After the events that unfolded with her friends who became the villain Gang of Secrets, Marinette knew she couldn't keep her secret forever. She put her friends in danger because of her secret. She had gotten them akumatized because she was so afraid of everything. The only thing she felt was guilt.
Other than her identity being on the line, she found one thing to be quite amazing. The fact that she managed to talk Alya out of being a villain. Now that was power right there.
While Lady Wi-fi jumped from rooftop to rooftop, Ladybug had managed to capture her from the skies and leave her hanging in an alleyway. Her phone slid across the ground towards Ladybug's waiting feet.
Ladybug crushed her phone and gasped when she hadn't found the akumatized object.
Lady Wi-fi smirked when Ladybug had gasped, "Ha! Bummer for you, Ladybug! I don't have the akuma!"
"No biggie." the heroine said softly. "I just wanted to talk to you anyways."
"I've got nothing to say to you."
Now was the time to try and talk to Alya even though she was akumatized all because of her. "Alya," she began. "From what I understand you've been having some issues with your best friend. Her name is Marinette."
The villain looked away from Ladybug for a brief moment and turned her head the other way.
"Right? I don't know what happened between the two of you, but I want to tell you about a friend of mine. She's a superhero." She put her fist up in front of herself. "You know Rena Rouge, right?"
"Huh?" Hearing that name caused Lady Wi-fi to turn her head back to look at Ladybug. She raised an eyebrow and her lips parted slightly.
Ladybug's eyes darted down as she spoke, "Of course we keep secrets from each one another." The ladybug themed superhero then looked back up at her best friend, "Mainly because of my secret identity, but even though we can't tell each other everything, we trust each other." She clasped the both of her hands over chest. A hopeful gleam appeared in her eyes. "And that's why we can fight side by side." Ladybug smiled.
The villain in front of Ladybug seemed very interested in what she was saying. She looked down.
"You can reject the power Shadowmoth gave you." What Ladybug had said seemed to start something.
Lady Wi-fi began to resist his power. Then, a dark blue outline of a moth mixed with a peacock appeared on her face. Shadowmoth was speaking to her.
And Ladybug knew she couldn't control that. So, she pushed her to resist more with more words, "I trust you completely, Alya and I need you. I need Rena Rouge!" She pulled her yo-yo back towards herself to release her best friend.
The villain gasped and her eyes shot open. She clenched her fists and then placed her hands on her head, grunting with restraint.
The heroine held up her fists. She knew her best friend was better than this. She could do this.
And she did. A surge of power had sent Ladybug back a few steps when Alya released herself from Shadowmoth's hold. She became her normal self and had fallen to her knees.
When she told her friends about her break up with Luka, she wasn't telling the full truth. But at least it was some truth. And her feelings for Adrien...
Alya saw right through Marinette. She knew already that she wasn't telling her everything.
She could have told Alya that she was Ladybug. She wouldn't have to be as alone anymore. As Ladybug, she told Rena Rouge that they were best friends. So, how come she couldn't bring herself to tell her best friend now?
To stick with friendship with Luka or Adrien? She trembled at the thought of never being able to be with either of them. Those two were just so special to her. How could she just let them go like that? On top of that, Su-Han was on her butt all the time about her being a guardian. How he'd berate her about being irresponsible. But wasn't he himself irresponsible as well?
That time Wang Fu got akumatized because of his rudeness.
Marinette sighed softly. She looked over at her phone. She still had Luka's phone number.
"I'm here for you, Marinette. You can tell me whatever it is when you're ready."
She reached over and grabbed her phone. Did she need to confide in the kwamis and tell them what she was about to do? They knew she was alone.
Marinette opened her phone and scrolled through her contacts. She stopped at the person who had the turtle contact. It had been months and she still hadn't gotten rid of his contact. She missed Wang Fu as much as the kwamis.
She took a deep breath to keep herself together. With her nimble fingers, she continued to scroll through her phone. Alya, Adrien, Chat Noir, Luka.. Luka! She clicked on his contact and brought her phone up to her ear.
The bluenette waited for a few moments. She was surprised when she heard a hello on the other side.
His voice..
"Luka..."
"Are you alright, Marinette?"
"I.. I'm ready to tell you..." her voiced trembled once more. She had pushed away all of her friends. She had lied to them what was really going on. Her heart raced. "I'm... Ladybug.."
There was silence on the other side. Then he hung up on her.
She slowly set her phone down. Did what she say upset him? She really hoped he didn't get akumtaized. There was no way she could face him. Not in the state she was in. She brought her hands up to her face.
Now she understood. As long as she was guardian, she had to face this alone. And no one was going to help her.
She backed into a wall of her bedroom and slowly slid to the floor. She pulled her knees up to her chest and let her tears to flow. The bluenette didn't hear the door of her trapdoor open. She was startled when a soft hand cupped the side of her face.
Marinette looked up to see Luka. She buried her head into his chest.
No words needed to be spoken between them.
He now understood completely. So, he simply held her.
