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“So tell me everything you know? I don’t want any details left out… You hear me!”
Marinette tried to sound threatening to Nino, but the smaller girl's cute detective outfit really lessened the tension of the moment.
“Chill dudette, Wow you really took Alya’s lesson to heart.” Nino tried to lighten the mood, but Marinette was having none of it. “Come on Nino… This is serious detective work here.” Nino was trying to hold back his laughter at the cute pout that Marinette was doing, as he tried to tell her the information.
“I don’t know that much about them, but they were at the skate park, so the best person to ask is Alix. She may have more information on the Imposter-nette that people have been talking about.” Marinette looked at Nino for any trace of falsehoods in his statement, but was glad to see no signs on her friend's face.
“Thank you… I’ll be in contact if I need any more information.” Marinette zoomed off before Nino could even say goodbye, Marinette was on a mission and she was going to get to the bottom of this.
Marinette arrived at the skate park only slightly out of breath, she scanned the area and found her target with ease. “Alix Kubdel!” She shouts so loud that everyone in the park turns to stare at her, meanwhile Alix has a faint blush on her face as she feels those eyes shift to her. “Are you free to answer some questions about the Imposter-nette case? Please.” Marinette tried to sound like a seasoned detective, but her little plea kinda ruined the optic of the moment.
“Yeah sure.” Alix just shrugged, she was far too used to Marinette’s brand of weirdness that this whole scene didn’t make her bat an eye after the initial shock. “So Miss Kubdel…” Alix rolled her eyes. “Just Alix, Marinette…” Marinette blushed, but quickly got back on track. “ So Miss. Alix, have you seen any sightings of a girl who looks like me hanging out in this park?”
Marinette sees something odd flash in Alix’s eyes for a brief second before the girl takes off her helmet and scratches her hair. “Well sort of… It’s complicated.” Alix looked conflicted as she said this, but Marinette was too focused on the first credible lead she had gotten to notice.
“You have to tell me what you do know? Alix. Please. I have to know that I’m not crazy!” Alix looks at the puppy dog eyes that Marinette was giving her and soon the girl cracks from them. “Fine… I can’t tell you much about them…” Alix refused to make eye contact as she said this.
“But I can show you a picture of them…” Marinette rushed up to Alix and clasped her hand. “Please show me the picture.” Alix laughs at the display. “I would if someone wasn’t holding both of my hands.” Marinette quickly realised her action and let go of Alix’s hands, not without blushing the same shade as Alix’s hair while doing so.
“Sorry… Got a little excited.” Marinette was too embarrassed to look Alix in the eyes as she said this. “It’s fine. Here is the picture.” Alix turns her phone around so that Marinette could see the picture. At first glance she sees Alix, but then she sees the figure standing next to her and Marinette’s jaw drops. “Is that… Me?”
Even with the figure's more visible tanned skin that had quite a few plaster on it, messy twin-tails and more boyish outfit. The person in the photo was a clear match to Marinette. They both had the same eye colours, face shape and even facial mannerism. Marinette didn’t know whether to be creep out or amazed at seeing an almost perfect copy of herself.
“I need to go home… I need answers… Can I have a copy of the picture…” Marinette said these words before she dashed off. Alix just about got out the words. “Yeah sure.” Before Marinette flew off and left her windswept by the encounter. Marinette went to the one place where she knew the answer would lie.
“Mom! Dad! Do I have a twin sister?” Both of Marinette’s parents seem to just stare blankly at the girl as they both realise the question she just asked.
“I guess it’s finally time then…” Sabine was the one to break the silence. She took a breath before continuing. “Back when we wanted a kid… The bakery was still in its early days… We were both on our own… No real family support to speak of during that time.” Sabine pauses as Tom takes over. “So when your mother found out we were having a kid… We tried our best to be ready… But then we found out that she was having twins and our dream became a nightmare.”
Tom now paused as Marinette clearly had questions to ask, but Sabine raised her hand signalling her to hold them for now. “We were prepared for one child… But we had nowhere near the income to support raising two kids… So we decided the best course of action was to give one of the twins away… and we would keep the other… That being you.” Sabine paused as she thought hard about the next words.
“You have a twin sister… An identical twin sister… and she has been in Paris the whole time.” Marinette was speechless, what had started as a silly investigation of a rumour going around school had actually turned into an earth shattering revelation for her. “Can I meet her?” Was all Marinette could ask at that moment.
So now Marinette is here at the end of her investigation, she was at the home of the supposed Imposter-nette. She knocked on the door and was greeted by the warm glaze of Alim Kubdel.
“Marinette, I knew you were coming. Your parents said it was finally time for you to meet Marin… Can’t believe it was finally happening, I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. So has Alix…” Marinette sees the familiar coral tuft of hair sticking out from behind a nearby door frame.
“Dad… Don’t embarrass me in front of Marinette… I got that enough already from Marin.” After Alim chuckles he lets Marinette into the apartment. Both Kubdels present guided Marinette through the spacious apartment.
“So you were the one to take the other child off my parents.” Marinette asked as she saw some family photos of Alix, Jalil and Marin. “I was at your parents' flat the moment I saw the advert… Alice and your mother were old friends, they were always there for each other. So being able to help Sabine was the best way I could honour my Alice’s memory.” Alim looks sad as they walk down the long hallway.
“I always kept your parents updated about Marin… She is still as much a Dupain-Cheng as she is a Kubdel… But we decided it was best not to confuse you both until you were old enough. But it seems like now that's time.” Alim stops as he gestures to a door that says both Alix and Marin on it.
“I’ll let you guys chat… Jalili got another theory to show me and I don’t think you guys want me cramping your style… Or embarrassing Alix in front of her..” Alim seems to smirk as he looks at Alix as he says this. “Dad… Not in front of…” Alix freezes as she hears Marinette giggle.
“But please have a good time getting to know your sister Marinette… She wants to meet you as well.” Marinette's hands started to shake as she knew the moment was finally upon her. “Bye for now.” Alim says his goodbyes as he goes back down the hallway they had just walked through, before vanishing into one of the far off doors.
“So is Marin the reason you never invite anyone to your room?” Marinette asked with a teasing tone. Alix just nodes, as she knocks on the door.
“Wake up, we have a visitor… and please don’t be in just your underwear again…” Marinette was surprised by the normality of that sentence from Alix’s mouth.
“I’m F-ing presentable, Dad already gave me the speech! Besides, we are identical twins. She has the same body as me and you spent how many years staring at it? So I don’t think she’ll be that weird out?” Marinette was amazed to hear her voice be so vulgar, but even more amazed at how Alix had gotten so easily flushed by that comment. Marinette was going to question it when she heard movement from the other side of the door.
As Marin opens the door and comes face to face with Marinette, her sharp look shifts to the same look of curiosity that was on Marinette’s face. “Oh… Hi there.” Marinette is quick to greet back. “Hi…Nice to meet you…”
Both sounded like awkward robots who had both seen their reflections for the first time, as Alix just laughed to herself, clearly finding victory from Marin’s previous comment. “This is going to be a fun night!” Alix said as she dragged Marinette into the room with Marin in tow. At long last the two halves were made whole and they both had a lot of catching up to do.