I'm Not Ladybug
Chapter 10
Authors note: Hi guys! So it's been a while. I'm really trying to keep updating this story. Please just be patient with me. Also I love kudos and comments so please leave some with your thoughts! I have missed you all very much, thanks for still being here.
"Adrien what is it?" It was Plagg that asked. He saw the crestfallen look on Adrien's face and knew it must mean something bad.
"Have you seen her wrists?" The Kwami's looked at each other confused.
"What about her wrists?" Adrien seemed to be having a hard time speaking, which normally would kind of annoy Plagg, but right now it made him more worried than anything. His brows furrowed and his mouth moved like he was going to say something, but then he wouldn't.
"T ... .there's marks all over her arms. Very clearly put there on purpose….I just don't understand how we all missed this? Everyone in her life. How could no one have realized what she was doing to herself?" There was anger behind Adrien's words, but his voice stayed low and quiet. He was really trying hard to keep calm. He didn't need to fight right now, he didn't need to blame anyone right now. Including himself. RIght now they needed to focus on helping Ladybug…Marinette.
He heard the Kwami's fly closer to look at what he was talking about. He heard Plagg's quiet "Oh no…" and heard Tikki gasp. When he turned to look at the two both looked just as heartbroken as he felt. He didn't know if it made him feel better or worse that they were just as shocked as he was.
"What do we do?" Adrien asked, looking to the older creatures for help. He knew he always came off cocky as Chat and always acted like he had a solution, but he was very lost on what to do at this moment. He had no clue how to help his friend.
"Well as for the marks on her arms I'm not quite sure what to do about that. We've only had one other Ladybug who dabbled in such things and she didn't live long after." Plagg spoke nonchalantly, but Adrien could tell he was actually bothered.
"How did she die?" The Kwami's looked at the ground as Plagg spoke.
"She let herself die during battle. The suits only protect you as long as you want them too and depending on how much damage comes your way during a fight."
"And which was the case for Marinette?" His question hung in the silence. Neither Kwami wanting to answer, whether or not that was because they knew the answer or not, he couldn't say.
"Adrien, I don't know ... .Marinette has been going through a really hard time recently. There are a lot of things she isn't telling you. That she isn't telling any of her friends." Adrien looked to Ladybugs Kwami. Those large worried eyes.
"What type of things?" Tikki hesitated. Clearly not wanting to divulge her owner's secrest to the person she's in love with…not that Adrien knew that. Adrien knelt down next to the Kwami trying to come off as accepting as he could. "Tikki we need to know. Marinette's life could depend on it.
Tikki watched him for a few seconds. He wasn't sure what she was looking for, but he guessed she found it. "Marinette's family abandoned her. They've been gone for months and haven't checked on her. They are either too distracted with their own lives or they don't care about her. I haven't figured that part out yet. Marinette is getting bullied at school a lot. She doesn't feel safe there anymore. She doesn't feel like she can trust anyone especially since all of her friends are friends with her bullies she can't wrap her head around why her friends would be friends with people who torture her on a daily basis and honestly I can't blame her for that one. Oh and lastly the person she is in love with chose someone over her. As much as I don't agree with what she's doing I definitely understand her reasons." Her words were harsh and fast. She was clearly angry at the entire situation.
"What do you mean her friends are friends with her bully? I'm one of her friends and I wouldn't be friends with someone that treated her poorly." That wasn't the right thing to say to Tikki.
"Oh really? You're going to tell me you aren't friends with Chloe and Lila? That you have NEVER seen them treat her poorly? That you and Marinette's other friends aren't friends with Lila?" Adrien didn't know how to feel about the accusations.
"No, wait a minute! I'm nice to everyone. It doesn't matter who they are. And it doesn't help to be mean to people no matter who they are. Sometimes you just have to let things go."
"Oh yeah that really helps Marinette when she gets shoved against lockers or locked in the bathroom. Or when they make fun of her in front of your entire class while she sees that no one, not even the person she's in love with will do a single thing about it! That is the PERFECT advice Adrien! Let's just tell her to be nice and get over it! Perfect!" With that Tikki flew out the door leaving Adrien and his Kwami. Plagg wasn't looking in Adrien's direction.
"That's ridiculous. It's not my fault that she's like this….right?" It took Plagg too long to look up. When he did his eyes held a deep sadness and frustration.
"Look man. I told you so many times to let go of Ladybug and be with Marinette. I told you not to choose Kigami. I told you that Chloe and Lila were bad news. I gave you all the advice I could with what I could tell you. I have vows as a Kigami. I couldn't let you know who Ladybug was, but I tried my best to help you. You didn't listen. Marinette got hurt because of that. I can't blame Marinette or Tikki for being mad. You messed up this time." With those words being said Plagg flew onto the deck to check on Tikki. Leaving Adrien alone with Marinette's still body.
Adrien sat back down beside her. Looking at her bruised and bloody face and pale she was….he was scared. So so scared. He was also so sorry. "Marinette…I am so so sorry. About everything. I wasn't the friend I should have been to you. I'm so sorry I let you down…I never meant to. I promise from now on…I won't leave your side. I will make sure you're ok and that you know how much I care about you. I promise."