Guys, something you have all been waiting for is about to happen! Can you guess what it issssss?
Side note: Rose...yeah I was trying to figure out what her illness is and got nothing. I even tried to just pick a random chronic illness that one could develop as a child that could come back and didn't get much either. Chronic headaches come up but I really don't think Juleka would be so worried if that was all it was. The next possible thing was cancer but that also seems like an unlikely scenario. So I guess we are just gonna be vague about it.
OoOooO
Adrien had been trying not to think too deeply about it. He did his best to remain unfazed and overall passive about it all but every day it seemed to get a little harder. Lucy was currently sitting on his desk while she spoke to him. Now, this was something she had done a few times before but for some reason this time it was hitting him differently. Her angle was hitting him differently. Typically, whenever Lucy sat on his desk, she wasn't really sitting. She would more or less be leaning on it. Her body as a whole would be facing the direction of the desks across, her feet, firmly on the ground, while her butt sat on the edge of his desk as she spoke to him from over her shoulder.
That was not what she was currently doing.
Currently, she sat so far on his desk that her thighs were flush against the top while her feet dangled in the air. Her body, though not directly facing him was turned more at an angle that had her facing the back of the room. Her hands rested between her legs in front of her, one on top of the other at the corner of the desk. She was smiling while she was talking, though if Adrien was honest, he wasn't quite sure what she was talking about anymore.
Instead, his mind ran laps around what it might be like to take hold of her legs and move her body so that she was in fact directly in front of him. Her feet could plant themselves on the bench on either side of him and he would be able to run his hands up her calves, to her thighs, till he reached her hips and maybe even her-
"Alright, everyone to their seat!" Ms. Bustier called out. "Let's begin attendance."
As she got off his desk, Lucy pinched his cheek between her knuckles while making an exaggerated kissy face. Adrien was at a loss. For the past couple of weeks, he had felt like something had shifted in his relationship with Lucy. Not in a bad way so much, but in a way that he didn't know how to read. Something about her demeanor had become...well...flirty, is how he was reading it. He really didn't know what to make of it. At first, Adrien was certain he was reading too much into it. She was just teasing him like she always did. But more and more often lately it felt like more than that.
In the past, Lucy had joked with him in a flirty tone every once in a blue moon. Her tone was usually laced with sarcasm and it was very obvious to tell she didn't mean whatever it was she was saying. However, the sarcasm, that social queue he was used to was less present recently. Normally he would be able to joke back with her with no problem. Sure, in some instances his jokes might have been more like half jokes but he could still play it off all the same. Now, when she spoke to him when she looked at him when she touched him in any way that branched out from purely platonic, his inability to hear her joking tone made him freeze up. Suddenly he was tripping over his feet and his words. More so than he ever had before.
Lucy didn't comment on his behavior when such would happen, but instead almost looked amused by it.
Marinette, who of course had noticed this as well, including the most recent interaction couldn't help but scowl a little. Not because she was jealous...though...alright, maybe she was a little jealous. She couldn't help it. But no. Her scowl had less to do with her jealousy and more with her disapproval. She wasn't sure what would come of things after she had spilled the beans about Adrien's feelings to Lucy. But what she didn't expect was for Lucy to suddenly become a cat playing with her food. She made a mental note to address it later on.
The class carried on as normal and toward the end of it, everyone was free to work on whatever they pleased so long as they did so quietly. Rose sat quietly reading beside Juleka when a sharp pain shot to her temple. She groaned and raised her hand, calling out to Ms. Bustier.
"Miss Bustier, may I go to the nurse's office? Miss Heady is back."
"Well, we can't let Miss Heady unattended. Marinette, would you please accompany Rose to the nurse's office?"
Marinette, not paying attention, lost in her own thoughts failed to acknowledge her teacher, causing her to call Marinette's name once more. Snapping out of her thoughts, Marinette agrees and leaves with Rose to the nurse's office.
OoOoOoOoOOoO
At lunch, Marinette runs into Lucy and links arms with her as they walk towards the food line.
"Just who I wanted to speak to!" Marinette spoke, causing Lucy to raise a brow.
"What's up Marinette?"
"Oh, nothing just wondering what your intentions are exactly." She whispered harshly, grabbing an orange and placing it on her tray.
Lucy let out a small chuckle, not understanding. "Intentions for what?"
"Adrien!" Marinette explained in the same tone. "Don't think for a second I haven't noticed how you've been acting around him."
"You mean when I flirt with him? Because if I recall correctly, you're the one who wanted us to get together in the first place." Lucy said with another laugh, grabbing a juice.
"I wanted you to tell him your feelings so he could tell you his! Not watch you toy with his feelings for your own amusement!"
Lucy stopped laughing and kitted her brows together. "Are you serious? I'm not toying with his emotions Marinette. It only works that way if I don't share the feelings."
"So you do?" Marinette asked. "Love him?"
Lucy paused. "Well, I mean...yes, of course, I love Adrien...I don't know if I'm in love with him just yet but...I like him. I do. I like him a lot actually." Lucy smiled softly to herself as she grabbed a plate of pasta.
"Oh, that's good. I was a little worried there." Marinette said with a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, I'm still not used to you acting like you didn't obsess over the guy not that long ago."
"It's an adjustment for both of us I assure you." Marinette agreed. "But Lucy...if you like Adrien, and you know he likes you too...why don't you just tell him? Why mess with him like you do?"
Lucy gave a sheepish smile. "I can't help it. Every guy I have ever dated have always been such confident, rebellious type. The kind that comes to me, and makes the first move. The funny charming type, you know? I mean. Adrien is funny and charming when he wants to be but it's not his forefront. He's basically the polar opposite of what I'm used to. He's shy and nervous and...I just find it so adorable." Lucy admitted bringing a palm to her cheek.
"So no, I don't plan on running up to him anytime soon and blurting out some big confession. Instead, at random, I will flirt with him almost shamelessly and watch him squirm until he implodes." She then added with a shrug.
"Oh! No! Lucy don't do that!" Marinette pleaded, but Lucy only laughed.
"He can handle it Marinette. Don't be so dramatic. In the long run, if his feelings are as deep as you claim he will either be overcome with desire and with sheer power I have yet to witness overthrow me in a fit of lustrous rage or be taken into an overwhelming state of submission and fall before me like putty at my feet. Honestly, I would be good with either outcome, but we will just have to see how it plays out."
Marinette stopped walking, her face flushed from the imagery of Lucy's words. Lucy however kept her stride, walking directly over to Nathaniel and Alix and taking a seat with them. What had she done? Marinette had not been aware that by telling Lucy Adrien's secret feelings that Lucy would somehow turn into some kind of hormone monster. Poor, sweet Adrien...she would destroy him. Great. Just another thing to add to her list of things to worry about. Sighing, Marinette spots Juleka pushing her food away and wanders over to her.
"Juleka, if you skip Mr. Mealy, your big, tasty energy-packed lunch, Heady might pay you a visit too!" Marinette tried to joke, referring to Rose who claimed to get her headache from skipping her breakfast while on the way to the nurse's office. Although she knew it wasn't that good of a joke, she did not expect Juleka to suddenly get up and run out of the cafeteria.
"Wait, no! I was just trying to make a joke! Juleka!" Marinette called out, putting her tray on the table and racing off to try and catch up..
"What just happened?" Lucy questioned, getting a shrug from the two friends beside her.
Marinette ran out of the cafeteria calling out Juleka's name in hopes to stop her, but the taller girl was quick to leave Marinette's sight. In her haste, Marinette managed to run into Adirne, quite literally, as he was returning back to school from his own lunch at home.
"Oh, excuse you, Adrien, I didn't mean to tell your crush, uh, I mean, crash into you! Ugh, Marinette, this is no time for nonsense!" She curses herself. "I'm looking for Juleka, she ran out of the cafeteria in tears, and..."
Adrien shifted his eyes to the door to the side of them and pointed. "Maybe she's in there." After all, she wouldn't be the first person to seek solitude in the boiler rooms.
As the pair made their way down the steps, Marinette fidgeted beside Adrien. Her worry over Juleka as well as her previous conversation with Lucy swirling together in her mind. Lost in her thoughts, Marinette stumbles, only to be caught by Adrien who offers her a kind smile.
She jumps back awkwardly. "Uh, sorry! You're just so lovesick- I mean, I uh- am worried sick for Juleka. That's why I'm so flustered and clumsy and... oh, I'm such a fool! I don't know if I said something to upset her earlier."
"The things you say don't always make a lot of sense, Marinette, but they're never mean." Adrien assures her. "There's got to be some other reason. Come on, let's find her."
As they reach the bottom of the steps, the faint sound of crying could be heard in the distance. Around the corner, almost entirely hidden from view, sat Juleka with her head down and her knees to her chest.
"Stay back, and not a sound, okay? I'll handle it." Adrien instructs Marinette who nods and lets Adrien take the lead.
OoOOoOoOOo
Juleka sat down in the boiler room and cried to herself. Maybe she was being dramatic. Rose certainly would think so. Rose had sent her a text showing her current location. This location happened to be the nearest hospital. The text and image were nothing anyone would think to worry about really. The image being Rose in her hospital bed holding up a peace sign with the caption "Time to get juiced up". A reference made to the IV they had attached to her. Juleka had ignored the sound of the footsteps coming toward her, hoping that maybe whoever was there would simply go away. She was wrong, however, as Adrien knelt down beside
"Juleka? Is everything okay?" He asked gently.
"I just wanna be alone," Juleka mutters in response.
"You wanna be alone? I understand..." Adrien replied, and although he had no plan of leaving her down in the boiler room by herself, he couldn't help the feeling of mild annoyance that coursed through him when he heard the sound of Marinette's phone sending what was probably a mass text informing everyone of Juleka's location. His friends meant well, he knew they would care too much not to show up any second, but that wasn't what Juleka was wanting at that exact moment.
"I'm so sorry. I really am the worst class rep ever." Marinette said, joining Adrien's side. "But I don't get it, did I say something that upset you?"
"It's not you, it's Rose..I'm worried about her..." Juleka wept.
"Uh, no. Don't worry, she's fine. She's just resting in the nurse's office." Marinette explained. Juleka only cried harder.
Years ago, she had promised Rose that she would keep her illness a secret. It wasn't that she was ashamed or worried that others would judge her, but more so that they would treat her differently. Like she was this fragile person. She didn't want that. And so Juleka promised. Unfortunately, that meant that when Rose had to make small trips to the hospital, though not terribly often, Juleka would be forced to worry about her alone. Rose was always fine, but still, the nagging feeling that one day she wouldn't be eaten away at Juleka. Rose was one of her oldest and dearest friends. Juleka didn't know what she would do if her health ever decided to take a turn for the worse.
"Juleka, you know you can tell us anything. We're your friends, I promise we won't tell anyone else." Marinette spoke. Unable to hold in any longer, Juleka raised her phone and showed them the text Rose had sent of her in the hospital.
"Rose... isn't in the nurse's office..?" Marinette asked confused. When had she...?
"She's in the hospital?!" Marinette and Adrien jumped slightly at almost their entire homeroom class suddenly behind them.
"Why is she in the hospital?" Alya asked.
"She got sick when she was a little girl..."
"But it's over now, right?" Ivan inquired.
"It can come back anytime..." Juleka answered sadly.
"But she's always so cheerful!" Nino said in surprise. "We would have never guessed..."
"She made me promise not to tell you guys...Please don't tell her I said anything about it.." Juleka pleaded.
"Don't worry Juleka, we're not going to treat her differently or anything like that," Adrien assured her.
"Rose will never know that you told us," Marinette added, the rest of the class agreeing.
Lucy, who listened while leaning against the nearby wall frowned. She had heard this song before. She had danced to it. The problem with most people can be their need to care too much. To care, and to worry. When Lucy recovered from her...accident, she expected things to go mostly back to normal. However, no such thing occurred. Her parents tip-toed around her. They felt so guilty for letting such a terrible thing happen to her that they began to talk to her as if she would fall apart in front of them at any given moment.
Lucy believed that the fall she took somehow was its own symbolism for the fall of her parent's relationship. There are many things that can keep you in a relationship. Fear of being alone. Fear of disrupting the arrangement of your life. A decision to settle for something that's okay, because you don't know if you can get any better. Or maybe there's the irrational belief that it will get better, even if you know things won't change. Lucy was always amazed by people who know something is wrong but still insist on ignoring it as if that will somehow make it go away. They spare themselves the confrontation but end up boiling in resentment anyway.
Her friends were no different. She didn't blame them totally. When someone you know is almost murdered it can be a little difficult to go on about things as if everything was normal. They tried, of course. But she could see it every time one of them looked at her. The pitty. It ate away at her soul. Seeming to do more damage than the fall itself. Poor little Lucy. The world must seem so very scary to her now. Of course, at first, they were right. She was just a child. Her eyes were forced open to see firsthand how cruel and menacing people could be if they really wanted.
For a long time, she became somewhat paranoid. Easily startled. Cautious around strangers, and even around friends. A lot of therapy helped her move past that. The hard part about moving forward was the constant reminders of what she was trying to leave behind. It was almost as if everyone expected her to never get over it. They assumed her so weak that at times Lucy had thought that maybe they were right. As she got older, most people that knew her, though cautious, seemed to be willing to let Lucy grow from the confines of her unfortunate past, but then it became a source of ridicule.
By middle school, and some of her time in high school before moving, Lucy had her own run-in with bullies. That was probably what had caused her to develop the thick skin she had now. At the near adult age of 17, Lucy found that it was rather hard for people to offend her in a serious way, but things were much different between the ages of 10-14. Adults have a way of saying horrendous things to one another but children are not immune to shitty behavior.
They look for a weakness, a wound, and they pick at it just to see if they can make you bleed.
Lucy didn't think Rose would have to endure any such thing from her current class, but they all cared too much to act as if nothing was wrong. They would mean well. They usually did. But if Rose had gone this long keeping it a secret, she probably wanted to keep it that way.
OoOoOOoOoOoOoO
The next day, when Rose returned, Lucy watched as the majority of their class smothered Rose with kindness. At first, Rose didn't seem to think much of it, but as the day progressed, everyone seemed to get more and more out of hand with their attitude toward the tiny blonde girl. Carrying her bags, giving her gifts, and letting her skip them in line at lunch. Lucy, who was already seated with Adrien a table away, watched as most of their friends felt compelled to give Rose an unreasonable amount of apples, causing her to Look to Juleka who sat nervously beside her. Rose took Juleka by the hand and lead her to the direction of the bathroom and of course the majority took note of it.
Lucy shook her head. "What a bunch of knuckleheads." Adrien smiled beside her.
"They aren't very subtle are they? But they mean well."
A few minutes passed when Max made a comment about Rose and Juleka being gone for longer than the average person, and suddenly it seemed as though everyone was heading toward the bathrooms to investigate. Lucy watched them annoyed.
"Will you guys chill out? She's fine."
"We just want to make sure Lucy!" Marinette explained.
"Yeah, what if she wasn't feeling well and needs to go back to the hospital? Juleka might need help!" Added Kim.
Before Lucy could argue further, her friends had rushed out of the cafeteria to check on Rose, leaving her to let out an aggravated sigh. Adrien rubbed her back, freezing up when she suddenly leaned back into his chest. His hand moved from her back to her arm, and Adrien forced himself not to react too much as her nose managed to tickle his neck as she moved her head to look up at him.
"I'm surrounded by drama queens," Lucy spoke as Adrien cleared his throat.
"Come on. we should follow them." He said, carefully moving out from under Lucy's body weight. She sat up and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, fine."
The pair got up and headed towards the bathrooms, finding their classmates practically pressed against the door trying to hear whatever it was that Rose and Juleka were talking about.
"You guys are ridiculous," Lucy commented, crossing her arms, only to be shushed by the group.
A moment later the door was opened by Rose, making several students fall over in surprise.
Rose frowned as her classmates expressed their worry and sighed.
"I see how worried I've made you. Please forgive me, if I never told you about my illness before now, it's because it's not my problems that matter but the way I get through them that counts. And how do I get through them each day?"
"By giving them all cute little nicknames." Answered Marinette.
"By always being supreme." Followed Alya.
"By always singing, just a bit too loud." Chimed in Ivan.
"Exactly." Rose agreed. "And I always want to be that Rose, I don't want you to see me any differently. I want you to just be my friends who laugh and have a great time with me. Not ones who carry my book, bag or embroidered cushions or worry every time I go to the bathroom. I don't want you to feel sorry for me because no one is happier than I am. Okay?"
The others promised to take a step back and try not to worry so much, agreeing that there would be no more special treatment for Rose from them while offering a group hug. Adrien nudged Lucy as if to say "See?" But Lucy only gave a tight-lipped smile. She had heard this song before.
They did in fact try to do as Rose asked. They even made it a whole two classes without a problem. But then, in science class, Rose let out a sneeze. And for reasons Lucy, and perhaps Adrien would never understand, all their friends lost their fucking minds about it.
"Quick! Call her parents, hurry up!" Marinette shouted, wrapping a blanket around Rose and handing tissues to Mylene. "Put these on. Grab her tightly." Mylene follows the instructions given to her as Alya tries to call Roses's parents.
"I can't get hold of her parents!" She shouts and Marinette points to Nino.
"Nino, call an ambulance!" She instructs, making him pop open his phone.
Adrien looks to Lucy who gives him an annoyed look. "Marinette?" He calls out, only to be ignored.
"Alix, call the fire department!"
"STOP!" Rose finally shouts, having had enough of her friend's panic. "You guys promised." She then added in a lower tone full of disappointment.
Juleka, feeling the whole situation was her fault since she had shared Rose's secret ran off leaving Rose to chase after her.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" Lucy asked, glaring at her friends. "She sneezed."
"What were we thinking?" Marinette said, putting her head down on her desk in shame. "This is my fault, I panicked and got everyone all worked up over nothing."
"I guess not worrying is easier said than done." Nino spoke.
"We just want her to be okay." Mylene added solemly.
"She is okay," Lucy assured. "She told you as much. You need to believe her."
"Everyone quiet down!" Ms. Mendeleive commanded. "I have had enough outbursts for one class, it is time to get back to work."
The group remained silent and brought their attention back to their classwork only for Rose to burst back into the room a moment later claiming the Juleka was about to be akumatized. The science teacher remained calm and passive at the news, claiming she was no superhero, and attempted to tell her class to remain seated and let Ladybug and Chat Noir, whom she knew was bound to show up, handle it. Unfortunately, the majority of the class didn't give her the chance to give them such a direction as they all, with the exception of Chloe, Lila, and Sabrina, rushed out the door to try and find Juleka.
In the bathroom, Ivan broke upon the door to reveal a pink barnical-looking device on the stall. While everyone looked at it trying to figure out what it was, it opened a portal suddenly sucking everyone inside, including Ms. Mendeleive who had come to direct everyone back to the classroom. Rose prepared herself to fly in when Ladybug's yo-yo wrapped around her ankle.
"Hold on!" Ladybug instructed, using Chat Noir's staff to hold against the pull of the portal. "We are going to get you somewhere safe!"
"My friend Juleka is in there, and I'm not going to leave her alone!" Rose stated, releasing herself from the yo-yo and flying into the portal. Ladybug and Chat tried to follow while remaining attached to the outside, but the pull was too strong and they soon found themselves forced down into a strange tunnel.
They found themselves in a purple tunnel that reminded them of something you might see somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. on the walls of the tunnel were pink circular dispensers that produced purple bubbles. Those purple bubbles then proceeded to fly towards them.
"It's like being inside a giant pinball machine." Chat said, hitting the bubbles with his staff while Ladybug did the same with her yo-yo.
"Yeah. But I think it's in multi-ball mode." The pair of heroes swim further into the tunnel when they spot Ivan covered in purple bubbles.
"Everyone got captured because of me. Everyone got captured because of me." He kept repeating until eventually, the bubbles covered him completely. As they did, they morphed into one until the burst, leaving Ivan looking like Reflekta.
"Is it me or did he just turn into Reflekta?" Chat asked.
"She must have been re-akumatized by Shadow Moth. And that thing..." Ladybug said, referring to the creature or device that had sucked them into the tunnel.
"...is her sentimonster!" Chat finished.
"We've got to find out where Reflekta is hiding, she must be the one controlling it. Stay on your guard."
Ladybug and Chat Noir swam deeper into the tunnel, passing several students as well as the science teacher as they found themselves surrounded by purple bubbles and turned into Reflektas. Fortunately, everyone the passed, though sharing Reflektas form, still held their own voices, making it easier to tell everyone apart.
"I can't even help my best bud face up to his old man..." Chat frowned hearing Nino's voice.
"Oh, Nino...This is all our fault." Chat says, purple bubbles starting to attach themselves to him. "If we've been able to stop Shadow Moth, the students wouldn't be caught in this trap."
In his sudden despair, Chat calls his Cataclysm with the intent to use it on himself but Ladybug stops him.
"Chat Noir, no! We could turn into Reflekta and frozen like the rest of them, Shadow Moth will help himself to our Miraculous!"
"We should just give him our Miraculous." As more and more bubbles form around the pair, Ladybug could feel herself losing the battle against her fight from negativity.
"You're right, kitty cat. How could I ever believe that the two of us could take on such a powerful sentimonster by ourselves?"
As they continue to be absorbed Rose and Lucy swim around to corner. Spotting the two heroes, Rose gasps in excitement.
"Ladybug, Chat Noir, you guys are totally the best! I knew you'd come to save us!" Upon noticing the bubbles attached tp them, her smile drops. I'm sorry you had to come. It's all my fault, I'm not a good friend. I should have never told Juleka my secrets."
No, I must not be like that. Yes, I'm glad I did! That's what made us closer and stronger! Rose reminds herself, fighting off the purple bubles that attempt to attach to her.
"Of course, she's fighting her negative thoughts with positive thinking! That's what stops her from turning into Reflekta! We have to do the same. Chat Noir you can do this, you have to think positive, you're the greatest partner anyone could have!" Ladybug praises, attempting to get Chat out of his funk.
"Ladybug, do you really mean that?"
"Yes, I probably don't tell you this enough, but I couldn't do this without you. And it'd be a lot less fun too."
Happy to be validated, Chat smiles and shakes away the guilt bubbles.
"Why, that's a meowvulous thing to say!"
Ladybug laughs. "Nice to have you back, kitty cat."
"Great, can we get the part where we get out of here?" Lucy asks, crossing her arms.
"You must be quite the positive thinker as well to be able to resist this negativity bubble, Lucy!" Ladybug comments to which Lucy shrugs.
"I don't know about that. I just don't have anything I feel guilty about right now." Lucy spoke thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her chin.
"You really think that we'll be able to get out of this one huh?" Chat commented, earning a nod from Ladybug.
"Of course don't forget that I still have my.. Lucky Charm!" She activates her Lucky Charm and summons a pickaxe, to her confusion.
"Oh yeah, an ice axe, of course, an ice axe to uh..." Ladybug looks around but struggles to come up with a plan to use it and soon bubbles start to attach themselves to the heroes again.
"You don't know what to do with it?" Chat questions.
"Of course I do. I'm just keeping you in suspense." Ladybug lies, trying not to panic as the purple bubbles get closer.
"I could try using my cataclysm, but sending a sentimonster out of control when you're inside the sentimonster... probably isn't the best idea, huh?"
"Nope, it's not. " Ladybug says while groaning in frustration. "All this negativity is messing with my brain, ugh!"
"Go Ladybug! Go Cat Noir! You're the best! You're gonna save my friend Juleka because I totally believe in you," Rose cheers.
"You know what they say!" Lucy added. "If you wanna fly you just gotta think happy thoughts!" She says referencing Peter Pan.
"We need more positivity! And I know just the person who can help us." Ladybug announces, going into her yo-yo and pulling out an anklet. "Rose Lavillant, here is the Miraculous of the Pig, which grants the power of jubilation. You will use it for the greater good."
A tiny pig kwami flew out and presented itself to Rose who gushed at it's cuteness. Saying the magical words, Daizzi rejoices, and Rose transformed into Pigella. Pigella wears a sparkly pink, magenta, and white V-necked jumpsuit with a pink lining on her collar. Her hair grows longer and is tied in two pigtails, possibly resembling pig ears. Her bangs are straighter, curved, and swept aside. She has a light brilliant fuchsia skirt around her waist. On her legs, she has three white stripes. The upper part of her feet are white, and the bottom is pink. She also wears a mask that is white on top, magenta in the middle, pink on the bottom, and a button with a swirly pattern on her chest.
"It's giving me Sailor Moon Vibes," Lucy commented, tapping her index finger on her chin. "I'm into it. Wait!" She then spoke. "I know who she is, isn't that a problem?'
Ladybug gave a small shrug. "I didn't have a lot of options, so it looks like I'm just gonna have to trust you to keep this one to yourself." She said with a smile.
Lucy offered Ladybug a wink while running her index finger and thumb across her lips in a zipping motion. The three then made their way further into the tunnel in search of Juleka. Fortunately, they didn't have to go too far as the quickly found her in her Reflkta form surrounded by negativity bubbles.
Pigella floated over and summoned her power. "Gift!" In a literal sense, a small gift appeared making Chat quirk an eyebrow.
"That's a power?"
"Pigella's power shows the person it affects their heart's greatest desire." Ladybug explained.
Pigella's Gift displays a photo of Juleka and Rose and their classmates. "A normal day in class where everyone just acts normal to Rose. That's it! That's Juleka's greatest wish!"
Reflekta smiles upon seeing the gift; she regains her happiness and all the bubbles pop around her.
"Wow, impressive!" Chat praises.
Pigella smiles. "The power of positivity."
"A little anti-climatic," Lucy said with a shrug, Ladybug puts her hands on her hips and smiled.
"We don't always need a spectacular fight to succeed." Chat destroyed Reflekta's akumatized object and Ladybug captured the Akuma, making Juleka turn back to her normal self.
"Uhh, what happened?" Juleka asked in a slight daze
"Everything's all right now, Juleka." Pigella assured. "I'm Pigella, and Ladybug and Chat Noir and I have come to save you. Oh?" The teens freeze as the notice a bunch of angry looking Reflekta clones heading towards them.
"Uh, the sentimonster and its buddies don't seem very happy."
"Reflekta isn't here anymore to control them. Quick, where's the object the amok went into? You know, Shadow Moth's feather?" Ladybug asks Juleka who looks at them a bit sheepish.
"In the trash..."
"You threw it in the trash?!" Chat asks alarmed as his ring begins to beep.
"You can tell yourself all the lies you want!" One Reflecta clone says, shooting a beam at them.
"You can never escape the bottomless pit of your guilt!" Adds another while also shooting a beam.
"Yes, you can!" She expresses while deflecting numerous beams with her tambourine. "You just gotta change the music. It's not the problems that matter but how you get through them that counts!"
"We've gotta get out of here fast!" Ladybug shouts and the group quickly ascends the sentimonster while being chased by the clones, but the wind picks up and they get stuck. "The wind is too strong, we won't get out this way!"
Lucy yelps as she is nearly pushed back only for Chat to take hold of her hand and bring her to his side.
"I guess we're all out of luck!"
"Luck?" Ladybug says, a lightbulb going off in her head. "Of course! That's what this is for!" She pulls out her ice axe and uses it to climb the walls of the sentimonster until she is able to get out. Reaching into the trash she finds Juleka's phone and smashes it, letting the amok out and capturing it, releasing everyone inside the sentimonster.
oOoOOoOoOo
Such an experience seemed to be enough to make Roses's Classmates seriously try and reel back the sudden need to baby Rose. That meant no more cutting in line, or extra apples, and no extra cushions for her seat. Sure, they would still worry about her if she ever had to take trips to the hospital, or mention having a headache, because how could they not? But they realized that Rose was a big girl, and unless she told them otherwise they needed to believe she was going to be just fine.
During their free period, Marinette couldn't help but notice Adrien on the upper level of the courtyard alone with a somewhat troubled look on his face. Curiosity edged its way to the front of her brain and before she knew what she was doing, Marinette was at the top of the steps, making her way over to the blonde boy.
"Everything alright Adrien?" She asked. Adrien didn't look at her as he nodded absentmindedly. "Are you sure? Because you look a little...off?" She took a step closer to him, trying to find where his line of sight was directed. Marinette supposed she wasn't totally surprised when she found that it seemed to be on Lucy, who stood on the ground level chatting with Nathaniel.
Adrien blinked and turned his head to look at Marinette. He tapped his fingers on the railing a few times as if he was contemplating what he wanted to say to her. If Marinette was honest, it was making her a bit nervous.
"Can I be honest with you Marinette?" Adrien finally asks.
"Of course, you can."
"Does Lucy seem...different to you?" Her brows knit together.
"Different?"
Adrien brings his focus back forward, leaning against the railing with his forearms.
"Yeah...uh...I don't know. She just seems..."
"Flirty?" Marinette asked awkwardly.
"Flirty! Yes! Alright, so I'm not crazy, right? She seems more flirty lately!" Adrien spoke. "I mean, she's always been a little haha flirty but recently it's feeling a lot less haha and more...more I guess? And I don't really know what to make of it. I mean, a part of me wants to enjoy t but the other part of me doesn't want to think too much about it and turn it into something it's not, but what if it is?" He rambles on. "So I'm trying to see if maybe it's not just me like maybe Lucy is just being Lucy right? I have been watching her talk to Nathaniel, but I really can't tell from here. Is she flirting with him? Does it look like it to you? I...I don't think it does to me, but I've ever been really great with that stuff and-"
"Adrien I'm so sorry!" Marinette spat out like word vomit. She hated seeing him like this. He was stressing out about Lucy, way more than he ever had before and it was all her fault. She told Lucy about his feelings and now she was...doing whatever it was that she was doing. Marinette couldn't watch it. Adrien was going to drive himself into madness before he picked up on what Lucy was putting down.
"Huh?" Adrien asked, bringing his attention to her.
"I told her." She admitted, biting her lip. "I told Lucy you have feelings for her."
Adrien blinked. "You what?" Another blink. "You..you told...Lucy knows I..."
"I so so so sorry Adrien! I'm a terrible friend! Completely untrustworthy!"
"Wait." Adrien began, trying to wrap his head around this newfound information. "So, she's messing with me? Why would she do that? I get if she doesn't feel the same but to go out of her way to just-"
"NO!" Marinette interrupted. "No, no, no. It's not like that at all! She totally likes you back! She just-"
"She does?!" Marinette slapped her hand over her mouth. What was wrong with her? How had she managed to keep her superhero identity a secret for so long when she spilled other secrets like an erupted volcano?
"I've clearly said too much. To both of you. I'm really trying to do this new thing, called minding my own business, but as it turns out... it's a lot harder than I imagined it would be. Once again, I am so sorry, I'm just gonna go now. Enjoy your... stakeout..."
"Oh no no no you don't!" Adrien hollered, taking Marinette by the shoulders before she could scurry away. "You think you can just say something like that and walk away? I don't think so. Now, Marinette," He coaxed, rubbing her arms. "Sweet, friendly, Marinette. You wouldn't...you wouldn't wanna keep such...vital...such important, information from me right? I mean come on, it's me! It's Adrien!" He said casually before turning his head downward and looking at her from under his brow line. "Tell me your secrets."
Marinette's eyes widen as she shrinks away from him. "Adrien, you're freaking me out a bit!" As if something had snapped inside him, Adrien suddenly took his hands off Marinette and stepped back wide-eyed. He cleared his throat and adjusted his shirt.
"I'm sorry Marinette. I'm not sure what came over me there. Of course, you can go. I won't force you to tell me anything you don't want to." He let out a sigh and went back to leaning on the railing. Marinette couldn't help but pity him.
"Fuck it." Adrien's head shot up as he looked at her with surprise.
"Marinette, did you just cuss?"
"Lucy does like you. Might even love you." Marinette answered, ignoring his previous question.
"Then why hasn't she said anything? If she likes me, and she knows I like her, why beat around the bush? That's never been Lucy's style." Adrien questioned. Marinette let out a sigh.
"She told me she's never dated a guy like you."
"A guy like me?"
"You're...shy...nervous even around her sometimes. You're kind. Gentle even. She's not used to that. Most of her past relationships have been with cocky, forward guys. Bold and overly confident. She's just not used to a guy like you."
"Right..." Adrien spoke softly.
"But that's not a bad thing!" Marinette assured. "She likes it. She finds you adorable. She's been getting a kick out of seducing you."
"Adorable?" He repeated. His face flushed at the thought of Lucy seducing him, but if Adrien could make a list of every word he wanted Lucy to describe him as adorable wouldn't make the cut. "Well," he said thoughtfully. "I'm just going to have to adjust that."
"What?" Adrien took ahold of Marinette's arms again and smiled down at her.
"Adrien I really am sorry for telling Lucy. I wasn't thinking-"
"Thank you, Marinette." He spoke, making the blue-eyed girl blink at him. "I'm glad you told her. Who knows how long it would have taken me to do so myself? I tried so hard to regulate my feeling for Lucy in fear of what her response to them would be and now it's like a weight has been lifted."
"Oh...um, you're welcome...?" Marinette said with an awkward smile. He patted her shoulder.
"I'm glad we had this talk." Without another word, Adrien moved past Marinette and headed for the stairs, leaving the pigtailed girl slightly dazed and confused.
"Wait! Where are you going!? What are you going to do!?"She scurried after Adrien who casually strolled across the courtyard over to Lucy and Nathaniel.
"Hey, Adrien." Nathaniel greeted.
"Hey, Nate." He greeted back as Lucy turned to greet him as well.
"Hey, you."
"Lucy."
Marinette inched over, watching the pair intently, earning a confused gaze from Alya.
"Girl are you okay?" She asked, only for Marinette to shush her while also grabbing her arm and pulling her closer as if to use Alya as a hiding spot. "Ooooookay," Alya said, still confused.
Lucy raised a brow at Adrien. "Are you alright? You're looking at me kinda funny." Adrien stepped closer and brought his hand to Lucy's neck, wrapping his fingers around the back while tracing her jaw with his thumb.
"As a matter of fact, I am doing fantastic." He grinned down at her.
"Really now? And what prey-tell, has you in such a fantastic moo-" Before Lucy could finish, Adrien had shifted himself downward in one foul swoop and pressed his lips against hers. A series of gasps echoed in the courtyard and Marinette squeaked at the sudden sight, her hands clapping against her cheeks.
"Oh!" Alya spoke in surprise.
Adrien pulled away from what he thought was a rather enchanting kiss only to see Lucy staring at him wide-eyed.
"Where the hell did that come from?!" She asked with a slight chuckle. Adrien could feel his confidence slithering away as he felt the heat rise to his cheeks.
"Uh, well...you see I had heard from the grapevine..." Lucy gave an unimpressed look at her eyelids dropped and her head turned.
"Marinette." Another squeak could be heard as Marinette jumped behind Alya.
"I have broken the bonds of trust!" She wailed, and Lucy just rolled her eyes and laughed while shaking her head.
"Wow, alright." She said, taking in a deep-nose breath before turning back to Adrien. "So. You kinda like me huh?"
It was Adrien's turn to let out a breathy laugh. "That's...that's one way of putting it yes. I kinda like you...a lot."
"Good," Lucy replied. "Otherwise this would be really awkward." With that, she brought both her hands up Adrien's neck and into his hair, pulling him down for a proper kiss this time. Adrien's eyes fluttered shut as the stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her back and head. As she pulled away slightly, Adrien smiled down at her blissfully until he noticed the way her eyebrows bunched together.
"Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Hm? Yeah...I don't know...it's weird. It's like I've done this before." She answered absently, causing Adrien to lose his smile. However, like every time before, it was gone as quick as it came, and Lucy only blinked a few times before she was smiling back up at him again.
"What's wrong?" She asked, almost in a whisper. Adrien swallowed before placing a smile back on his face and kissing the top of her head.
"Nothing is wrong." He answered. taking a step back. "Now, uh, Lucy, would you perhaps..consider being...my girlfriend?"
"Wow that seemed really hard for you to ask, are you sure you want me to be your girlfriend?"
"I don't think I have ever been more sure about anything in my life."
Lucy rolled her eyes playfully. "So corny."
"Like I'm fresh off the cob."
OoOoOo
Most of the students had wandered off after their initial surprise at Lucy and Adrien's little romcom moment, but Marinette couldn't help but still keep her eyes on them from across the courtyard. Alya, Rose, Mylene, Alix, and Juleka made their way over to Marinette, looking at her knowingly.
"How are you holding up?" Alya asked, taking a seat next to Marinette on the bench she had placed herself on.
"I'm alright," Marinette answered.
"You sure?" Alix asked. "Because if your not we-"
"Guys, I appreciate you trying to be supportive but you shouldn't let the possibility of me not being happy stop you from doing so on your own about Lucy and Adrien." Marinette lectured.
"We're not," Rose assured.
"We promise." Added Mylene.
"Believe it or not all of us are happy for Lucy and Adrien," Alya explained. "But we understand if you can't be yet."
"I am," Marinette said honestly. "I really am." She held a small smile on her lips. Glancing back over at the pair, Marinette was greeted with another visual of the two locking lips. Her eye twitched slightly. "But maybe not enough to want to see them making out."
"That's fair." Mylene said as Marinette got up from the bench along with Alya. The other girls nodded.
"To Chemistry then?" Rose suggested. Holding out her ar for the other to link.
Alix cringed. "I almost would rather watch Lucy and Adrien make out."
"To Chemistry!" Alya declared, taking ahold of Alix with her free arm, the girl marching their way off to class.
People were messy. They were defined not only by what they'd done but by what they would have done, under different circumstances, molded as much by their regrets as their actions, choices they stood by, and those they wished they could undo. Of course, there was no going back - time only moved forward - but people could change.
For worse.
And for better.
It wasn't easy. The world was complicated. Life was hard. And so often, living hurt.
So make it worth the pain.
OoOoOOoOO
All right lets try this again! Here is the long waited moment! It only took 65 chapters! Hurray! As always I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Remember to comment and let me know how you are feeling! I'm going to try and pace everything out that I have planned hopefully in a way that won't seem to fast all things considered but this is the stepping stone to that good good stuff!
Chow for now and as always I will see you in the next chapter!
