Italics- thoughts

~Scene/POVchange~

Life: Hey everyone. I know I shouldn't be starting a new story when I have DOTD and WK in the making, along with several unfinished stories that I haven't updated in a while, but I couldn't help writing this plot bunny that showed up when I was binging on the show. Like it or not, I was encouraged to write this, so warnings now are that this story will be mature and darkish. It will be my first dark fic and my first Ladybug and Chat Noir fic. Please be honest on how it is. Tikki take it away!

Tikki: Mademoiselle Life doesn't own the show, only the plot. Merci!

Chapter 1: Shattered

~Marinette~

It should have been an ordinary day, but with the way their lives have gone, it shouldn't have been a surprise. Before meeting Tikki, Marinette's life was ordinary. Helping her parents out in their bakery. Sketching designs for a new outfit or accessory. Couple that with her best friend Alya. Trying to get through a day at school without falling on her face, or making a total fool of herself. But on that one fateful day when she helped an old man cross the road, and later on was startled by the sudden magical appearance of the little red kwami, Marinette back then known that ordinary was no longer an option.

A year has passed since she first became Ladybug, and she should have known that the first people to find out her secret would be her parents. It started one late night that she came home as her superhero alter ego…

~Year xxxx, July 20th. Time: 11:50 p.m.~

Landing on the roof of her family's bakery which doubled as their home, Ladybug slipped through the skylight leading to her room. Sighing relieved to be home, she doesn't that two shocked and startled pair of eyes watch her from the chaise below. As Ladybug releases her transformation, and changes back into Marinette, she hears two sharp intakes of breath shortly before the lights are flipped on. Her bluebell eyes widen as she turns her head to find her parents Tom and Sabine Dupain-Cheng staring at her with their mouths opening and closing soundlessly.

"Maman? Papa?" Marinette squeaked out after a few moments of silence.

Sabine was the first to step forward and actually say something. "So this is why you're always absent and secretive?"

Tikki floated next to Marinette a tiny nub on her Chosen's cheek as a means to support her.

Marinette simply nodded, unable to muster up a proper response.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sabine asked.

"In order to protect the people Marinette loves, I told her not to tell anyone about this. She doesn't even know Chat Noir's identity. Nor he does hers." Tikki said softly so she didn't scare Marinette's parents.

Marinette walked towards her parents standing in front of them with determination shining in her eyes. "There's no one else who can be Ladybug. And I thoroughly enjoy becoming her, so please. Maman, Papa. Please allow me to continue being Ladybug and protecting Paris from Hawkmoth alongside Chat. I cannot promise to always be safe though."

Tom laid his large hand on Sabine's shoulder and the two parents exchanged silent words.

Marinette held her ground by standing firmly with Tikki standing on her shoulder.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tom and Sabine looked at Marinette with unreadable expressions. Marinette held her breath waiting for their response.

"Although we don't approve of you being in danger, we are most definitely proud of you for helping Paris. And as long as you keep your grades up and stay as safe as you can, then we will keep your secret and won't hold you back from your second life." Sabine said calmly.

Marinette's jaw dropped and she squealed after a few moments hugging both her parents. "Thank you, maman. Thank you, papa. I promise that I'll keep my grades up and to try to stay safe. Chat has my back and I have his. We are a team."

Tom hugged Marinette fiercely conveying her unspoken feelings. Worry. Love. Pride. Anxiousness. Fear.

Sabine kissed her daughter's forehead and Marinette smiled happily at Tikki who smiled in approval.

~A week later…~

Ladybug tugged on her yo-yo bringing the akumatized victim to his knees. "Chat! Now!"

"As my lady wishes!" Chat ran forward using his staff to launch himself off the ground towards the oversized scarecrow man snatching the straw hat off of its head and ripped it in half. Watching as the black butterfly flew out of the hat, Ladybug released the scarecrow from her yo-yo's embrace and she began to swing her yo-yo in a wide arc capturing the akuma and purifying it. As everything returned to normal and the purified akuma was released, she pounded her fist with Chat Noir's and smiled victoriously.

"Another day's work accomplished, bugaboo." Chat grinned smoothly.

Ladybug rolled her eyes and smiled playfully. "Don't ever change, kitty." Swinging away by yo-yo, she landed in an alley ducking behind a dumpster so her transformation could wear off. Marinette smiled at Tikki as the small red kwami slipped into her purse tiredly. "Let's head home." Marinette looked around before stepping out from behind the dumpster and started to walk down the alley.

The young brunette paused as she heard shuffling from behind her and she turned around her face paling as the first thing she saw was the barrel of a gun pointed to her face.

"Keep your mouth shut and we won't kill you." Said a muffled but deep voice.

Marinette clutched her purse to her body hoping they wouldn't take it from her and hurt Tikki. Her breathing seemed to stop as she realized a second pair of hands were attempting to lift her shirt. It was then that cold heart-stopping dread and fear made its way into her system. "Oh god please no…" She whispered as everything went dark.

~Later that evening~

"Marinette… Please wake up… Someone's coming…" She heard the small voice of her kwami, but Marinette couldn't find the strength to open her eyes. Her body screamed in pain, especially her hip region.

Frantic shuffling of shoes against the ground started to come closer to her prone body. She heard gasps of horror and shock.

"Mari!" she heard a girl's voice exclaim… Wait, no she knew that voice… It was one she was very familiar with. Adela? No… That doesn't sound right. Amata? No… that isn't it either.

"Alya, call her parents. We're taking her to the hospital." A warm masculine voice said. Marinette noted the underlying shock, sadness, and anger. She vaguely thought of how she must look to them when she felt something warm cover her body.

Wait, Alya… That's it. The girl's name was Alya. My best friend!

She heard another voice right next to the one who held her. "She's alive. And we found her. That's all that matters" This second male voice sounded like it'd normally be cheery, but now all she could sense from it was worry, relief, along with sadness and anger.

Nino… That's Nino's voice… So the one holding me must be…

Marinette's eyes fluttered open and immediately focused on the green eyes watching her with worry. "Adrien…"

"Marinette, you're awake. Good. We were worried." Adrien tried to smile at her as he told his driver to drive them all to the hospital.

"Why…" She started to ask closing her eyes as tears leaked out of her eyes.

I can still cry? I thought I was all out of tears.

Earning completely baffled looks from her friends, she continued with what she attempted to say.

"Why didn't you leave me there?" She asked as her eyes opened and she heard their sharp intakes of breath.

She knew what they saw. Her eyes portrayed exactly how she felt. Dirty. Broken. Ashamed. Hurt. Helpless. She was… shattered.

~Adrien~

He couldn't breathe. Staring into the broken bluebell eyes of his classmate and one of his closest friends. He just couldn't find the strength to draw in a breath. She looked so broken. Whoever had laid his ugly paws on her, would suffer from his rampage. He'd hunt down every low-hearted scumbag in the dark streets of Paris, until he exacted his revenge.

No one hurts what's mine…

He was drawn out of her murderous thoughts as she began to speak again.

"Why didn't you leave me to die? I'm worthless… I couldn't stop them! I should have stopped them! But she just so tired and… and I was scared!" Marinette cried trying to escape from Adrien's grasp.

Adrien held her tighter while he also stroked her shoulder-length hair. He whispered words of comfort into her ear as she slowly calmed down.

Nino was helping Alya talk to Marinette's parents over the phone.

"You should have left me to die, Adrien…" Marinette said calmly as her eyes portrayed bits and pieces of despair and shame.

"Mari…" Adrien said softly to the shattered girl.

Mari… I swear to you… I will pick up all your shattered pieces… And the ones responsible for your downfall shall face my wrath…

Chapter 1 End…

Life: well here it is. It was difficult to write it but I decided to leave out any truly dark parts for now. Let me know what you guys think. As always Read, review, follow, and favorite. Pm me if you must.