"So, how was the date?" Alya had sprang onto Marinette first thing Monday morning wanting to know everything possible from Marinette's outing with Luka. Marinette had to admit every time she thought back to it a smile stretched across her face. Luka was fun and charming, and most importantly he made her feel special. He made her feel exactly the way she always dreamt Adrien would.
"You know ... it was ... nice." Marinette replied as she began to play with the strap of her bag.
"Nice? That smile on your face says it was more than 'nice', girl."
"Ok fine. He was sweet and kind, and if I'm being honest I'm willing to give this a try until I have a clue who my soulmate is."
Alya squeaked and hung around her best friends shoulders.
"I'm so proud of you Mari. This is a big deal."
"I know. I understand now that what is meant to be will happen. I've just got to go with the flow, and having Luka supporting me and being there ... well ... it's lovely."
Alya placed both her hands on Marinette's shoulders and stared at her, she lifted one finger up in front of Marinette sky blue eyes and moved it from side to side.
"Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"
Marinette laughed as she pushed Alya away and made her way up to her desk.
"I'm moving on," Alya went to speak only to be interrupted by her friend, "for real this time."
"-but"
"No buts Alya, he has a soulmate and she's one of my friends. I just want them to be happy and they must be, they're soulmates. There's nothing I can do about it now, it just wasn't meant to be. We're not made for each other."
"And I'm a monkeys uncle."
"What?" Marinette said to her friend quizzically. "You're a what?"
"A monkeys uncle," Marinette continued to look at her friend with a blank face. "Oh forget it. I just want to know though has Adrien actually told you, or shown you his soul marking?"
"Well, no. But I know Kagami. I know she doesn't lie."
Alya looked over at Marinette unsure if she should say anything. She'd promised Adrien she'd make sure Marinette didn't presume, but also her friend was happy. It would be unfair to pull this 'moving on' train apart. Even if Adrien isn't Kagami's soulmate, there was no guarantee he'd be Marinette's either. So what was the point of throwing a spanner in the works? Right?
"As long as you're happy girl." Alya announced instead.
"For once, in a long time, I actually am."
The girls giggled to each other as Marinette continued to talk about her date with Luka. She couldn't deny that she enjoyed spending time with the blue haired boy, and she was quite sure he enjoyed spending time with her, though something still wasn't quite right, and she was sure it had something to do with the soul links.
He felt like a brother. When he'd tried to kiss her goodnight she would have gladly taken it on the cheek, to be honest she wanted it, but as soon as began to head towards her lips - she'd freaked out, screamed and ran into the house. She wasn't sure what the difference was between her feelings for him and his feelings for her, especially as they weren't soulmates. There was t that overpowering connection. She thought he wouldn't be as straight on with her, regardless of the obvious attraction.
Marinette just decided to give up on her over thinking, this was becoming too complicated and with everything going on in her life at the moment, complicated wasn't good. She needed to chill and go with the flow.
As if reading her thoughts, Marinette felt something push into her hip knowing full well it was Tikki giving her the encouragement that she needed.
"Now that's a smile. Look Bro, that's how people look when they're happy." Nino and Adrien had walked to their seats unbeknownst to Alya or Marinette. Both sat down and turned towards the girls, neither could deny that Marinette looked radiant.
"Hi Alya, hey Marinette. You seem happy this morning." Adrien looked over the blue eyed girl and felt a pull in his heart. He couldn't help looking at her and admiring the glow all around her as she smiled. For someone who worked in the spotlight, looking at his friend now there was no way she would need one around her. The pictures would be something special just from her pure radiance. They would be magical.
"That's because my girl here had a great first date."
And just like that Adrien thought he'd lose this mornings breakfast contents. A date? No one had ever mentioned she was going on a date. Geez she was at his house only a couple of days ago and no date was mentioned.
"With- with whom?" He asked.
"Luka, of course." Nino slapped Adrien on the back only to make his sick feeling worsen. "The dudes been pining after my dudette for years."
Adrien let out a fake laugh before plastering his model smile on his face. This reaction was not being happy for your friends. She'd been happy for him when she'd found out about Kagami, hadn't she? So why was this hitting him so hard?
"Yeah, yeah, of course. Luka."
Marinette looked over to the blonde haired boy and frowned. What was with his fake smile? She looked at him more closely and couldn't understand what was happening. He was her friend wasn't he? Why had he suddenly become so fake around her? She knew his smile and what he was giving her at the moment was the same as what he'd give to Lilia. The sudden thought stabbed her hard in the chest. They were meant to be friends, close friends.
"Well anyway, who has-" Alya was cut off as she began her next Ladyblog theory by a voice Marinette wished would go away and never to return.
"Oh Adrien, I heard on the television this morning all about your soulmate. You're so lucky to have not been stuck with any of the fan girls in this school." Lila's eyes trailed straight to Marinette and Adrien couldn't help but follow the liars eyes. What was her problem with Marinette? "Though I know we were going to try to date, but alas, I'll always be waiting in the wings for when things go wrong."
Adrien sat there in disbelief. Lila really was something else and he couldn't help the way she made him quiver. He stared at the spot she just vacated and got lost in his thoughts. He'd warned her to stop playing around with Marinette, yet here she was again.
"Don't listen to her Adrien," he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned back to the magical blue eyes which he was slowly becoming addicted to. "You and Kagami are great together, and she is right, only Kagami could match how perfect you are. None of us other girls had a chance."
Prefect?
He lost himself this time staring into the depths of Marinette's soul, and if she was going to be honest she felt a little uneasy. He'd never looked at her like this before, this was something else. Something that she wasn't sure about.
A sharp pain radiated through Adrien's torso, and he knew it was his little demon, sorry God, biting him to gather his attention back.
"Say something back." The whispered hiss met his ears and he knew full well Plagg was right. He was sitting here staring at his friend like an idiot.
"Listen Mari, I need to -"
As though he was forever cursed, Madam Bustier entered the classroom commanding all students to take their seats. All he wanted to do was tell Marinette the truth, but it seemed every time something was getting in the way. He really must have made a deal with the devil when it came to fate.
"Ok, I know you've all sat down but please swap to sit next to your partners. These will be your seats until the end of the year in every class." A few groans circulated around the room, but most moved with ease.
As Adrien stood to move next to Marinette again he couldn't help catch Alix's eye. Did she just wink again? Honestly, he needed to have words with Ladybug because she was freaking him out recently.
"Good morning fair maiden, may I please take this seat?"
Marinette couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips. The more time she spent with Adrien, the more she saw a different side. That's amazing really considering it's only been three days.
"Oh noble gentleman, one would be in expressively happy to have a fine young gentleman like yourself seated here."
Adrien sat down enjoying the banter with his friend as Alix turned around and glared at them both.
"You're both idiots, you know that?"
Marinette and Adrien couldn't help the outburst of laughter as today's assignment arrived at their tables, perhaps she could do this whole friendship thing with him? He seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Class, please turn your piece of paper over and look at the assignment for this weeks task. Obviously you will still be writing your comparisons, but there is a secondary assignment you will be working on with your partner."
Adrien turned the paper over to see what had been planned for them and he couldn't help but smile. He glanced to Marinette and couldn't have wished for a better partner, for on the paper their task was set in stone and they were going to ace it.
"I want to be with Marinette." A voice echoed through the classroom causing all the others to begin following the lead. Marinette wasn't quite sure who it had derived from but now the curiosity got too much for her. As she reached towards the paper now placed back on the desk Adrien wrapped an arm firmly around her shoulders.
"Back off, she's my lady."
Marinette felt her face glow, she was his what? Adrien Agreste was touching her, yes it wasn't the first time it had ever happened but it still made her incredibly happy. And oh my - did he just call her his Lady?
So Chat Noir, wait? What?
"I'll give you whatever you want, Agreste! Just name it and your wish is my command."
Marinette knew that voice, it was Kim. Her face was burning too much to look up, the table was looking so lovely all of a sudden.
"I've got all I want right here, nothings taking her away." Adrien turned to face the rest of the room, removing his arm from from Marinette.
As the room continued to try and trade with Adrien so they could have Marinette, she reached for the paper to examine what exactly it had said.
Design a costume for your characters. Research into correct clothing for the era, and also look closely at colour, style and over all aesthetics. You will be presenting your designs next Monday.
"Oh wow! Ok, so this will be fine." Marinette couldn't have been happier with their next assignment.
"This was seriously made for your talents, Marinette. I'm so lucky to have a partner like you."
Marinette could only nod, saying things like that were still a huge kick in the teeth, but she had no choice. That is all she would be now.
Adrien picked up the paper again and turned towards Marinette to start their discussion, only to be interrupted by the shrill alarm of many akuma notifications.
"Class, please leave in an orderly fashion."
Quickly, giving each other a smile, they both moved swiftly to the doorway only to end up jammed attempting to escape at the same time.
"Errrmmm... sorry Adrien, I just really need to toilet."
"Oh, ok! Me too, you go a head though." The two teens smiled at each other only to be moved along by the mass panic behind them. Including Ms Ladyblog herself who looked as though she was going to cause some serious harm to her best friends if they didn't move out the way.
"Stop flirting and move!" Alya pushed through the two of them and made her way down to stairs and out to the streets only for her darling boyfriend to be trailing behind, as always shouting words of reason.
Once out the door Marinette sprinted towards the locker rooms and straight to an empty cubicle before calling her transformation and heading straight back out.
Ladybug landed on the roof of the school and studied the scene in front of her. It was obvious this akuma was not going to be fun. As the akuma struck couples, they were instantly tied together with red string.
"I am Romantica, and I will be with my soul mate, Adrien Agreste. To save him, all you need to do is give me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous'."
Pocketing her yo-yo, Ladybug crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Of course, one of Adrien's fans would be akumaitised, especially with the news this morning.
"Wow, looks like this akuma is after a model citizen."
Chat Noir had arrived next to his Lady's side, covering his uncomfortable feelings with jokes as usual. He felt awful. He'd caused this with a lie. If his Lady only knew, he was quite sure she would throw him from the Eiffel Tower and then take the Miraculous back. Actually no, she'd take the Miraculous and then throw him, and he would deserve it.
The two heroes looked down at the streets below, and noticed dozens of red lines appearing. Some to the people next to them, some to another down the street or in the vicinity, some lost in an endless loop around buildings and knots.
"Red strings of fate." Ladybug breathed out.
"So, soul links right? Purrhaps well finally find out if we are made for each other after all Bugaboo."
"No soul-mark yet kitty?" Ladybug asked, and surprisingly she was actually suspicious. As much as Chat Blanc was still playing on her mind, like that of a blockbuster film, she couldn't help but hope maybe he was her soul mate. Would it be such a bad thing if they got hit? It's not that she thought of her kitty as an after thought, it would just be nice to have someone so devoted to her.
Whilst lost in thoughts she never noticed her partner shouting at her to move. The next thing she knew was rolling on the floor and Chat ending up straddling her.
"I don't know what's on your mind my lady, but I'd prefer to get this over with sooner rather than later, and without one of use being hurt." Ladybug nodded in response before allowing him to pull her up.
"Lucky charm." As she threw her yo-yo into the air she was greeted with a pink burst followed by a life sized Adrien Agreste wax model. "Yikes." Ladybug looked at it before looking around.
"That's just creepy!" Chat Noir jumped past Ladybug, narrowly avoiding another strike from their current attacker.
"I don't know Chat, I wouldn't mind taking it home with me."
Chat Noir stood full height and looked over at his bug.
"Really now? Does someone have a crush?"
He could see her cheeks flame with colour and couldn't help the increase in his heart speed. Now this was an interesting turn of events. Perhaps he should purposely get hit, maybe he would see he was bound to Ladybug. That the girl of his dreams was actually his soul mate. Kagami, Kagami, Kagami ... he needed to stop with this. He was going to make it work with Kagami, his father was already preparing everything for the engagement, marriage and merger. It was important to his father, he needed to be the good son he is and stick with the plan.
"Chat? Can you distract her? I've got an idea,"
Throwing Ladybug his normal salute he made his way over to Romantica and watched as she began to link more and more people together.
"Out the way you pesky cat, I have a model I need to catch."
"Have some decency!" Chat shouted back, "If the boy has a soul mate obviously someone is out there better for you, don't be blind to the beauty of true love. Someone you're actually meant to be with." Chat ducked another strike at him only to be distracted by a call coming in on his baton.
"Excuse me, Miss man stealer, I just need to take a quick call from my Bugaboo." Chat leapt out the way and hid behind a car. He grabbed his baton and answered the call. "Yes M'Lady."
"Adrien's in position, you need to cataclysm her phone. That's where the akuma is."
Chat ended the call and peered down the street only to see the model of himself. Romantica had obviously been fooled as she made her way down towards the model calling him. Now was his chance.
Leaping from behind the car, he stretched his arm out calling for his cataclysm. As his hand hit the phone held in the girls hand, a beam had already been released hitting Chat Noir squarely in the chest. Ladybug watched in slow motion as her partner began to grow a red line from his little finger. As the line stretched it became taut. His soul mate was close. She watched it make its way to her own hand before disappearing with the destruction of the phone.