Chapter Text
“What are you, creature?!” The girl was looking at a red bug-like creature with wide eyes.
When she woke up in the empty classroom a few minutes ago, the creature was pointing it’s hand at her face. Then it squeaked and flew a few meters away.
The girl thought that as long as it scared of her, maybe it wasn't that dangerous and decided to try to make contact.
“I... uhh... I don’t know.” The creature admitted, slowly flying back. “And you are a human being, right?” It asked incredulously.
“I think I am...” The girl said. “I mean, I’m sure I am... But I’m not sure who I am...”
“Neither am I.” The creature said, landing on the offered hand. “But I like you!”
The door swung open and a tall blond elegantly dressed boy ran into the classroom. He slammed the door behind him and put his ear to it, listening to what was happening outside.
“Hey.” The girl called quietly so as not to particularly interfere with his actions. “What is happening there?”
The boy turned around sharply to see her, and sighed in relief.
“Oh, it’s just you.” He said. “There is an akuma, of course. What else can happen in this city?!”
“Do you know me?” The girl asked enthusiastically.
“Of course I... Did you get hit?” The boy asked instead of answering.
“I... I don’t know.” The girl confessed. “I woke up here, with this strange...” She looked around, searching for the creature, but it wasn’t anywhere to be found. “I don’t remember who I am, and what happened to me.”
“Obviously.” The boy said, for some reason rolling his eyes. “You got hit by the akuma.”
“I did?” She asked, not sure what was that akuma thing, but the part where she was hit by it seemed more important for now.
“Apparently.” The boy confirmed. “I’ve met a few of the other students that got hit. They all lost their memories.” He sighed. “But it isn’t the worst part, I’m afraid.”
“What can be worse?” The girl asked, slightly disturbed by his tension.
“I saw both Ladybug and Chat Noir being hit too.” He declared solemnly, as if these words had any meaning and fully confirmed the hopelessness of the situation.
The girl giggled.
“Are you an animal advocate?” She asked.
“No, Why?”
“You saw a cat and a bug being hit and you look very worried about their future.” She giggled again.
He chuckled.
“I guess I look a little out of sorts saying this for someone who has lost their memory.” He admitted.
“Pretty much.” The girl confirmed.
“Ok.” He sighed with the look of a teacher who was tired of explaining the same thing to the students. “Let's go in order. Your name is Marinette. We are classmates. Ladybug and Chat Noir are superheroes who were supposed to catch the akuma and reverse its influence, including your memory loss. But now they wander somewhere, not remembering who they are and what they are supposed to do.”
“It doesn’t sound that funny when you put it this way.” Marinette admitted.
“I guess it doesn’t.” He sighed again, and sat on a chair.
“Maybe we could remind them?” She suggested.
“WE don’t know who they are.” The boy explained. “Unless they haven’t detransformed. But I was looking for them after I saw them being hit, and found only a bunch of frightened students who had lost their memory.” He rolled his eyes again. “So I had to explain everything to them and take them to the shelter.” His voice sounded annoyed and frustrated. “I don't know why I even do all this, like some sort of...”
“Kind person?” Marinette finished coming closer, and put her hand on his one, that was resting on the desk.
The boy was alarmed and worried about what was happening and it seemed to her that support would not hurt him.
“Which I’m not.” He protested, but didn’t remove his hand. “It’s just that I found Adrien first, and he looked completely helpless without his memories, so I couldn’t leave him like that. Then the rest of them began to appear and I just…”
“Who is Adrien?” Marinette asked.
The boy looked up at her.
“The world has really collapsed if you forgot who Adrien is.” He commented in a sarcastic tone, but there was some bitterness in it.
“Why? Do I know him well?” She asked, raising her eyebrows.
“You can say so…” He answered evasively. “He is my cousin.”
“So you couldn’t leave your cousin helpless and that doesn't make you a kind person why?” Marinette smirked.
“Because I’m not. And I have a reputation to maintain.” He frowned slightly. “And because people tend to sit on the heads of kind people and ride them.” He explained.
“So, you are one of those who pretends to be bad and in difficult times saves everyone?” Marinette squeezed his hand lightly and rewarded him with an approving smile.
“Let's just say you wouldn't smile at me like that if you didn't lose your memory.” He grumbled.
“Then I'm glad I lost it.” Marinette retorted.
“And why is that?” The boy asked warily.
”Because apparently then I wouldn’t know who you really are.” She explained, still smiling softly. “And you deserve a smile.”
He swallowed and for a moment seemed very vulnerable to her. Then he took on an independent air and tried to free himself from her hand.
“I hope you forget this all when you get your real memories back.” He said.
“Why?” Marinette asked without letting go of his hand.
The boy obviously thought of himself worse than he should, or was used to hearing it from others. In any case, she wanted to support him, show him that everything will be alright, give him the warmth which he probably didn’t receive from others.
“Because...” He looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s your name?” Marinette asked.
“Felix. Why?” He narrowed his eyes.
Marinette squatted down next to his chair, not letting go of his hand, and looked up at him.
“I promise you that when my memory returns, I won't change my mind about you.” She said softly.
“You can't promise that.” Felix protested, but the vulnerable expression returned to his face.
“We’ll see about that.” She smirked. “So how are we going to save everyone?” She asked and got up.
“I have no idea.” Felix answered, getting up, and walked around the classroom. “I was hoping to find Ladybug. Without her ability to return everything back, these people will remain without memories, even if Shadowmoth releases the akuma.” And added, looking at Marinette’s questioning expression. “It’s a villain who controls the actions of akuma through telepathic communication.”
“So what do we know about this Ladybug to figure out who it could be?” Marinette asked in a business tone.
Felix looked at her in amazement.
“You lost your memory and are still going to try to save everyone?” He asked.
“Someone has to do it, right?” Marinette replied, she felt like she couldn’t just leave those people helpless, whoever they are.
Felix sighed.
“Someone has to.” He agreed. “But it's not that easy. We know that Ladybug has a miraculous – the earrings. But they're camouflaged or something like that, so we can't recognize them.”
“Hmm.” Marinette held out thoughtfully. “OK. What else?” She asked.
“That's basically all we know.” He shrugged. “The miraculous gives Ladybug her powers, so that she…”
“Wait!” Marinette interrupted, remembering about the strange ladybug-colored creature she saw before. “Does Ladybug look like a human or like giant bug? Because if it's red with a black spot, then…” She looked around, searching for the creature. “Hey, come on out, where did you hide? I think it's about you!”
“Marinette…” Felix called, approaching her, and looked into her face anxiously. “Are you feeling well?” He asked carefully.
“I'm fine.:” Marinette assured him. “It’s just that you said ‘Ladybug’ and I thought…”
“I thought so too.” The creature said as it showed itself. “But I can't remember anything about it.”
Felix jumped back in surprise.
“What are you?!” He exclaimed.
“Felix,” Marinette called softly, hoping to calm him down with her voice. “This creature was with me when I woke up.” She explained. “Do you think Ladybug lost it? Or maybe it is Ladybug herself?”
Felix glanced at the red creature attentively, then at Marinette's earrings.
“I think that might mean that Ladybug is YOU, Marinette.” He said slowly.