Disclaimer: I don't own Miraculous Ladybug, either Love o2o and the novel.
Friendship and courage
A few hours before the competition...
"So, Nino and I are going to check the new office and you two continue with the plan I just told you." Adrien finishes speaking pointing at Luka and Kim.
"Perfect! I have known you for so many years and I still don't know how you can think of these things." Kim gets excited just thinking about the future.
"All I know is that it's better to have Adrien as an ally than as an enemy." Nino laughs at the memory of the first encounter between them. "How many years have already passed? Four?"
"Yes, at the end of this semester it will be about four years..." Luka also becomes melancholic. "I still remember when I thought Adrien was a helpless shy boy."
"How could we forget? But that thought only lasted for a few minutes."
Kim grimaces as he looks sideways at the blond. "Of course, it was in the designation of dorms in General Studies. You proposed to divide the tasks according to the game skill of each one. You beat everyone and in the end, you didn't even want the title of manager and gave it to me."
"I just wanted the below cabin bed. Besides, being in charge is a lot of extra work." Adrien replied with a mocking smile.
"That's what you said that day! I can't believe you fooled me with your face… I used to think you were innocent, now I see pure evilness…"
The boys laugh at the sight of Kim whispering to himself. The four guys met at the moving day to the dorms, a few days before the start of the year of General Studies. Nino, Luka and Kim presented themselves cheerfully and Adrien introduced himself at the end just saying his name and career. Due to his initial attitude, the other three thought he was a reserved or shy boy and when he proposed to play the game, they thought he was one of those boys who live in the world of video games. Without judging of course, because they all discovered that they played the same game. After the game's competitions, their concept of Adrien changed completely. He was not only good at games, but he was also the best; he wasn't shy, he just made his plans in silence and overall, he wasn't modest: he loved to show off his qualities playfully. With that, the three boys decided to follow him and quickly became friends, and finally business partners of their own company. Adrien usually doesn't show or say much about his feelings (thanks, Gabriel Agreste) but that didn't mean he didn't appreciate his friends. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he wouldn't change these three for anything in the world (and he knew they felt the same too).
A little smile was drawn on the blonde's face as he remembered the past and addressed them: "We still have some time before we leave, how about we compete for a while in Miraculous Voyage? Whoever wins can choose his place in the new office."
The only thing he heard in response was the growls of his friends.
It was six in the afternoon and Nino drove back to the dorms with Adrien sitting next to him. The new office was in a building near University A, so they decided to go shopping for furniture in a more remote place in the time they had left. With the car full, the two returned with plenty of time before the competition between servers.
"I can't believe now we have our own office." Nino was still excited about the company. "I thought I would end up in an unnamed company as a minor worker. I'm glad I met you."
Adrien smiles as he looks through the passenger window. "Don't be exaggerated. I need you all to continue with this company. This is just the beginning."
The two friends said nothing more and remained in comfortable silence. It's half past six and the sky is getting dark quickly. As Adrien looked out the window, he noticed the car's mirror and saw that there were not many cars circulating. Nothing strange happened until he observed the strange movement of one of the trees a few meters away from them. When he realized what was happening, it was already late. It was a matter of seconds what happened next, and the only thing he remembers is his friend's screams.
Luka left a cafeteria outside the university and Kim from a bookstore in front. The two smiled and clashed the palms of their hands as if they had achieved something.
"The plan goes as Adrien said," Luka said with a sigh. "Now the representative of Neo Akuma thinks that I am interested in changing companies and won't bother us for at least a couple of days."
Kim smiled as he pulled out the small headphone and handed it to Luka when he also removed the small microphone hidden in the collar of his shirt. "I felt like I was in one of those spy movies, we should do it more often."
Luka laughs at her friend's occurrences and checks the time with his phone. "It's almost seven, Nino and Adrien must have already reached the dorm. Let's go before the competition begins."
Kim and Luka made their way to the latter's car when they received a call from Nino.
"Nino? We're already coming back... Nino? Hey! What's the matter?!" Luka worries when he hears the brunette's broken breath. Kim, who is equally worried, quickly heads to the driver's seat and starts the car. Luka understands his actions despite his attempts to understand Nino on the phone and climbs into the passenger seat with the cell phone still in his ear. Luka tries to reassure his friend quickly and manages to hear some words.
"Nino, calm down. Just wait a bit." He turns to see Kim who is with a serious look looking at him intensely and just asks:
"Where?"
"To the hospital C."
Time - 7:16 pm.
[Private Chat - Clan Noir]
[CookieTikki]: Bug!
[CookieTikki]: what happened?
[CookieTikki]: Shouldn't you be already inside the circle?
[Plagg&Cheese]: where is ChatNoir?
[Plagg&Cheese]: and the rest of the clan?
[Ladybug]: …
[Ladybug]: I don't know.
[CookieTikki]: oh
[CookieTikki]: None one answers you?
[Plagg&Cheese]: I can't either
[Plagg&Cheese]: None one is online.
Marinette hadn't felt this way for a long time. She was confused, disappointed, sad and even worried. She still didn't believe that ChatNoir hadn't appeared. Did he have a problem? Did something happen? Or simply, he didn't want to come? A thousand questions were asked in her head and she had no answer for them. She read the comments of the public chat and met the expected: the people on her server were disappointed. The comments were not so bad with the exception of StormyWeather's friends. The clan leader hadn't written anything, but her friends had taken the opportunity to let off steam and speak ill of her. She also noticed Tikki and Plagg's attempts to defend her, but Marinette was so annoyed that she even started to get a headache. Without warning, she closed the game and wrapped herself in her bedsheets and tried to forget everything, until after a while she fell asleep whispering the name of a certain kitten.
It had been three days since the event and Marinette hadn't connected to the game so far. She didn't want to get into the game and be disappointed again. What happened if ChatNoir didn't reconnect? Or if it was something on purpose? With the little hope she had left, the blue-haired tried to ignore her last thought. It is true that it was only a game, and that it was normal for players to disappear when they no longer wanted to continue playing, but over time she knew the black-dressed player, she didn't believe that Chat would disappear without telling her anything. At least she believed that they had formed a bond that went a little beyond married players for convenience. At least, she thought he was a friend. So, why didn't she enter the game? Fear. The fear of being wrong didn't allow her to face reality and that's why she tried to ignore it.
Marinette went to classes as usual but got into the study and homework really deep to forget a certain person. Despite all that, she couldn't help watching the game video several times. The weekend was approaching and the meeting with the representative of ZAG Estudios needed a response to the proposal, but if she didn't have the courage to face her fear, she would achieve nothing. Marinette lets out a sigh and covers her face with one of her pillows.
"Mari, the girls are planning to go shopping in a few days. It seems that Chloè and Rose need more clothes for work and Juleka wants to help us, are you coming?" Alya asks her friend while pouring a glass of juice in the kitchen. Marinette was so absorbed in her thoughts that she ended up ignoring her until she felt a weight on her. "Aeh?!" the blue-haired girl gasped before realizing that Alya was on top of her to get her attention.
"Oh, so you weren't asleep."
"Even if I had been, this would have woken me up... you're heavy."
The redhead gives a small punch to the arm while they both laugh.
"You're good? I've seen you quite busy these days... I haven't even seen you play either."
Without wanting to worry, Marinette forces a small smile and replies that she is only busy with her classes and jobs. Not very convinced, Alya is patient with her and doesn't force her to keep talking. "I don't know what's bothering you… but if you have a problem with someone, I think it's better to talk directly to that person. I am telling you, but I think you already know that."
This time Marinette's face is adorned by a genuine smile and the two friends give each other a big hug. They may have just met when they started college, but Marinette had no doubt that she was her best friend. She also noticed that the redhead was somewhat worried, and not just for her.
"And you? Are you ok? I also feel something strange. Is it about Hero Works?" Mari sits better in bed to chat with her.
"Oh no. It's not that. I'm very happy that they accepted me... it's about Nino."
The blue-haired gets confused when she hears the boyfriend's mention. "Nino? Didn't you spoke to him and now you two were better organized?"
Alya waves her hands to deny her friend's questions "No, no. I didn't explain myself well. A few days ago Nino told me that the company has some conflicts with another and that his group is somewhat conflicted... He told me not to worry but I haven't seen him for three days and today he called me to meet later. It seems that he wants to talk about something serious... "
Marinette takes a few seconds to try to find out what bothers her friend. "...you're not thinking that Nino wants to break up with you, right?"
"No!" Alya answers quickly without hesitation. "Of course not... I only care about him. Every time he talks about the company and his friends I can tell how happy he feels. I would like to go to help, but I don't know much about that area and he also mentioned something about that the company has become a monastery."
"Lucky Charm Tech... a monastery?" Marinette understood everything until the mention of the monastery. "Adrien's company? I didn't know he had a problem with women…"
"It's not Adrien, it seems that one of the new workers has a problem with them, and it seems to be an important piece in Lucky Charm. I don't know the details, but he told me that one of his friends was depressed because he realized they wouldn't have any contact with females."
They both laugh at how ridiculous it sounds. It seems that talking made them both good because, in the end, they agreed that Marinette would face her problems while Alya would go relaxed to meet Nino. Marinette returned to her computer and closed the video of the game she was watching until a few minutes ago. Bridgette and Felix didn't saw each other again after the last fight. Wouldn't Ladybug see ChatNoir again because of her fear? No. She is strong, she is not Bridgette, and ChatNoir is not Felix. With this new thought, Marinette opens the game. It wasn't time to be a coward.
[Private Chat - Clan Noir]
[DarkCupid]: Ladybug!
[CookieTikki]: Bug !
[DarkCupid]: Good thing you're back!
[DJCarapace]: Ladybug!
[DJCarapace]: I'm really sorry!
[DJCarapace]: It was all my fault!
[Ladybug]: hey hey don't scream
Ladybug was bombarded with comments in the clan's chat and didn't understand all the fuss.
[Ladybug]: I'm not getting anything
[Ladybug]: can you speak one at a time?
[DJCarapace]: Ladybug: :'( :'( :'(
[DJCarapace]: It's my fault!
[DJCarapace]: It was me who was driving that day!
[Ladybug]: driving?
[DJCarapace]: Chat...
[DJCarapace]: Chat and I were returning in the car and we had an accident
[DJCarapace]: It's my fault, please don't be upset with him.
An accident? A car accident? Marinette's heart began to beat so hard it felt in her throat. She felt as if a bucket of cold water had fallen on her. ChatNoir hadn't appeared to the competition not for treason, but because of an accident?
Marinette reads the other messages explaining that a large branch of the trees on the way back fell on them and in the try to stop and dodge it, the car behind also hit them. ChatNoir was in a hospital without waking up all night, which made his teammates worry and forget to let her know. ChatNoir wake up the next day and the doctor informed them that he had no serious injuries and that the fainting was caused by the shock.
[Ladybug]: Carapace...
[Ladybug]: no... it's not your fault
[Ladybug]: It was an accident, it can happen to anyone.
[Ladybug]: The important thing is that you are fine.
Marinette manages to write back when she receives a private message from ChatNoir. Without turning it around, it opens quickly and reads it.
[Private chat]
[ChatNoir]: I'm really sorry
[ChatNoir]: I don't know what to do to so you can forgive me.
[Ladybug]: ChatNoir!
[Ladybug]: How can you say that?!
[Ladybug]: You had an accident, there was no way I would find out about that.
[Ladybug]: You don't have to apologize
[Ladybug]: more important, are you ok?
[ChatNoir]: You are so kind and understanding with me...
[ChatNoir]: I don't know what I've done to deserve you.
[ChatNoir]: I'm already fine, a few hours after I woke up they let me out of the hospital.
[ChatNoir]: Even so, I want to repay you in some way for all this...
[Ladybug]: Then stay with me.
Marinette sent the message before she could think twice. This was her moment of courage.
[Ladybug]: I know we got married because of the competition...
[Ladybug]: But I would like not to break the engagement now that the competition is over.
[Ladybug]: I would like to be together not only for the missions.
[Ladybug]: because you are already someone important to me.
[ChatNoir]: I'm glad to hear that...
[ChatNoir]: because I didn't like the idea of letting you go.
Marinette releases her breath that she didn't know she had held unconsciously. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks and all the stress she had accumulated was gone. Marinette asked him again about his health and Chat replied again that she had nothing to worry about. They talked again as they always did and the atmosphere stopped being tense.
Before they could say goodbye, Marinette remembered the matter with ZAG and told him a summary. ChatNoir kept thinking for a few minutes.
[Ladybug]: What do you think?
[Ladybug]: The truth is that I'm not very interested in the money
[Ladybug]: I'm happy that ZAG wanted to use our video.
[ChatNoir]: Money is not something I really desire.
[ChatNoir]: but in the end, it was your idea.
[ChatNoir]: Whatever you choose, I'm sure all of us will agree.
[ChatNoir]: although it seems a somewhat important topic to talk about here.
[ChatNoir]: my lady
[Ladybug]: Oh?
[ChatNoir]: Would it seem good to you... if we meet to talk better about this?
Author notes:
I know you don't like this kind of cliffhangers, but it was already getting too long. Thank you for all your support and comments, I am glad to know that you are enjoying the course of history. When I started writing it (and having Love o2o as a guide) I knew that development would be slow. The truth is that I prefer to write long stories creating a world with the passing of the chapters than cutting the story and the characters can't achieve the development I want (I'm not saying that short stories are bad, many of them are really good, its just my preferences). In any case, in the next chapter, you will know Marinette's answer and a little more about the accident. For now, let's wait for Kwami Buster and Love Eater because I'm dying to see the chapter of the series. Thanks for reading!
Twitter: Little_Rain0048
-LR