A Little Bit of Bad Luck

Ch 12: The Sucker Punch

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"This isn't good, is it Tikki?" Marinette asked the kwami when she saw the picture of the symbol all the miraculous boxes bore on the news. Who took the photo? The headline said the picture was taken in the catacombs.

Marinette's eyes widened. "This really isn't good, Tikki." She had finally been getting a good night's sleep and then this had to happen.

Tikki frantically buzzed through the room. "I must go warn Master Fu!" She knew she recognized that feeling.

Marinette paused. Should Paris be without Ladybug right now?

Marinette stood up from her desk chair and approached the kwami. "Tikki, is there something you're not telling me?"

Tikki sighed. "It is Master Fu's story. I can't tell you, only he can. All you should know right now is that it's more important for me to go warn him before someone else sees that picture."

Marinette nodded. "Okay, Tikki. I trust you." She didn't think it was smart to argue with the kwami right now. She could tell this was serious, and that it had something to do with the creepy aura she felt down in the catacombs.

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Nino turned to his three friends after class was dismissed. "Any of you want to go to the library after class? There's a gaming competition being held there today and plenty of space for other things too."

Marinette eyes sparkled. "Gaming?" She hadn't been able to game in forever because of her duties. She deserved a break, and she couldn't fight without Tikki anyway.

Félix shrugged. "I was already planning on using the library for its intended purpose." He glanced at Marinette. She was looking a lot better. Each time he saw her acting like her usual self, he couldn't help but feel relieved. He told himself it was because of his duty as a miraculous holder. 

Alya smiled at Nino. "Sure, I'm down."

He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Let's go!" Marinette tried to usher out the heart-struck Nino before he stared too long.

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Marinette was checking out the other players, sizing up her competition when she heard voices being raised.

A tall boy with a red beanie covering his short black hair poked Nino's chest. "You bumped into me on purpose. Are you looking for a fight?"

Nino backed up. "I did not! I don't want anything from you."

The boy sneered. "Probably because you know I would beat you up."

Félix stepped in between Nino and the instigator and narrowed his eyes. "Or it's because he knows it's impolite to cause a scene in a library."

Félix didn't know why he felt the need to intervene, but this guy was getting on his nerves. The library was his sanctuary. Obviously, Nino didn't bump into him on purpose. This punk was just looking for an easy fight.

Marinette inched closer. She kept her attention on the stranger in case he tried to do anything reckless. If anyone was going to get affected by an akuma it would be this guy.