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Marinette Dupain- Cheng was always considered a pretty happy girl.
She had supporting parents,
She was popular at school with plenty of friends,
She was Ladybug.
That was until Lila Rossi showed up at Collège Françoise Dupont.
It was half-way through the year and everybody loved her.
She had stories of her charity work in Achu,
Her song written by Jagged Stone,
Her friendship with Ladybug.
That was the moment Marinette knew, for a fact that Lila Rossi was nothing but liar,
A two-faced compulsive liar.
She bullied, insulted, and targeted Marinette.
Even threatened her in a school bathroom.
Lila Rossi was her breaking point.
And she didn’t have the willpower to take the high road anymore.
Sorry Adrien.
But when Marinette tried to confront her about her lies Lila turned the story back to her.
“Oh Marinette, why are you being so mean to me, I only want to be your friend.”
“Marinette, how could you accuse me of such things?”
“I have been nothing but nice to you even after what you said in the bathroom.”
That last sentence made the classroom explode with questions.
“What do you mean what she said in the bathroom?”
“Yeah! What happened in the bathroom”
“Are you okay Lila? We know you would never hurt anyone.”
Marinette tried to defend herself against Lila, but with practically no known allies, she got drowned out.
Adrien tried to speak up but Nino made him stop.
That's the day Marinette Dupain-Cheng learned where her loyalties lied.
Lila went on about how Marinette threatened, punched, and bullied Lila in the bathroom.
Max and Kim glared at Marinette.
Alix gave the bluenette the middle finger.
Rose cried while Juleka comforted her.
Nathaniel didn’t look up from his drawing.
Chloe scoffed, Sabrina looking conflicted.
Ivan and Mylene comforted Lila.
Nino was looking down, probably thinking about who to believe.
She then looked to Alya.
“Are you sure Lila, Marinette has never been known to bully anyone.”
Lila gave a fake sob, breaking into crocodile tears.
“Are you seriously accusing me of Lying Alya? We are supposed to be besties.”
“Listen girl, I just want to make sure. Do you have any proof?”
Lila smirked subtly at Marinette before rolling up her sleeve to show a big bruise around her wrist.
The class gasped.
Alya turned to look at Marinette.
“Oh my god” She whispered
“Marinette, how could you. I know you’re jealous of her but really?” Lila practically spat at her.
Marinette couldn’t respond.
She was having a panic attack and needed to get out of there.
Now.
She stood up, not even grabbing her bag and rushed out the door.
They believed her.
They had known Marinette for what?
7 years?
And they chose her.
Marinette found herself looking in the bathroom mirror.
Tears streamed down her face, her hands shaking.
She hadn’t even noticed the green-eyed model stumbling in.
“Oh my god Marinette. Are you okay?”
She didn’t respond.
To be honest she still hadn’t been completely aware of his presence.
Her mind raced with thoughts.
They hate me.
They chose her.
They believed her.
Oh god why don’t they believe me.
Next thing she knows Marinette is sitting in Adrien Agreste's lap on the bathroom floor.
Him hugging her, her face buried in his chest while he whispered comforting words in her ear.
Usually Marinette would be freaking out, stuttering, blushing.
She just couldn’t find it in her to do so now.
They sat there like that for 20 minutes before she finally looked up.
Her eyes were red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears.
She sniffled looking into his green eyes.
God they were gorgeous.
“How are you feeling?” He whispered softly, cupping her cheek.
“A little better now, thank you.” The words were barely audible, but thanks to his cat-like auditory capabilities he understood.
A quick silence lingered as they stared into her eyes.
Have they always been that blue?
Adrien cleared his mind remembering the task at hand.
“You know…”
Marinette's ears perked up, intent on listening.
“I believe you. And so does Nino”
Marinette had never felt so relieved.
They believed me.
I’m not alone.
Someone believed me.
“R-really?”
Adrien nodded, looking at the girl seated upon his lap.
She fit perfectly in his arms, he noticed.
Then they found themselves leaning in.
Their breaths felt on each other's lips.
Adrien closed the gap, locking their lips together.
It felt, for lack of better words, perfect.
The kiss held for a few seconds before breaking, a sweet taste left on his lips.
A minty fresh one on hers.
They remained quiet for a few moments before Marinette spoke up.
“Now is a good time, I hope…” She thought
“I am in love with you Adrien” She quickly spat out, pure Marinette style just toned down a bit.
Adrien looked at her shocked.
First, he kissed her.
Second, she is in love with him.
“ What about Ladybug?” A tiny voice in his head reminded.
At the moment Adrien couldn’t think about Ladybug like that.
Marinette filled his mind.
The way her face lights up when she laughs.
The way her eyes glow in the sunlight.
The way she stumbles over her words in the most adorable way.
Oh my god.
Adrien was in love with Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
“I love you Marinette Dupain-Cheng” and with that he kissed her again.
This time being filled with passion and love.
Everyone ounce each one could deliver.
They walked out of the bathroom hand in hand.
Nino was outside the door looking at his phone waiting for Adrien to retrieve Marinette.
Class was already over so everyone else had gone home
“Oh thank god, I have been waiting here for like 30 minu-”
He looked at the two, holding hands, lips still swollen.
Marinette's face still stained with tears, her mascara running down her cheeks.
“Oh my god, you finally confessed your love for eachother.”
“Right?”
Marientte and Adriens cheeks flushed.
“Something like that.” The bluenette said, still hand in hand with the blond next to her.
“Finally,” Nino muttered.
“Anyways, how are you feeling, Nettie?” Nino said, grabbing her shoulder softly.
“Better thanks to you guys.”
“Just remember we always have your back Nette. I know things didn’t go well back there but just know you have us.” Nino said softly.
Adrien leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You will always have us Mari. I love you more than you know.”
Adrien was one hundred percent genuine.
He loved her more than he ever loved Ladybug.
And he would always have her back.
Marinette's cheeks flushed, turning an even deeper red.
“Thank you Adrien,” she whispered back.
“I love you too”
Nino broke the loving stare between the two, “Okay lovebirds, how about we go over to the bakery so Nette can beat our asses as Ultimate Mecha Strike III and I can get some macarons?”
Adrien and Marinette quickly agreed and the three walked out, the bluenette in between her first love and childhood friend.
Nothing was fixed.
Lila would still lie.
Marinette's classmates would continue to betray her.
But sometimes…
All you need is a little support.