Darkling

6. Akuma

While sitting in the lounge chair, trying to control my breathing. Watching as a dark black, purple butterfly hovered over the box of flowers attached to the railing.

"Marinette, you have to calm down" Tikki demanded while pulling on my shirt.

This can't be happening to me!

So many thoughts started to collide with each other. Why would Paris ever want a klutz to save them? Am I better off just giving up the miraculous? Has Alya truly left me for Lila, was I that bad of a friend to her? For her to dump me within a span of two weeks! Even my own mother wasn't on speaking terms with me. She doesn't believe me, nobody believes in me.

"Snap out of it" the voice sounded like Tikki's, yet it was muffled. A small chuckle escaped from my lips. Tears clouding my vision as I watched the Akuma fly closer to me.

Maybe I deserved all of this the rumors, the lies, having Hawkmoth come after me.

"Spots....on" I whispered; throwing the yoyo to capture the Akuma. "Bye-bye, little butterfly" the now purified and white butterfly fluttered away. Staring down at my suit what used to feel like my own skin. Now felt so foreign staring at my hands and wiggling my fingers. It now all felt so bizarre and overwhelming.

This has got to get better, right?

There in my lap sat Tikki and I could tell her gears were turning. For what exactly to say that could help me.

"Oh, Marinette I'm so proud of you! You're so strong to not give in to that Akuma" she praised. As she started to ramble about how great of a Ladybug I am. It was always the same speech, sure she mentions me as Marinette But it's always Marinette you're so smart, kind, and creative. Those same adjectives are used over and over as if that's all that I can ever be. Couldn't she see that there was so much more to me? Couldn't anyone see how I'm not just some clumsy, stuttering daydreamer?

Doubts started to come back as I clenched my fists. Leaning my head back, eyes closing embarrassing moments playing in my mind. All the times I fell in front of people. Knocking things over, gaining laughter from those around me. Causing bigger messes than necessary in the bakery. Embarrassing my parents in front of their customers.

God, I am a walking accident-prone.

Along with the doubts also came rage. Not only towards those around me I was starting to become angry with myself. After everything that has happened since getting the miraculous nothing in my life has improved. I haven't stood up to Chloe nor confessed my feelings to Adrien. Due to being Ladybug, I had to give up my position as class representative. Hell, I had to give up a lot of things because I of Ladybug.

"-Cess, princess, purrincess." Lowering my head so I couldn't look at him. Only to open them when his gloved hand grabbed my hands. Noticing that Tikki was gone I glanced to the side to look at the trap door. Figuring that Tikki had gone back inside, Chat pulls me up from the chair and into a hug. His body was shaking against mine, pulling back from him still in his embrace I looked up at him. Confused as to why he was here I could barely see the tears that were on his face.

"Chat... that why are you crying?" his hands moving to my shoulders.

"You were almost akumatized, how did you not see the Akuma?"

Twice in one night? Hawkmoth had almost gotten me twice. This night just keeps getting worse!

"Marinette, I used my cataclysm to stop it." Frowning I realized that he wouldn't be here much longer. Reaching out to grab his hand to see his miraculous. The image of the green paw print was still intact.