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Marinette had been in the building when it happened. A large boom had erupted on the floor she was on and not so soon after civilians begun to take the halls screaming for help.
It was a Saturday morning, when Marinette was delivering various baked goods for her parents clients. It was her last stop until lunch.
Marinette looked down at the piece of paper with the delivery address and instructions. She looked up at the towering building in front of her. She gazed above as the sun glared off the hundreds of windows.
“The view must be amazing from up there. Remind me to get a better look later Tikki.” Marinette said in awe as the little red goddess popped her head from her purse.
“We’ll get the chance to see the view after your delivery, Marinette.” Tikki giggled as
Marinette remembered the reason she was here and quickly but carefully placed the sweets in a small wagon she had decorated specifically for this occasion.
“Twentieth floor, Office 15.” Marinette said out loud as she made her way to the receptionist desk with the wagon pulling not too far behind.
“Hello. How may I help you?” A young woman asked as Marinette approached her.
“Uh, I have five boxes of macarons and a red velvet cake from Tom and Sabine’s Bakery for the twentieth floor?” Marinette said as the woman typed away on her keyboard.
“Ah, here you are. You can go ahead and deliver them up.”
“Thank you!”
“Of course.”
Marinette continue along as she made her way into the elevator. There had been barely just enough room but she managed to squeeze herself in. Besides the music, it was fairly quiet for a room full of people. Some were on their phones, probably watching the news while others stared forward with a blank expression. She would be lying if she said the quietness didn’t make her a tad nervous.
“Those smell delicious.” A man said breaking the silence and earning a few hums of agreement from others.
“Did you make them yourself?”
With the full attention on her, Marinette flushed fairly surprised at the suddenness,”Oh!I- uh Thank you! My parents own the bakery. And I did h-help make them.” She chuckled nervously as she scratched her neck in embarrassment.
“Do you have a business card? I’d love to go after my shift is over.” The same man asked.
“Of course!” Marinette reached down to the wagon and picked up a small stack of business cards she had designed for her parents and held them out for people to grab.Suddenly the elevator door dinged open, and the crowd of people dispersed, each passing through Marinette in a flash. By the time Marinette had processed what was going on, her hands were empty.
“I- well okay.” Marinette said as she peeped her head out of the elevator. She pulled her wagon along and begun looking for office 15.”
Marinette passed through the halls searching for that number 15 when something caught her attention. Looking to her right she noticed something on the wall.
Radiant. Carefree. Dreamy.
A giant poster of Adriens perfume ad hung perfectly in an enclosed box mounted against the wall.
Marinette felt a blush crawl up her face as she sighed,”Adrien.”
She looked to the poster next to her, expecting to find more of Adrien but was rather surprised when she saw the poster of Ladybug and Chat Noir: The Movie.”
She felt herself walk over immediately as she stared at their cartooned selves. Her eyes wondered onto Chat Noir and she smiled warmly. He would be expecting her at patrol later. Like he always does. Marinette’s eyes softened. She’d definitely grown quite fond of Chat. No matter how much she had denied it. Her heart fluttered ever so lightly before pushing the feeling back down. She stared between the two posters. She wondered if Chat ever considered being a model. He definitely fit right in with her charismatic personally plus she could -
She heard a small click.
“Oh! You’re Tom and Sabines daughter! They mentioned you would be dropping the goodies off. My name is Darla!” A old woman clapped excitedly.
Marinette snapped back into reality, completely forgetting the posters,”Oh! Yes! Me! I am! I mean- Yes, that’s me! I’m Marinette, nice to meet you Darla.”
The woman laughed as she guided Marinette to the office. The room was filled with a lot balloons and a large banner. There were empty tables some with Birthday hats, others with plates and forks. You could tell there had been hard work and time put into this.
Marinette and the older woman quickly finalized the order as Marinette picked up the treats and set them on a nicely prepared table.
“Yknow its our bosses birthday, and we just wanted to show her our appreciation for being the best boss around. She’s more like our leader and our friend, y’know?” The woman said as Marinette finished organizing the macarons.
“I think I know what you mean. What you did here is amazing. I’m sure she’s going to love it. Marinette smiled at her.
“Thank you.” Darla smiled as they began finalizing the order.
Marinette gave the copy of the receipt to the older woman and soon bid her farewells
“Take care of yourself! And Let Tom and Sabine know I said thank you! They’ve outdone themselves again!” She told Marinette with a smile on her face as she picked up a noisemaker.
“I sure will!” Marinette waved with wagon in hand as she made her way back to the elevator.
.
.
Marinette was sure the elevator was on the right side of the building. Or was it the left? She walked around for ages. She could not find a single person or at least a directory around. She also may have forgotten which direction Darla had been in.
“It’s official, Tikki. We’re lost.” Marinette drooped down in agony.
“It’s okay Marinette. I’m sure someone will come to help soon.” Tikki reassured her holder.
“I hope so. Oh! What if I look for stairs instead?” Marinette said looking around for anything that might suggest there might be an emergency exit nearby.
Alas it took maybe five minutes but she found them!
“And now...” Marinette’s eyes wandered to the wagon,”I have to drag this thing with me. For twelve floors.” Marinette gloomed
“Or, you can go back and ask where the elevator.”
Marinette drooped down again,”Maybe you’re right. I probably should’ve just st-“
BOOM.
The floor shook causing Marinette to nearly fall over.
“An Akuma?” Marinette was now on alert.
“Alright! We can figure out the wagon later! Tikki spots-“
Her chant interrupted by the sounds of people gushing through the halls suddenly as they crowded towards the stairs.
“The elevators are out! The staircase!” Someone shouted.
“Oh no... There’s too many people around here.” Marinette grunted as she tried to move against the panicking group of civilians. She tried to open one of the doors to an office but they remained locked.
“Please! Somebody! Darla has a group of people captured on the roof! “
Marinette’s eyes widened as more and more people passed by her. Her eyes darted up and down the stairs. She couldn’t find a safe place to transform. They needed Ladybug. She was Ladybug.
With or without the mask.
It was like her legs moved on their own. She quickly made her way up the stairs as people fled by in a hurry.
“Marinette!” Tikki whispered loud enough for her holder to hear,”It’s too dangerous! Without the power of the Míraculous you could seriously get hurt!”
“I know Tikki, but I can’t transform now. Someone has to help and I don’t know how long it’ll take Chat Noir to get here. She ran up the stairs. More and more people ran down them as Marinette huffed in exhaustion.
She finally made it to the top where a group of people stood behind the door blocking the roof exit.
“It’s not safe for you here.” A voice startled Marinette from behind. She turned around a met eyes with a woman.
“What are you all doing here? There’s an Akuma here.” She asked.
“The Akuma is our friend.” She said walking the the staircase,”She didn’t deserved to get akumatized.” She opened the door slightly as the sounds of people shouting for help echoed,”It wasn’t suppose to be her. But she took the hit for me anyways.”
Those last lines made Marinette’s heart twist. She remembered the times Chat Noir willingly placed himself in danger and got hurt trying to protect Ladybug. She had been upset on those numerous occasions.
“It doesn’t look like ladybug is coming anytime soon.” She said,”We have to help them. Get them out of the way for Ladybug and Chat Noir.”
“But we’re just civilians Anna, that’s a real super villain. With powers. We don’t stand a chance.”Someone in the group said.
She sighed,”I know.”
Marinette turned her eyes back on the woman,”Anna? You mean Anna from floor twenty?”
Anna turned to Marinette,”Yeah? Do I know you?”
“No but I know you. You’re Darla’s boss right? I just delivered macarons and a cake to your office.”
“Darla is the one akumatized. ” Anna nodded, her face plastered with worry and regret.
Marinette could feel Tikki’s eyes telling her not to do anything until Chat Noir arrived. But Marinette couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
She quickly walked up to the door opening it again to get a look at the Akuma.
“I AM NOISEMAKER. YOU WILL PAY FOR RUINING ALL MY HARD WORK .” She blew into a oversized noisemaker into the city shattering the windows and making earth beneath her rumble.
“The Akuma must be in there.” Marinette said to herself as she looked around for a way to get those civilians away from her reach.
“How are we going to get them away without becoming victims ourselves?” Anna asked.
“I have a plan.” Marinette said.
.
.
Marinette took a pen from one of the people there and opened the door slightly. She crawled out quietly and looked back nodding at the others for support. At this time Anna made her way out and around the back with more pens.
“Ladybug and Chat Noir! Give me your miraculous or I’ll send these people over the edge to their doom!”
Marinette threw the pen to the other side of the roof. Anna took the cue and hit various places of the metal vents to echo the noise to the otherside.
“Ahah! You fool!” Noisemaker said as she made her way to the other side. Marinette quickly ran over to the civilians with a hushed tone,”Hurry.”
The civilians acted quickly and quietly. They tiptoed to the exit of the rooftop as Anna continue making quiet noises through the vent.
The last few civilians made there way down the staircase before scream for help echoed on the roof top. Marinette turned and saw Anna thrown into the middle.
“Darla! Snap out of it!” Anna begged.
“We were suppose to be friends! You were suppose to help me not go against me! After everything I’ve done for you! I am not Darla! I am noisemaker!”
“Darla is my friend. Not you.” Anna said causing the Akuma to hiss in anger.
“Then i have no problem throwing you off the roof.” She said bitterly as she dragged Anna near the edge. She raised her noisemaker directly at Anna.
Marinette felt herself move before coming to a halt at the sound of a tiny voice.
“Marinette no!”
“I’m sorry, Tikki” She whispered to Tikki as she ran straight at the Akuma. She jumped and snatched the akumatized out of the Noisemakers hands and leapt right off the edge. She messed up.
.
.
Adrien knew he had taken too long trying to escape Nathalie. The moment he got the notification that were was an Akuma attack, he had asked Nathalie if he could be excused.
To which she declined.
“Adrien I really encourage you finish your lesson first before going to your room. If Ladybug and Chat Noir are good enough as they say they are, they’ll send the Akuma away soon.” Her words seemed sincere but nonetheless no hint of any real emotion behind them.
Adrien fidgeted nervously and thummed his fingers along the table. Ladybug needed him and he was stuck here in lessons. He had even tried used the restroom excuse.
“Your lesson is over in five minutes. You can go then.”
Adrien felt his stomach turn nervously. He just wanted to tell her that he was the one who had help save Paris. But he withheld. And after what felt like eternity he was finally excused for the rest of the day.
“Adrien before you,” Nathalie stopped him in his tracks,”Your father has requested you and him have dinner tomorrow night.”
“I’ll have dinner with him when he finally decides to show up.” Adrien said taking off to his room.
He closed the door behind him and turned on the TV.
“The Akuma continues to wreak havoc on Paris and holds multiple hostages on the top of Paris’s world renowned movie production studio. There are still no signs of Ladybug or Chat Noir anywhere. Where are the superheroes? And- oh what’s this? It seems civilians are attempting a rescue mission against the villian. Let’s get a closer look here.”
Adriens eyes widened as he stared at the familiar blue pigtailed girl.
“Marinette?!” Adrien exclaimed in confusion and fear,”What is she doing?! And where is ladybug?”
Plagg stared at the screen slightly worried but not enough to show Adrien his concern. What was Marinette doing? She’s Ladybug why hasn’t she transformed?
“She doesn’t have any powers Plagg! We gotta go help before something bad happens.”
“Yeah.” Plagg said.
“Plagg! Claws out!” Adrien said transforming as he leapt out the window and raced to Marinette.
.
.
Marinette didn’t really think it through. But she knew she couldn’t let the Akuma hurt a civilian. Not when she could’ve done something.
Marinette could hear her heart beat as she felt the force of gravity push her down towards the ground. A million things rushed through her mind. A million things she wished she could’ve done differently and a million things she wish she could’ve said.
She turned her head and saw the city of Paris. Time slowed. Although much of it ruined by the Akuma, it was still such a beautiful sight to see. She turned head back as she closed her eyes right.
“not like this,” she begged
She didn’t feel the tears escape from her eyes as she held the akumatized object close in her hand.
The wind gushed through her hair as the air whistled through her ear. She could hear screams and shouting grow nearer. Panic settled and she felt a wave of calmness overtake her. Was this where the great ladybug would fall? Every battle, she fought lead to this? Could she have done anything differently?
“I know you can do it milady! Even if you think you can’t, you always can count on me to be there for you. And we’ll figure it out together.”
Full of tears, she opened her eyes with a sudden realization. She didn’t want to die, she wanted to continue being ladybug. She wanted to continue being Marinette. She wanted to continue being his partner. Because she couldn’t think of anyone else she’d rather be with.
Marinette gathered whatever strength and air she had in her. She felt it crawl up her throat and opened her mouth. A piercing scream echoed through the air, loud enough for the world to hear. Loud enough for him to hear.
“Chat Noir!”
.
.
Chat Noir rushed as fast as he possibly could through the rooftops. Helicopters flew by. Many of the evacuated civilians stayed at the bottom of the building, waiting for Ladybug and Chat Noir. He scanned the area and called Ladybug for the fifth time,
“Hey It’s Ladybug, call me back later.”
“Ladybug where are you?!” Chat Noir asked worriedly to her voicemail. Just as the message beeped he heard screaming and yells.
“She’s falling!” Someone pointed above.
Chat Noir stopped dead in his tracks looking up ahead and felt his heart stop. His eyes widening in horror. Marinette was falling and she was falling fast. He froze in place as a million things ran through his head. His nightmare becoming a reality. What if he didn’t make it? What if he wasn’t fast enough?
“Chat Noir!”
He heard her yell out his name. He felt goosebumps run through every part of his skin. He felt his body move lurch forward, his heart quickening at every step.
Not her. Not Marinette. Not the girl who could barely even say her name when he said hi. Not the girl who sat behind him and dreamed of being a fashion designer. Not the girl, who always stood for what was right, and put everyone before herself. Not the girl, who was suppose to be just a friend. Not the girl who he started to fall in love with. Oh god, no anybody but her.
He ran the fastest he’s ever ran, she was too close to the ground. He felt so far away. His stomach turned in fear. He had to make it. He had to. Because there was no way he’d be able to live himself if he didn’t.
He reached his hand out to grab her as he leapt up into the air.
“Marinette!”
He saw the her turn at the sound of her name as she reached out to him.
Time seemed to slow down. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. Wrapping his arms around her. Dust trailed behind as he slid across pavement with her in his arms. It was a deafening silence. Chat Noir held her close and both trembled from the high of their emotions.
His face felt hot and he couldn’t tell if it was the adrenaline or the hot tears trailing down his face. He looked at Marinette, who looked at him in relief. Tears streamed down her face, she had been terrified.
He felt himself fall onto his knees and hugged her tightly.
“Don’t ever do t-that again.” He said as he choked back a sob.
“I won’t, I’m sorry Chaton.” Marinette let herself cry that time. The two held each other in embrace, not caring if the world was watching.
She held him tightly and swore she’d never let him go.