Hey friends and happy new year! Just wanted to address some things! First off I am so glad you all are enjoying the story! Really, It makes me super happy to know I'm not just writing this for myself. Secondly. I get a lot of suggestions and questions from you guys about where the story is going and I always feel bad because I want to answer them but feel like if I do it will give too much away, ya know? However, I have decided to try and do so in one big answer to cover everyone. And that answer is: I have a plan, sorta. A lot of people are curious about how Luka and Kagami and Marinette and all that will come into play. Someone even suggested I bring in another character to swoop in on Lucy to strike jealousy in Adrien. To answer without answering, I've got it covered. I have had a general idea of how I want things to play out from the beginning, the hard part is just coordinating the episodes to get to those points. The hard thing about adding OC's in fics is that unless you are going to write totally original episodes, as many people do, it can be hard to fit your OC characters in a way that makes sense. Especially since Lucy as of the moment is not a miraculous user. That's a big reason I skip over a lot of the Akuma attack scenes. Not only am I just not good at action writing but also Lucy doesn't have a whole lot of reason to be there. Even when I add tigress in the mix, the conversation that happens during an Akuma attack is never so important that I would feel the need to include it all that often. The focus is just on taking care of the bad guy. In many cases, when I cant think of a way to fit Lucy in properly I skip the episode altogether. I did that with a small handful of episodes from the first season. These next few episodes, Befana, Riposte, and Robustus fall a little in that category however due to certain events that happen in them (Introduction of Kagami, Marinette's birthday, and the reveal of what Chat Noir and Ladybugs miraculous can do together) I think it is important to make them fit somehow. Anywho! That's all I wanted to go over. I have plans for Marinette, Luka, Kagami, and so on but I need to collaborate it in a way that works so be patient my little readers!
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It doesn't matter if we don't mean to do the things we do. It doesn't matter if it was an accident or a mistake. It doesn't even matter if we think this is all up to fate. Because regardless of our destiny, we still have to answer for our actions. We make choices, big and small, every day of our lives, and those choices have consequences. We have to face those consequences head-on, for better or worse. We don't get to erase them just by saying we didn't mean to. Fate or not, our lives are still the results of our choices. He was starting to think that when we don't own them, we don't own ourselves. Lucy didn't come to school the next day. No one really seemed to take much notice of it, but Adrien did. Lucy never seemed like the vulnerable type. She was kind and thoughtful but somehow never seemed to let her emotions be what drove her interactions with people. This was what worried Adrien. She had trusted Chat. She trusted him with her emotional baggage. The stuff she otherwise kept hidden from everyone else. He didn't know how to come back from it. He wanted to give her space and time while at the same time he wanted to rush to her and apologies and explain. But how could he explain really? No matter what he did, he would have to keep lying to her.
Maybe Plagg was right. Maybe Adrien needed to distance himself from Lucy as Chat Noir and swoop in as himself. He wished he had done that from the beginning. Still, he didn't want her to hate Chat either. Adrien decided that he would try and visit Lucy tonight. Clear the air and try to convince her that as much as he reciprocated her feeling, a relationship between them would be too dangerous. It was in her best interest for them to simply remain as they were, friends. Oh, the cruel irony. How the idea of remaining friends with Lucy when he desired so much more ate away at him. Still, he supposed he could compare their relationship to his and Ladybugs in that small aspect. As much as he loved the idea of his lady, her friendship, partnership, and the way she viewed him as a person as a whole, always triumphed over the importance of her potential romantic interest in him. Adrien wanted Ladybug to need Chat Noir. To value him as her partner above all else. If she ever didn't, Adrien wasn't sure he could continue to be Chat. In a way, he felt similarly to Lucy. He wanted to be with her romantically, but he didn't want to risk their friendship in order to achieve that. Adrien needed Lucy in his life, even if it wasn't the way he wanted. Lucy had always been an understanding person. She held Chloe accountable for her actions, but always did so in a way that pushed Chloe to try harder. Adrien could accept Lucy's anger. She had every right to be upset with him, or Chat more specifically. He could only hope that she would see his remorse and let him back in. He wouldn't feel right about pursuing her as Adrien until he could gain her forgiveness as Chat.
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Perhaps the greatest faculty our minds possess is the ability to cope with pain. Classic thinking teaches us of the four doors of the mind, which everyone moves through according to their need.
First is the door of sleep. Sleep offers us a retreat from the world and all its pain. Sleep marks passing time, giving us distance from the things that have hurt us. When a person is wounded they will often fall unconscious. Similarly, someone who hears traumatic news will often swoon or faint. This is the mind's way of protecting itself from pain by stepping through the first door.
The second is the door of forgetting. Some wounds are too deep to heal, or too deep to heal quickly. In addition, many memories are simply painful, and there is no healing to be done. The saying 'time heals all wounds' is false. Time heals most wounds. The rest are hidden behind this door.
The third is the door of madness. There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.
Last is the door of death. The final resort. Nothing can hurt us after we are dead, or so we have been told.
Today, Lucy chose the first door. Oh, how she hated this feeling. The feeling of not being good enough. She had been down this road before with her ex. He was her first love and first heartbreak and Lucy had no desire to feel that way ever again and yet here she was. Curled in a ball on her bed, her blankets wrapped around her like a burrito of a person. She had told her mother that she did not feel well that morning. It wasn't entirely a lie. She didn't feel well. Unfortunately, her ill state was one that no medicine could help the symptoms of. No, only time would heal her now. Lucy felt stupid. She had let herself get so engrossed in a boy who could never offer her anything. As she sat in her room alone with her thoughts for the majority of the day, Lucy did have some time to calm down and reflect on the situation. Chat Noir felt bad for kissing her. She could tell that much. What Lucy wasn't sure of was if he felt bad because he didn't feel the same way, or if he felt bad because he did and he knew how bad of an idea it was. In all honesty, Lucy wasn't sure which scenario was worse. Chat rejecting her because he didn't want her or him rejecting her because he couldn't want her. With Ladybug it was different. They were both superheroes and loving one another wouldn't put themselves in any more danger than they already were realistically. But Chat loving her...well...loving her could very well be the death of him. Of both of them. So what was she supposed to do? Lucy knew she had to talk to Chat. It was the only real way to try and fix what she had broken. After all, she had done this. She had pushed him. She had kissed him. If Lucy had just swallowed her emotions then none of this would be happening. She and Chat would be able to keep playing their parts and she could submerge herself in this pretend life they had created together. But that wasn't who she was. Lucy had always been one to push away negative emotions. She did not have the energy for negativity within herself. But positive emotions. Those she always felt people, including herself, should push forward. You should always tell the people you love that you love them. It's always necessary. She sighed, getting out of bed, and getting dressed. She needed to get out for a bit.
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Adrien had to say, he was taken back when his opponent removed their helmet to reveal a pretty Asian girl. They had been fencing and went up against one another with more intensity than he had with any other opponent. She was clearly out to prove she was the best and Adrien had no problem giving that title to her. She had proven herself in every way in his eyes. However, when the time came that they had struck one another, Marinette had been the only one around to actually witness it. She had claimed the first hit was given by Adrien but he wasn't so sure. Glancing down at her ring, Adrien noticed a Chinese character that looked vaguely familiar to him as he suggested they try for a decisive match.
"What's the point?" The girl asked disheartened. "There are no second chances in my family."
She told him goodbye and got into her car leaving Adrien with a sense of relation hitting him. This girl, whose name he had yet to get, clearly came from a home similar to his own. One filled with incredibly high expectations and little room for failure. If their roles had been reversed, and Adrien had been sent to try out and lost, his father's disappointment would radiate from him. It was a feeling Adrien hated. It was a look he hated. Adrien wouldn't wish that on his worse enemy. So he hopped in his car and told his driver to follow the one that had just left. He was determined to convince this mystery girl that she had one, or at the very least try again.
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Lucy sat on a bench inside the Louvre. Art was always her happy place. She slipped her headphones in, blaring music into her ears as she tried to temporarily forget her troubles. She stared at the statue 'Nike of Samothrace'. The statue was to celebrate the Great Gods in their protection of the island of Samothrace during war. There is no head or arms to the statute but it is clearly a woman with large angel wings standing upon what seemed to be a ship end. Lucy couldn't help but find it particularly lovely. One of her favorite parts of the ceilings. Especially those in the Apollo gallery. Lucy wasn't a religious person but mythology always interested her. She closed her eyes and let the music in her ears play as she leaned back against the wall to relax, completely missing the speaker announcement that the Louvre was to be closed due to an Akuma heading in its direction as well as all the people making their way for the door.
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Chat Noir creeped out of the sarcophagus Ladybug had placed him in and went off to find her when pain shot through his leg. When he was Chat Noir, his suit made him nearly indestructible, as it did with Ladybug and Tigress. It was why they were able to take the hits they took when fighting Akumas. However, he had made the choice to tackle Ladybug earlier in the street to avoid her being impaled by Riposte in his civilian form and in doing so managed to injure his left ankle. As it turns out, becoming Chat Noir did not automatically heal wounds made as Adrien. He quickly, but carefully began to walk don the halls to find Ladybug only for the blonde girl that he couldn't stop thinking about, sitting casually on a bench nearby. Chat quickly made his way over to her and shook Lucy's shoulder startling her slightly. She pulled out her headphones and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Chat? What are you-?"
"Lucy you need to get out of here. This whole place was evacuated already. There is an Akuma on the loose."
Looking around Lucy realized how she was no the only civilian around and stood up.
"Oh! Jeeze, okay!"
"I don't know where Riposte or Ladybug and Tigress is in the museum. Just go hide somewhere for now. I don't want to risk you running into the fight while you're trying to leave."
Lucy nodded. "Um, yeah, there is a bathroom around the hall. I'll go hang out in there."
Chat watched her leave and sighed. Lucy didn't seem upset to see him, so that was a good thing he supposed, but then again, he wasn't there to talk about what had happened but warn her of danger. He only hoped when he spoke with her later she would be as casual as she was just a moment ago. Not wanting to waste time, Chat went back on his hunt for his team and Riposte, reminding himself he needed to be careful not to give away his injury in front of Ladybug and Tigress.
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As the girls fell into the Pharo exhibit, making Ladybug panic as she looks over to the sarcophagus she had hidden Adrien in. Riposte noticed this and jumped over to it, breaking it open with her saber. Ladybug looked in shock as it was revealed that Adrien was no longer inside. Tigress was the first to get up and quickly hit the alarm, bringing the metal bars down to temporarily lock Ripose inside. Chat Noir slid down the stair's railing as Ladybug got up and weld her yo-yo.
"He's gone!" She told him, to which Chat casually replied who?
"Riposte wants revenge on Adrien Agreste and Ladybug hid him inside that sarcophagus. He's not in there anymore." Tigress explained. "Isn't that odd?"
Chat smiled at them. "Eh, maybe he was feeling a bit clawstrophobic." He punned. Ladybug looked at him with an 'Are you serious?' look and Tigress just shook her head.
"Let's look for him together Ladybug! And finish this match!" Riposte shouted, breaking down the bars that separated them. The three dodged the flying bar pieces and Ladybug quickly tossed her yo-yo in the air.
"Lucycharm!"
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The Akuma Alert has been called off. The Louvre will soon be opening. Thank you for your cooperation.
Lucy exited the bathroom and quickly made her way to the exit. As she walked outside she saw a girl in red on the phone. Lucy clasped her hands behind her back and walked over to the girl.
"Akumatization am I right?" Lucy asked casually, making the girl jump a little. "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Lucy." She introduced, giving a small nod.
"Uh, Kagami." She replied nodding back.
"So was it you then? The person who got Akumatized. I only ask because, besides me, you are the only one around."
"I...yes...did I hurt you? I apologize if I did...I don't..." Kagami started but Lucy waved her off.
"No, no. I'm fine. Didn't even see you." Lucy said before clearing her throat, feeling the awkwardness in the air. "I just wanted to tell you, it's okay. I've been akumatized too. A lot of people have. It's almost a right of passage really. You haven't really experienced France unless you've been Akumatized in my opinion."
Kagami stared at her, till suddenly, she cracked a faint smile. "You're funny."
"Excuse me." A voice called out, making both girls look. Adrien stood before them with Kagami's saber. Lucy didn't have to ask why Adrien was there. It was obvious he had something to do with the situation. The situation seemed to revolve around Fencing given both teen's attire. The two went to apologize to one another making Lucy giggle a little. Adrien attempted to give Kagami back her saber, only for her to tell him to keep it.
"I personally think the point was yours," Adrien said.
"That's not what your friend saw," Kagami argued calmly.
Adrien scratched the back of his head. "Marinette can get flustered easily. She's kind and means well. She'd never cheat. Today was her first-ever experience with fencing." He explained, not wanting Kagami to blame Marinette but also wanting her to see how she could have made a mistake.
"You like her a lot, huh?" Kagami asked, smiling at Adrien.
"Marinette? Yeah, of course!" He spoke before glancing at Lucy who smiled with a raised eyebrow. "She's a very good friend, and you'll really like her too, once you get to know her." He clarified. "Please take it." He insisted, handing the saber to the Asian girl.
"I'll be happy to get to know your friend Marinette!" Kagami said happily. Adrien held out his hand and introduced himself and Kagami did the same. "Get ready for that decisive match!" She said as her ride pulled up beside her.
"I can't wait Kagami." Adrien smiled as she got into the car and drove away.
Changing his footing, Adrien winced, making Lucy look at him in concern.
"You're hurt." She spoke aloud.
"It's nothing. Sprained my ankle. I'll be good as new in no time." Adrien explained. "You weren't at school today."
Lucy sighed. "Yeah. I just needed a day."
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly, guilt settling in his stomach.
"I'm fine. I won't burden you with my-"
"No," Adrien said. "Please, burden me. Always."
Lucy looked at him and gave a small smile. "I'll burden you if you burden me."
"Deal."
"I made a mistake." She said.
"A mistake?"
Lucy shrugged her shoulders slightly. "I don't want to really call it that a mistake, it was just something that I probably should have simply not done. I don't wanna say I regret my actions exactly but...I made things complicated for everyone involved."
Adrien looked at Lucy, who had her eyes on the ground, kicking pebbles with her feet.
"You should talk to...whoever is involved. I'm sure it will all work out." He suggested, hoping Lucy would take his advice. It felt wrong. Encouraging her to try and forgive him this way. Like he was tricking her or something.
"Yeah, I know."
Before any more could be said on the subject, Adrien's ride pulled up to take him home. Adrien gave Lucy one last look before getting in the car. She waved him off and he could only hope he could fix what he had broken.
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Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back. That's part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads - at least that's where Lucy imagines it - there's a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own hearts we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in a while, let in the fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you'll live forever in your own private library. She sat in her room that evening and pondered on the idea of talking to Chat Noir. That was if he even decided to show up. The more she sat on it the more she realized she wasn't ready. Lucy knew it wasn't fair. She was sure he was unhappy too but unfortunately she could not help but be slightly consumed with trying to protect her own heart from further damage, then concern herself with the possible damage of his. Sadness and anger had a way of bringing out selfishness in most people. Lucy was no exception to that. So that night, when Chat Noir finally made his way to her window, giving it a soft knock, she ignored it. Chat did not call out her name. He did not try and talk to her through the window that tonight had curtains drawn in front of it, blocking his view from inside. Hesitantly he reached to open it, only to find for the first time, in a very long time, it was locked.
Alright. A shorter chapter I know but that's just how it goes sometimes. I hope you all had an awesome New Year and didn't party too hard! As always remember to like and comment and let me know what you think! I always enjoy your feedback! I'll try and get cracking on the next chapter as soon as I can, until then Chow for now and I will see you in the next chapter!
