Chapter 1: Is it really worth it?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, except the plot. The show and the characters belong to Jeremy Zag, Thomas Astruc and Nathanaël Bronn.

Marinette was Ladybug. The embodiment of luck. That didn't mean that it was always on her side though. Because Marinette was having quite possibly the worst day ever. She woke up late. Again. Reached school half an hour after the first bell. Again. And tripped and fell on her way to the classroom. Again.

In her defense, it was her turn to patrol last night. Although, she did stay up late finishing one of her designs…and creating about a dozen more. She really needed to have a better lifestyle.

In hindsight, this should have been a normal day for her, but she'd forgotten her lunch and couldn't go to get it back since her parents were out on an afternoon date and had closed the bakery.

She'd also managed to spill water–which she had borrowed from Alya—all over Adrien.

"I'm so, so sorry!" she'd said, feeling her face heat up with embarrassment.

"Oh no, it's alright. I had to change anyway, just had gym class."

The mere thought of her crush changing had made her blush a shade or two…or a hundred darker. "C-Change? Of course c-cause changing is i-important, like r-r-really important," she'd yelped, "n-not that you would n-need to, you're just perfect." She'd yelped yet again, "I mean—"

Adrien had simply flashed her a kind smile and laughed, "Thanks Marinette, are you okay though?"

She'd nodded dumbly.

"Okay, I'll see you around then."

She had sighed after him as he'd walked away, and then abruptly groaned as she realized just how embarrassing she had been. How hard is it to just talk to the boy I like?

She walked to her next class with Alya, her mood sour from having failed her physics test. "Cheer up girl," Alya said, putting an arm around her best friend, "the test was really hard. Even Adrien got a B. You'll do better next time."

Marinette smiled at the Brunette. She loved her best friend, Alya almost always knew how to cheer her up. But today was not worth cheering up. "Thanks Al, but I studied really hard for that stupid test."

"We all did, and yet here we are. Nino's so bummed that he hasn't listened to his playlist all day. I'm not complaining though, his ears definitely need a break from those headphones." Alya rolled her eyes.

That managed to get a small smile on Marinette's face. She walked into literature class, thoroughly wanting this day to be over.

"Alright class," Miss Bustier announced, "we'll be starting on a new poem today. Please turn to page fifty-six of your textbooks."

Marinette groaned as she realized she'd forgotten to put her textbook in her bag in her rush to leave for school.

This day cannot get any worse.

She'd spoken too soon.

Way too soon.

She was making her way down the front steps of the school with Alya when she heard it.

Nino and Adrien.

"—why do you like her so much?" Nino was asking.

"She's absolutely amazing Nino," Adrien looked like there was no one else he'd rather be talking about. "She's…just amazing. She's smart, kind, helpful and confident. Do you really think there's anyone like her?"

"Marinette, let's go." Alya said, but Marinette wasn't paying attention. Her entire world felt like it was crumbling.

Adrien liked someone.

Adrien—her long-time crush, the boy she liked–liked someone.

Someone else.

She felt her eyes water. Marinette ignored Alya's calls and ran. Away from school. Away from Adrien. But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't run away from the pain and heartbreak.

"Talk to me Marinette," Tikki said, hovering over her Chosen with worry evident on her face.

Marinette had cried her eyes out after she'd returned from school. She'd entered the house, given a dull greeting to her parents, and raced to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed in a fit of tears.

Tikki figured it would be best to let Marinette have her space. She would talk when she was ready. But now Marinette was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression on her face. "I think I should let him go Tikki"

"What?"

"Adrien. I think I should stop pining over him."

Tikki gaped at Marinette. "But…why?"

"What's the point Tikki?" Marinette sat up. "He's never going to look at me the way I look at him. He never has anyway. What's the point of getting all red and tongue tied if he's never going to feel the same way?"

"You don't know that Mar—"

"He loves someone else Tikki. How can you say I don't know?"

Tikki remained silent. Her heart went out to her Chosen. Tikki could ease all her pain by saying one sentence but saying 'Adrien is Chat Noir and Chat Noir loves you' wasn't really a sentence she could say without getting into some serious trouble. Both with Marinette and master Fu.

"I shouldn't try to make him fall for me when I know he doesn't like me that way. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. He should be happy with whoever he likes. So what's the point of pining over him? What's the point of getting tongue tied and tripping all over myself?"

"You trip over yourself anyway." Tikki deadpanned.

Marinette's cheeks turned pink. "Fine, what's the point of tripping over myself more than I usually do? You tell me yourself Tikki, is it really worth it?"

Tikki looked defeated, but she couldn't deny that her Chosen had a point. For all Marinette knew, Adrien could already be dating the girl he said he liked, and Tikki couldn't do anything to convince her otherwise. It wouldn't be fair to either of them. And it would lead to an inevitable heartbreak. "No…" she sighed.

Marinette smiled sadly. "Maybe it's for the best."

"Maybe." Tikki said. "You should go out to patrol. Look at the city. Get some fresh air."

"No…I don't feel like being Ladybug tonight. Besides, it's Chat's turn to patrol anyway."

Tikki pondered. There was still a mouse miraculous hidden in one of Marinette's drawers. She had kept it with her since Kwami Buster. Master Fu had suggested that she was a good choice for the mouse miraculous and had told her it would be a good idea to keep the necklace, lest she had a problem with the ladybug earrings or Tikki.

Marinette refrained from using it, since Chat Noir knew she was the holder of the mouse miraculous. But Tikki thought it wouldn't hurt, just this once.

"Why don't you go as Multimouse?"

"Multimouse?"

"Yeah, if you don't feel like being Ladybug, why don't you take Mullo instead? I'm sure she would like some fresh air as well."

"Okay. Thank you Tikki."

"You're welcome Marinette."

Tikki watched as her Chosen put on the necklace and transformed. She quickly hid in one of the pockets of her suit.

I wish I could tell you Marinette, but I can't.

Hello! Thank you so much for choosing to read this fanfiction. There are about a million different things you could be doing, yet you still clicked. I really appreciate it. Please do review and favorite if you liked the story so far. This is my first fanfiction, so I'd appreciate it if you could be a little softer on the criticism. Constructive criticism is always welcome, though. Be sure to follow the story if you choose to read on further, I'll try to update every Monday, starting next week. Thank you so much again for reading. Until next time!