Author's Note: Hi all! Long time no see. So, listen, I'm probably digging myself into a hole here but I am starting another story but this time, I'm partnered with aeonthedimensionalgirl. She made a post on Tumblr talking about a headcannon idea for a story that has a situation similar to that found in Dark Cupid between Ladybug and Chat Noir (I won't go into many more details for the sake of spoilers) but instead of Chat being the one that's hit, Marinette is. The idea is all hers! I know, I know. I'm still working on ORAD and the one shots. I am. The thing is is that I'm having a hard time staying motivated. The more I have to do, the more options I have. I know that sucks but it's how I'm going to have to operate for the next month. Please just bear with me! Anyway, enough of that. Enjoy the story!

Chapter 1

Everyone in Paris was nervous around Valentine's day. Breaths were held, couples shook nervously in checkout lines, lists were made and remade and rethought as the day came ever closer. Especially since the previous year had nearly been ruined by the akuma named Dark Cupid, a kid horribly rejected by the girl he was crushing on, turned into the reverse of the often cheery, cherub character of mythology, who tore relationships of all kinds apart with his dark arrows. Those who had witnessed it still spoke in hushed whispers about it. At school, Kim became quiet and withdrawn. Marinette frowned as she watched him; as Ladybug, she knew it wasn't his fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Hawkmoth but she did know how guilty the sounds of the whispers could make a person feel.

The day before the holiday, Kim didn't even appear at school.

Even Chloe didn't have the guts to make a comment about it either; she mostly stayed in her compact and Marinette couldn't help but note an almost regretful spark in her eyes. Almost. Max softly adjusted the glasses on his face and told everyone he would be visiting him afterschool. They'd all eyed each other and together, they got him a non-Valentine's day card, as well as getting funny, cheap toys for him to play with.

"Man, it has to suck knowing your akumatized self nearly ruined a special holiday," Alya noted to Marinette at the end of the day, watching Max leave with the gifts in tow. Alix ran up after him, briefly stopping to say something to which he nodded, and together, they left the room. Marinette nodded, grabbing her bag.

"It wasn't his fault. Hawkmoth's the one to blame."

"You know that. I know that. Hawkmoth probably knows that but you know how people can be."

"Cruel. Yeah, I know." She placed her bag over her shoulder as the two of them followed them out of the room. Alya smirked and grabbed her arm. She leaned in close to the shorter girl, whispering in her ear, "Speaking of Valentine's day. What are you going to do this year with Adrien?" Marinette blinked. Her face erupted red and she let out an unhuman sound. The darker skinned girl giggled.

"I-I wasn't planning on anything," she eventually managed and confessed, "Especially since last year was a disaster."

"I disagree. Last year was definitely not a disaster. You posted the poem!"

"Yeah but obviously I forgot to sign my name!"

"A small detail."

"But an important one." Alya paused.

"True but we can definitely make sure that doesn't happen again this year. I'll make sure to proof read your confession letter." Marinette smiled sadly and patted her hand.

"Thanks Alya but I'm not…."

"Oh no you don't," she cut in. The blue-eyed girl blinked. Alya led her out of the school, down the stairs, eventually crossing the street towards the bakery. She continued to talk as they did so, "You are going to at least send something to Adrien this year. You can't let all of your progress go to waste!"

She opened the door to the bakery. Sabine, standing behind the cash register while serving a few customers, greeted the both of them, quickly handed them a cookie each, before returning to her tasks. The girls went upstairs. Their bags hit the floor near her lounge where they took a seat facing each other. Alya bit into her cookie. Marinette chewed hers much slower. Finally, she wistfully stated, "Even if I wanted to do something for Adrien, I don't have enough time. Valentine's day is tomorrow!"

"That's not true. Why don't you write him another poem?" Her cheeks turned red. Turning a bit made it easy enough for her to shoot her eyes across her desk, where the crumpled, slightly torn and faded, piece of paper stayed tacked on her small pink magnet board. She read it almost daily. She knew the words by heart. Your hair is dark as night, Your pretty bluebell eyes. I wonder who you are beneath that strong disguise. Every day we see each other, I hope that you'll be mine. Together our love could be so true, please be my Valentine. Her heart squeezed at the thought of the poem being meant for her but she was never able to confirm or deny it with him without coming off as being creepier than she already was (even though she had taken down the schedule and some of the photos in the last year). She wrung her hands together. "Look, it's not like you have anything to lose. You already sent a card last year and besides, the only way you have to go is up."

"Or crash hard," she mumbled. Alya shot her a look.

"I doubt it. You gotta have some faith in yourself Mari." She reached for her bag then. With a haughty smirk, Alya pulled out a pink, heart shaped card, identical to the one she'd provided to the girl last year, waving it back and forth in front of her face for a second. "And here's your chance."

"I don't…," she hesitated, breathing deep for a second. She paused in that time and thought quickly about what her friend was encouraging. "Al-alright. I'll do it."

Alya handed her the card. When she got up to walk to her desk, she let out a silent, triumphant fist pump, following her to the desk. Like she had the previous year, she watched over her friend's shoulder as she wrote. Marinette tapped her pen against her chin. Inspiration struck and she very quickly wrote across the paper. When she was done, she held it up for her friend to read properly. She squealed in delight. "Perfect!" She sat it on the desk. "Sign." Marinette swallowed hard again; Alya handed her the pen and waited with her arms crossed. She didn't have to say anything because the nervous girl already knew what she was thinking and she also knew that she wasn't going to be allowed to leave her seat until the deed was done. Deep breath. She signed her name. Alya hugged her neck excitedly, squealing again. "You did it!" Marinette smiled.

"Yeah… Yeah I did. I did it," she cheered. Alya's excitement was contagious. "Now I just need to send it."

"Exactly. Want to head down and do it now?" Marinette nodded ecstatically. The girls gathered their bags and headed down the stairs where Sabine greeted them and Tom provided them with the first candied apples for Valentine's day. Marinette giggled, linking arms with Alya.

"Do me a favor? Don't get these stuck on my shirt this year."

The other girl narrowed her eyes. "That's not fair. I wasn't exactly myself last year."

"I know." She poked her cheek. "Don't pout Alya. You know I was just teasing." The Martinique girl stuck her tongue out prompting her to giggle again. They left exactly as they had arrived. Arm-in-arm, they walked through the nearby park until they came out near the mailbox. Marinette's grip tightened on Alya's arm. She patted her hand.

"You got this girl." Marinette, pale in the face and starting to breathe a bit rougher, nodded. Alya bit her own lip as she watched her friend approach the mailbox, hesitated, hand shaking violently as she came closer and closer to the entrance. Her eyes darted back in forth as she watched her hesitation grow. "Come on girl. Don't chicken out now." With a final, nerve steeling breath, she finally pushed it in. They cheered again, hugging. "You did it! Again!" She nodded, taking back her apple.

"I did but… now what?"

"We go back to your place," Alya smiled, "to celebrate and then we wait. Adrien should get the letter tomorrow afternoon. We should know his response by Wednesday at the latest."

Marinette nodded. Her stomach did little flips, leaving her throat tight and unable to form words.

She'd never felt so ecstatic and scared at the same time in her life.