Hello everyone, yeah, I took my time; but, listen here, I had to watch at least some of the new episodes so I could get inspired. I'm so glad I did! This chapter was inspired by 'Truth' and 'Lies' and the song 'Ce mur qui nous sépare' (This wall that separates us/This wall between us); I hope you like it. If you haven't watched those episodes, I have to make a SPOILER alert. I don't describe what happened in them per se, but there are a couple of things that are practically the same. Do enjoy! C:
"Let me guess, you'll be seeing Kagami today, right dude?"
The blond had been pulled from his thoughts by his friend's voice. He couldn't stop thinking about the girl sitting right behind him. He couldn't stop thinking about Marinette's lips to be exact. Yes, kissing her had served the purpose of relieving his most inner desires, but he never thought it would also be the reason why he couldn't stop thinking about her.
'Nino mentioned Kagami, right?' Adrien asked himself.
Kagami was another piece on the board. She was a great friend of his but that was the main issue. 'She's just a friend' he told himself. On the other hand, Marinette, she was a friend too but, at the same time, Marinette evoked a more special feeling whenever he thought of her. If he had to choose between Kagami and Marinette, the obvious choice should be Kagami; but he'd be lying to himself if that were true. 'What about Ladybug?' he asked himself. She was the only constant in his life, no one could be more important than her, right?
"Dude, what's going on? Didn't you get a nice sleep yesterday?" Nino pulled Adrien from his thoughts again. "I've been trying to get your attention for a while now, and the bell just rang" Nino said "I know you'll be seeing Kagami for your fencing class but I'm pretty sure that's in a few hours" Nino said "I'm not sure your father will agree with you staying out of your house longer than needed"
Adrien stood up immediately and let his friend out of his seat. As he was moving away from Nino, he bumped into the girl that had been on his mind all this time, Marinette. She forced a smile at him and dropped her gaze from his not long after. She apologized and ran out of the classroom, Alya just behind her.
"She's still not talking to you, eh?"
"I don't know why she's so mad at me"
"Me neither, bro" Nino sighed. "Let's go, I have to catch up with Alya, we're babysitting her sisters"
Both friends walked to the school's entrance. They both watched Marinette leaving with Luka on his bicycle. Adrien watched her getting away while hugging the bluenette and he felt his heart twinge. However, Kagami's phone call made him look away and head to his limousine. He waved goodbye to his two remaining friends and hopped into his limousine. Perhaps, all Marinette needed was some space and she'd be back to normal in no time.
He was about to answer the phone when a little akuma caught his eye. The akuma was getting into the school. He then decided to decline Kagami's call and go investigate. He'd apologize later and spend some time with his girlfriend.
"Sorry guys, class won't start early.."
"There's no problem, we'll be back in an hour" Kagami took Adrien by the hand and took him somewhere else. Her plan had been successful and now she'd be spending more time alone with her boyfriend.
"Kagami, you were so sure we had to be early today..."
"I must have misheard the professor" she dismissed him "anyways, I have something I want to show you"
"Sure thing"
Both teenagers entered the arts classroom. Kagami took out her drawing notebook and showed Adrien her doodles. She explained that her mother didn't wish for her daughter to keep a useless hobby and she wasn't very happy that Kagami still had the nerve to draw when she wasn't even good at it. But her mother was wrong, Kagami's drawings were actually pretty good, and she wanted to draw Adrien too. He blushed once Kagami described him as beautiful. He sure liked her bluntness and honesty.
The blond found a stool and posed right next to it, as if he were taking a picture for his father's publicity. Kagami did a quick sketch but she threw it away right after finishing it. She asked to try another pose, but she threw it away again.
"Just make a pose that feels natural" she asked.
Adrien thought about it before posing as if he had just finished his transformation into Chat Noir.
"That's unnatural" Kagami said "You look like a clown"
"But it does feel natural" Adrien interjected "Can't I be a bit of a clown?"
"There's no need for you to be one, you're perfect" Kagami had cornered him into a wall. She was about to kiss him when Adrien looked at his phone and realized that time had passed by.
"Class is about to start" he said while grabbing his bag and turning for the door.
'What's wrong with being funny?' he asked himself while in practice. 'Marinette doesn't seem to have a problem with it when she talks to Chat Noir…'
That's how Kagami beat him for the millionth time.
"Cat's got your tongue Adrien?" Plagg teased his wielder "It can't be, did you forget to place the order for my delicious Camemberts?!"
His wielder had been quiet ever since the fight with 'Lies', Kagami's latest akumatized version. He had felt bad after the talk they had had when fencing class ended; but now, he felt even worse, it was his fault she had been akumatized again. She understood the reason why she ended their relationship; he had been too distant for far too long. What drove her over the edge had been Marinette's lucky charm. Yes, he felt badly, but he couldn't keep lying to himself.
'I did leave so I could help Ladybug fight the akumas; but, if I'm being really honest, I just wanted to have a break of Kagami' he pondered. 'I left her with André's ice cream because it didn't feel right' he thought to himself. 'And what about Kitty Section? We had five more minutes to practice, and she didn't let me practice with them' he sighed. 'She just wanted to spend some time with me'
He felt like he was the worst person in the world. All Kagami wanted was to spend time with him, and at first, he also wanted to spend time with her. What changed? Kagami was the same person she has always been, and him; he just had a lot to think about. Marinette and Ladybug, those two were on his mind constantly nowadays.
"What 's wrong?" Plagg was getting worried, Adrien wasn't replying and his Camembert was nowhere to be found.
"Cheese's where it's always been, you don't have to ask for it twice Plagg" the blond sighed again. "You better finish it fast, we have patrol with Ladybug tonight"
'Chat Noir kissed me last night and I haven't stopped thinking about it since' Marinette thought. It was the last class of the day and the whole day had passed by and all she did during it, was think about that alley cat. She couldn't catch a break, she was still in love with the blond sitting in front of her; she was also dating Luka, knowing she hadn't stopped loving the aforementioned blond. No, she really couldn't catch a break, and now, her partner had taken part in the game.
Marinette could hear several voices in the background. First, Alya complaining about Marinette not even trying to make up an excuse for missing several rendezvous with the other girls. She could also hear Mme. Bustier continuing with her lesson and all her other classmates whispering, focused on their own conversations. She couldn't care less where she was. This was a time she could use to get distracted and not worry about her responsibilities as the new guardian; otherwise, she'd be stuck fighting akumas and trying to read the book Master Fu had left her.
She was pulled from her thoughts once the school's bell rang; however she didn't stand up to leave. Truthfully, she didn't want to go back to her room; she'd have to read the book and keep the kwamis from flying into the city. They had become more confident in their freedom, and last time, Kaalki had embarrassed her in front of her neighbors. Alya urged her to move so she could get out of her seat. Marinette was on her way to the exit when she felt someone bumping into her. She met Adrien's gaze. She smiled at him and dropped her eyes. She climbed down the stairs quickly and left her friends behind.
'I have a date today, I shouldn't get distracted' she thought.
Alya caught up to her just as Marinette was leaving the school.
"Sorry Alya, I promised Luka I would spend the day with him" Marinette told her once she saw Alya walking up to her. "I promise I'll show up next time" Marinette said "I think the jetlag got me real good, but I'm ok now"
Marinette knew her excuse wasn't a valid one, but her friend didn't push her for more information. Fortunately, Alya didn't have time to change her mind, Marinette heard Luka stopping right in front of the school. She waved goodbye and reached her… 'friend? boyfriend? date?'. She couldn't even describe the nature of her relationship with the boy. However, she still hugged him from behind, and let herself enjoy the ride.
'Today will be a good day' she told herself. 'There was an akuma early today and Hawk Moth usually akumatizes one person per day' she thought. ' We'll go watch a movie, Jagged Stone's newest movie, I hope I didn't forget to grab Luka's gift'.
They were having a little competition, trying to determine who was the rockstar's biggest fan as they were walking to the cinema. 'Things would be so much easier if I truly loved Luka' she couldn't help but think. They both sat down after grabbing some beverages. They were still going at each other with their silly quiz until Marinette admitted defeat, and she gave Luke the pick she had Jagged Stone sign when he last visited the bakery. Luka slyly took the chance to give Marinette a second chance at victory and asked her one last question, which she answered correctly.
"A kiss!" she screamed, and all eyes were on her.
Luka laughed at her cuteness and took the chance. "If that's what you want..."
They were just about to meet each other but the building started to shake. Marinette couldn't catch a break, right? Hawk Moth had decided to create another akuma. She sighed in frustration and excused herself saying she wanted to get some snacks.
"Close your eyes" Luka pleaded with Marinette.
The last thing she expected once they reached the bridge was standing below it and hearing the water run its course. However, she had already cancelled and/or forgotten all her dates with him during the week; this was the least she could do to make it up to him.
"I used to come here a lot when I was a kid" Luka reminisced. "Whenever my mom wouldn't answer my questions and I felt frustrated, I used to come here and sit down and just let the water's melody calm me"
"Thanks for bringing me here Luka" Marinette told him.
"You know? My mom would always find me here whenever I disappeared" he said "What about you Marinette? Where can I find you when you disappear?" he asked "I'll be fine with your answer, no matter what it is; even if you tell me you're still in love with Adrien, I won't be jealous"
Marinette was speechless, what would be a good answer? That she had to go and fight akumas trying to steal her creation earrings and Chat Noir's destruction ring? She'd be exposing her secret identity if she did! And for goodness sake, how did everyone, even those not in her class, knew that she loved Adrien Agreste? What about that other blond that kissed her the other day, catching her totally off guard?
"I just want the truth" Luka pleaded with her again.
"The truth" she sighed "that's the only thing I can't tell you, Luka"
"Don't ever do that again kitty!" Ladybug jumped into Chat Noir's arms after she had purified 'Lies'' akuma. "What would have happened if I wasn't able to save you?"
"That'll never happen my Lady, I truly believe you'll find a way" Chat hugged her back. He couldn't help it, she had started the contact first.
"I better help Kagami on her way back" Ladybug pushed him away gently. 'He kissed Marinette, not Ladybug, get your head together!' she told herself.
Chat Noir used his stick to jump to the nearest roof; meanwhile, Kagami let the heroine carry her back to prince Ali's party. Ladybug wanted to reach the City Hall quickly, she was tired. Two akumas on the same day? Shadow Moth couldn't leave them alone for one day, could he?
"Have you ever lied, Ladybug?" Kagami asked once they reached the City Hall.
"We all have to lie at some point, I of all people" Ladybug replied. "I have to keep my secret identity, well, a secret and that means I have to lie to everyone"
"Even your loved one?" Kagami asked again.
'Luka? Adrien? Chat?' the heroine asked herself. 'They are the ones I have to lie to the most'
"Specially him" Ladybug replied.
"I understand where you're coming from Ladybug; a civilian couple however, lying to one another should be the last thing they'd have to do" Kagami explained. "Here" she handed the lucky charm Marinette had given Adrien a long time ago. "I don't want to talk to Adrien right now" she said "but I can't keep this, I'm not that sort of person"
"I'll give this back to him" Ladybug promised.
"Little kitty on the roof, all alone without his Lady"
Ladybug landed right next to Chat and she took a seat next to him.
"Shadow Moth" he said "Now, that's a weird name, and he can use both miraculous at the same time!" he yelled "We were just fine with only Hawk Moth..."
"It doesn't matter how many times he changes his name, we'll get him" Ladybug promised. "I wanted to chat with you because I'm about to decipher our new powers, that's why I've had to skip a couple of patrols lately" the heroine said "I promise I'll do better now, leaving you alone to do them, it's not fair" she said "We're both in this together, we're Paris' heroes"
"It's okay my Lady, I understand now" he smiled at her "I've been teasing you because I was feeling lonely and you are really good company"
Ladybug felt moved. She rested her head on his shoulder. 'If Adrien wasn't in the picture, I might have fallen for you instead, Chat' she thought 'He is though, and I've hurt enough people, I don't want to hurt you too'.
That same afternoon, right before fighting 'Lies', she had met with Luka, and together, they decided it was best if they'd stopped hanging out. Luka had promised he would wait for her, but Marinette knew she needed to fall out of love with Adrien before thinking about resuming her relationship with Luka.
"Anyways, I think we've had enough for the day, we should get some sleep now" she said while standing up.
"My lucky charm?" Chat noticed Ladybug had dropped something on the floor. "I've been looking for it, where did you find it?"
Ladybug was stupefied. There was no way this was happening, right? There was no way in which her most precious ally, her ever punny partner could be the reserved, most pristine boy in Paris, right? Adrien and Chat Noir were two completely different people, there just was no way.
"It's yours?" she feared his answer. Chat nodded his head, still looking at his lucky charm. "I found it after our fight with 'Lies', I was going to give this to Alya Césaire, see if she could find its owner"
Chat had confirmed his identity, without even knowing he had done so. Ladybug would have to keep his secret and the secret that she knew who he was behind the mask.
"I'm so glad it fell!" Chat was still happy, oblivious to the situation at hand. 'Adrien' Ladybug recalled.
"Well, I'll leave you to it now, I have to go" Ladybug was getting ready to jump off the roof. "Talk to you later, Chat!"
"Spots off"
Marinette tackled her bed and hugged the first pillow near her, tightly.
"Aren't you glad, Marinette?" Tikki asked "You won't be confused now, Adrien, Chat, now you can be with both!"
"Glad?"
"I have to admit, it wasn't the nicest way" the kwami pondered. "I should have a serious talk with Plagg, letting his wielder expose his secret identity this way" she kept talking to herself "But this is good"
"Good?" her wielder interjected "No! Tikki, this is the worst news!"
"Why?"
"Shadow Moth has become stronger, he can wield two miraculous at the same time, and, you know what happened with Luka" Marinette reminded her "I can't keep lying, I can't be with him without telling him I'm Ladybug, he'll be so disappointed" she said "I can't be on a date and then leave him without an explanation so we can both go fight the next akuma" she said "And what about my responsibilities as the new guardian!" Marinette said "I can't be in a relationship until Shadow Moth is defeated"
"We don't know how long it's going to take"
"Patience, that's all we can do now" Marinette was defeated "It's not the time for us"
Marinette heard something falling down, she supposed the other kwamis had dropped something on their way out of the box. They were circling her and talking amongst themselves.
"What's that coming out of her eyes?" Kaalki asked.
"Those are tears" Trixx replied.
"How do we cure them?" Daizzi asked.
"You don't, just give me a hug" Marinette pleaded.
Did you like it? To those that did watch the episodes, you must have noticed some things aren't chronologically correct, nor are they exactly as they're supposed to be. But, I did say I was inspired by the episodes; not that I would copy and paste them in words. Yes, I HATE Adrigami (that's why I skipped a lot of their kissing attempts). Lukanette on the other hand, I don't mind it. I did feel bad for Luka, he has no self love! I hope I wasn't the only one wanting him to get out of that relationship as soon as he said he'd be waiting for her. Anyways, keep staying safe, this virus isn't over yet! C: