Ladybug hopped onto her roof, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. There had been three akumatized victims today, each one wanting revenge on Adrien Agreste for some...stupid reason.
"Spots off." Ladybug whispered.
The Ladybug costume came off, revealing Marinette. She walked over to her bed, zombie like features reaching towards her bed. She lay down face first on her bed. After a couple of minutes, she turned to face the ceiling. She grabbed her phone and pulled out her earbuds. She played her old favorite song on repeat, trying to recall what she was feeling back then.
She wanted to play the music louder than her thoughts, but she didn't want to risk losing her hearing. Soon, the music became a background noise as her thoughts grew louder. A cloud began to form around her.
She had been so awkward around Adrien...But then again, when hadn't she been? When would she stop being so judgmental of Chloe? Why didn't she care about pleasing her parents anymore? The only thing she seemed to care about anymore was saving Paris. Her life was crumbling around her.
The one person she wanted to tell was Alya, but she couldn't do that because if she told Alya then she would be put at risk for knowing who Ladybug is.
Paris relied on her. On her. Why should it be her? Marinette cringed as she thought of how awkward she was. How absolutely awful she could be to Chloe. And...how she acted to Adrien. Why did anyone want to hang out with her?
Even when she hung out with her best friend...all they ever seemed to talk about Adrien.
Marinette closed her eyes and turned up her music.
Why did she bother with this? Why was she so focused on Adrien? He would never like her back. It had been two years since he had joined her school. Why hadn't he noticed her yet? This wouldn't ever stop.
After the torturous thoughts wouldn't stop, Marinette pulled out her earbuds. A second later, "Marinette! This is the third time I have called you. Take off your earbuds and come have some dinner!"
Marinette groaned, rolling off of her bed. She glanced in the mirror. She had some dark circles under her eyes.
"Sorry Mom! Give me just a minute more!" She pulled out her makeup kit and started covering up the circles.
"Marinette! Now!"
Marinette started to get up but realized that only one circle covered would raise even more questions. Sighing, realizing how much trouble she was probably already in, she sat back down to finish what she had started.
It had been two years since she had started being the Miraculous Ladybug. 15 now, she was getting exhausted. During the summer, it was easier to get away from everybody. She had started hiding away in her room, just in case someone was akumatized, people wouldn't be wondering where she was. Lately, though, whenever she found time, all she wanted was to lie down in her bed and listen to music.
Marinette, finally finished with her makeup, headed downstairs. Halfway down the stairs, she saw her mom and her dad quietly in conversation. Her mom was turning red. Neither of the two noticed as she quietly made her way down the rest of the stairs.
"She can't keep ignoring us Tom! We are her parents."
"I know Sabine. I know. The other day, she told me that she was headed to Alya's house. But when I called her cell phone, she hadn't answered. And when I called Alya, she didn't know where she was."
"Ignoring us and lying to us? Tom, this has to stop!"
Sabine turned from her husband and began to stand up, looking to the stairs. She jumped slightly upon seeing Marinette. After regaining her composure, Sabine sat back down, serving herself a roll from the center of the table.
"Well," Sabine started, "You obviously heard our conversation. Do you have anything to say?"
Marinette walked to the table, grabbing a roll.
"I forgot." Marinette turned away, walking to the door. "I have a school project to work on at Alya's."
Marinette heard a chair squeak back.
"I don't believe you." Sabine said. Marinette heard the click of her heels get closer to her.
Marinette, exhausted and tired of lying, swung around to face her mother.
"You're just now figuring out that something is going on? Just now. Are you serious Mom?"
Sabine blinked at her daughter, not used to the tone of voice.
"Let me try again and tell you exactly where I will be. I will be walking around Paris and getting my thoughts together. That's it. I'll tell you what has been happening later."
Before Sabine could answer, Marinette turned back to the door and marched out of it, slamming the door behind her.
It had been a beautiful day in Paris. The sky was turning a cherry red as the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower.
Marinette paused on the street to appreciate the vivid colors, her head slightly bobbing to the music playing on her earbuds. From her position, the Eiffel Tower framed the sunset well. She pulled her phone out to try and take a picture. Once her phone clicked, Marinette realized the moment couldn't be photographed. When she opened the photo, she could tell that it wasn't the same.
Marinette sighed. She rarely ever got the chance to breathe and appreciate a sunset anymore. All day, every day, it felt as though she was just running around trying to take down HawkMoth's Akumatized villains. It was getting harder and harder to convince her parents that she wasn't doing anything suspicious. She shuddered as she thought about how easy it was getting to lie to them. Her grades were beginning to slip. Marinette glanced at her bag, thinking about her newest design...one she had designed weeks ago.
Not to mention Adrien...
Marinette sat down at a bench. She slowly pulled her phone from her pocket, taking her earbuds from her ears. Wrapping her phone in them, she sighed again. Adrien just seemed to get further and further away from her. Everything just kept getting further and further away from her as she tried became enveloped in a cloud. Every time she tried to do anything HawkMoth would attack, forcing her to run and turn into Ladybug again.
As Marinette began contemplating whether or not HawkMoth could read her mind, a small voice whispered to her.
"Marinette? What's wrong?"
Marinette looked down at her bag, smiling softly.
"Hey Tikki," Marinette looked away from the adorable kwami. "I forgot you were here."
Tikki glanced around before flying to Marinette's face. "Forgot I was here? Marinettte, I'm always here."
"I know, I know." Marinette looked away. "It just...It seemed—for once—I was completely alone."
Tikki furrowed her eyebrows, not saying anything. After a few moments, Marinette opened her mouth.
"Tikki," Marinette started. "Being Ladybug is amazing. It is absolutely amazing..."
"But..." Tikki prompted.
"But." Marinette hesitated. "But how did other heroes do it? I feel like all of my time is going towards saving Paris..."
Tikki nodded. "Paris needs a hero Marinette-"
"I know Tikki!" Marinette got up and began to start pacing. "But I have other passions! Things that I actually want to do with my life! I don't want to be a superhero forever." Marinette stopped pacing and threw her hands up. "I want to design! I want to have good grades in school! I want a good relationship with my parents! I want-" She stopped herself. Should she mention Adrien? No. Adrien was too selfish of a thing to want. "I want sleep." The night before, Marinette had gone to bed right before her alarm had gone off for her to wake up and get to school.
Tikki looked as though she knew what Marinette had held back. "I know Marinette, I know. Being Ladybug takes a toll on people. But you must power through this! Paris needs you."
Marinette paused, before reaching for her ears.
"Marinette!" Shrieked Tikki, "What are you—"
Marinette had taken off the Miraculous earrings.
"I'm sorry, Tikki. I need a break."
