Behind A Mask

With or Without

It had been about two months since the Dream Fairy attack and Chat's visit to Marinette's balcony. There had been a few akuma attacks but nothing major. However Chat was beginning to feel very anxious about...things.

Since Chat's visit, Marinette had been acting different. Less...excitable. She often seemed to be lost in thought, but the strangest thing was that when he tried to ask her if something was wrong, she didn't freak out and stutter as she usually did. Normally she would have nervously rambled on leaving him to try an decipher what she had said, and even though he didn't get an answer like usual, this time she hardly said a word to him, leaving nothing but an awkward silence as she walked away. He considered going to see her as Chat but he couldn't think of a good excuse for dropping by.

Ladybug too had been acting different since then. She was quiet, distant even. He would often find her wearing the same lost in though expression he found on Marinette. He couldn't quite put it to words but for some reason he felt like it was his fault.

It wasn't like Adrien could say he was any better. He kept getting lost in his own thoughts as well. Adrien also found that he began to act nervous and more self conscious around Marinette. His conversations with Ladybug where more lacking than usual too. He spent many sleepless nights with Sierra's words stuck in his head.

Sierra had become fast friends with Marinette and Alya as well as with Nino and Adrien. She told them about life in the states and of her travels, they really liked her. They also met Caleb, her cousin, though he acted more like a brother. He hung out with them sometimes. Caleb was a tall brunette that typically wore a white and blue t-shirt and jeans, he was about two years older than them.

Today the six of them were out at the mall together, just hanging out and shopping for supplies. Sierra was going to be leaving soon and they had decided to plan a going away party for her. When they started to get hungry, Caleb had decided to treat them all to some ice cream.

"Hey man, thanks! Your awesome!" Nino exclaimed as Caleb handed him his ice cream.

"No prob man. My pleasure."

"Still, you didn't need to treat us." Marinette said with a thoughtful look as she reached for her purse. "Let me pay you back."

Caleb put his hand up in front of her. "No way Marinette. I won't accept it." He flashed Marinette a smile that made a pit form in Adrien's stomach. "Just think of this as my way of saying 'thank you' for taking such good care of my precious little cousin."

"Geez Caleb, you are so embarrassing." Sierra blushed slightly and put her palm to her forehead.

"It my job, cuz." Caleb gave her a teasing smile and Sierra just huffed, crossed her arms and pouted.

"Speaking of Sierra. How's your story coming along?" Alya nudged the girl with her elbow.

Sierra's pouting face was lost to one of excitement. "Oh it's coming along great! I've made som major headway with this one. Paris has given me so much inspiration. I have so many ideas for new stories too."

"That's great. You know, I still can't believe you got turned into one of your story characters. Man, you were wicked as the dream fairy. What was her deal anyway?"

"It was quite unexpected. The dream fairy is supposed to be a guardian of people's dreams. Watching over them and entering their dreams when they need her help. That evil version of her that I became was due to Chloé destroying my book. I was writing about her when it happened so that's probably why I turned into her."

"Man, that's just not right." Said Caleb.

"Someone really outta put a muzzle on that girl." Said Alya.