Just got around to watching Reflekdoll and Desperada. I have a lot of feelings about both, especially in regards to my precious Luka. Some good, some bad...some moments which made me want to throw myself out of a window. Oh dear.

Thanks as always for all of your support via reviews, favourites and follows :)


Day Eight: Strings

"Come on, girl! Today's the day! I know for sure Adrien's gonna be there."

Usually, those words would send Marinette's heart into hysterical palpitations. But today...yes, her heart did beat a little faster and her skin went all cold and hot and she nearly choked on her own breath...but it wasn't the same.

Like her body had reacted on autopilot.

She had been feeling like that for a while, since she met up with Luka in the park. Adrien's photos still covered her walls, and she still kept a trunk full of presents for a few decades' worth of birthdays, and she still stammered and stuttered at him around school, but none of it felt like it was her behind those things.

Nevertheless, she grabbed a neatly wrapped parcel from her desk and stood up. "Ready."

Christmas and New Years had been and gone, bringing with them light snow and freezing winds. Alya had thrown a party for their class at which presents were exchanged. Marinette had made most of hers from scratch: sets of gloves and scarves and pieces of jewellery. A beanie hat for Luka which she embroidered with music notes and stars.

But Adrien hadn't made it to the party. 'Prior commitments' kept him, but they all knew that was code for his father was still a sour old man who didn't believe people should be allowed to have fun. Neither could he make it to the impressive New Years soirée Chloé had thrown and, surprisingly, invited them all to.

Marinette hadn't had the chance to properly enjoy herself, despite the fact that Lila was away in Italy for Christmas, because Hawkmoth had seen fit to unleash another akuma. As it was, during the countdown to midnight, Ladybug was hiding from a broken-hearted mecha-robot and fighting off Chat Noir's advances and his determination to get a midnight kiss from her.

By the time she'd gotten back to the party, it was well-past midnight and her parents were expecting her home.

That was why, a few days into January, Alya had arranged a little get-together so she, Marinette and Nino could give Adrien their presents. And vitally, Adrien confirmed he could make it.

"Come on," Alya urged, tugging on Marinette's arm. "We're going to be late! We don't want to keep the boys waiting."

They hurried downstairs, waving to Marinette's parents who had closed the bakery for a week, and ran into the street. A thin layer of snow coated the streets, thicker near the buildings where it hadn't been trampled flat, and the chilly wind bit their faces, staining their cheeks pink. Thick, white clouds obscured the sky.

The meeting place was a little café down the road with squashy red sofas and spindle-legged tables. The boys were already there; they had snagged a round table in the corner with a sofa and two armchairs. Alya joined Nino on the sofa, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and Marinette took the free armchair. Four cups sat on the table, emitting the heavenly scent of chocolate and cream.

"Joyeux Noёl!" Alya chimed. "Aw, you got us our drinks already too!"

"Sure did." Nino grinned, slinging an arm around her. "Cinnamon for you, and peppermint for Marinette."

"Thanks, Nino!" Marinette smiled and wrapped her hands around the mug, repressing a satisfied whimper as the warmth of the drink seeped into her freezing hands. "This is exactly what I needed…"

Alya took a long sip of hers then placed the mug down with a clink and a loud sigh. "Ahh, delicious." She wiped a smear of cream from her lips then glanced down at Nino's cup.

"Don't even think about it," he said. "I got cinnamon too. You've converted me."

"Aww... " Alya mock-pouted.

"It must be true love!" Marinette giggled. "What flavour did you get, Adrien?"

"I just got plain," he replied. "I don't really like the flavoured ones…"

Marinette took a quick sip of her drink. Hot chocolate and cool mint mixed and melted together on her tongue like the suspended chords Luka had showed her once.

Alya dug a little package out of her bag and presented it to Adrien with a grin. "Better late than never."

"Thanks, Alya! I've got gifts for you guys too, hang on…" He grabbed his satchel from the ground and flipped it open then extracted three little parcels wrapped in green paper. "I didn't have a lot of time to go shopping, but I hope you like them."

"Thanks, dude!" Nino grinned. He tossed a squashy package to Adrien before grabbing his and tearing into it with fervour. Marinette pulled out her present for Adrien and checked the wrapping once more. Matte, red paper and gold ribbon, expertly tied, and little Christmas trees in gold ink printed with a handmade stamp. She passed it to Adrien, then picked up his gift for her.

A small box—jewellery, perhaps? Inside, a fine, gold chain with a ladybug-shaped pendant in red and black enamel. Beneath it was a small card: 'A ladybug for our everyday ladybug.'

"Thanks, Adrien. You're beautiful—I mean it's beautiful. I mean, not that you're not but, uh, um…"

Adrien chuckled as he opened his present. "You're welcome, Marinette… Oh, wow! Did you make this?"

It was a beanie, nearly identical to Luka's bar the colour—powder blue instead of turquoise—and it was plain. She had wanted to embroider something around the edge, but she realised when she was sketching the design that she had no idea what he would like. Passion fruits? Fencing sabres?

Before, she'd reconciled her lack of knowledge about his hobbies and interests with the fact his father never gave him time to have hobbies or interests. But she'd realised, as she wrapped the beanie, it was because she'd never asked.

It had been easy to design Luka's.

Marinette's mouth pulled into a grin so wide her cheeks hurt. "Yeah, I hope it fits you okay."

Adrien placed it on his head, adjusting it to sit at a slightly jaunty angle, then smiled. "How does it look?"

It looked good. Perfect, even. From the pale blue against his golden hair to the easy, close-mouthed smile. Perfect.

Why didn't it feel perfect?

"Lookin' good, dude!" Nino laughed, giving a thumbs up. "Is that a Marinette special?"

As Adrien replied to Nino, Marinette felt someone kick her beneath the table. She looked at Alya, who held up her phone. Marinette slid her own from her bag and found a few new messages in the group chat she had with the girls.

Alya: u ready for operation christmas kiss?

Alix: i thought we called it operation seasonal smooch

Rose: Both names r super cute! :) ^.^

Alix: wat about festive fondle?

Mylène: Nooo
Mylène: that's awful
Mylène: What about christmas cuddle?

As she read through, more messages popped up, accompanied by a series of buzzing.

Alya: r u in place? were about to start

Rose: were on the bridge! :D
Rose: and i have the glitter! :3

Mylène: i'm by the car!

Alix: hurry up
Alix: ppl keep tryin to give me money
Alix: this costume is stupid

Rose: I think u look super cute! ^.^

Alix: i have a beard!
Alix: why cant juleka do this?

Rose: she said shes busy :(

Because of course the plan couldn't just be 'Marinette gives Adrien a present without freaking out.' Alya had to come up with something ridiculously convoluted, with sneaking around and glitter and beards. It hadn't ever worked in the past, and no doubt today's attempt would similarly fail.

And yet, she'd agreed. Why had she done that?

There was, she supposed, still time to back out. Just one message. 'I'm not feeling too well, guys. Maybe another time.' But she couldn't move her fingers. Her body was no longer hers to control. She could only watch as Alya downed the rest of her hot chocolate and checked her phone.

"Oh no! My parents want me back to watch the twins. Bummer." She sighed melodramatically. "I guess I'd better go…"

"Ah, that sucks," Nino began, but was swiftly silenced by Alya's glare. "Uh, I mean, I'll come with you." He drained his cup and wiped his mouth then looked at Adrien apologetically. "Sorry, dude—"

"But Marinette can stay with him!" Alya butted in, her smile too wide. "You two have fun! Come on, Nino."

Alya pulled Nino up from the sofa, dragged him away from the table, and they were gone. Within seconds, another message lit up Marinette's phone.

Alya: operation christmas kiss is a go!

Marinette remembered the plan. It replayed in her mind, fuzzy and soulless like a pull-string toy's tired speaker. Finish the hot chocolate quickly and propose a walk. Adrien will say his bodyguard is waiting to pick him up, but Mylène will remove that obstacle by leading his bodyguard away from the car park to rescue a hypothetical kitten from a tree.

Marinette will suggest a walk along the Pont des Arts, where Alix will be waiting dressed as Père Noёl with a sprig of mistletoe. Then, as they look at the view over the Seine, Alix will dangle the mistletoe over them, and as they kiss, Rose will run by with a handful of glitter and throw it at them like non-degradable, plastic snow.

Marinette's hands brought the mug to her lips, tilted the hot chocolate into her mouth. Her throat swallowed, no longer tasting the peppermint chord. It was almost a surprise when the mug was empty and back on its saucer, and Adrien had also finished, and she was being pulled to her feet like a puppet on a string, following him out the door.

Adrien didn't notice Mylène peek around a corner and give a thumbs up, but Marinette did and her hand automatically rose to return it. As they stood on the street, wondering where Adrien's bodyguard was, Marinette's phone buzzed a few times. She imagined it was Alya, asking her why she wasn't speaking, and clenched her fist.

'Let's take a walk along the Pont des Arts!' The words buzzed in her mouth and throat, like someone had pulled the string in her back, but her stubborn lips wouldn't part to sound them. Adrien pulled out his phone, said something about calling Gorilla to see where he was, and another set of frenzied words tried to force their way out of Marinette's mouth, pushing and shoving against her tongue and teeth until finally they broke through. Garbled as ever.

"Pont des Arts! You! With me? To, walk, please?"

Adrien blinked, a little baffled. She'd seen that face so many times it may as well have been printed on her retinas. Then he smiled and slipped his phone back into his pocket. "I guess I could take a little walk," he said. And off they went, Adrien ahead, Marinette's body following. A puppet. Marionette. Steel strings.

Her phone buzzed again. This time she looked at it.

Luka: You're in luck! My strings just broke! You said you wanted them right?
L: Not sure what you're going to make out of guitar strings but knowing you it'll be really cool
L: Maybe not the A string. It's a traitor. It snapped and nearly took my eye out.
L: Apparently they were my last strings too. Gotta run to the shop and get more before it closes D: If you're free in about 20 mins you could come round and get these old strings? I'm worried I'll lose them otherwise

Marinette stopped. Something pulled at her legs, willing them to keep walking, keep following Adrien, but she dug her heels into the ground.

M: is your eye okay? you might need an eyepatch. then youll be like a real pirate!

L: Haha true
L: You know why pirates are called pirates?

Adrien turned to look at her; the strings tugged harder on her legs, her chest, her head, but she tugged harder against them.

M: no

L: They just ARRRR

"Marinette?" Adrien asked. "Is something wrong?"

Marinette looked at her phone, at Adrien, at her phone again, then shook her head. "No. I just...I have to do something."

The string broke. The world snapped into focus, and Marinette relished the feel of her toes curling in her boots, her scarf brushing her jaw, the lingering taste of peppermint behind her teeth.

"Oh. Okay, no problem." He smiled. "We can go look at the bridge next time. Maybe Alya and Nino will be able to stay too."

"Yeah," she said, and the usual swell of disappointment didn't come. And when he walked past her, back towards the car park, nothing tried to pull her after him. "I have to go. I hope you find Gorilla."

"He's pretty hard to miss," Adrien replied with his soft laugh. "See you later, Marinette."

He was gone.

Marinette's phone buzzed: a disgruntled message from Alix about her beard being itchy.

M: plans off

She muted the group chat and closed it, then pulled up Luka's messaging thread.

M: Whats your favourite hot chocolate flavour?

L: My favourite flavour? Why?

M: Like mint or cinnamon or orange or plain?

L: Hmm tricky one
L: If I had to choose I guess mint
L: It's my favourite ice cream flavour soooo

M: Mine too!

She thought about Alya and Nino and their shared love of cinnamon, and nearly typed, 'It must be true love!' but she stopped herself. It was only hot chocolate. Love was grand, true love grander. It was picnics by candlelight and flowers on pillows and kisses under the moon.

Or maybe, just maybe, it was as simple as hot chocolate.

Marinette stuffed her phone in her bag, began running, boots thumping on the pavement like a kick drum. She ducked into an alley, opened her purse, grinned at Tikki's confused face.

"Come on," she said. "We've got a music shop to get to. Spots On!"

Moments later, Ladybug leapt from the top of the alley, onto the rooftops. The winter sun broke through the clouds; her suit gleamed red as a holly berry peeping through the snow. She unhooked her yo-yo, felt the string—her string—between her fingers, and threw it.