Making Things Right
Despite the whole akuma business, Alya still had to serve her one-week suspension. And while her mom had enacted a strict non-Marinette policy (the real punishment of the two), she hadn't exactly mentioned a Ladybug ban.
So it was Ladybug that swung her way across Paris to end up peering into Alya's window. And Ladybug was the one to notice that despite the early hour, her friend was sound asleep, still fully dressed and stretched across her bed.
Slipping open the window Alya always kept open, Ladybug slid one, then two spandex-covered legs into the bedroom. Shimmying inside, Ladybug was careful not to disturb any of her friend's electric cords. She tiptoed toward the sleek nightstand and silently picked up the redhead's phone. She carefully opened the video feature and switched the camera to selfie mode.
Backing into the hall and into the nearby bathroom, Ladybug situated herself against the light purple shower curtain and hit play.
"Hey, Alya, right? This is, well, you know, Ladybug.
"I hope you don't mind this intrusion. I got your address off of Monsieur Damocles. I know you were akumatized because you wanted to find out who I am, but please, don't. My identity is something that has to be protected. If I were to disclose my civilian form, people close to me would be targeted. Hopefully you can understand." Ladybug almost hit end, but she remembered something else. "And please don't mention or post this video. I don't want you to be targeted twice."
She finished the video and placed the phone back on Alya's nightstand, making sure she set it down somewhere obviously different from where the redhead had last seen it.
Just as Ladybug was about to swing out the window, she noticed her friend frowning in her sleep. It was probably only a bad dream, but with Alya's recent akumatization, she felt compelled to walk over and brush away a lock of dip-dyed hair away from her friend's face and smooth out the wrinkles on her forehead. Alya stirred but didn't wake.
Daring herself to go the extra mile, Ladybug brushed a feather-light kiss on the redhead's forehead. "Sweet dreams, my friend." And with that, she was out, swinging across the rooftops of Paris.
Alya returned from suspension within a few days, and Marinette noticed a considerable bounce in her friend's step.
"What's got you so excited?"
The redhead froze, and for a scary second Marinette was sure she was going to mention Ladybug's video. But then Alya smiled wide and simply said, "I'm glad to be at school—for once!"