Author's note: Hey guys, here's another chapter for you all. I hope you guys are doing okay during this pandemic, and doing alright:} Here's a little bit of what's going on with baddi Marinette lol. Enjoy, guys!
Shout out to reviewers, you guys are the greatest: KagamiPINKAgreste, love the new name btw:}, Cheetahkit, sorry I had to include Lila briefly in here but you get to have akuma Marinette perspective:}, Butterfly, giby-chan.
Disclaimer: Don't own Miraculous Ladybug
Chapter 5:
(Canon alternative reality)
Alya Cesaire glanced at Marinette besides her, not knowing what has changed with her ravenette friend. For the past couple days, Alya has noticed a subtle change within Marinette. At first, Alya figured the difference had to do with Marinette dating Luka as of now. She felt happy for Marinette moving on from Adrien, but she couldn't help feeling there's more to the picture. However, she didn't like how Marinette kept treating Lila with annoyance, even though she understood how Marinette didn't like Lila for some reason.
Madame Bustier finished their literature lesson, and is now dismissing the students for lunch hour. They all gathered their belongings, making Alya wonder about what to do with lunch. Alya resisted herself from giving heart's eyes towards Nino, yet Marinette seemed to notice her staring.
Marinette gave her a devious smirk, "I know that look, girl. You and him go get some alone time, but make sure you eat your lunch and don't do too much tongue
"Marinette!" Alya gasped in embarrassment, which earned a heartfelt laugh from the ravenette.
"Really, it's fine. I might use my lunch hour to go to the arts club room while working on some homework." Marinette reassured her with a familiar smile, making Alya forget about the out of character comment from Marinette.
Alya held hands with Nino, trying to hold in those pesky butterflies swirling the pit of her stomach. She saw Marinette wiggling her eyebrows suggestively, and Alya held back the childish urge to stick her tongue out at Marinette. Nino laughed as they walked down the hallways towards the cafeteria. Suddenly, Alya forgot something back in the classroom, telling Nino she would be right back.
As Alya turned the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Marinette and Lila in an intimidating position. Alya quickly hid behind the wall, something in her inner journalist gut telling to wait how this would play out.
"It's pretty cute how much you can put on a show Lila, but the games are now over. If you keep putting me in a bad light, we're going to have some problems." Marinette threatened Lila, making Lila back up against the wall.
Alya has never seen Marinette so aggressive before, which Alya has even found a bit frightening. Alya was about to intervene, since Lila has been out of school for a bit. The obvious cast on her right arm is the indication, so she doesn't know what Marinette is playing at.
"Please, Dupain-Cheng, you're making yourself look bad. No one is ever going to believe you, they just think you're too jealous and spiteful because I take all of Adrien's attention." Oh wow, Alya has never heard Lila sound like such a bitch before. Automatically, Alya has gotten her phone out to record this, since some shit is about to get real.
Marinette rolled her eyes at Lila, "And here I thought you were into the 411, but I guess not. You can do anything with Adrien, but it must be pretty sad and pathetic for you that he's dating Kagami now."
"You're lying!" Lila accused, but Marinette let out a harsh laugh that made Alya shudder.
"Oh yeah, I forgot, Kagami doesn't go to this school. Well, hate to break it to you, sweetheart. The golden boy prince of yours has been snatched away by another woman who Adrien actually likes." Lila grabbed her by the shoulder, the hand that was supposed to be broken. Alya bulged her eyes at this, glad that she's filming all this, but she would cut out the conversation.
"Get your hand off me, Lila, you don't want to ruin your act by having a broken arm," Marinette hissed quietly, but Lila gave her a Cheshire cat smile.
"Oh yeah, I could just say you started the fight, and I can cry my eyes out and they will believe me." Lila said sweetly, which made Alya have enough with Lila.
"That's enough!" Alya yelled loudly while still recording. Marinette looked relieved to see her and Lila looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"Oh gosh, Alya. Good thing you're here, I just don't know what's up with Marinette. And…" Lila spluttered in broken sentences, which earned Marinette to roll her eyes annoyingly.
"Save it, Lila, it's over. I'm going to show this to our classmates and show them who you really are as a person." Alya said sternly, feeling so bad for not believing Marinette.
However, Marinette seemed to have other plans when she chimed into the conversation. "Look, will make you a deal. If you try again to ruin my reputation, then you should say goodbye to your popularity. You leave both me and Alya alone, and that's that. And, you will tell me why you're being so chummy with Gabriel Agreste?" Marinette finished with a question, but it sounded more like a demand.
Alya wanted to rebuttal that they should expose Lila's true colors. Although, maybe it's Marinette inner goodness that wanted to give her a second chance.
"Oh please, why should I tell you?" Lila snapped, which made Alya think to hell with this, but Marientte got on Lila immediately.
"I'm sure Alya would just love a new piece on her gossip blog, let's also not forget your super duper crush on a certain oblivious blonde boy, who won't be so dense once he sees her blog." Lila paled at this revelation, making Alya want to whistle loudly.
"Alya, I'm sure Nino is looking for ya. I got everything taken from here, so go have some fun!" Marinette informed Alya, but Alya felt like something was out of place here.
Despite this, Alya obliqued Marinette's wishes, and started to head back towards the cafeteria. However, she couldn't help but overhear Marientte complaining about Adrien, and asking Lila in bewilderment what she saw in Adrien anyway and how mediocre he was.
Alya's inner journalist came onto her suddenly, demanding her something was amiss. When Marinette and her were alone, she was going to ask what Lila was up to with Adrien's father, and what was really going on with her best friend. For some strange reason, she felt like Marinette wasn't herself and she needed to make sure she wasn't akumatized.
XOX
Marinette looked at Lila in sheer boredom, wondering when the other girl would stop crying. In her other universe, they did have an alternative Lila, but she didn't go to her school much and was an actress who did many films. In fact, the other Lila was a cool person, and was probably the sweetest. In fact, Marinette liked the other Lila, but she found this Lila even meaner than Marinette.
"So you done with the crocodile tears, cause that shit is getting old?" Marinette asked annoyingly, noticing how Lila quickly cleared up her tears.
"Something is different about you, Dupain-Cheng, but I can't tell what it is," Lila looked at Marinette intensely, making Marinette roll her eyes at her.
"Let's just say, I finally grew a backbone and got tired with ungrateful brats like you. Now then, can you tell me why you've been chummy with Mr. Agreste and why you're planting Akukumas…."
(Back at the other alternative reality)
Marinette walked into the classroom in the early Monday morning, she briefly noticed that Alya gave her a questioning look, and the whole class stared at her with astonishment at Marinette's appearance. Marinette sat next to Alya, gathering her stuff out for literature class and ready to learn.
"Girl, I haven't seen you all weekend, and you come out looking like you're about to slay people with your smartness." Alya asked her, making Marinette giggle delightfully. Marinette wore a grey cardigan shirt, with pink denim shorts, and her hair in familiar twin tails.
Alya started to fiddle with Marinette's hair, flashing Marinette a confusing grin. "I do like it, girl, but what's up with ya." Alya asked, more confused ever, but Marinette took a deep breath when Adrien walked in.
"Adrien!" Marinette yelled loudly, everyone gasping when she called him by his first name.
Adrien looked at her surprised, not expecting this turn of events. "What is it Dupain-Cheng, has your cute little twin tails make you go soft?" Adrien asked, noticing everyone is moving away from him in fright. They've seen them in plenty of fights before, so the classmates knew the drill when to get the hell out of the way.
Adrien got even more surprised as Marinette blushed at his comment, making Adrien wonder what's really going on with the ravenette. "I want a truce, Agreste, and I believe the ending feud between us might be the right direction." Marinette said bravely, making everyone look at the ravenette in astonishment.
This was an unspoken rule that everyone followed- Lady Queen Bee Marinette or they followed The Rebellious Rascal Adrien. Everyone wasn't sure what would happen if they formed alliances with each other, and those two teens working together.
"After all this time, why now Dupain-Cheng?" Adrien asked dumbly, not believing the same girl who made him cookies is still in front of him.
"I think it's time I lay off my bitchiness, don't you?" Marinette asked him, noticing how Alya is tugging on her sleeve.
Adrien thought for a moment, since he wasn't sure what to do in this predicament. As Chat Blanc, he would think to hell with this and took her truce with no problem. However, as the son of an Agreste, which was sadly his job to akumatized people. He knew his father wouldn't be pleased if people started to get along, and Adrien wouldn't have the chance to wake up his mom. Sadly, this is why he's not meant to be a hero, even though he wants to be. Although, he has to be the bad guy and make things more complicated.
Adrien gave her a devious smirk, "My dear, that would be way too easy. What you put everyone through and how you climbed all the way to the top for your bad ass reputation. I'm not satisfied with a handshake, I think a little wager should be presumed, don't you?" He circled around Marinette, ignoring Alya's vicious glare towards him.
"What's the wager?" Marinette asked defiantly, trying to keep his heart from beating faster from Marinette's enduring stubbornness.
"Beat me at a fighting video game, and I'll seal the truce. If you don't beat me, then you will strip off your reputation and title." Adrien knew there was no way she would agree to this, even though she can be very competitive. However, Adrien knew Marinette wouldn't strip off from her reputation, yet she surprised him again.
"You got yourself a deal, Adrien. Will play the game during lunch hour, and I won't hold back!" They both shook hands, trying to ignore the spark between them when they held hands.
They all rushed back to their seats when Madame Bustier strolled in like the wicked witch she was. Marinette's Madame Bustier is sweet and kind, but this Madame Bustier is rotten and a plain wench.
"It's not just you who loses her reputation, girly. I sure hope you got a way to kick his ass, since we will be like pigs in slaughter if you lose." Alya whispered, making Marinette even more worried than ever. Marinette should have thought this through better, but she just got so tired of making everyone else happy. If Marinette loses or not, she will be keeping her head up high, and she just doesn't give a crap by playing the hero anymore.
If she has to fight dirty, she would give Adrien all that she's got.
Thoughts and thanks for reading:}