Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or the characters.
A couple of days had passed since the whole Sandboy situation and needless to say, no one had been sleeping quite as easy just yet.
However, it seemed like after the whole incident, things went back to normal between Nathanael and Alix… for the most part at least.
While Nathanael's confidence had grown after standing up to the nightmare version of Alix, he was still concerned about confronting her on what had happened before.
He knew from her expressions that she was still hiding something, something that made her uncomfortable and somewhat distant.
"I hope Juleka and Rose can help." Nathanael thought.
Meanwhile, at Juleka's houseboat.
The group of girls had gathered at Juleka's house to discuss some stuff.
Alix had assumed it would be about Marinette and Adrien again, after what happened with the whole ice skating plan.
Alix honestly had started to feel somewhat empathetic for Marinette, finally being able to understand what it was like to struggle with telling someone about how you really feel.
She wasn't quite as awkward, but the results were similar.
As they all sat down, Alix immediately noticed that everyone's line of sight was directed at her.
"What?" Alix asked.
"Well… it's just… we were all wondering… ." Rose tried to get the words out.
"What's going on between you and Nathanael?!" Alya finished her question for her.
Alix flinched at the sudden presence of the question, clearly not expecting the subject to even come up.
Alix took a second to regain her composure and answered them as truthfully as she could.
"Nothing." Alix said, with a hint of sadness in her tone.
"Exactly." Juleka said.
"Nathanael talked to us the other day, he asked if we could help him understand what's going on." Rose said.
"Nothing's going on." Alix said.
"Look, I know it might be a bit personal, but he's blaming himself for whatever is going on and he seems to think he's the cause of some problem." Juleka told her.
Alix sighed.
"He shouldn't do that, it's not his fault, he can't help how feels about her." Alix thought.
"He's wrong." Alix said.
Marinette looked at her, frowning as she did so.
"Alix… please." Marinette said.
Alix looked back at her, the level of emotion in her eyes giving her a sense of reassurance.
"You all have to promise me, that If I tell you what's going on, that it doesn't leave here." Alix said.
"I promise." They all said.
"Well… it's about him and Ladybug." Alix told them.
"Ladybug?" Alya and Mylene said, in surprise.
Marinette sighed, having already talked with Alix on the subject and knowing full well how she felt.
As for Juleka and Rose, they had a good idea of what the whole Ladybug issue was about, after having their talk with Nathanael.
"Yeah." Alix said.
From there, Alix told them about her growing feelings towards Nathanael, as well as her jealousy of how he viewed Ladybug.
"Have you talked to him about it yet?" Alya asked her.
"No, how would I even bring that up?" Alix questioned.
"I don't know, but it wouldn't exactly hurt to try." Alya said.
"Communication is important… I mean seriously, why can't people just have a conversation?" Marinette questioned.
The rest of the girls looked at her, with questioning gazes.
"What?" Marinette asked.
"Hypocrite." Alix said, through a fake cough.
"Hey, I get that it's ironic coming from me, but you all know I'm right." Marinette said, pointing at them.
They all nodded in agreement.
"Still, what would I even say?" Alix asked.
"The truth, and if he can't accept how you feel, then it's his loss." Mylene said.
Alix told them she would think about it and from there, they just hung out like they normally would.
Alix knew it was a risk and she would have to approach the whole thing delicately.
"Please let him understand." Alix mentally pleaded.
Later.
Alix walked along the streets of Paris, stopping to look at the sights around her.
"It's funny, how pretty everything is when you're not in a rush." Alix thought.
Alix chuckled, realizing what opposites attract really meant.
She was more reckless and free spirited, while Nathanael took things slow and used the time to notice even the little details.
"Maybe he will understand." Alix thought.
However, it seemed even with her awareness, she still hadn't noticed the cart she had walked right into.
"Sorry about that." Alix apologized, as she stepped back.
"It's quite alright." The man said, cheerfully.
Alix immediately recognized that voice.
"Wait… Andre?" Alix said.
As Alix looked up, she saw the ice cream maker himself, smiling at the people passing by.
"Of course, though I haven't seen you before, but it's always nice to see a new customer." He exclaimed.
"I could go for some ice cream." Alix decided.
Andre looked at her, recognizing something familiar when it came to her emotions.
"I know just what you need." Andre told her.
"A scoop of boysenberry, a scoop of orange to match his hair and finally, a scoop of blue raspberry to match his eyes." Andre said, as he scooped them all into the cone.
"Here you are." He said, as he handed it to her.
"Thank you." Alix said.
As Alix walked off, she immediately knew what the ice cream represented.
"All signs are pointing to telling him." Alix thought.
"So why am I still just as nervous?" Alix wondered.