Long Walk and Conversation
The sun had enveloped the sky as the clock struck 5:30am. Marinette picked up her pace, realizing the cafe should have already opened; would she be able to get a good seat? She hated being in the back where the windows didn't let in any light, but what's worse than that would be having to walk back home or to another cafe. God, what a horrible morning, what a horrible week, she thought while her shoes tapped away on the empty street.
Just as she felt her anger bubbling up, Marinette's phone began to ring. There was a facetime waiting for her to answer. She slid the accept button after a moment of wondering if she felt like talking at that moment.
"Mari! What's up, girl?" Marinette beamed seeing her best friend's smiling face, maybe she did want to chat after all. It was magical how Alya knew exactly when she needed her.
"What's up is this ridiculous deadline," Marinette joked. "What about you, Alya? You're up super late!" Alya laughed.
"Yeah, and you're up stupid early!" Two two of them giggled. It was true, Alya had been in New York for the better part of two years for an internship with a big media company, it was around 12am on her side of the world. "I'm editing a report for the station, I won't be on TV but this is the first time they're featuring one of my pieces so it's kind of a big deal." Her voice was positive, but clearly a bit stressed. Marinette knew Alya was a little over her head in America, but really, she was thriving. With each project she completed with the company, Alya began to look more confident in her skills. She was made to be an investigative reporter.
"Kind of a big deal, huh?" Marinette raised a brow.
"Okay, a huge deal! Like, catastrophic if I don't ace it, kind of deal?" Alya let out a scream, forcing marinette to wince but her smile just widened. Alyas enthusiasm was absolutely infectious, and exactly the kind of positivity she was craving.
"Oh, come on." Marinette rolled her eyes, giving a knowing look to her best friend on the other side. "When have you ever delivered a sub-par product? It feels like the whole of New York wants you on their team." Alya sighed at this response, of course she knew that she was trying her best; but it wasn't just about her stories, she wanted her own show. She wanted the fame and benefits that came with being a well known reporter. Perhaps with fame, Alya thought, justice could come for people who had no voice.
"Yeah, sure," Alya retaliated. "That's why I'm living in a penthouse with maids at my beckon call?" She joked right back.
"Maybe not right now, but I'm sure there'll be a time where we go out to lunch and you'll have people reporting on you." Marinette looked so proud of her friend, reaching for the stars she was bound to be among. Her potential was so great and free of obstacles, at least it seemed like that when Alya spoke about her dreams and passions.
"Yeah right! I'll be in the trenches of the story, ain't no paparazzi taking candids of me." They both cheerfully giggled. "So, Mari," Alya began. "What have you been up to? I keep seeing your designs on Instagram but I never see your face." Alya paused for a second to take in her friend on the other line. Despite the graininess of the facetime call, she could clearly see how pale Marinette looked, she seemed thinner than usual. "Is everything good on the western front?"
"Of course," Marinette didn't leave the question to linger, she didn't feel like being interrogated. "I'm just walking to the cafe to get some work done on that coat design I'd told you about, the one for Janet's brand."
"Ugh… Janet? She's such a hard ass." Marinette laughed, not denying the very factual statement. "Why in the world are you designing something for her? I thought that coat design was for your own apparel line."
"Oh, no, I can't afford to turn down collaborations right now, gotta build my portfolio y'know?" Marinette tried her best to believe that. That making bad deals with even worse brands was gonna get her somewhere eventually. Most of the time the designs didn't even have her name attached to them, but all of that was okay, so long as she got paid and didn't have to bother her parents. Burdening them was the last thing she wanted to do after spending the better part of a year holed up in that room.
"Hm… it feels like you're just trying to stay busy." Alya, of course, began the interview.
"And why would that be?" Marinette responded, turning the tables; she knew exactly how to deflect Alyas probing questions.
"Maybe you're…" Alya was pensive for a moment, investigative skills churning the story into a rich concoction. "...Maybe you're feeling restless because there hasn't been a reason to use the Miraculous!" Alya shouted with vitriol. Marinette nearly dropped her phone from the intensity of the statement, and also because of the volume she decided to shout with.
"Alya! Oh my God! What part of secret identity do you not understand!"
"Oops, right, sorry!" Marinette put a palm to her forehead. Luckily no one was around to hear it, but that didn't stop the nervous sweating from starting. "It's just that we haven't needed them in years… it just feels like the whole secret part doesn't matter anymore."
"Well it does! We don't know what could be lurking just around the corner, we have to always be prepared." Alya looked at Marinette with a very puzzled expression.
"Well, I don't think working yourself to the bone every single day is a very good way to be prepared." Marinette shot a sour face at her friend. It was absolutely true, this was the worst shape she'd been in physically and mentally since being chosen to hold a Miraculous. She didn't want to acknowledge it though, if she acknowledged it, it would mean that she lost.
"And I don't think being in New York is very helpful either." Alyas eyes widened.
"Dude, are you kidding me?" Her brows furrowed intensely. "We've had this conversation about a million times. Every time I think you're over it you find a new way to make me feel bad for leaving Paris."
"Ah, no, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bring it up like that, I'm just a little overwhelmed…" Marinette took her index finger and thumb to her temple. "I feel a little lonely recently. Just… I'm sorry." Alya's expression softened.
"... I know. I also know you aren't telling me the full truth about how you're holding up." She let out a small chuckle. "It feels like we haven't had a good talk in ages, Mari."
"Yeah. It's hard to be so far apart." Marinette peered around her, remembering times that they'd walked this street together. Sometimes they ran, always almost late or just on time. Covering for each other was their specialty, especially during the height of Hawk Moths reign over the city. Time had flown by, now they were on different continents, pursuing separate dreams and walking silent streets with their teenage years far behind. Peace for the city had come with the price of moving on. "I think I just really miss you."
"Yeah, me too." The two steeped in silence for a moment. Their friendship had lasted this long, it was so strong and reliable, but a little distance made it hard for them to continue building the foundation. Now the cement they'd put their tower on was cracking.
"Look, Alya, I will tell you what's really going on," She bit her cheek, nervous to make the promise. "... But it needs to be in person. I can't do it while you're so far away."
Alya was taken aback. What could be so important that it had to be in person? She thought maybe it had to do with the Miraculous, but really, it seemed to be deeper than that. More personal. She peered over to the calendar on the wall behind her desk. There were so many marks and annotations it was hard to make out. Despite her positive attitude, the truth was that Alya was also being worked to the bone for pennies. So many projects, deadlines, reports… but she needed to go back soon.
"I'll make the time." Her words made Marinette's smile become warm, cheeks pink with life and hope. "It'll be a little while but i think i can come back in a month or two, how does that sound, girl?
"That sounds amazing, Alya!" She felt a wash of relief as Marinette shrieked with giddiness. Whatever she needed, Alya was prepared to be a shoulder to lean on, no matter what she had to sacrifice. She knew Marinette would do the same for her at a moment's notice. "Oh, I'm here at the cafe. Thank you for keeping me company on the walk here. You made my day so much better."
"I got you, girl."