Chapter Text
Incident 1
Marinette flicked through through papers that Master Fu left her, completely frustrated. She was looking for something, anything really that could help her and Chat Noir. It was summer break, yet it hadn’t been very eventful for either of them. Any time she’d tried to make plans they’d get cancelled, why? Because Shadow Moth would not give it a damn rest. Mr Ramier had been akumatized 71 times… 71! And it was only the third week of holidays.
“Tikki, I don’t understand any of this,” she groaned, trying her best not to bang her head on her desk in defeat. “The number of times we’ve had to fight Mr Pigeon is absolutely crazy, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Tikki smiled up at her holder sympathetically. It’s not like she could help Marinette with deciphering things, but she could give her some words of encouragement.
“Marinette, you’ve helped Master Fu decipher before, like when you’ve figured out the recipe for the aqua power up. I’m sure you can figure something out again.” Marinette wasn’t so sure she believed her. Sure, she’d helped him, but he’d already deciphered the words, she just had to crack the code, which she was good at. If only there was someone who could read the completely foreign made-up miraculous language! She bumped her head against the desk in a groan. “Marinette, I know it seems hard right now, but just remember everything you’ve gotten through. You’re Ladybug, you have the power to create, the only limitations are what your mind sets—”
Marinette’s phone buzzes and she picks it up.
Luka: hey marinette, is it still alright for us to come for a fitting for the costumes?
Shit. She completely forgot! Great, she’d been so consumed with her guardian duties she completely forgot that she was supposed to make her friends costumes for their concert… tonight.
Marinette: I’m so sorry guys but the costumes won’t be ready tonight.
Ivan: but we’re performing tonight?
Rose: what’re we supposed to do without costumes.
Marinette: I’m so so sorry, I completely spaced.
Ivan: ugh again
Luka: that’s okay Marinette, we can still perform without them.
Marinette: I’ll make it up to you guys, they’ll be ready by next time I promise. :)
Rose: that’s okay Marinette, we appreciate what you already do!
Luka: exactly, don’t stress. Hope to see you there of course. :)
Marinette: I’ll be there!!!
Marinette shuts off her phone and nervously bites on her bottom lip. She hates letting people down and that’s exactly what she’s done. She needs to make this right. She looks over to her pile of fabrics that she hasn’t touched since the beginning of holidays and she frowns. Ever since Master Fu left it seems she hasn’t had time for anything except being Ladybug, of course she loved her role but the responsibility was so much sometimes, and the secret only became heavier and heavier each day. She often wondered if she should tell someone her identity. Of course, she wanted Chat to be the first person to know, but her mind would always turn to Chat Blanc, gosh he even showed up in her nightmares. Then who did that leave? Alya and her weren’t nearly as close ever since the whole Lila incident on the last day of term. The girl had attempted to get her expelled (which she temporarily succeeded at) and then took it back? Marinette was only afraid she was going to strike again and Alya didn’t believe Marinette when she said it was her. That stung and it definitely put a strain on their friendship. Alya was also the Ladyblogger and she was afraid if she told her that she, her ordinary best friend, was Ladybug she’d be disappointed or tell the whole blog. She wasn’t that close with anyone else. There was Alix who was destined to find out either way but she wasn’t so sure that it was the right time. She sighed in frustration. She couldn’t tell anyone at all!
“Everything okay Marinette?” Tikki asked. She brought a smile to her face and nodded her head.
“Yeah, everything’s going to be fine Tikki. Wanna help me make some cookies for my friends?” The little red and black kwami nodded and the two made their way downstairs into the bakery, (Tikki obviously staying hidden). It was a little past lunch time, and the rush had definitely passed. This summer had been a pretty busy one meaning her parents had lots and lots of hungry customers. It was great for business but it meant that Tom and Sabine were constantly in the bakery. That also meant Marinette barely got to see them anymore, but alas she was grateful because that way they wouldn’t walk in on her with a million kwami’s in her room and her posters filled with information on akuma attacks and power-up recipes. Maybe she should tell her parents that she’s Ladybug, she can trust them… she bit her lip. On second thought, that’d only stress them out.
Marinette made her way into the back where her papa was mixing together some mixture for macaroons. It smelt amazing. “Hey Papa!” Marinette beamed, leaning on the bench.
“Hi sweetie! How’s it going?” He asks, eyes trained on what he’s doing.
“It’s going… good,” she settles on. “Mind if I make some cookies?”
“Sure, grab some ingredients then head upstairs.” Marinette’s smile faltered; she was hoping to spend a little time with him.
“Ok,” she said and went to the back. She grabbed what she needed and made her way upstairs. Setting the ingredients down on the bench. She looked for a bowl, an electric mixer, cups and spoons, all the works she needed to make sugar cookies. Once she had everything laid out, she began mixing the wet ingredients while Tikki mixed the dry. She combined them and then rolled out the dough and cut it in star shapes. Once they were in the oven she finally sat down on the couch and flicked the TV on to relax while the cookies bake away in the oven. “Mr Pigeon has been akumatized for the 72nd time today, Ladybug and Chat Noir are not on the scene—”
Marinette shoved her head into a pillow and screamed, whimpering she sat up. “Tikki, Spots On!”
—+—
A whole hour! That’s how much of her life was disrupted by the one and only Mr Pigeon. It seems Shadow Moth finally realised he was a terrible idea for a villain and gave him some better powers. This time, instead of just controlling pigeons he could turn people into pigeons using his pigeons. So, Chat Noir was out, and Alya was MIA meaning she had no Rena Rouge. Eventually she fused the Fox Miraculous and her Miraculous together, and with Plagg’s help they were able to destroy his pigeon whistle and de-evilize him. Standing in front of him, utterly exhausted from having to see him so often, words clicked together in her mind… You’re Ladybug, you have the power to create, the only limitations are what your mind sets… As she throws her lucky charm into the air, her suit changes, becoming black around her mid-frame, a zipper all the way up to her neck. She pulls out a magical charm from her yo-yo and places it in Mr Ramier’s hand.
“This magical charm will protect you from Shadow Moth’s control, keep it with you always.”
“You mean me and my pigeons won’t ever be akumatized again?” She nodded.
“This is the best day of my life! Come on my pigeons, let’s enjoy our freedom!” And with that, he skips out of the pool area. Marinette smiles and makes her way to a secluded area where she can’t see anyone and detransforms, a walk home would be nice. As she steps outside, little trickles of rain roll onto her clothing and she looks up to see the grey clouds and the rolling thunder and she sighs. She turns around to go back inside when the door opens and she’s met face to face with Adrien Agreste.
“Adrien? What’re you doing here?” She asks.
He smiles, “I could ask you the same thing.”
“Oh, just on a walk.”
“All by yourself in the storm?” He asks, raising an eyebrow.
“I happen to like the rain,” she says, tilting her head in a teasing smile.
Adrien chuckles, “well I would offer you an umbrella, but you already have mine.” Marinette’s cheeks burn at the mention of the day. The day she fell head over heels for this boy. She wasn’t exactly sure how she was talking to him so normally right now, but after all these years their friendship has grown stronger and it’s easier to call him just that… a friend.
“S-sorry,” there she goes again, “did you want it back? I didn’t realise that, you should have—”
“No! No, it’s fine Marinette, I was just teasing, you can keep it,” he smiled.
“So, what are you doing here?” She asks again.
“My father booked the pool to do some filming for a new ad,” he shrugged, uninterested in the topic. Marinette nodded her head, and suddenly the rain started to pour down even harder. They both jumped under the cover of the building, Adrien pulling her under. Without realising, they had ended up pretty close together, Adrien was practically hugging her! Hugging her! His fingers tingled where they traced at her waist and her blush darkened.
He pulled away, “s-sorry,” he chuckled, nervously.
“It’s okay,” she smiled, “thanks for saving me.” Adrien’s car pulled up and his driver opened the door for him to get it.
“Would you like a ride home?”
“Thanks Adrien.” They both hopped into the backseat of the car, Adrien asked his driver to make a detour to the Dupain-Cheng bakery and the two conversed in the short time they had before Marinette arrived back.
“We should make plans to hang out,” Adrien said, “I miss you- you guys,” he smiled.
Marinette nodded her head. “Of course. Thanks for the ride, Adrien.”
He smiled and gave her a small pat on the shoulder, “see you later Mari.” She got out of the car and dashed into the bakery, Tikki came flying out of her bag as soon as he was out of site.
“You should’ve invited him to the Kitty section concert, hey doesn’t he play the piano for them?”
The concert.
Oh no.
The cookies!
Without a word or second thought, Marinette dashed upstairs, passed her parents who were cleaning in the back of the bakery and all the way to the kitchen. She could smell burning from a mile away and as soon as she stood in front of the oven and opened it, black smoke piled out. She coughed and wheezed and quickly turned the thing off. She pulled out the very burnt cookies and set them on the counter. Disaster. She raced over to the window to see Lila, Juleka, Rose and Ivan all packing up their gear in the rain and she frowned.
She made her way downstairs and ran over to the park. “I’m so sorry I missed it guys I—”
“It’s fine Marinette,” Rose said, not making eye-contact with her, “we get it, you had more important things to do.” She walked past her and Marinette stood there with her lips parted. She looked to Luka, who hoisted a guitar case up over his shoulder, gave her a strained smile and then walked past her as well.
She had fucked up. Again.
What Marinette missed
Lila Rossi watched from her window as Luka, Juleka, Rose and Ivan began setting up for their lame concert. She smiled to herself and walked over to the four bags sitting on her desk. She collected them and headed down. After a painful half hour of listening to Rose yell and the rest of them playing like amateurs it started to spit, and the concert soon came to an end. As they packed up their gear Lila walked over to the four. “Guys! You played so well!” She congratulated, handing them each their little bags. Inside was a batch of freshly made cookies and a woven bracelet embroider with ‘Rock n Roll!’
“Thank you, Lila,” Rose remarked, giving her a hug. The rest also thanked her, and Lila couldn’t help but notice Luka frowning and looking out at the crowd.
“Looking for someone?” She asks. This got everyone’s attention.
“Oh, just my girlfriend Marinette, she said she would be here.”
“Oh… you’re dating Marinette?” She asks, perfect time to spin some lies about her.
“Yep,” Luka smiles. Lila smiles halfheartedly at the boy, feigning a strained look.
“Everything okay Lila?” Rose asks, putting a hand on her arm.
“Y-yeah it’s just, earlier when I went to the bakery across the street…”
“Marinette’s house?” Ivan asks. She nods.
“H-her parents told me to collect her for the concert a-and well she was in her room burning stuff and said that she hated Kitty Section and didn’t deserve the costumes she made them.”
“Huh?”
“Why would she say that?”
“That doesn’t sound like Marinette.” As they spoke, black smoke pillowed out of the windows of the bakery, earning a gasp from everyone in the group. It was as if the universe was on Lila’s side, and feigned frown turned into a devious smirk.
“D-don’t worry guys, Marinette doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” she smiled softly, “you’re amazing, don’t let her get you down.” Mixed emotions were settled over the group. “I should get going. You guys were amazing today keep it up!” And with that, Lila’s job was done and she walked away.
Incident 2
She had just broken up with Luka. Her secrets, her responsibilities! They all got in the way and she had to break up with him. She didn’t have a choice. He was hurt, she got him akumatized! She couldn’t even tell him why. Couldn’t even tell him the truth.
She laid in bed, her kwami’s snuggling to her body, and she sighed. She looked up at her pin board beside her bed. Pictures of her friends, pictures of Luka, pictures of Adrien. If had been four weeks and she still hadn’t hung out with any of them. She missed them. She missed him. She missed Adrien.
She cried because there wasn’t much else, she could do but that. Everything in her life had become so complicated and messy and it was all her fault!
—+—
It had been a week; Marinette had distracted herself with fighting akuma’s and spending time with Chat Noir. Any escape of her life and all the baggage that comes with Marinette Dupain-Cheng she could get, she would take.
It was either patrolling with him or crying herself to sleep. Patrolling seemed like the healthier option.
Once she made it home, she was absolutely exhausted, and was already asleep when her phone started chiming with calls from Alya.
—+—
Marinette just got back from a patrol with Chat when she heard voices in her room. Thumps, indicating someone was climbing up her ladder and she quickly called for her detransformation.
Alya’s head bobbed over the end of her bed, and she was almost startled. “Marinette! There you are, we came to—”
“Ooo what’s inside your dollhouse Marinette?” Rose chimed from her desk. Marinette’s heart almost stopped at her words and she zoomed down her ladder and raced straight over to the girl.
“Don’t touch that!” She practically yelled, shoving Rose out of the way, causing the girl to stumble and drop the lid, smashing it on the ground.
“Oh, I’m so sorry Marinette!” Rose fretted.
“It’s fine— just what’re you doing in my house?” She seethed, looking at all the faces. Alya, Rose, Juleka, Mylene, Alix and Lila.
“Marinette, we heard about your break up, we want to be here for you,” Alya says stepping forward, which only causes Marinette to become more defensive as she holds the dollhouse up behind her back.
She groans. “Why are you here? You can’t just come into my room and touch all my stuff uninvited!”
The girls are all taken a little back, and then Alix speaks up. “You’ve barely hung out with us all holidays Marinette, we’re just wondering what’s up?”
The dollhouse feels as if it’s going to collapse any minute. If that collapses, they’ll all see the miracle box then they’ll all discover her secret, and then Shadow Moth will find out and then he’ll hunt her down for the miracle box and then he’ll get the miraculous and the whole world will be doomed!
“You have to leave. Now,” she hisses.
“Marinette, you have to tell us what’s going on! We just want to help you.”
“I don’t want your help. Please go.” She begs, feeling it wobble and creak behind her.
“Not until you tell me what happened,” Alya steps forward.
Mylène holds out a bracelet, and says, “we’ve all confessed our secrets Marinette and now it’s your turn. We’re your friends—”
She can’t hold it any longer. “Well maybe I don’t want you to be my friends anymore!”
Gasps throughout the room, and Marinette’s intense glare stays the same, “y-you don’t mean that!” Rose cries.
“GET OUT!” Marinette shouts, causing them all to flinch back.
They pile out of the room one by one, Lila’s smirk laced on her face, mocking her as she leaves. As soon as that door shuts, she collapses to the ground.
She fucked up. Again.
—+—
The girls sat down in a circle in the park. No one was saying a word after what just happened. The silence was uncomfortable, as if everyone had something to say but no one knew how to say it.
“Are you guys, okay?” Lila finally asks.
The girls all look up, stopping playing with the grass to look up at Lila. “I can’t believe Marinette said all that stuff,” she sighed. “You guys didn’t deserve that.”
Rose put a hand on Lila’s. “She said it to all of us Lila,” she smiled sympathetically.
“I know, it’s just, Marinette and I were never really close,” she frowned.
“Why is that?” Myléne asked.
Lila shrugged and curled in on herself. She started playing with the grass and the rest of the girls exchanged glances.
“This isn’t right!” Alix fumed, gripping on the bracelet. “She can’t just kick us out like that!”
“I just lost my best friend,” Alya whimpered, hugging herself.
Lila put a hand on Alya’s shoulder and flashed her a smile. “If Marinette was really your best friend, she wouldn’t have done this.” Alya’s lips parted and her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I just think you deserve much better, you all do.”
“We should’ve seen this coming,” Rose huffs, “I should’ve known! That- that she doesn’t want to be our friends…”
“What do you mean Rose?” Juleka asks, while rubbing her back.
Rose looks to Lila and smiles sadly. “She destroyed our Kitty section costumes an-and she said that she hates our music…”
Alya sighed, “there’s obviously something bigger going on here.”
The girls all looked at the ground and fiddled with the grass.
—+—
Her friends had gotten akumatized all because of her. She was a terrible friend, and then she had to fight them. She told herself she had to do it to protect herself but she wondered if she could’ve done it a different way.
Now here they were standing in her room, while she was looking at the ground, awkwardly rubbing her arm, waiting for her to speak.
“I’m sorry guys,” she said, tears trickling from her eyes. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, that was really rude of me, I’ve just been going through a lot and it’s hard-” her voice gets caught up in her throat and she collects herself. “I should’ve told you about Luka and I a long time ago, you’re my friends, can you forgive me?”
“Of course!” Alya is first to say, pulling Marinette into a hug, and the rest of the girls join. Ignoring Lila’s eye-roll, she relishes in their company.
“You know you can talk to us about anything Marinette.” Mylène says.
“We’re always here for you,” Rose adds.
“And we’re sorry about Luka.” Alix says.
“We love you Marinette,” Juleka mumbles and the rest of the girl's chime in, agreeing minus Lila.
Marinette smiles and hugs her friends tightly. “I love you guys too.”
What Marinette missed
“I’m so glad we resolved that,” Rose chirped as the girls walked down the street.
Alya nervously chewed on her finger nails, “I don’t know, I think there’s still something she’s not telling us.”
Lila curled in on herself again and the girls all gave her questioning looks.
“Everything alright Lila?” Alix asks.
“Y-yeah, everything’s fine, I uh, should go… bye girls.”
And with that she walks off to her house leaving the rest of them with concerned faces and heavy hearts.
Incident 3
Marinette woke up on a Monday morning to the sound of her text notifications going off.
Sunshinekid: sorry can’t come I have a photo-shoot
DJdudee: shame bro, we’ll miss you
Betterthankim: what movie is it?
Purpletomypink: the new Jagged Stone one :)
Pinktomypurple: lol that’s my dad
Stoneyyy: huh? Anyways Myléne and I are coming!
Purpletomypink: Jules and I will be there too :)
Betterthanalix: can I bring Ondine or is this a class only thing?
Reportergurl: class only.
Betterthanalix: aight
Markovsfather: are we just going to ignore what Juleka said??? anyways I’m coming.
Betterthanalix: yeahhh maxitaxi c u there boiii
Markovsfather: suddenly I am regretting my decision.
Betterthankim: lol what time is the movie?
Reportergurl: the movies @ 10:30 and we’re grabbing lunch after.
Reportergurl: Lila are you coming?
Queenie: ew why am I here?
Markovsfather: this is a class group chat and you’re in our class.
Betterthankim: feel free to leave, no one wants you here anyways.
Queenie: ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!
*Chloe Bourgeois left the group chat*
*Sabrina Raincomprix left the group chat*
DJdudee: finally, lol.
Tomatokidd: sorry guys, can’t come.
Reportergurl: np Nath, we’ll see you another time. Lila r you coming girl?
Foxy: is uh Marinette coming?
Reportergurl: not sure. She’ll probably sleep in and only make it for lunch.
Foxy: okie count me in then :)
Reportergurl: yayyyyy ok this is gonna be fun!
Marinette curled her lips and pondered if she should go or not. If Lila was there, something bad was bound to happen, but she hadn’t hung out with her friends all holidays and going to the movies would be a nice break.
Bakergal: I’ll be there :)
Reportergurl: yay!
Marinette put her phone away and ran down her ladder to get ready. It was already 10 o’clock, so she had half an hour, but knowing her it’s almost certain that she’ll be late. She jumped in the shower and then got dressed into some denim jeans and then a pink striped halter top. After putting her hair into her usual pigtails, she grabbed her bag which Tikki jumped into and then rushed down the stairs.
When she got there, she waved at her friends and walked over to them. “Hey guys!” Marinette said, joining the line for tickets behind them all.
“Hey Marinette!” Alya beamed and hugged her best friend. Everyone else smiled as she came but then went back to their own conversations.
Lila was telling the group about the week-long trip she took to Versailles with her parents and Marinette rolled her eyes. White lies. They’re just harmless white lies and they’ll die out eventually. People will see the truth.
The group got their tickets, Marinette being the last one and then they headed into the cinemas. They all piled into a row, and Marinette stood at the end. “Um,” she said, looking at her friends. They all looked to her and realised that the row had filled up. There was no room left for her.
“Oh, sorry Marinette, there’s uh… seats down there,” Alix pointed to a few rows to the left, down near the front. Marinette gulped and nodded her head, making her way down by herself. She sat in a big empty row and looked back up to her friends. They were all chatting, Lila in the middle of the row, talking and laughing with them.
She caught her eye for a second and a smirk plastered across her face and Marinette bit the inside of her cheek and looked to the front of the cinema.
They didn’t abandon you, she kept telling herself. It’s your fault for being late. If you weren’t late, it wouldn’t have been you sitting by yourself.
She couldn’t help but think if it was someone else that had to sit by themselves that she would’ve gone to sit with them.
No, it’s her fault, not theirs, hers.
—+—
The movie was good. Even though she sat by herself, it was nice. She enjoyed it. Lunchtime came and the friend group made their way to the cafe. Lila chose the place, apparently it was one of her and Jagged’s favourites to go to whenever they hang out. Load of bull.
Marinette trekked behind the others as they listened to Lila rave about her and Jagged’s friendship. It was ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous, Chloe would say if she were here. She wondered if Chloe knew Lila was a liar, she hadn’t said much when the incident with the expulsion happened, and according to Tikki she hadn’t been akumatized. Maybe Chloe would believe her. She huffed, thinking herself foolish. As if her childhood bully would side with her.
Marinette looked up, bringing herself out of her thoughts only to realise that she was alone in the middle of the street! Where had her friends even gone? Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. Had they just abandoned her? No, it was her fault for getting so distracted, she was probably just slow. It's her fault.
“Tikki?” She asked and her Kwami came out of her pocket. “Let’s get out of here,” she said. Tikki smiled sadly at Marinette and she ran to an alleyway to transform.
She zipped by the cafe to see her friends and Lila sitting inside, talking and laughing just like they had been at the cinema.
What Marinette missed
“Hey where did ‘Nette go?” Nino asked after a little while, everyone was finishing up their meals.
Alya shrugged, “maybe she went home, I’ll text her.”
Lila tensed up at the mention of Marinette’s name and the girls all looked at her.
“Lila, are you okay?” Rose asked, placing a hand on Lila’s shoulder.
“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”
No one was convinced.
Incident 4
When Marinette woke up the next morning, a certain unsettling feeling sat in her stomach. She couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong with the situation yesterday and she deemed it to be because she was a bad friend.
She needed to make it up to them. What did she do best? Making things. Perhaps she could design them all something, she knew Alix needed new knee pads, Nino a new hat, Kim definitely needs a new jumper after wearing the one he has been for years. But, that would all take a long time, probably weeks design everyone their own thing and by the time she’s finished they’d probably have left her behind... no, no they wouldn’t do that.
A picnic. She can organise a picnic and make some delicious food for all her friends. That’ll be fun, they’ll have music and they’ll talk, it’ll be great.
With her great idea in her mind, she opens up messages and clicks on the class group chat.
Bakergal: Hey guys, do you wanna have a picnic in the park this afternoon? Food is on me :)
Markovsdad: Sounds fun Marinette, Markov and I will be there.
Sunshinekid: I’ll have to ask Nathalie, but I'll try my best to get there :)
DJdudee: count me in ‘Nette
Reportergurl: Um, I'll try get there.
Purpletomypink: I’ll be there! Juleka is sick though, so she won’t be able to come :(
Pinktomypurple: yeh sorry mari
Bakergal: Oh no, that’s okay, get better Juleka!
Foxy: of course, I’ll come Marinette!
Reportergurl: ok I can come too.
Smellywolf: Ivan and I will be there!
Tomatokidd: marc n I r coming
Betterthanalix: free food? Count me in.
Betterthankim: scab. This is why im better. Im coming btw.
Bakergal: Ok, see you guys later then. Come around 4ish?
Marinette placed her phone down and trekked downstairs, time to do some baking.
—+—
Lila tapped at her desk with her long fingernails wondering how she could ruin her plans this time. A smirk formed over her face and an idea popped into her head, perfect, she thought to herself.
“Oh, dearest mother that I love so much!” She called out as she graced into the living room. With it being a Saturday and all, she was sitting on the bench sipping her black coffee.
“What is it, Lila?” She asked.
“Could you get tickets to Jagged Stone’s concert for my friends and I? I never get to see them anymore, and I’m just so lonely all the time. Now that Akuma attacks are dying down, Jagged Stone finally opened up for concerts.”
Her mother sighed, taking in her daughter's dramatic pleas and opened up her laptop. “I suppose I could do that,” she said. “How many do you need?”
“13 tickets?”
Her mother’s face dampened and sighed as she invested all her money in her daughter's outgoings, as usual.
—+—
Adrien Agreste excitedly got out of his car and ventured over to the park. He was actually quite surprised that his father was allowing him to attend to this picnic seeing as he hasn’t been allowed to anything else so far these holidays. It must be because it’s Marinette, everyone loves Marinette. He was ecstatic to be able to finally hang out with all his friends and have some of Marinette’s delicious food, her family are the best bakers.
As he made his way over, slight confusion plastered on his face when he saw Marinette was the only one sitting at the picnic blanket. But his eyes widened to see all the delicious treats splayed out so decadently in front of the girl. Macaroons, pie, eclairs, croissants, fruits and cheeses. Marinette had really put a lot of effort in. She’s so kind .
“Am I early?” Adrien asked, sitting down in front of Marinette.
“Oh, hey Adrien,” Marinette sniffed, looking up from her hands. His eyes immediately slandered and his face morphed into worry.
“Marinette what happened?” He asked.
She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. “You didn’t hear? Everyone decided to go to the concert instead… I- I just found out that L-Lila brought everyone tickets… I-”
This wasn’t fair. Adrien rushed over to her side. She obviously put so much effort into preparing this for everyone! How could they just abandon her like that? “I’m so sorry Marinette, you don’t deserve this,” Adrien whispered.
“It’s fine Adrien,” Marinette said. No, it’s not. It’s not fine at all. “I should’ve done better.”
The class should’ve done better. Not her. Marinette’s amazing. She’s perfect. She’s-
Her sobs cut off his train of thought and he pulled her into a hug. She hesitantly landed against his chest, and cried into it. He stroked the top of her head whispering to her, “it’s okay Marinette, you’ll be okay.”
—+—
She didn’t like how weak she was. This is why the class chose to hang out with Lila instead! She’s an idiot! She should have known that a picnic wasn’t enough! She’s always making things, maybe she should have given more instead of making lame things.
A picnic was a lame idea. No wonder none of them showed up. She didn’t blame them. It was her fault after all, for being so lame!
Adrien stroked the top of her head so gently, whispering to her and she reluctantly let go. “I’m okay,” she told him. She had to be. She was Ladybug. This was her fault anyway. It's all her fault.
“Personally, I’d prefer your food over a live concert any day,” Adrien said, picking up a brownie and stuffing it into his mouth. “The clath is mithing out,” he said, mouthful of food making Marinette giggle.
He was just saying this to make her feel better, because who would miss a concert for a dumb picnic? She certainly wouldn’t.
“There’s that smile I love,” he said, making Marinette blush. “Forget about them, we can still have fun without them.”
Marinette shrugged and picked up a piece of brownie. “I just don’t understand. What did I do wrong?” She asked.
“Nothing! You didn’t do anything wrong… it’s Lila,” he admitted.
Marinette sighed and Adrien did too. “I guess that’s just the way the cookie crumbles,” Adrien says so nonchalantly.
Marinette looked over at him.
Her eyesight followed down to his hand to see a crushed cookie in his palm and they made eye contact and both cracked up laughing.
Marinette couldn’t believe she just laughed at a pun. She was spending too much time with Chat Noir.
Adrien reached over for some cheese and the two talked about what they’d been doing over the holidays. Marinette had to make some stuff up obviously about designs, and Adrien told her about the many long photo shoots he’s had.
“Honestly, the class really missed out, your food is always delicious!” Adrien chimed as the two were finishing up after talking and stuffing their faces for a while.
“Thanks for cheering me up, I had fun!” Marinette smiled.
“Of course,” Adrien professed. “I had a really Gouda time too,” the boy said, biting down on a piece of cheese.
Marinette groaned while he chuckled and her phone chimed. She picked it out of her pocket to see Alya had posted something on Instagram.
It was a photo of her, Lila, Alix and Rose, along with some of the others in the background. Captioned: Having so much fun at Jagged Stone’s concert! Thanks to the amazing Lila Rossi for the tickets <3
Her mood instantly dampened and Adrien looked over her shoulder and saw the post. He too sighed and Marinette put her phone back in her pocket. “I just wanted to make it up to them,” Marinette said, breaking the silence.
“What do you mean?” Adrien asked.
“Remember that day when everyone went to the movies?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t make it because of a photo shoot.”
She nods and continues, “I was so lost in my thoughts that when we went to get lunch, I- I didn’t keep up with everyone and ended up getting lost.”
“They left you?” Adrien asked, suddenly sounding defensive.
“It wasn’t like that. It was my fault for getting distracted,” she sighed. “It’s always my fault.”
Adrien frowned and put an arm on Marinette’s shoulder. “Tell me what happened that day.”
She fiddled with the rim of her shirt where they sat. “Well, we watched the movie. I had to sit away from them because there weren’t enough seats in the row because I was late, and then when we went to get lunch, I was so distracted and I ended up losing everyone so I just went home.”
“Marinette that is not on you,” Adrien frowned. “I can’t believe they made you sit by yourself!”
“Well, there weren’t any seats…”
“Were there extra seats where you were sitting?” He asked.
“Yeah,” she shrugged.
“Some of them could’ve at least come to sit with you,” Adrien pleaded.
Marinette shrugged again. She had felt like that, but she pushed it aside thinking if she had just come earlier. But maybe Adrien was right. Maybe they could have made more of an effort. She didn’t want to dwell on it though.
“And it’s their fault for leaving you behind. You can’t blame that on yourself,” Adrien lamented. He touched her shoulder affectionately as his words settled in. She liked his words better than her thoughts. But she didn’t like to think of her friends that way. They’re good people. They don’t mean it.
Adrien made her feel better. Cracked a few more puns, which she begrudgingly laughed at. They talked about different things and even played some Jagged Stone music and had their own little concert. He was always good at making her smile.
After a while they packed up and Adrien helped move all the stuff back in the bakery. At the end of the day, they said goodbye.
Incident 5
Reportergurl: everyone has their tickets, right?
DJdudee: babe I’ll pick you up in 5 mins
Betterthankim: wait where r we meeting up?
Markovsfather: @ the front gates
Foxy: um is uh everyone coming?
Betterthanalix: yuh! Dw Lila we won’t force you on any rides ;)
Foxy: no uh haha that’s not it uh, doesn’t matter…
Reportergurl: Lila text me privately
————NEW MESSAGE————
Stoneyyy: Myléne and I are here. Is anyone else here yet?
Reportergurl: Nino, Lila and I just arrived. We’ll be at the gate soon.
Markovsfather: On my way to the gate
Tomatokidd: Alix and I are here
Bakergal: I’m here!
Sunshinekid: sorry guys I can’t come anymore. Have fun though :)
DJdudee: I srsly hate your father
Sunshinekid: sorry
Betterthanalix: I’m here where is everyone!?
Reportergurl: at the gate
Purpletomypink: I’m here! Juleka is still sick btw guys so she couldn’t come.
Bakergal: poor juleka
————NEW MESSAGE————
Reportergurl: hurry up Kim where the heck are you??
Betterthanalix: ok I see you!
Marinette was disappointed that Adrien couldn’t come. She was really looking forward to spending more time with him and going on rides. At least if he was there Lila couldn’t try anything and they’d both be able to talk about other things while Lila spreads her white lies.
But he couldn’t come as usual. Yet she was still determined to make the day a good one. If the whole class was there, it’s not like Lila can get to every single one of the at once… right?
As soon as Kim showed up the group made their way inside the amusement park after scanning their tickets.
“What should we do first?” Rose chirps as the teens walk inside.
“We should go on that new ride Voltron! It looks sick!” Kim says.
“Ok the one thing I’ll agree with you on,” Alix says and the two bump their fists.
“A roller coaster first thing in the morning?” Myléne asks.
“Don’t worry Myléne I’ll protect you!” Ivan says, taking his girlfriend's hand in his own.
Marinette smiled to herself while she walked alongside Alya. Lila came up the other side of her and whispered something in her ear and the two girls giggled. Marinette parted her lips to ask, but she closed her mouth.
Eventually they made it to the giant grey roller coaster and Marinette felt her stomach drop. There was no way that she was getting on that thing!
It was giant, with loop de loops! Sure, she’s Ladybug and swings through Paris daily, but she has a magical suit to protect her, roller coaster rides are a different story.
She stares up at it and swallows as all her friends venture on. “Getting cold feet DC?” Kim asks as he passes her.
She pulls herself together and follows the group. She’s being ridiculous. If Myléne can do it, then so can she. She’s Ladybug for crying out loud! Of course, she can do it.
Chatter entails as they all line up. It felt like hours before they were at the front of the line, (because so many people wanted to ride the new roller coaster).
As they were finally being let on, people start pairing up, Myléne with Ivan, Alix with Nathaniel, Kim with Max, Alya with Nino, Rose with Lila… and that just left her. Just her. She gulped as the ride instructor pointed her towards the front. Her eyes widened as she stepped behind the gate. She looked up to the massive tracks, the height, her palms started to sweat.
As the ride came back down and people started to get off, the gates opened and everyone excitedly got on. She looked back to see the enthusiastic looks on her friends faces, and no one was looking at her.
The instructors came and pushed the seats down, so that they were safely secured and Marinette’s heart started to beat faster, and faster, the thought of being up so high, all by herself, twisting and turning… it was making her sick.
Was she crazy? She couldn’t do this! What was she thinking! “I-I want to get off! Please!” She yelled.
There were many groans from the people behind her, and the overhead protection went up, and she jumped out of her seat, collected her bag and made her way out of the vicinity.
Once she got out, she looked up to see the roller coaster ride had started, and she heard her friends scream. She felt sick, her hands were shaking and her legs were sore. She paced back and forth as she thought about the day. Everything was off, and it had been that way for a while and she hated it. She hated all of it. She tried to blink away the tears, but she couldn’t. They came pouring out of her eyes and she fell to the ground.
—+—
Mitsuha was wondering the amusement park when she came across the new ride Voltron. It looked absolutely terrifying. She hated roller coasters; in fact, she didn’t really like amusement parks either. They were gross and the rides only made her feel sick.
She was only here to meet a friend, and then said friend bailed at the last minute, so now she was just wondering around on her own before she decided to just leave. She didn’t spend €50 for nothing!
She looked over to the side to see a girl with her knees curled up to her chest, crying and she frowned. It didn’t look like there was anyone around her so she decided to at least see if she was ok.
She walked over, and put a hand on her shoulder. Her blue eyes were met with her brown, and the girl looked startled. “Are you okay sweetie?” Mitsuha asked.
She wipes her tear-stained cheeks and nods her head. “I’m f-fine,” she stutters.
She certainly doesn’t look fine. “Are your parents here?” She asks. The girl looks maybe around 14 years old; she could be older but she seems rather small.
She shakes her head. “I’m with my f-friends.”
Mitsuha looks around, she can’t see any other teens nearby. “Where are they?”
“They’re o-on the r-roller coaster.” She speaks.
“They just left you by yourself?” She asks again.
Marinette shakes her head, but Mitsuha isn’t so convinced. “I just, don’t really like r-roller coaster rides, that’s all.”
Mitsuha pulls Marinette up off the ground. “I totally get it girl, I’m the same.” She smiles, “come with me and I’ll get you some water,” Mitsuha offers.
As they walk over to the food stalls the girl tells her, her name is Marinette. And she tells her a few other things too, like she loves fashion and her parents work in a bakery. She also tells her that this isn’t the first time her ‘friends’ made her feel this way. That on multiple occasions there have been things that upset her. Yet she blames it on herself, saying she should’ve done better. Mitsuha doesn’t like that.
—+—
Marinette didn’t really think it was necessary that Mitsuha buy her water, but it was always nice to talk to someone new. She was a very kind girl and cheered her up a little.
She told Mitsuha about what happened with her friends before and she said that they were the ones in the wrong, she wasn’t so sure. It was Lila’s scheming and her own inability to be there. It’s not their fault she’s not brave, it’s not their fault she has to put her responsibilities as Ladybug first. It’s hers, entirely and completely hers.
She finds herself sitting near the food stalls at a table while Mitsuha, gets her a water bottle. It was so kind of her to do that, Marinette didn’t need it, but she still went and got it anyway.
She smiled as she brought it back to her and she undid the bottle lid and took a swig. It made her feel cooler, after her face felt very hot from crying, and she felt a little better.
“Thank you, this really wasn’t necessary,” Marinette noted.
The woman put a hand over Marinette’s, “it’s the least I could do, I know what it’s like.”
Marinette smiled and took another sip from the water bottle, and then her frown encased her face once again as she saw her friends approach a table nearby, laughing and raving about the roller coaster.
“Did you hear Kim screaming like a little girl?” Alix asked, smirking at Kim.
“I was not!” The boy protested.
“Lila, you don’t have to pay for my food, you’re so kind!” Rose chirped.
“Nino, you were definitely screaming louder than me,” Alya said, jabbing her boyfriend in the side.
“Was not!”
“Yes, you were.”
“Are those your friends?” Mitsuha asked, and Marinette numbly looked back at the woman in front of her.
“Y-yeah,” she stuttered, nodding her head. Her friends didn’t even know she was gone.
The lady got up, and Marinette cringed. “No please don’t! I-I’m just going to go. Thank you for your kindness, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
With that, she walked away.
—+—
Mitsuha watched as the kind pig-tailed girl left. She didn’t deserve what these so called ‘friends’ were putting Marinette through. She had only just met the girl and she could tell what an amazing person she was, she was kind and enthusiastic and so so caring. She didn’t like that her friends were upsetting her.
She thought better of it to go and confront them. She knew what teenagers could be like, and she didn’t want to get mixed up in their drama, she just hoped Marinette would value her worth and realise that she deserves better than what she’s getting.
From the looks of it, they don’t even realise their friend is gone. Now this really annoys her.
She sipped her coffee as she watched the friend group chuckle and muck around. A pink haired girl was trying to throw nuts into a boy with a red hoodie's mouth, while a girl with glasses and a girl with long brown hair whisper and giggle.
She rolls her eyes.
After a while, she gets a little hungry, she decides to get a churro, and call it a day. As she makes her way out, she walks past the table and then stops.
She stands at the end, churro in hand, determination on her face. She clears her throat, “mmm-mm.”
Everyone stops their chatter and looks at her. “Uhm,” a kid with a cap and glasses stutters and the rest of the kids just looks at her.
“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” She asks, eyeing them all.
They all exchange confused glances and then the girl with pink hair says, “oh shit, where’s Marinette?”
“She got off the roller coaster remember! Where did she go?” A larger boy with a black shirt and blond dyed tips says.
The other kids shrugged and a girl with glasses pulled out her phone.
Mitsuha tried to refrain her anger. It had been over a half hour since Marinette had left and her ‘friends’ were only just now realising.
“I found her outside the roller coaster and she was upset. I suggest that if you want to keep her as a friend then you treat her better. Frankly I think she deserves a much better group of friends than you lot.”
The shocked faces mean she got her point across. She may not know much about these kids but from what Marinette told her she could only assume their behaviour wasn’t just out of the blue. She’s had her fair share of bad friends and bullies, and she’s only just gotten rid of them after graduation.
Her job was done.
—+—
When Marinette arrived home, she flipped down onto her bed instantly. Her day was such a whirlwind, the only thing she could think about was sleep. That’s when her phone started going off.
Alya: girl where’d you go? Are you okay?
Rose: Marinette what happened? Where’d you go?
Ivan: you all good?
Myléne: is everything okay Marinette?
Alix: yo everything good?
Kim: oi DC where u at?
Nathaniel: Hey Marinette, I heard you were upset, is everything okay?
Max: hey Marinette, is everything okay? Heard you were upset?
Nino: Hey ‘Nette, where’d you go? Are you okay? I’m worried about you.
Lila: such a shame you left so early:/
Ignoring Lila’s message, Marinette felt a lot better. Her friends still cared for her despite what she told herself. They were all worried about her. Of course, she had to assume the worst, be dramatic and leave.
Lila: don’t you get it? No one actually cares about you lol. The only reason they actually noticed you were gone is because your little friend mitsubitch or whatever pointed it out. No one actually cares if you’re here. You’re just a waste of space.
Oh…