Chapter 14

"I hate modeling. I hate it. I hate it a lot, I hate modeling a lot." Adrien confided to Natalie during one of his fifteen minute breaks.

"Yes Adrien I heard you the past several times you've said it today and all of the times you've muttered it in the back of the car." Natalie replied, flipping through paperwork. She muttered a few choice words under her breath about her employer before refocusing. "Two days in America too much for you?"

"Yes." Adrien sighed, putting his head in his hands before realizing it could smudge the makeup and quickly removing them.

"How's Marinette?" Natalie asked.

"About as good as me I think." Adrien said, raking a hand through his hair, before pulling out his phone. He smirked, and shot off another text.

"Was that a pun?" Natalie asked.

"She walked into it!" Adrien defended.

"Defensiveness is the first sign of addiction." Natalie countered.

"To what? Puns?" Adrien asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"How can somebody be addicted to puns?" Adrien asked bemused.

"I don't know but if anyone could be, it's definitely you."

"Point conceded, but tell me how."

"Oh look they're ready for you." Natalie commented, not looking up. To Adrien's surprise, they actually were ready.

"How did you do that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Magic." Natalie deadpanned.

"If anyone is magic around here it's Plagg. Wish me luck." Adrien said, standing.

"Good luck trying to get deliberately hit by something in the face so you'll have to stop modelling? That one?"

"Bingo."

XxXxXxXxXx

Marinette took a deep breath as she called on her transformation. With it, she quelled most of the guilt that was roiling inside of her. Namely, she hadn't spoken to Alya since Adrien had left. She knew Alya would want to ask her about it, and even though her best friend was nice enough to avoid the subject, it would still be written all over her face. Marinette just wasn't sure if she was ready to face that. Especially now that she was about to meet Volpina in a calm setting for the first time.

She had no doubt they would get along wonderfully, but she still felt a slight bit of trepidation when it came to actually speaking to the vixen at length. The events around Lila had made her more than a little jumpy. She had caused a few akumas when she was younger, and didn't need any reminder of the mistakes she had made. Yet it seemed fate liked to toy with her, or at the least, Master Fu did.

But damn it Ladybug wasn't brave, so out the window she went. She went slower than she usually did, and she couldn't help but wonder exactly who she was. Chat had said he knew her personally, which meant Adrien knew her personally, which limited it quite a bit. But at the same time, with his modelling career it expanded it ever further. She sighed, resigning herself to mystery at least for a little while.

She arrived fifteen minutes later, having had to land in the middle of two people in an altercation, and simply glaring at them before the two quickly went their separate ways.

She swung up to the meeting place, feeling a stab in her heart as she again remembered her partner would not be there. She sat down and began to fiddle with her yoyo, trying to contain her nerves and emotions.

She felt the urge to look at her phone before remembering that there was no way to access it while transformed. She had told Adrien she was leaving for patrol anyway so she knew he had probably put his phone down. So she waited in silence, without the general comfort of a light shining in her face, distracting her from real life. It took a few minutes, but Volpina finally showed up, looking distracted.

"Hey Volpina." Ladybug said, rising to her feet.

"Hey Ladybug." Volpina replied, extending a hand. Ladybug shook it with a slightly bemused look. "We met in fairly dire circumstances the last two times I feel like a proper introduction was due."

"Fair enough." Ladybug laughed.

"So what's our plan for tonight?" Volpina asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"We're going to patrol your half of Paris tonight."

Volpina pouted. "Just mine?" Ladybug patted her back consolingly.

"Yup. Let's go get you started." The two leapt off of the roof and began taking Chat's patrol route. For a few moments, everything felt right for Mari. Racing around Paris with an animal eared partner eased her mind a considerable amount. But the patrol was uneventful, and was over all too soon for her tastes, and by the looks of it, Volpina's as well, who still seemed slightly distracted, despite the bright demeanor she was holding up.

It was bad enough that Ladybug almost decided to call for a lap of her side of Paris as well, but decided against it, remembering that she and Volpina needed time to talk.

"That was fun!" Volpina said cheerfully. Ladybug couldn't help but feel as though it was slightly forced, but she tamped the feeling down.

"Yeah I just want to make sure that you have the route down before I send you off on your own. I have no doubt you can handle problems, I just want to show you the route Chat…. And I agreed on." Ladybug looked down at the rooftop, willing herself not to cry before looking out over the Paris skyline.

"How are you holding up?" Volpina asked softly. Ladybug hesitated, a moment before sitting down and answering.

"Not great." Ladybug replied truthfully. Volpina joined her, sitting to her left.

"Have you talked to him at all?"

"Yes. A bit. I'm… Honestly not sure if it's made it better or worse." Volpina had no response and Ladybug eventually continued. "I just.. I don't know what to do right now."

"Well it won't be easy. A friend of mine just left and my boyfriend isn't handling it very well. Neither is my best friend to be fair. Or at least I assume. She hasn't talked to me. I've been getting worried.."

"I'm sorry." Ladybug murmured, putting a comforting arm on Volpina's shoulder.

"I just wish she'd talk to me is all. She knows I worry, but I think that's what she's afraid of. But she needs to talk about it to someone. Not to mention it was partially my fault he left."

"What? How?" Volpina hesitated and then shook her head.

"It's not my story to tell. I would, but it could risk my identity, and I don't know if you're comfortable with that yet."

"Well it took me three years with Chaton, and it only took the threat of him leaving to actually tell him. Give me time. I'll get there." Volpina nodded, and awkwardly patted Ladybug's back. They sat in silence for a few moments before Ladybug said something that she'd wanted to say for awhile.

"Stupid cat… Leaving for such a stupid reason, thinking he had to protect me."

"Wait was he threatened?" Volpina asked, alarm flashing across her features.

"I… Don't know. Not really." Ladybug kicked at a stray piece of rock in frustration. "I just… I miss him you know?" Ladybug asked, voice cracking slightly. Volpina looked at her cautiously.

"You love him. Don't you?" Ladybug nodded wordlessly. "Does he know?" Another nod. "Does he love you too?"

"Yes." Volpina paused.

"Does that make it worse or better?" Ladybug didn't respond for a few moments.

"I have no idea. It's not like we've talked about it. I think we're both afraid to."

"I see." Volpina said. "Well you should probably do that."

"I know."

"Soon."

"I know."

"Ladybug." Ladybug glanced over at her new partner who was glaring at her sternly. "You need to talk to him.

"I will.. Just not yet." Volpina sighed and shook her head.

"I know I can't make you do anything, but I will sic illusions on you if you don't talk to him. Communication is key in any relationship, but that's especially true in long distance. Okay?"

"Yeah.. Just not yet." Volpina frowned at her partner but decided to let the subject drop.

"Alright. So tell me then. What will I be doing as the new hero of Paris?" Ladybug smirked and the two began to strategize a new battle strategy for akumas and anything else that came up. The two talked for well over an hour before the subject of Hawkmoth's identity came up.

"Yeah we have no idea." Ladybug said bluntly.

Volpina looked put out. "Seriously? It's been three years.. I'd hoped at least a little progress had been made."

"I know but the butterflies always fly in different directions. And no they don't all go back to the same place we checked. Or rather Chat checked. Apparently they take a roundabout way to wherever they go because he tried mapping it out and it flat out did not work."

"That's upsetting." Volpina muttered.

"You have no idea." Ladybug said with a sigh. "Chaton chased them around for months before I convinced him to take a break."

"And then he left before he could pick it back up behind your back I assume."

"Yeah probably." Ladybug said with an eye roll. The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before Volpina rose to her feet.

"I should head to bed. As should you."

"Hey. I thought I was in charge." Ladybug complained good naturedly.

"Well then I'm the caretaker. Go to bed."

"Yeah… Goodnight Volpina."

Volpina sighed and gave one final concerned look at her idols back. "Goodnight Ladybug."

Volpina turned and leapt off of the roof. The woman in spots however, stayed for another hour, sitting in the same place she always sat, just with an empty spot to her side.

XxXxXxXx

A: Have you talked to Alya?

M: ...No.

A: You need to.

M: I know I know.

A: Promise me you will before you go to sleep.

M: …

A: Marinette Dupain-Cheng

M: Fine fine I will.

I took Volpina on her first patrol today.

A: How'd it go?

M: Fine I suppose. She seemed a little subdued.

A: How so?

M: I don't know just… She said something about a friend not talking to her or something.

But then agin I barely know her so what do I know?

Again*

A: Mm

M: What?

A: Nuthin. Just interesting. I hope her friend contacts her, just like you're about to do with Alya.

M: Kitty relax I'm obviously going to.

A: Then why haven't you yet?

M: Honestly?

A: yes

M: I wasn't ready for her to ask how I was.

A: … Oh.

Wasn't?

M: Yeah I think I might be. I'm gonna text her before I sleep.

A: Good!

Agh break is over. Gtg. Text me when you wake up? Sweet dreams

M: Of course kitty. Have a good shoot.

Marinette took a deep breath. The urge to type 'I love you' was almost overpowering, but she resisted, and forced herself to switch over to Alya's contact. Here, she hesitated again, not entirely sure she was ready to talk to her best friend. She was about to start typing when the phone buzzed in her hand, making her jump and almost drop it. She answered quickly.

"Hello?"

"You answered!" Alya exclaimed.

"Jesus Alya you scared the crap out of me. I was about to text you." Marinette complained, lying down on her bed.

"Sorry.. But you haven't been answering any of my texts. So I finally snapped and just called.

"Yeah.. Sorry if I worried you."

"Oh yeah you're sorry." Alya muttered.

"What? Alya I-"

"Mari save it. I know you're sorry. Apology accepted blah blah. Why didn't you respond though?"

"I wasn't ready." A moment of silence passed between the two girls.

"Fair enough." Alya finally sighed. "You know me too well I guess."

"Still love me?" Marinette asked, teasing.

"Of course girl. Stubborn though you may be. So… Can I ask the question?"

"Yes." Marinette said sullenly.

"How are you doing?" Alya asked, and suddenly, Mari was being overwhelmed. "What did the two of you decide on? Is he ok? He texted Nino but he didn't say shit. And more importantly are you okay?" Alya stopped abruptly and Marinette took a few moments to compose herself.

"Ok. Let's see. We didn't decide anything. He's… Fine. I'm… Fine. I'm keeping myself busy."

"Whatever works?"

"Pretty much yeah." Marinette said softly. Alya sighed.

"Look girl I gotta sleep. But let's meet up tomorrow for lunch?"

"Yes please. I'll text you when I wake up."

"Sounds good. Night 'nette."

"Night Alya. Sleep well." She hung up and sighed. Tikki came over and nuzzled her cheek. Mari stroked the kwami's head habitually. She eventually fell asleep and Tikki retreated to her own bed, where she had a cookie waiting. She was reluctant to go to sleep. Whenever Plagg got too far away, namely a few hundred kilometers or more, she started having nightmares. They hadn't started yet, but she knew they would soon. And sometimes, they would go to her chosen as well.

She looked at her chosen in concern. She still held more than a few secrets, and there were some she wasn't sure if she wanted Marinette to see. She sighed and reluctantly curled up, ready to sleep. She just hoped Marinette wouldn't ask too many questions in the morning.

A/N: I have retuuuurned. (Imagine me singing that) But yeah. This was a fun chapter. I wasn't sure whether or not I should have Mari talk to Alya this chapter or next but I decided this one because a) It fits more with her character and b) this chapter wasn't really long enough but that's besides the point. Next chapter should be.. Something? idk where I'm at in my own timeline. I don't know how quickly I want things to move along. It's what, middle of May right now I think in the story? I can work with that. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong I lose track of my own writing after a while.

Anyways I hope you're all doing well. If you're back in school like I am, I wish you luck. I'm posting this in between all of the chaos I'm in. Shout out to my bio teacher for not explaining how to turn in the homework. Also shout out to my math teacher for assigning.

Also TIKKI FORESHADOWING muahahahhahahaha (too many haha?) Sorry :D

Anyways love you all. I'll see you all in the next chapter. As always pls review I need the feedback. It really helps me out with my writing.

Until Next Time!

~Nebilas~