Marinette
She stared up at the building, biting the inside of her lip. They would have more troops on the first floor, and a few guarding the flag. Kim jogged up to them, and he was practically drenched in sweat.
"What's the plan guys?"
"Where's the rest of your group?"
She asked, and he nodded back towards one of the buildings, where Ivan emerged.
"We're all that's left?"
Adrien asked in disbelief, and Kim nodded.
"Almost all of their team was on retrieval. We had to sneak away."
Interesting. So their team was more worried about attack rather than defense.
"Kim and Ivan. Focus on the windows of the second floor. If they sent most of their team out, I think they'd have more people on the second floor room to guard the flag."
They looked over the small wall, their guns at the ready. She stepped around the side of the wall, looking at the doorway. At least one person had to be in there.
"Do not let me get shot."
"Wait what?"
Adrien asked, and she took off at a sprint towards the building. She slid under one of the windows, and could hear Kim and Ivan firing.
"Hit!"
Someone shouted above her, and she waited for them to come down. The second they stepped into the doorway she blocked their path, looking into the room over their shoulder. It was empty. She stepped aside and kept her gun trained on the stairway, edging into the building. She stood still, waiting on the others to join her. Adrien was quickly at her side, Kim and Ivan soon following.
"Let me go up first. I'll count whose up there."
Ivan insisted, walking up the steps. Wasn't a great plan, considering they needed everyone they could get. They heard shots fired over head, and two people shout hit, before Ivan and another player came marching down the steps with their guns held high. Ivan held up two fingers as he walked past, and Marinette grinned. Just like dodge ball. The odds were stacked in their favor. Three against two, and this time Kim wasn't out.
"I've got a plan."
Adrien gestured the two closer so he could lower his voice.
"Kim and I will go up side by side and try to shoot out the last two before they tag us. Marinette, you stay right behind us, that way even if we are hit, you'll have a moment to shoot whoever is left."
She was suprised that someone else had come up with a plan, but she nodded regardless. They took their places, slowly marching up the steps. The room the flag was in was pretty much just a landing for the stairs. They had the advantage, and shots rang out as they reached the top. Kim shot one of the players, and Marinette pointed her gun at the last one, just as Adrien and Kim stepped aside. She shot him before he could register that there were three of them, instead of two.
"Get the flag."
Kim insisted, and she grabbed the flag, climbing up the ladder. The roof was fenced in with a chain link fence, and she waved the flag as hard as she could. Across the field she could see someone coming out on the roof of their base, but it was too late. The whistle blew, and she felt free. They had won. Sure, it was just a game. But she won as Marinette. Not ladybug. It meant more. Adrien was at the top of the ladder laughing, and she threw her arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug. He squeezed her sides, spinning her around. This had to be what it felt like to be free. He slowly lowered her down, pulling off his helmet.
"You did great Mari."
She pulled off hers, giving him a grin. He looked so unreal. The sun was shining in his hair, the ugly green jumpsuit somehow looked great on him, and his green eyes stood out against his surroundings. He looked perfect. Until he did the most imperfect thing he could have done at that moment. He kissed her. It was gentle, and it singed the wings of the butterflies in her stomach. She was suprised they didn't burn to dust in the heat that enveloped her. She wanted to kiss back. The need to was overwhelming. But she had a boyfriend. She had Chat. She shoved him away, and he looked startled.
"Marinette I-"
She shoved the flag into his arms, before climbing down the ladder. Now she knew for sure. Adrien did catch feelings for her. But it was too late. He waited too long.
"Marinette wait!"
He shouted, clambering down after her. Kim looked at her confused, and she didn't bother with an explanation. She marched past him and back onto the street, keeping her pace quick, but not too quick. She wanted to run. But that was ridiculous. Adrien had crossed a line. He kissed her, even though he knew she had a boyfriend. She had never thought him to be the type to pursue a woman who was already in a relationship. It didn't fit him at all.
"Mari, please wait a second!"
She didn't want to, but she turned. He was jogging towards her, and she really wanted to run then. What was his problem? He caught up to her, and she kept her gaze ahead, staring straight at the exit.
"Marinette please. I'm sorry."
"No you're not."
She snapped, picking up her pace. She was going to get Alya to give her a ride home. She didn't want to be in a car with him. Not after that. He grabbed her hand, and it was the last straw. She yanked away from him, whirling around.
"What is your problem?"
She shouted, angry tears stinging her eyes. He took a small step back, shaking his head.
"Marinette, I didn't mean to upset you. I promise that was not my intention."
"What was your intention then? To get me to cheat on my boyfriend? To try to confuse me? What was the fucking point of that?"
He flinched when she cursed, but she didn't care. She was so pissed at him. He deserved every ounce of her rage.
"No."
He mumbled, and she shook her head.
"No? That's all you have to say?"
"I love you."
He snapped, and a small amount of her rage faded, but only a small amount.
"After all these years? When I finally move on you think you can just suddenly show up and sweep me off my feet? Do you understand how awful you're being right now? I never did this shit to you. When you were with Kagami, I didn't interfere. All I cared about was your happiness. Don't you care about mine? At all?"
She was crying now, and he seemed to deflate some.
"Of course I care Mari. I just... I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
It didn't matter. That didn't undo what he had done. Nor what he had said. She scoffed, turning away from him.
"Marinette, I really am sorry."
He mumbled, and she wiped away the tears on her cheeks.
"I'm done with the arrangement. I'm not going to pretend to be your girlfriend anymore."
"Oh."
He sounded so disappointed, but it didn't matter. Not when he was going to act like that. She resumed walking, spotting Alya up ahead. Alya must have sensed something was up, because she was already walking towards them.
"Marinette what's wrong?"
"Can you give me a lift home?"
She probably looked stupid, she was still crying and was acting like she wasn't.
"We rode with Adrien. What's going on?"
Marinette shook her head, searching the crowd for someone, anyone to give her a ride home who wouldn't pester her about what was wrong, but she couldn't think of anyone.
"Marinette I can still give you a ride home."
Adrien said softly, and Alya looked between the two of them.
"Did you guys have a fight?"
Marinette closed her eyes, before turning and heading back to the building, stripping out of the jumpsuit as she walked. She just wanted to go home and see Chat. He could make her forget all of it. She just knew it. She could hear Alya talking to Adrien behind her, and she tried to block them out. Alya needed to back off. She quickly handed in her gear, turning and heading for his car. She would grab her stuff and walk, if she knew where they even were.
"Are you okay?"
Tiki questioned, and Marinette shook her head. Of course she wasn't okay. Adrien had just told her that he loved her. She was pissed at him, and at the butterflies that still swarmed her stomach. How would she feel if another girl kissed Chat? Jealousy seeped into her skin, and her tears stung even more. There was no sense in thinking about that. Chat would stop it. And he would tell her. What if he wanted her to stop being friends with Adrien? What if he broke up with her over this? It was all adding up to be too much. He knew she loved Adrien. And that he kissed her, and wanted to pretend to date. Where was the line at? When would Chat get mad? She heard the car unlock, and she quickly opened the passenger door. She would have sat in the back, but Alya would grill her about what was going on and she just didn't want to talk about it. She could just say they broke up, which would be completely embarrassing considering that they had just told Alya they were dating. She got in, and Alya quickly followed suit.
"Talk to me girl. What happened?"
"Can we talk about it later?"
Marinette asked, looking out the window. She needed time to come up with a good lie.
"That depends. Will you actually talk to me, or will you just blow it off as usual?"
Marinette whirled around in her seat, glaring at Alya.
"I'm getting sick and tired of that crap. I'm sorry I'm not fourteen anymore and have all the time in the world to fill you in on my miseries. I'm sorry I'm not available twenty four seven. I'm sorry I can't fill you in every time i have sex or kiss someone. I'm sorry that I have a life outside of our friendship. You dont tell me everything either, I don't understand why you're giving me such a hard time about it."
Her tone was harsh, and Alya sat back, her mouth slightly agape. That's great. Now she and Alya were going to have a fight, all because of Adrien.
"You've had sex?"
"Jesus Alya, was that all you heard?"
Alya leaned forward, a grin forming on her face.
"I'll be honest, my brain kinda zeroed in on that part. Who was it?"
Marinette smiled despite her anger, and leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes. Maybe she could tell Alya. Maybe she could tell her about Chat. Alya could keep a secret if you asked her to.
"I'll tell you sometime later."
Alya squealed, shaking Marinette's seat.
"Oh my god! Did you like it? Was it awkward?"
Marinette laughed, and shook her head at her. She had always been so good at cheering her up.
"It was amazing Alya."
Alya giggled, and the car door opened, Nino getting in, followed shortly by Adrien. Marinette's mood died back down pretty quickly, and she focused her gaze out the window. She could forgive Adrien. She would eventually, she knew that. How was she supposed to forget about his confession? The car was mostly quiet, except for when Nino mentioned how fun that game had been. Apparently they had a close one. She could feel it when Adrien glanced at her, and since her anger had calmed down, she was feeling something else. Something that made guilt grip her heart. It was lust. Adrien loved her. And some part of her still loved him. And that part of her, however small it was, wanted him. And she wanted to kill it.