Alya sat nervously watching the television; her phone placed in her lap and her fingers tapping on the screen every couple of seconds to make sure she hadn't missed a call, or a message... or anything.

Checking the clock again, she turned her attention from studying her phone to looking at the doorway; as neither sprung to life she once again worried about her roommate.

Marinette hadn't spoken to her since their confrontation earlier that morning. The silence had become unnerving and unusual between the two of them and Alya knew she was completely to blame. But, still, Marinette should be back by now then they could sort this out. The 'date' with Frederick happened over an hour ago — was she really that angry that she wasn't coming back?

A small spark of hope ignited in her gut. Perhaps she'd gone to speak to Adrien and confess? But then a spritz of water doused the light. Maybe she was quietly moving her belongings back to her parents' bakery — unable to live with her friend's betrayal? And who could blame her?

A sudden buzz in her lap had the phone emitting a bright glow making her fumble to pick it up and check the ID of her texter. Alya's heart deflated as she read the name.

Nino.

Typing out a quick reply, she let her boyfriend know she was busy working for the rest of the evening, and if she finished early she'd give him a call.

Before sending, she quickly added an additional question to the end of the message.

Nino

Have you heard from Adrien today? <3

The reply from her boyfriend arrived in seconds, wishing her luck before stating what she already knew — Adrien had gone awol.

Standing up, she headed towards the kitchen, set on grabbing another cup of coffee. She wouldn't be sleeping tonight, so why not load herself up with the caffeinated joys of her favourite drink as she tried to come up with a plan to fix her mess.

Never in her life had she felt so hateful towards herself; she could only imagine how Marinette/Ladybug — her best friend and idol — felt about her at the moment; and if she was being honest, she wasn't entirely sure they could get past this.

Alya needed to come up with some sort of tremendous plan which would validate Marinette's outing with Frederick along with proving Marinette's love for Adrien. But who was she kidding? A simple plan wouldn't work this time. She needed to woman up and tell the truth. She needed to head straight to Adrien's place and beg for forgiveness on both their parts.

Her first thought was to contact Adrien straight away. She could make sure he knew it was her idea for Marinette to go out with Frederick; that Marinette had nothing at all to do with it. But that would only open the question as to why Marinette hadn't cancelled the date.

The next thought was to write a retraction on the Ladyblog; saying she'd written Ladybugs latest blog and that she shouldn't have posted it. But that wouldn't do her future career much help. She would become a laughing stock, dragging Marinette down with her.

Finally, she decided to just wait until Marinette came back and then they could decide the next move from there — together . She was sure Marinette would have sorted it with Frederick, that way Adrien would never have to find out and they could head to their little island, get married and have their three kids... or was it four? Anyway, she trusted her friend, she trusted Marinette had got this and that they could come up with a plan together. Ayla was ready to do anything. Anything.

Moving back to her laptop she noticed an influx of emails sent directly to the Ladyblog. With a sigh, she began to sieve through them; comments on the different Ladybug posts, more updates on a possible interview with Nadja Chamack and a video taken ten minutes ago.

Curiosity won out and had her clicking on the play symbol. She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and watched as her screen came to life; a video of Chat Noir and Ladybug on a rooftop, one which looked freakishly like the one opposite their apartment. She couldn't quite make out what was happening, only that Chat Noir was on his knees, Ladybug talking to him with a worried expression on her face.

The observer had obviously tried to zoom in closer, but with the height of the rooftop, even the best of phones would have the quality faulting and becoming pixelated. Alya saved the video and inputted it into her software that Max had created, attempting to sharpen it as much as possible before playing it from the beginning again.

"Marinette," she said, clicking a couple of buttons, "what have you been up to?"

She continued to watch, Chat Noir suddenly standing up and pointing right at their apartment... at Marinette's room, just as Ladybug covered her mouth and what seemed to be an argument progressed.

"No," she gasped, continuing to watch the video. Alya watched as the whole of his body language was directing itself at Marinette's window, and suddenly she saw it. The forlorn look, as he turned one last time. "No way!"

No! No! No!

Standing abruptly from her seat on the sofa, Alya grabbed her phone and searched for Adrien's number again, placing it to her ear as it rang out again... and again... and again. She felt sick. Her stomach turned itself inside out as the realisation smacked her harshly in the head. She'd messed this up even more than she'd imagined.

"Come on, Buttercup! Answer your goddamn phone."

She began to pace the room, her little finger in her mouth as she bit down on her nail — hard. The call directed itself to voicemail, Alya taking it from her ear and hitting the redial button abruptly.

"Adrien, come on. Answer your phone!"

As the automated voice began to tell her the occupant 'couldn't come to their phone right now', a thadunk was heard down the hallway. One which she was sure had originated from Marinette's room.

Making her way in the direction of the noise, Alya's ears were assaulted again by smashes and crashes, Marinette's obvious anger being taken out on the objects around her room.

As Alya reached out for the door handle, she froze. Instead, holding back and pressing her ear in closer.

"I'm sure it'll be ok, Marinette. Just go and talk to him. Tell him the truth." Tikki's soft and squeaky voice had Alya nodding in agreement. If she was right and Chat Noir was Adrien Agreste then he would listen. Chat and Adrien were good guys, they would be reasonable; but maybe not with Marinette or Ladybug at the moment. She — Alya — needed to get there first.

"He hates me, Tikki. You heard what he said. He's so angry and I can't blame him. I shouldn't have listened to Alya, I shouldn't have gone. I should have just messaged Frederick and cancelled the date and then explained to Adrien what had happened."

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing, Marinette. You had no idea Frederick would call Adrien there." Alya could hear the comforting tones of the small kwami and wished she could burst through the doorway and wrap her arms around Marinette's small frame.

"It's common sense Tikki, it's obvious I did everything wrong."

The clattering ceased and Alya held her breath waiting to hear what would come next. Tikki's words took her off guard. "Are you okay? After Frederick pushed himself on you?"

Alya's hand shot to her mouth, covering the loud gasp that escaped. Frederick had what!? She stumbled her way back into the living area and collapsed onto the sofa.

What had she done?

Taking the phone out of her pocket once more, Alya attempted to call Adrien, her hands shaking from shock, anger and something else she wasn't entirely sure about.

"Come on, come on, come on!" she muttered, "Answer your damn phone, Agreste!"

Another five tries added to the evidence he wasn't going to answer. She needed to fix this. This was her fault.

Heading to the front door, she reached to take her coat from the hook whilst pressing redial one last time, only for it to be interrupted by the notification of a post being loaded onto the blog.

One from Ladybug herself.

••••••

@(Un)LuckyLady 🐞 [7]

Dear Buginettes,

Three weeks ago, Cosmopolitan posted the rankings of Paris' heroes. I was mortified to find myself so low. So I decided to start writing this blog; to make myself seem normal, like just another teen girl trying to find love. However, during my journey there were two things I realised: firstly I'm not a normal teen girl; I never was and never will be. Secondly, I didn't need the blog to find love — love has been right in front of me this whole time.

Before I get into the main reason for this post, I feel like I owe the men of Paris an apology. I went out of my way to date just about anyone for the blog, and although this was only a couple of dates, I didn't exactly put my best foot forward. The reality; I did everything to make sure I didn't succeed.

One of my civilian superpowers seems to be that I am able to reject love instead of accepting it, and that's not just from my recent adventure.

Ever since I was 14 I have been able to skilfully sabotage my relationships; just as I did during this whole blogging experience. Though this time, whilst making a complete idiot out myself, I missed something truly magical.

Romance was fully on my cards, only for me to blow it in the worst possible way. I lied, I deceived and I didn't commit.

I was told by this truly magnificent man that I worried too much about what others thought and he'd even made me a list to help emphasise that; but, of course, when it came down to it I made another mess. I, once again, rejected love by making the wrong choice.

Readers — I'm sorry I dragged you along on this colossal waste of time. I was meant to help you find love; instead I just became wrapped up in making you like me. That wasn't the attitude I should have started this blog with, nor the path I wanted to walk down, and I apologise to you all deeply.

The truth, in fact, is that I'm a loser. I have been sitting on the greatest love story ever told, yet I completely ignored it. I ignored my Prince, finally accepting me as his Princess.

When I was 12, I fell in love for the first time, or what I believed was love. He was tall, dark and handsome. Athletic and funny, and I was completely taken. That was the first and only time I'd had the confidence to tell a boy that I liked them; only to be sorely disappointed when it was thrown back into my face.

I've hidden my love since; through stuttering , ill timed allergic reactions and claiming my extensive photo album was for research purposes . Not being able to verbalise my feelings the way they should be, and the way he had always deserved.

I've known my true love since I was 13. We've grown together, fought together, trained together. And he is now someone I've officially fallen in love with five different times. It sounds crazy but it's true. It's magical, memorable and forever .

The first day I met him was a total meet cute and so very us. I made a complete fool out of myself as for one of the only times my civilian self bled into my super alter ego, sending me hurtling towards the ground only to land on top him and tangle us together, a tangle that would continue to be our interwoven relationship for the next five years.

The second day I met him we had our second meet cute, though things were different this time — there were no masks and a rather large misunderstanding . I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt, or time to explain, instead I took him for his worst and even though he'd forgiven me for my clumsy mess up the day before, I couldn't find it in my heart to forgive him — not straight away at least.

He reached out to me that day, just as he has frequently since. He is my strength, my light in the darkness, my best friend, my shelter from the rain and I just can't believe I had him and blew it!

But I'm not giving up just yet.

I need to apologise to this most remarkable man and pray that he's reading this. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being scared, for sabotaging, once again, something that could have been beautiful and special. I want to try again. I want us to try again.

...and so If you are reading this, bring my lucky charm and meet me at our spot. I'll be there for the next hour.

And to all my readers out there. Don't reject love like I did. Don't be scared. Don't ignore it. Embrace it and fight for it.

Yours always,

Ladybug 🐞

@(Un)LuckyLady🐞

Guy's interested: I don't care

Guy's numbers: 1 who won't answer

Dates Planned: 1

Dates Completed: I don't care anymore

Hits: 64, 892

Posted 30 seconds ago

••••••

"Damn!" Alya yelled, shutting off her phone screen and pushing her arms aggressively into her coat. Keeping her phone in her hand on the off chance Adrien might call, she went to Marinette's room one last time in hopes of stopping her friend from doing something stupid.

"Marinette?" she yelled, moving swiftly down the corridor. A silent response followed. "Come on! Marinette?" she tried again.

As she reached the door, she grabbed the handle and threw it open. A quick look around told her exactly what she knew already – Marinette wasn't there.

"Dammit!" Running to the window, Alya rested her hands on the open frame and peered out; there in the distance was a flicker of red connecting from rooftop to rooftop as her best friend headed towards the Eiffel Tower.

The sun was slowly making its descent, allowing night to step forward and take centre stage, closing the day and casting ominous shadows across Paris. Of course this would happen at night, the pure black comforting like a blanket and hiding the emotions of its occupants under the cloth of darkness.

Alya knew it was risky what Marinette was doing. Even if Adrien had read it and realised it was about him he wouldn't risk either of their identities by turning up. She just hoped and prayed her friend wasn't putting too many hopes and desires on what could possibly come from this.

Nothing , she thought. Nothing was coming from this.

Adrien Agreste turning up for Ladybug would go just as well as if Chat Noir did. Attention they both neither wanted, nor needed — their identities being truly placed on the line. Marinette was setting herself up for failure and once again guilt struck Alya hard.

Grabbing hold of the window she closed it, slamming her thumb down on Adrien's name once more on the screen of her phone.

Still no answer.

Flicking off the lights, she marched out of the apartment, only to be met by another notification coming through on her phone.

Locking the doors and heading to the stairwell she noticed the notification was a live video, one she'd been tagged in.

Waiting until she was securely on the ground floor, her feet came to a stall. Alya opened her blog and saw the video of Ladybug and Chat Noir's rooftop, one the two of them had been pictured time and time again; however this time, there was only one hero there... and she was standing alone.

••••••

Ladybug sat on the rooftop edge, waving down at those below her. It seemed everyone in Paris except Adrien had read her blog; each and every person coming out to support their beloved hero. She could hear cheers and whoops as the crowds shouted up to her, showering her with terms of endearment and support. Every now and then, a nosey passerby asking if they could replace Chat Noir — if he didn't turn up.

Laughing it off as her heart-broke with every passing second, Ladybug attempted to keep a smile on her face, one which matched the billboard of the Alliance ring opposite; Adrien's own, fake smile glaring back at her — how convenient!

Tilting her head in the direction of Notre Dame Cathedral, her fingers fidgeting as she willed the clock to stay silent. The four bells had already graced her presence three times and she knew as soon as the fourth hit her time would be up; a possibility hitting hard that both their partnership and friendship could be too.

She closed her eyes and allowed her head to hang low before grasping her yo-yo from her hip and opening it up. It was still bare. No fluorescent green paw print grasping for her attention – nothing . As her lungs gave way to all the air inside them Notre Dame mocked her loneliness, playing those dreaded notes one last time and telling her the hour was up.

He wasn't coming.

Ladybug stood, waving once more to the crowd, before swinging her yo-yo and setting sail for the bakery. She couldn't head home yet. She didn't want to be alone and she definitely didn't want to be with Alya. Did she really think he would come after she'd destroyed everything they ever had?

Dropping around the back of Collège Françoise Dupont, Ladybug released her transformation, becoming unlucky-in-love Marinette once more. Actually, she could now say she was just as unlucky in the mask as out.

"I'm sorry," Tikki whispered, taking the macaron Marinette offered.

The hero shrugged, there wasn't anything to really say and if she did speak she was almost certain she would cry. How had so much changed in 24 hours?

She'd had everything in the palm of her hands, and she was happy, deliriously and deliciously happy. Then Alya took it upon herself to poke her nose in. How would she ever forgive her?

Marinette tucked Tikki into her side bag before walking out the alleyway and towards the bakery. She needed to be somewhere warm, somewhere that would make her feel loved, and nothing beat the hugs of her parents. They were always there when times were rough, even if they didn't know the full extent of it. Her chest hurt. Each breath felt like inhaling cold, sharp icicles as her heart begged for something that could hold it together; stopping the fractures from spreading and deepening into irreparable cracks.

Walking out onto the street, she moved down the sidewalk and in front of her old collège building, stopping to stare at the dark, stone steps. So many memories lay within these walls, and just for once she wished something could give her a sign.

As though the heavens above heard her, a crack of thunder roared in the distance — thick raindrops falling onto her mascara stricken cheeks.

Drip! Drip!

Suddenly the small downfall began to increase and she set her sights on making it home to the bakery, only to stop and take one last look at the staircase which started it all. It was a day like today she'd fallen utterly in love with Adrien Agreste. A moment she both treasured and one she wished she could delete from her mind. From that day there was no one else, there would never be anyone else; her mind had been scrambled from the moment he'd offered her shelter and protection, neither realising the true extent of their budding relationship.

Looking up to the top of the staircase, her hair getting soaked from the downpour, she noticed the door to the collége was open, a faint glow appearing in the courtyard and what looked like candles leading a path further inside the building. She stood looking, trying to consider the pros and cons of following the flickering lights when Tikki nudged her through her bag.

She moved forward up and into the building, out of the rain, searching the area for where the candles led only to find the trail heading up to her old homeroom. Some of the candles had already been extinguished, others protected by small glass jars giving them a little canopy.

"Marinette, keep going," Tikki whispered, spurring Marinette on and up the staircase.

Marinette launched herself up the staircase, two at a time towards their old home room; feet finally slowing when she saw something moving in one of the rooms. Tilting her head, she was sure she could see a shadow through the glass. A shadow blocking a section of light and casting a silhouette against the backdrop... a silhouette which had ears.

Cat ears.

Marinette charged forward and placed a hand on the door handle, praying he was there, that her partner once again had made a plan of his own. One where maybe... just maybe... she'd be forgiven.

As the door opened her eyes caught the glow of green staring back, his clawed hands gripping the desk as he perched upon it; his eyes and mouth set in an emotion she could not read.