Chapter Text
“Just keep your head down and breathe,” Marinette muttered to herself while watching the clock endlessly tick by. All she needed to do was get through the last couple minutes of French history until she could go home for the weekend. The class was loud and rowdy, excitedly chatting about their plans for the weekend. Adrien Agreste being the main focal point of it. Each person inviting him to places, joking with him, and begging for a drop of his attention. Marinette, however, never paid any mind to him. She knew he was out of her social circle, not that she had much of one anymore. She took a deep breath and began packing up her things. Each giggle made her skin itch with irritability. God, she hated them. She hated every post they made without her, every inside joke she didn’t get, every moment they shared, probably talking about her behind her back. “I wonder what happened to her!” “I miss the old her!” They were never there in her time of need—why should she care anymore?
Ring~
The bell finally rang. Marinette stood up and swung her bag over her shoulder. She lifted her head up for just a moment to see a pair of bright green eyes staring at her—Adrien was staring at her. She immediately diverted her eyes.
“Is there something on my face? Do I stink? Is it something I have on?” Her long blue hair curtained her face, and she ran out of the classroom.
“Shit.”
—
“So, sir, do you believe that you’ve seen any behavioral changes in Ladybug recently?” The news reporter shoved his mic into Nino’s face.
“Well, yeah dude, of course I have. She just seems a bit more gloomy. But she still does an amazing job at protecting the city, so I think that she deserves a bit of grace.” He smiled and laughed as the camera panned to Ladybug and Chat Noir standing atop a building.
“You got any clues, m’lady?” Chat Noir rested his face against his staff and gazed at Ladybug. Her eyes darted around Mr. Pigeon, who was maniacally laughing as he flew along the sky.
“His hat looks pretty suspicious this time around. I bet that’s where the akuma is.”
“Damn, well I guess they call you the ‘Lucky Ladybug’ for a reason then, huh?” Chat Noir jumped down and summoned his power, Ladybug following closely behind. They had Mr. Pigeon de-akumatized within a minute.
As the magic ladybugs flew around Paris, Chat Noir turned to Ladybug, fist extended.
“Pound it?”
“Pound it!” Ladybug giggled and brushed her hand through her long hair. Chat Noir cleared his throat and smiled.
“So, what’s a pretty girl like you doing after this?”
Ladybug wondered for a moment.
“Well, a pretty girl like me is probably gonna hang out with my thousands of friends and party all night, surrounded by wonderful company.” She chuckled. Both of their Miraculouses buzzed with a warning notification. “Speaking of, we should probably get going.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’ll see ya soon, m’lady.” He ran off to detransform.
—
Adrien sat in a dark alleyway, Plagg in hand.
“Tough battle, huh?” Plagg said with a mouthful of cheese.
“You were literally there. It absolutely was not.” Adrien gazed outside of the alley. There was a blue-haired girl walking along the street.
“Marinette, right on time.” Plagg rolled his eyes.
“Honestly, Adrien, just talk to her. You stalking her gets a little bit creepy, by the way.”
“For the last time, Plagg, I’m just making sure she’s safe. You know it’s not safe for a girl like her to be on these roads alone at night.” He sighs and looks back at his kwami. Plagg, swallowing one last big bite of cheese, turns to him.
“C’mon, man, what’s the worst thing that could happen? You just wanna know what went down from her perspective, right? Instead of trusting her friends for everything.”
“So what am I even supposed to do, huh? ‘Hey, girl I don’t know, would you mind telling me your life’s story?’ She would probably think I’m one of Chloe’s goons trying to humiliate her.”
Plagg glares for a second.
“What do you think I’m here for, huh? Transform. Say you’re Chat Noir doing night patrol.” He then gestures to a building a block away, with Marinette sitting at her balcony. His eyes glow with excitement. He transforms and runs up to the building.
—
Marinette liked to spend her Friday nights with a bottle of sweet white wine and a pack of cigarettes.
She liked this because she was alone, away from expectations, judgment, or the memories—the memories of what had happened to her. She enjoyed the quiet but chaotic noise of Paris, the distinct smell that stung her nostrils, and the painlessness that came with the alcohol. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, taking in the beauty of the Parisian night.
She heard a few footsteps clobbering behind her. To avoid anything else ruining her peaceful night, she didn’t move—she just hoped that they wouldn’t notice her. She felt a leathery hand brush across her face. Shivers rolled down her spine as she saw a man in an outrageous cat outfit stand before her.
“What the hell?” she mumbled. He pulled back and sat on the balcony’s railing.
“Sorry! Sorry to wake you, I just noticed your cigarette was still lit between your fingers. I didn’t want you to burn yourself. I’m Chat Noir, by the way.”
Marinette lifted the cigarette, put it to her lips, and took a deep inhale.
“I don’t think that you ever have to worry about introductions, huh? With saving Paris all the time, everybody must know who you are.”
“Uhm, yeah, I guess you’re right.” Chat Noir thought for a moment—how would he get to know more about her without making it sound suspicious? He knew her, he knew almost everything about her. From her favorite flower to her favorite pillow that she slept with every night. It was hard holding his tongue, especially when he had chosen to go to François Dupont especially for her. He took a deep breath and spoke.
“Well, it’s a nice place you got up here. What’s your name?”
Marinette’s long hair fell in front of her face, shielding her eyes from his.
“Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Would you like a cigarette?” She held out the box to him. His gloved fingers carefully selected one from the box. Marinette pulled out her lighter and sparked a flame.
“You smoke?” She extended her hand out and lit his cigarette.
“No, never. This is my first time.” He nervously lifted the cigarette and took a small breath in, just for all of the air to come gushing out in large coughs.