42Author's note: Wow, it's been awhile guys, so welcome back to Time or if you guys are a new reader welcome. I've been so busy with my other story Amorentia Lilac, if you haven't checked that one out yet, it's based of French show called vampires. However, I have some inspiration for Time, and have an idea of where to go with this story now.
Anyways, enjoy guys and reviews make me happy:}
Disclaimer: Don't own Miraculous Ladybug
Shout out to reviewers: I really thank you guys, cause it helps me to continue forward with this story.
staterfe, Kitty, Mari Chat, sailorlyoko4life,
Chapter ten:
(Alternative reality)
Marinette Dupain-Cheng didn't see Adrien for half of the school day, since lunch hour was now present for the hungry and tired classmates. Miss Mendeleiev ended the first part of Chemistry class with a smile, telling the class how she would see them after their much needed lunch break. Marinette still found it a bit odd to see a cheerful Miss Mendeleiv, given how back in Marinette's dimesnion; she's known as the dragon lady teacher. Nonetheless, Marinette smiled back at Miss Mendeleiev's farewell, and exited the laboratory with Alya hot on her trail.
Unknown to Marinette, Miss Mendeleiev looked shocked at Marinette for genuinely smiling back at her, but she then shook it off with a heavy optimism. On the other hand, Alya looked at Marinette like she grew a second head, and still couldn't believe how Marinette is being a whole lot nicer.
Marinette frowned when she still couldn't spot Adrien's blonde hair, yet she was available to spot flaming red hair. Oh crap, it's Nathaniel, and Marinette didn't really want to confront him right now. Luck seemed to be on her side, since the moment Nathaniel spotted her. He clutched his sketchbook and ran away like something is chasing after him.
"I wonder what got Nathaniel in such a hurry?" Alya questioned with a frown of her own, which made Marinette shrug her shoulders for response.
When Marinette un-akumatized Nathaniel, no one remembered about getting any notifications about the leaked pictures, just there being another akuma attack last night.
"I wonder if he was Evillustor last night, since the whole artsy villain attire totally fits him. He's probably scared that Ladybug would kick his butt, but I didn't expect her to be a hero and Chat like an anti hero as well…" Alya lingerd as Marinette paused her walking for a bit.
Marinette knew Alya loved blogging about the superheroes of Paris, so Marinette wondered if Alya is still obsessed with Ladybug and Chat Blanc in this universe as well. Marinette didn't have to wait long to get her answer, since Alya started gushing like an obsessed journalist.
"God, I wish I wasn't so distracted last night, since it's so rare to see Ladybug saving the day. I know, girl, you think I'm silly for still hoping for Ladybug to go back to being a hero. Don't you think it would be great though, for you know, not having to worry about akumas constantly being around?" Alya asked Marinette without thinking, which made Alya clump up a bit.
Alya didn't really talk much about Ladybug and Chat Blanc in front of Marinette, since Marinette would usually shut her up about it. For some reason, Marinette had a sneer or resting bitch face if anyone mentioned Chat, yet when Alya mentioned Ladybug. Alya would be awarded a positive response from Marinette, which is how they sort of became friends in the first place. Alya didn't live in Paris until her freshman year of highschool, but she found herself so excited to catch a glimpse at Ladybug in action. The akuma catastrophe started happening when Marinette started the eighth grade, which had Hawk Moth and Chat Blanc wreaking havoc. However, that's when Ladybug started showing up around that summer, and Alya found herself obsessed with Ladybug.
Alya used to live in the quiet countryside of France, so nothing really fun and juicy happened for where Alya used to live. Of course, she was a shy girl in the countryside, who just desperately wanted to fit in with these glossy city girls. Somehow, Alya got in Marinette's good graces when Alya made a blog dedicated to ladybug, and that's how Alya's popularity was sealed. Although Alya didn't really do the blog much anymore, since ladybug is now a bad guy and Marinette kept vouching how it's good that ladybug is bad now. Something Marinette said about being a villain is always fun and a winner anyways. Alya didn't agree with Marinette's sentiments, but she played along anyway since she's afraid to be kicked off the social circle.
"I don't think it's silly, Alya. Maybe Ladybug might actually turn good, heck, maybe even Chat. I think there's a shift coming, since good always triumphs over evil." Marinette said passionately, which snapped Alya out of her deep thoughts.
Alya looked at Marinette's smile and replayed the genuineness of her words, making Alya really ponder about her friend. Alya could feel the inner journalist of her brain ticking, trying to knock into sense that something is amiss about her friend. Alya almost wanted to leave it alone, since she actually liked this new personality of Marinette. The moment Alya thought of personality, she really started to wonder if one can be akumatized positively?
Marinette's smile turned into a frown when Alya really looked at her deeply. Marinette tried to think back to what she said, yet she felt like she said something nothing out of the ordinary. Well, nothing out of the ordinary for the other Marinette to say the least. Finally, Alya seemed to be satisfied at whatever she looked intensely at Marinette for.
"Yeah, you're probably right, Marinette. Everyone is capable of change and ladybug might be available to. Anyways, do you have your designs all ready for the fashion show Saturday?" Alya asked, not realizing how Marinette froze dumbly.
"What?" Marinette choked out, feeling her soul about to leave her body.
Alya looked at Marinette surprisingly, not believing how her ravenette friend forgot about her own fashion show!
"Umm, you know, the fashion show you always host right before Valentine's day? I heard you doing the venue at your hotel again. Did you honestly forget, cause that's not really like you?"
Alya is really starting to worry about her friend now, since Marinette always hosted a fashion show as her own petiness for her dislike on Valentines day. Although, Marinette used to love Valentines day, and used those fashions shows to brighten out the holiday. However, ever since Luka dated Kagami, Marinette changed her tune about the lovely holiday.
Marinette tried everything she could to keep her cool, not believing she has her own fashion show this Saturday! Of course, it's not technically Marientte's fashion show, yet it still kind of is.
"Of course I remember, sorry, things have just been so crazy, lately!" Marinette exclaimed with a laugh, trying to erase the suspicion in Alya's eyes. Alya nodded slightly, believing her friend for now.
"Yeah, things have been crazy for ya, especially with you and Adrien lately. Spill girl, what's really going on with you two?" Alya asked while showing the picture of Marinette and Adrien on her phone.
Marinette kind of gulped by seeing her and Adrien on his motorcycle, which turned out to be a lot of fun on his motorcycle. Marinette shrugged her shoulders, since Alya's assumption is good as Marinettte's.
"Like I told you this morning, Alya, I really want to be friends with him. Like you said earlier, I'm getting tired of constant akuma attacks, and I think all of us being nicer to each other will ease up." Marinette admitted genuinely, since she has this strange sense with Paris drowning in negative akuma energy.
"Speaking of, I haven't really seen Adrien in awhile, do you know if he's okay?" Marinette asked the gaped Alya in concern, since Marinette gathered Alya knew the 411 about everyone.
Alya couldn't believe it, even though she wanted to shake Marinette and ask her to stop pranking her. However, the way Marinette looked at Alya with hope and concern, Alya is really beginning to see Marinette might have really turned a new leaf here.
"Well, his father really did slap him, and Adrien is staying at Nino's place last I heard. As to how I know Adrien's at Nino's, you know about me and Nino's arrangement," Alya whispered, expecting to hear the annoyance from Marinette, since Marinette disapproved with Alya hanging out with Nino. Surprisingly, Marinette is mad about something entirely.
"I know Gabriel Agresete could be cruel, I just can't believe he would do that to Adrien. Is it possible we could see Adrien during lunch hour?" Marinette asked hopefully while Alya frowned for a moment.
After a minute or two, Alya pulled her phone out to text Nino, and hoping she doesn't regret this later.
XOX
Adrien stayed in Nino's bedroom, getting some sleep that he didn't know he needed. He knew it's about lunch time now, since Nino texted him earlier. Nino was going to drop by with food and they were then going back to school together. Adrien may have a bad boy exterior, but he really cared about his grades and liked school. He knew he couldn't hide forever, since his father is Gabriel Agreste and HawkMoth as well.
Adrien is surprised there hasn't been an akuma attack yet, which would happen to seek Adrien out. Adrien didn't know what to do, even though he knew that he had to go home eventually. In fact, he had his model shoots too, which he could not avoid either. Adrien sighed while thinking back of last night. His thoughts kept coming back to Marientte, how soft she felt under him, and the story she told him last night.
Something about her story, about the two princesses, he couldn't help feeling like she's trying to tell him something. A tale of a lonely and kind princesses, which made Adrien ponder for a moment. He wondered if Marientte was so lonely, so she started to be kind to others like him and her classmates, and tried to be kind to Chat Blanc since she understood the pain he might feel.
Before Adrien could think more on it, he heard someone entering Nino's townhouse. Already, Adrien is high on alert, but he calmed some when Nino just texted him. However, he heard more than his DJ friend, and heard two female voices. The one voice stuck out, since he could decipher his princess sweet voice anywhere.
Adrien didn't know why he hid in the closet when the door opened. For some reason, he didn't want Marinette to see the harsh slap on his face. Although, Marientte already saw his slightly puffy face as Chat Blanc, but the mask covered most of it and he's presenting himself as bad boy Adrien to her. He didn't want to look weak in front of her, even though he's comfortable by being weak as Chat Blanc.
"Hey, Adrien, you here? I brought your favorite, pineapple pizza, and I brought company." Nino said hesitantly, trying to bride Adrien out with his favorite pizza.
Nino knew how Adrien hated to look vulnerable in front of others, yet he still brought the two girls anyway. If this was a couple of weeks ago, Adrien would have jumped out the window, since he would rather be more bruised up than be in those girls' company. However, things have changed, and he knew that he needed to stop acting like such a scaredy cat. As he's about to open the closet door, he didn't expect to knock into someone, which happened to be Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
They both let out an oof, with Adrien accidentally pinning her down, and Marinette's blue eyes widening almost like they're the blue sky.
The entire room became quiet for a moment, Nino looking upon in worry, but Alya looked more curious than anything.
Adrien tries to move himself away, but Marientte's eyes freeze him in place. Adrien took in pride how her face flushed, he's not sure if it's from him or the awkward position, but he tried to think it's him to pat his ego.
Suddenly, it's Adrien's turn to blush now, since Marientte gingerly brushes upon his bruised cheek. She looked worried, biting her lip as she gently pressed his cheek. She then widened her eyes, putting her hand back like it's on fire, and started to stutter brokenly.
He couldn't help his chuckle, which then turned into a belly laugh. He slowly deranged himself from her, even though that's the last thing on her mind. He offered his hand to help her up, she stared at him in confusion, but took his offered hand. Adrien couldn't stop laughing, something about Marientte is just so enduring.
Marinette pouted a bit, but her eyes looked playful with no hint of annoyance.
"I'm glad I can be so amusing to you," Marientte piqued with a laugh of her own, smirking at him which made Adrien's breath hitch a bit.
In the corner of his eye, he could see Nino staring at Marinette and him dumbly, which Adrien couldn't blame him since Adrien didn't act this carefree. Although, Marientte didn't really act carefree either, which really has shown by how much she has changed.
"For a moment there, when you two were on the floor, I almost dragged Nino away, since you two couldn't stop making gooey eyes to each other." Alya commented with a fake gag, which made Marinette and Adrien stop their own laughter.
"Alya!" Marientte squeaked out while blushing more hotly.
Adrien gave Alya a slight glare, but Alya only laughed with a devious smirk. On the other hand, Nino looked at him seriously, which Adrien tried to ignore his friend's probing stare.
"Anyways, I see you brought me a please forgive me pineapple pizza, Nino." Adrien quipped in a joking tone, which then made Nino shrug sheepishly.
"Sorry, dude, these two were persistent to know where you were at. Alya can be, I mean, they can both be scarily persuasive." Nino tried to put the blame on both of the girls, but Adrien knew for a fact that Nino was whipped with Alya. Adrien didn't really care about Nino's choice of secretly dating Alya.
Funny enough, Adrien didn't mind Alya much, but she could be a shallow person and so concerned about popularity. However, Adrien now sounded like a hypocrite since he wanted to date Marientte Dupain Cheng. The lady queen bee of the school, which he vowed to never date a type of girl like that. Well, here he is making gooey eyes apparently, and finding Marinette adorable as she handed him a slice.
"Sorry, Adrien, I was worried about you. Don't blame Nino, we could leave if you want, I just wanted to make sure you're alright." Marinette said with a smile, which didn't reach her eyes.
Before she could get up, he gingerly touched her arm, and she looked at him in confusion.
"It's fine, I'm glad you're just please stay," Adrien whispered quietly for only Marinette to hear.
Marinette this time smiled fully, nodding her head as she grabbed a slice of their own.
Unknown to Marinette, she started to form a friendship for the other three teenagers, which would change quite a bit for this universe.
Nino leaned a bit towards Adrien, telling him how Adrien staying here might cause a slight problem since Nino's grandmother is coming down. Nino reassured Adrien he could stay longer, saying how he would talk to his parents, but Adrien didn't want to be a burden to his best friend.
"It's fine Nino, don't worry about it, I'll go back to my place after my photo shoot since I need to face my father anyway." Adrien said loudly without thinking, which brought the two girls attention.
Adrien tried to ignore the pity looks from all of them, but then his eyes bulged when Marinette said a life changing offer.
"Adrien, you stay at my place for a bit, since I kind of live by myself." Marientte offered without thinking, earning herself to stare wide eyed at herself.
Before Marientte could backtrack, Adrien gave her a charming smile, but she could see the vulnerable hidden there.
"Well, I could never resist an offer from a beautiful lady like you, and I accept and appreciate your offer."
Adrien said charmingly, making Marinette wonder what has she gotten herself into?