Marinette

"Thank you so much, Ladybug! I don't know what I would have done without you!" The de-akumatized man shook Ladybug's hand gratefully.

This wasn't the usual reaction she had after saving a victim's life, but it wasnt unusual either. Most people were ashamed they had become akumatized, especially because they couldn't remember what they had done. However, throughout her short time as Ladybug, Marinette had learned how to handle each and every reaction she got and she definitely knew how to handle this one.

Ladybug looked the man in the eyes firmly, "I'm glad you're okay, but when you're frustrated that your students aren't behaving, there are better ways to handle the situation than letting your emotions stay pent up, okay? It's how Hawk Moth gets to us."

"Oui, Ladybug! Of course!" He smiled confidently, as if he hadn't been a raging psycho math teacher just moments before.

Hearing the final warning beep on her earrings, Ladybug quickly and politely detached her hands from the man's. She gave a swift wave goodbye and wished him luck as she pulled her yo-yo from her side and swung in the direction of the school.

'Almost there,' she thought as she catapulted herself into her last swing and dove into an alley a few blocks away from the school. However, moments before her landing, Marinette felt the power of her miraculous leave her. She tumbled to the ground, wincing at the pain from her less-than-graceful meeting with the sidewalk.

"Marinette, are you okay?" Tikki exclaimed. As small as she was, she couldn't do much to help in this situation, but Marinette could still feel Tikki's attempt to brush the grime off her newly acquired ankle wound. Now she REALLY had an excuse to see the nurse.

"I'll be fine Tikki," she winced,"it's not the first time. Just let me sit here for a moment and I'll be okay." Marinette adjusted herself into a comfortable sitting position before fishing for a cookie in her purse and handing it to her exhausted kwami. "Maybe I should start taking some form of martial arts or gymnastics. It would be amazing to know how to do at least a little bit of what Ladybug can do. Plus, who knows, it might make Ladybug even stronger!"

Marinette smiled, imaging being able to do the things Ladybug could do, but without the power of the Miraculous to aid her. Maybe then she would be able to leave Marinette the spazz behind and be her true, confident self without hiding behind the anonymity of a mask.

"And maybe it would prevent scrapes like these too," she chuckled.

"It would be really cool." Tikki swallowed a mouthfull of cookie before continuing, "I think it might be a little too much right now though. Marinette, you're already so busy making designs, keeping up with school, being Ladybug, and still trying to live a normal life. I don't really think you can handle much more on your plate at the moment." She noticed Marinette's frown and added, "Maybe you can take some classes after school finishes up and you have more free time!"

Marinette gave a loud sigh. "I know Tikki," she said while trying to pick a speck of gravel out of her cut. "I don't know how I stay on top of it, to be perfectly honest." She winced as she attempted to flick the tiny pebble out of her wound with her finger. "Sometimes I wish I had less going on, but I don't know what I would want to give up. And thinking of the future, what am I going to do when I grow up and have a job? It's not like I'm going to be able to waltz right out of work to fight an akuma and its not like I'm going to be able to make Ladybug my career."

Tikki, having finished her cookie, floated up to meet Marinette's eyes and smiled comfortingly. "Hopefully by then, we won't have the need for Ladybug and you can go back to living a normal life."

Marinette stood up, eyes wide in surprise at the thought. Won't have the need?

Tikki paused for a moment, realizing this was new information to Marinette. "Once we defeat Hawk Moth, and Mayura," she began calmly, "we won't need Ladybug or Chat Noir to save us. I'll still be around as long as you wear your miraculous, but you won't have a reason to be Ladybug anymore. You'd just be the guardian of the amulets, like Master Fu was until he gave the miracle box to you."

"I. . . I hadn't thought of that before," Marinette murmured, her hopeful mood now gone.

So there would come a day when she wouldn't be Ladybug. Somehow Marinette always knew in the back of her mind, but it never really occurred to her when or how that might happen. It was bittersweet to think about. Defeating Hawk Moth would be a dream come true. He had put the citizens of Paris in an unbelievable amount of danger due to his own greed and as much as Marinette wouldn't like to admit it, she hated his guts. But at the same time, she couldn't imagine not being Ladybug. Being the heroes of Paris with Chat Noir was a part of her life now, a part she didn't want to give up.

"I didn't mean to make you sad, Marinette." Tikki said.

"No, it's fine, Tikki. Really. It was just something that hadn't come to mind before." Marinette didn't want to dwell on these thoughts any longer and decided to change the subject. "Let's just check the time and get back to school."

Tikki smiled apologetically. "Okay Marinette. After all, we don't want people noticing that you're not on campus."

Marinette dusted herself off before digging around her purse for her phone. There were cookies, macaroons, her sketchbook, and a very old tube of lipbalm, but no phone. Guess she left it at school. No worries though, she didn't think she had been gone too long and she wasn't that far from campus. Maybe a 5 minute walk? 10 at most?

"Hop in, Tikki," Marinette said cheerfully, gesturing to her purse, "let's get a move on!"

●○Miraculous○●

Marinette slid back into her seat, attempting to look like it was totally normal that she had spent the past 45 minutes in the nurse's office for a foot cramp. To her surprise, the documentary was still playing. Most of the class was half-asleep with the exception of a select few. Nathaniel was busy with his sketchbook, Rose was braiding Juleka's hair, and Sabrina was happily painting Chloé's nails. Then of course there was Nino, who's attention was still 100% focused on the screen. It was like she had never left.

Right as Marinette picked up her stylus to resume taking notes, Alya nudged her shoulder. "What happened?" She mouthed.

"What do you mean?" Marinette mouthed back. She was used to Alya asking for details whenever there was even the slightest possibility that she and Adrien had a romantic endeavor, but this time it seemed different.

Alya's eyes widened as she gestured towards Adrien and then towards Marinette. "Why were you two gone so long?" She hissed, her voice becoming audible. "Adrien looks traumatized."

"What are you talking about?" Marinette scooted closer to Alya to get a better view of Adrien's face. Instead of looking calm and friendly, his beautiful green eyes were as wide as saucers. It was as if all emotion had drained from him except shock.

Marinette and Alya watched as he brushed his fingers against his left cheek and then proceeded to examine his hand as if it were a foreign object.

After watching Adrien repeat this process a few times, Alya spoke up again. "So what happened?" She pushed, very obviously concerned, "Marinette. . . did you slap him?" She paused, waiting for Marinette to answer.

Marinette stayed quiet, a million thoughts running through her head. She assumed Adrien had come back to class as soon as he dropped her off. After all, he had bolted out of the nurse's office and she didn't even see him leave. Then there was his strange behavior. . .What happened to him at school while she was gone?

"Marinette, answer me." Alya put her hand on Marinette's shoulder. Her expression softened. "Did. . . he do something to you?"

That's when Alya looked down, very obviously catching sight of Marinette's bandaged ankle. "He did do something, didn't he? Marinette, you need to tell me what happened!"

Marinette shook her head, "No, its nothing like that at all! I don't know what happened to Adrien. He left right after he dropped me off. I was just waiting for the nurse to come back from lunch."

"Really?" Alya asked, more confused than suprised. "But he came back only minutes before you did. And its really concerning that you left with a foot cramp and came back with an ankle wound."

Before girls could say any more, their teacher hushed them, threatening detention if the talking didn't stop.

Marinette sighed with relief. Now she had time to come up with a plausible explanation for why she left with one injury and came back with another. Though at the moment, Marinette was more concerned with Adrien's strange behavior. He had been acting so weird for the past 24 hours. She would ask, but Marinette knew better than to attempt a normal conversation with Adrien. It just wasn't something she was capable of. Maybe if things continued, she would have Alya text Nino about it.

'No,' she thought, "everything will be fine. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for whatever is going on.' Somehow, Marinette managed to switch her thoughts from Adrien to the documentary on the screen. She had an essay to write and right now, she had little-to-no notes and a half finished sketch of a horse.

Marinette reluctantly picked up her tablet to resume taking notes again. However, no more than a minute later, Alya tapped her on the shoulder and showed her something written on her screen:

"Deets after school."

Marinette nodded and gave a thumbs up. That was definitely enough time to come up with an explanation. After all, nothing mattered more than keeping her identity a secret.

●○Miraculous○●

After classes ended, the girls packed up, talking amongst themselves about miscellaneous things.

"Alya, did you want to go to your place together to grab your stuff or do you want to just meet me at my place?" Marinette asked as she threw her satchel over her shoulder. She could sense that Alya was just dying for Marinette to spill the tea, but for some reason Alya made no mention of it. Maybe she was waiting until they could talk privately? Or was she just waiting for Marinette to initiate the conversation? Either way, Marinette was relieved. She wanted to procrastinate telling her best friend a total lie for as long as she could.

"Let's go together. The twins love you and it'll make it easier to pack if they're focused on you instead of me." Alya threw her textbook in her backpack before zipping it up, then she casually threw her bag on one shoulder. "Ready to go?"

As they exited the school and walked down the stairs, Marinette heard a strange voice.

"Hey, hey you!"

That wasn't French was it? No, it was English. Marinette stopped to look and see if she could spot where the voice was coming from.

"Is this yours?" This time, the voice spoke in French, but with a very heavy American accent.

Suddenly, a boy materialized in front of her. Though a few inches taller, Marinette could tell he was around her age. He wore a gray Night Owl t-shirt with black joggers and white sneakers. His hair was tied back, though it looked roughly around shoulder length. He had forrest green eyes and a friendly smile. In his outstretched hand was none other than Marinette's sketchbook.

Marinette froze. She felt her stomach drop, unable to move. Someone had seen her run back to school.

The boy extended his arm a little further, gesturing for her to take her sketchbook back. "Is this not yours? I thought I saw you drop it earlier."

Marinette remained petrified. So he had seen her. But. . . how much had he seen? Marinette didn't want to know the answer. Regardless of whether he had just seen her after the fight or if he had also seen her as Ladybug, Marinette was screwed. All it took was one lie to be discovered before her whole web of deceit fell through. She had worked so hard to keep her life as a heroine a secret, and she wasn't about to let some random stranger who saw her skip class be the reason everything came to light.

'Just be normal, Marinette,' she thought to herself while taking a deep breath. 'You can do this.'

"Yes, this is mine!" She said quickly as she snatched the book from the boy's hand and shoved it into her satchel, laughing nervously all the while. "Thank you for returning it to me!"

"You're welcome! I hope you don't mind-" the boy began.

But Marinette didn't hear the rest. She had already grabbed Alya by the wrist and ran as fast as she could.