History FanFic / TruthAndConsequences

--> '''[[DeadpanSnarker Master Fu:]]''' My dear, you should know by now that double-standards are humanity's most prolific invention.

'''[[DeadpanSnarker Master Fu:]]''' My dear, you should know by now that double-standards are humanity's most prolific invention.

* HeartfeltApology: Marinette's biggest goal aside from stopping Firebird and Kaiser Long is to make amends with Adrien and their friends for her FaceHeelTurn. Part of her fears, though, ''no'' apology, no matter how heartfelt, [[ThisIsUnforgivable is enough]], so she can't find the right words to prove her own sincerity; she herself admits sorry doesn't mean anything coming from her. Chat Noir for his part is [[{{Understatement}}reluctant]] to even give her a chance [[spoiler:until the second half of Chapter 26, where they talk things out, and Ladybug tearfully apologizes for everything she did to him. Chat responds with a BigDamnHug; he hasn't fully forgiven her, but it's a start.]]

* HeartfeltApology: Marinette's biggest goal aside from stopping Firebird and Kaiser Long is to make amends with Adrien and their friends for her FaceHeelTurn. Part of her fears, though, ''no'' apology, no matter how heartfelt, [[ThisIsUnforgivable is enough]], so she can't find the right words to prove her own sincerity; she herself admits sorry doesn't mean anything coming from her. Chat Noir for his part is reluctant to even give her a chance [[spoiler:until the second half of Chapter 26, where they talk things out, and Ladybug tearfully apologizes for everything she did to him. Chat responds with a BigDamnHug; he hasn't fully forgiven her, but it's a start.]]

* BigDamnHug: In Chapter 26, [[spoiler: Adrien gives one of these to Marinette after she [[TakingTheBullet takes a near-fatal hit for him]] and [[ItsAllMyFault profusely apologizes to him]] for all that she's done, while telling him that she doesn't expect his {{Forgiveness}} or even tolerance, but begging him to at least ''work'' with her because she can't do this alone. Emphasizing that while he still hasn't forgiven her, he's at least willing to try]].
* BrokenAce: After three years of training and fighting in the field, Chat Noir has fully mastered his powers and is practically [[OneManArmy in a league of his own]] among the heroes, not to mention he's made a lot of allies among supernatural organizations. However, he's also become distant, gruff and short to even his friends, and the fact that he ''still'' isn't on par with Firebird or Kaiser Long, let alone both of them, wears at him. He refuses to accept any help save for Plagg and Master He, and remains ''very'' bitter about how his partnership with Ladybug ended. For that matter, Chat doesn't even think highly of [[IHatePastMe the "dopey sidekick" he used to be]]; he believes (or rather, tries to believe) that if he had been a little more proactive and independent before it all went wrong, he could've stopped Ladybug and saved Plagg from getting captured in the first place. Ultimately, Chat Noir can't forgive himself any more than he can his ex-partner.

* MindlinkMates: As a side effect of their becoming Avatars of Creation and Destruction respectively, Ladybug and Chat Noir now have an apparently permanent psychic link to one another. They have initially little control over it, causing them to pick up each other's thoughts at random, and Adrien for his part isn't exactly thrilled about this connection to the girl who betrayed him. [[spoiler:As time passes, though, Marinette and Adrien discover exchanging thoughts isn't the extent of the link, but it extends to emotions and even perception. This actually helps them down the road to reconciliation, as Marinette understands just how exactly [[WasItAllALie her actions hurt her former partner]], and Adrien realizes she is genuinely ashamed of her actions and [[MustMakeAmends wants to do right by him and their friends]].]]

* WasItAllALie: The crux of Chat Noir's lingering frustration with Ladybug is that he believes she never trusted or respected him, and their four years of partnership (which he grudgingly admits were four of the best years of his life) meant nothing to her. After all, if she had cared about him, why was she so eager to make a deal with Hawkmoth and turn all of Paris against him? It takes Ladybug a lot of effort [[spoiler:including TakingTheBullet for Chat]] to prove to him [[ItMeantSomethingToMe she]] ''[[ItMeantSomethingToMe did]]'' [[ItMeantSomethingToMe and still does treasure their partnership.]]

* HourglassPlot: At the start of ''Truth and Consequences,'' Ladybug and Chat Noir had very well-defined roles in the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo in Paris]], which had inspired no small amount of [[TheResenter resentment]] in both parties. Ladybug ''hated'' being the one [[TheChainsOfCommanding ultimately in charge of the defense against Hawkmoth]]. Master Fu devoted the majority of his attention towards training her as his replacement- burdening ''her'' with huge amounts of responsibility while [[TheUnfavorite leaving Chat Noir totally in the dark]]. While he never ''[[BecauseYouCanCope intended]]'' to neglect Chat Noir, that didn’t stop the hero from hating that [[LockedOutOfTheLoop neither his partner nor his mentor cared enough to tell him anything]]. Plus, this uneven allocation of training led Ladybug, and ultimately most of Paris, to treat Chat as a NoRespectGuy at times. [[InvincibleHero Ladybug]] always had a plan, and always saved the day, while Chat… he had good intentions, but [[UngratefulBastard he was a liability as often as he helped]], so he was mostly regarded as Ladybug’s [[BumblingSidekick sidekick]] at best, and the [[PluckyComicRelief comic relief]] at worst. [[DramaticIrony On the surface]], everything seemed to be going well, but the issues this relationship caused would end up ''nearly destroying Paris.'' It’s safe to say that [[FromBadToWorse the events of this series]] shook up the Status Quo ''big time.'' By the time the heroes all reunite in ''Mending Warped Designs,'' Ladybug and Chat Noir find their roles largely swapped- if imperfectly, at times. After three years of living the "normal life" she [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor wanted so badly]], Marinette comes back to Paris to find that all her friends had [[TookALevelInBadass grown to be powerful, effective superheroes]]- ''without her.'' Nobody is going so far as to drive her away, but after the way [[GoneHorriblyWrong her last three months as Ladybug went]], even the team members who ''aren’t'' still furious with her are more focused on making sure that she doesn’t take too much on herself and make things worse, ''[[OnceDoneNeverForgotten again]].'' That means sending her home to get some rest while ''they'' work at being superheroes, and ''certainly'' not including her in all the discussions they have regarding their plans for moving forward. Marinette is left wondering painfully to herself, "Oh my god, is this what it was like being Adrien?" As for Chat Noir, as one of the two [[PhysicalGod top-tier Miraculous users]], the ''most'' experienced superhero of Paris, and the one pre-existing hero who had ''never'' worked for Hawkmoth as part of [[HeelFaceTurn Marinette’s “plan”]], he has ''more'' than earned his "place at the table." However, now that people are ''finally'' valuing Adrien as a teammate, the [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest trust issues Marinette’s betrayal caused him]] ''prevent'' him from working with them. And after [[TraumaCongaLine three years]] of constant superhero activity [[IWorkAlone with little to no support]], he is rapidly heading towards his ''own'' breakdown- which all of his teammates can see, but [[PowerfulAndHelpless they’re left at a loss as to how to help him]]. And of course, there’s also the fact that Marinette spent a large portion of ''Truth and Consequences'' pitying Adrien because she had learned the AwfulTruth that he’d been unwittingly [[LivingWithTheVillain living with Hawkmoth for a father for the last three years]]. She assumed that the news would be enough to destroy him, ''before'' [[InternalReveal learning]] that he had been ''[[ArchnemesisDad fighting]]'' his father as Chat Noir. In ''Mending Warped Designs,'' [[spoiler: the [[DramaticIrony reader is aware]], long before any of the characters are, that ''Marinette'' spent the ''following'' three years living with the villains who had ''[[TheManBehindTheMan sponsored]]'' Hawkmoth- her cousins [[UnholyMatrimony Bridgette and Felix]]! The jury’s still out on how ''Marinette'' will react to that reveal.]]

** Alya and the Ladyblog end up with this in the eyes of Adrien and Kagami after [[spoiler: Ladybug convinces the reporter to run ''[[MaliciousSlander her]]'' [[MaliciouSlander side of the story]] while ignoring the evidence Chat Noir provided.]] Before that decision, Adrien trusted Alya enough to choose ''her'' out of all the reporters in Paris to run his story. Afterwards, he and Kagami might have other things to focus on, but it's clear that they've come to regard the Ladyblog as little more than a pro-Ladybug tabloid. Kagami barely makes an effort to hide her contempt when she runs into Alya at a coffeeshop, makes [[PassiveAggressiveCombat thinly veiled jabs at the recent integrity of her blog]], and completely refuses to clue her in on the ''real'' story of what's happening. This pedestal ends up ''somewhat'' [[RebuiltPedestal rebuilt]] by the end of the fic, once [[InternalReveal things get explained]] and Adrien and Kagami learn ''why'' she chose to compromise her journalistic integrity.

** [[GoodIsNotNice Chloé]] is rather blase about the way Team Paris is forced treat [[HeroWithBadPublicity Chat Noir]] for most of the story. From her perspective, if Ladybug ''is'' telling the truth, then Chat ''does'' need to go down. If Chat is telling the truth, well, [[NothingPersonal Team Paris just did]] [[IDidWhatIHadToDo what they needed to]] in order to get their Miraculous. [[LackOfEmpathy Chat would understand, surely]]. But, given that Chloé ''also'' prefaced the formation of Team Paris by admitting that she didn't trust Ladybug, things would probably go a lot differently if ''[[ChildhoodFriend Adrien]]'' gave her the full story. But given Queen Bee's [[EtTuBrute public support of Ladybug]], Chat is reluctant to so much as message her, much less unmask for her. [[spoiler: When Chloé ''does'' find out who was behind the mask, she is [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown less than pleased with Mayura and Marinette]] for what their actions [[TraumaCongaLine ended up]] [[EyeScream doing to]] [[BeingGoodSucks Adrien]].]]

** After Chat Noir tries to alert the media to Ladybug's betrayal, Alya, Nino, and Chloé form a group they name "Team Paris," and dedicate themselves to protecting the city despite the feud between Ladybug and Chat Noir. Both the newly-made team and Chat Noir would love nothing more than to talk things through and form a united front against Hawkmoth. However, both sides have reasons that make communication with the other difficult. Team Paris is reluctant to throw in with [[PersonOfMassDestruction Chat Noir]] lightly, given [[NotHelpingYourCase the beatdown the furious hero had given the three of them, along with Ladybug and Mayura, the last time they met in person]]. But from Chat Noir's perspective, their last meeting was a [[EtTuBrute fairly definitive declaration]] in [[TheStrategist Ladybug's]] favor- so how could they ''possibly'' assure him that they weren't setting him up? Not only that, but since the city had already dismissed all the evidence Chat Noir could provide for Ladybug's betrayal, any explanation he could give Team Paris [[YouHaveToBelieveMe would have to rely upon his word]]- which had ''already'' proven to be cheaper than Ladybug's. Ultimately, Team Paris isn't able to make a decision until it's very nearly too late- after [[spoiler: an akuma ''summoning a horde of monsters and nearly leveling Paris'']] pushes Ladybug's story well into the realm of ImplausibleDeniability.

* PutOnABus: In the end, Ladybug is [[spoiler:exiled from France in her superhero identity, getting a new job in fashion design in London. She is so powerful that she may be needed again, and her reputation as a hero is too important for establishing the new hero team, for her to face any real punishment for her crimes.]]

* SycophanticServant: [[spoiler:Due to the monster infecting his Miraculous,]] Mayura slowly degenerates into a mindless sycophant who worships the ground Ladybug walks on and goes berserk at the slightest hint of disagreement with her.

* DoubleStandard: Nino's argument that [[TookALevelInCynic Adrien]] [[NoSympathy should suck it up and come back to Paris]] to help deal with the rising threats there despite feeling uncomfortable there (bear in mind, he's been WalkingTheEarth fighting {{Eldritch Abomination}}s for three years) comes off as [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]] when he says he won't make ''Alya'' uncomfortable by forcing her to bring [[WeUsedToBeFriends Marinette]] back if she doesn't want to. {{Lampshaded}} by Masters He and Fu:
--> '''Master He:''' Oh, so when ''Alya'' is unhappy about Marinette, the world stops turning, but when ''Adrien'' is uncomfortable being in Paris, it’s ''his'' problem?\\

* IHatePastMe: Crossed with OtherMeAnnoysMe. [[spoiler: Adrien and Marinette have... conflicted feelings toward Ladybird and Cat Noir, their younger [[AlternateSelf Alternate Selves]], viewing them as a painful reminder of [[MyGreatesFailure past mistakes.]] Though it's only really hatred in Adrien's case, as he resents how happy-go-lucky, blindly trusting and dependent on Ladybird Cat Noir is. Marinette on the other hand doesn't hate Ladybird so much as she feels guilty in the presence of who she used to be in contrast with who she became.]] [[spoiler: They later manage to get past this in Chapter 26, as both of them are starting on the road to [[{{Forgiveness}} forgiving]] themselves.]]

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: A one-sided example on Chat Noir's part. He absolutely ''hates'' having to work with [[TheAtoner Ladybug]] again, and for the most part treats her as simply a [[GodzillaThreshold necessary evil]]. [[ItsAllMyFault Ladybug,]] on the other hand, ''desperately'' wants to [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] with him by any means, despite fully resigning herself to the fact that [[ThisIsUnforgivable he will likely never love or even tolerate her again.]] This even includes [[spoiler: TakingTheBullet for Chat Noir to prove that she's sincere. It's this that convinces him that she's truly changed.]]

** Downplayed by Ladybug. [[spoiler:In the end, she is so powerful that she may be needed again, and her reputation as a hero is too important for establishing the new hero team, for her to face any real punishment for her crimes. She only loses friends.]]

** Played straight by Nathalie. [[spoiler:She avoids prison and becomes CEO of ''Gabriel'' in the aftermath so that Adrien has someone to manage the family business and fund his hero activities.]]

** Adrien's equally unhappy about working with Nathalie, and even outright admits in Chapter 26 that he ''hates'' her.

** Ladybug in spades. Everything, or almost everything, is Chat's fault in her view. [[spoiler:She finally owns up to some of her mistakes at the end of Chapter 33.]]

* IHatePastMe: Crossed with OtherMeAnnoysMe. [[spoiler: Adrien and Marinette don't have a very high opinion of Ladybird and Cat Noir, their younger [[AlternateSelf Alternate Selves]], viewing them as a painful reminder of [[MyGreatesFailure past mistakes.]]]] [[spoiler: They later manage to get past this in Chapter 26, as both of them are starting on the road to [[{{Forgiveness}} forgiving]] themselves.]]

* WasItAllALie: The crux of Chat Noir's lingering frustration with Ladybug is that he believes she never trusted or respected him, and their four years of partnership (which he grudgingly admits were four of the best years of his life) meant nothing to her. It takes Ladybug a lot of effort [[spoiler:including TakingTheBullet for Chat]] to prove to him [[ItMeantSomethingToMe she]] ''[[ItMeantSomethingToMe did]]'' [[ItMeantSomethingToMe and still does treasure their partnership.]]

* IHatePastMe: Crossed with OtherMeAnnoysMe. [[spoiler: Adrien and Marinette don't have a very high opinion of Ladybird and Cat Noir, their younger [[AlternateSelf Alternate Selves]], viewing them as a painful reminder of [[MyGreatesFailure past mistakes.]]]] [[spoiler: They later manage to get past this in Chapter 26, as both of them are starting on the road to [[{{Forgiveness}} forgiving]] themselves.]]]

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: A one-sided example on Chat Noir's part. He absolutely ''hates'' having to work with [[TheAtoner Ladybug]] again, and for the most part treats her as simply a [[GodzillaThreshold necessary evil]]. [[ItsAllMyFault Ladybug,]] on the other hand, ''desperately'' wants to [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] with him by any means, despite fully resigning herself to the fact that [[ThisIsUnforgivable he will likely never love or even tolerate her again.]] This even includes [[spoiler TakingTheBullet for Chat Noir to prove that she's sincere. It's this that convinces him that she's truly changed.]]

* DoubleStandard: Nino's argument that Adrien should suck it up and come back to Paris to help deal with the rising threats there despite feeling uncomfortable there (bear in mind, he's been WalkingTheEarth fighting {{Eldritch Abomination}}s for three years) comes off as hypocritical when he says he won't make ''Alya'' uncomfortable by forcing her to bring [[WeUsedToBeFriends Marinette]] back if she doesn't want to. {{Lampshaded}} by Masters He and Fu:

* DramaticIrony: Kaiser Long and Firebird believe that Masters Fu and He murdered their teacher Master Li; the DistantPrologue in the very first chapter, however, shows very clearly that he killed ''himself'' as part of a failed attempt at [[TakingYouWIthMe Taking Them With Him]].