*THIS IS EARLY! I am going away for today, so I'm uploading earlier than usual. This will not be the usual occurance, just to keep me sane. Hope you enjoy!*
"So, Marinette," I asked after we had swum over to the riverbank. Her hair was soaked, so it looked like a heavy curtain of black that poured over her shoulders onto her soaked blue dress.
"What brought you to this little river spot?"
She sighed a deep sigh that sounded so sad that I wanted to give her a huge hug, but I didn't because I didn't think that she would appreciate it. She avoided me at school for some unknown reason. I didn't think that she liked me very much, but I don't know what I had done to tick her off. I liked Marinette. She was sweet and kind and awesome. I didn't want her to be mad at me, she was a proper friend. My first ever friend. However, what use was a friend who tolerated you, and only tolerated you.
I stared at her in anticipation. She sighed again and then began to fiddle with the edge of her dress. She stammered a little before starting.
"A-Alya and I used to come here when we were younger, but we had an argument recently. I came here to get some air"
I nodded.
"So-so-so who-no-why are you here? Why are you here?"
I recounted the thrilling tale, which was actually very boring.
My dad and I were having an argument. Voices raised, banging on tables, the whole package. It was about my duties as a prince and how I wasn't fulfilling them. After the whole ordeal, I rushed out of the room and stormed outside, trying to escape. The part I didn't relay: I forgot my mask. In the rush, I left without it on. It was now simple to identify me as Adrien. So, now I was trying to hide from Gorilla, who was no doubt in hot pursuit.
Also, I knew I wasn't fulfilling my princely duties. I didn't want to make public appearances and address crowds. I didn't want to make speeches. I didn't want to rule a kingdom, but my father does and in his eyes, and in the words of Plagg who apparently got all the shots when deciding on my fate, my destiny was called for. There was no escaping the words of a kwami.
Marinette looked angry. Her deep blue eyes gleamed with fury.
"He can't- that's not- I mean-" She groaned. "Unfair. It's unfair."
I found her constant stammering a little odd, but also cute. Then I cursed myself for thinking like that. She was cute in the way a kitten was cute. Not as in the 'I like her' way. Then I cursed myself for thinking 'I like her'. Let's get one thing clear: I DO NOT LIKE MARINETTE IN THAT WAY, NO MATTER WHAT NINO SAYS.
She was a good friend, sweet, kind and awesome, but I had Ladybug. I liked Ladybug. I loved Ladybug.
I turned to Marinette. Whenever I looked away she frowned and her posture dropped.
"Why are you sad?" I asked her.
She glanced at me and composed herself.
"Sad? No, I'm not sad. I'm grand! Fabulous even!" She quickly said, but I didn't believe her.
"Yes, you are."
She sighed.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked, all stuttering fading away.
"A little."
She groaned.
"So, why are you sad?" I repeated.
She shook her head.
"Do I have to say?"
"No." I protested. "Only if you want to."
She bowed her head and stayed quiet.
"Do you want a hug?"
"Yes. I definitely want a hug." She sighed, do I gave her a large, friendly hug. When I released her, she was smiling a little.
"Thanks."
"No problem," I muttered, a little embarrassed for some reason.
I heard heavy stomping through the trees. Gorilla, I thought and I quickly stood up.
"I gotta go, bye" I yelled, but the sentence came out as one garbled word. I ran away, Gorilla chasing behind me.
MLBMLBMLB
"My Lady, that's beautiful," I said to Ladybug, who was showing the improved top.
"Thank you." She bowed her head in acceptance of the compliment. "It was a mess, like, five seconds before I left for here."
"I doubt it was that bad."
"No, it was." She pointed out various places where she had stuck on tacky ornaments, where there were now rips to reveal a light blue fabric. There were tiny blue-green fishes stitched at the collar. It was modern and artistic.
"Then, I doubt you fixed it in five seconds."
She wore an expression of mock anger.
"You doubt my abilities?"
"Never, Bugaboo."
"Silly Kitty."
We continued the teasing as we set up our stall. We laid all our new material out on the table. I had been making bead bracelets with the spare materials that Ladybug had no use for. They weren't expensive, but they were still making a little extra money for new fabric. Her designs were amazing, as per usual. There was a green dress with a wide skirt, perfect for a picnic, a lilac ball gown and so much more. I began to call over customers. The second I started, a crowd made its way towards us.
"Well, this is pawsome"
She shot me an annoyed look, which was the norm when a made a clawtastic pun. I made a lot of puns. She made a lot of annoyed looks.
We sold out in a matter of minutes. Ladybug counted the money, I took down the sign that Ladybug had made. It said 'Miraculous Fashions' with a drawing of a black cat and a ladybug. She set aside the money to rent the stall and counted out a half. She offered it to me, but I shook my head. I didn't need any more money. My father taxed the city ruthlessly for 'my benefit', as well as his own greed. Of course, Ladybug didn't know this and I planned to keep it that way. As much as I wanted to know who was behind the mask and who I was in love with, I didn't want her to treat me differently because I was a prince. Even Marinette did that; she was now so different from the girl I met in the woods. She stuttered and jumped back whenever I tried to go anywhere near her. She was distant.
We both smiled at Manon, who was at the stall beside us. She was happier now. It looked like she had been eating more, smiling more, all in all having a better life. I think the money that I was sending was helping. We made our way over to her stall.
"Hi Manon," Ladybug chirped. "How are you?"
"I'm fantastic! Brilliant!" She squealed.
"Well, I'm glad that you are so happy, but what's the reason?" Ladybug asked innocently.
"Some anonymous character has been donating money to my family. It's enough to pay the rent and feed at least two of us."
"Seriously? That's brilliant!" Ladybug grinned.
"Brilliant." I agreed. Her smile was contagious; her happiness was spreading.
"Anyways," Manon changed the subject. "Do you want to buy some candles?"
Ladybug smiled and passed over the money. She pointed to two green ones, and Manon gave them to her.
"Here," Ladybug offered one of the green sticks to me. I took it and said my thanks. Ladybug and I attempted to walk out of the Young Market, but we were stopped by a tall, looming shadow. Rodgercop.
"Can't you give us a break?" I asked, annoyed. "We don't want any trouble."
"Hawkmoth demands that 'Ladybug' be brought before him, due to the disrespect she showed him last week."
Ladybug glanced at me. No one can demand anyone to be brought before them, and no one can talk to Ladybug like that, I wouldn't allow it.
"You won't be taking Ladybug anywhere," I growled, ready to pounce. Ladybug placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I can handle myself, kitty." She turned to Rodgercop, "You won't be taking me anywhere."
"That is exactly what I just said." I moaned.
"Shut up."
Rodgercop scowled.
"I am required to take you by force, if necessary."
"Then force it is." Ladybug tensed, possibly about to cast a shield, but I got there first. Rodgercop always wears a tall pair of boots to increase his height. Nobody mentioned this, they were too afraid, but I noticed and I was going to take advantage. I threw myself at the ground, towards his boots. In the split second that I gave him to think, he shot me a disgusted look, but then I summoned my cataclysm. The shoes crumbled under his foot, and he fell. Luckily, he didn't fall on me, he fell backward. I jumped upright and took a protective stance in front of the wide-eyed Ladybug.
"Okay, for one I can protect myself." She scolded, but then grinned. "However, that was awesome, and I am okay with that. Still, I am an independent woman."
"I don't doubt that for a second." And that was the truth. Rodgercop sat up and growled. He got to his feet.
"Let me handle this one." She asked.
"No problem, My lady."
She leaped into action, casting shields left, right and center. She didn't need my help, so I just watched with the rest of the cheering crowd. She was beautiful.