The Lucky and the Unlucky

Chapter 25

Finally Alya had managed to prepare her best friend. She looked stunning in her long black dress, like a woman in renaissance painting held in a castle abandoned by time, a serious sadness transpired in her gaze.

She had eventually put the second lucky charm around her wrist, she hadn't decide what to do with it yet, but it was oddly comforting and haunting at the same time.

"They're still out there right?" she asked, brushing her loose hair with her fingers anxiously. "yes, I'm sorry. I promise when I become a reported I will never intrude on someone like this" answered the brunette.

Even the police had gotten involved but reporters still hovered around, trying to steal a photo of the now most famous teenager of the city.

"Don't worry, you mm, you don't have to transform, I'll transform and transport you there okay?" but quickly Marinette shook her head. "I haven't been out of the house in weeks, it'll never stop completely" she sighed and opened her bedroom door, inviting the other girl downstairs.

As soon as they descended the stairs they saw Tom and Sabine, dressed up in their most formal and somber clothes, looking up worriedly at their daughter.

Already the news of her being the superhero of Paris had almost made them faint, realizing how many times she had put herself in danger for the city, but with the recent tragedy and, by consequence, her dramatically changed behavior, their worry grew.

She barely ate, got out of bed and to their notion, she hadn't talked yet. "H-hi Mom, Dad" she said weakly. The look of relief was brief as they immediately squeezed her in a big family hug.

"Oh Marinette how are you feeling? Are you gonna be okay going there? Do you need anything?" fussed Sabine as they finally let go of their daughter.

The bluenette swallowed nervously "Yeah, I'll be fine" she lied. The couple nodded, and with Alya they walked out of the house and into their car, shielding Marinette as much as possible from the reporters.

It was beautiful day outside, not a single cloud in sight, which made Marinette thoughts bitter as they drove away. "You know you don't have to make a speech, I mean you're already under a lot of pressure but with all the cameras-" Alya couldn't finish as her best friend interrupted her "I barely have a choice Alya, I'm a superhero and everyone knows it now, these are the consequences".

Before the discussion could go on the car stopped in front of the cemetery. Without another word Marinette stepped out of the car and, with Alya and her parents, made her way to the grave that would soon hold what remained of the love of her life.

They place was crowded, thousands of news reporters, people Adrien had worked with, friends and his remaining family, his cousin Felix and his aunt Amelie.

Marinette paid little attention as she walked down the long aisle created by the many chairs of those who attended. She avoided everyone's gaze, as she knew that everyone was looking at her.

She made her way as quickly as possible towards Nino, who was waiting for them in the front row. Before she could even say anything he hugged her, he had not been able to see her or talk to her since the battle, and apart from Alya's news, he knew nothing about how she was holding up.

But between them no words were shared, what could you say in a situation like this "Sorry you lost your best friend because i wasn't able to protect him from the villain we were fighting which, by the way, was his father" or "You and my best friend were the two superheroes that defended us daily and you guys loved each other and now he is dead and I'm sorry for your loss". It was rather complicated.

Silently they were escorted to their chairs to witness the ceremony, but Marinette just wasn't present. Even if her eyes filled with tears as each speech was made, she didn't register anything of what was going. She was focusing on what she had to say in front of all of Paris in a matter of minutes.

It wasn't fair that she didn't get to say what her heart yearned to express, not in front of the press, not in front of Natalie, who Marinette hadn't even bothered to report to the police. It was clear she was part of Gabriel Agreste's plan, but after Duusu had arrived to her balcony, with her own miraculous in hand, she had understood the message.