Illusion and Illustrations:

Chapter 1: Comforting stranger

Hey. So this sort of came to me in the middle of the night and I decided to give it life. I hope I'll be able to finish it or even upload it probably since this is my first time using ...so yeah...But The Adventurous tales of Ladybug and Chatnoir is one of my favorite shows and Nathanael is my fav BG character and for some reason I started shipping him w/ volpina. Sooo... this happens after the season final. Constructive criticism is appreciated! :)

"She is such a liar."

Shut up

"She made it all up. I bet she even isn't from Italy."

I'm not a liar. I really am from Italy.

"Pathetic."

Stop it.

"She's really mean like Chloe 2.0."

I pulled my science textbook closer to my chest and lowered my head; my bangs shielded me from their judgmental gazes. I could feel my chest begin to tightening as I walked down the hallway of the school and all the while I could hear their loaded words of criticism. I reassured myself that if I could just endure for a bit longer I could get back home. Maybe I can convince my parent to let me go to another school. Maybe I can cut my hair to and change my name….rumbling snickers echo through the halls and bounce of the wall into my ears and I could feel heat rise to my cheeks…This is all ladybug's fault! What kind of superhero goes out of their way to find out about one student who told a tiny white lie in order to make friends? What kind of hero then proceeds to call that person out and ruin their entire reputation? Now no one wants to be my friend and no one trusts me and it's all her damn fault!

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't even see Chloe and Sabrina block my way. Just great…so much for the down low, I let out a groan and proceeded to ask them to get out of my way.

"Hey do you know who you're talking to? I'll have you know that my father's the mayor so you better keep in line. After all it's my word against a liar's word." She threw her head back and began to laugh, her lanky joined in to. I scowled and ran off. The worst thing though is that she has a point. Because, even though I know no one in this school likes Chloe I also know that everyone in this school thinks I'm a fucking liar….and with that I decided to just skip my last class. I wasn't in the mood and I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I may not seem like a trustworthy student but I actually like doing well in class. In my old school I had excellence grades and attendance, not to brag or anything. But right now I know if I go in there I'm going to snap at someone or I'm going to break down and I wasn't going to let them see me in that weak state. I couldn't bear the thought of them knowing their words actually get to me.

I went to my locker, got what I needed, and proceeded to walk off school campus. I think some time away from that hellhole would help me clear my mind.

Soon I found myself in a small park. Perfect. I searched for a place to sit and do my homework. I'll be damned if this school lowers my GPA. Finally my eyes fell open a lonely park bench that was protected from the suns ray by the cooling shade of the tree behind it. Perfect… I made my way towards the secluded bench and proceeded to do my homework. It was quiet. Probably because there weren't that many people. I guess they would still be in school or work. I took out my homework and my pencil and began working…I let my mind focus on the problems, but their words rang in my ear. Electronegativity is when—Liar—electronegativity is an atoms ability to—liar—Stop it—electronegativity is—liar—shut it—electro—liar. Snap! My pencil broke….. In a rage I threw it across the park…I could feel my walls start to crack. I was about to let the dam burst when I saw a pair of purple sneakers stop just a few centimeters in front of me. My head whipped up so fast I think I got whip lash. In front of me stood a boy around my age…maybe a bit younger…

He was short. Probably an inch or two shorter than me, then again I'm pretty tall. His sense of fashion was…questionable. He looked like he got all his clothes from some random thrift store that ran out of extra small, because his clothes were obviously too big to actually fit him. He had to roll up the ends of his jeans and his jacket hung loosely on his delicate skinny figure. He had bright red hair….that can't be his real hair color… and longs bangs that fell gracefully down the left side of his face and nearly concealed one of his bright teal eyes. In short he looked like some artsy fartsy dweep who—

"Here, I think you accidently threw this at me?" He handed me my broken pencil.

God damn! For a boy who looks like puberty hasn't even touched him he sure has one hella sexy voice.

"Sorry…Thanks." I replied quietly

"Um are you alright?" He asked shyly looking down at me with concern.

"I'm fine." I lied…but that should get him to leave me alone. But instead he stood there for a while. His lips drew into a thin line and his delicate brows furrowed together in thought. He stayed like that for a few second, staring at me intensely with his pretty teal eyes. My heart began racing. Did he see through my lie? Was he going to call me out on it? After another few agonizing second his eyes slightly widened in realization and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. He bowed his head apologetically and his red hair fell gracefully over his face like a silk curtain.

"Oh ok…I-I'm sorry it's just that…never mind...w-would you mind if I sat beside you?" he asked quietly. Yes, I would mind because I feel like I'm going to have a mental breakdown….

"No." God dang it! With that he took sat himself down beside me. Nothing was said…I could hear him take out a pencil and a sketching book from his backpack…Guess schools out… the birds sang softly and the insects hummed along. The rustling of the leaves whispered sweet nothings of summer and I could hear the light sounds of a pencil sketching on paper….My heart was beating irregularly and my shoulders were stiff…and that's how we stayed for a few minutes, in absolute silence. Until finally the awkward silence that hung over our heads like a loose noose was broken.

"You're the new girl…right, from Italy?" He asked politely. It came out as a soft whisper that was loud enough to be heard but soft enough to be quickly drowned out by the sounds of nature. To answer his question I simply nodded.

"Do you go to the same school as me?" I asked. I think I would have remembered a cute flower boy with tomato red hair…then again I was only really paying attention to Adrian.

"Yea, but I wasn't there the whole day. I had to get a vaccine shot…But the time I was at school everyone kept talking about this new girl from Italy. W-what's it like…in Italy?"

"It's nice." I said bluntly. Why do you care? What do you fucking want, my life's story?

"You know…I know how you feel."

"Huh?" I blinked in confusion.

"Well uhh w-what I m-mean is I understand what you're going through right know. I've been through it to. When the person you like doesn't like you back."

I didn't say anything, but I could feel the uncomfortable heat rise to my cheeks. Why was he reminding me? Is he trying to make fun of me? Apparently my face must have reflected how I was feeling because the guy immediately went to apologize.

"Oh I'm sorry. The reason I know that is b-because you uhh see I heard some kids talking about it...and I'm not usually one for gossip b-but I-I I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry or anything disrespectful…I mean the same thing happened to me with Marionette. I j-just wanted you to know that I'm in the same boat as you….I'm-"

"Who told you and what else did they tell you?" I asked…no demanded.

"Oh n-no one in particular I just kinda overheard…I'm sorry."

"Stop that." Why the fuck are you saying sorry all the damn time. "I don't need your fucking sympathy." He recoiled slightly probably because he wasn't expecting me to swear.

"I think you misunderstand…It's not pity or sympathy it's empathy…"

"And what's the fucking difference?" I was starting to lose my cool and fast. He simple rose a delicate eyebrow and coolly replied in a slightly snarky voice.

"I'm not offering to understand I'm offering advice and comfort because I understand." I scowled. So not cute.

"Well…What else have you heard about me!?" Does he know I'm a liar too! He probably does the school won't shut up about it.

"Umm…well Rose told me you rode in first class with Prince Ali and that you're super close to Ladybug. Oh and your from Italy. That's about it really….like I said I usually don't gossip but you were the only thing everyone was talking about. I guess you must be super popular now." He finished with a smile. My anger began to boil over.

"Are you making fun of me!?"

"Huh? N-no. I'm sorry did I say something wrong…?"

"Will you stop with the goody-two-shoes shtick!?" I fiercely got up from the bench and the whole world looked red….red…red like ladybug…. I knew…I knew that it wasn't this guy's fault, but right now I needed to vent and let out my frustration, unfortunately, I would have to project all these negative emotions onto the frail boy. He would have made fun of you too just like all his other peers. Just because he looks as docile as a sheep doesn't mean he doesn't have wolf fangs…

"I'm sorry…"

"Shut up! Stop saying things you don't even mean! Is this some sort of sick joke to you! If you're going to call me out and call me a liar just do it already! Why do you have to prolong my misery; do you like watching me suffer!?"

"W-what do you mea-." I didn't even let him finish his sentence. I was ready to blow up. I faced him. I towered over him menacingly and scowled, he recoiled into a little ball.

"STOP ACTING LIKE A FUCKING IDIOT! You know damn well what I mean you bastard! So stop tryi-."

The words died in my throat. I hadn't even started my rant but already his shoulders were tense and his sketchbook acted as a shield, providing fake shelter from my words. I could see his shoulders start to shake either from fear or from sadness…His eyes were glazed over, eyebrows furrowed and lips quivering. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. CRAP! Saying that I felt bad for exploding on the poor guy was an understatement. I felt like I was the worst scum of the earth, a jerk, a complete bitch. Maybe…they were right about me…I let out a sigh that was heavily weighted with frustration, defeat and sorrow.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered quietly…I was ashamed…I sat down…Silence….The birds stopped chirping…probably got scared off with all my yelling….I felt heavy…I felt like I was slowly being crushed by a python…

"W-what's wrong…is there…something I can do?" He asked timidly…he was probably afraid I would snap at him again… I lifted my bowed head and faced him. His eyes were still slightly glazed but they were clouded with genuine concern. The voice he used just now…it was a warm and soothing voice that radiated warmth…he radiated kindness…the nimbus overhead that was created by the rays of light made his hair shimmer a bright red with golden highlights and casted gentle shadows over his pale skin which made the color of his eyes stand out. Lips still pulled down in a small frown and eyebrows still furrowed…I was drowning in his kindness…it was too much…how can he be so kind? I don't deserve any of it…A shutter ran through my body and I try to stop myself by placing my hand over my mouth…but it was too late…I couldn't handle his kindness. Soon sob after sob came out, the dam broke and my body violently shook with each intake of breath I made. Before I knew it I started rambling.

"I liked him and now he p-p-probably hates me! E-e-everyone hates me! They keep calling m-m-me a liar, but I'm not! I-I j-j-just wanted to m-make some friends…B-but now no one w-will talk to me unless they want to say some mean shit to my face! It's not fair! W-well you know what I h-hate them to! I-I don't h-have to stand for t-this! I hate it here! It's even worse than back in Italy, a-at…least there I h-had some friends…I h-hate Paris…I want to go h-home and j-j-just DIE!" I couldn't even form words anymore. My sentences were cut off by heaving sobs. I was so sad and angry and lonely that I forgot that the guy was still there, until I felt a soft pale hand being placed gently on my back. He rubbed his hand in soothing circles as if trying to smooth out all the knots of frustration that I had.

"It's okay…you can let it all out." He reassured gently…I sobbed harder.