In Another World (Miraculous Ladybug)

Chapter 3: Daring to Hope

Marinette woke up to the sound of a door softly closing. A moment later light peaked around the door frame of the bathroom. She rolled over and looked at the clock. 4:30 AM, two hours until they were going to get up. She could go back to sleep, she was defiantly still tired enough for it. But damn her eyes burned, and her head kinda hurt, that's what you get for crying yourself to sleep she reminded herself. Feeling suddenly restless, she got up and walked to the window, she pulled open the curtain and looked at the two moons hanging high in the sky the light from them almost felt soothing to her eyes. She let out a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around her chest her mind raising with all the things she and Nino would have to deal with. She was so lost in her thoughts, that she jumped when Nino's arms wrapped around her and placed a cup and a small pill in front of her on the window sill.  

"I figured your head had might hurt as much as mine. And they have everything in that bathroom." He chuckled lightly. "Wanna go back to bed?" 

"I don't think I can? Do you think we can sit and make a plan?" She leaned against the cool window, before taking the pill and draining the glass of water. 

"I was hoping you'd say that." He took a step back, giving her room to turn and look at him. "Floor or bed?" 

"Lean against the bed? Beds are for resting not serious conversations." She grabbed a pillow and sat on the floor. 

"Ah, so you're the one who gave Alya that idea." He laughed, "I should have known." 

"It was one Cat gave me actually." She let out a sad sigh. She waited for Nino to get comfort on the floor. However, he didn't sit right away he went and grabbed the tray of snacks brought to them before. 

"We haven't eaten since we got here, and I'm guessing breakfast isn't for at least three hours but likely five hours. " She had to agree so they both ate. "So, let's start with what I think is the easiest thing, do we want to live in the same space or separate spaces?" 

Marinette pondered this, "Well, I think both for the understanding of waiting for six months and staying, living together makes me feel safer." She paused, "I think whatever plan we make it has to work for both for the short term and set us up for the long term." 

"Yeah, I agree. As much as I don't want to admit it, it does seem unlikely we will get to go back, but I want to have hope." Nino shared a sad smile. 

"Hope is such a cruel gift." Marinette sighed. "Always waiting for something that may never come, but unable to let go of the idea." 

Nino moved closer to her, places his hand on her shoulder, "I know Mari, but we will get through this together." He removed his hand, "Okay, so we find somewhere that we can stay together, I assume your gonna wanna be able to cook, and I really don't want someone to clean for me." 

"I'm glad you agree." She smiled. "I don't think I could spend six months doing nothing. Maybe we take a week to rest and get to know the area better, but then find some kind of work." 

"Ya, I agree, I've been working the DJ grind so doing nothing isn't really in my wheelhouse. We are still high school students, so I'm sure they have some kind of a work program for people our age." He looked over to the window.

"Think we can find jobs with our passions here?" she hated how week her voice sounded, but her anxiety wasn't happy with all this. She'd been on meds for it once, would she have that option here? If it got really bad again? 

"I mean I know the architecture is old school, but looking around even this room, it seems to be as modern amenities we seem used to, so I'm sure we can spo... Mari." He sighed, "Sorry, I bet we don't wanna use supper hero nicknames right now." 

"It's hard not to eh? We've been using Spots and Shell both in and out of the suits for the past year." Mari smiled at the memory. Their parents had been friends before they were born, so they grew up together, they had several nicknames for each other. Their parents had hoped they would fall in love until they met Adrien and Alya. But even after they had found their new loves the nicknames stuck. 

"We could pick new ones? You know to replace those?" Nino played with a loose thread on the pillow. 

"Maybe we could save that for six months? Just avoid using them for now?" Nino nodded. "So we find out if we can work with our passions and a space that is our own. Anything else we need to plan?" She looked over at the clock and found that it was 5:30. The sun started to rise in the sky, the colours were lovely. She quickly rose and ran to the window. "Nino look!" 

He followed her, and they stood together watching, Nino pointed down, the room seemed to be facing the homestead. "I would guess that these are the people who work for us?" They both took note of the style of clothes, a modern victorian style. Something that Marinette thought would be so fun to sew.

"Early morning farm chores." She smiled softly. "It doesn't look like they have gas power farm tools, look at the size of the stable." She slowly opened the window, the smell of farm hit them both, they had been city kids but the smell of country had been something they liked. The sound of horses met their ears. "Did you ever learn to ride?" 

"Nope, bikes were more my style." Nino chuckled. 

"Luka had an electronic scooter that made me want one. I've never ridden one either." They watched the movement for a bit longer until people seemed to be at their jobs for the morning. "Think if we got ready for the day, Maryweather would let me help make breakfast?" 

"I'm guessing not, but maybe if Edward is around we can get more information about this place?" Nino laughed, "Let's see what we can find for us to wear because I think our clothes might just stick out a bit." Nino chuckled. 

"Don't worry Nino, once we have our own place, I'll make us close that feel like us and match this style." She smiled. 

"I like that idea. But we can also buy stuff too I'm sure." They both went and rummaged through the draws. Nino found a deep blue button-up shirt and some black pants, Mari found a long soft pink skirt and a white long sleeve blouse. They both like each other choices. 

"Mind if I shower first?" Nino nodded and she slipped into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror, her eyes were bloodshot, her hair frazzled, and she had clear tear lines on her face. She shook her head only Nino would not care to mention to her how unkempt she looked. She looked around the bathroom and found a hair tie hidden in a draw. And pulled her hair into a ponytail. She finally got to look at where her earring use to sit. They were a deep purple and black. she lightly touched them, she inhaled sharply, yep they burned. She now understood Nino's reaction to her touching his bruise. She slipped off her nightgown, and turned on the hot water and let the water wash away her anxiety. 

She slipped on her new outfit and fell in love with how soft the fabric was. "Oh! This is lovely." She spun around, enjoying the silhouette it gave her. She wandered out of the bathroom, she saw Nino laying back on the bed, quietly napping. She looked at the clock, 6:30, she'd let the boy sleep, after all, he'd been her hero last night. She could give him a few more hours rest.