*cue umbrella scene music*

CHAPTER 4: Interference

The first time Marinette touched Adrien Agreste, her whole view of him flipped. Er- well, it wasn't just because she had touched him; he had pretty much been an honest gentleman to her, too. Marinette sighed, lost in thought as she replayed the scene over and over again in her mind, ever since it happened two days ago.

She had been mad at him, upset that another one of Chloe's so-called friends had targeted her, all because Chloe thought she was superior to everyone. Marinette felt pretty confident in herself, now that she had taken on the role of Ladybug, beaten Hawkmoth's akuma the right way this time, and subsequently told Chloe off in class afterwards by reclaiming her seat. Alya's words echoed in her mind: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing. So of course, when Adrien Agreste walked up beside her on the front steps after school, she resolutely ignored him, believing him to be a stuck-up, rich, pawn of Chloe who also happened to be the son of her favorite fashion designer.

"Hey," he said, a forced cheeriness in his tone as he greeted her.

She turned away from him in spite but heard his responding sigh. For a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the rain that poured from above.

He opened his umbrella, taking a few steps out into the rain before he stopped.

"I just wanted you to know that I was only trying to take the chewing gum off your seat, I swear." Marinette appraised him, wide-eyed at his admittance. He glanced back at her before continuing in a softer voice.

"I've never been to school before. I've never had friends." He shrugged. "It's all sort of… new to me." When he glanced back at her again, it was with a little half-smile on his face as he once again shrugged. He turned completely around and locked eyes with her as he offered his umbrella.

He's actually being… genuine, she thought as he started to get soaked in the rain, looking earnestly at her. She was astonished at how quickly her anger from before disappeared, and made a sound of surprise as she realized she should take the umbrella from him, if only to accept his apology.

When her index finger touched his, it was like a jolt went through her, not unlike the thunder that had recently sounded from above. Bewildered, she paused for a second, only to reach for the umbrella again as Adrien simultaneously moved to give it to her. Their hands brushed once again in the exchange, and another surge of warmth passed through her body.

She stood there in amazement trying to process everything, when the umbrella suddenly closed on her. Adrien's sweet laughter echoed in the rain as she peeked out from under the umbrella. The situation caught up to her and she couldn't help but laugh also.

They both calmed down after a moment, and a feeling of rightness came over them, a peaceful feeling now that the misunderstanding between them was fixed.

"See you tomorrow," he said, turning around to walk towards the car that was waiting for him.

Marinette felt a bit weak at the knees as she watched him saunter off. What just happened? She dropped her backpack and lifted up a hand to wave at him.

"Uh-huh! See you to-mor… tomor… haha… Woah! Why am I stammering?" She glanced down at her body in confusion.

And then Tikki had flown out to tease her, and two days later she still couldn't deny that at that moment, she had developed a serious crush on Adrien Agreste.

"Daydreaming about Adrien again?"

Marinette jolted, her head returning from the clouds as she turned to look at her kwami. Tikki had a smug smile on her face, highly aware of her holder's love-struck smile and the forgotten sketchbook on her lap.

Marinette blushed. "Tikki!" This wasn't the first time the kwami had teased her about her crush, but she couldn't help it! He had been so kind, so gentleman-like, so genuine… and so, so handsome! She wasn't blind, you know!

Her mind kept going back to that moment she had touched him. The spark- jolt- flash- warmth- whatever she had felt- was extremely different yet exactly what she had imagined feeling when she touched her soulmate. It was like what she had read about, what all the research on soulmates said she was supposed to feel the moment they first touched. She could admit to herself that her crush on Adrien stemmed partially from the fact that for the past 48 hours, she had been hoping that she had found her soulmate. She was in denial over the fact that he probably wasn't, since neither of them had changed into animals yet. She didn't want to entertain the idea that she might've imagined that warmth.

"Marinette," Tikki scolded, with a mother-like tone that Marinette was quickly getting used to. "It's great that you have a crush on Adrien, but you should really stop daydreaming and finish up your homework."

Marinette knew Tikki was right but couldn't help but feel she was justified in her behavior. After all, it's not like Tikki- or even Alya for that matter- knew that she had been considering the possibility of Adrien being her soulmate. Both of her new friends were aware of her crush, but they didn't necessarily know all the reasons behind her sudden infatuation with the boy.

"I can't help it, Tikki," she sighed, deciding to come clean. "I think Adrien might be my soulmate."

"What?" Tikki dropped a few centimeters in the air at Marinette's statement. "Why do you think that, Marinette?"

"Well, we touched when he gave me his umbrella," she confided, glancing at said object leaning against the side of her desk. "It felt like… this jolt just went through me. I felt really warm, all of a sudden, I guess. Isn't that what I'm supposed to feel?"

She was reassured at Tikki's wide-eyed nod, but still decided to voice her concerns. "But if Adrien and I are soulmates, why haven't we changed yet?" Voicing the question only made her doubt grow stronger. "Oh, Tikki, maybe I completely imagined it…" She brought her hands up to her blushing cheeks, embarrassed, but determined to receive her kwami's advice. She had bottled these thoughts up for far too long.

"Oh, Marinette…" Tikki looked at her with a sad expression and floated up to touch one of Marinette's hands that was still on her cheek. "I don't think you imagined it. You and Adrien could very well be soulmates."

"Really?"

Tikki floated away from her cheek to look her more directly in the eye. "Really."

Marinette briefly smiled at that but remained confused. "Then why haven't I transformed? It's supposed to happen within 24 hours!"

Tikki sighed and turned away from Marinette's searching gaze. "I was hoping I would have more time," the kwami murmured, remorsefully.

"Tikki?" Marinette anxiously reached out to the floating bug. "What's wrong?"

Tikki turned back to the girl, antennas drooping, and landed in Marinette's outstretched hand. "I'm sorry, Marinette," she squeaked, her voice going higher. "The reason you and Adrien haven't transformed yet, if you are soulmates, is because of the miraculous."

"What? Tikki, what do you mean?"

"The miraculous is magic, right?" Marinette nodded at Tikki's question and fingered an earring. "And magic is also what transforms people into animals when they touch their soulmates." Marinette affirmed her again. "Well, the miraculous magic is interfering with the soulmate magic. It's a consequence of you becoming Ladybug."

"A consequence-" Marinette's voice cracked. "Does that mean I can never find my soulmate?"

Tikki could see the growing dejection on Marinette's face, and hurried to answer. "No, no! Of course not! It just means that your chances of finding your soulmate are less than normal. The soulmate magic has to be strong enough to overcome the miraculous magic in order for you to change."

Marinette wrung her hands in her lap, unsure how to feel at this new information. "And how does that happen?"

"Well, the soulmate magic is first activated when you touch, right? All you have to do is touch your soulmate multiple times and the magic will grow stronger! Eventually it will be enough to overcome the miraculous magic, and you'll transform into a ladybug!"

"That's reassuring, I guess…" Marinette was lost in thought when Tikki's last words hit her. "Wait, a ladybug? I'm going to change into a ladybug?"

"Of course!" Tikki affirmed, excited to share this specific knowledge with the girl. "As a holder of the ladybug miraculous, it only makes sense for your soul animal to be a ladybug. That's part of the reason you were chosen, after all. The magic of the miraculous is stronger when paired with a holder who has the same soul animal."

"Wait, wait just a moment! I thought I was chosen because I had the character of a hero! That's what you told me! And- and why are you telling all of this to me now?" Marinette could feel her anger catching up to her, frustrated that the kwami didn't tell her all of this on day one.

"Marinette," Tikki said calmly, sensing Marinette's growing agitation. "You were chosen for both reasons, because of who you are and because your soul is a ladybug. They're connected, after all! And I'm telling you all of this now because you need to know. If Adrien is really your soulmate, then all you have to do is touch him a few more times!" She tried to be encouraging. "I've had past Ladybugs that faced the same problem as you, but they eventually found their soulmates! You just have to be a bit patient!"

Marinette could tell that Tikki was desperate for the girl to believe her. She loved the kwami, even after only being together for a few days, and it was reassuring to know that she was chosen to be Ladybug for a reason and that she could still find her soulmate. However, she couldn't help but voice her irritation to the bug. "Tikki, I'm going to need a little bit to think about all of this."

"Of course," the kwami agreed, cautious of saying more. Marinette stood up from the chaise, needing to get away for a bit. "I am sorry, Marinette."

"I know," was Marinette's quick reply, her frustration at the situation making her voice sound strangled. "It's not your fault, just a consequence of the miraculous, right? Even if I wasn't Ladybug, I still might never find my soulmate. I could be perfectly happy with someone who isn't my soulmate, like my parents are. Who needs soulmates, right?" The tears started to form in her eyes as she rambled on. Trying to hide her growing heartache, she hurried to the trapdoor to her room. "Do you want a cookie? I'm going to go get some!"

Marinette swiftly disappeared down the stairs, and Tikki stared after her in sadness. "Oh, Marinette… I really am sorry. But everything will be alright in the end."

*Edited 11/25/19*