Hey! This is going to be a two-chapter story! That means this chapter and the next will immediately connect so guess what? Double post! The next chapter will be out right after this!

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Also, I do not own the characters, just the plot! Enjoy!^-^

Day 25 - Minion Marinette

Adrien walked into school with a smile, feeling that small rush of freedom fill him up. He could actually relax a little without anyone judging him. Well, no more than the everyday judgment of teenagers at least.

He saw Nino and Alya talking to Ivan and Mylene, and instantly headed in their direction. "Good morning guys."

"Good morning Sunshine!" Alya said happily.

Nino held up his fist for their usual morning ritual, "Sup bro." He fist bumped Nino as Ivan and Mylene told him good morning.

"Did everyone have a good weekend?" Adrien asked.

Ivan nodded, "We missed you at band practice though."

He felt his shoulder's slump, "Sorry, I had a photoshoot this weekend, and a fencing tournament. I couldn't get away."

"It's no problem Adrien." Mylene tried to reassure him.

Alya told him happily, "You are never going to guess what I saw."

He was almost afraid to ask, "What did you see Alya?"

"Hi everyone!"

He turned around and saw Lila walking towards them. He cringed as she got too close, taking a small step closer to Nino away from her. Everyone gave her happy good mornings before she turned her eyes on him, "Congratulations on your win at the fencing tournament. I wish I could have stayed for the medal ceremony, but Prince Ali was calling about our humanitarian project."

"Congrats dude." Nino told him, lightly punching his shoulder.

"Thanks Nino. You were there Lila? I don't remember seeing you." He said carefully. She didn't look the least bit worried, "Your last win was five points to your opponents 2, at under a minute from the three minute limit. It was quite the sight."

He frowned, he couldn't argue with that. That's exactly how he'd won.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you in the audience." He said, trying to keep his voice passive.

"No, don't worry. I went to cheer you on, not for you to notice me." Lila said sweetly.

"Lila!"

His head whipped around at the familiar voice, never hearing her sound so happy saying Lila's name. Marinette nearly skidded to a stop next to Lila, breathing heavily as she put her hands on her knees. "I'm so sorry. I just barely finished but it's done!"

Marinette had a bright smile on her face as she dug into her bag, pulling out a wrapped gift. Lila took it with a sweet smile, "Oh Marinette, you didn't have to do this!"

Marinette sounded extremely happy, waving Lila off in a friendly gesture, "No it was no problem!"

He grabbed her wrist instinctively, scowling as he saw her hands, "Marinette what happened!" Her fingers were all wrapped up in various places, and there were bandages wrapped around each of her palms.

Marinette quickly pulled her hand out of his, saying it sternly, "You can't just grab people like that Adrien, it's rude!"

His eyes widened at the harshness of her tone, but his weren't the only ones. Everyone was staring at Marinette in shock, while Lila looked absolutely giddy.

"Dudette?" Nino asked simply, worried by her reaction.

Marinette glanced at Nino, her eyes widening as she looked back at him quickly, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Adrien I, I don't know where that came from!"

He tried to smile at her, "It's okay Marinette. I shouldn't have grabbed you like that, but are you okay? What happened to your hands?"

"Oh I made Lila a dress last night." Marinette explained simply, looking away from him.

Alya's mouth dropped in shock, "Last night?"

"Lila said she needed a new dress, so I was happy to pull an all nighter for her." Marinette said happily, stifling a yawn.

Adrien glanced between Marinette and Lila, getting a really bad feeling all of a sudden. It wasn't a secret to anyone that Marinette didn't get along with Lila. He knew that Marinette knew what kind of liar Lila was. Marinette hated liars, so why was she going out of her way now to make Lila a dress? Something didn't add up.

"Ow," Lila said suddenly, the gift dropping out of her hand. Marinette was there instantly, picking it up, "I've got it Lila. You know what, let me take your bag too. I'd hate for your wrist to get worse."

He watched as Marinette flinched when she grabbed the gift, holding out her other hand for Lila's bag - which Lila quickly gave her, "You really don't have to do this Marinette."

"I want to!" Marinette said happily, but Adrien saw the pain in her eyes. He told her softly, "Marinette, don't your hands hurt?"

She glared at him, "It's none of your business Agreste."

He went completely silent, watching as Marinette turned to Lila, "Do you need help getting your books for the day?"

Lila smiled widely, her eyes practically glowing in happiness, "I'd hate to impose."

"You aren't, I offered. Should we go? I'd hate to make you late for class." Marinette told her.

"We'll see you guys in class." Lila tittered, walking away with Marinette who didn't acknowledge any of them.

Nino put a hand on his shoulder, breaking him out of his frozen position, "You okay dude?"

"Something's wrong." He said instantly. "That's not Marinette."

Alya let out a strained laugh, "No, it's her. That's what I was trying to tell you guys. I saw Lila hanging out with Marinette this weekend, talking and laughing. I guess they must have worked out whatever problem they had."

He frowned. He didn't buy that for a second. There was no way Marinette would just suddenly forget about all of Lila's lies.

Mylene pointed out what he was thinking, "Adrien's right though. Marinette would never snap at him like that."

Ivan frowned, "That was weird."

Alya told them quickly, "She's just sleep deprived, I'm sure she didn't mean it Sunshine."

He nodded, "I'm not angry with her, just, surprised." More than surprised really. He was positive that something was going on, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

He kept a close eye on Marinette all day, and everywhere Lila went, Marinette went. Marinette was practically waiting on her hand and foot, not letting Lila do almost anything for herself. More than once, he saw Marinette with tears in her eyes as she worked on something for Lila, her hands shaking- no doubt from the pain she was in.

What was worse, was that Marinette's standoffish attitude with him only got worse as the day went on. At the end of the day, he had to try again. He turned in his seat and gave her the softest smile he could, "Hey Marinette, would you like me to make a copy of the notes for you? After everything you've done for Lila today, I know your hands have to hurt. Maybe I can walk you home?"

Marinette's eyes turned to solid blue steel, her voice hard, "God Adrien what is your problem? There is nothing wrong with me! I'm doing what I'm doing for Lila because she is the one who is in pain all the time. Maybe instead of worrying about me, you should pay more attention to her!" She stood up and grabbed her bag, telling him shaking her head, "You know what, just, stop, stop talking to me. It's not like the great Agreste has ever been my friend anyways."

Marinette made her way to the back of the class, grabbing Lila's things and walking out of the room with her without looking back.

He could feel the heat radiating from his face, and between Alya and Nino, Alya broke first, "Sunshine, you're right. Something's wrong."

Nino said it under his breath, "No shit."

He swallowed with difficulty, his voice shaking, "Does she, does she really think I'm not her friend?"

Alya told him quickly, "Don't think that. I know for a fact that she has always considered you a friend. She's in..." she stopped mid-sentence, looking at Nino worried.

Nino filled the silence before it could be too noticeable, "She's in a good place with Lila dude. She'll go back to normal in no time I bet. This has to be some sort of, misunderstanding."

His heart clenched, squeezing the air from his lungs as a million thoughts raced through him. A misunderstanding? Not a chance in hell. All he had done was ask to walk her home. There was no way to misunderstand that.

He grabbed his bag and told them, "Yeah, a misunderstanding. I've gotta go. See you guys tomorrow."

He walked out, heading straight to the car when a voice stopped him, "Adrien!"

He felt his stomach turn at the sickly sweet tone of her voice. He plastered a kind smile to his face and waited, seeing her sauntering up to him, "Hey Lila. I don't really have time to talk right now. I have a Chinese lesson."

"I won't keep you very long. I just wanted to apologize about Marinette's behavior. The way she's been treating you all day is horrible, and I've already told her that she shouldn't treat you that way because you've done nothing wrong." She told him with a bright smile.

He asked because he couldn't help himself, "Do you know why she's upset with me?"

Lila feigned being embarrassed, "She's upset that, you don't acknowledge me. She knows I have feelings for you, and she doesn't understand why you don't feel the same way about me."

"I have a girl in my heart already." He said smoothly, "I told you that at the photoshoot on Saturday when you tried to kiss me. No, she's not my girlfriend, but I love her. I just don't want to drag her into my crazy life right now."

Lila said it sounding hurt, "You asked, and you could at least tell me her name so that I know who was lucky enough to win your heart."

"Not happening." He said flatly, "The last thing I need is for you to drag her into your webs."

Lila's eyes narrowed at him, "Well then, say goodbye to your great friend Marinette. The more attention you give her, the angrier you'll make her until she hates you. I can talk to her for you, get her to see reason and everything will go back to normal. All it will take is one little name."

"Have a good afternoon Lila. I have to go." He said, opening the car door and getting in. He shut the door with a little more force than he should have, and hated the wicked glint he could see in her eyes through the tinted windows.

He had to go see his princess. Tonight.

...

He landed on her balcony and went straight to her skylight, tapping somewhat frantically. He'd been on pins and needles all afternoon, waiting for everyone at the mansion to be asleep so he could sneak out.

He stepped back as the latch opened and she popped her head out. There were dark circles under her eyes, and what looked like additional bandages around her fingers. "Oh, Chat Noir. I really can't talk today, can you come back another time? I have to finish this dress for my friend."

She started closing the skylight before he could answer and he put his boot underneath it to stop her from shutting him out, "Whoa purrincess you wound me. I don't get a 'Hi Kitty' or a hug? Who's this special friend you are making a dress for?"

Marinette scowled at him, "Chat move your boot."

He clicked his teeth, shaking a finger at her, "You didn't answer my question purrincess."

"I'm not in the mood for your stupid puns. Move your boot and go home!" She snapped angrily, fire burning behind her blue eyes.

He stared at her in shock, seeing an almost instant change come over her features as they softened back into the face of the girl he loved. Her eyes pooled with tears as her hands covered her mouth, "Kitty, oh my god I, I'm so sorry!"

She opened the latch wide and climbed the rest of the way up, throwing her arms around his middle. "I, I don't know why I did that. I'm so sorry mon coeur, I'm so sorry."

He hugged her back tightly, running his hand over the top of her head, "No don't apologize. You look exhausted Marinette. Maybe you should try to get some rest." He gently took her hand, feeling them shaking on his back, "And rest your hands, their shaking."

Marinette shook her head, "No, no I can't. I have to finish this dress to give to Lila first thing in the morning. If I don't have a dress for her, she'll be so upset."

"Lila? The mean girl who lies all the time, the girl who threatened you? Why in the world are you doing anything for her?!" He asked, desperate for a clue about what was really going on.

"Hey don't talk about her that way!" Marinette said angrily, "Lila is a great person. She does so much good in this world, the least I can do is help her in any way I can." He saw something flash in Marinette's eyes, and she groaned, grabbing at her stomach and doubling over.

"Marinette!" He cried out in panic, kneeling next to her as she crouched into herself. Tears were streaming from her eyes.

"No, no I won't." She muttered nearly sobbing, "You can't make me. I won't hurt him. I won't hurt him."

"Marinette, who are you talking to?" He asked in horror, but she grabbed her head, shaking it violently, "No, you won't make me. Adrien, or my kitty, I won't hurt them."

He shook her shoulder, "Marinette, you are scaring me."

She screamed and he grabbed onto her, feeling her shaking. "Shh, I've got you mon coeur. I'm not going to let you go. I'm right here, I've got you. No one can hurt you."

She was trying to get out of his firm hold, "Get off of me! I hate you! You're a useless waste of space you stupid cat!" Large tears were falling from her eyes and his grip tightened, "So be it. I love you. I'm not going anywhere. Talk to me princess, tell me what's happening."

"Why should I?!" She screamed angrily, thrashing to get free despite the tears, "You love LADYBUG! That's the only person you've ever really loved, I'm nothing more than a louzy second choice because she wouldn't give you the time of day. Maybe she had it right, maybe you aren't worth the time or effort! LET ME GO!"

"Never. I'm never letting you go." He whispered lovingly. He managed to turn her to face him, and kissed her soundly.

She instantly stilled, letting out a sob before falling heavily against his chest. Her entire body started shaking, "Chat, chat help me. She, she's in my head, she's screaming, she won't let me go. Please, please get her out of my head. Please," she begged, crying uncontrollably.

"Who Marinette?" He asked quickly, not knowing how long this was going to last, "Tell me."

"Lila, Lila's an akuma disguised as herself." She started trying to tear at the bandages on her hands, and he pulled them off with his claws. Her hands were covered in small pricks and cuts, but in the center of her palms were two angry red stars.

His anger rose to levels he didn't know could exist.

"She's controlling you, making you do everything she says like you're her personal minion or something." He said, finally understanding.

Her hands flew back to her head, telling him, "Please, you have to go, you have to get out of here." She pulled at her ears with shaking hands, and a bright red, very familiar, kwami flew out into view, "Marinette please don't, you won't be able to fight back!"

Marinette almost ripped the other earring from her ear, and Tikki disappeared. She dropped the ladybug spotted earrings into his hand, closing his fist around them, "Get them away from me. You have to take them and go before she finds you. You have to go, you have to go now!"

"M'la-"

She covered his mouth and said it quickly, "No, I'm keeping it from her. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. You have do it without me this time. GO!"

He could hear the urgency in her voice and instantly moved, clutching the earrings protectively in his hand as he took off. He circled the entire city, trying to pull himself together. Lila was an akuma who was controlling Marinette, who was making his princess be mean and angry towards Adrien, and to him. His princess... who was also his Lady, who gave him the only source she had to even try to fight Lila back.

He landed in his room, going from his usual crouch straight to his knees. He grabbed his middle as everything finally crashed into him.

His breath was coming in heavy pants, the panic causing the worst of scenarios to run through him with the worst of ends.

No, no he couldn't think that way. He shook his head, trying to clear it of all the bad thoughts. He called it shakily, "Plagg, claws in."

Plagg appeared, telling him quickly, "The earrings, open your hand!"

He opened his hand and Tikki reappeared in a burst of light, "Marinette!"

Tikki looked around, her eyes going back and forth between Plagg and Adrien. Tikki floated down slowly until she landed on the floor in front of him, "Oh no."

Plagg was next to her in a second, "Sugarcube, what in the world happened!?"

Tikki covered her eyes, "Lila... Lila walked up to Marinette at the park after your photoshoot. We didn't know anything was wrong, we didn't realize until it was too late." Tikki let out a short sob, "Lila tried to tell Marinette that you finally admitted you had feelings for her, that you said you loved her and that you... you kissed her!"

"I didn't! I'd never hurt her that way! I love Marinette!" He yelled.

Tikki told him quickly, "I know that, and she knows that. At least, she knows that Chat Noir does. You've only been dating for two weeks. She does love Chat Noir with all her heart, but Adrien had her heart for a long time too. She thought Lila was manipulating you, or threatening you the way she was threatened."

"Lila tried to kiss me at the photoshoot and I told her I had a girl in my heart already." He said heavily. "I couldn't tell her I already had a girlfriend, but I told her that I loved this girl. She was upset when she stormed off because I wouldn't give her the girls' name."

Plagg smirked, saying it teasingly, "Aren't you glad you took my advice to go on a date with pigtails?"

Adrien's eyes snapped to Plagg's, saying it accusingly, "You knew, you knew m'lady was Marinette!"

"Of course I knew. You were the only one too blind to see it." Plagg said, sounding exhausted by their obliviousness, but he suddenly perked up slightly, "I think I deserve extra camembert for my efforts. You ARE dating the love of your life after all, all thanks to moi."

Tikki huffed, "You think it was easy convincing LADYBUG that dating her partner wouldn't end in the destruction of the world?"

Adrien's eyes widened in shock, "She thought what?!"

Tikki quickly back-tracked as Plagg snickered, "Oh no! Not like that! Marinette has an active imagination. She plays out the absolute worst scenarios, most of which are always extremely unlikely."

Adrien relaxed a little, asking hushed as he looked between the two kwami's, "Marinette is really my lady, but..." it finally hit him, "It was me? I was the boy she was in love with, who she had been turning me-Chat Noir- down for? I was my own competition!"

Tikki sighed as Plagg cackled, "Unfortunately yes."

Plagg reminded him, still laughing, "And you were keeping YOUR lady at arms length because she was 'just a friend'."

"I told you three weeks ago I didn't see her that way anymore!" Adrien told the madly laughing kwami. Tikki flew up to him, "Adrien, I know you learned a lot today, and that you are no doubt overwhelmed."

He nodded, Tikki giving him an encouraging smile, "But Marinette trusts you this much." She lifted his hand where the earrings were, "She gave you the other half of the ultimate power, not knowing your real identity."

"I'd never use them together." He promised.

Plagg nodded, finally calming down, "She knows that, but this time, she is being controlled by an akuma, one who has no intention of letting her go. You are going to have to be,"

"Mister Bug." Adrien said, almost dreading it. The last time they had switched Miraculous, he had been a near disaster of a Mister Bug. If his lady hadn't been there as Lady Noir, he honestly didn't know if he'd been able to defeat Reflektdoll without her.

Tikki patted his cheek suddenly, "She knows you can do it. She has blind faith in you. Just trust in yourself. You are Chat Noir, you can do anything you set your mind to, even be the best Mister Bug you can be."

Adrien smiled, "No wonder she is so confident all the time." He turned slightly and scowled at Plagg, "Why can't you be this nice?"

Plagg fake-wretched, "Ugh, and indulge your already overly-emotional state of mind. Pass. Besides, you don't need someone to tell you how great you are. You need someone to make you see for yourself how great you are."

"Aww you're such a softy, Stinky Sock." Tikki cooed.

Plagg huffed, crossing his arms as Tikki hugged him from the side, but Adrien saw the smile fighting to come out on Plagg's face.

The earrings glinted in his hand, and he clenched his hand around them. Adrien told them, getting to his feet and letting Marinette's faith and Tikki's pep talk fill him up, "This isn't going to be easy guys. Lila is walking around as an akuma of herself. We have to be extremely careful or this will blow up in our faces."

He paced back and forth for a minute, the kwami's watching him intently, "If I suddenly go to school wearing earrings, Marinette is bound to notice. She'll put it together in no time that I'm Chat Noir, and Hawkmoth might find out who we are. Lila has asked about wearing my ring before too, as a sign of us dating," he rolled his eyes, "so I'm sure she'll notice it's missing if I take it off to risk wearing the earrings. I definitely can't wear both at once, and I can't leave either Miraculous unattended."

"Who says you can't?" Tikki and Plagg asked at the same time.

He stared at them shocked, "I thought wearing the ring and earrings together was bad?"

They shook their heads, Tikki explaining, "You can wear them both, you just can under no circumstances unify them."

"You can even switch between the two, you just can't use them at once." Plagg added.

Adrien started to smile, a plan forming, "If that's true, then I think I have an idea."

Thanks for reading! Remember, this is a two-chapter story, so the next chapter will directly pick up from here! More is on the way so don't fret!

Leave a comment or review if you want!

Au Revoir for now! Á demain!