Alya's POV
I can't say that I was feeling overjoyed at the moment. My best friend had just been akumatized, which was partly my fault, and when I went to see her she looked horrible. Sure, she might have been able to fool Nino and Angel boy, but she did not fool me. Red puffy eyes with bags underneath them and cracked lips? Something was definitely wrong with my girl. And I'd be damned if I wasn't going to get to the bottom of it.
The ladyblog had exploded overnight after the Marinette's Akuma attack. Speculation regarding it had grown from, "I wonder if Ladybug and Chat Noir are together" to, "Where was Ladybug?" of course with the last question it led to quite some crazy theories. Some of the theories were your run of the mill, "Maybe Ladybug was at the dentist, maybe that's why she didn't show up!" and then you had the other ones. The ones that, try as I might I couldn't over look.
These theories stated that the only reason for ladybug not to show up was because she happened to be the person akumatized, which happened to put me in a very precarious predicament as said person was actually my best friend and this theory was not as crazy as it sounded.
The evidence surrounding it covered everything from looks to the fact that they had never been seen in the same spot. I started blocking all of the posts about it, fearful for Ladybug's identity, and terrifed that they were right. Because if they were right it meant that I was not only a bad reporter, but the worst best friend ever.
I decided to keep my suspicions to myself for now. I didn't want to be wrong and put Marinette in an awkward situation. I didn't want to be right, and have Marinette in an even awkwarder situation. So even though I was nearly positive about my guess, I didn't want to pursue it. If Marinette didn't want to tell me, then she had a good reason for it, that I was sure of.
It also explained why she had looked so hurt when people started comparing her to ladybug. It must have hurt to have people think so highly of one side of you, and completely hate the other. Not to mention how Chloe worshipped Ladybug and loathed Marinette. If Chloe ever found out... karma is certainly a bitch.
I heard a knock on my bedroom door, and it opened to show a less than pleased looking Mum.
"Alya, what are you doing on your phone at this time of night? You have school tomorrow!" she stood there looking at me angrily. I sighed, and held out my phone to her. she strode over and plucked it out of my hands, her auburn hair flying around her face frizzly, her Pajamas shifting around her movements.
Her severe look softend. Her mouth smiling slightly at me.
"Good Night Alya, don't ever forget I love you." and with that she strode out of the room, my phone in her hand.
I smiled slightly back. After my little sister died, Mum had become more open in her affection for us. Taking every opportunity to remind us she loved us. Which reminds me, I thought as I snuggled down under the covers and faced the wall on my side.
Maybe Marinette needs a reminder of how much we love her too.
Adrien's POV
The day was going better than most. The only photoshoot I had today had been cancelled due to the fact that some problems had arisen with the clothing, and they had to redo most of the line. Then I found out my Chinese lessons had been cancelled due to the fact that the teacher had come down with a bad case of the flu.
Then there was the fact that Marinette was coming to school today, according to Alya who had showed up early and out of breathe with a huge grin on her face and a wicked glint in her eyes. Which leads me to the plan.
Alya had organised for the four of us to go to the park after school with Marinette and some of our classmates, (everyone except Chloe), and have a picnic. Everyone had chipped in, donating lunches and other food sources to the cause. The plan was to make Marinette feel wanted again, because Alya speculated that after the whole akuma business and the fact that nobody stood up for her, it made her feel unwelcome and unappreciated.
I immediately texted Nathalie with the new plan, ecstatic when for once, she agreed. I had been talking it over with Nino and Alya all day, finalising the plan with the rest of the class during lunch break behind Marinette's back, which we achieved by Alya telling Marinette she had a very important meeting with the other class presidents. (She didn't and had come back looking very annoyed).
It was last period, and I was sitting at my desk staring at the clock, waiting for the bell to ring to signal the end of class. Mlle. Bustier had decided to hand out our english test results in the last five minutes of class and Nino and I had both received good grades, it seemed that not everyone had though, because as we turned around to discuss the results with Alya and Marinette we were interrupted by a high pitched shriek.
We whipped our heads around towards the source, not at all surprised to find that it was Chloe, who was standing up with one hand on the desk and her eyes flashing at Mll. Bustier angrily, Sabrina had slid closer to her and had placed a placating hand on her arm. Chloe didn't seem to notice and she opened her mouth to begin an onslaught to the teacher.
"What is this grade, there must be a mistake, this is not my paper!"
To her credit, Mlle. Bustier didn't even blink, merely looking Chloe straight in the eye as she responded.
"Chloe, that is clearly your paper, it has your name on it and that is your hand writing. I am sorry if you do not like the grade you got, maybe paying attention in class and studying further could increase this grade."
Chloe made a noise, halfway between a chough and a sound of disbelief.
"It must have been graded wrong then!"
Mlle. Bustier sighed.
"Chloe, all of the english papers this time have been graded by me, I assure you that it was graded correct."
Chloe looked furious, her blue eyes dilated and her breath coming in pants. She stormed flippantly out of the room Sabrina hot on her heels her last words before the door slammed behind her the ever so familiar,
"My Father will here about this."
Mlle. Bustier sighed and sat down at her desk, looking up at the clock before facing us again, looking very tired while doing so.
"You can have free time until the end of class," she said, before taking out a stack of paperwork and beginning to fill it out. Soon Mr. Damocles appeared in the doorway, a smug Chloe standing behind him. He looked slightly nervous, and fidgeted slightly in his suit.
"Miss Bustier, a word in my office please."
Looking as if she expected it, Mlle Bustier got up and faced the class again.
"You may have an early mark, just make sure you read the next chapter of "Sleeping Beauty" and I will see you all tomorrow."
With that she turned and walked out of the classroom, which remained silent for a few moments before Alya winked at Nino and I before grabbing Marinette by the hand and dragging her out of the classroom by the wrist, despite her complaints. After the door closed behind the two the rest of the class quickly packed up and followed them out of the door, making sure to keep a safe distance behind them.
We arrived at the park shortly after them, and Ivan spotted them sitting together at a park bench laughing together. We all approached them carefully keeping quiet and Alya smiled at us and kept Marinette distracted until we were nearly ontop of them, at which point Marinette turned around and shrieked, falling of the chair and landing in a pile on the grass.
Alya laughed at her and offered a hand to help her up.
"Surprise girl, I bet you didn't' expect this!"
Marinette looked flabbergasted, looking between Alya, the class, the food and other all sorted items they were holding.
"What is this for?" she said her voice softer and unsurer than it had been a second ago talking to Alya. Beside me Nino stepped forward, looking at Alya before turning her attention to Marinette.
"Alya here thought you might need a pick me up, you know, after everything that happened. She even convinced us all to join her."
"Yeah," Rose quickly followed up, "We wanted you to know you're appreciated Marinette, because we haven't been very good friends lately, not helping when you were obviously hurt."
Looking rather touched by this, Marinette stepped forward and engulfed Rose in a hug. Soon it turned into a ground hug, and I got quashed between Ivan and Nino. Too soon though we pulled away laughing and giggling.
"Come on guys, let's get this party started!" Kim shouted throwing the frisbee, Alix laughing at him and running off to catch it. Soon everyone broke into groups, playing and laughing and sitting around eating. I was sitting with Nino, Alya, Rose, Juleka and Marinette.
Nino was telling a funny story to them, and they were all laughing, the sound entwining with the other sounds of merriment around us. Marinette was leaning back against the park bench next to Alya on the end. Her cheeks were flushed and her white teeth were flashing in the light.
She looked beautiful. There was no denying that. As I looked at her I realised that her beauty was not only because she was pretty, and she was very pretty, but she was only beautiful because underneath that pretty exterior, there was a fragile strength. There is beauty in strength, beauty in the strength it takes to smile even after the world has thrown it's towel in on you. I should know, the world had thrown the towel in on me too.
The more I looked at her, the more I watched, the more I became fascinated by how even though she laughed her eyes did not completely light up. Not like the way Ayla, Rose and Juleka's did. They did not twinkle, and even when the sun hit them directly, there was still darkness in them. It was like being submerged under water and looking up into the light.
I must have been staring really obviously, because from beside me Nino dug his elbow into my side and raised one eyebrow, eyeing me and Marinette. I blushed at his insinuation. Shaking my head at him. He looked at me strangely before turning away, and I knew I was going to try and explain it to Nino.
Marinette's POV
It was peaceful. The birds singing in the trees, flying above the head, laughter ringing out through the park. It was almost picture perfect. Until it wasn't.
She came like a shadow, creeping through the trees. Adrien was the first to notice. Eyes widening and a serious expression drawing his eyebrows together and etching itself onto his face.
"Guys," he said slowly, "I think we should leave." No sooner had he said it then there was a loud crash as a tree fell, missing where Kim was jumping to catch the frisbee by a hair's breadth. Then the screaming started, everyone panicked and ran in a different direction. I ignored what everyone else was doing and ran to find a place to hide and transform.
No point being late, I thought to myself grimly, that will just give Chat Noir another reason to be ticked off at me. After finding a safe place to hide, I pulled out my purse.
"Tikki," I called out worriedly, glancing nervously around me as she flew out, looking me in the eyes.
"Marinette?" she asked, looking at me concerned.
"Tikki," I said again, louder this time. "Spots On!"
With that she flew into my ear rings, the familiar pink glow of the transformation encasing me. I grabbed my yo-yo off my hip, and ran confidently towards the Akuma.
The akuma was short, with blood red dreadlock like tendrils issuing from her head. Her eyes were big and black, with no white showing and her tongue, when it flicked from her mouth, was forked. Her costume was black snake skin, which plated her whole body and ended at the beginning of her boots, which were as red as her hair and ended just below the knee. Attached to her wrists there were two huge white fang like things, that seemingly dripped fluid. Venom, I thought, and those are her fangs.
Chat Noir was already facing her. Spinning his staff in one hand and conversing with the villain. He was talking loud enough that even from across the park, I could hear it.
"What happened with you, I'm sure whatever it is we can resolve it without hurting anyone!"
"They called me a snake, so a snake I became!" she hissed. Chat Noir stopped spinning his staff and extended it, leaning lazily against it.
"Okay, listen, I don't particularly want to give up my miraculous snake girl, so how about you hand over the item the black butterfly flew in and we can call it a day?"
The girls black eyes grew larger and her forked tongue flickered out of her mouth.
"My name," she said slowly, looking directly at Chat, "is Ninia, not 'Snake Girl." and with that she launched herself at him, striking at him with her wrists, trying to hit him with her fangs.
I ran faster, catching up to them and wrapping her with my yo-yo from behind.
"Nice of you to show up ladybug." he said, saying words that had been said as a joke a thousand times before, but this time held dry bitter humor. I opened my mouth to respond, but suddenly my arm was jerked and my yo-yo flying through the air. I retracted it and whipped around to see Ninia free of her restraints and grinning creepily at us.
Chat Noir considered the seen for a moment before opening his mouth and commenting;
"Snakes are rather slippery aren't they?" he then quickly launched himself at the Akuma, using the distraction I quickly ducked behind a park bench and called for my trump card.
"Lucky Charm!" a random item fell from the sky and into my hands. I looked around me, taking note of when my vision turned spotted. I quickly formulated a plan, and putting it into action, the akuma was quickly defeated.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" I yelled and watched as everything righted itself. There was no one around except the girl. She apologized for the trouble she had caused and after reassuring her she ran off. Another victim of bullying it seemed.
I sighed and sat down on a park bench, and after looking consideringly at me, Chat Noir sat down next to me. we sat and looked out over the deserted park, taking in the for once quiet spae.
"Chat listen, I wanted to apologize for what happened."
I didn't need to explain. We both knew what I was talking about.
He laughed, mirthlessly. From my peripheral vision I saw him shake his head, shaggy blond locks flying around him in a halo.
"I'm not made at you LB, if that's what you're asking. Just severely disappointed. You know, people are saying that maybe you just couldn't be bothered to show up, that maybe you didn't care."
"But I do." I replied softly, seeing his cat ears flick up at the quiet sound.
"Tell that to the girl who was akumatized, the only person who you couldn't be bothered to show up for." I felt a pang of guilt in my chest, though I knew it was irrational. It wasn't that I couldn't be bothered, it's that I physically couldn't. But that was my fault too, maybe if I had been stronger...
I cut that train of thought off where it had begun, there was no point lingering over things like that, lest I end up akumatized again.
"Chat, I know it doesn't mean much, but I really am sorry for what happened."
Chat remind silent for a moment before finally responding, turning his emerald green eyes towards me.
"I'm sorry Ladybug, but, I'm not sure if I can forgive you, it hurt me, both physically and emotionally to know you didn't think highly enough of me to turn up."
I gasped, shocked. How could he say such a thing?
"Is that what you really think of me, that I don't care about you."
He didn't respond, but his silence was answer enough.
"Chat, I care about you, I care about you more than I care about almost anyone! You are my closest friend, and I hate myself for it. I hate myself that I let you get hurt"
He stayed quiet.
I didn't know what else to say, I didn't know if there was anything else I needed to.
My earing beeped, so with a flick of my wrist, my yoyo tightened around the chimney of a distant building, I yanked and flew off, listening as the sound of cameras clicking below quietened the further I flew.
Finding an empty alleyway, and after transforming back, decided to hightail it back to the park incase any of my friends got suspicious or went looking for me.
I was almost there, when after taking a shortcut through a particularly dense thicket of trees, spotted Chat Noir who, before I could turn around, transformed in a sear of blinding green light. After blinking a few times, I spotted Adrien, with a small black cat thing flying around his face asking for cheese.
Covering my mouth with my hand to smother the slight gasp I let out, I quickly fumbled my way out of the thicket, almost knocking over Alya who after holding me steady looked me in the eyes.
"Girl, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost!" I felt ill. I felt almost like I might faint. I supposed to Alya, it must have looked like I'd seen a ghost.
"It's nothing Alya," I replied, while trying to force a smile.
She looked at me suspiciously, before shrugging. We turned and started walking towards the bakery. Soon, I felt a sharp jab in my ribs and turned to look at Alya who was looking firmly ahead.
"You know," she said slowly, "You can tell me anything, right?" I forced a smile onto my face as she turned to face me.
"I know." I replied simply, cringing internally why I did.
Oh Alya, the one thing I can't tell you is the one thing I want to tell you. I thought to myself, however, my thoughts remained silent and my mouth zipped close, a practice that was becoming habit of late.
Chat was Adrien. The love of my life, is my best friend. I was in turmoil, my inner voices flashing from one extreme to the other, anger, sadness, hatred, love before setting on melancholy joy.
I loved him. That would never change. Yet I knew Chat felt that Marinette was inferior to Ladybug. He also had a huge crush on Ladybug. It was too much, it was overwhelming. I needed a quiet place to think.
After Alya dropped me off, I excused myself up into my room. Lying silently on the bed and staring up at the ceiling.
Tikki flew out from my purse and gazed at me worriedly.
"I know who he is." was all I replied to her questioning gaze. Understanding almost immediately, the small god flew down and nuzzled into the crook of my neck. Not pestering me for answers, not talking at all. Simply offering her presence as comfort.
And when the first tears fell, she just hugged me tighter.
