Chapter 3: Ladybug
[Important notes] Please note that I am using google translate for French that I do not know so if anything is wrong, I deeply apologise.
---
~1 Year Ago~
"Rise and shine Purrincess." Marinette smiled at the familiar voice of her partner as she opened her eyes to be met with his adorably green ones. He pushed the curtains aside allowing the light to seep into her room and temporarily blind her. "Adrien! What have I said about opening the curtains!"
"It's the only way to wake you up."
Marinette grumbled and yawned as she slid off the bed only to be lifted up by a pair of strong arms. She squealed as Adrien carried her (bridal style) into the kitchen and placed her at the dining table.
"What's this?" In front of her, the table was adorned with a variety of flowers in the old vase her mother had given her as a parting gift when she'd moved out to live with him.
"Only the best for my Princess." he grinned as he placed a plate of waffles, bacon and eggs in front of her and a cup of coffee with the foam decorated in a cute little heart. "Or have you forgotten what today is?"
She grinned as she pulled herself up and have him a quick peck. "Let me go and get your gift Mon Minou."
She disappeared into a room and was back a second layer with a wrapped up gift, the wrapping paper being black and the ribbon green. "Ooh a lovely gift handcrafted by my just as lovely girlfriend."
She handed the gift to him with a smirk and he opened it to reveal a fluffy hat with cat ears identical to the scarf she'd given him those years ago when they were still in Dupont. "Aww Bugaboo! You shouldn't have!"
"You've literally been begging me to complete the set. Next is gloves."
He placed the gift on the table and pulled her into a warm hug. "Joyeux anniversaire Marinette."
"Joyeux anniversaire Kitty."
-&-
"This is totally rad Marinette!"
Marinette beamed as she watched the rockstar try out another if her works for him, this time it being a hat with music notes plastered all over it.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, someone is here to see you." Penny called out from the door as she then stepped aside to reveal Adrien holding up a brown bag.
She ran over to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Adrien! Do you want something?"
"Wanna go for a little break?"
Marinette looked at the rockstar in the other side of the room for permission and he nodded. She beamed and rushed out with Adrien next to her.
---
"So I visited your parents' bakery and grabbed a few pastries for us."
"Yum."
"And of course, some cheese and cookies for Tikki and Plagg."
At the mention of his name, Plagg came soaring out of his chosen's pocket and as if in cue, so did Tikki.
"Plagg! You should know by now that it's dangerous to come out in public!"
"But sugar cube, there's literally no one here but us!"
The park was empty and if this were a cartoon, you would see a tumbleweed flying through.
Marinette smiled at the kwamis' banter. They were too adorable for their own good! "So shall we?"
"Ladies first."
~Present~
"No." Marinette responded a little too quickly as she wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet, "I'm just feeling a bit sick."
"Marinette have you been feeling a little...exhausted lately?" Tim asked.
"I'm not pregnant!" she fumed before she realised who she'd just shouted at, "S-Sorry."
The men watched her bemused as her mood changed in record speed.
They would need back up. She wasn't going to tell them anything. Jason smiled at her and waved as he walked away but then whipped his phone out as soon as he was out of sight and dialled a few numbers.
-&-
"I'm here!" Marinette's head shot up as a woman with shirt dark hair came tumbling into the room.
She seemed as though she were looking for something but when her eyes landed on Marinette, she bounces over and with a grin, held her hand out and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm Cassandra Cain."
Marinette stared at her hand before holding it and shaking it with what she hoped to be a polite smile.
"I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"I know."
Marinette's smile faltered.
"Ah, sorry. That probably sounded a bit creepy."
It did.
"My brothers have already told me about you." Cassandra sat next to Marinette. "Okay I'm just gonna get straight to the point, Marinette are you pregnant?"
Marinette was flabbergasted. First of all, she wasn't aware that the brothers even had a sister. Secondly, said woman, who she'd just met literally a few seconds ago, just asked her a very personal question. Should she trust her? They don't even know each other! You only tell this kind of stuff to a person you're very close with.
"U-um."
It was Cassandra's hug that stopped her racing thoughts. "I'm sorry I was a bit blunt wasn't I? I just want to help you."
Marinette inwardly scoffed, that's what everyone said! She didn't want to get anyone involved, her parents tried to help her and look where that got them! 6 feet in the ground! However, something about her was unlike everyone else; she was comfortable. Marinette felt as though she could spill all her secrets to this woman and they would all be kept tight in the woman's heart and away from anyone who could use them to destroy her life.
"I-I found out a week before I left Paris."
Cassandra released the hug leaving a blanket of warmth for Marinette.
"I see."
As if by instinct, Cassandra's eyes flew down to Marinette's stomach. Although it was tiny, she could see a baby bump already beginning to form. "You know, everyone would've found out either way."
"I know. I-I just didn't know how to tell them."
"Does the father know?"
The father of the baby was dead.
"No," there was no need to spread anymore information, "He doesn't."
Cassandra smiled at the girl. "You're so tough Mari. Handling this baby all by yourself." Marinette smiled back at the woman. "Thank you," she thought back to a familiar bundle of blue-dyed black hair and aqua eyes, Luka, "But I wasn't alone."
It's not like she'd cheated on Adrien or anything, it's just that ever since Adrien's death, Luka had been there for her. You couldn't cheat on the dead...right?
"We can talk more about this later, the boys are really worried about you. Do you want to tell them or should I?"
Marinette stared into the beautiful blue eyes of the person next to her, this woman was absolutely stunning.
"I will. Thank you Miss Cain."
"Cassandra, call me Cassandra."
As they stood up to go and meet the boys in the other room, a beep went off.
-&-
"Hehehehehe. Come and get me Batty!"
Batman grumbled at the villain standing in front of the building. Why today of all days did Joker have to start terrorising the citizens? "Let her go Joker."
"Not until you come out here and fight me!"
The villain's arm grilled tighter around the mother's neck and she screamed as he pressed the gun harder onto her sweaty forehead. "P-Please. Let me and my child go."
"Shut up!"
Meanwhile, her 4 year old son squirmed in a henchman's strong arms and called out for his mother.
"What the hell does Joker want this time?" Nightwing grumbled.
"I swear he's an attention seeker." Robin quipped.
"Fine Joker. Just let the woman go."
"You know I can't leave without someone's blood dropping batty." His face morphed into a sickening grin as he watched the woman on his grasps scream even louder begging to be freed.
A foot came out of nowhere and before he knew it, he was face down on the floor eating concrete. "Who the hell-" he whipped his face up, his eyes full of vengeance and murder as he looked for the person who'd just fly-kicked him in the head.
His eyes caught onto a new hero. "Who the hell brought a cosplayer to town!" he sneered as he stood up looking around for his gun. ("Says the person dressed as a clown." She thought.)
"Looking for this?" she smirked as she held the gun up flipping it around her finger.
"You bitc-"
He was kicked again. This time by Red Robin and before he knew it, he was being chucked into a police car and being sent of to Arkham, again.
"Puddin'!" A woman in pigtails called out his name frantically as she chased the car.
"Wait for me Harley. I'll be out before you can say Joker!"
The hero in red stared at the car, pride written in her smile before a blade was shoved in her face.
"Who are you!"
"Is that the way you Americans thank someone." she answered as she slowly turned around and lifted her hands up to show surrender.
"Don't make me ask you again." Robin tightened his grip on the sword, his gaze accusing.
"Let her go Robin. She seems harmless."
With that, he sheathed the blade and stepped back.
She kept her hands in the air as she studied the people surrounding her, Robin, Batman, Red Robin, Red Hood, Nightwing and Batgirl watched her with suspicion written in their eyes.
"So are you going to answer the question?" Nightwing broke the silence.
She grinned and in an overly sweet tone, answered, "Pleased to meet you. I'm Ladybug."