Okay, I'm just testing this idea out to see if I like it. I'm definitely going to post at least one other part. Enjoy!
"—listening to me? Marinette?"
At the sound of her name, Marinette shook out of her stupor. "What's that?"
Her best friend shook her head with a sigh, but she was smiling. "Did you really stay up late designing again? You've seemed dead on your feet all day."
"Maybe. I'm not that out of it," she protested.
Alya frowned. "When Adrien said hi to you this morning, you thanked him."
"That wasn't because I'm tired, that was because it's Adrien." Her cheeks flushed at the memory. Stupid, stupid, stupid…
"Okay, well, we need to get back to class. We can talk more about Ladybug later." Was that what they had been talking about? Hm.
They had just gotten back from lunch at her family's bakery. Marinette barely remembered what she had eaten or what they had talked about. Her exhaustion had put her on autopilot for most of the day.
Her feet moved to follow Alya out of the girls' locker room. She started to sigh before the pain in her torso stopped her mid-breath.
Last night was hard. Well, every night being Ladybug was hard, but last night had been especially bad. She had been heading home after patrolling around Paris when she had spotted a young man getting mugged in an alleyway. Naturally, she dropped in to help, but the bastard somehow managed to kick her squarely in the stomach, effectively knocking the wind out of her seemingly to never return. She had been forced to fight him while desperately trying to suck in a good breath of air. The memory of her lungs screaming at her seemed to make the bruise on her abdomen throb harder.
She'd been successful, of course. She remembered how she had helped the man up and tried desperately to seem like the strong, stoic vigilante the people of Paris made her out to be, but she knew her injury wasn't well-hidden. When she made it home, she had been up for hours icing her wound and trying to get the ache to subside enough to sleep. Honestly, the kick had probably cracked one or two of her lower ribs, but being Ladybug had its perks. She knew she'd be healed in a few days.
However, she was still hurt now. And it was hell.
She settled in her seat next to Alya when they got to the classroom, holding her breath to avoid exhaling too loudly from the pain.
Adrien was of course already seated in front of her, next to Nino, and had his tablet out and ready to take notes on the lesson. She smiled dreamily to herself. How could someone be so perfectly organized and smart?
Next to her, Alya squealed. She was holding her phone so close to her face that Marinette wondered how she could actually make out what was on the screen.
"Ohmygosh, girl, look!" She shoved the phone almost as close to Marinette's face as she had been holding to her own a moment ago. Marinette leaned back and squinted at the screen. Her stomach dropped. It was a blurry picture of herself as Ladybug running under a street lamp.
Fuck, she thought.
"Wow," she said instead.
"I know! There hasn't been a new picture of Ladybug in almost a month. This is totally going up on my blog. She snatched her phone back and began furiously tapping.
The two boys in front of them had turned around at the commotion. "Did you say a picture of Ladybug?" Adrien asked.
"Yes! Look!" She leaned forward and shoved her phone in his face. Alya really had to chill with that.
Adrien took her phone tentatively and stared at the picture in wonder. "This is so cool. I had started to worry that Ladybug had disappeared."
He handed the phone back to her. "Please," Alya scoffed, "No one can take down Ladybug. She's here to stay, I can feel it."
Adrien sighed. "She's so cool."
Next to him, Nino shoved him playfully. "Dude, not this again."
Marinette's heart fluttered in her chest. Adrien talked about her so much that it annoyed Nino. She felt warmth creeping into her cheeks at the thought of Adrien gushing about how much he adored her mysterious alter ego.
Their conversation was cut short as Mme Mendeleiev stalked into the classroom. Her striking presence tended to silence all conversations in a room when she entered.
"Good afternoon, all. Open your notes from yesterday. We'll be picking up from there."
As class got into full swing, Marinette struggled to focus past her drooping eyelids and aching chest. The single ounce of concentration she could muster was dropped when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She felt Alya's intense gaze on her.
She sighed and pulled her phone out onto her thigh under the desk. A single notification from Alya was on her lock screen. She unlocked her phone and read the text quickly.
Alya: Okay I have an idea just hear me out.
This couldn't be good. She sideyed Alya, giving her a look that she knew would convey, "Oh boy, just tell me."
Alya typed on her own thigh for a minute or two before Marinette felt another soft buzz.
Alya: What if I just happened to suggest that u and Adrien go out tonight looking for ladybug to get another pic for my blog? I mean u prolly won't even see her but you guys could hang out and bond and then go back to your place and then make out and declare your undying love for each other.
She smacked a palm to her forehead, and typed back a simple "NO".
Alya: whyyyyyyyy
Alya: Marinette
Alya: You need to make a move girl we were just talking about ladybug and he loves ladybug so he'll definitely say yes if you ask.
She ignored the flip her heart performed in her chest at the idea of Adrien loving her.
She typed her response quickly, trying to keep her eyes up on the lesson to avoid detection.
Marinette: Alya I know you mean well but I would literally combust and die. Not even Ladybug could save me.
Her friend huffed.
Alya: GIRL
Marinette waited for a follow up, but the typing symbol had gone away. However, she could see that Alya was still typing on her phone.
Realization washed over her too late.
Marinette: alya
Marinette: ALYA
Marinette: Who are you texting?
Marinette: I swear to god
To her horror, she heard another phone buzz...directly in front of her.
Marinette tried not to die in her seat as the typing symbol reappeared. Alya's response came a moment later.
Alya: ;)
No. Nooooo. Marinette felt her soul wither inside of her. Her anger and panic was gone, replaced by cold dread.
Her phone buzzed again.
Alya: Okay I'm sorry that might have been a little far but I do not regret it we can talk to him after class when he reads my text and I'll help you set the whole thing up
Alya: It'll be great
Alya: I promise
Alya: Marinette?
Alya: girl I can see you reading these
Marinette? Who was that? No, there was no Marinette here. There was only an empty husk of a girl, staring blankly at her phone as she shut down.
How do we feel? I just couldn't get this plot out of my head. Let me know what you think!