Chapter Text
Marinette was heading to class, and she was actually early! But that isn't a strange thing any more.
Since she became the guardian of the miraculouses she learned to manage her time better. She would sleep early and wake up early, go to patrol straight after dinner in her shift days. And besides her homework she has to translate the miracle book, and she goes to Chinese classes to be able to understand the book.
She had agreed with Chat noir to patrol in shifts on the weekdays, one day her and one day him. But on the weekends they would patrol together and after that they would go to a rooftop were she would teach him every new thing she had learned about the miraculouses, like the other miraculous jewels and the secrets in the miracle book.
she looked at her hands wich had three bags of pasties, the first one had Alya's favorite cupcakes in it, the second one was cookies for Nino and the third was passionfruit macaroons for Adrien.the day before she had a little free time, so she decided to make her friends favorite pastries. She couldn't wait to see their happy faces when they see the baked goods.
Marinette was about to go into the class when she heard a loud annoying voice. "It's about time when you realize that the mighty ice queen doesn't fit to be a girlfriend ." It was Chloe.
"Chloe, Kagami wasn't my girlfriend to begin with. We went to a few dates and we just didn't click and we decided to stop. So please quit it. " Adrien replied, annoyance clear in his voice.
Marinette didn't enter the door. she had a feeling that they would stop talking if she got in, so she just hid behind the wall by the door frame and listened.
so that was why Kagami looked so sad yesterday! Marinette thought.
Kagami had asked to meet her. It was strange that the girl wanted to spend her rare free time with her. But when she asked, Kagami would say that it was nothing or change the subject. Marinette had assumed that something was wrong , but she didn't know what was it (Kagami wouldn't tell her. ) so she had just kept her company anyways.
By the way that Adrien and Chloe were talking so loud, she assumed that theywere the only people in class. There was still fifteen minutes for school to start.
She felt guilty for eavesdropping, but she was curious. And this was about Adrien.
"At least now that you opened your eyes, I think you know who to consider a friend and who not to." Chloe said quizzically.
"What? " Adrien said, puzzled.
What? She echoed.
"I mean Dupain-Cheng of course. " Chloe answered, as if it was so obvious-(and it was obvious).
"What about Marinette?" Adrien was still confused.
Oh no Chloe, don't you dare.
"Oh, don't tell me that you don't know."
"I don't know what Chloe? Why wouldn't I consider Marinette a friend?" Adrien's patience was wearing thin.
"Ugh. Seriously Adriekins, okay I'll say it. Maribrat has a big fat crush on you, I bet she would be happy now that you are not dating that girl anymore." Chloe said smugly.
"M-Marinette what? No she-she is just a-" Adrien stuttered.
"Just a friend? Yes, of course. But for you not her. See what I mean? "
Marinette couldn't breath. Her face was pale, her hands shaking. She quickly put the pastry bags in her backpack and made a sprint to the restroom. She would be late to class, but miss Bustier will understand.
Lunchtime has come in a blur. She was a little late to class, but that was not a problem. Everyone was used to that behavior of hers. Even if she hadn't been late in days.
The problem was that she couldn't face Adrien. She had acted as if she hadn't heard anything that morning, but her puffy red eyes said otherwise. She wasn't sad about Adrien knowing about her crush, she was thinking about telling him lately. But not like a love confession. She wanted to tell him in a way that could make things clear between them, to be better friends with him. She wanted him to know that her nervousness around him was for a reason.
But know that the cat was out of the bag in the worst way possible. She didn't know what to do because she was sure that after today things would be awkward between them. Marinette cherished Adrien's friendship, she didn't want to lose it. She just hoped that he wouldn't bring up that subject until she was ready to tell him everything.
It wasn't like she had fallen out of love with Adrien or anything. It was just that now she was the guardian of the miraculouses, some day, at some point, she would lose her memory, just like Master Fu. Marinette would forget her life, her family, her friends, her dreams, her achievements , her sad and happy moments, her everything. And above all of that, she would forget about the person that she loves the most, whoever that person was. So she wasn't up to a romantic life, because ruining another's life with hers was the last thing she wanted.
Alya's worried glances was burning a hole on the side of her head. Since the morning Alya had asked her if anything was wrong, if anything was bothering her, saying that she was here to listen. But Marinette had said that she was just tired and everything was fine.
She didn't know what else to say. She was afraid that if she told Alya what happened, she would push her to confess to Adrien. And she couldn't do that for the exact same reason as before.and if she told Alya she didn't want to confess, she would ask her why, she didn't have an answer for that, she couldn't say that she had magically moved on on Adrien, and she couldn't tell she was the guardian either.
"Marinette." Alya's voice cut Marinette river of thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Are you okay girl? you were starting at the desk for like ten minutes." Alya was looking at her in concern.
"Oh yes, I just zoned out. It's nothing." Marinette said as she started to gather her belongings.
"Anything you say girl."Alya said in l don't believe you but I won't push tone "we are going for lunch, you coming?"
Only then she noticed Nino and Adrien in the doorway, waiting for them. "Yes, I'll come. I just need to use the bathroom first. You guys go I'll catch up."
"Okay, but don't be late." And with that the three of them left the room.
Marinette quickly walked to the bathroom and checked if anyone was there and it wasn't, good. Being a guardian was a full time job, as in she has to keep the miraculouses with her all the time. because she needed to go to school and couldn't take all the jewels with her, she had to put wayzz in charge of that job until she gets back home. She had bought an old fashioned phone (by the money she had collected to buy some fabric, ) for wayzz to use in case anything happened, and she would check if everything was okay from time to time. She sat on the toilet and called the number on her phone. "Hello?"
"Miss Ladybug." Wayzz answered her right away.
"Wayzz, I told you not to call me that, even walls have ears. Besides you don't need to be so formal." It was hundredths time she had repeated that to him, but it seemslike he always forgets.
"Sorry, Marinette, " he apologized.
Marinette softened, she smiled even though he couldn't see her " it's all right, how is everything with you? "
" everything is going okay. "
" good, I will be home in a few hours. Good bye wayzz. " she bid him good-bye and ended the call.
Marinette got out of the restroom, ready to eat lunch with her friends when something or rather someone caught her wrist.
She looked at the hand that caught her wrist and saw a familiar orange sleeve, looking farther up, she saw a green eyed brunette smiling sweetly at her.
Lila, perfect. Exactly what I wanted right now. Marinette mentally deadpaned.
"Marinette, I was looking for you. " Lila said in a fake cheerful voice.
"I don't have time for you Lila." Marinette retorted, pulling her hand away.
Lila caught her wrist again "but I just want to have a friendly chat with you, and I'm sure you don't want to cause a scene here. " she nodded towards the other students in the courtyard.
That means if you don't come with me, I will make your life miserable right here.
Marinette didn't want to hear whatever Lila had to say. But she didn't want to test her backup plan too. So she just followed Lila, felling like she was throwing herself right into the lion's mouth.
The second they got in the restroom, Lila broke her sweet act and smirked.
"Well well well. As if isn't my favorite friend to talk to. " Lila growled the word 'friend'.
"Get to the point Lila. " Marinette said unimpressed.
She glared at Marinette. "I just wanted to say, Adrien managed to save you last time-"
Adrien what?
"-but I'm not taking back my word for ruining your life. And this time I will start with Adrien, since he is the only one who believes you. "
"Huh," Marinette scoffed. " please, you said it yourself. How can you take Adrien away from me when he knows you are a lier. " she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Maybe he doesn't believe me, but his father does. " Lila smirked and crossed her arms mirroring Marinette's movement.
Marinette's eyes blowed wide.
Why would Gabriel Agreste believe a lier like Lila, he was a man with experience. Sure he could see through people's lies.
Then gain Marinettehad lied to him when she took back the miracle book back to him and he seamed convinced.
Besides Lila modeling with Adrien was a proof that she made some kind of deal with Mr. Agreste otherwise he wouldn't let a person without experience model for him. Let alone with his son.
"I made a deal with Gabriel to keep Adrien away from bad influence , including you, and he will let me spend more time with him and model with him. " Lila moved towards her, Marinette walked backwards.
Ha, exactly what I thought.
"Sooner or later Adrien will be required to be mine.because I am in his father's good side, I will be famous and beloved by all of Paris, he would be left with no other choice. " Marinette's back came to contact with the wall and Lila's index finger was poking her chest roughly while she was speaking. "And you , you would be nothing but a clumsy nobody to him. " those words fell out like venom that fell from her mouth.
Huh, looks like the news of Adrien and Kagami breaking up has speared quickly.
Marinette grabbed the hand that was poking her chest and pulled it away. "First of all I'm not ' a clumsy nobody ' . And I don't care if Adrien would never be with me romantically not any more , but-"
Now Lila was the one who was moving backwards. "-I care about him nevertheless , so if you ever thought about using him for fame and hurting him. l will expose all of your lies one by one to the whole world." Marinette was fuming in anger.
she moved to the door and touched the door knob with her fingers "stay away from my friends Lila. " Marinette warned before she walked out.
Marinette walked to the cafeteria looking for her friends. with three pastry bags in one hand and her lunch box in the other .
She saw Alya waving at her and she immediately marched towards them.
"Girl, where have you been?" Asked Alya.
Marinette smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I got a little distracted. " then she showed them the pastry bags "anyway, who is up for some sweets?"
Their eyes lit up. She could almost see the stars in Alya and Nino's eyes, but Adrien looked surprised. As if she said something unbelievable.
Marinette handed them their bags . Alya and Nino took their own right away but Adrien didn't. Though he was facing her, his eyes were unfocused and deep in thought.
"Um, Adrien? " she called.
"Yeah? ... OH yes, sorry." He took the bag " l-l guess I z-zoned out?"
Was he stuttering?!
Great, all the progress she had made with Adrien was out of the window and she was back to square one. Just because miss blondey couldn't shut her mouth.
She watched as Adrien open the bag and he looked more surprised than before. " Wow Marinette thanks. This is amazing. "
She blushed a little at the praise.
No, bad Marinette. He said that your work was amazing not you .
"Yeah, thanks dudette. " Nino chimed in before she could reply.
"For what do we owe the pleasure? 'cause it's not every day that you can get a Marinette special." Alya joked.
Marinette sat opening her own lunch box. "Oh, it's nothing. I just had a little free time yesterday and decided to make some of 'Marinette's special treats' to my favorite people in the world, besides my parents of course. "
"Flattered. " all the three of them said in unison.
Marinette could only laugh.
Marinette's head was aching terribly it was feeling like someone was hitting her headwith a hammer. She could practically feel that blood moving in the veins of her head.
Alya gave her a wary look, only then she realized that she was pulling on her hear from pain.
Alya nodded towards Ms. Mendeleiev.
Marinette shook her head. no, she wanted to continue the lesson.
Alya gave her a look that said you do it or I will .
Marinette sighed and rose a hand up. " Ms.Mendeleiev may I go to the nurse's office. I don't feel very well. "
"Yes, you may. " the teacher said without looking away from the board.
Marinette putted her stuff in her bag clumsily (because of the headache) mouthed a 'good bye' to Alya and went to the nurse's office.
Marinette groaned loudly.
She looked at her desk and saw Tikki and Wayzz sleeping soundly. Then she looked away wishing that she could sleep too.
Half an hour of twisting and turning and sighing didn't work for her so she stood up and went down to her desk. Hopefully studying the miracle book would make her her tired (bored) enough to sleep.
She nudged Tikki's head and whispered "Tikki Wayzz you can go and sleep on my bed. I need to use the desk. "
They nodded and flew to the bed.
Marinette grabbed the tablet that has the pictures of the miracle book in it and unlocked it. She tried to make out which character means what but she couldn't focus.
She sighed again, images of the day's-not-so-good-events flooded in her mind . Chloe revealing her crush to Adrien, Lila's threats and Adrien's strange behavior.
Maybe he is being nice now. But Marinette knows that it wouldn't stay this way for long. He would eventually say that he doesn't want to be her friend anymore. Or worse, he would hate her thinking that she likes him because he was Gabriel Agreste's son. or because of his looks. Or-
No Adrien knows her he wouldn't think like that about her. She told her self.
But why did he act like that?
Maybe he thought it was wird that she liked him. After all he had made it clear that they were just friends so many times. Maybe because she was just plain old Marinette.
That made her remember Lila's words , the word that burned like poison in her head.
The day she was almost expelled from school, she learned how much Lila could do.
The plan is clear. Lila would convince Mr.Agreste to let her and Adrien hang out. They would be seen in public and knowing Lila she would cling to Adrien like a monkey. And leave it to the magazines to finish the job.
Her stomach turn in knots when she thought about the gossip headlines.
Lila Rossi the new model of 'Gabriel' was seen with Adrien Agreste super model and son of Gabriel Agreste. Could this be a start of a new love?
And for the sake of the brand and the fans Adrien wouldn't have a choice but to be with Lila. or pretend to be. Lila would get what she wants both ways.
She probably was right , Marinette was a clumsy nobody.
No, I'm not like that. Marinette's sadness turned to anger.
She was clumsy that was true. But she was not a nobody. She was kind, she liked to help others, she wasn't gorgeous (because no one told her that expect for Chat but he was a flirt so it doesn't count.) But she was pretty, she was sweet (probably sweet was the best word to describe her) and she was Ladybug FOR GOD'S SAKE.
But not every one could see the good side of her. All they could see was that she was clumsy and awkward UGH. and-
"Marinette! Watch out." Tikki's high pitched voice cut Marinette's river of thoughts. She looked up to ask what happened, but what she saw?
A black-purplish butterfly was flying to her.
No no no no, this can't be happening.
Marinette quickly ran up to the balcony and locked the trapdoor after her.
Tikki flew up to her "Marinette, think about something that makes you happy, quick!"
Right, think happy thoughts Marinette. Happy thoughts, Happy thoughts.
She can't think of anything that makes her happy. The only emotions she had was fear, anger and sadness. It didn't help that she was freaking out right now.
"I'm sorry, I can't this time. " she murmured.
Marinette took off her earrings and handed them to Tikki. "Give these to Chat noir and tell him what happened. " then she noticed Wayzz flying her way "Wayzz, make sure to send help to Chat if it was necessary."
Both kwamis nodded and flew away to avoid being seen by Hawk Moth.
I'm so sorry Chat noir, I couldn't be strong enough. Marinette thought as the butterfly approached her slowly .
It wasn't like she didn't see this coming. She knew that some day she would get akumatized. She didn't expect it would come too soon. But she was ready anyway.
Marinette knew that Hawk Moth could sense her emotions, he could see through her eyes and hear through her ears once she got akumatized, but he can't know what she thinks. So the miraculouses would be safe as long as it wasn't with her. And if she got lucky and had a better control over her akumatized self, her identity would be safe too.
She saw the akuma get in her kwagatama necklace and she closed her eyes, terrified.
"Hello Cherubic, I'm Hawk Moth. I know how it is when people can't see who you are completely, so I'll give you power to show them your true self and to take revenge from whoever had wronged you in the sweetest way possible, in return I want Ladybug's earrings and Black cat's ring. Would you like to help me with that? "
Marinette's fear was soothed by Hawk Moth's calming voice and his promises, this time the selfish part of her took over, that part of her was tired of shutting down her feelings in the sake of others, it was tired of taking big responsibilities, it was so tired and wanted to rest. So she gave in.
"With pleasure Hawk Moth. "