This choice: Cut to Marinette and see her deal with her embarrassment. • Go Back...Chapter #14Marinette's burps vs. The akuma by: Unknown Marinette sat on the floor of the bathroom stall, unable to keep herself from sobbing. How could such a thing have happened to her right in front if Adrian? Now, the most perfect boy in the world would think she was nothing but a disgusting, crass, and immature tomboy in addition to a clutz. Tikki came out and attempted to comfort her. "It's okay, Marinette, really. You weren't actually doing anything wrong. In a way, you were just hanging out and having fun with a friend, right? If anything, this will just show Adrian how much fun you are to be around."
Marinette scoffed bitterly at the kwami's attempt to put a positive spin on the situation. "That's the problem, Tikki. Adrian will think I'm fun to hang with and do guy stuff with. When I'm around, I'll just be 'one of the guys' from now on. He'll invite me to stuff like burping contests and arm wrestling, then he'll talk to me about the new girl he's crushing on and try to convince me to be his 'wingman' when he finally gets up enough nerve to try asking her out. She will, of course, say 'yes', because why wouldn't she? Adrian is perfect and she'll most likely be perfect too, with a perfectly feminine personality and the right amount of acessories. She'll also most likely be way smarter than I am and a much better fashion designer who knows how to make perfect clothes for girls because she knows what girls wear and do and think. Unlike me, because I was stupid enough to accept a challenge to a dumb burping contest!"
Marinette started to cry again after finally coming to the end of her extremely long rant. While still sympathetic, Tikki now couldn't help but wear a look a bemusement upon hearing her partner's flawed logic. She was about to comment when she felt something eerily familiar. The kwami flew up to the top of the stall and looked out at the surrounding bathroom. She soon caught a glimpse of what could only be an Akuma entering by way of the vent. Tikki was mildly confused by this and looked around for any sign of it's intended victim. It took only a moment to confirm that she and Marinette were the only two people currently occupying the bathroom.
"Marinette, please calm down! Your negative emotions are attracting an Akuma!" The secret super heroine's tears immediately vanished and she stood on the toilet in order to peer out the stall and confirm this alarming fact for herself.
....
Hawk-moth chuckled slightly to himself. "To think something as utterly ridiculous as a burping contest has served me so well. Alix's anger was certainly great, but Marinette's humiliation makes it pale in comparison. To think my own son could be so desired by a single girl." While a large part of Hawk-moth regretted that he could only "evilize" one target at a time, having two or more minions being the perfect way to tackle both Ladybug and Cat Noir, there was something else about Marinette that had convinced him to change targets at the last minute. There was an odd sort of familiarity about her that made him think that if he successfully managed to ensnare her, nothing, especially not Ladybug, would stand in the way of his goals ever again!
...
Marinette was trapped: she couldn't transform for fear of Hawk-moth seeing it through the akuma and discovering her secret identity and there was no way she could escape from the corrupted magical butterfly in her current state. "Oh no, what have I done!? Not only did I humiliate myself in front of Adrian, I'm about to be akumatized because of it! What can I do?"
"The first thing to do is stop worrying about it." Tikki advised not unkindly. "That's just more negative emotions." Marinette quickly realized her kwami was right and tried to calm herself. "Uh...well, now that think about it, what happened wasn't so bad, I guess. It was even kind of fun in a way." Marinette raised her voice slightly as she began speaking, as though words alone would help to convince the Akuma that she wasn't feeling as much negative emotion as it or it's master had originally thought. She was also hoping to convince herself as well.
"I personally thought your burp was very impressive." Tikki chirped honestly and cheerfully, while also trying to whisper so the akuma, and by extension, Hawk-moth couldn't detect her presence. "I wish I could burp that well when some of the Kwami's have their own burping contests. I never came close to winning in all the time that I was living in Master Fu's box." The kwami managed to smile with genuine fondness as she recalled the decades-old memory, even though it also meant reliving the not so fond memory of Plagg's old cheese scented belches, which he never once failed to bust out during those same contests.
The sudden thought of the ever adorable Tikki participating in a burping contest made Marinette come down with a case of genuine giggles. Little by little, her spirits were already starting to lift. "Yeah? Well then, maybe I could give you some pointers. I think's it's safe to say I'm something of an expert at this point. Show me what you've got."
Tikki nodded and sucked in, trying to produce the best burp she could possibly muster while also being quiet. The result was an airy sound that somehow made the Kwami even more adorable in the eyes of her partner.
"Not bad, Tikki," Marinette whispered, "but can you do this?" The secret Super heroine proceeded to suck in a rather large lungful of air for herself. She held it in for well over a minute before unleashing a rather enormous belch of her own. It far surpassed her previous efforts from her contest with Alix and reverberated throughout the bathroom stall, actually making the comparatively small space tremble. It was also loud enough to drown out the bout of laughter that Tikki found herself unable to hold it.
The Akuma, who by now was hovering directly over the occupied bathroom stall, seemed to pause when he saw the stall shake. Whether it was merely unsure of what kind of emotions it was actually sensing at that moment, or genuinely shocked by the power of the eruction coming from within, even Hawk-moth himself couldn't be sure.
"Yeah, I Rock!" Marinette exclaimed joyfully. Her feelings were genuine and the Akuma could sense it even before she spoke out loud. As his creation turned to fly off in the other direction, Hawk-Moth growled under his breath. "No! How could her embarrassment have suddenly faded like that? I have to find Alix quickly before her anger fades as well!"
Meanwhile, Marinette was listening to the Akuma's exit with her ear pressed against the door. Timing it just right, she kicked open the stall door and unleashed another huge burp that the Akuma got caught in. It was knocked for a loop by the force of it and sent to the ground, only to rise a moment later and fly away, looking slightly stunned as it did.
Tikki raised an eyebrow at Marinette, who shrugged. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Let's catch it before it finds Alix! Tikki, spots on!"  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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