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Macy's view

About a week after my outburst, I overheard Lucian and Louis, resting in the lounge after a particularly busy school day and 2 akuma's tacked on. They had decided to play chess and they absolutely cracked me up as I listened to their banter. Here is the monologue I overheard: -

Lucian: "I can put myself in checkmate if I do this."

Louis: Huh? What?

Lucian: Never mind...

Louis moved a piece and Lucian responded to the move: You raped me! You can take that horse now!

Louis: Thank you! Captain Obvious!

Lucian: What are you doing?

Louis: I don't know... What. Am. I. doing?

Lucian: Nothing... Yeah! Good.

Louis: Is that good? Do you really what to do that? Are you sure?

Lucian: Yeah, I don't know.

Louis: Bull crap. Um umm... Which one do you want to lose?

Lucian: Just that.

Louis: Or will you?

Lucian: What one do you want to lose? Lucian Laughs weirdly

Louis: It's a queen for a bishop. Louis Laughs like an evil villain.

Lucian: Goodbye horsie!

Louis: Good bye rook!

Lucian; Check.

Louis: Is it though? Good move!

Lucian: Is it?

Louis: No?

Lucian: Do I want to? No! I do not want to...

Louis: You're going to have to move your queen!

Lucian: Do I?

Louis: No! You don't!

Lucian: Are you sure you want to do that?

Louis: It's a great move! And Louis starts singing a random song which ends shortly afterwards.

Lucian: That's a green pen right there.

Louis: Do you really want to do that? Yes... how do you feel about trading queens? Sure.

Lucian: Who takes queens? Actually, I am forced to...

Louis: Or you can just run away with your queen!

Lucian: If you do that you end up in check there is no other way...

Lucian in a creepy voice: I know your mum.... I live with your mum... I saw her today.

Louis: When today?

Lucian: I saw her a few moments ago.

Lucian: Checkmate!

Louis: AM I though?

Lucian: What are you going to do?

Louis: I'm thinking...

Lucian: What are you going to do?

Louis: What if I do a sneaky... Louis moves king and queen at same time while Lucian moves his horse.

Lucian: Oh! I didn't see that...

Louis: Game continues...with random singing noises again stopping shortly afterwards.

Lucian: Check! How can I make a stale mate?... I know exactly how!

Louis: You have a little wiener.

Lucian: What of it? Check!

Louis: Check!

Lucian: Ha! Stalemate! you moved it! Ha! you moved your king! Stalemate!

Louis: Stop getting yourself in stalemate!

Louis: Move your pawn you idiot...

Lucian: Oh! I am in stalemate again!

Louis: Are you though?

Lucian: I can't move! Wait...

Louis: Checkmate!

After which the boys pack up the chess game and start heading to bed.

"Where are you guys sleeping tonight?" I ask, curious as I was sick of the couch.

"Is it ok if I sleep next to Lillian again?" Louis asked, "She's still down."

"Sure," I approved, "Can I sleep in your bed for a change?"

Louis nods, "You know you could sleep with Luka, Mum"

I blush at the thought and choke on the drink of hot chocolate I had made, "I don't think I am ready for that, son. I only just separated from your father."

"Yeah, well don't go back... go forward." Louis responded, "I do not want my bed being a love nest thank you!" as he saw Adrien sulking at the kitchen bench nearby.

I chuckle "Fair enough!"

For the first time in ages, he said "Dad! Are you listening? That means no sneaking into Mum Macy's room and trying to win her back!"

Adrien nodded, his eyes dead and sad. My heart went out to him, but I could not do it anymore. I simply was not Marinette; I could not be her no matter how hard I tried. I kept coming up with I was cheating with her husband by being with him. I could not live with myself anymore.

"Mum, Can I join them tonight?" asked Lucian out of the blue.

I nod, after all he is Lillian's Hēi Māo, he should have been there for her, but he was being oblivious. I was getting more and more concerned about Lillian as she was starting to wear large poncho type clothes that hid her arms and any marks that was being inflicted on her, whether it be by herself or by others. I suspected that the bullying was continuing as several days she would come home with massive bruises on her face. Lillian would not talk about it though, the only people she talked to now were Annette, Louis and Lucian. It was like she was just a unfeeling shell, almost dead to the world. I was surprised that akuma's were not hounding her, but she must still have some positivity as they never did.

I wondered if her positivity came from her being Ladybird. Everyone loved Ladybird.

"What are you trying to do Marinette?" asked Adrien, disturbed by my willingness for them to sleep next to each other.

"Bring Lilli back to life. She's just a shell existing." I say, I should know as I know the signs of a depressed child one who is withdrawing from society.

"I don't agree with you." He said "But then I don't seem to know anything anymore."

"Kitty," I say affectionately only to regret the term as his ears perked up and a small hopeful smile appeared, "I am not Marinette, Marinette loves you with all her heart, mind and soul. Where as I am a traveler passing through. I can only go by my experience of seeing these things. It happened to me in my other life so now I read people looking for the signs of trouble, I have not been wrong yet. I wish I were and I wish I was your Marinette for you. You deserve to be with her, not me. I hope that will be kind to her on her return".

Adrien looked at me sadly, "You're still saying that?"

"Yes, why won't you believe me?"

"I can't...I just can't...that would mean that I am fiction and I don't feel like fiction. I feel real." Adrien said.

For the first time I understood his problem. It wasn't that he didn't believe me but in accepting the truth he had to accept all of it. He didn't want that. But it didn't change the fact, according to the kwami's in order for me to leave, I had to end it with him.

"I know it feels real." I agree, "But even so I am not Marinette. I can't pretend to be her anymore either."

"I know," he said so quietly and sadly that I almost missed it, "but you're just like her, but different."

I smiled fondly at the cat, but I didn't dare touch him as my touch would be misinterpreted for sure. I wished that I could comfort him. Luka chose that moment to come up the stairs. Our eyes met and the schwing that occurred between us had me caught like a deer in headlights, frozen to the spot. Luka froze too. It wasn't till Adrien sighed that I could move.

"I'm going to bed, night all," I announce.

"Goodnight." I got in response.

As I leave I heard Adrien ask Luka "Do you mind telling me what the hell that was between you two?"

I am just glad I am not answering that.

Lillian's view

I dread going to school each day now. Today was one of the worst days ever. George and the Bustier's set up a trap that made me look like a dreadful spiteful person. I still don't understand how they managed to sock me in the jaw and convince everyone that I was at fault. Crying that I had knocked them over.

At least I was just let off with a warning, I could see the doubt about what happened in the teachers eyes.

As I was leaving a bottle got thrown at me, smashing and cutting through my clothes. It was becoming usual to have such abuse thrown at me. Lucian saw it this time.

"Lil, Are you ok?" He came rushing towards me.

I blink back the tears forming in my eyes. It hurt. But I nodded and said hiding behind a smile "I am ok. It's fine, Lucian. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"Don't lie Lil, I can see it hurt." Lucian said glaring at the culprits.

I couldn't be bothered looking to see who it was, I just turned and headed home. I knew that I had to get home fast and try wash the glass out. I just hoped that I didn't need to scrub it out this time. It was bad enough that I would have to repair my clothes yet again. I didn't count on Lucian though.

After he finished dealing with my bullies, he followed me home. I didn't realise it, but he had been looking at my back in consternation. Blood was pooling on my clothes where the damage had been dealt.

I headed straight for the bathroom and Lucian followed me in.

"W-what are you doing, Lucian?"

"I need to see your ok. You can't look after that on your own."

I look at him and see he's determined to help me. I honestly have no idea why "Why?" I question before I realise I had even asked.

He looked at me in surprise "Why? Because you're special. No-one deserves to be treated like that. Turn around Lil and let me treat it please?" He begged.

I turned, almost afraid of what he would find. I knew exactly what he would find...I just wasn't sure that I wanted him to know the extent of the beatings I copped both as Ladybird and as Lillian. Stupid useless me.

Lucian began to lift up my shirt at the back. My breath catches as I feel the glass dig in a bit with the shift in the shirt. He stopped and looked at me in the bathroom mirror for permission to continue. I nod as I knew that it would hurt either way. I figured that it didn't really matter if he saw me shirtless as he had seen me in a bikini countless times and the bra I was wearing was more practical than the bikini's.

I held my breath as I slipped my arms out of the sleeves of the shirt I was wearing so Lucian could remove it easily. It was not easy, I had lost more blood than I had imagined and it had dried sticking itself to my skin, but he managed its removal. I didn't realise but some of my older wounds from earlier abuse had opened up again.

Lucian seeing my back for the first time gasped out "What the hell... Lil..."
I glance up at his eyes, as I had been looking down bracing myself for continued pain. Tears were in his eyes looking in concern at me. "Why are you covered in bruises and cuts and fuck...scars? You're covered in them...back...arms... where else? Shit Lil, what's been happening? I'd hug you but I am afraid I will hurt you more."

I let a bitter laugh out. "I don't mind, surprisingly I find them relieving."

"What relieving?" said Lucian sounding confused.

"Hugs," I say.

"Oh...Well, let's get you cleaned up first hey?" Lucian said determinedly "Where to start?"

"I usually just jump in the shower and scrub," I say.

"That mightn't be a bad idea, but I am cleaning it not you!" He said starting to strip off.

"What are you doing?" I ask flabbergasted that he had just started stripping in front of me. Yes I had grown up with him and Louis, but I was not immune to their good looks. I was not their sister.

"Showering with you," he said stopping at his briefs. "I told you I am cleaning your wounds this time. Hurry up and get in, though I'd suggest going in in your underwear not your jeans."

"Please turn around," I request feeling suddenly odd and uncomfortable with stripping down to my underpants.

He looked at me incredulously but did as I asked. He stayed turned around until he heard the shower turned on.

I winced as the water hit me, letting out a small gasp.

"Lil, you ok?" He asked waiting for me to let the water do it trick first before joining me to clean the rest.

I let tears fall as I shook my head saying "No" but I keep going. Thinking that I deserved the pain somehow. After I felt the water had done all it could to clean the wounds without help I turn back around "You're turn" I say.

Lucian nodded and stepped in. He was so gentle removing all the pieces of glass it felt almost pleasurable compared to the way I had been removing the glass in the past.

When he had finished he suddenly hugged me tightly from behind.
"I'm so sorry Lil, I didn't know" he sobbed into the back of my neck.

I turned to face him "Its ok Lucian, I'm ok."

I had forgotten my front was massively bruised too.

"Fuck Lil!" He said spying the damage "What the fuck has been happening to you?"

"Nothing" I attempt to brush it off.

"This is not nothing!" He said angrily "What has been happening?"

"Fine! If you must know most of our class has done this to me."

He looked like he wasn't going to believe me, but then he remembered 3 things.

1. I have never lied.

2. He realised that he hadn't been paying attention to me in class and;

3. Louis had been asking him what had been happening in class with me, but he had ignored Louis's questions.

"Does Louis know?" Lucian wanted to know.

"The extent of my damage?" I ask.

He nods.

"No," I said "No-one knew in full. Macy suspected, Louis knows of my arms and legs but that's it."

"How long Lil?" He asked as he turned the water off and got out of the shower grabbing 2 towels, one of which he wrapped around himself.

"Since the beginning of the year" I say also getting out. Guessing that Lucian wanted to dry my back I turned away so he could.

"That long?" He asked patting my wound covered back dry, then handed me the towel to finish.

I nodded and pulled out a change of clothes from the cupboard I had stashed them in.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?" He asked genuinely concerned, as he started rifling through the medicine cabinet for bandaids.

"Would you have believed me if I had?" I asked pointedly.

"You're right Lil, I suck." He said realising that he would very likely not believed her.

"Well, you're here now and that is what is needed." I say grimacing as my deeper wounds sore to the touch.

Lucian stepped out, after dressing my wounds, to go to his room to change. I stayed and changed, putting our wet clothes in the laundry chute to wash. I then hobbled downstairs and put the washing on. I knew from past experience that I had to do it now or I had to throw my clothes out later. I'd rather wash now.

Coming back up the stairs I find Lucian making me something to eat. I sat on the bar stools in the kitchen and waited. Finally, it was ready a quick healthy meal. We scoffed it down not leaving anyone else any.

Macy came home then and I rapidly retreated to my room as I didn't want to talk with her or I knew that I would cry again. Louis was coming down the stairs when he hugged me and kissed my forehead while challenging Lucian to a duel in chess. Which Lucian immediately accepted.

I didn't wait to see what happened. All I knew was I. Needed. To. Sleep.!.
I climbed into my bed and slept until morning to find myself squeezed between 2 handsome, horny but sound asleep men. The pair hugged me tightly and I decided to shut up and bear the motions they were doing against me. It made me feel a little special, though I wondered who they were dreaming about when I heard from both sleeping hunks "Lil, Lillian...I love you. Don't leave me!"

My brain froze. I froze.

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