Disclaimer: I own nothing but my ideas and characters
A.N. Hey everyone, sorry I know it is Wednesday, not Tuesday but I was busy yesterday. I had a busy morning packing the rest of my ex's stuff up for his friend to come to pick up and then I had a meeting at work. By the time I got home from that, I was exhausted and mentally drained. I didn't even turn my computer on yesterday...but anyway I hope you all enjoy the last part of the prologue. The next chapter will be a time jump.
KagamiPINKAgreste: Thanks for the reviews :)
Prologue Part 3
Just after Marinette arrives in New York
Marinette looked at the building before her in awe. She had only been to New York once and this was a part of New York she had never seen. Gina nudged her forward.
"Marinette channel your inner ladybug" Gina teased
"Right," Marinette smiled, taking a breath and following Gina into the house. She smiled as Gina called out to let the others know she had arrived. Marinette looked around her. Pictures of the family lined the walls.
"Hey mom" a tall muscular guy smiled walking into the room. Marinette studied him for a moment. He was a head or two taller than her and had a muscular and athletic build. His hair was blonde, several shades lighter than Adrien's, and had streaks of blue, red, and green. He suddenly noticed her looking at him.
"Mom I was joking when I said I wanted a sister" he grinned
"Too bad I am keeping her," Gina teased, "Marinette, meet my son Jordan. Jordan, this is Marinette. She is going to be traveling with me for a bit. She is also a Miraculous holder"
"No way that is awesome," He said bouncing over
"You're short," he said
"Jordan Roger Monroe," Gina said as Marinette started laughing.
"Actually I am Marinette" she smiled
"Oh I like her" Jordan smirked move closer, "I take it back mom I always wanted a little sister"
"Funny I don't recall ever asking for a brother," She teased
"Jordan why don't you show Marinette to the guest room and get her and her Kwami settled," Gina said, "when is your father getting home?"
"Yeah I can show Marinette around the house," Jordan shrugged, "dad didn't say when he would be back"
"Okay I am going to start supper, "Gina said, shooing them off. Jordan grabbed one of Marinette's bags while she grabbed the other. She followed him through the house and up a flight of steps. He opened the first door at the top of the stairs and walked in.
"This is your room," he smiled, "so you are traveling with my mom?"
"Yes," Marinette said pausing, "she is going to help with my training"
"Training?"
"Master Fu, the guardian of our Miraculous Box, has named me as the next guardian of the box," Marinette said
"Marinette there is a call for you!" Gina said interrupting the conversation. Marinette hurried downstairs.
"Hello," she said taking the phone
"Hey Marinette it's Adrien," the voice said, "I hope it is okay your mom gave me the number. I wanted to talk to you about something"
"It's fine Adrien," Marinette smiled, "what's up?"
"I saw Luka tonight," Adrien said pausing, "I tried to talk to him but he ignored me and took off. Is everything okay? I thought you were going to tell him how you felt about him? Did he hurt you?"
"I haven't spoken to Luka since a few days before I was expelled," Marinette said, "he has been avoiding me. I don't know what happened to be honest"
"I am so sorry Marinette," Adrien said, "Do you want me to try to talk to him? Or pass on a message or something? I know you don't have your phone your mom says she asked you to leave it behind"
"It's fine Adrien. Juleka gave him a letter I wrote for him" Marinette said
"Marinette, are you sure you are okay with everything going on?"
"I am fine Adrien," Marinette sighed, "I am actually really excited about being in New York. While I wish I had been able to tell Luka before I left I am excited about taking some time here to discover myself"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I am sure," Marinette said, "did you ask out that girl you liked yet?"
"Yes," he sighed
"Didn't go well?"
"She told me that I am a great p...friend but she was in love with someone else and that it would be better to find someone else"
"Oh no," Marinette said, "I am so sorry"
"It's okay I kinda guessed it was a long shot," he said, "she has told me about this guy before. I guess I just didn't want to listen. I am going to take some time to explore my options"
"Well, I am sorry it didn't work out with your mystery girl," Marinette smiled. "But good luck exploring your options,"
"Have you talked to anyone else?"
"No you are the first to call," Marinette smiled, "Juleka emailed me though"
"Well I am thrilled to be your first" Adrien said, making her blush. As Jordan walked into the room
"Adrien!" Marinette squealed
"I am sorry I didn't mean it that way" he laughed
"You know Alya calls you cinnamon roll because she thinks you are totally innocent and naive right?" Marinette said, "if only she knew you the way I do"
"Hey now, I play that part really well" He laughed
"Sure you do Adrien," Marinette smiled
"Shoot I have to go Marinette I have fencing in twenty minutes"
"Okay have fun talk to you later Adrien," Marinette said, "tell Kagami I said Hi and give her this number if she asks"
"Bye Marinette," He said, hanging up. Marinette hung up the phone with a smile.
"So who is Adrien" Jordan asked
"One of my best friends," Marinette said
"Friends huh?"
"Yes just a friend"
"And Luka?"
"He is," Marinette said pausing, "a friend"
"Only a friend?"
"Yeah," Marinette said softly
"But one of you wants more?" he asked recognizing the look in her eyes
"Doesn't matter anymore" Marinette said heading towards the stairs, "we are still two ships passing each other"
"Marinette, there is still time, you are only 14, 15?" he smiled, "there is plenty of time"
"I am 17" Marinette smiled, "18 in two months"
"There is still time," he said, "or plenty of fish in the sea"
"You ever been in love," she asked
"Yes"
"Have you ever been so in love that no one else catches your eye," she asked before continuing, "until you realize that it is more obsession than love. Only to realize that everything you have been looking for is right beside you acting as a friend. Someone who loves you so much that their happiness doesn't matter because they would do anything to see you happy?"
"What"
"I was in love with Adrien for a long time," Marinette said as she entered her room with Jordan following, "I realized about a year ago that I didn't really love him. Luka has been a friend since we met. He told me more than once that he liked me but he never made a move because he knew how I felt about Adrien. Luka wanted me to be happy. He professed while being akumatized but I ignored it because he was akumatized. I realized about six months ago that I liked him. I relied on him. We fit together in a way Adrien and I never would. I had planned to tell him. Adrien knows I was going to confess my feelings. But Luka is avoiding me. Juleka says he refuses to say why"
"Sounds like a mess"
"Yeah," Marinette said laying back on the bed
"So you are over Adrien but love Luka did I get the gist right?"
"Yeah"
"But Luka doesn't know"
"No"
"Because he is avoiding you"
"Yes"
"And Juleka is?"
"One of my best friends and his sister"
"Oh"
"Marinette there is someone at the door for you!" Gina calls up the stairs. Marinette sat up surprised.
"I don't think I know anyone in New York," she said walking towards the door. Jordan jumped up to follow. They headed down the stairs and Marintte froze as she saw who was waiting.
"Jess, Aeon" she smiled, "what are you doing here?"
"I sensed your presence" Aeon smiled
"What she means by that is she sensed you without your Chat and I called your friends. Adrien mentioned you were here and we thought we should check on you" Jess said
"I am not here as Ladybug," Marinette smiled, "only as Marinette. I am doing some traveling"
"Yeah Adrien mentioned that" Jess smirked
"You do realize that he is just a friend,"
"He says the same thing" Jess smiled, "but I don't believe it"
"Yes it seems probable that you and he would be together," Aeon said
"Nette you know these girls?" Jordan asked
"Ooh I get it now" Jess smirked
"Girls meet Jordan," Marinette smiled, "he is my adoptive brother during my stay in New York. Jordan this is Aeon and Jess we met last year"
"So if not him then who because it was obvious you had a thing for Adrien," Jess said ignoring Jordan
"Jess," Aeon
"Fine fine" Jess groaned, "hello Jordan nice to meet you. Now Marinette please explain"
"Adrien is just a friend," Marinette said, "I told you that before"
"Fine then please tell me there is a guy" Jess groaned as Marinette blushed, "okay who is it?"
"There isn't a guy yet," Marinette said, "first I must complete my training and return home until then he doesn't know how I feel"
"Then you should tell him," Aeon said
"I will," Marinette said softly, "but first I have to finish my training and save Paris"
"That is not a logical conclusion," Aeon said
"It isn't logical," Marinette smiled, "but my duty as Ladybug comes first right now. Luka will wait if it is right"
"You know that we totally see-through that right?" Jess snickered
"She is correct," Aeon smiled
"Okay you girls enjoy your conversation," Jordan smiled, "Nette I am headed upstairs"
"Okay Ro"
"Ro?"
"Figure it out on your own" Marinette smiled as he rolled his eyes and left
"Marinette what stops you from telling this Luka how you feel," Aeon asked
"Secrets I can't tell him yet," Marinette said, "secrets that will be told after I finish my training. And maybe get the courage to tell him"
"But you are Ladybug," Jess said, "you should already have courage"
"I am courageous as Ladybug not so much as Marinette,"
"Your secret is that you are Ladybug," Aeon said thoughtfully
"Yes," Marinette sighed, "after my training is complete I will be returning to Paris. Chat and I will be revealing our identities. I am hoping Luka and I will be able to finally be on the same page. But I won't ask him to wait"
"Sounds complicated," Jess said
"It will work out" Marinette smiled
"You sound sure," Aeon said
"I am sure," Marinette smiled
"We need to go soon but we should get together soon for a girls day" Jess smiled
"Sounds like fun," Marinette smiled. The girls quickly hugged and parted ways.
Marinette smiled as she headed to her room to unpack. She was pulling out clothes from her bag when she came across a very familiar shirt. Her favorite of Luka's shirts. His favorite shirt he wore all the time. She smiled sadly as she put it away. She had just finished putting her stuff away when she got the Akuma alert. She quickly called Tikki and transformed as a portal opened. She entered and in seconds was in Paris to fight the Akuma. She, Master Fu, and Max had planned out every detail needed before she left. An hour later the portal opened in the room once more and she stepped through. She dropped the transformation making sure Tikki had a cookie.
The next two weeks flew by in a flurry of activity. It wasn't long before it was time to return to Paris to talk to the Miraculous holders and make sure Chat knew who they were. When she returned to New York several hours later she realized that she knew who Chat Noir was...and what it would mean down the road.
Another week passed and a call from Adrien once again surprised her.
"Hey Marinette, it's Adrien,"
"Hey Adrien"
"I asked out Kagami"
"Really that's great" Marinette smiled as they talked for a while.
A few months passed and she and Gina were leaving to begin her training. Marinette was excited to begin. Jordan and two of his closest friends had decided to come along. Over the last few months, Marinette had begun to come out of her shell she was more confident and sure of herself. She and Jordan had grown close as friends and considered each other siblings. The day before they were scheduled to fly to their first destination they were sitting on the couch joking around.
"Hey Ro" Marinette said, "if I ask for your help with something, what are the chances you can help"
"Depends what do you need help with"
"I want to die my tips"
"Cool what color?"
"Pink"
"You want to do it tonight?" He grinned
"Sure"
"Okay go change shirts. Preferably one you don't care if it gets ruined"
"Okay be right back" Marinette changed clothes and a few hours later was delighted with her new dye job.
The next morning they were in the airport checking in when Marinette heard her name being called. She looked up in shock to see Audrey Bourgeois. She motioned to Gina before she walked over. Jordan followed at her side.
"Audrey it is lovely to see you" Marinette greeted the woman with a kiss on each cheek.
"Of course it is," Audrey said, "I need you to design a couple of dresses for me"
"Of course" Marinette smiled, "I can work on the designs on my flight and send them to your stylist if you want?"
"Very well," Audrey smiled, "did you ever get your website started?"
"Yes," Marinette smiled, "it has been taken down for now though. Jordan, Rae, and I are going to be restarting together down the road."
"Why not now?" Audrey said
"We are doing some traveling and need to get the startup funds situated first" Jordan answered for her
"Consider your start-up funds situated," Audrey said pulling out a checkbook, "just tell me what to put on the checks. And don't worry about anything else. I have the perfect assistant for you. Her name is Ally. She's a few years older but she and her husband are perfect for you to work with."
"Audrey that isn't necessary," Marinette said shocked
"Marinette don't argue with me," Audrey said
"How about we meet up in a month or two and discuss this fully that way our last partner can also be part of the conversation," Jordan suggested
"Fine next month in California," Audrey said, "and just know I am not taking no for an answer"
"Of course Audrey," Marinette smiled, "I will get you those designs as soon as we land okay?"
"Good see you next month," Audrey said walking away
Jordan watched her walk away in shock.
"That was Audrey Bourgeois," he said in awe, "she wants to fund us'
"I am aware," Marinette smiled, "this isn't the first time she has offered. She really likes my designs"
"Please tell me that we are going to be in California and accepting her offer"
"We better call Rae and bring her up to speed," Marinette said. Jordan took off to call her.
An hour later they talked quietly on the plane while Marinette started sketching on her tablet. The adventure had begun.