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Marinette always wore her heart on her sleeve, or at the very least, she fell in love easily. When the situation in Paris was resolved, her heart was shattered into a million pieces. She learned that Adrien was Chat Noir and vice versa, and he didn't love her.
Her heart ached and she had to accept it.
She had loved so many.
Yet she loved Tim Drake the most.
He was kind, caring, handsome, intelligent, and funny.
She adored him. In the field he was a strong and capable leader. The rest of the team looked up to him and respected him.
Marinette had been pining after Tim Drake, Red Robin, for such a long time. Sure, she was beautiful, took pride in her work, and a strong hero and leader but it wasn't enough for Tim to look her way. Her maman had reassured her years ago that she was beautiful, having blossomed into a pretty young lady. Yet her beauty didn't catch Tim's eye.
Maybe she just couldn't compete on the same level as him intellectually? Yet she was easily one of the stronger and more innovative members. She could find a solution with any little tools and her lucky charm gave her an advantage no one else had. Her magical knowledge was invaluable at times as well. However that wasn't enough either.
She wasn't a bad person either. Taking time to help anyone and everyone she could.
Marinette tried to get Tim to see her but to no avail. It was nigh impossible.
So she had settled to accept it and spent her time loving him from afar. She did her best to help him and he didn't mind her presence and for that she was grateful. Even if she was left being his friend, someone he cared for only as a teammate, peer, and friend, then she could at least be happy to be just that. Unfortunate for her dear heart but adequate for the rest of her self.
Yet…
Her heart was always so prone to loving.
And her affinity with things of unique and miraculous nature were always strong.
So when she felt like she had something stuck in her throat she knew.
She knew.
Tikki had tried to play it off as a casual cold but Marinette knew deep down in her heart that she was sick. That the words she longed to say had finally caught in her throat and soon enough it would spread to her lungs. Till she couldn't breathe.
Marinette was doomed to choke and wither, just like the beautiful red blooms that stemmed from her mouth.
Red was their color after all. Amaryllis was fitting. The meaning behind it felt so right to her that she almost could laugh at it. Instead all she felt was resigned conclusion. She was okay with this. Ladybug would never fall to her foes, however Marinette could succumb to beautiful flowers in the name of the unsaid love. Because Marinette loved too hard sometimes.
Ladybug would need to find a new wielder, and a new guardian. Maybe Tim would assist? He was kind enough to help and she doubted he'd pry anything beyond what was necessary. It would hurt. Knowing she was leaving some poor soul to the fate of protecting the Miraculous was a sad thought.
However she found herself being selfish, uncharacteristic of her but Marinette didn't feel like caring. She was dying and the flowers kept coming. Each time they were a little more whole.
Soon enough stems too.
A lovely crystal vase held some that she'd bought at the flower shop down the road. They were just so lovely.
It wasn't long before her coughing and hacking had been noticed. Her withered look got the attention of those around her. Some of the magic users of their group noted how she looked drained, her magic aura looking like it had been sun-faded. Teammates asked if she was sick. Though she never really said much.
Tim watched.
He was always so observant.
One day he pulled her aside. It was post mission so while she simply detransformed, he was still in his Red Robin suit.
She'd smiled at him, her tired eyes happy to see him.
She had frowned when he rested a hand on her shoulder.
“It's cancer isn't it? That's why you're giving up the Miraculous? It's okay, we can get you help.”
That's what he had said to her, reassuring and so confident. She'd been so taken aback that she had just laughed. Yet before she could assure him that she was fine and it was just a cold, Marinette coughed.
At this point, once she started she couldn't stop.
Bloody petals fell to the ground with a wet sound. Tim had stepped back in surprise and she felt her coughs turn into full on heaving as whole flowers battled for release. Amaryllis petals and blooms fell to the ground and she felt herself fall.
Arms she longed to be held in finally wrapped around her as she gave a tired smile. Marinette was too tired to cough anymore and she couldn't breathe. So she took in the one she love for the last time as her heart finally rested.
Marinette always loved too hard.