All rights to Miraculous Ladybug belong to Zagtoon, Method Animation, Thomas Astruc, and Disney. All rights to Persona 5 go to Atlus and Sega. This is my own creative work.
Marinette had taken her house's heater for granted, coming out without so much as a sweater or long-sleeve shirt the next day. Her limbs were frozen holding her sides as she ran across the street.
She was still aware of the outside world enough that she could look both ways when crossing the street to school. For the most part, her eyes were glued to the phone, the Akuma Alert having been active since that morning. She had been switching the active app between the grid map of Paris and her calendar for due dates on her ever-piling list of commissions. Then there was her homework – the girl was sure she'd managed to wrap up her history assignment sometime before five in the morning. People could survive on at least 1 hour of sleep, right?
A brisk chill slapped her skin leaving it with festering goosebumps almost as punishment. Marinette shivered, pulling her thin jacket close.
Opening her clenched eyes, she spotted a familiar sight beneath her blue bangs. A certain young model walking down the steps from the entrance to the school. Golden hair and emerald eyes a gorgeous constant, but a frown also marred his features.
Marinette yelped and dove behind the railway. People behind her jumped in turn watching as she pressed herself against stone like a Jagged Stone poster.
One quick look at her phone, though. It had been a near two minutes since she last checked the screen. No alerts. She sighed. Back to panicking about normal life.
She dared permission to her wandering eye to jump out and check. Adrien turned his head around, blinking – clearly her shriek of panic had alerted him as well. He turned to the steps once more and soon another girl, hair the same black as hers but with a poise and posture like steel in a plaid skirt joined him. Kagami Tsurugi, here for their usual ritual if the red-pommeled saber in her hands was any indication. They chatted the tense moments away while Marinette's palms pressed into the brick enough to leave eventual indents.
"… leaving now?" She heard the girl, Kagami Tsurugi, ask him.
Leaving?
This was Adrien's usual time for fencing practice. Admittedly, she had not been keeping her crush's daily schedule as up to date as the Marinette of old would do but she was sure he would be around for a while. She would be able to give the internet a run for its money, but all her attention was more towards her own endeavors, which some circles would say was a good thing. Her life had enough tribulations that she could barely keep up with anyone else's.
"… business as usual…" Adrien answered.
"Your job…"
Ah, right. There was the winter campaign Gabriel Agreste was working on. The one with the… overseas model.
Marinette blanched thinking about her and images of her wildly successful spreads early on. Suddenly, her hands moved to her lips and shredding through her fingernails with anxious teeth. She was overthinking it, the rational part of her brain tried to say. The result of stress from one too many battles with that crazed Akuma Archangel.
That reminded her to check her phone again. Still no alerts.
Then there was the part of her brain that still dared to dream of three kids and a hamster. It was telling her that Adrien was already being carried on late autumn breezes of romance to the arms of Ann Takamaki. What was once a delusion of Adrien hopping on a jet to Japan and sushi was coming back to her head again. A few hairs almost popped loose.
The soft strum of a guitar stopped her.
Marinette yelped again. This time she caught the eye of a boy beneath a calm rain of turquoise locks. His nail-polished fingers drifted along the wind away from his guitar's vibrating strings. He gave a chuckle so soft and sounded almost on tune as he smiled down at her, kneeling to meet her level.
"Still trying to give him his gift?" The boy question came with another strum sounding like the question in song form.
"Uh, Luka!" Marinette laughed. "Oh, you know, just… waiting for the perfect moment!"
He played again. "There's never really a wrong moment… if you want someone to know you care."
"No! I don't! I mean I do, but not really care-care! Not like in that respect, but I do! I mean, do care-"
He strummed again. Her babbling went dead.
"Actually, it doesn't seem like you've been talking with Adrien at all lately." He dared a peak from his bangs. Dare she say it, Marinette could swear he looked… hopeful. "Did something happen?"
"Of course not!" The girl laughed. "Why would you think something happened? You don't think something happened!?"
Luka sighed and played a few more cords, brushing the strings one by one. "Well, I think of 'something' as you've gotten to know Kagami. It's really cool that you're friends with her now."
True, Kagami was pretty nice once you got past the initial view of her that would skewer people with a saber. All it took was a city-wide scavenger hunt, a misunderstanding, a car-cyborg, and a Miraculous to change that. At the very least, the two had come to a deeper understanding that hopefully endured the months that she'd been busy.
"Of course, 'something' also could mean how busy you've been…" He strummed more, hovering on the last chord. "You were pretty stressed that time. Your song is all…" Luka's fingers twitched brushing the strings at random, out of tune and loud and quick and spiraling everywhere. "…like that. Everything okay?"
"What!? Oh, that!" Marinette chuckled. "That was… uh, the thing there was…"
She scanned her phone again.
Marinette sighed dropping her face in her hands. That was nothing more or less than an accident, a temporary leak of human weakness in the perfection of Ladybug. Often it escaped which is what led to a plethora of magical creatures currently snacking on a bowl of treats in her house and not in their usual Chinese clinic. Luka just happened to be close by, but for his own sake, he shouldn't see that side of her again.
No one could.
But how to explain this? When she'd cracked and spoke of pressures and responsibilities in a way that justified a tearful breakdown in his arms. There was the commissions, schoolwork, dating – enough for an emotional teenager like herself, right? She could have really used her own Ladybug.
Marinette looked up and found herself staring into Luka's sparkling eyes.
Her hand was enveloped in his as he curled both their fingers into one another. "If it's really important, you should give him the gift. Don't worry about words or moments… Just follow your heart."
The girl blinked and looked up to the boy. He smiled, though that smile wasn't able to keep up with her gaze.
She turned away, her hands drifting to her side purse. Luka's fingers almost seemed intangible as the feelings compelled her to speak. "I don't know. I keep waiting for a right moment, anyway. I really do… have a lot to do these days so it might not come. Maybe I should just ask Nino to give him the gift."
Her eyes shut and the world around her faded into a black void. Everything around her form suddenly became less tangible, less real. The splotch of grass with bits of frost no longer brushed on her legs, the brick wall behind her vanished, and Luka himself may well have been an apparition of her hormone-stressed mind. It was all just a speck she looked down upon from on high, even on the ground. Thoughts swirled around her head, attempting to play catch-up and wake up from the previous night of vigilance, fears, and expectations.
The only thing that remained real was the phone in her hand, which itched for reaction. Her hands that could only create or heal or attack, not simply touch or hold. There was little point in being here when there were more important things to do, when Paris was but one man's bad day away from devastation. In fact, why was she here again?
"Hey! Marinette!"
Marinette snapped awake. There were now three things she noticed in all her alertness. One, Luka was now standing up and looking away. Two, Alya was waving to them from the top of the steps looking down at her. Three, Kagami and Adrien were no longer anywhere, the latter whisked away to his job by his bodyguard in all likelihood.
Alya leaned on the railing. "Glad you could make it. And nice to see you out in the real world again."
"Ha-ha." Marinette stood and crossed her arms. "I'm still annoyed with that stunt you pulled the other day."
"What stunt? I only delivered the truth as a journalist should." Alya smirked batting her eyes. "You're the one who went on about koi fish and kimono cats."
"Whatever…"
"Okay, I'm sorry. Now, come on!"
Alya pulled away and ran into the building. Luka's chuckle caught her attention, as did his hand on her shoulder that made her jump. "Shall we head in?"
"Uh, yeah…"
First things first, another check. Still no new Akuma.
The two followed into the festive courtyard of Francois Dupont. Students garbed in white were like Christmas spirits clashing sabers with one another almost waltzing to the tunes of classic songs on the loudspeakers. Every symmetrical line along the walls and stairways were adorned with pine needles and tinsel, and above were the laughs and cheery voices of her classmates with boxes in hand and caps atop their heads. She smiled seeing them in such good moods.
At the steps, she stopped looking at the odd figure out in crimson red that stalled, their head turned towards her. Marinette swore Kagami was looking at her, before turning back and pushing down her opponent. Despite looking in tandem, the fencing team was in their own little space of focus outside holiday songs and decorations.
A brown hand grabbed her wrist. "Keep moving, girl. Ms. Bustier said we can keep decorating as long as we don't disturb the fencing team."
She gave a wave to all her classmates on the second floor. Rather, Alya raised her hand for her and waved in place of her dead limbs and frayed thought process. The next minute she was wrapping wreaths and pine along the railing of the second story along with everyone else. Marinette kept to herself while her classmates spent the time discussing holiday traditions and plans for the winter break. The girl gave a weary sigh and checked her phone again.
"Sorry, Alya, but I think I should head out. I've got stuff to do."
"Hold on, girl." Alya stopped her with a hand to the face. "Gonna need you for more than decorating."
"Alya, really-"
"Just wait. I promise I'll get to the real reason I called you over soon enough."
To Adrien, the Place de Vosges was much more enjoyable when it was filled with ordinary people. Mr. Ramier feeding the pigeons despite a million and one warnings not to or little Manon playing with her Ladybug and Cat Noir dolls. A couple or two playing sweetheart and whispering by the fountain. The merry-go-round playing a cheery tune as parents and their children went around in a spiral of smiles. It wasn't like that today.
Today, there were a million and one people, ranging from models to technical crew and makeup artists. There was more technical equipment than dirt as people arranged cameras and lighting while people sat awaiting orders. Flowers in the gardens by the benches were near swallowed and choked by an overflow of wires connected to overwhelmed outlets and generators.
It was easy to tell who the models he would be working with were. Look for the most beautiful men and women, laughing at unfunny jokes or shouting at the hired help for an imperfect finger sandwich. The majority of them, blondes and brunettes all with coiffed and combed hairdos looking over the schedules for the events.
He sucked in a breath walking through the crowds. Just smile, shake hands, be polite and laugh. The way of the noblemen among common peons. Do the retinue and he'd be through it.
"Adrien Agreste, a pleasure to be working with you." One blonde girl he shook hands with spoke. "Your father's Gabriel Agreste, the renowned designer, right?"
"Thank you, and yes he is."
"Mr. Agreste, you must have quite the extensive resume. You've done shoots for a while, I suppose?" A brunette spoke.
"For quite a while, yes."
"I'm such a fan! You won an award last year, right?"
"Do you have any tips? Any connections you'd be willing to share?"
"Can I get the number for your personal trainer?"
"Any chance you could give my portfolio to your father? I could get you some big ins as well!"
Each one was the same as the last – pretty faces looking to get through the door to the competitive fashion industry. One of the many things that left a bad taste in his mouth was how these people made it clear that politeness and pleasantries came with a price. It was what made him crave the normal world of school life and friends to hang out with for no other reason than they were there.
Adrien took a seat at one of the fold-up chairs near the fountain after his nerves and his hand had been shaken enough. The sturdy fabric beneath him helped to ground the boy. Most people would never think introductions could be so exhausting, but then, most people didn't know the finer points of celebrity life.
Adrien looked to the trees where leaves stubbornly held despite the winds of winter around the corner. They held their place, finding a place that belonged to them and refusing to leave it even if given the command by nature himself. If only he could be that adamant. As if in response to his own thoughts, a red leaf was plucked from its place and drifted along the breeze, landing at his feet. Sighing, Adrien leaned into the taut fabric back of his chair.
He looked to the clouds and sun's uncertain volley for control of the sky. "I wish I could've just been there."
"What, not enjoying the meet and greet with fans?" Plagg asked popping out from his jacket.
"You know it's not really like that."
"Look, just speed it up if you're bored." Plagg said. "Just give 'em a wave and a handshake and be on your merry way. That's what works for those fangirls trying to rip each other up for your old gym socks."
"Plagg, gross! No one does that!"
"You'd be surprised. Just stop sweating over hurting people's feelings. Not like all these hoity-toity model types care anyway. They're all stuck-up in one way or another. And if you hurry, you can still make it back…"
The kwami's sing-song voice lulled him into confidence as usual. "You're right. If I hurry up with this, I might be able to get back to school in time to help with decorations. But… father's counting on me to be formal…"
"Kid, kid, kid…" Plagg shook his large black head.
The leaf blew a few inches his way. Adrien blinked at its radiating hues of orange to brownish red breaking from the stem, and then to the red shoes at his feet. He looked up to the one face he'd been preparing for the most.
Blond pigtails curling and flowing, a touch of makeup to look pretty for the cameras, and the exotic look that magazines craved. It took him aback that she was dressed in more casual clothing of a red jacket with white sleeves and a relatively cheap-looking handbag. It was still fancy but nothing close to the level Chloe would purchase for herself. Ann Takamaki had the mystique of her homeland as she bowed in front of him with courtesy, poised but relaxed. She lived up to the face seen in editorials, that was for sure – no clue as to what to truly make of her.
"Bonjour, Mr. Agreste. My name is Ann Takamaki. My parents are organizing the shoot with your father."
Adrien cleared his throat. "Oh, uh, right. Pleasure to meet you. You can just call me Adrien."
He waved his hand. Why, he had no idea; maybe Plagg's advice was still skulking in his head.
Ann returned to her full height. "You too, uh, Adrien. I look forward to working with you this month." She smiled brightly with her hands to her back, feet crossed in a half-curtsy almost.
Just keep waving. She'd ask for her favor and then leave.
"…So, uh… Can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
The girl pursed her lips for the words, almost thinking of her request. Finally, she spat it out.
"…Do you know any good sweets shops around here?"
.
"H-Huh?" Adrien blinked.
Suddenly, all pretense of formality and professionalism was gone. Ann hunched over him with a hungry look. "It's just that there's so many sweets here in France that I've never tried before! I've heard of macaroons, but I have to know if you can taste the fruit in them! Oh, and I've been dying to try choquettes! It sucks that I have to watch my figure!"
Adrien nearly crumpled in his seat from her rapid-fire descriptions. The girl was speaking with such passion about desserts he could practically smell the sweetness on her escaped breaths. He expected an autograph or connections to the latest and greatest fashion designers. In hindsight that might not have been a problem for her given their similar backgrounds, but this was the first time a model asked him for directions to a sweets shop!
It was so… normal. The kind of question you'd hear from any random person on the street or kid in school. It was the air of reality he was so desperately needing after a full afternoon of greeting those who wanted to shake him down for shed success. She practically reminded him of his friends from class.
Adrien sat up and cleared his throat. "Uh, w-well… a friend of mine's parents own a bakery. I hear a lot of people say they make the best sweets in all of Paris. It's actually just around the corner, close to the school."
"Really!? That's awesome! I'll mark it down on our list of tour spots!"
"Tour spots?"
"Oh, yeah! I don't know if your dad or Sancouer-san already told you, but I came here with my friends." Adrien couldn't help but get a small stab of jealousy at hearing that. "We wanted to take a tour of Paris in between shoots."
Sure enough, behind her came a whole group of people around her age. They were dressed in casual clothes, simple jackets and long pants one could find at a normal store, and hardly evoked the 'entourage' look most celebrities went for to evoke the popular image. A couple of them even tripped on some of the wires and danced around the equipment set up. Adrien caught the cold looks and sneers coming from most of the other gathered people, and it seemed they did as well, glancing hard back in full force.
Once again, the young model had to blink looking at the plain look of the group, his voice croaking from a slightly agape jaw. Many of them for the most part looked listless with hunched shoulders. A couple were antsy and dancing on their legs with clear strain from the lack of chairs. A yawn escaped the other blond one as he stuffed his hands back into his pockets. They clearly had gotten a good reception.
"Dude, seriously, are you done?" The blond boy asked Ann in clear Japanese, Adrien picked up. "Ain't nothin' to do here but stand at the gates and get snacks. The frickin' hotel's less boring."
"You almost sound surprised." The frizzy haired one with glasses murmured.
"Eh, not really."
"J-j-j-just t-trying to stay out of p-p-people's business," the red-haired one stuttered. "I-I am invisible! I've got level-ten cloaking skill on here, folks! Just your friendly little NPC girl here. Save Guy!"
"I thought you were doing better with crowds." The tall one with blue hair spoke solemnly.
"Social anxiety's a 10,000-hour campaign, Inari."
Ann went around and introduced each member of the group to Adrien. They all bowed respectfully as was the custom. Her blond friend spoke some broken French and switched to Japanese at his intro, though. Adrien bowed in turn to each of them.
"So, going back to the tour discussion," Makoto piped up. "We should think about hiring a tour guide. It can get pretty easy to miss out on things without anyone who knows the sights. I'm going to try looking one up now. If I can get everyone's suggestions for sites?"
"I'm not particular about landmarks, but I would like to visit some local cafes while we're here." Haru spoke.
"I'm cool with checking out the nightlife scene." Akira added.
"Anyplace where the techies hang out?" Futaba asked. "I wish to mingle with my own kind."
"It is important to experience the culture and history of Paris through a meaningful representation." Yusuke turned to them, raising his voice in commanding attention. "The landmarks are necessary of course, but I feel the Louvre is most appropriate to witness-"
"You never stop, dude…" Ryuji noted.
They were all returning to their local Japanese dialect, forgetting their French of varying levels. Adrien folded his hands behind his back and looked away. This group was lost in its own little world once they engaged in conversation but found themselves in a banter that seemed natural to the point of automatic. It almost warmed him a bit.
Ann startled noting his reserved posture. "Oh, sorry! We kinda zoned out on our after plans there."
"Don't worry, it's fine." Adrien chuckled with a wave off. "So it sounds like it's your first time in Paris?"
Akira chuckled. "Yup. We've got that tourist vibe, don't we?"
"Well, it's a pleasure to-"
"AARRGH!"
The group flinched at the nearby growl turned scream. A loud crash and a yelp came to the ground had followed it. Most of the other guests gathered had turned to the noise as well, but if they found it, they gave no mind. It was back to wine tasting and flirting with the successful as they turned back and resumed whatever they were doing prior. Adrien huffed and moved to the front, Ann's group quick after he noticed.
Near the gates to the park, a waiter was standing in place, trembling. He was fixated on the tray he had now on the ground with the hors d'oeuvres catching dirt on the ground. He moved to pick up the tray but quick enough had his scruff manhandled by the other man. Adrien yelped and went pale at the sight of the man.
Curly raven hair now frayed, tan skin, a crimson shirt with the red clearly in his eyes and a face more enraged than a rampaging bull. If he was in any other mood, he'd catch the attention of more than a few of the models around, but at this point he'd be lucky if anyone else got close. He clutched the waiter's shirt collar with veins in his hands which at that point looked strong enough to bend metal. Sweat ran down Adrien's face while his head sank down to his shoulders staring at that man who might be burned into his memory at this point.
Ann ran up to his side, leaning in as if to search his locks for horns growing out. "Wait a second… isn't that Antonio Silva!? The Brazillian model!?"
"Someone's ticked off, and that's comin' from me." Ryuji added in Japanese.
"ESTUPIDO!" The man yelled in a thick Portuguese accent. "What is the meaning of this!? Why have the park grounds not been swept! Are you trying to soil our feet with this filthy dirt!?"
Adrien took a step back, something that did not go unnoticed.
He caught Akira's eye, who looked at him concerned. "Is something wrong, Adrien?"
"I-I-I'm s-sorry, sir!" The waiter choked, looking anywhere but the older man's cracking eyes. "T-That's not really my department. You'd have to t-tak-talk to the groundskeeping staff! I'm just here to serve food!"
"LIES! I'll have your job for this incompetence!"
Adrien's head shook between the glances of the Japanese group, who were now fully focused on him. Was this even something he could explain? Noting the exploits of superheroes and the daily chaos that happened in Paris to tourists was not really recommended. In fact his father had given him specific instructions not to do so – that was enough to lock the truth behind a metal sheet in his throat. If only he could retain the composure he had as Cat Noir and just give a tired huff to mail confidence to waiting worried folk.
Though there was no point in keeping his cards close to his chest now. Silva and his tirade were clearly a world away in their heads now that he had visibly flinched, sounding more like muffles behind a closed door. There was little chance they hadn't seen the report the other night either. Ladybug and Cat Noir were always the top story of the day around here.
Raking a hand through his hair, he gave a sigh.
"Yeah, this isn't anything new…" he began. "Mr. Silva's been like this for some time now. In fact this attitude of his started a few weeks before the campaign was announced. He wasn't like this when we first contacted him, though."
"Really?" Haru asked.
"Actually, he's been akumatized a few times throughout the month."
"WHAT!?" The group exclaimed.
"Wait…" Makoto continued. "Y-You're not saying…?"
Seeing that a few stray pupils were wandering in their direction, Adrien leaned in cupping his hand to his mouth. The others leaned in turn. "We try to keep this stuff on the down low with people outside of Paris. Ladybug and Cat Noir deal with supervillains that pop up around the city. They're released by Hawk Moth, who controls people through their negative emotions. You ever hear of the villain Archangel? That's Silva."
"For real?" Futaba spoke. "T-This guy was a legit supervillain!?"
"Shouldn't you get those guys over here then!?" Ann whisper shouted. "He looks like he could go villain at any second!"
"What is going on here?" A voice like polished diamond asked. Clear but cold to the touch, or ear.
A woman who could best be described as a reborn Audrey Bourgeois came in with a large feathered boa atop transparent robes made of gold. White accents became jagged at the edges giving her coverings the appearance of wings draping over a lost soul. Her face, devoid of lines or spots and near radiating was hidden behind white-rimmed sunglasses and the thin silver veil over her tower of hair, though behind she seemed to be judging God's work. Immaculate fingers touched her chin so daintily with fingernails so sharp they could cut jewels as she turned to Silva. The man righted and stood at attention in her presence, bowing with an agape jaw as though air was stolen from his lungs.
"N-No way, it's her!" One man shouted from the back.
"The famous fashion critic!" A female whispered. "She came to this meet and greet?"
"I wasn't expecting Mademoiselle Camille Pernet until the first showcase!" A second man noted.
"Camille, you have come!" Siva shouted, almost daring to look up at her. The woman gave no response. "My goddess has graced us with her infinite beauty and wisdom! She should be given nothing less than the perfection with which she graces us! My goddess deserves only the greatest perfection this city has to offer! Gabriel Agreste and the Takamakis should-"
"Calm yourself, love." Her fingers ghosted with grace near divine. Silva's voice that was once so commanding died into mere whimpers as he near leaned in. Adrien and the others watched with near pity.
Pernet turned to the park. Her face gave no change other than the slightest twitch of her mouth into a near invisible sneer, Adrien noted. He'd been trained to practice such subtle changes.
"Really now, this is the best Gabriel Agreste could do?" She noted.
"Huh?" Ryuji was dumbfounded.
"If he expects me to spare him a second of my precious time, then he should make the effort." She noted. "All these subpar schoolgirls – it's as though he dragged them out of a fifth grade Podunk pageant."
"E-Excuse me!?" Ann's voice gained a hint of rage.
"You can slap makeup on a pig as best you can, it's still filthy swine." The woman pushed past Ann and the girls, without a glance or a thought. She was looking right at him, Adrien could tell through those sunglasses. "You are his work of art. The spitting image of perfection, as he described. About the one thing the old fool did right."
"U-Um…"
"Hello!?" Ann shouted. "Who the hell do you think you are!?"
"Ann, please, behave yourself!" Makoto whispered.
Adrien should have been just as flustered or enraged as Ann was, and yet he was frozen stiff.
Just as quick as she approached, Pernet turned back and walked away. "I believe we are done here. I will be having a word with Gabriel, for sure…"
Silva followed as though blind without her glowing image or rather like a dog on a chain. The moment she was out of both earshot and eyesight it was as though the world turned again. The autumn winds returned, people could breathe and remembered how to walk and speak at the same time. The topic on everyone's minds was clear.
"What is up with that lady!?" Ann stomped her foot. "What a total snob!"
Adrien coughed and rubbed his arm. Akira gave him a hand on his shoulder to with he gave a thankful smile. "I'm really sorry about what happened, Takamaki-san. Ms. Pernet was a guest of my father for the show to help with publicity. That really wasn't any way to behave."
"You seem rather shaken." Yusuke noted. "She was rather interested in you."
"Almost feel sorry for you, if someone like that's on your six." Futaba chuckled despite the moment.
Akira turned to him. "It almost sounded like she and Silva were…"
"Yeah, actually, they are dating." Adrien muttered brushing his head. At the Japanese group's shouts and stares of disbelief, he went on. "They've been dating for some time now – actually their relationship started not long after we contacted Silva. That was around the time he changed."
"Really…?"
Adrien nodded. His limbs suddenly felt like spaghetti as he grasped his knees. Exhaling out, he stood again. "Well, I gotta go, I've got other things to take care of. It was nice meeting all of you."
He waved to the group as he walked out the gate to his bodyguard's car. There were plenty more errands to run if he even stood a chance to get back to school and help set up. There was the off chance it could be the last he'd see of his friends this month. Yet, he still didn't feel like the day was a total loss.
Marinette teetered on the footstool she stood on as the double doors to the cafeteria burst open. Keeping her balance on her toes and steadying herself, she watched as Kagami stepped in, back to her standard uniform, skin polished to perfection and free of the sweat or grime she'd worked up prior.
The secret watched as Kagami looked around the room, settling on the crowd of her classmates around the tables setting ribbons and tiny trees in place. The one to turn was Alya, who beamed at the sight of the stoic girl who gave no hint in response. Alya ran up pulling her phone from her pockets with its dangling spotted pendant as quick as if Ladybug's Lucky Charm conjured them up.
"Hey, Kagami. Do you remember me? Alya Cesaire?"
"Ah, yes. The creator of the Ladyblog." Kagami folded her hands and bowed. "I am an admirer of your work."
"That's me. I don't suppose you got the email I sent you a day ago." At Kagami's silent nod, Alya continued, clicking her pen. "Well, I was hoping I could get an interview with you for my blog, on a particular topic, if that's okay."
Oh, no…
Marinette leapt off the stool towards the two. The strings of fake pine needles she clutched came with her without her notice; her skin itched as a loop formed around her ankle and sent her tumbling. It wrapped her frame while kinetic force continued to laugh at her expense, rolling her before the girls. Turning up to their stares, she chuckled nervously.
Hearing the other two chuckle, the girl bolted up. "Uh, hey, Kagami. I guess you're acquainted with Alya. Just so you know, you don't really have to do this…"
"Girl, come on!"
"She's just looking for something to post on her blog since news has been dry lately. Don't let her bother you."
"It's fine, Marinette." Kagami gave her rare smile. "I already agreed to her request."
"Thank you, Kagami." Alya gave a triumphant smirk as she turned on her camera. "So Kagami, what can you tell us about a hot topic from your neck of the woods? The Phantom Thieves."
Marinette blinked.
The rest of the class turned around as well. It was a menagerie of wide eyes and feet set in motion as they crowded round.
Word about them had been little more than rumors in online chats or the odd piece of merchandise left over from their heyday, but scarcity was fodder for interest. Everyone at school had heard the group's name tossed around at one point or other; criminals who stole the hearts of other criminals. They operated from the shadows, never seen by anyone in public, from their inception to their disbandment, never to be heard from again. If that was romanticism, then it was only natural in the city of romance.
Marinette only shook her head and turned away. Just as 'stealing hearts' was just a fancy term for romance, they were just a fancy name for a legend that spanned a year before people had something else to talk about. Imagination had its limits and that was coming from a girl who was a secret superhero with magic powers.
Kagami moved away from the crowd to a nearby table. "Right, you had mentioned this before. We agreed to do so at this time as I have been asked before by many of you. It is more efficient to tell you all at once."
"Hence my brilliant plan to gather us here for Christmas decorating. Two birds with one stone!" Alya winked.
Marinette's shoulders twitched. So that was her plan.
Kagami fingered an unlit candle, tipping it. She cleared her throat and began. "I will tell you all what I know, which granted, is not much. We came to Paris sometime before the Thieves first began activity. The rumors are as you have heard them. Several people in Japan who were revealed to be criminals were so because the Phantom Thieves had taken their hearts and made them confess their evil deeds to the world. It is…"
As everyone leaned in with rapt interest and smothered poor Kagami, Marinette walked away. Taking the string of needles from her feet, she returned it to the windowsill. Her fingers brushed the glass flinching from the flash of cold while fog evaporated off the surface. Her haggard appearance was laid bare as she caught her reflection while glancing at the others living in happier moments. Focus on the here and now rather than the millions of tragedies waiting.
The school was a pretty sight at least, lines of green and red covering every square inch and glowing with the celling lights. It was good for everyone to have these little pleasures. Turning to the box by her feet she lined the strings with bouquets of fake berries and bows and pictured the smiles on her classmates' faces.
She checked her phone again. Still no new alerts.
Her ears pricked at the hints of conversation. That's when she heard it.
Alya asking: "Random question. Do you think it would be possible for Ladybug and Cat Noir to team up with the Phantom Thieves?"
Marinette's jaw dropped. Also, once again, she was teetering on the footstool. She waved her arms for precious balance and gravity's helping hand. She found the windowsill instead and latched on. Her yelps had gotten everyone's attention again, though. They all laughed in good measure.
Nino tipped his cap. "Wha'cha think, Marinette? Ladybug, Cat Noir and the Phantom Thieves?"
Her bluebell pupils settled on the phone still clenched in her hand.
"Sorry, wasn't listening…" She chuckled.
Rather, she pretended she didn't hear that.
She pushed herself back to a rightward stand like a normal human. A hand offered itself next to her. She turned to find the eyes of Luka staring back at her with a half-smile that didn't even make it close to his eyes.
"Something wrong, Marinette?"
She stuttered, a flush of pink coming to her cheeks. "Ah, nothing. Nothing really."
This time a smile came into full view. Luka was so good at playing the cool steady crystal rock that kept her steady. He waited for her hand to come into his and led her down the two steps on the stool. "You know, I think a team up between those guys would be… pretty interesting."
Marinette remained silent at that.
So another long one. It came out a little later than I wanted to as I have been tired from work and I have been formulating ideas for yet another new story in my head. I blame it on my resurging love for Digimon.
I don't know if I'll be able to power through this story as I did my last couple. I might be taking breaks to work on other stuff I want to do. I feel like I will be more productive that way. I will still be working on this in the meantime and putting out chapters as I can.
A shout out as well to user HopeGiver07 for their endorsement!
Anyway, worlds are beginning to collide, and things become problematic. It was a little on the nose when Alya asked Kagami straight up about the team-up thing, but hey.
Review-wise:
Foxchick1: The next chapter is where the bread and butter really start to kick in.
Tora Lych: Personas for Akira… in that respect, I want to do like a steady showcase. So yeah, start from the beginning with lower-tier Personas and then work our way up to the big guys, similar to the anime.
So next chapter – Ladybug and Cat Noir are in a bind, so its time for the PTs to do their thing. Look forward to it.
As always, review, favorite, follow! Until next time!