get hold of her, we may never see her again."

"I don't want the fairies to have her, maman, I just want her to meet her fairy. The one Mama Beenie made her deal with, the one who gave Marinette her name. The fairy that promised to protect Marinette all her life."

Marlena shook her head. "Marinette is not to know about her fairy blood, do you understand me? Those creatures are dangerous and they will take her away from you. I can't tell her these things becaus she is too young. You may help her to get better at her communication with animals but you will never tell her she is part fairy."

"But, maman . . . she's my fairy baby, Fairy-nette, my little sister. I wouldn't lie to Alya, why do I have to lie to Marinette?"

Marlena bent down so that her head was level with her daughter's. "Alya is not a little girl with fairy blood."

"But Alya can talk to the fox. Papa said so."

"Alya has not spoken to the fox ever since. It may have been a simple misunderstanding. Sometimes we can understand animals by their movements, by certain sounds they make. But --"

"But Marinette is special, she knows what they think and how they feel. I know, maman. I know I mustn't tell Marinette that she's a princess, Mama Beenie explained it to me, but I don't know why Marinette can't learn to use her fairy blood to help her. How will the fairy protect Marinette if she isn't allowed to be in contact with Marinette?"

"Nora, it's for the best. Marinette is safest where neither the king nor the fairies can touch her. Please, promise me you will keep these things from her for her safety."

"I have to tell her one day, maman."

"One day, when she is old enough."

~~||~~

1182, present day

Nora took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. One day had arrived, and though Nora had known it would come since she was seven years old, she had never been more unprepared for anything in her life.

She opened the door and started to speak, but stopped at the sight before her. Chat Noir jumped off the ledge and pulled Marinette into a hug, resting his forehead against her shoulder.

Marinette laughed. "It's barely been half a day, love, and you saw me at dinner."

"Still. I didn't get to eat dinner with you."

"And that makes you sad?"

"Um . . . yes!"

Marinette laughed again as he stepped back to shrug off his suit jacket and trade it with the white shirt. He paused before pulling it over his head. "This smells lovely," he said.

Marinette walked over and yanked the shirt down by the hem, making his hair even wilder than before. "I had Sabrina give it to one of the maids for a proper wash. It ended up mixed in with Chloé's laundry," she said as she pulled his mask off and set it down with his clothing.

"Ah. So that's why it doesn't smell like you."

"Flirt," Marinette muttered, pushing him away.