08-21-21, 3:07 pm
Marinette entered the dimly lit room, the wooden, flaky door creaking as it opened slowly. The first time she'd been here everything looked caliginous and unwelcome. But after several visits, the mood felt cozy.
An old woman in a rocking chair watched her favorite show on a black and white television — hair flecked with grey and flower-designed dress tattered, yet a smile had blossomed on her lips. That very woman was none other than Lila's dear grandmother: Agatha Rossi.
"Lila! Is school over? So early?" said the woman eagerly.
"Good afternoon, grandma. Marinette's here if you don't mind. We'll be doing a Chemistry project together," said Lila in reply.
"Oh! Marinette my dear, hello," she greeted, pleased to see the girl.
"Hey, Mrs. Rossi." Marinette walked closer to her, locking the other in a tight hug.
"It's been a while." She let go, resting her hands on her lap. "Now good luck with the project. And don't get distracted, alright?" said Agatha.
They nodded and walked up the stairs. The two entered Lila's room, Marinette immediately sinking her bottom on the sky blue, inflatable sofa on the side of the room.
A quick chime sliced through the momentary silence. "Who is it?"
"It's Rin," replied Lila, typing in her password before reading the message.
The other stood up and walked to Lila's side. "We've told her countless times!" She bit her lip in frustration. "Is she joking?"
"No. It looks serious." She chuckled. "They're back together."
"That dumb ginger. I'm gonna strangle her one day," said Marinette nastily.
"It has nothing to do with her being ginger. Sabrina's just Sabrina, and she's hopeless. Just because he apologized doesn't mean she should forgive him." Lila knitted her eyebrows as she turned off her phone and carefully put it on her bedside table. "Forget it, let's leave her alone. This is giving me a headache.
"Hey. That Adrien boy, remember him?" asked Lila, changing the subject.
She shrugged. "How could I not? He was so eager to help us, pfft."
"That...was the first time I've seen you been remotely nice to a guy," said Lila amusedly, sitting on the floor.
"Shut it." Marinette pushed her playfully.
Their laughs were ceased once the blue-eyed girl looked around the room. The walls were all black, and there was a lonely lightbulb and a nightlight beside the zebra-themed bed. There were posters here and there, yet no pictures of her family; it made Marinette bite her lip as she pondered.
"You know, I've always wondered," said Marinette, "why aren't there any pictures of you and your parents?"
"Oh— them..." Lila looked at her feet.
Her fingers twitched.
The mention of them made her chest heavy, heart rate increased. Breathing was suddenly such a hard task. Barely able to compose herself, she quickly said in reply, "I'm sorry, I can't tell y—"
Marinette began shaking her hands aggressively, sensing her clear discomfort. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It's totally alright," said the blunette nervously, "I mean I didn't tell you about...you know, either."
"Yeah..." she muttered, rubbing her shoulders.
Silence overtook the room in a matter of milliseconds, and the air was suffocating. Without hesitation, Marinette changed the subject to the reason they were there in the first place. "So, do we demonstrate using a gaseous equilibrium system? Aqueous? I mean we already have the materials."
"Yeah. I'm too lazy to make a script. And we already have the knowledge to illustrate and explain. So let's just get recording," said Lila, trying to return to her energetic self.
"Okay then, let's start." Marinette put up the camera, fixing the angle. She backed up and said, "One, two, three.
"Hello, everyone! My name is Marinette Dupain Cheng," she began with a broad grin.
"And I am Lila Rossi," said the green-eyed girl.
"And today, we are to illustrate Le Chatlelier's Principle. But fir—" Marinette's introduction was discontinued by a noise coming from outside. "Ugh, what was that?" she barked, voice laced with aggravation.
"It's okay, I can edit it and cut it out," said Lila, walking towards the camera again. "Alright, and, record!"
"But first, what exactly is, Le Chatlelier's Principle? Well, this principle states that when a stress is placed upon a system at equilibrium, the system will shift in a direction to receive the—" Marinette groaned. There the noise was again.
"What is that?!" Marinette exclaimed, pursing her lips.
"Let me check." Lila went to peek through the jalousie window, only to see a gigantic hole on the ground, sucking everything in sight including lamp posts, benches, and even people.
A stunning young woman appeared out of the said hole, floating in midair with ease. She had blonde hair with curtain bangs. Her eyes were as dark as ebony, along with her iris and sclera. It was quite intimidating.
The akuma wore a black maxi dress with a golden obi belt tied to her waist. She had bare feet, and was levitating in the middle of the hole.
"I am Dark Hollow. Gravitational force fears me, for it cannot pull me down. And neither can my friends who have become enemies!" said the villain as it flew up, looking for someone.
"What will pull you down though, are my portals and holes which will draw you in and trap you. Ladybug and Chat Noir, show yourselves and surrender your miraculous!" Dark Hollow proclaimed.
Marinette suddenly fell to the floor, clutching her chest in pain as she whined.
"HEY! A-are you okay?" Lila panicked in worry, holding the blunette in her arms.
"Obviously not..." said Marinette, groaning, "can I use the bathroom?"
Lila pinched the bridge of her nose. "Geez, does your diarrhea always have to act up during akumas?"
"It's just a coincidence. But whatever you do"—she held up a finger—"don't check on me no matter what. I'll be fine."
"What? You sure?" Lila folded her arms, she found her condition a wee bit suspicious.
"Yeah. I mean...I'd be embarrassed cause...you know, the smell," said Marinette timidly. An odd pause floated across the room, both girls straight-faced and not really knowing what to say next. Despite that awkwardness, Lila spoke anyway.
"I get it— y-yeah, just go." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't want you to shit your pants."
"Thanks," Marinette sneered, not wasting a minute to dash to the bathroom like there was no tomorrow.
The red kwami with a black spot on her forehead phased out of her sling bag; they nodded in unison. Marinette then voiced the transformation words to turn herself into a superheroine, "Tikki, spots on!"
Tikki got sucked into her black earrings, turning them into a red color with five black spots in a quincunx pattern. Using her two hands, a magical mask appeared on the heroine's face — serving to protect her identity.
A skintight bodysuit identical to a ladybug covered her entire body. The red bands that held her pigtails grew longer, transforming into ribbons. Her yo-yo appeared on her waist. She used it for various reasons — it was a weapon, communication device, shield, purifier, and even a guide for when she had first become Ladybug.
She leaped out of the bathroom window, making sure no one saw her as she swung her way to the villain. Face to face with Dark Hollow, she endeavored to not appear frightened. Except, she sort of was. The villain was different from most she and Chat Noir handled.
"Ladybug, how wonderful it is seeing you here...but you don't seem to think the same," said the villain in black, cackling like a mad witch who was casting hexes to everyone in sight. "Dear me, your knees are trembling! Are you here to give up your miraculous? You seem so scared."
She only responded with a piercing glare, then looked to the cement floor. "Where is that roach?!" shouted Ladybug furiously.
A certain hero landed right beside her, almost on cue. "Hey bugafool, am I late?" said Chat Noir shamelessly.
"You are. Also, really? Instead of Bugaboo, you say Bugafool? Is that the best insult you can come up with?" She cartwheeled, used her yo-yo to obliterate the portal, and prevented it from landing on the ground.
"Of course not, my brain's just not at one hundred percent right now," he stated.
"What do you mean? Your brain never can and never will be at one hundred percent," said Ladybug, snickering nastily.
Chat Noir carried a lost child to her mother, urging them to leave as to not be trapped by the dark holes. He left to get closer to the heroine and said, "Same goes to you. I bet you haven't even figured out where the Akuma is yet."
The girl in red and black wanted to just punch the other right then and there, although she knew she couldn't do that; it would ruin what the public thought of them.
His puns were absolutely horrendous, and he made sure to call the girl names on a daily basis. Not only that, she believed he was terrible at being her partner.
He was always joking and making silly remarks — he never knew the right times to do so, and he could never read the room. Ladybug always felt something inside her when she'd first met him.
It was hate, annoyance, and loathe. She wished she had another partner.
Why did it have to be him?
*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*
Long hours after finishing a project with her best friend, the girl in pigtails entered a discreet massage shop. But it wasn't to relax.
The room had simple, Chinese-influenced designs. Traditional music was playing, as she humbly sat in front of a short, old man whose chestnut-like eyes brightened at her presence.
The man had medium gray hair, and a mustache. He was dressed in a crimson Hawaiian shirt with a white hibiscus flower motif. He was dressed in beige capri pants and brownish shoes, with a light green bracelet — the Turtle Miraculous, on his right wrist.
After greeting the man, she immediately uttered the words she wished to say ever since the day she rejected her partner.
"Master Fu, I want you to replace Chat Noir."
The guardian of the miraculous didn't move from his squatting position, fingers patting his knees lightly. "That's a shocking request, Marinette."
"But it's a reasonable one. He even tried to provoke and mock Dark Hollow as a distraction! If that's not recklessness, I don't know what is," said the blunette.
"Perhaps that's just his way," said Wang Fu, "you did defeat Dark Hollow, didn't you?" He smiled warmly.
Marinette blinked flatly before responding. "Yes, because you trained us beforehand! You helped us develop the skills of a good hero," said Marinette crossly. "When you chose us, you said that being a hero isn't all fun and games, but Chat Noir doesn't get that! You're a great master, but I don't have a great partner."
"You make a good point. But I chose the two of you for a good reason as well." He stood up, crossing his arms. "You two are the perfect duo in order to retrieve the Butterfly and Peacock miraculous."
"We can barely focus though..." she trailed off. "Both of us always fight because of disagreements. You call that a perfect duo?"
The man nodded. "Trust me when I say, yes. I am sure. You will solve that resentment as time passes. Only then, will you become a perfect and unstoppable duo.
"Just, remember not to overthink nor do anything you'll regret," said Fu silkily.
Marinette looked at her feet, fidgeting with her thumbs, and considering her master's advice. "Alright. I have somewhere to be anyway."
"Correct. The moon's out and your parents must be looking for you. Your mother might be pacing already." He rested his bottom on the mat. "What excuse did you make to Lila and Sabrina this time?"
Marinette chuckled a bit. "You know how creative I am, Master. I've also updated my mother. Her mind is at ease, I'm sure."
"If you say so." He smiled.
"Thank you for your time master, I'll take my leave," said Marinette with a bow. She then left the shop, adjusting her sling bag on her shoulder as she made her way to Twelve Rue Gotlib.
The end of the day came by quite quickly.
Marinette step foot in the bakery. Then, she heard the chime she'd longed for all day. The fresh, sweet, and yeasty aroma of the bakery was still drifting through the air. The neutral colors of each element inside were simple, yet its designs were unique.
The walls were as white as clouds, with translucent window frames and yellow borders with designs that somehow portrayed royalty. The pebble counter had a single cash register and some free treats in a jar — her parents believed it could make someone's day.
There was a hanging wrought iron rack displaying varied types of bread. Then finally, the chillers with transparent glass, inside were different pastries made by none other than the best bakers in Paris. Marinette always found everything inside comforting. She has always lived there and despite that, it always felt new. It was a haven; the place she called home.
Her father, Tom, greeted the girl instantly with his bright smile. "Good evening!"
"Good evening Marinette, how did the project go?" Her mother, Sabine, echoed her husband's tone.
"It went well. There was an akuma Ladybug and Chat Noir had to deal with, which is why I came home late," said Marinette, wiping a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead as she sat down on a couch. "As I said, mother. I can keep myself safe, also don't worry, I didn't get home alone. Lila accompanied me but was in a rush to go." She fibbed, tearing her eyes away from her mother's questioning gaze.
"She didn't even say hi?" Tom laughed. "So did you buy the baking soda?" he asked, taking off his apron and hanging it.
"Baking soda?" she repeated, confused.
"Yeah, we're all out," said her mother. "The delivery guy couldn't make it, and rescheduled tomorrow afternoon. But we'll need it for this morning."
Marinette stomped her feet in annoyance, sort of like a child. "Come on," she huffed. "I was just outside! Why didn't you guys text me?—"
"We did!" they interrupted in unison.
She frantically searched her purse, trying not to hurt Tikki as she took her phone. "Oh..." Marinette bit her lip in slight embarrassment. "It was set on Do not disturb. Whoops."
"If you think you're going out at this hour"—her mother turned all serious—"you're terribly mistaken. We'll buy some early in the morning."
She tried to argue. "But mom!—"
"Do you not know how dangerous it is especially at night?" chastised Sabine. "No one to accompany you, it's dark, and the convenience store is minutes away."
"Let her go this once, dear. She didn't learn self-defense for nothing, right?" Tom cut in to ease the tension. "Don't be too paranoid."
"Paranoid?! That's what Vermont told her, and what happened?" She realized she'd raised her voice a bit too loud.
"Calm down. You want me to go with her?" questioned her father gently.
"No, I'll be okay. Please, mom?" begged the girl.
Sabine put it into consideration. She trusted Marinette, but cared for her safety. She couldn't let what happened to happen again. But was that worth stripping her daughter of freedom without company?
Her mother handed the blunette money so she could walk to the twenty-four-seven convenience store. "Be careful," said Sabine, emphasizing her words.
Marinette sighed in relief, hugging both her parents. "Thanks, mom."
Minutes later, it was dark and chilly. Marinette went out of the store holding a paper bag with baking soda, some chips she could snack on, and a magazine of Adrien. She purchased the latter out of curiosity, considering she'd been living under a rock all this time.
She decided to walk a bit slowly whilst eating the bag of potato chips to get lost in thought.
Aside from being rather aggrieved of the incident with Dark Hollow, a particular thought had lingered heavily in her mind and chest. It was only after working on the Chemistry project with Lila.
She'd known the girl since forever. And yet, not knowing about this made her feel as though her best friend was a complete mystery. Marinette wasn't a detective, but she sure was an overthinker. Were missing photographs such a big deal? Probably not, but she kept worrying about them anyway.
But maybe they should concern her at least a little. Marinette just couldn't help but wonder...
What happened to Lila's parents?
The silent and cool ambiance happened to distract her reverie after a few minutes, excluding the sound of the chips crunching in her mouth, which were completely alright since it sounded a little satisfying for her. Hopefully, no one would interrupt her peaceful promenade.
Oh, how wrong she was.
Marinette recalled that this evening, was the patrol of a certain someone. She didn't even have to look behind her to know who it was. The infuriating, but soft sound of footsteps dug onto her ears unpleasantly — for they were footsteps she recognized very well.
With a clench of her fists, she spoke, turning to her shoulder. "Chat Noir..."
"What do you want?"
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~2628 words~