Chapter Text
The only thing keeping Adrien from getting up and walking away was his inherent need to be courteous. Even if it was to someone like Chloe. She wouldn’t stop babbling on and on about, well, whatever she was talking about. Adrien had zoned out a couple of minutes ago. He was picking up hints about a ball, one that Adrien would have to go to anyway. Chloe was just inferring that Adrien should go with her.
“Because if I show up alone, I’ll be so humiliate-”
Adrien cut her off with a sigh. “I’ll go with you.”
Chloe’s face lit up with a grin. “You will?” she squealed. The classroom door opened, Adrien glancing to the side to notice it was Marinette. Her nose turned up a little when her eyes passed over Chloe, just like Ladybug’s.
The thought brought a smile to Adrien’s face, letting him turn back to Chloe with more compassionate eyes. “Yeah. You’ll be there at seven?”
Chloe squealed again. Okay, he could understand her reluctance now. Chloe had the tendency to be...louder than most. “I’ll send a limo to pick you up. Be ready at six thirty.” She was already pulling out her phone to get things in order. “Oh, I can’t wait! You better look amazing.” She walked off with a wink, leaving Adrien to regret his life decisions.
He didn’t notice Marinette sitting down behind him with nobody to turn to. Alya wasn’t there yet, it was too early in the morning. Half the class wasn’t there yet. Her shoulders slumped in dejection. Her eyes flickered between the back of Adrien’s head and Chloe’s for a good couple of minutes before she stood and walked out.
No sooner was she out of the classroom as Tikki had flown out of her bag. She floated alongside as Marinette paced down the hall, eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe it’s not what it seems,” Tikki suggested.
“What else could it be?” Marinette said with a little speed tacked onto her step. “Oh, how could I be so stupid? Of course he would like her instead of me. Just look at me.”
“That’s not your problem, Marinette. You’re beautiful and talented! It’s probably for some other reason.” Tikki watched as Marinette slumped against the lockers, hall abandoned so early. “You have nothing to worry about.”
Marinette sighed. “I just wish I could get Adrien to notice me.” A mask of red appeared around Marinette’s eyes. Tikki’s eyes widened as she circled Marinette. Only the two could hear Hawkmoth’s monologue and see the pink-purple mask surrounding their eyes.
“Yes,” he coaxed, “Crushes are so tiresome, aren’t they? They always end in heartbreak.” Marinette’s eyes widened as she realized what was going on. Where had the akuma gotten to? Her bag? Her earrings? How could she be so blind? “Come with me, Marionette. Seek revenge on the boy that’s done you wrong.”
The girl’s hands clenched into fists, eyes narrowed in concentration. The altered version of her own name, of course. Maybe he’d had that planned all along. “No,” she spat out. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. Not even Adrien or Chloe.”
“But imagine, Marionette. You could have Adrien all to yourself. Chloe couldn’t deny it anymore, he isn’t hers. He’d be yours. And all you have to do in exchange is a small favor.”
All it would take was two words, and she could stop the struggle. Tikki hovered in front of her with trembling limbs. What would stop Marinette from just handing Hawkmoth her earrings once she was akumatized? The girl reached out to her, fingers almost touching her own tiny hand. More intrusive thoughts were seeping in by the second, and it was harder and harder for her to resist. She muttered a short ‘sorry’ to Tikki and stood, tears brimming at her eyes. “Yes, Hawkmoth.”
Black bubbling consumed her, starting from her purse. Of course. She watched in dread as it engulfed her torso, her legs, her arms, and finally her head.
And everything went dark.