🐞

Gotham's Bug : Back From the Dead

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/23311399.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con
Categories: F/M, F/F, M/M, Multi
Fandoms: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types
Relationships: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug/Damian Wayne, Luka
Couffaine/Kagami Tsurugi, Talia al Ghul/Bruce Wayne, Marinette
Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug/Original Male Character(s)
Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne,
Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Talia al Ghul, Superboy (DCU),
Wilfred Pennyworth, Plagg (Miraculous Ladybug), Tikki (Miraculous
Ladybug), Teen Titans (DCU), Koriand'r (DCU), Raven (DCU), Adrien
Agreste | Chat Noir, Alya Césaire, Nino Lahiffe, Chloé Bourgeois,
Master Fu (Miraculous Ladybug), Luka Couffaine, Kagami Tsurugi,
Joker (DCU), Harleen Quinzel, Barry Allen, Green Lantern, Arthur
Curry (DCU), Diana (Wonder Woman)
Additional Tags: more characters that I'm not bothered to name, Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder - PTSD, trigger warning, Panic Attacks, so many more tags to
add :(, The sequel to Gotham's Bug, Depression, Angst with a Happy
Ending, Fluff, Eventual Smut, Mutual Pining, pining damian, Pining,
Depressed Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Damian Wayne is Bad at Feelings,
Damian Wayne Needs a Hug, Badass Marinette Dupain-Cheng |
Ladybug, Strong Language, Overprotective Damian Wayne, Anxiety,
Hurt Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Marinette Dupain-Cheng Is a
Mess, Secrets, Lazarus Pit, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, Past Talia al
Ghul/Bruce Wayne, Previous Chat Noir and Ladybug, Blood and
Violence, Drinking, Seduction, Strong Marinette Dupain-Cheng,
Oblivious Marinette Dupain-Cheng, BAMF Alfred Pennyworth, Original
Character(s), Abusive Parents
Language: English
Series: Part 5 of A Bat's Bug, Part 2 of Gotham's Bug
Stats: Published: 2020-04-02 Updated: 2022-06-02 Words: 9,136 Chapters:
11/?
 Gotham's Bug 🐞: Back From the Dead
by TerressaWinner

Summary

It's been 2 years since Marinette's death and everyone is back to normal, well excluding the
fact that a ray of sunshine is still missing from their lives. Ryuko and Viperion are now
leading the Miraculous team against Hawkmoth and Mayura and slowly but surely, Chat can
feel his purpose as a wielder fading away. What's the point of a cat without his bug? But
everything changes when Talia Al Ghul discovers a body in a river and Marinette discovers
that she's no normal human.
Join the bats in their mission to rescue their beloved angel from the League of Assassins in
the sequel of Gotham's Bug.
 ________
Her midnight blue hair caught the attention of a nearby light as it glimmered and sparkled
under the light's gaze. She turned around.

Robin stumbled. He'd recognise that arch of barely visible freckles anywhere. And her eyes!
The eyes that had always seemed to draw him in and read him from inside-out stared back at
him. The glint of recognition on her face was gone so soon that he thought he'd imagined it.
The room remained silent until she spoke.
 She's Back

https://youtu.be/H-R3TZX5weE

~2 Years Ago~

"She was a great friend and an inspirational hero."

The streets of Paris remained silent as the citizens stood by the Ladybug and Chat Noir statue
listening as Chat recited the words he'd so carefully prepared. He stood perched on the mossy
green stone, a tear threatening to escape from his tear ducts.

"She was always there for us in our times of need and never ceased to amaze me." he sighed,
"Despite my reckless actions and unnecessary jokes and puns, she-" his voices cracked, "She
still managed to stay by my side and save us all until her last dying breath. She-"

The tear threatening to spill made its way down his cheek and was soon followed by many
more. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't act as if it wasn't killing him on the inside. He
just couldn't! He was always the one that let the whole of Paris, heck, the whole world see
who he was. She was the mature one. She was the sensible one. And now, she was the dead
one.

He screamed. Everyone flinched. They knew how much he'd loved her.

Next to talk was Batman. He spoke of how they first met and how they'd all thought she was
completely bonkers when she'd mentioned akumas and magical jewels that could give people
powers. He spoke of how much he'd underestimated her and thought of her to be just another
normal person who'd had to carry the burden of a whole country on her shoulders, just like
him.

"But no, she was much more than that. I didn't even get to thank her."

Robin watched his father. He could practically feel the depression wafting off him and taste
the bitterness in his voice. He then caught sight of her parents. Tom held Sabine as she shook
and yelled for the young woman who'd captivated everyone's hearts. Everyone else thought
that Ladybug must've found a place in their hearts, however he knew that it was much more
than that.

-&-

"We always knew that there was something strange about her. Ever since her first day of
Lycée, she'd started acting strange and making excuses whenever Hawkmoth was involved.
We'd even caught her talking to herself a couple of times in her room."

Robin eyed the two bakers. He'd come over to tell them the news before the funeral because
as her parents, they deserved to know. What he didn't know though was that she hadn't told
them. Then again, who would tell their parents that they were a superhero who was fighting
dangerous monsters on a daily basis. They would freak out! He was lucky because his family
was a family of heroes - well vigilantes. He couldn't even begin to imagine how she must've
felt carrying this secret on her own with only an old man in a hawaii shirt to talk to.

"We'd suspected that she was Ladybug, however you coming here today only confirmed it."

He couldn't bring himself to say that everything was all right. Because it wasn't. Their only
daughter was dead and they couldn't even find her body to give her a proper burial. The guilt
in his stomach only grew.

~A few months later~

"Put down the knife or I'll shoot!"

Red Hood held a gun to the head of the mugger in his hands as he directed his attention to the
one in front of him who had pulled a random guy off the streets and used him as a hostage.
The mugger watched as his friend squirmed in the hero's arms telling him not to do it and just
take the goods and run. But he didn't. He sighed and dropped the knife, the metal clanking
when it hit the floor, then lifted hands, ignoring the annoyed expression his friends gave him,
and dropped the bag.

Red Hood called the police and left the two men tied up in the alley. He then proceeded to
scout the streets for anymore trouble.

After the incidents of the Grim Reaper and Marinette's death, they'd been surprised to find the
whole of Gotham completely unscathed as if a powerful being hadn't terrorised it and turned
it into a hellhole. They were even more surprised when they'd asked Commissioner Gordon
how everyone was coping after what happened and he'd had no idea what they were talking
about. No one remembered. Well besides the Justice League, them and the Teen Titans. Joker
didn't even remember breaking out of Arkham in the first place! On a more positive note,
Dick had proposed to Barbara the moment she got back and she'd said yes!

Meanwhile, in Paris, everything was beginning to settle down and Viperion and Ryuko had
been chosen as the newly appointed leaders of the Miraculous Team. After Hawkmoth's long
break, he'd started re-terrorising the streets of Paris with stronger villains. Although they'd
won every battle, Ryuko, Viperion, Queen Bee and Chat would occasionally have to call for
back up from the other miraculous wielders. They knew that along with them, the streets of
Paris wouldn't last long without her miraculous cure. They needed her and she wasn't there.

~2 Years Later~

This was the closest they'd gotten to finding Talia. Robin stared down the man in front of
him, one of her henchmen. "Leave him be Robin. We've got other ways of making him talk."
Robin turned to the deep voice behind him and grumbled under his breath. "All your methods
of torture always involve guns and end up with the interrogatee dead."

Red Hood chuckled. Damian knew him so well.

"Stop joking around." Nightwing said as he entered the room,"This is serious."

He looked down at the man they'd pulled into an abandoned warehouse and tied up then
pulled in close to him and spoke, "I'm going to ask you one last time. Where. Is. Talia."

The man responded by spitting on his shoe. Red Robin snickered. His brother was so bad at
this! "If you want him to talk, you're gonna have to make him." he spoke up as he watched
his brother scrape his shoe against the concrete floor. He proceeded to show him by sending
his fist into the man's stomach. He groaned. Red Robin then pulled his hair back and kneed
him in the face sending him flying. The man only spat out some blood and continued to glare
at his captors.

"You were saying?" Robin quipped.

Nightwing sighed. He held the bridge of his nose and opened his mouth to speak only to be
interrupted by the sound of shuffling. The light flickered.

"Who's there!" he demanded. No answer.

"I said who's th-" he felt a sharp pain on his stomach as he was kicked and sent flying.

Robin unsheathed his sword and lunged for the hooded figure who'd somehow made their
way into the room. He was tripped and his sword was sent skidding. Red Hood pulled out his
gun only for it to be hit out of his hands and him to be sent a punch to the face.

The figure then untied the henchman and proceeded for the door to be stopped by Robin's
sword on their neck.

"Who are you!" he demanded. When they didn't answer, he got impatient and instead pulled
the hood off with the tip of his sword. His eyes widened and the sound echoed bouncing off
the walls as the sword made connection with the ground.

Her midnight blue hair caught the attention of a nearby light as it glimmered and sparkled
under the light's gaze. She turned around.

Robin stumbled. He'd recognise that arch of barely visible freckles anywhere. And her eyes!
The eyes that had always seemed to draw him in and read him from inside-out stared back at
him. The glint of recognition on her face was gone so soon that he thought he'd imagined it.

Just as it had when they'd first met, the room remained silent as the boys stared at her and she
stared back. Until she spoke.

"Talia sends a message." her voice ice cold, "Don't mess with us if you don't want to get
hurt."

Then she was gone. The light flickered off covering them in darkness as they watched the
now empty door.

Red Robin was the first to speak, "Holy shit."

Then it was Red Hood, "It can't be."

Their intercoms beeped. "What's going on? What happened!" Bruce's deep voice could be
heard on the other side.

Nightwing was the one to answer, "She's alive."

"Who?" Alfred joined the conversation.

"Marinette." Robin whispered, "Marinette's alive."

 Resurrection
Chapter Notes

I am so so so sorry for the long wait guys! Although the this may not be a very long
chapter, I just had to update for you guys after I think a month of silence! So enjoy! Also
quick warning, mentions of suicide (not that anyone wants to commit it, it just mentions
the themes from Romeo and Juliet)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

~A Year and 4 months Ago~

"--and then he just fell over!"

A chorus of laughs filled the room as the previous fox shared a story.

Marinette had been told that he'd been quite the prankster before he received the fox
miraculous. Maybe that was what had connected him so deeply with Trixx and had stabilised
that connection throughout his years as a hero; the fox was well known to be a very tricky
animal that no one could deceive.

She plastered a smile on her face. She was happy! Truly! But something felt off. Maybe it
had something to do with the fact that she was one of the youngest holders there. Or maybe it
was that pit of emptiness she felt in her heart. She knew something was missing but she just
didn't know what.

She couldn't describe the feeling but whatever it is was definitely sending a message to her
brain because she just couldn't stop thinking these few words: What if I was still alive?

She couldn't help but wonder. If she hadn't fallen into the rings of death, would she be
celebrating their victory with the rest of her friends and family? Would she be sitting under
the moon next to the dark-haired man she cherished and beaming as they counted the stars
and dreamt of the milky way? Would she be jumping around the streets of Paris with her
beloved black cat and scoping the streets when the sun fell asleep in Gotham?

Or would everyone have been frightened the moment they saw her because they thought she
was dead? Would they have run away the moment they caught sight of her dark locks and
bluebell eyes? Would they have thought it better if she had died a hero and not survived the
Grim Reaper's wrath?

Would they have hated her?

She shuddered but then shook her head (mentally of course). How could she even think that!
Of course they wouldn't hate her! Even when Chat was under the Reaper's spell, he didn't
hate her; he hated himself. Poor Chat. Even in the pure midst of her fellow cheery wielders in
this supposed 'paradise', she couldn't help but think that she could've helped him more instead
of running away from him.

"Marinette?"

And Damian. Oh dear, grumpy Damian. She couldn't bear to think of life without him.
Although she knew it was definitely extremely selfish of her to even garnish the thought in
her mind, some part of her still wished that he would've died with her so they could be
together right now. She thought back to a lesson she'd learnt in Dupont. She remembered the
topic so vividly; Romeo and Juliet. They'd been discussing it right before valentines day to
get in the mood of romance, however the veil had shattered the moment the end of the story
came and they'd discovered that they had both committed suicide. It was that moment that
had tore her brain into many different parts; the logical part stating matter of factly that what
they did had been selfish and they would have to burn in the depths of Hell. The romantic
part stating that their love must have been strong in order for them to even think about joint
suicide I mean, they could've just eloped! The neutral part stating that what was done was
done and there was no going back. Her classmates had even thrown a fuss about it and their
different perspectives had clashed; Rose ever the romantic and Max ever the statistic. But
what really broke the mood was when Kim had mentioned the fact that Romeo was way older
than her. Not that age mattered, it just didn't sit well with her.

"Marinette?"

She shook her head. Enough rambling! The point was that it was only now that she
understood how they would've felt at that moment; wanting to be with your beloved wherever
they went and wanting them to be with you wherever you went even if it meant burning in
Hell together. But thinking in a more..romantic..way would've changed her thoughts to adopt
the idea of the flames in Hell in fact being flames of passion and everlasting love that would
never simmer down; quite the poet she was.

"Marinette!"

She jumped. Her head snapping up to meet Chris' charming smile.

"You okay there?"

She chuckled, "Yes, yes. Sorry! I was just thinking."

"I see."

She smiled at the woman. A normal person would've asked what she was thinking but Chris
was no normal person.

"Well whatever you're thinking, hurry up because Tom would like to show you something."

She nodded and watched as the gold-eyed woman walked away.

Although she loved Chris, she just couldn't think of reasons she would really want to stay.
Heaven was supposed to be peaceful and exciting, the moment at the end of time where you
would rest with your loved ones, however this just felt like the end to her. Nothing more,
nothing less. She didn't feel peaceful.

Heaven wasn't really abstract or heavily spiritual in which you would have to spend your
time praying. It was indescribable. It wasn't where you could drink endless beer and party
(she'd seen this in a movie, don't judge her train of thought) or where you would meet the Son
of God and sit by His throne like she'd heard from church-goers. It really was indescribable.
There was no word to really describe it. But she knew one thing for certain; it was like magic.
If she were a scientist that had been blessed with the ticket to the white gates, she certainly
would've thought it to be magic and know that there was no scientific way to explain
something in the sky that no human eye could see.

Sometimes though, her mind led her further and deeper and she would actually doubt her
being there. She'd asked Chris about it once. Wasn't it like cheating? To be granted passage
into Paradise just because you were lucky enough to be blessed with powers and magical
jewels. Chris had laughed and shook her head stating that she'd gotten it all wrong. She'd
stated that there were in fact some wielders in Hell and it all depended on how you used those
powers. Even then, Marinette had still felt wrong about the whole idea. Many people spent
their lives worshipping 'the Big Guy' and had still managed to find themselves in the pits of
doom.

Just how was life judged?

-&-

Marinette stared at the lanky man in front of her. Although he was quite thin, he still had
muscle on him and although he hadn't been blessed by the Goddess of Beauty, he was still
attractive in personality. Although he was rather distant.

She still remembered the first time she'd met him. He hadn't talked despite Chris' attempts
and had just nodded with a small smile.

The previous cat straightened up the moment he saw her and gestured for her to follow him.
They reached a rocky terrain surrounded with trees (once again, Heaven was indescribable)
and she gasped. The water trickled down and raced after each other. She'd only ever seen
these online and never imagined she would be able to ever see the real thing. She never in her
entire life (and after-life) thought she would be able to see a waterfall.

She stared at the masterpiece. Oh how she would've loved to have created a design featuring
this lovely view. She could picture it already; a lovely ballgown, her first and best! The skirt
would be an ever so luscious shade of blue that resembled the water and it would sparkle and
shimmer when they wearer moved around, mimicking the tiny sparkles the water let as it
raced down. The top piece would be simple to contrast the lacy, frilly bottom and of course,
she wouldn't forget to paste her signature along the neck hidden from eyes that didn't want to
see. The only problem she could think of was whether to add puffed sleeves or not? Sure they
would add a more elegant and refined look, however in this modern day women preferred--
 "Tim!"

She was cast out of her thought again by Chris' soft voice as she ran to meet the duo perched
on the side of the waterfall. When she stopped, she had to take a few breaths before even
managing to utter a word.

"Oh Tim!"

The man watched her concerned. "What? What's wrong? Did something happen. Are you
okay?"

It was adorable when he was worried for her. It showed Marinette that they had indeed
worked very well together in their crime-fighting days.

"Tim, the bell rang!"

He froze, his gaze moving from Chris' frantic face to Marinette's confused one.

"W-What's going on? What does that mean?" she asked, confusing laced in her worried
voice.

He turned back to Chris. "This is very rare. It's happened a few times but I've never actually
encountered it. Never--"

"What is going on?" she asked again, her voice more frantic, you could hear the impatience
beginning to form.

Tim remained silent, his mouth gaping as he looked at the young woman.

Chris was the one to answer. "You're being called back into the world of the living Mari."

"You're being resurrected."

Chapter End Notes

Sorry if I went too descriptive, I've just finished watching season 3 of Anne with an E
(that I didn't even know was out until I decided to re-watch seasons 1 and 2 for the
umpteenth time!) and I love the last episode! Their love at the end is too much for my
heart to even bear *swoon*. Anyway, Anne has inspired me...All these mentions of
death and resurrections have made me think about the fact that when I eventually pass
on, I won't be able to see how many more views my stories have gotten or read and
reply to the lovely comments you guys post...How sad.
 The Moon
Chapter Notes

So sorry for the long wait guys! I have no excuses other than I was being lazy and
procrastinating!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

~A few hours after awakening~

The cold night air breathed in through the window. She shivered and held the cotton blanket
closer digging her head deeper into the soft pillow. She didn't think it was possible. To come
back to life. She didn't think she would get another chance. Chris had told her that it was the
end of her story. That she wasn't needed anymore. But she hadn't told her that there was a
way back. It wasn't the end of her story. It was the end of the first book. The first life.

And now she'd have to live another one. A second life.

She sighed and burrowed her head deeper into the pillow and reached up to her ears where
the cold, smooth metal of earrings sat. She looked down at the little kwami tucked in the
blanket snoozing away; her soft snores a soothing melody that calmed her down. It reminded
her of Luka. All her friends. Somewhere else in the world thinking that she was dead.
Thinking that their best friend was nowhere to be found. That she was gone.

Her stomach grumbled moaning for food. But she was too scared to even dare take a step
outside. Who knew resurrection would make you so damn hungry. The clock in the room
ticked but told the wrong time. Every second that went past was another second of her life
wasted. Here she was breathing in fresh air again. Able to be free and yet so trapped.

She stared up at the ceiling as her thoughts led her back to how she'd felt when one minute
she was staring at Chris as she told her she was going to live again and the next, she was
emerging from some neon green substance coughing and sputtering as she blinked trying to
make sense of what was going on and was met with the sight of a woman with long, dark hair
smirking at her and welcoming her back to the world of the living.

Ever since that moment, one thought constantly nudged at the back of her head.

She'd just cheated death. There would be consequences to pay. A price. There always was.

-&-

~Meanwhile, in Paris~

"Chat, what the hell was that!"

The black cat stared at the bee in front of him and shrugged.

"You could've--" She was interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. She turned to the owner and
the dragon shook her head.

It was the snake who spoke next, in a more calm tone, "Chat. We know you're hurting but
you can't risk the lives of the civilians." he paused letting his words sink in before he carried
on, "Besides. What would Ladybug thi--"

"Don't you ,dare bring her into this!" he snapped silencing the snake. "We caught the akuma
and that's all that matters."

With one more look at his new teammates, he leaped off the roof and into the night.

They watched him. He was hurting bad and the only person that could help him now wasn't
even alive.

-&-

~Meanwhile, in Gotham~

Robin perched on a roof and watched the dark streets before putting a hand to his comm and
muttering, "All clear here."

"Same." Red Robin answered.

"Nothing here." Red Hood answered.

"Not here either." Nightwing answered.

"Sweep clear. Leave." Batman ordered.

Robin winced. His voice was just too damn loud! He responded with a 'copy that' and turned
around to leave to only be stopped by a silhouette...with cat ears and a tail.

At first, he considered it to be the black cat paying a visit, but when the figure stepped into
light he grumbled.

"What the hell do you want."

Catwoman smirked. "Chill out!" Robin glared at her as she sat down - presumably to make
herself more comfortable before continuing - "I was just taking a little stroll around town and
saw a certain Robin so decided to say hi!" She grinned.

His eyes narrowed, "What do you really want?"

She placed her hand over her heart, "Ouch! Have a little trust!"

He raised his eyebrow, his patience growing thin.

She sighed then grinned, "Tell Papa bat to be over around 2 to pick me up."
 She jumped off the roof, but not before shouting, "And tell him to not forget the flowers this
time!"

Robin rolled his eyes. He still did not approve of their relationship. It just felt so weird...

He looked up at the moon. Watching as it stole the attention from the rest of the sky.

~Back to Marinette~

A knock at the door startled her and she shot out of bed waking Tikki in the process.

She opened the door to be met with no one. A glint caught her eye and she looked down to
find a card. She picked it up and read it.

It's time. ~Talia

She sighed. Her new life had begun.

She stepped back into the room to grab her coat. The moon lit up her face and the stars
winked at her. She smiled when Tikki plopped onto her shoulder and together they looked up
at the moon.

Watching as it stole the attention from the rest of the sky.

Chapter End Notes

Okay, so this chapter was pretty short, but the next one'll be longer!
 She's Special isn't she?
Chapter Notes

[Important, please read] Okay, first of all, what do you guys think about the new
covers I made for Gotham's Bug 1 and 2? (They're on Wattpad) I was starting to get
pretty tired of the old ones. Secondly, I don't really know how the League of Assassins
works so I'm just gonna make it kind of like a school or something where they have to
train to prove worthy to actually get in (it's gonna kind of be like assassination
classroom XD - the anime for those who don't know). It's gonna be pretty harsh so I
apologise for any things that they do that may scare you or bring up bad memories.
Because of this, I will put warnings at the start of the chapters that include violence and
stuff. I'm not gonna go too easy on Mari since I can imagine a place for assassins as a
very cruel place and so I give you permission to hate me as much as you want, but just
know that things will get better for her. Also, once again, since I do not know how the
League of Assassins and such works, I will be making Talia a cruel character. But she
still has a heart and feelings which you will see snippets of as she gets to know
Marinette (I won't say anymore about their relationship since it'll give off spoilers).
There are going to be a bunch of Original Characters (don't you other writers just find it
so hard to find the right names for OCs that actually fit in and don't make you cringe?
*sigh*). Also, very importantly, the story will continue from 6 months (aka a year and 4
months ago) after Marinette's death until the present because going back and forth
would just make things much more complicated and confusing. But I will occasionally
go back to the present and then back again to the past. Also, just to clarify things,
Marinette is resurrected 6 months after she died.

Thnx for reading those important notes, now let's get to the chapter! :-)
(Words written in bold are words that are said with more power. Like a commander
shouting at his underlings and emphasising specific words to make them more
meaningful.)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"You will have three courses; educational, physical and mental." Talia paused for effect
watching the initiates that stood in front of her, her eyes staying a second longer on
Marinette. "You may think that being an assassin is all about hiding in the shadows and being
quick and getting the job done. However!" her voice boomed, "Real life isn't like all those
stupid crime shows you watch. We also hide in plain sight. Throughout your life, you
could've passed by an assassin or two and had no idea. The best way of deception is the art of
camouflage. You will learn all of this in your educational classes. Every morning, you will
wake up at 5 am sharp and have 10 minutes to get ready. You will then report here where you
will run 10 laps in 20 minutes! I don't care how you do it. But if you fail to meet the rest of
the group, you will be punished!"
A few of the others gulped.

Her eyes narrowed. "You chose to come here. You chose to let us find you. So now, we will
choose you! Only the strongest of you will come out of this alive." Her frown deepened,
"You'll start tomorrow. No one will help you and you will not help anyone! If you are caught,
you will be punished! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!"

The initiate nodded, their heads whizzing up and down in quick motions.

"Anyone who doesn't want to take part, feel free to leave. The doors are right there." She
pointed towards a set of double doors on their right. "Just know that the moment you step out
of that door, you will be eliminated. We can't have anyone exposing us now can we?" She
sneered. She looked around at the initiates. Some of them were young. Others were old. They
came in various shapes and sizes. But all of them had that same look in their eyes. A mixture
of fear and determination.

"I mentioned earlier that you will neither receive nor grant help. I lied." She paused again for
effect, "You will have partners. They will be picked randomly to make things fair." She spat
out the word as though she had no intention of ever using it again. "You and your partner will
work together and if you manage to succeed and pass all the courses, we may allow you to be
a team. However, if your partner fails, you fail."

"For today, you will be allowed free time to do whatever the hell you want. You will not be
given a tour so I suggest you use this time to fully acquaint yourselves with your
surroundings. There will be no designated bedtime and women and men will share dorms."

She stopped walking right to left and clicked her fingers. A loud horn was blown from
goodness knows where. "When you hear this, you will assemble in the hall no matter where
you are and no matter what you're doing. If you do not get here in under 10 minutes, you will.
Be. Punished! You will be allowed to carry weapons but only in the daytime. I don't want to
see any bloody corpses when I wake up in the morning. If any of you resort to such cowardly
methods, we will find you and we will kill you!"

Her frown turned upwards as she gave something akin to a smirk. "Oh, and alcohol is in the
storage room on the second floor, ten doors to the left." Her smirk washed away and was
replaced by her signature frown. "But if you finish it, or destroy anything that's not in the
training grounds, I will personally hunt you down."

She lifted her left arm and the guards stationed around moved from their positions and stood
behind her. A few went into a room in the back and came out holding what looked like (and
probably was) a box with a hole in the top. They set it up on the table behind her and nodded.

Talia made her way around. "I will now choose your partners." She plunged her hand deep
into the box and then pulled out two pieces of card. She read the names out loud. "Kawan
Teeha and Ethan Shride." A man with dark skin and short, black hair stepped out along with a
man with lighter skin and longer hair; one of them seemed to be in his early twenties while
the other was in his mid-thirties. They nodded at each other and stood to the side.
"Audrey Stiff and Isa Beureat." A light-skinned woman with long, straight and blonde hair
pulled up in a ponytail stepped to the side with another of a brown-tanned skin tone who also
had her hair in braids; she looked to be Caribbean. One seemed to be in their forties and the
other looked as though they'd just turned 20.

"Garrett Armstrong and Karen Hart." A bulky man with short, blonde hair and a woman with
mid-length ginger hair stepped to the side. Both of whom seemed to be in their early thirties.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Marinette perked up at her name. "and Konrad Wolff."

She stepped to the side along with a tall man with light, tanned skin and short, dark hair that
reminded her of Tim's. He looked around her age. Lucky her to not be stuck with an old man
or a naive brat. He smiled at her from where he stood next to her but she didn't smile back.
Not yet. They hadn't even exchanged words yet. She didn't know if he could be trusted. She
gave him a curt nod and turned back to the woman shouting out names. He kept his eyes on
her a second or two longer before turning his head back forward as well.

-&-

"21, 22, 23! Here!" Marinette stared at the door in front of her. It was an old design and
wasn't much. But then again, she hadn't really been expecting much considering they were
only temporary lodgings. The man from before, her partner, Konrad stopped at the door next
to hers. He smiled and turned to her. "Looks like we'll be neighbours."

She looked around at the other initiates. "I think all partners are placed next to each other."

Before he could respond, she turned the bronze door knob and opened the door entering the
room and closing the door tight behind her then locking it. At least they were decent enough
to include locks. Tikki whizzed out of her pocket and slumped down on the bed snuggling
into the cotton duvet. Huh. The room wasn't as bad as she thought it'd be. She was expecting
a bed with a flimsy blanket and wallpaper peeling off, but it was actually a decent room! She
studied the plain walls. She knew she wouldn't be allowed to draw on them, but if she found
some equipment, could she perhaps stick some things up? Talia didn't mention anything
about decorating and she could take them down if she had to.

She stared at the blank wall and sighed. If only Plagg were here. He could cataclysm the
whole building and then she could escape. She looked outside the window once more.
Despite them being double-glazed, they weren't barred. If they had the strength and supplies,
anyone could break out. But it couldn't be that easy. Nothing here was going to be that easy.

-&-

"So." His deep voice bounced off the silent walls as they walked down the hallway lit up by
candles and overhead lamps. Couldn't they burn the place down? No the walls were too thick.

"What's your story?"

She looked up at the man standing next to her. "Excuse me?"

"Why did you choose to come here?"

Here eyebrows furrowed as she slowed down in pace. He stopped and looked back to see her
come to a stop looking down. "I didn't."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

She looked back up and carried on walking. "I didn't choose to come here. I was brought
against my will."

His mouth opened then closed again. He stared at the woman next to him. He could just
about make out how hollow her eyes looked. "That's not right."

She stopped again. He sighed and looked back again but froze at the look in her eyes. "Does
this look like a place of morals to you!" She looked as though she would chew him up, spit
him out and then proceed to burn him and scatter his ashes into the air.

She sighed and shook her head. "S-Sorry. I just."

Her legs carried on moving again, albeit much slower. He shook himself out of his shock.
That look of hers could stop even the deadliest of killers in their tracks. He nodded slowly at
nothing. They both walked in silence. It was the laughter of another duo that broke it as they
walked past probably talking about the best way to dissect a person without leaving any
traces of you even being there in the first place.

She cleared her throat. "So. Your name. It's German. But you sound American."

When his dark eyes met her bluebell ones, his shoulders slumped relieved and he smiled. "I
was born in America but my family's in Germany. I know a couple of sentences and phrases.
Enough to hold a conversation."

He looked back straight ahead. "Aren't you going to ask me?"

She looked back up and although you could barely make it out, the corners of her lips lifted
up. "What's your story?"

-&-

"What are you planning?"

Talia looked up from her desk where she was scanning some paperwork then looked back
down. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

A man with bulky arms and dark hair and eyes leaned forward. "You know exactly what I'm
talking about. It's not every day you find a random dead girl floating in a lake and decide to
wake her up."

Talia sighed ignoring the man and reading the last few lines of the paper.

"She's special isn't she?"

 She looked up. He flinched and backed up. Her smile was telling her one thing, but her eyes
were telling him a whole other story.

She slammed the paperwork down and signed it then placed it in an envelope and held it out.

"Listen Kubo. What I do with my initiates is none of your concern. You're here for one reason
and one reason only."

He grabbed the envelope. "Of course. I apologise for my impertinence." He bowed. "What
should I tell the Wolffs?"

Her eyes pierced through as she stared holes into the envelope and her mouth grew into a
sickeningly sadistic grin as she licked her lips. "Tell them I accept. Their money will be
transferred tonight."

Chapter End Notes

So sorry guys! I was gonna upload this a few days ago, but my laptop had to be taken
away for repairs. But now it's back and better than ever! XD I hope you all enjoyed thus
chapter. Oh, and please don't curse me for any events coming up that you don't like.
Because not everything goes in the direction you want it to go in. Including Marinette's
heart. ;-)
 Book Cover
Chapter Summary

This is not a new chapter! I repeat, this is not a new chapter! This is the cover of this
book that is also co-posted on Wattpad!
I created this cover so no plagiarism here! :-)
 Suffering Peacefully
Chapter Notes

I've decreased Ethan Shride's age from mid 30s to early 20s.

[Warning] Angst ahead!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"When I was a kid, my parents and I were on a trip. We got ambushed and they--" he rubbed
a hand through his hair "they didn't make it."

She could only stare. Here was a man who'd lost his parents at a young age. He was an
orphan. She was not. He'd been through so much probably alone whereas she'd had friends
and family to help her along the road. She didn't know what else to say and so hung her head
and muttered three common words "I'm so sorry."

He looked down at her. He seemed to confirm something as he studied her before looking
back up and down the hallway. "This seems far enough. Why don't we go and check out the
wine?"

She sighed. "I'm fine. You can go. I'd rather not get drunk tonight."

"This is probably our last day of freedom before we start training. You should enjoy it.
Besides, we shouldn't separate. It's dangerous. We don't know what can happen alone."

She scoffed. "I doubt anyone would go against Talia's word."

A stream of moonlight from the window hit him as she looked up and her eyes went wide as
he said his next words chilling her to the bone. "People here aren't that obedient. We're
training to be assassins and I'm sure a fair amount of them know how to cover their tracks.
Benevolence isn't in their dictionary." He looked at her and smiled. "But don't worry. I'll
protect you."

Her bluebell eyes met his dark ones before he broke the gaze. "Do you want to go for a run?"

She cleared her throat. "Sure."

-&-

-Paris-

He lifted his hands to his ears. Silence.

That's all he really wanted right now. Peace and silence.

Only she could provide it to him. Her existence was his happiness. His peace.

But she was gone.

It wasn't silent anymore.

His head was filled with noises. Screams. Yells. Temptations. Failures.

"Shut up!" He whined. "Please, just shut up."

"You need help. You should go to Master Fu."

He sent a glare towards the kwami. "Master Fu can't help me. Only she can."

Plagg sighed. "She's not here."

The sound of glass pierced the silence in the air as a glass cup hit the wall shattering into
millions of crystalline pieces. He growled. His hand slammed on the table. "I know dammit!
You don't need to remind me!"

Plagg stared. Just stared. Then he sighed. "I can't take out the remnants of the Reaper left
behind. You should speak to someone. If not me then maybe Nino."

"Nino won't understand. He's too happy to understand."

Plagg rubbed a claw down his face. "You shouldn't patrol tonight. The cat is reacting badly to
the Reaper's magic. It's dangerous."

A tear found its way dripping down his cheek but he shrugged it away and turned, his blonde
hair shaking and the sclera of his eyes unnaturally grey. "Well what do you want me to do?
My heart aches every day and I just can't take her off my mind. And the others keep looking
for Marinette and I can't tell them who she is or that she's--gone."

"I want you not to blame yourself. I'm the one that got tainted Adrien. I passed it onto you.
You should take a break."

He glared at himself in the mirror. "Why? Because they don't need me? Because I'm useless?"

Plagg shook his head. "No. Because you need to rest. All this work is showing on your face.
Like it or not, your Father's going to get suspicious."

Adrien turned around and slumped on a chair.

"To hell with him."

-&-

-Location Unknown-
Their footsteps echoed down the hall as they ran racing against each other. She liked how the
air hit her face. It was peaceful. A tousle of blonde invaded her vision and she skidded to a
stop crashing into the figure that seemed to creep up next to her. Her eyes found him and she
sighed in relief as the man smiled.

She shook as she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Konrad next to her. His
stature was guarded and he glared at the other man. "Can we help you Shride?"

The other man's smile spread wider. "You know me."

Konrad frowned. "What do you want."

Ethan's smile barely faltered and his demeanor remained calm as he shrugged.

"I wanted to ask if you two wanted to run with me."

Konrad's eyes narrowed. "Why not do it with your partner?"

Ethan sighed. "He's so uptight! He always leaves me and told me that if I drag him
down...you get the message."

Konrad grabbed her arm as though preparing to run. "Why us? There are many more people
here you could choose."

Ethan shrugged again. "You guys seem chill. I have no reason to not trust you."

"You don't have any reason to trust us either."

Ethan's smile faltered. "I don't know. I just get a feeling from you two. Something calm and
peaceful. Everyone here is too loud or too quiet. But you're just right."

Konrad scoffed. "You're quite the poet aren't you."

Ethan burst out laughing, his voice smooth. "So. Running. Shall we?"

"You know we'll all get punished and you've given me no reason to trust you." He turned
pulling Marinette with him and began walking away before turning and glaring at the man.
"Leave us alone and go run back to your partner." He turned back tightening his grip on
Marinette's arm and kept walking.

She took a peek behind them and almost missed Ethan's glare before he smiled at her and
turned around walking back.

Konrad's voice brought her back. "Be careful. Stick with me at all times. Don't trust anyone."

"Even you?"

He looked down at her. "Whether you choose to trust me or not depends on you."
Chapter End Notes

Okay, this chapter was pretty short. I just felt like I should update this. The next one will
be longer.
 Updating

So recently, I've been having . . . let's just say 'problems' which will unfortunately make it
harder to read and write and understand things (also school is starting) and so my update
times will be a lot slower.

Thanks for reading.

 It's not your fault you're broken
Chapter Notes

Two words you know well: No excuses.

[Warning] Swearing.

Also, I've lost my phone (well technically, I know exactly where it is due to find my
phone, but the problem is going there since everyone's tired and we're leaving soon) so I
won't be able to update during my month away as planned. Hope I get it back...

Ugh. I never realised how emotionally draining losing your phone is.

God, do I need help.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

"Wake the hell up man!"

Chat Noir's eyes flew open and he wheezed in pain coughing and gasping.

A quick sigh followed from next to him and he squinted at the sight of Rena Rouge pacing
across the room.

Carapace offered him a hand which took. He stumbled as he stood but before he could ask
what happened, a sudden crash of a fist broke at the skin against his cheek, sending his head
backwards at an alarming rate.

He hissed and looked back to meet Ryuko's furious eyes. "Listen and listen well. I'm not
going to emasculate you in front of your buddies, but just know that I don't care what you're
going through if it means it jeopardises our missions. You aren't here to be an emotional train
wreck and I have no clue why the Guardian chose you of all people to wield such a
destructive force, but if you don't stop being a baby and learn how to separate your hero life
from your personal life, then I swear I'll--"

Viperion pulled her arm with a force he knew would be overstepping his boundaries.

She glared at him. "I don't need you to be a mediator here. This guy's been messing up too
many times and he just cost himself his life!"

Viperion held his arms up. "I'm not here to be a mediator. I'm just here to make sure our team
doesn't fall apart because it's the only thing holding Paris together."
Before Ryuko could snap back, Carapace spoke up. "What the hell's happened to us!" He
gestured to them all. "We're supposed to be a team. We can't keep fighting the wrong wars.
We're all alli--"

"Listen, you don't need to start making one of your big speeches. We get it." Carapace's
eyebrows shot up as Rena Rouge interrupted.

Chat Noir shook his head. "No, you don't get to speak for all of us. I don't get it. Why should
I even bother for a city that's a lost cause?"

Viperion twitched. "Because that's what heroes do."

Chat threw his arms up. "Well I'm no hero."

Rena's eyes narrowed. "As far as I can see, you have a magical pet cat and are on this side of
the line. So yeah. You are a hero."

Chat glared at her. "Plagg isn't my pet. Would you like it if I started talking about your fox?
About how annoying she is and how loud she is. Or if I started talking about your boyfriend's
kwami? Gods, he just never shuts up does he? Always going on and on--"

Rena's eye twitched and she leaped for him before being grabbed at the waist by Carapace.

Carapace held his fighting girlfriend in his arms, his attention directed towards Chat. "Listen
dude, I know you're in pain but your shouldn't take it out on us. We're your friends."

Chat's snort echoed around the abandoned warehouse. "You're my friends? Listen
Ni...Carapace. She is not my friend. She's your girlfriend. She was friends with Marinette
and that's the only reason we hung out."

Rena hissed. "Don't you dare talk about her in past tense! We're still friends! As soon as I find
her, I-I'll--

"You'll what? Tell her how her parents are trying to move on? Tell her that you and Nino and
planning to get married? Oh joyous days! Nino and Alya the perfect couple!" His voice went
up a pitch. "Everyone celebrate Nino and Alya and their perfect fucking lives!" He walked
towards them. "You know, I actually feel sorry for you."

Carapace's frown went deeper and his heart tugged. "What happened to you dude?"

Chat answered bluntly, the sharpness of his voice almost capable of cutting through solid ice.

"Ladybug died."

Carapace grunted as Rena hit him on the chest attempting to escape his grasp. "Listen man, I
don't know what you feel but--"

"Yeah, you don't."

All the heroes stood to attention as a new voice entered the building. His voice still
unfamiliar territory to those who had yet to get used to his presence.

"You don't know how he felt when his partner got ripped away and he wasn't even lucid
enough to understand why."

Rena stopped struggling and stared as the uninvited guest got closer.

"You weren't there. You were all the way over here unaware of the war we were fighting, the
trauma we went through and the things we'd seen. It's not a pretty thing watching your friends
and family get beaten to a pulp." He turned to Chat. "Watching behind a stranger's eyes as
you throw your partner and mangle her."

Ryuko cut in. "It's not our fault Ladybug didn't call us."

The guest met her eyes with a coldness to them that almost made her look away. "You know,
I was surprised when she didn't come back with backup. Me and my team were expecting to
see you guys in your colourful cosplay and magical auras. And so when she came back
empty-handed, I wanted to ask her why but Batman stopped me."

He scoffed. "There was something about the way she just stood there all alone and said so
calmly that she didn't bring you that just shook something in me. I was confused. I thought
she just didn't want to bother her friends, and it took me a while but I finally understood why
she didn't do it."

They stared at him waiting for him to explain. He crossed his arms. "Oh, I'm not telling you.
You have to figure that part out yourselves."

Chat knew all too well what he was talking about. And despite his well-timed interruption, he
still felt angry. "Listen bird, I don't need you to fight my battles for me."

The man barely flinched. "Really? Because as I recall, you weren't there to fight the first
battle. Someone else had to fight it for you."

Chat snarled.

Carapace huffed. "Okay, this is seriously messed up. You can't just defend him and then
throw something like that back. You were just saying how it's not his fault and now you're
blaming him? What the actually hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't follow the same moral compass you do."

Viperion shut his eyes and muttered something under his breath before opening then back.
"What do you want? What's your end game? Are you just here to grill us about how bad at
our job we are?"

The man shook his head. "I'm here because you're too stupid to put the pieces together. I don't
care if there's some glammer or whatever you call it hiding you from figuring it out."

Chat shot himself towards the man's side. "Shut up."

He barely received notice as the man continued. "You ask me what the hell's wrong with me
when you can't even figure your own shit out."

"Shut the hell up man!" Chat pushed him.

"I'm not here to reveal secret identities. I'm here to tell you to pull yourselves together
because all of you need to grow up and think like adults! I know that this is your first time
seeing your world broken like this, your city falling to pieces and that hopelessness you feel
when you want to think everything is going to be okay but deep down, you know that nothing
is going to work out. I know how that feels. I've lived it multiple times."

Ryuko interjected. "I don't need you telling me what I can and can't feel."

"No, I think you do. I think you need someone who's going to be straight with you. So I'm
going to be that person. You suck. You're stupid, impulsive and bloody useless!" Ryuko
growled. He continued. "And I don't think your city is going to survive with you being stuck
in a place like this with no clue what to do or where to even start."

Ryuko opened her mouth to interject again, but Carapace beat her to it. "So what do you
suggest we do? We weren't raised with your view of the world. And I don't think Ladybug
was either, so how do you expect us to become the oh so great hero that she was?"

The man's eyebrows furrowed. "Ladybug wasn't perfect. But she knew what she had to be
willing to sacrifice. So you need to wake up and do the same!"

"Who do you think you are lecturing me about making sacrifices?"

The man's eyes switched to Ryuko. He considered responding with a fiery comeback, but
kept his mouth shut. "I'm the person who got impaled and died with her staring into my eyes.
Did your partner here not tell you that part? How I died bleeding out as she cradled me in her
arms? How I'm probably the last person who saw her alive? In a war, things aren't pretty. You
can't use your bright rays of light and orange magical smoke to make death look nice. It
isn't."

He barley spared them a glance for their reactions and focused his attention on Chat. "Batman
sent me here to get you. Hurry up."

Without another word, he walked out.

Viperion called out for him with a desperate "Robin, wait!" but the man didn't answer.

Chat sent a glance to Ryuko watching as she dug her nails into her palms and stared at the
entrance.

Before he left, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't bother turning around knowing
immediately who it was. Nino's voice was soft but hardened by the fear of many failed
battles. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you dude. I can't do anything to change that, but just
know that I'm here now."

Chat didn't glance back and only removed the hand from his shoulder.
 He wanted to believe that. He really did.

But nowadays, he knew that hope was too much to ask for. Friendship..no, family, could wait.

He walked out with heavy steps.

To be continued....

Chapter End Notes

I say to be continued because I was planning on making this chapter a lot longer,
however I don't have time any more and so sorry for the short chapter, but I felt like it
would do good to give you guys a little refresher since it's been a while since I updated
this.
 I'm on Tumblr!

False alarm! No new update just yet! I just wanted to say that I am now on Tumblr with my
username TerressaWinner and will be posting things about updates and stuff about my fanfics
on Tumblr.

I will also include things like extracts or little sneak peeks for some updates and just anything
to do with my fanfics.

Like how the last chapter for 'Hit with a Love Spell' is currently on it's way.
 Another step back
Chapter Notes

I'm posting this and walking away cos you guys have spent way too long waiting. It's
very short. Like very. But this is also for me. It's a kick start to get myself up and
running again cos I need to get back that thrill of writing and uploading a fresh new
chapter. So sorry for this short chapter, but this is just a kick start and boost for me and
to officially announce that I'M BACK!

Personally, I'm not proud of this unfinished chapter cos it's unfinished, but I know that
staring at a screen and waiting for my hands to start doing stuff won't work anymore. I
need inspiration. And by inspiration, I mean that I need you guys to start throwing
comments and random ideas at me XD. Thnx for your patience.

Marinette stared at him before yanking her arm out of his grip. She rubbed it attempting to
console the pain left behind by his force and he just stared, no remorse or guilt on his face.

"Who are you?" First, he'd been nice. Then he'd not. And now he was acting as though he
actually cared for her safety. "What the heck are you? Y-You're so confusing!"

His eyes narrowed before his feature's relaxed and he gave a deep sigh, rubbing his face
down his hand. "Listen, Miss Cheng--"

"I'm sorry, Miss Cheng?" Marinette sputtered and her eyebrows shot up.

He shrugged. "We barely know each other. I can't just--"

She shook her head, her anger rising. "Listen, Mr Wolff. I don't understand what you're trying
to do here. You pull me towards you then you push me back again. Can't you just decide what
you want from me!"

She watched as realisation dawned across his face. "I understand why you feel so abandoned
but--"

Her hand met his face before she could even begin to process it. "I wasn't abandoned. I chose
to go."

He met her eyes and frowned before nodding. "I understand." He swerved around and began
to walk. "We should return to our rooms."

She watched as he walked away, the darkness swallowing him whole.

 Lost
Chapter Notes

Hey guys, sup, I'm not dead yet. Warning. The chapters are gonna be a lot shorter from
here for a while cos a lot of stuff's changed and I just feel like I need to rewrite the
whole story plot, or at least tweak a few things I was gonna do. Ughhh I really just
wanna get to the juicy, interesting parts but I have like a year and a couple of months of
Marinette's life with Talia to write. This is gonna take so many chapters.

She didn't know how long she stood there. Pondering his words, her thoughts inching her
closer and closer to a breakthrough before retreating.

Damian had been one thing. A confusing creature, but at least honest.

This man--this man was something else entirely. She had yet to know what to make of
Konrad Wolff and what role he would play in her new life, if any at all.

-&-

The door to her room shut with a thud and she slid down it with a sigh.

Tikki flickered to her side almost immediately, sensing the uneasiness in her wielder's tone.

"Speak to me Marinette."

Marinette met Tikki's eyes, blue meeting blue, and she shook her head. "What am I doing
here, Tikki? Why does everything feel so wrong?"

Tikki stared at her wielder and friend. "Creation can only exist so long without having to rely
on destruction."

Marinette's gaze shifted to the window where the moon shone.

"Chat, what's going on?"

Her mind reeled as it brought her back to memories of the moment this had all begun. A time
when she feared Chat Noir. When she was scared of her best friend and teammate. Her heart
ached as though those memories had left a deep-rooted scar. As though her body seemed to
remember what her mind refused to.

What it felt like to lose a friend to the chaos that was destruction.
For the first time that night, she said the most honest and reassuring thing her mind had the
decency to expose. "I'm not supposed to be here."

"We're never really supposed to be anywhere Marinette, we just are."

-&-

-Gotham-

Demons wrestled inside his head as he listened to his father, his mind there..but not
really there.

He'd battled war scars before. He knew that it took a while for certain ones to fade, but this
gash just kept reopening.

He glanced over at Chat Noir leaning on a table.

They weren't quite friends. In fact, scratch that, they weren't friends at all. They were just two
people who'd been unfortunate enough to lose the same person.

Chat Noir was an ally.

Sometimes he had to remind himself that Chat was like a newborn when it came to losing
people in war. He had yet to go through the stages and learn to deal with the passing ache.

Chat was new to this.

But that thought alone still hadn't stopped him from harbouring thoughts of said cat tasting a
certain bitter bat's blade.

Whether under the influence or not, Marinette had managed to worm her way into his ice
cold heart and this bastard had been the one to tear away hers.

He still hadn't figured out how she'd done it.

He'd spent years building up those walls and in barely a week, she'd managed to chip away at
each and every layer.

Layer upon layer of grief, envy and sorrow.

Robin shook his head and distracted his thoughts.

No good would come from pondering over the dead.

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