Let it be known I was watching Anohana while writing this so this chapter ended up being much sadder than intended. And as I've said, making my characters suffer is my honest to god favorite thing so if I can add more emotion to this already emotional story, you bet your ass I'm going to hehe(But don't worry, clear skies are coming)
Chapter Thirty-Six
How to Smile
Marinette watched intently as the girl devoured the burger and fries. She acted as if she hadn't eaten in a million years, not taking time to savor a single bite. It had been quite the shock to hear this random girl call her Grammy and then walk her back to her car as if it were any other day. She was entranced by the girl the entire time and though she could never recount seeing her, she was so familiar. There was a roundness to her face that was so familiar and the way she held her hand reminded her of how Hugo used to.
The girl walked awkwardly, her legs seemingly struggling to stand up straight but she still wore a smile as she did. Her smile never wavered nor slipped as she led Marinette back to her car and reminded her she had to drop the pastry off for Gabriel. The girl had sat in the back, quietly humming to herself as Marinette drove. She only spoke up when she asked if they could pick up some food, stating that she was starving. Now they were sat at the kitchen table, the girl devouring her burger while Marinette sat in confusion.
"Hey Grammy, do you have any mustard? This burger is really plain," she said, frowning down at the bun.
"S-Sure," Marinette stuttered, standing up from her seat. She was stiff on her journey to the fridge and her hold on the tube didn't last for long. It slipped for her grasp and bounced across the floor. Before Marinette could react the girl chimed up again.
"I've got it Grammy," she assured her, not bothering to grab her crutches and instead took a staggering step forward. Her braces forced her legs to remained straight but they seemed to want to collapse inwards. It was painful to watch but the girl didn't seem bothered in the slightest. She leaned over and grabbed the bottle setting it back down on the table. She frowned reading the label."I guess you buy a different one in the future. Eh, that's okay."
Future? Grammy? What the hell is going on?
"Okay, can you please explain to me who you are?" Marinette asked, cradling her head between her arms. The girl looked up, green eyes filled with concern. She frowned, taking another bite of her burger before speaking.
"It's hard but also easy to explain," she said, thinking back. She let out a sigh." God I hate it when people drag things out. To put it simply I'm your granddaughter." she stated without hesitation. It wasn't like Marinette hadn't expected it, but to hear it was stunning."Oh and the granddaughter currently in the hospital. You know like your first grandchild."
"First," Marinette said, laughing deliriously."I'm losing it aren't I?"
The girl frowned, walking over to Marinette. She wrapped her arms around her, hugging her gently." I'm real Grammy," she whispered, playing with Marinette's hair."I can get that it must be confusing to see me. Hae we even met yet?"
"At the moment, nope," Marinette said, trying to wake herself up. This was all some dream she'd wake up from. She hadn't met with Gabriel yet and this mysterious girl wasn't her granddaughter, her son's daughter. It was all a dream. She wasn't hugging her-
"Believe me," she said softly, raising Marinette's hand to her neck so she could feel her pulse."I'm real Grammy." Marinette stared at the girl, easily getting lost in her deep green eyes. She held her cheek which the girl leaned into, smiling sweetly."So do you believe me now?"
Marinette nodded, fighting tears as she held the girl's face."Yes, I do," she said, pulling to girl into a hug. She was proof. That baby in the hospital would make it. Hugo and Lyric didn't have to worry because their little girl was going to survive. She didn't have to worry anymore.
"Grammy I-I can't breath," the girl squeaked, trying to pry away from Marinette.
"Sorry," Marinette said, letting go of the girl and wiping her tears away."Now, if you don't mind, could you explain things?"
"Sure," she chimed, sitting back down in her chair."Let's see, to stay brief I was pretty much told come here and be of use. And that you'd know how to use me. I'm not really sure what that means but they said to stick around and help how I can," she explained.
Marinette frowned."Is that all?" she asked."Because I'm not entirely sure how I should use you."
The girl's face lit up and she nodded."There's something else," she said with hesitance."But Alix wasn't sure if I should tell you."
"Please tell me," Marinette said, curious as to what she would be keeping from her.
The girl frowned, biting down on her lip."To be honest, I don't know much about it all, but you've told me some. What you've told me is after the whole reincarnation sacrifice stuff-"
"You know about that?!" Marinette asked out of pure shock. She would've thought why would've kept that from her. She nodded and Marinette gulped."So you know what Adrien..."
The girl smiled, nodding her head."I know what Papa did but it's okay."
Marinette stared down at her knees, her entire body shaking."Hugo and Adrien... are they...?"
Her green eyes darkened and the girl frowned again."Papa and Daddy are okay. From what I've been told they're much better now but there are some remaining feelings you know?"
Marinette nodded."I understand, but are they constantly mad or not?"
"Not at all," she said, grinning."And you don't have to worry about Papa and me. I know what he did and I know it was just to protect you, Daddy, Auntie Em, and Uncle Louis." The girl gave her a fond smile and reached her hand over, rubbing Marinette's."Please stop worrying Grammy, I can see things are bad now but everything gets better, I promise!"
She's so happy. She knows all the horrible things that happened to her yet she keeps smiling. How does she?
"Sorry I interrupted, what were you saying before?"
"Oh that!" she said, frowning again as she dove back into her thoughts."As I said, you haven't told me much about it all but the whole sacrifice and bringing me back left some sort of connection between me and the miraculous. I'm not sure what connection or how it works, but maybe that could help."
"A connection?" She'd never considered it and Tikki had never brought it up but could there be some connection? It would make sense Gabriel preempted her being brought back to secure the connection so he could use it. Marinette gritted her teeth. All of this was some plan. He always knew she'd die. He knew Adrien would choose us. He set him up. He set it all up. We were all just pawns in his game, no, we're still pawns. This game isn't over and she is still a pawn.
Marinette looked up, managing a smile." I'll think over it, until then you can stay here," she said, thinking for a moment." I guess I could say you're a distant relative visiting." she said, eyeing the girl who smiled.
"I won't be a bother, don't worry," she said, smile bright and larger than life itself. A true smile that made you feel fuzzy and warm. Marinette could only wonder how a girl who'd been through so much could have such a smile.
Marinette nodded, trying to think how she'd make it convincing enough."Oh, I guess we don't really know each other."
"I guess," she said, smiling again."Well then hi!"
"Hi," Marinette chuckled, shaking hands with the girl."What's your name if you don't mind?"
"Akira," she said sweetly.
"Akira," Marinette said, smiling."It's beautiful. And how old are you?"
"15," she said, leaving Marinette surprised."I know I look 12 but I'm 15," Akira stared at Marinette, smile weakening but still remaining."If you're wondering about my legs, it's because I was born early. My leg muscles never fully developed so I have to use the braces and crutches. My growth is also stunted. Doctors said I could go on growth hormones but I don't like the needles." She smiled, looking down at her legs. Beneath the braces, grey wool sock reached above her calve. Around her waist, a dark grey blazer was tied, a school emblem of sorts embroidered with black and gold threads.
"Is that your school?" Marinette asked, trying to diverge to conversation to a happier topic.
Akira nodded, pushing up her cuffed sleeves."Private school in Milan. It isn't too bad there, some of the kids are real stuck-ups, especially since Huddy and I are scholarship students. Mainly bugs him though, not-"
"Huddy? And Milan?" Marinette questioned. She expected Hugo and Lyric to get their own place eventually but moving all the way to Italy? That didn't sound like them.
"Huddy's what I call my little brother, it isn't his real name though. He's two years younger but likes to act like he's my age," she said, eating a frie whole."And ya we live near Milan. Not in it, but around it. Close enough at least."
"Why?" she asked, worried they might've done something to drive them away.
Akira sighed."It's not you Grammy, don't worry. Italy has better doctors and hospitals than France so we live there so things will be easier in a few years," she said grimly, but not with anger. Marinette could see fragments of pain. Before she could open her mouth to ask, Akire turned to her with a smile."But never mind that, now Alix said time was frozen or whatever so I could stay a year and no time would've passed in the future. So I can stay as long as you need!"
Marinette laughed at the girl's enthusiasm."Well, that's good because I have absolutely no clue how to use you." Marinette frowned, eyeing the time on her watch." I have to pick up Em and Louis, and I have to see Emilie and Adrien," she mumbled.
"I'll get Auntie Em and Uncle Louis," Akira chimed, grabbing her crutches before standing."You go see Papa,"
"Are you sure?" Marinette asked."It's pretty far and with your le-"
"Grammy I've been walking like this for 15 years, I think I can walk down three blocks," she teased with a grin.
Marinette sighed."If you can handle it sure. Just remember not to tell them who you are or that you're-"
"I know," Akira said, moving forward before Marinette could argue. It felt nice to be back in Paris, even if it was a different one. It hadn't been too long since their last trip back but even that had felt like forever. The thought of her great grandparent's bakery crossed her mind and she grinned, deciding she'd treat the kid versions of her aunt and uncle to some pastries with her spare pocket money. She inhaled deeply, a cough escaping her as the damp air filled her lungs. Holding her arm over her mouth, she fished her inhaler out of the pocket of her skirt. Sucking in a few breathes, she sighed, sliding it back in.
Alix had briefly mentioned how since no time would pass, she couldn't get sicker. To most, they'd be happy since that meant a mere cold couldn't plague them. But when a cold sent you to the hospital and could easily kill you, she wasn't very happy.
She was a smart girl and though she often covered it up with her bubbly attitude, she was quick to catch onto things. Her grandma had chosen this specific time to send her to help. It was to give her more time. More time before she got sick again, and this time didn't get better.
It had never been a secret to her she wouldn't live as long as most. Not just thanks to her weak lungs but the fact her body was constantly wanting to kill her. She wasn't supposed to exist and she could only wonder if her connection to the miraculous was the reason she'd been slowly dying her entire life. The miraculous might've saved her life, but it also caused her death. She never asked but had the feeling that was the reason no matter how many medications she was on and no matter how many doctors she saw, none could diagnose the disease slowly killing her.
She smiled for many reasons, but the main was for her family's sake. She hated seeing them frown when she coughed and cry when she caught a cold because a cold for her, meant a visit to the hospital. Sometimes it would be the night or a few weeks. It was typical for her to miss school, but her private school for people physically disabled, and medically vulnerable people, was flexible and she just managed to keep her grades up between doctor visits.
But she didn't just smile for her parents and brother but also her friends. All her friends attended the school. They were all either disabled, sick, or slowly dying like her. They smiled for each other. When someone got bad news, they'd smile for them. She'd had to smile for a lot of people through her life.
She was well aware the moment she got back to her time, it would be her friend's turn to smile for her.