Inspired by a Tumblr post by Gale of the nomads - link in my profile
Follow my Tumblr: mageyewoqirife - link in my profile
Chapter 1: Letting Go
"She's just so perfect…" With a dreamy sigh and far off look in his green eyes, Adrien sat back against the cafe seat. His friends watched him with wide eyes, unsure of how to react to this new bit of information. Nino just stared at his best friend who supposedly had a crush on some beauty that he mentioned through the years on occasion, but for some reason today he seemed overcome with his love for the mysterious girl. All they can get out of him is that they met through work and have known each other for two years during which they have done their best to see each other at least once a week.
Alya's eyes swept over to Marinette who was looking down at the ground, the smallest of frowns on her lips. Heart breaking for her best friend while the boys remain oblivious, Alya opens her mouth to comfort Marinette, but gets cut off instead by a too cheerful voice.
"You should tell her! I mean - Any girl would be lucky to seen you, Adrien. I mean, to be seeing you. I mean, be seen by you!" She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before trying again. "You deserved to be happy with the one you love. if you want something, it's important that your reach out and grab it. Just be honest with her."
Alya looks startled at Marinette encouraging Adrien to pursue another girl and makes a note to have a very interesting conversation with her later. Nino just seems confused, but goes with the flow. After all, his best friend is pretty awesome and he wants his friend to be happy. If dating this mystery girl makes him so content, then he should give it a go.
Adrien seems blissfully unaware of the change in Marinette's emotional state or Alya glaring at him. He gives Marinette a dazzling smile that makes her heart pick up speed and thanks her. His eyes sparkle as he agrees and says he will bring it up next time they meet.
Lunch period came to a close and they began their truck back to school. Nino and Adrien took the lead, holding the doors open for the girls before sinking into a comfortable conversation that didn't interest their companions. In fact, Alya only had one topic on her mind.
"What are you playing at, girl! The last thing you should be doing if you want to be with Adrien is telling him to ask someone else out! What were you thinking?!" Concern mixed with curiosity in Alya's voice as she questioned her best friend. For over two years Marinette had been crazy over Adrien so why was she backing off now.
"Alya, I want him to be happy. Yes, I love him, but he has been clear that we are just friends. As his friend, the most loving thing I can do is encourage him to be happy. He made his choice and I want to support it." Marinette felt like this was a sign she was starting to mature and finally find a little bit of stability in the emotions that controlled her instead of blindly following her hormone driven feelings. Being Ladybug forced her to grow up and make difficult decisions. Time to make another. "I'm Adrien's good friend. Nothing more."
Recognizing that her best friend had made up her mind, Alya simply let the subject drop for now. She would talk to the others in the class and maybe come up with a plan. Marinette was not good at following her own advice at all. She deserved to be happy too, but her sweet friend was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to give Adrien his own.
Every girl in their class wanted to help get them together. They make a plan to hang out that weekend at Juleka's place and invite Marinette to hopefully talk some sense in the girl. Rose starts planning, her romantic nature taking charge as she maps out Adrien and Marinette' future relationship.
That weekend, most of the girls in their class find themselves tucked away on Juleka's house boat, giggling and having a blast ignoring their cares. The room is filled with carefree laughter and playful bantering when Marinette arrives, late as usual. Alya waves her over to sit on the floor between her and Rose who is chatting happily about the latest celebrity romance she noticed and how positively sweet it was seeing them together and so in love!
Marinette rolled her eyes and slid down to the floor, gently resting her purse holding Tikki beside her and rolls her eyes as the conversation shifts to the most popular (not) relationship in Paris: Ladybug and Chat Noir.
No matter how many times she denies it as Ladybug, people love to speculate about her and her silly kitty together. Seriously, the only way she could think that she could ever get out of it was to show up with a ring on her finger and Adr-... A random, non existent man on her arm. For so long, that man had soft golden locks and curious green eyes with a smile that made her swoon. Now, her future was tall and faceless standing next to her. A twinge of sadness made her lip twitch downward, but she squashed the flicker of emotion down and forced a smile. The future was simply unwritten and one day, she would meet her perfect match. One day.
"They have to have at least kissed or something. I mean, they have been partners for two years, both of them chase each other the city in skin tight suits and Chat Noir isn't exactly shy about what he wants." Alix never did let anything hold her back from saying what was on her mind.
Alya shakes her head with a knowing smile on her face. "Don't we all wish. I'm all for Ladybug and Chat Noir getting together, but Ladybug still denies it. Best we can do is hope for the future. Trust me, if it happens, it will be all over my Ladyblog!" Marinette knows Alya was a fan in an out of the mask. As Rena Rouge, she tries her hand at matchmaking between the two super heroEs just like she does with Marinette and Adrien. If only she knew she was trying to set up her best friend with two different guys. Every time Rena Rouge gets Ladybug alone for a minute, she makes a quick joke or a suggestive comment, but the answer never changEs.
Marinette grins at her own private knowledge of the whole situation and proud that her best friend chooses truth over gossip. Rose notices her grin and calls her out "Marinette, don't you think they would be sooooo cute together?" Hearts swim in Rose's eyes, imagining what she sees as the ultimate super romance.
Marinette just brushes it off, used to it by now. After all, Nadja Chamack has been trying to catch them together since that first live interview and rumors are harder to kill than cockroaches. "I think Ladybug and Chat Noir have enough going on without adding a relationship." No one needed to know just how aware she was that neither hero had never had a serious relationship.
The conversation melts into a comfortable chatter or relationships and innocent gossip until Alix speaks up with a new suggestion: "Let's play Marry-Kiss-Kill!"
All the girls look around at each other before nodding at the simple game. They have played it before, but the combinations were endless so it never got old and several times it got one of them to admit a crush that no one knew about. "I'll start," Alex said. "Gimme my names."
"Max, Kim, Nathaniel"
"Easy, keep that order. Marry Max because those brains are bound to get him a good job, kiss Kim because his face would be hilarious and sorry Nathaniel. Bye bye. Rose, Juleka, your turn! Rose, Sabrina and Marinette."
Juleka always blushes when given Rose, but she played along. "Marry Rose, kiss Marinette and kill Sabrina. Sorry." Rose beam, happy with the answer and Marinette was simply happy she lived through the round. Now it was Juleka's turn to assign names. She always gives easy ones. "Mylene: Ivan, Nino and Adrien."
"Marry Ivan of course," Mylene doesn't hesitate about marrying her boyfriend of two years, but the others take a second to choose. "Kiss Adrien and kill Nino. Sorry Marinette and Alya." She grins wide, tapping her chin with a finger until she points at Rose. "Alya, Chloe and Juleka"
"Well, Juleka is already marrying me. I'd rather kiss Alya, so kill Chloe" Beaming, she takes her pick, looking at the Ladyblogger and shifts the game from classmates to a whole new genre. "Alya, get to choose Rena Rouge, Carapace and Queen Bee!" Everybody waits eagerly for Alya's answer, but they didn't expect her to laugh.
"Easy. Carapace gets to marry me." Alya wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, knowing full well who is behind the mask. "Rena Rogue gets the kiss because she is a foxy lady and I guess Queen Bee takes the fall." Marinette grins, laughing quietly that Alya would rather kiss herself than Chloe.
"Marinette: Ladybug, Rena Rouge and Chat Noir." Marinette's laugh died on her lips and frowned. She didn't want to kill any of them. Then again, she didn't want to kiss or marry herself or Alya, but her friends didn't know her personal connections. It gets quiet and Marinette realizes they are all waiting on her to answer, but this just wasn't fair. How could she chose between herself and her two best friends on either side of the mask!?
"I guess marry Rena Rouge." Marinette did catch her best friend beam as soon as she spoke. "Can't I just kiss them both? I don't want to kill either of them." This game was no longer fun. The other encouraged her to just pick, unaware of the war inside her. Deciding on who she would rather survive, Marinette answered honestly.
"Kiss Chat Noir, kill Ladybug." Everyone froze. After a beat, they all spoke at once.
"You would kill Ladybug!?"
"But she can do her Miraculous Recovery magic thing and fix anything"
"You like Chat Noir enough to kiss him?"
"Ladybug…" "Chat…" "Marinette!"
Marinette flushed red, knowing none of them could understand and she couldn't possibly explain properly, but she did try the best she could. "I just think that's the way Ladybug would want it to happen. She would rather let her partner live even if it means she has to go." The others forgot the game and started deliberating the three themselves. Some chose to kill Rena Rouge. Some chose to kill Chat Noir. No one else chose Ladybug.
Marinette decided she needed to walk about and get some fresh air and maybe a glass of water. Her thoughts followed her as she walked out, barely noticed by the others in their new heated conversation. The sixteen year old girl made her way to the kitchen and filled a glass with water before walking out on the desk and closing her eyes to the feel of a fresh breeze.
The cool air helps clear her mind along with a sweet melody playing from some unknown place. The music surrounds her and she lets her mind go blank, simply feeling each note and letting it wash over her.
"Hello, Ma-Ma-Marinette."