Right, next chapter. As promised, earlier than usual, but I won't be able to post again until Sunday. So Saturday's will be on Sunday, and Sunday's will...hopefully be Sunday too? We'll see...

This chapter is a little rushed, I'm afraid. Didn't have time to do much proofreading, and it does gloss over a few actions scenes because...I didn't fancy writing a step-by-step action scene.

This is also a canon-divergence of Reflekdoll, so if you haven't seen that episode, I would suggest watching it first because otherwise this a) might not make so much sense and b) will be a huge spoiler.

Thanks as ever for all your support!


Day Thirteen: Earrings

"Hey, Adrien!" Marinette called as she and Alya ran down the stairs to catch up with the boy in question. "I wanted to ask you a favour!"

There were plenty of perks to dating Luka. Beautiful music whenever she wanted, a kind voice when she was feeling down, a warm body to curl up against when it was cold.

And she no longer stuttered around Adrien.

Which, she supposed, made sense. Now that her feelings for him had drained completely, the nervous energy she used to have around him was gone, making school a lot less stressful in that regard.

It was still stressful in another regard, however. Despite no longer having the motivation of jealousy, Alya and many classmates still wouldn't let go of the notion that her reasons for disliking Lila were unfounded. Something Lila took great pleasure in if the smirks outside class were anything to go by.

Fortunately, Marinette had managed to more or less patch up her friendship with Alya after sitting down with her and the other girls and revealing she was now dating Luka.

"I swear it's not some plot to get Adrien to notice me," she'd said. "I honestly really, really like him."

It had taken them a while to get used to the idea, but once again they were all friends. At least, as long as Lila wasn't mentioned.

Adrien and Nino paused at the bottom of the stairs and waited for Marinette to catch up. "Sure, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"I'm doing a fashion shoot for the website I want to start," she replied, holding up her phone. "But I would really appreciate your help with it."

"Yeah, we could use your expertise in fashion photography," Alya added. "And as we've got a free period with Mme. Mendeliev not being in…Your father doesn't have to know about it!"

Adrien, being the lovable if easily swayed doormat he was, agreed easily as long as he was back home in an hour. They gathered the other girls and trekked down to Marinette's house where, in her attic room, rummaged through her finished designs to pick the best ones for her website.

"I think the striped jumpers would be good," Adrien said, pulling them out along with straight-legged jeans and red berets. "They look quite traditional, which would be cool for your first post on the website, don't you think?"

"Yeah, that would be cool," Marinette agreed. "Oh, and I made a dress based on traditional styles too…Umm…" She furtled through her wardrobe and finally pulled out the dress. White, slightly puffed sleeves like a blouse with a black, kneel-length strap-dress sewn over it, along with a triangular blue shawl. "Who wants to model these?"

Juleka, who had been standing at the back of the group fiddling with her hair, stepped forward. She'd clipped her fringe back, exposing her forehead and both eyes, eliciting a gasp from the group.

"You look so pretty," Rose cooed.

"I've never seen the top half of your face before," Mylène commented.

Juleka took a deep breath then mumbled, "I'd like to model."

"You would?" Marinette asked then quickly added, "That's great! What would you like to wear?"

"The dress!" Rose suggested. "You'd look so pretty in it, Juleka!"

No one else volunteered to model clothes, so Alya decided Marinette should wear one set of the striped jumper ensemble, and Adrien the other as he had experience in front of the camera. Accessories were next. Marientte fished out a blue and white barrette for Juleka's hair, and woven bands for her wrists, but paused when considering what she and Adrien should wear.

"I think these ones," Adrien said, coming up behind her and pointing to the pair of green clip-ons she was holding. "They'll compliment the colours well."

"You're right," she agreed, passing him a pair but part of her was reluctant. Different earrings meant she'd have to take out her Ladybug ones. Still, it would just be for a little bit…

Behind her screen, after changing her clothes, Marinette hesitantly pulled out one earring, trying not to look at Tikki's glare. "Marinette, you can't!" she cried. "What if Ladybug's needed!"

"You won't be far," Marinette replied quietly. "It's not for long, anyway. Here, you look after them."

Soon, all three models were changed and wearing their accessories. However, as Rose and Mylènewere sorting out Juleka's make-up and hair, Marinette noticed Juleka had gone very pale and was beginning to hyperventilate. Alya, who had her phone out recording as usual, lowered it a little in concern.

"Juleka, you okay?" she asked.

If anything, this made Juleka's hyperventilating worse. She clenched her fists, eyes trained on the ground, mouth mumbling unintelligible words. Marinette made her way over and gently grasped Juleka's arms.

"It was really cool of you to agree to by a model, Juleka," she said. "But I can tell you don't feel that comfortable about it."

"Decide soon," Alya said. "You've only got Adrien and me for another thirty minutes."

"Where are you going?" Alix demanded.

"Meeting Lila. She's got some major news about Ladybug to give me, so we're having another interview!"

Marinette tried to swallow the growl threatening to rise in her throat and looked back to Juleka, who had somehow managed to turn even paler. "Juleka, I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to do…"

She wondered if maybe she should call Luka, if he would know how to encourage her or calm her down, but Alya suddenly stepped forward and grabbed the back of Marinette's jacket.

"Come on, girl. We need to get this photo shoot done now."

"But Juleka—"

"She clearly doesn't want to do it," Alya pointed out. "Don't pressure her! Besides, Lila just texted me. She has to meet earlier because of a doctor's appointment for her weak wrists, so we have even less time!"

Marinette bit down on her bottom lip so hard she thought she might make it bleed. Before she could cobble together her protest, Alya had grasped her wrist and proceeded to drag her out of the room.

"Come on, Adrien! Girls! Let's at least get shots of these outfits!"

The last Marinette saw of Juleka was her forlorn face before she was pushed unceremoniously down the stairs, with Adrien, Alix and Mylène behind. When Rose, face crumpled in worry, joined them, they piled into Adrien's limo and begged his bodyguard to drive them.

Marinette wasn't sure if she was surprised or not when, mere minutes into the photo shoot, a giant pink robot appeared and started shooting lasers.

"My friends!" Reflekta's voice boomed "Just the people I've been looking for!"

As Reflekdoll wreaked havoc in the park, turning civilians into Reflekta clones, Marinette scarpered to find a good place to transform. "Oh no, this is all my fault!" she cried to herself as she ducked behind a flipped car. "Juleka did want to model...I'll have to make this up to her, but I have to save her first. Tikki, Spots On!"

She waited for the Miraculous' energising power to wash over her, but it didn't.

"Tikki?" she said cautiously, raising her hands to check her earrings…

Earrings! She was wearing the green ones from the shoot still! So her earrings, and Tikki, were still in the limo. Wishing she'd kept her earrings in her pocket instead of in her purse, Marinette charged out of her hiding place, hoping to reach the limo before Reflekdoll saw her…

"Marinette!"

Marinette nearly tripped over in surprise and swung around to find Luka sprinting towards her. "Luka?"

"Please tell me that's not Jule," he murmured. Marinette followed his gaze to Reflekdoll, stomping around with its back to them. She sighed, rubbing her arm.

"I'm sorry, Luka. This is all my fault. She looked so uncomfortable and I asked if she wanted to drop out then Alya began pushing to hurry up and-and next we know Juleka…" Closing her eyes, Marinette leaned forward to bump her forehead against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

Luka gently rubbed the back of her head. "I won't pretend like I'm not annoyed," he said, voice strained. "But I'm more annoyed with myself. I should have known her anxiety would flare up...I should have come with her."

"It's not your fault, Luka. We were there. We should done something…" Marinette looked up at him. His grim mouth was pulled straight.

"There's not much we can do about it now," he said. "Come on, let's find somewhere safe for you."

"No! I need to find my earrings."

"Your...earrings? Marinette, no. You need to get to safety."

"You don't understand. I need to find my earrings."

"What I don't understand is why your earrings are more important than your safety."

Marinette glanced behind her; Reflekdoll had turned around, aiming straight for them… With a yelp, she barrelled into Luka, and wound up getting hit herself. "Luka, run!" she yelled, pushing him again. "I'll run this way. She can't follow both of us!"

Luka didn't look convinced by the plan, but as Reflekdoll geared up for another blast, he nodded and took off. Marinette grimaced at her hot-pink hands, but reminded herself it wouldn't be for long. She just had to find Tikki…

Until she spotted another kwami. Plagg.

Well, she thought, grabbing the Cat Miraculous from Plagg and slipping it onto her finger. Better the wrong Miraculous than none.


Luka huffed as he ducked around a corner and pressed his back into the wall. What was Marinette thinking? Looking for earrings when there was an akuma about? How could jewellery be more important than her safety?

Reflekdoll was heading in his direction, but its attention was on someone else: a figure in pink. Rose. He ran towards her, legs aching already, heart thumping. Reflekdoll was getting ready to shoot, pink light gathering at its mouth…

With an extra burst of energy he didn't know he had, Luka grabbed Rose and pulled her sideways away from the laser, rolled underneath to shield her fall. He thought he saw a blur of red but when he tried to look for it, there was nothing there.

Reflekdoll was bearing down on them. Rose scrambled to her feet, Luka following to stand in front of her, placing himself between her and the robot.

"Jule!" he yelled. "I know you're in there. Let go of Reflekta! Please! Come back to us!"

"Juleka was pathetic and useless," Reflekta spat from within the robot, her voice thundering. "There is only Reflekta now! Soon there will ONLY be Reflekta!"

Reflekdoll began forming another beam but was stopped by a long stick smashing into its face. Chat Noir arrived, flipping in the air, long hair whipping behind…

Then Luka realised it wasn't Chat Noir at all, but a girl. Someone pretending to be Chat Noir? Or…

His mind twinged, like there was a connection trying to form but every time he got close he would lose part of it in the mist. But the longer he stared at the female Chat Noir, the more familiar she seemed.

Luka shook his head. Something to ponder when there wasn't a giant robot running around. He turned to Rose, frowning. "Go," he said. "Quick, get out of here."

Rose whined her protest, and Luka thought would refuse to go, but then she nodded and scarpered. Luke waited until she was out of sight before running closer to the battle, ducking behind broken monuments and cars whenever Reflekdoll looked his way. He had to be ready when the battle finished to help his sister.

Eventually another figure joined the fight. Ladybug, but male and blond. Then he realised that they were people pretending to be the heroes, but the same heroes with their costumes swapped. How that worked he had no idea. Still, not wanting to get in their way, as they seemed to be having some trouble communicating, he kept himself low to watch.

After a lot of faff and what looked like a few arguments, and a mishap when the robot was cataclysmed and went haywire as a result. Ladybug and Chat Noir (or whatever they went by now) managed to snag Juleka from inside. They were quick to dispatch the akuma and return her to normal, leaving her kneeling in the street, looking quite bemused.

Luka ran out from his hiding place and fell to the ground next to her. "Juleka! Are you okay?"

"Luka?" she slurred, disoriented. "What are you…"

"Look out!"

Another beam of light came from the thrashing robot. Female-Chat Noir pulled Male-Ladybug aside as Luka yanked Juleka out of the way. "Come on," he said, gently grasping her hand and pulling her to her feet. "Let's get out of here…"

He glanced back at the two heroes, and found Female-Chat Noir giving him a strange look. Something like affection, or guilt? Again, his mind went twinged, like there was a thought trying to reach the forefront but failing.

Luka shook his head and guided his sister away from the robot. They found a safe-ish place to hide in the nearby park, sheltered by the trees but still able to watch the battle. Without an akuma at the helm, the robot would surely be easier to defeat.

"I'm sorry," Juleka mumbled, hugging herself. She was wearing a different outfit; black and white dress with a blue shawl. "I let him get to me again."

"No, Juleka. It's not your fault. Hawkmoth took advantage of you for being human; that could never be your fault."

"But it is my fault," she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. Luka wrapped his arm around her and rubbed comforting circles on her shoulder. "If I was more confident. If I just said that I wanted to do it…"

"It's okay, Jule," he murmured. "You'll get your chance. I'm sure Marinette will let you be in the shoot when this is all taken care of."

"But Alya and Adrien can't stay any longer, and…"

"Do they have to be there?"

"Adrien's modelling, and Alya's taking pictures."

"Someone else can take pictures," Luka suggested. "And as for Adrien...hmm…"

"You could fill in."

"Me?"

Juleka smirked, nudged him with her shoulder. "Marinette would be pleased. She's wearing a matching outfit."

Luka thought back to what Marinette was wearing earlier. He hadn't paid much attention to it, but he knew it wasn't his style. But if it would make Juleka happy, and if made Marinette happy…

"We'll see," was all he said.

Finally, the two heroes managed to subdue the robot and revert everything to normal. Luka wanted to run back, find Marinette, but Juleka tugged his arm.

"Stay here," she said. "This is where they were doing the shoot; they'll come back."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Marinette sprinted into the park, practically collapsing in relief beside them. "I'm so glad you two are okay! Juleka, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier. I should have let Alya drag me off like that."

"It's okay, Marinette."

When Adrien and Alya arrived with the others, it was to say they had to leave. "But that's okay," Marinette said. "Juleka, if you want, we can take some photos of you too on my phone."

Juleka smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Marinette. And Luka can take over as male model."

The minute the words left her mouth, Luka knew he would have no choice. The other girls gasped excitedly whilst Marinette flushed pink. "That's a great idea!" Rose squealed. "You guys will look so cute!"

Fortunately, Adrien's clothes were in the limo, so he was able to awkwardly get changed in the backseat, shielded from the world by the tinted windows. Then, when he was back in his usual outfit, Luka was manhandled into the limo to change into Marinette's design.

It wasn't as bad as he thought. The colours were fine: dark blue and white. Denim. The red beret wasn't something pick, but he quite liked the silver and green jewellery. When he emerged, feeling a little silly as the jeans were too short, the girls all shrieked in delight.

Alya pulled Marinette aside to whisper something in her ear, causing her to blush the same shade of red as her beret. "Alya!" she yelped. But Alya only smirked and winked then waved goodbye and ran off. Soon after, Adrien left too, leaving the girls and Luka to finish the photo shoot without him.

It wasn't really that bad, Luka decided, as he hooked arms with Marinette, the Eiffel Tower rearing behind them. It was perhaps a tad awkward, being poked and prodded into a position by Rose, who had taken over as artistic director whilst Alix took the photos. But it wasn't that bad. Maybe that was because Marinette was with him, giggling sweetly as she adjusted his beret. Or maybe it was because Juleka's smile was the widest he'd ever seen it.

Would he do it again? That remained to be seen, but as he walked home hand-in-hand with Marinette later that afternoon, when her other friends had left—bar Juleka—and she asked him if he'd enjoyed himself, he had to say yes.

"There's something else I wanted to ask you," he said. His normal clothes were bundled under his arm, the accessories safe inside his jeans pocket. "Earlier, when you were looking for your earrings. Why were they so important?"

But Marinette didn't answer. Only shrugged and shook her head, eyes flicking away from his face. He looked at her earrings: plain; black; understated.

His mind twinged.