Red Strings And Markers

o n e

"Marinette." A voice pulled her from her train of thought.

"Alya, good morning."

"So, have you looked at my Ladyblog? There was an appearance of the two last night!" Her friend, Alya, was the one who ran the most popular blog that followed the popular superheroes of Paris, the Ladyblog.

Alya was a big fan of Chat Noir and Ladybug and it killed Marinette to hold a secret from her close friend, but she couldn't have her best friend know that she was the one who rescued Paris from danger.

As Marinette and Alya headed to the classroom, Nino and Adrien lagged behind.

"It's interesting really. I do wonder who my soul mate is, but whoever it is, they do share a big passion with Ladybug." Nino chuckled as he explained to Adrien what he would find on his arms or his legs sometimes.

"I wonder how many people would want their red strings tied to Ladybug?" Adrien wondered aloud.

Nino scoffed. "Who wouldn't want their red strings tied to Ladybug?" The two of them laughed it off and headed inside. Little did Nino know that Adrien's red strings were tied to Ladybug.

Class began and Adrien couldn't help but let his mind wander off about Ladybug.

He was glad to get the explanation from Plagg when he turned fifteen - his red strings were tied to Ladybug, the most amazing, powerful girl he ever knew. Adrien was desperate to draw on his arm not even seconds after he heard the news, was nearly devastated when Plagg told him that he couldn't do it during daylight.

"You'll have your time to meet. It's not now, so don't rush it." Plagg had said.

Adrien gave a sigh, his eyes looking down at his arm. He craved to hear from his lady, he wanted to write a love note to her, ask her how she was doing, what she was doing, but he knew he was going to get scolded by Plagg if he did. Not only that, but it would expose Ladybug's true identity and could potentially put her in grave danger; and that was the last thing that Adrien wanted to do.

Lunch came around, Marinette and Alya sat around the cafeteria, Marinette listening as she listened to Alya rant on about the previous night's akuma attack, before an obnoxious laugh interrupted them.

"Just look, I assure you, Adrien's red string of fate is tied to me." Chloé Bourgeois, the daughter of the mayor of Paris was boasting about something... Again.

"Where is Adrien anyways?" Alya asked, looking around the cafeteria and not finding him or Nino anywhere.

"Look, just watch." Chloé popped off the top to a red marker and scribbled on her arm. Whatever it said, it didn't matter to Marinette- it was probably something dumb and sappy. When a response came, there were gasps and sounds of astonishment. "Hello my dear." Scratchy blue writing on her arm that didn't look like it came Adrien. But Marinette was gullible.

"You really think that Adrien is her soul mate?" Marinette asked, her fork of food dangling in front of her mouth.

Alya let her palm fall flat on the lunch table, making Marinette jump and look at her friend. "Are you really believing that one's story?" Alya whispered to her under her breath. Marinette's eyes widened as she realized what she had said. "The guy is probably some rich snob who just humors her."

"Is someone sad because they don't have a soul mate?" Chloé's voice went through the crowd and everyone was looking at Marinette and Alya.

Alya tsked. "Shut it Chloé!" Alya said to the blonde standing before them. Chloé laughed, her follower Sabrina giggling behind her.

"Aw, poor Marinette, she has no red strings to tie her to anyone. She's just going to end up an old lady, all by herself with a bunch of cats." Chloé spoke in an arrogant and condescending way.

Marinette rolled her eyes. "I'm sure your poor soul mate feels so bad because his significant other only talks about another boy." Marinette huffed, bringing her fork into her mouth.

"Besides, while you have some poor snob, Marinette's red strings are tied to the one and only Chat Noir." Alya retorted and Marinette began to choke. "Marinette?!"

Chloé and Sabrina laughed and scoffed. "She wishes." They countered.

The bell rang and it signaled that the lunch hour was over. Marinette was chugging a bottle of water that Alya had gotten her, trying to settle her coughing fit she had after choking.

"C-Chat Noir?"

Alya giggled. "What? He's the hottest superhero of our time, besides Ladybug. Wouldn't you want your strings tied to that heartthrob?" She asked.

Marinette didn't answer, only continued to drink her water and fanned herself. If only Alya knew she hit the nail on the head about their strings.

Marinette's mind began to wander - Tikki had said that there are more than just one red string. That could mean that her ties to Chat could be strictly professional and she could have another red string tied to...

Marinette's eyes wandered the boy who was sitting in front of her. Without thinking, she brought her pen to her hand and began doodling on her fingertips.

Unbeknownst to her, the boy in front of her felt the ghost of a pen touch to his fingers. He watched as the flowers sprouted and bloomed from his fingertips towards the palm of his hand.

Two managed to find a loophole through their kwami's rules - they said they couldn't send messages to each other but they didn't say they couldn't draw or doodle. So whenever they found themselves bored in the middle of the day, one or the other started to doodle.

Adrien let out a soft smile as he found his arm soon to be covered in flowers. He noticed that his lady was very artistic and he felt like he could sit down and watch her draw for hours beyond hours.

Adrien felt lucky that how strings were tied to Ladybug. Marinette, on the other hand, dreaded her ties with Chat Noir.