Chapter Text
Marinette’s face goes completely white, her hands tensing and untensing at her sides. Almost like she can’t decide whether to freeze or throw a punch.
“Hahaha” She laughs softly, awkwardly, before getting louder, “Hahaha”
Alix, simply stands there, running her figure along the map, tracing where the tunnel she saw should have been.
“Marinette,” Alix says sharply, “I’m right aren’t I.”
Marinette’s fringe covers her eyes as she tilts her head downward. She nods very quickly.
“I’m also going to say that Alya knows too?” Alix asks, leaning closer to her to whisper in her ear, “I only ask because it will be important information for me to have in the future.”
Marinette nods again.
Alix pulls Marinette into a hug, gripping tightly around her as tears seep into her shirt. Marinette’s dried tears not being as dry as Alix thought.
Although she was just frozen, she could have been crying when that happened.
“I’m sorry, I scared you the other day.” Alix starts, “I figured Cat Noir out before I figured you out, and both him and Plagg know. When he was unable to make that fight Plagg came to find me. Said you would need help.”
Marinette pulled back suddenly looking directly into Alix’s eyes, “That was you?!” The shock seemingly stopping her tears. “Oh, I’m so sorry, if I had known,” she rambles eyes drifting back towards the ground, and trails off “What kind of hero attacks a team member.”
“The kind of hero who wants to ensure their partner is safe, and doesn’t want them to be replaced.”
They hug again, this time Marinette pulling Alix towards her. And the two of them stand there for a good couple minutes. Overhead the sounds of a battle can be heard. Cat Noir and Scarabella, taking on the akuma.
“They must be struggling.” Marinette says suddenly, “They need help.”
“We can’t though.” Alix replies, “Not without immediately getting frozen.”
“True.” Marinette hums pulling the map out of Alix’s grasp, “What about the map?”
“I saw an akuma come out of there.” Alix admits, “Then I found a lever, that opened into a tunnel. A tunnel that isn’t on this map.”
A scream erupts overhead, Marinette jumps while Alix scrambles to grab the map and tuck it underneath her shirt.
“Oh, hey girls.” Cat Noir murmurs, “Good hiding place, stay here, your favourite black cat will save the day.” He extends his staff and vaults back up to the ceiling.
"Yeah, I'd say it's going well." Alix grumbles.
"But the map," Marinette starts, "You think it might help us find Monarch?"
"I think it might."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Alix asks, looking down towards Marinette as the two of them descend into the tunnels, near the Agreste's.
"The sooner Monarch is gone the sooner, this is all over." Marinette declares as she lands at the bottom of the ladder, "And then all of us can live somewhat normal lives."
Alix drops down the ladder and takes the torch Marinette hands her. Pointing it down towards the water.
Heading down into what might be Monarch's lair without a single miraculous, yeah, we’ve really thought this through.