Contradiction || Marichat AU

Chapter 1: Seed of Hatred

08-16-21, 12:30 pm

Swayed with grace the leaves in the trees, and glistened the dew upon the afternoon grass. 

The earthy smell of rain remained after its short appearance in Paris — it was comfortable in some way. The noise in the city was easy on the ears: such as the ringing and chimes of bicycle bells, the incomprehensible conversations of citizens, and the insects emitting their own unique sounds.

The hero in black perceived all this as a romantic sort of setting, too. Mayhaps that was what he had hoped for, or merely expected.

It was unfortunate although, the aura was seemingly tense and the male was reluctant to unseal his lips. But he knew he wanted to do this. All the countless debates in his mind, he couldn't put them to waste. 

In spite of his stomach doing aggressive flips, he felt this was the right time. 

"Ladybug...wait," said Chat Noir, pinning his gloved hand onto her shoulder.

"Hm?" She arched an eyebrow, folding her arms. "What on earth do you want now?" said Ladybug who was visibly irked.  

He got goosebumps under his suit, though it wasn't due to the cold weather. "I need to tell you something." He tried to play it cool, trying to sound as if this wasn't a big deal to him. Chat just had to do this. After all, hesitation is cowardly. 

The heroine's features seemed arrogant as she scoffed, taking whatever he wanted to say into consideration. Whatever this was, was it worth her time? "I had to handle an akuma right before our lunch break.

"So this better be important," she sneered, leaning on the tall, brick chimney on the roof they stood at. 

"Oh come on, am I not worth your time?" the hero joked. 

"No," said Ladybug, smacking her lips, "my friends will be suspicious. The akuma was sudden and so was my disappearance."

"Please? Just a fraction of your time?" he pleaded playfully, hoping to be able to convince her, a smirk on his lips. 

"Fine," said Ladybug airily. "Go on."

"Alright," said Chat to himself as he looked over to the distance. Don't mess up, don't mess up, don't mess up, he thought. "Listen, I..." The green-eyed boy walked closer to the heroine, tight-lipped. "Well." 

He gripped his chest, furrowing his eyebrows. The other's hostile mood was a bit unexpected. His memorized words were all over the place and he couldn't bring himself to say anything at all.

"You what?" said Ladybug, gritting her teeth, "I don't have all day."

He swallowed all nervousness, taking a deep breath as he finally spoke:

"I like you, okay? There, I said it." He exhaled sharply, out-stretching his hand while presenting her with a single red rose, a pink tinge slowly growing on his cheeks.

The woman's snort caught him off-guard. The hint of amusement and disbelief in her eyes did too. "Sorry, is there something funny?" He cocked an eyebrow, more surprised than confused.

"That's ridiculous," said the red heroine, smothering a laugh. "We've spent about three weeks together fighting akumas. Suddenly you like me? This is a prank right?" she asked.

"Well, yeah...but it wasn't sudden. It's just your bravery and wit that got me smitten," said Chat with a beam, "it's not a prank, I really do like you. The amount of time we've spent together doesn't matter to me."

"Sorry Chat. I don't feel the same" —she chuckled a little— "I know nothing about you or who you are," said Ladybug, grabbing the rose from his hand whilst scrutinizing it.

"Then we get to know each other. It's that simple!" the black cat blurted. He didn't want to believe this. This wasn't a laughing matter. How could she be finding his own feelings funny? His charisma and natural way of handling things seemed to break apart.

"You do know we can't know each other's identity right? Didn't Master Fu tell you?" said the girl mockingly. 

"He did! It was a suggestion," said Chat Noir, "we don't have to disclose personal information." He tried to fight the tear building up inside his lower eyelids. Was he seriously about to cry? 

"Even so, why would you ever think I'd like you back?" Ladybug spat, shaking her head, and throwing the rose behind her. Like a basketball going through a hoop's net, the red flower fell into the chimney, landing on the dusty ashes.

His eyes followed the rose from the moment it was thrown to the moment it fell inside the chimney. "Seriously? You could've been nice about it," Chat Noir pulled his bottom lip in, voice wavering. His frustrated expression tried to mask his hurt. His trembling tone made it clear he was about to cry; at this point, there was no chance of hiding it. 

Plainly hurt, he questioned, "I genuinely liked you. Why reject me like this?—"

"And why would I be nice to someone who doesn't even take their job seriously?" interrupted Ladybug. "You always joke around, make immature puns, and say those flirtatious remarks! Earlier, Animan almost defeated us, all due to your incompetence.

"You just wouldn't shut your mouth." The way she was speaking seemed like nothing to her. Like she didn't know she was hurting him.

Those words alone made him blanch. The butterflies were replaced with parasites that could eat the boy whole. Ladybug didn't even bother kindly rejecting him, oh no. She was pitiless against his heart, giving the impression that stepping on it wasn't something hard to do. 

Chat Noir smiled weakly — eyes stinging, fist clenching, and his soul crippling. Silence reigned the atmosphere, and none of them had the intent to keep the conversation going. 

"Tsk." He threw his head to the side, eyes pinned to the roof beneath their feet. "I understand. Thank you for your honesty," said the black cat. With that, his baton extended to the length of his desire, and he vaulted away without another sentence escaping his mouth.

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

The school bell abruptly rang, indicating all classes of Lycée Carnot to come to a stop. 

The students came out of their respective classes, taking their books for the next lecture. As usual, the locker room was filled with loud chatter; it was a mix of gossip and casual talk.

It had about the same ambiance as a marketplace, for people were talking left and right. This was the only time they were able to, taking into consideration how disciplined they were under the student council president.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was at the corner, who arranged and took her books in her own copper-colored locker. 

A particular girl walked over to the blunette. She had a firm expression and furrowed eyebrows. The woman's aim was to scold the other, but none of their schoolmates knew where this resentment came from.

The aforementioned girl had a slim build, olive-green eyes, and long chestnut brown hair that hung down to her waist. Her bangs were neatly trimmed, and her hair was loosely wrapped at the tips with orange bands where she had two shorter strands. 

She was dressed in an orange blazer with a dark gray romper with small white dots. Then there were light grey tights and brown high heel boots. She was seventeen years old; two months older than the girl in pigtails.

"Hey"—mercilessly, the woman slapped the back of Marinette's head—"you really left us hanging in the canteen, hm? That was rude, and you didn't even let me go with you.

"Being in a bathroom with explosive diarrhea while a villain's around is really dangerous, you know. You could've been hurt!"

Marinette held her giggle back in, turning around with an innocent look.

"Oh," said Marinette with a soft smile, "hey, Lila."

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~1275 words~