Hello avid MLB fand. I bring to you a little bit of fun. Review if you liked it! Review if you didn't! Reviews give me motivation to keep these chapters coming.
Marinette sat almost catatonic on Alya's bed. It had been an entire week since Bomb Voyage had ravaged the streets of Paris. Not really since the Akuma had strangely contained itself in the park and hadn't wreck her destruction to the rest of the city. Which it in itself was strange. The Akumas tended to cause as much havoc and destruction as possible before they were defeated by the Miraculous Duo.
Alya stood at the doorway of her room, laughing at Marinette who sat unresponsive on Alya's bed. The pair had been spending more time together considering that had both been out of it for a week. Thus messing up their carefully planned summer plans.
Marinette was sleeping over at Alya's for the weekend. M and Mme Cesair were out of town with the twins for a trip to the country to visit some relatives. Alya had begged off on going citing the long train rides would just put her in another coma.
Her parents would only allow Alya staying behind if she wasn't alone, and who better to care for their daughter than Marinette who was almost made of sugar, spice and everything nice.
The fact that Marinette had just woken up from her own coma was irrelevant. The Dupain-Chengs were only a phone call away. And really what could possibly happen while they were gone for a weekend.
Famous last words.
It was Friday evening and Marinette was already catatonic. She usually didn't get like this until at least Saturday morning. When Alya had at least all night to plant naughty ideas in her head about her precious blond boy model. Looks like Marinette had lost whatever immunity she had built up during her coma.
"Girl, if you don't snap out of it I am going to tell Nino about the time you 'accidentally' stole Adrien's phone." Alya smirked.
"What?! Alya that was almost two whole years ago!" Marinette flustered and flailed from her seat on Alya's bed. Alya laughed at her best friend's familiar antics. "Oh Marinette, don't ever change." Alya dropped next to Marinette and both of them giggled.
"Oh Alya, what am I going to do." Marinette sighed and leaned against her best friend. In her hands, she held onto her phone. On the screen sat her inbox open with the names of both Agreste brothers.
Alya took the phone away from Marinette's slack fingers. Reading whatever it is that had gotten Marinette into her
Adrien: Want to go to a movie tomorrow, Mari? We can have supper together afterward ;3
Ooh, that was Marinette's dream come true right there.
Chat Chanceux: I have two tickets for the movies tomorrow night. Would you like to accompany me? We could have dinner before. My treat of course.
Oh, this was definitely a doozy. A patrol and supper with Adrien or a movie and dinner with Felix.
"Mari, let's be real. You could totally do both of these dates in one day." Alya leaned back against her pillows and poked Marinette with a toe, waving her bestie's phone lazily with a smirk on her face. Marinette blinked owlishly at her redheaded friend.
"Both of them?" Marinette repeated. "Do you really think they're dates?" That ever familiar blush appeared on her pale cheeks. Alya laughed while Marinette sighed defeatedly. "I doubt Adrien likes me like that," she mumbled. Alya reached out to poke Marinette's soft cheek.
"Adrien Agreste is just crazy jealous over his brother." Alya grinned cheekily. Marinette sat up straighter at the mention of 'Adrien' and 'jealous' in the same sentence. "Adrien? Adrien Agreste? Jealous of me?" Marinette pointed at herself with a disbelieving look on her pretty face.
"Not of you. Adrien is totes jealous of Felix." Alya crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Ignoring Marinette's strange gurgles of disbelief. The smaller girl leaned back until she fell on the bed with an exasperated groan. "I didn't think I would live to see the day." Marinette whispered, pretty blue eyes scrunched tight.
Alya laughed and Marinette opened one eye to send her best friend a half-hearted glare. Marinette truly loved Alya, she was her sister in all but blood. But the redhead did have a gift of getting underneath somebody's skin. Unfortunately, the victim for today was Marinette.
"Why can't you believe that both boys have a thing for you Mari?" Alya nudged the other girl with her foot. Marinette sat up with a groan, using one arm to gesture wildly to herself.
"Have you looked at me Alya? I'm just plain old Marinette. Klutz of the year, the harbinger of Chaos and Destruction. How could both Agreste brothers possibly have a thing for me." Alya sat up and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Marinette Dupain in the ass Cheng. You are the sweetest, kindest girl I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You have proven time and time again that despite your clumsiness and your penchant for getting into trouble, you deserve the affections of these two boys." Marinette pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin, blinking large blue eyes at her best friend.
"And let's not get carried away there Drama mama, the only person who calls you the harbinger of Chaos and Destruction is Chloe." Alya pulled Marinette by the arm and brought the girl closer to her for a hug.
"Nobody cares that you're clumsy, babbling Marinette, Girl. We know it's a part of you. Those two boys would be deaf, blind and dumb to not realize what a treasure you are." Marinette sighed into the embrace.
Marinette who had grown up as an only child deeply appreciated the care that Alya provided. Sisters sometimes annoy each other or went too far with their words but they protected each other. Stood by each other no matter what.
Marinette had never wanted to have Alya, her sister in all but blood, in the thick of things. When she had been told Alya was in a coma, waking up only a day before her own, Marinette had come to the startling realization that Alya would forever jump into the thick of things.
All for the sake of a scoop on Paris' elusive heroes. It had been two years of seeing Alya captured, injured and even held hostage. If Alya knew Marinette's identity, then surely the redhead would understand. Understand how all Marinette, what Ladybug wanted was to keep Paris' citizens safe.
"Alya, I have something to tell you." Marinette fluttered her eyelashes in an attempt to pull an innocent look. Alya raised an eyebrow in question. "I know your birthday is next week. I've arranged a special interview." Alya gasped in excitement.
"You didn't?" Placing a hand on either of Marinette's shoulders the redhead grinned excitedly. Alya and Nino - and even Adrien at one point, had come together more than once to discuss Marinette's connection with their spotted heroine. It seemed that whenever anyone was in need of contact with Ladybug, only Marinette was a reliable middleman.
Whenever any of the trio had tried to question her, Marinette would always smile that pretty smile and laughed it off. "If everyone knew how I could contact Ladybug then I would be the one flooded with fan mail." This had been a rare joke meant for Adrien who flushed lightly at the memory of his locker being overwhelmed with love letters, fan mail, and the likes during Valentines.
The group had laughed it off then, not realizing that Marinette had slipped away in the distraction. It continued for several weeks before Alya finally gave up on interrogating her friend.
Marinette slipped out of the bed and wandered out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Leaning against the door, she looked up as Tikki flew from her hiding place in the living room.
"Are you ready, Marinette?" Tikki asked imploringly with large eyes, tilting her bulbous head towards her Chosen. "She deserves to know." Marinette whispered in response, determination brightly reflected in her eyes. Tikki nodded, the two of them had spent many hours arguing over this in the week after the coma.
The Dupain-Cheng parents already knew of Marinette's alter ego. Adrien had come out to the family as Chat Noir and Marinette had had to pinch her thigh to make sure that she wasn't still trapped in a horribly realistically wonderful dream. After the parents had left the trio alone in Marinette's room, confident that neither boy would do anything untoward towards their precious daughter.
Felix had held onto her other hand, with Adrien they both retold the happenings of that day, as she listened to the play by play of the battle with Bomb Voyage, Marinette would gasp or tremble. Hating that she had not been there to help. Hated that she had been taken out so early into the fight.
Marinette had looked at Chat- at Adrien with wide eyes and tears brimming, threatening to spill on her soft flushed cheeks. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that Adrien." Adrien had blinked at her in surprise. "I'm so sorry Felix, it couldn't have been easy for you." Marinette sobbed, tears running down her cheeks as she looked at the brothers on either side of her.
It hurt that she had been the one to put them in danger.
Marinette wasn't at fault. It would never have been her fault for wanting to protect the civilians. It was Papillon. It would always be that corrupted wielder's fault. It was Papillon's fault that Marinette had almost died. That Chat Noir had to fight alone for a good majority of the battle. It was Papillon's fault that Felix had to temporarily take up the mantle of Ladybug.
Adrien hadn't even realized he had said it out loud until he felt Marinette's shaking hand on top of his own. The two stared at each other, Adrien had been seated across from his brother and Marinette, taking the computer chair and spinning it so that he faced them, and now he found himself standing over the both of them. Marinette's sad eyes and Felix' cold ones. It was obvious that his brother didn't appreciate that he had raised his voice at the still recovering girl.
Feeling his own eyes burning with tears, Adrien simply went to sit at Marinette's feet. Felix was sharing the chaise with her, the small girl refused to be parted from her best friend. Having to take up the mantle of Ladybug like that, so suddenly. It was difficult, extremely so. Especially if you weren't mentally prepared. Marinette knew that better than most.
Especially since Felix was not a fighter.
Felix who had been secluded and isolated all his adolescent life, being suddenly thrust with the power of Creation. It was a staggeringly overwhelming responsibility that Marinette herself took weeks to accept. Stoneheart had been a huge disaster but it also brought together her and Chat Noir. Giving them a reason to work as a cohesive unit.
"Marinette, none of it was your fault. You took an explosion just to give Mylene enough time to escape." Felix soothed, Adrien joined his brother in easing the tension that had grown in Marinette's smaller body.
She leaned into Felix' comfortable embrace and ran her fingers through Adrien's soft hair. And wasn't that amazing on its own though! Marinette had only dreamed of being able to touch those perfect locks.
"Thank you both." Marinette had whispered. The two had only hummed in acknowledgment and sat in silence as Marinette continued to take in their warmth.
Shaking the memory away, Marinette focused on her task at hand. Revealing her secret to Alya And dealing with the fallout afterward. She knew Alya was hurriedly setting up her camera for a proper interview- or as proper as it could get with a phone and a tripod stand.
"Tikki, transformme moi." in a flash of pink light, Ladybug stood in front of Alya's bedroom door. Pushing the door open, she entered to see Alya in the middle of changing out of the pajamas the two had been lounging in all day. A bright blush spread across tan cheeks and Ladybug yelped a loud "Sorry!" And shut the door immediately.
Hearing loud laughter coming from the other side of the door, Ladybug let out a sigh. It was nice to know that Alya wasn't upset at the mishap. "Ok, I'm decent!" Alya called out, mirth still audible in her voice. Ladybug let out an exasperated sigh and entered the room with an apologetic smile plastered on her face.
"I apologize for that Alya, thank you for inviting me to your home." Ladybug scanned the room, the camera phone was set up facing the bed, where the wall was completely covered inch by inch in Ladybug posters or fanart. When Marinette had first seen Alya's wall she had blushed three shades of red never before seen unless in the presence of Adrien.
Now Ladybug could take an appreciative look and grin at her biggest fan- no matter what Adrien had said, Alya was definitely a bigger fan because Chat Noir was her partner and not some rabid fan. The look of shock and eventual awe on Adrien's face had made her heart flutter and her stomach squeeze.
Ladybug shook the thought away and made her way to Alya's bed, and sat primly at the edge, unsure of how the reporter wanted her. Alya who had been fiddling with the camera glanced at her hero and shared a genuine smile. "Just get yourself comfortable. It'll be a casual thing." The redhead waved her hand as she spoke indicating that Ladybug was too out of the frame.
"Where's Marinette? Did she forget how to get back to my apartment after getting you?" Alya stood straight and tried to peer out of her bedroom door in an attempt to spot her elusive best friend.
"I'm sure she's around. I'm sorry to rush you Alya, but I have another appointment right after this one so could we get started?" Alya could only stand and watch as Ladybug gave one of her winning smiles as the hero waved a dismissive hand. Alya would have promised her hero the world. Bent down towards all her of her will and any of her fancies.
Ladybug just had that kind of power over her. Over the masses. When Ladybug was standing strong in front of the Akuma, it made everyone believe in their spotted heroine.
No matter how dire the situation was, even when Alya had been trapped in ice with Manon all those years ago, just seeing Ladybug pounding on the ice had inspired hope in her heart.
If Ladybug wasn't giving up then neither was she. Sometimes it felt like the world would bend over from Ladybug's wind. Ladybug's will. It reminded her of how no one stood against Marinette, her best friend when she had that determined gleam in her eye.
It was a quick interview, Alya even managed to play a simple game. The interview was recorded live on her Ladyblog of course. Alya had challenged the spotted hero to a simple game of Fuck, Marry or Kill using images of her previous Akuma that she had printed in advance. Alya had remembered suggesting the idea to Marinette and had laughed when her best friend's face turned a bright shade of red.
Everyone knew that Marinette had always preferred Chat Noir, stating that the black-clad hero never got the recognition that he so obviously deserved. So Alya had held up an image of Chat Noir grinning down at the camera with an arm outstretched as if to say "Come with me" and asked the blushing girl.
"I-I can't answer that." Marinette had stuttered.
Alya had laughed and left it alone. But now looking at Ladybug who sat confidently on her bed and looking so eager, Alya could only smirk in amusement. She had printed out an additional photograph that she hadn't told even Marinette.
So Ladybug, are you ready to play Fuck, Marry or Kill?" Alya had wiggled her eyebrows and listened as Ladybug giggled. "I'm more than willing to play Alya, but I must insist on changing the rules a little bit. I wouldn't want to Kill anybody or engage in sexual relations." The way Ladybug had mock whispered 'sexual relations' made Alya laugh so hard she had to clutch her stomach.
Alya had hummed in agreement tapping a finger against her chin in thought,"Then what about… Kiss, Marry or De-evilize?" Ladybug had simply nodded her agreement, letting out a soft giggle. The sound shot straight through Alya's heart. How adorable!
Two years of chasing after the elusive heroine meant Alya had heard almost every interview Ladybug had given. Ever. But it was so rare to hear the strictly professional hero let out a sound that made her seem so human.
"Alright first up is Stormy Weather, the Pharaoh, and Stoneheart." Alya set the printed images propped up so that it was visible to the camera while Ladybug hummed thoughtfully.
"I would definitely marry the Pharoah." Ladybug answered, at the look of surprise on Alya's face Ladybug only laughed. "I would kiss Stormy Weather and De-evilize Stoneheart." Alya still sat gaping at the heroine like a fish.
"He tried to sacrifice you to the gods!" Alya exclaimed, clutching a pillow tight to her chest. "Well yes, but that just shows how devoted he is to what he's passionate in. Doesn't that make him a good husband?" Ladybug cocked her head to the side, letting blue-black hair fall over her eyes.
"Well… yeah, I can see that. Doesn't mean he should be so passionate that he had to kidnap me just to use me as a sacrifice." Alya huffed, relenting to her hero. Ladybug noted the pout on the other girl's face and sent her a gentle smile.
"Alya, you know how much I appreciate your blog, but please believe me when I say that I don't like seeing you in danger. Especially not when you're chasing the latest scoop." Ladybug straightened up and frowned at the redhead sitting across her.
"Forget about me for the moment, this interview is about you!" Alya waved Ladybug's concern away. "Ok so why would you kiss Stormy Weather and not Stoneheart?" Ladybug simply laughed, "Because Stoneheart doesn't have any lips to kiss." which made Alya smile, watching her idol so unguarded.
"Alright next trio! Dark Cupid, Gamer or Copycat. Who would you Kiss, Marry or De-evillize?" Alya wiggled her eyebrows once again, the printed out image of the three Akumas placed in view of her camera for the audience to see.
If Alya had been able to see Ladybug's face without the mask, she would have noticed the flush that spread across her hero's pale skin. Alas, the mask covered most of the upper half of Ladybug's face and the young hero's embarrassment was concealed.
"De-evilize Copycat." Ladybug immediately blurted out. Alya raised a questioning eyebrow before smirking at the masked hero. "That was awfully quick Ladybug, is there a reason?" Ladybug shifted slightly in her seat before looking away, playing a shy front.
"I wouldn't want anybody else as my partner except for Chat Noir. Nobody else could come close." Ladybug batted her dark lashes and gave a confident smile. Alya could only coo at how loyal and utterly amazing her greatest hero was.
"Anyways," Ladybug waved her hand in an attempt to divert the conversation away. "I would marry Dark Cupid and kiss the Gamer." Giggling slightly. If Kim were here he would have whooped in delight.
"Why not marry the Gamer?" Alya questioned, leaning in closer as if it would prompt her hero to answer faster.
"I am a Ladybug who cannot fly," Ladybug's shoulder dropped just a little at the admission, even if everybody in Paris already knew. "I would love to be able to use Dark Cupid's wings. Even if he has to carry me over the entirety of the city. The view from the Eiffel Tower is splendid, truly. But what I wouldn't give to fly high in the sky and see Paris' beauty for myself." Ladybug clasped her hands and sighed wistfully.
"Hmm, that does sound amazing. I've always wanted to fly." Alya sighed before smiling once again as she replaced the image.
"Alright then between the Puppeteer, Guitar Villain and Pixelator, who would you Kiss, Marry or De-evilize?" Making sure the image was visible to the camera.
"De-evilize the Puppeteer, obviously." Ladybug frowned. "I didn't expect you to bring children into this Alya." Alya grimaced at Ladybug's stern tone. "Sorry, it's all in good fun. She's the only one. Promise" The reporter held her hand up in an attempt to represent her swearing to the truth. Ladybug merely narrowed her eyes, glancing slightly to the side to check the time. The two had been talking for longer than she had thought.
"I'd marry Guitar Villain and kiss the Pixelator." Ladybug gave Alya her attention and bright smile. Alya only nodded in agreement, glad for the change of subject. That definitely was an obvious choice. Who would want to marry a creepy stalker anyway?
The two played a couple more rounds. Before she held up only two pieces of papers in her hands. Ladybug sat in rapt attention, she wanted to wrap up the interview soon. If her plan was to go according to plan.
Flipping both papers at the same time, Alya gave a bright grin to her hero. "Who would you kiss or marry. Chat Noir or Adrien Agreste?"
Watching the always composed Ladybug shift uncomfortably in her seat sent a thrill down Alya's spine. It was obvious Ladybug had a thing for Adrien, there was an undeniably large amount of footage where Alya had caught the spotted hero just staring at one of Adrien's modeling ads during her patrol.
"Adrien Agreste is a civilian." Ladybug had hissed. Bright blue eyes narrowing and Alya resisted the urge to back off and play it off as a joke. But her interview needed this. Paris needed this. It was obvious how the citizens relied on the masked duo, there was no mistaking how everyone complied whenever Ladybug required the assistance of the public.
Yet it seemed that Paris had forgotten that their heroes were not infallible. Were not above getting hurt.
"Ladybug, under that mask, you're a civilian too. You're human too. Paris may look up to you to protect us but the citizens should also know that they're standing behind a young woman. A hero by any definition but you are still a young woman with dreams, friends, family and like any normal healthy young woman, you are allowed to have a crush." Alya spoke firmly, complete believing her words. Ladybug searched the other girl's face with bright blue eyes, looking for even a hint of a lie or deceit.
"I-I… Thank you, Alya. Truly. It's nice to be reminded that I truly am just a normal person underneath this mask." Ladybug gave the reporter a shy smile.
"Now tell us. I'm sure all of Paris is wondering." Nudging the photos towards the spotted hero. Picking them both up, Ladybug could only give a gentle smile. If Alya had asked two weeks ago, she would have stuttered and helplessly tried to come up with an answer.
But then Bomb Voyage had happened. Marinette had discovered Adrien to be her ever diligent partner in crime fighting. Marinette had discovered that Adrien had been one of her best friends after all. One of the few people she would have given her unwavering trust.
"Both. I would marry both of them." Ladybug laughed at Alya's delighted expression and gave her a saucy wink. "How could I possibly choose between Paris' two heartthrobs. I'm only human after all."
Alya, satisfied with the response, concluded the interview with a bright grin. Getting up to turn off the camera as Ladybug continued to wave to the 'audience'.
"And that's a wrap." Alya called out as she cut off the stream. Ladybug dropped her arm and let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for the interview Alya." Ladybug carefully leaned against the wall, making sure not to crumble any of the reporter's posters. Alya took her phone off the tripod and made sure that the live stream had been uploaded onto her blog without any disruptions.
"Alya, this interview isn't your only present." Alya gasped as she tore her eyes away from her phone.
"Tikki, de-transformme moi." a flash of bright light forced Alya to close her eyes and lifted an arm to shield them.
"Surprise?" Marinette called out with uncertainty, arms spread, a nervous smile spread across her cheeks. This was it, Marinette Dupain-Cheng would either live as a hero or die at the hands of her best friend.
"Mon Dieu." Alya whispered. She felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
Did you enjoy this chapter? I know I enjoyed writing it. Leave a review! I'll always appreciate pun ideas because I'm terrible with coming up with any.