Wincing, Marinette ducked back under the covers as the morning light hit her eyes with a vengeance.
"Marinette," Tikki hissed into her ear. "It's time to get up."
She groaned, gripping her comforter that much tighter. "It's way too early to get up."
"You've only got 30 minutes until class." Tikki chided as she tried to pull off the comforter.
Inhaling sharply, Marinette leapt out of bed, sliding down her ladder with her eyes closed, relying on sheer muscle memory.
These endless late nights were quickly becoming way too common.
Pulling a fresh outfit from her dresser, she changed as quickly as possible.
She couldn't afford to have the help of anyone else - except for Tikki, of course...to try to find someone else who could step in and handle being a specific Miraculous holder.
In a pinch, technically anyone could really be replaced.
But without Chat Noir? She already knew she couldn't do it.
She couldn't very well explain to him why.
Closing her eyes, she slipped her shirt over her head
She could barely even talk to Tikki about much of that failed timeline. There was so much she really didn't know about. Except those few words from Chat Blanc that still haunted her dreams.
Our love destroyed the world...
"Marinette," Tikki prodded.
"Hmm?" Her eyes popped open.
In the reflection, her hair ruffled slightly. "You're zoning again."
"Sorry, Tikki," she smiled ruefully.
Brushing her hair quickly, she stared off sightlessly in the mirror.
As much as she desperately needed Chat Noir's help, she knew it was a problem. After all, it was because of growing closer to Chat Noir - close enough that he had finally worn down the rest of her resistance - that he was somehow able to get emotional enough to fall prey to Hawkmoth's Akumatization in that other timeline.
Even she had to get really mad to lose that much check on her emotions.
The hairbrush clattered down on top of the dresser. Her fingers moved through the familiar motions, tying each ribbon neatly into place.
She could trust Chat Noir in battle, of course. She needed him to be as sharp as ever while she puzzled all of this out. He'd been more cautious and circumspect since they'd returned from New York.
As much as she needed to assure herself he was alright, she didn't trust herself to ask for anything more about how he was holding up. Not with as much as she already knew about him. There was just far too much potentially on the line.
With a heavy sigh, Marinette took a closer look under her eyes, briefly wondering just how much concealer she was going to need to fend off the inevitable questions about her sleeping habits. Shaking her head, she grabbed the tiny bottle and set to work.
That distance was the one thing keeping them both safe.
Not that it was doing much good.
Regardless of whether she liked it or not - and she did like it far more than she could safely say - Chat Noir had appointed himself her protector...even from herself.
More than once, he'd brought back the extra Miraculous to her and threatened to cuddle next to her in her loft bed.
Marinette smirked before she slid the tiny rose tube of gloss over her lips.
She'd like to see him try.
If only because he could use the sleep just as much himself.
"Marinette!"
Marinette beamed. She might have raced down the street with a croissant hanging from her mouth as she tugged her blazer over her arms, but made it to class with a whole minute to spare.
Alya glanced over at her with concern. "Another late night?"
Marinette smiled ruefully, as she wearily dropped down into her chair. Thankfully, the adrenaline rush of her mad dash had her mind sharp for the moment. "Oh, you know me. There's always another design that has my attention"
Adrien kept tossed a worried glance back over his shoulder.
At her.
When she noticed, she had to kick herself to keep from cheering aloud gleefully.
She might have had to step aside and push her feelings down so he could date Kagami, However, no matter what she tried she couldn't help how much he still affected her.
Of course, keeping her joy in check was a little easier after she remembered that Adrien hadn't been nearly so interested in her at any other time.
"Adrien. Eyes front, please." Miss Bustier scolded mid-lesson.
Marinette's eyes shifted to him immediately, veering up from her doodle-filled page of handwritten notes. Not that she really needed much excuse to look his way.
Adrien pulled his hand from his pocket, sitting up straight.
Marinette frowned. That wasn't like him. It was one thing for him to worry about her. But his posture was usually flawless. All of that modelling training had to be behind it.
She bit her lip. Even after his attention had dutifully turned back to Miss Bustier, Adrien's shoulders were still noticeably slumped.
That really wasn't like him.
Or perhaps, what was unusual was the fact that she hadn't noticed before now.
Anxious fingers twisted fretfully around the ends of her pigtails as she jotted down notes absently. How long had she been missing things?
As often as she dared, Marinette's eyes kept darting towards him, filing away every sort of detail.
In was only inevitable that her eyes would eventually land upon his pocket.
Or more specifically what was falling out of his pocket.
Her eyes widened as she recognized the familiar string of beads, dangling precariously from a red string.
"Hey, Adrien." Alya spoke up just as soon as Miss Bustier had dismissed them to switch classes.
Marinette's eyes darted away, frantically stuffing books into her backpack with the rest of the class.
She could only hope he wouldn't notice that she had been watching.
"What's up, Alya?" He smiled. She could hear it in his voice.
Marinette looked up, still anxious to make sure she hadn't been wrong about that too.
"Something is falling out of your pocket." Alya nodded.
Blinking, he acted fast, hand frantically putting it away.
In an instant, her purse buzzed on her lap.
Eyes wide, she fumbled to get it open.
"Thanks!" Adrien spoke distractly, in front of her. "I don't know what I would do if I lost that."
When she finally managed to pry it open she saw Tikki, who looked confusion but still ready to transform on her signal.
She nibbled at her lip.
If there was a battle brewing, Alya didn't show any sign.
Smiling a little too widely, Marinette coughed, drawing her attention, as she zipped her pink bag closed. "Think Hawkmoth will leave us all alone today?"
Alya rolled her eyes. Her phone was already out and in her hand. "There's nothing new since this early morning, so I honestly hope so."
Puzzled, Marinette frowned, uncertain whether or not she should still duck away to check in with Chat Noir. Eyeing the door, her fingers lingered over her purse.
"It's crazy how often Hawkmoth is attacking anyways." Alya scowled, as she stood, slinging her backpack over her shoulder, following Nino and Adrien out the door.
Standing, Marinette followed suit, trailing behind Alya as her rant continued. "Ladybug and Chat Noir are pushed way past their limits so often. It's like he's trying to push them to the brink. I'm not even sure how much they can ever rest."
Marinette pressed her lips into a thin line to keep from laughing out loud. "It's probably good that they've got someone worried about them like you, Alya."
"It would probably help more if they'd lean on someone else…" Alya pouted, as they headed down the stairs side by side.
Wryly, Marinette forced her lips into a more serene smile. "I'm sure Ladybug knows what she is doing by now."
But by then, Marinette was paying far more attention to the pair in front of her.
"C'mon, Dude." Nino assured, as he rested an arm over Adrien's still hunched shoulders. "It's not that bad getting called out in class. It happens to all of us sometime. I mean, nobody is perfect."
His eyes flickered back up at her.
Just for a fraction of a second.
But it was more than enough to steal her breath. To leave her blushing under his attention, no matter how fleeting.
Miraculously, she was already down on solid ground when Adrien finally spoke again, sighing heavily as he was ushered forward.
"I'm not entirely sure that's true."