Chapter Text
Marinette was in this situation because of two reasons:
A) She was fucking stupid.
B)... well there was no B at this point.
Now you're probably thinking 'that's a bit harsh Marinette' but to put it frankly, you're wrong.
It starts with finding the bug-mouse-thing in her room, Tikki, she's told because it can speak as well as fly. Lovely. Some guy seems to think that she can be a superhero or something, don't get her wrong. She does try, she just finds out that she's horrible at it so she does the smart thing and passes the power on. Alya makes a good Ladybug for a while but then it starts going to her head, leading to her revealing herself on her Ladyblog for views. Marinette finds Tikki in her bag the next day, she slips them into Adrien's bag next. He doesn't even get the chance to fight before Tikki finds themselves in her bag again, It's suspicious so after slipping Tikki into Rose's bag she keeps her eye on Adrien... and catches him transforming into Chat Noir, well then. Rose lasts one fight, she doesn't like violence. Marinette should have known better really. Tikki looks at her judgingly as Marinette starts a 'who would make a good Ladybug' chart. Nino is next which ends in her frantically dropping Tikki's earrings into Juleka's bag after he gets Akumitised. Juleka makes it a few months but ends up giving it back due to stress. Max, Alix and Kim hold onto the mantel for a month each. Ivan turns Tikki down outright as does Mylene and Nathaniel. Sabrina does what Marinette is doing and slips Tikki to Chloe who reviles herself after the first fight. Tikki is exasperated at this point but Marinette doesn't care. They're a big god, they can deal. She fills in for one fight against an Akumitised Kagami to the joy of Chat who informs her that she will always be the Ladybug in his heart then she slips Tikki into Kagami's bag because there is no way in hell that she's giving Tikki to Lila of all people. The evil bitch. Kagami finally turns out to be the right choice meaning that Marinette can finally breathe and do normal class president things like winning a competition that gets her class a three month trip to Gotham! Thousands of entirety's and she's the winner, Suck it Lila, who's the biggest deal in the class now, me? That's right!
This is her first mistake. The class will spend the first week exploring Gotham than the next two months and three weeks attending Gotham Academy, their last day they will be attending the Wayne family Gala as well. She's excited which is what sways her parents into agreeing to let her go, they know what Lila has been putting her through and have been trying to help. This might be the first time they've seen a real smile on her face in months. She makes sure to post about the three month holiday she's taking on her site so that no one gets upset when they can't get through to her, she makes sure to finish her current commissions before she leaves. T.D-W appreciates it since this is his first commissioned piece from her, he's been a fan for a while and she always felt bad that she didn't have time to take him on until recently, thanks, Lila.
Her second mistake is thinking that her class wouldn't abandon her at the first opportunity in the most crime-filled city in the world but well, here she is. Standing outside her hotel like an idiot, she considers trying to find her way to the Wayne Enterprises building herself since as the WINNER everything is in her name and they can't do anything without her but decide against it. They don't want her there? Fine. She'll just go fabric shopping for the gown she's going to make for the Gala, they have a tour booked for tomorrow anyway so it's not like she's missing out on the whole thing.
This is what leads her to her third and final mistake and you know what they say about three strikes. She makes it about halfway to her destination before she hears a gunshot in the alley she just passed, she would keep walking like the information packet she got emailed to her by Mr Wayne said but it's followed by the pained cry of a dog. At this point in her life, Marinette values animals more than people who aren't her parents, so she makes the obvious choice in this situation. Which is to run into the alley and beat the shit out of the shooter before carrying the dog it's a Great Dane, why did it have to be a Great Dane to the nearest vet, the receptionist takes one look at the dog and faints which is extremely unhelpful. Luckily the vet comes out to see what happened.
This is how she meets the best worst thing to ever happen to her. This is how she meets the reason she can never go back home. This is how she meets Damian Wayne, the youngest son of the most powerful and dangerous mob boss in America. Not that anyone can prove it of course.