Till the End of the Line ~ A Miraculous Short Story

Marinette

I threw my backpack on before making sure Tikki was tucked safely into my purse and running off to school. I was late. Again.

This time it wasn't even because of an akumitization. I had just been so tired from the early morning patrol that I had collapsed onto my bed and fallen asleep the second I got home. Turns out, people set alarms for a reason. Who knew?

As I raced into view of the school, I saw Adrien getting out of his car, the door opened by his bodyguard. Adrien. He was so perfect. So dreamy. So-

"Ack!" I squealed and as I fell to the ground, tripping over Lila's perfect little boot. I had to hold back a growl as I pulled myself up. To my surprise, a hand was held out to me as I stood. I instantly recognized it.

"Thanks Adrien!" I told him, trying to keep my blushing under control.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry!" Lila gushed in her sickly sweet voice. Ick. "I have a terrible case of restless leg syndrome, and sometimes I just can't control myself!"

"Ugh. Save it for someone who cares, Lila." I deadpanned as I took Adrien's hand.

"Seriously Lila. We've given you plenty of chances, but you always go back to lying, Just leave Marinette alone." He said. I was now working overtime trying to contain my blushing. Adrien led me away, giving me a chance to glance at Ayla, who was giving me two thumbs up and a giant grin.

"You okay Marinette?" He asked, giving me an adorably concerned expression.

"Yeah, I'm pine! I' mean, I'm line! Fine!!! I'm fine." I giggled, then silently cursed myself.

"Okay then... Um, I'd better get to class. Bye!" I gazed at him as he walked off, trying to get back control of my limbs. It wasn't working. Eventually, Ayla dragged me into the building to begin school.

All of a sudden, in the middle of a boring literature class in which all I did was stare at the back of Adrien's head, an alarm went off. Not the fire alarm, but the newly installed akuma alarm. Mayor Bourgeois had issued a new law that had them put into every public building in case of an attack so people could get to safety. I was happy people would be safe, but it made sneaking away sooo much harder. All students were supposed to go downstairs to the storm shelter, and they would always count to make sure everyone was there. Sometimes I pretended to have already been turned into one of the akuma's minions, and others I asked to go to the bathroom, but I was quickly running out of excuses. I had no idea how to get out of this one.

I grabbed my bag as we all filed out of the classroom and down the stairs. Tikki popped her head out and made a face that told me I needed to go.

"Oh no, I left my bag in the classroom!" I shouted, holding the bag behind my back. "I have to go grab it!" Then I ran away before anyone could protest.

My feet pounded on the tile floor as I reached an empty classroom and ran in, shutting the door behind me. Now, I got to say my favorite words in the world. "Tikki, spots on!"

I went through the familiar motions until my Ladybug suit covered my other clothes, then jumped out an open window. When I landed on the ground, I saw a giant baby playing with the boats in the Seine. Not again. Hawkmoth, or now Shadowmoth had started akumatizing kids and babies even more, probably because they'd get upset more easily and often. They usually weren't too difficult to defeat, but they kept coming all the time. I'd lost an insane amount of sleep over the past month, and fallen way behind on homework.

I swung closer to the baby, seeing that it was August again. Just as I was about to scan the area for Chat Noir, a stick was planted on the rooftop next to me, Chat slowly following.

"Need some help, M'Lady?" he grinned.