It was stupid, she knew that, returning to the apartment around 8:30 that night. But she was too exhausted- both physically and mentally- to care if her father was home. Maybe tonight would be the night he finally killed her instead of prolonging the pain...
She shut the door, the loud bang echoing through the apartment. The entirety of it was beautiful, she faintly noticed as she heard pounding footsteps coming for her. The only part of it that reflected her life was her bedroom: dark, forgotten, broken...
The first hit didn't register, but her body slamming into the floor did. The pain bloomed from various places, but Ella didn't try and defend herself. She laid on the floor, waiting for the end...
She didn't remember losing consciousness, but she must have when she awoke an hour later. Carefully sitting up, Ella locked eyes with her father. Damien Maunt was standing at the kitchen island in front of his laptop, looking cleaned up... Ella remembered the last time she saw him like that- at her mother's funeral...
"Useless child. You just won't die, will you?"
"No sir..."
"Your school called. Parent Career Day occurs in two days. As the leading jewelry provider to Paris, it would be inappropriate for me not to attend; the Mayor personally requesting my presence since he recently bought a ten thousand euro bracelet for his daughter. When I am at your school, I expect you to be on your best behavior, is that understood Aurora?"
The glare sent her way and the use of her middle name- her mother's name...! had Ella shaking in utter fear against every wish her mind held to finally let the man get angry enough to end her existence!
"Do I make myself clear!" Damien shouted, slamming his hand against the counter. Ella jumped a foot away, nodding fast.
"Good. Now get out of my sight." At those words, Ella collected her bag and ran to her room, ignoring the pain. The door clicked shut behind her, the girl sliding down its surface to the ground.
"...Ella?" Kiismet hesitantly made her presence known, her little head poking from Ella's bag. The girl didn't move, almost like she didn't hear the kwami.
Kiismet was terrified. Ella hadn't even protected herself tonight. It was like she's given up...
The kwami zipped out of the bag, floating up to be even with Ella's forehead.
"I know this is breaking the rule, Master Fu... but I can't see my holder and friend go down this path..."
With her eyes gaining their white glow, Kiismet pressed her paw to Ella's skin.
-It was flashes of color, faces blurring together. Auras around those surrounding Ella on her path displayed their role. As Kiismet floated down the path she saw Ella begin her journey on almost eight years ago, Adrien was there- glowing the brightest pink. Others were there, auras in a display of the rainbow.
In front of Ella, the path always branched- colors once again dictating what the path led to. Kiismet flitted around to float before Ella, watching her gaze shift between the paths. Kiis wanted to block off the red path to the left, knowing that one would lead Ella to the same fate as her mother... but all she could do was watch as the hands of Fate pointed Ella to where she was to go...-
Kiismet let the glow fade, her fears slightly alleviated. And during her time within the throngs of her power, Ella had fallen asleep- curled up in a ball against the door.
"This isn't the day you give up and follow the same path as your mother, Ella... You will keep fighting, staying strong until the day you're free from all this pain. And until that day and for the rest of your life, Adrien Agreste will be by your side."
The morning after Ella's mental breakdown was a tough one. She struggled to get up, her body feeling the mental exhaustion and the physical soreness of all the running she did. But she forced herself to get up, change and get out the door to school. Kiismet was quiet, plastered against Ella's neck hidden by the curtain of hair.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, Kiisy..." Ella finally spoke, taking a seat in the park. The kwami didn't respond, but hugged herself closer to her holder. The teen smiled softly- that was Kiismet accepting her apology.
"Ella!" Said girl looked up, to see Adrien running across the park towards her. Fear gripped her for seconds, but she was stronger today- determined to stand against the harsh words her mind flung at her.
"Good morning, Adrien." She smiled lightly, as the teen came to a skidding stop before her.
"I ran into Cat Noir yesterday after we were forced to evacuate the library- he said-"
"Yesterday... was a bad day for me, Adrien. I get that you had to keep yourself safe. I... I can't promise I won't have overreactions like that again-"
"Ella. I know there's problems going on that I will probably never understand. But I am your friend and I want to be there for you, in the good and the bad. I want you to know you can tell me anything. You can complain about your day- scream, cry, throw things. I want you to be able to do whatever you need to in order to cope with what happens. And I want to be at your side when you do, every step of the way, okay?"
She would later profusely apologize and blush scarlet for the rest of the day at the sight of him, but as those words exited Adrien's mouth, Ella already had tears pouring down her face and she flung herself into his arms.
Ella was tired, just so tired... but she knew that she could overcome everything to get to that better life she had knew was coming, with Adrien by her side.
The pair slowly made their way to the school, conversation fading away into a peaceful quiet. Adrien's mind raced miles per minute; he wanted to ask so many questions, but he had a feeling Ella was in a fragile place and he didn't want to stress her.
"So what do you think of Cat Noir?" He finally asked, figuring it was a safe inquiry. Ella perked up at his question, her head tilting like a puppy (inwardly, the teen boy squealed at how adorable she was).
"Cat?"
"Yeah- I mean, you gotta have some opinion on him if you already have a nickname for him."
"Hmm..." Ella crossed her arms and tapped her chin with a finger. "Well I've only met him twice. I've been following Alya's blog so I've read about him. But both times I've talked to him, he was really nice and caring. Though, according to Alya, he seems to have a thing for his partner Raven."
"Who's got a thing for Raven?" Alya's voice chimed in, startling both the teens. Neither had realized they made it to school, finding themselves by the doors with their friends approaching. Adrien glanced at Ella, seeing her breathing just picked up and she shied behind him a bit- better than another panic attack.
"Cat Noir." Adrien supplied.
"Oh yeah- they've got some crazy chemistry going on! And Cat Noir's always initiating it, with Raven going along with it! How can no one else notice that they're clearly a thing?!" Alya went on to rant about all the times Cat Noir and Raven were 'totally affectionate and couple-y', before Nino raised a point.
"Do you think whoever they are IRL are like, together?"
"Oh I hope so! They are so cute!" Marinette gushed, proud of herself for not stuttering despite Adrien being so close. She knew Cat Noir and Raven would eventually get together- it was obvious. And she was glad, once Cat Noir met Raven the second time they fought together, he stopped flirting with Ladybug- proving he was a one-gal kind of cat.
Ella tried- oh how she tried- to hide the blush painting her cheeks beet red, ducking her head down. It was so weird to hear people talking about her alter ego and her relationship with Cat, but she was glad to hear people thought Raven and Cat were cute together.
"You guys excited for Parent Career Day tomorrow? I heard a rumor stemming from Chloé that that famous jeweler from Aurora Diamonds will be coming!" Marinette changed the subject as the five teens entered the school.
At those words, Ella paled and her heart picked up speed. She had forgotten her father mentioned that last night...
"You're believing words from Chloé? Since when?" Alya questioned, pushing open the door to the locker room.
"Not just from her. Apparently the school made an announcement that that guy was showing up, on invitation from the Mayor. But why would he be coming here? It's not like he has a kid that goes here." Nino added, moving to his locker. Adrien turned his head to ask Ella what she thought... but she was gone.
"Ella?" The blond looked around, thinking she stopped at her locker, but the noir-ette was nowhere to be seen.
"Breathe. Breathe. In. Hold. Out. Repeat." Luckily, repeating the mantra over and over helped keep Ella's breathing just slow enough to prevent hyperventilating. She had completely forgotten. Her friends were gonna meet her father tomorrow. Her FATHER was going to meet her friends! He was going to learn who she was close to and would use that against her. Oh god tomorrow was going to be a nightmare... Maybe she could convince her friends to pretend not to know her? Then pretend she has no friends- no friends, no leverage!
"Beany?" Kiismet buzzed around the teen's head.
"Think I could transfer schools before tomorrow, Kiisy?"
"I don't think it would process that fast."
"Damn it..."
"It's going to be okay, Elly. You can do it- you can get through it."
"I hope so, Kiis..." With a sigh, Ella stood and straightened her clothes, just in time for the five minute bell. Hurrying out of the bathroom, Ella grabbed her books from her locker and jogged to Literature.
The day went by fast enough, with plenty of homework and reminders about Career Day. And as she collected her things at the end of the day, Ella tried to ignore everyone questioning what each other's parents were going to be showing off tomorrow. Darting out of the room before anyone could ask her about her parents, Ella exited the school and headed for her favorite café down the road.
Snagging a outdoor seat, she left her bag there to go order, and when she came out...
"Hey!" Marinette was sitting in the seat across the table.
"Hi Mari." Ella smiled at the girl, unsure what she was doing here. Nonetheless, Ella sat in her seat and let Marinette talk.
"I umm, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I've been... unfair to you, Ella. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I was letting my crush on Adrien get inbetween us. I was jealous that you two got so close so fast... when I can barely get a few words out around him. You're one of my best friends and it wasn't cool of me to let that happen."
Ella had to admit she was shocked. She hadn't really expected a full explanation- just an apology or a baked treat. But it made her smile and reach over to squeeze Marinette's hand.
"I understand, Mari... I know it wasn't on purpose- you're not that type of person." At her friends words, Marinette's face lit up in a wide smile.
The girls went on to spend hours outside the café, eventually going back to Marinette's for dinner. Ella smiled and laughed with her best friend and her parents, all the while wondering what it would have been like to have a family like this...
Finally bidding the Dupain-Cheng family goodnight around 9pm, Ella walked around, debating on where to sleep since it was a nice night.
"What are you thinking, Kiisy? Back at the school or-" The girl was cut off, her phone buzzing in her pocket. Pulling out the device, Ella saw a new text sitting atop the others she got, though she didn't recognize the number. Tapping the screen, the text opened and Ella's heart dropped.
'Come home now. I expect you here in five minutes or you will be in trouble.'
She was nowhere near home, much less able to get there in five minutes! Nonetheless, she began sprinting to the apartment, her mind already thinking of all that was gonna happen when she opened the door...