Look What You Made Me Do

I Have Plenty Of Problems But No Champagne

(A/N:Alya gets her chance to talk to Nino and some one takes a stand against Lie-la)

Marinette had once strongly believed that one day everyone would see through Lila's deception and lies. Now she wasn't so sure. She hadn't known how talented Lila was. In some ways she was worse than Hawkmoth, an everyday super villain. At least with Hawkmoth there seemed a way to fight him.

A part of her had given up hope. That part of her believed in self preservation and decided it was better to gather those she cared about and let the others who she had once cared about go. It seemed like there was no hope for them. But now here was Nino, standing before her and apologising for all the hurt he had caused. The old Marinette would have wanted to forgive and forget, and believe in a better tomorrow.

Though the Marinette of today knew that a positive attitude and belief that things would one day get better wasn't enough. People didn't live in 'one day' they lived in the present. Sometimes the best option for a better future was just to accept what you couldn't change on a large scale and take care of yourself. Marinette may have lost her friend group but now she knew who was truly on her side.

She wasn't the old Marinette anymore, she would forgive but she wouldn't let her forget. That was how mistakes of the past got repeated. The future couldn't be changed all at once, sometimes you needed to take small steps. And standing before her was one of those small steps. Nino's apology was one of those steps.

"Thanks Mar....Dudette." Nino said with a small smile. Her old nickname brought a smile to Marinette's face. Before she could say anything a voice called out.

"Hey this game is rigged!"

Marinette's eyes widened a little. That voice was familiar!!

"That was Alix." she commented. Looking off in the distance she saw Lila, Alya, Rose,Juleka, and Alix standing at one of the game booths. From the look on Alix's face she was not pleased by the outcome of whatever game she had just played.

"You little brats better scram before I make you!" a large man running the game snarled. Why was she not surprised that Alix was biting off more than she could probably chew? Marinette inwardly sighed.

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Nino looked around. "We need to help!" He started to forward but stopped when Marinette didn't follow. "Dudette?"

She looked like she understood his confusion as she shook her head. "Once upon a time I would be right there with you." she said with a small sad smile. "I did my best to solve everyone's problems. But that wasn't enough for you guys. Even though I helped everyone I was still wrong. I can't do that to myself anymore."

Nino wanted to protest, to tell Marinette she was wrong. But she wasn't and now he saw it. And he hated himself all the more for it. How could they have all been so blind? They had hurt Marinette so much. "I understand," he said softly. "It's okay to not want to be hurt anymore. But I'll stand with you, no matter what."

Marinette looked conflicted and Nino couldn't blame her.

"Marinette, you look as though you are distressed. "Do you require assistance?"

Nino looked up in surprise as Marinette's date approached them. "We think some of our classmates are in trouble and I wanted to go help them."

"So go?" he said in a slightly confused tone. As if he wasn't sure why they were having this conversation.

"Nino if I go with you Alya will go maximum crazy on both of us." Marinette sighed. "It's better if you and Adrien go alone."

Nino really wished he could argue but Marinette had a good point. So he nodded and headed in the direction of the girls. This was Gotham and there was no telling what might happen!