Bug Bites

Chapter | Thirty-Five

Marinette and Alya had spent hours talking, catching up on life. It was a breath of fresh air to Alya really, seeing Marinette in a way she never had- at ease. It was something she never realized she never got to see, how exactly Marinette had always been on the go with responsibilities since day one. Life wasn't fair, that was a fact for everyone but life had been cruel to her old friend.

After Alya had initially left New York when Marinette was safe, she had a while personality and life crisis. A lot to think about in the aspects of how she acted because of Lila, and what she lost believing lies. She lost her relationship with Nino, and her best friend who needed her more than anything. Even when Marinette had tried to warn her about Lila, Alya simply chose to ignore the facts. She was drowning in her own ignorance without realizing it.

It was why she left New York that day, she felt unworthy of being a holder of the miraculous. Unworthy of Trixx or being part of the team. When she realized exactly how much shit Marinette had been through, and dealt with on her own, it was game over. Marinette was someone who was strong, she lost everything and still stood up. Alya believed she could never be that way.

Then the snap happened, and her whole family was dusted. For years she stayed alone in Paris, in a way it was her karma for everything she done in the past when she was younger. She accepted it as that, and she was willing to pay if that meant she would be free from the burden. Then Marinette had shown up, and now they sat in a weird tension. It wasn't bad or heavy, just neither one of them knew what to do next.

"So what now?" Alya asks, sitting across from Marinette in the dining area.

Marinette gave a shrug, "Honestly I don't know, but you should think of coming back to New York."

Alya had always thought about going back, more so when the blip first happened but she just didn't feel like she belonged. Even if she was forgiven about Lila, well Alya didn't think she should be forgiven that easily. She had been rude to Marinette, and it had been uncalled for. She wasn't mature enough then to sit and talk to the girl across from her now. She didn't think she deserved that friendship again.

"I don't think I belong there at all Marinette. Not after everything that's happened." It was true, because what would she do? There was no threats, no reason to be on a team of heroes and she wasn't even sure what to do with life. Being a reporter was a broken dream, and she didn't have any new ones.

Marinette sighed softly, looking towards the window. "It never gets easier, you know? The grief of it all, but somehow it gets manageable. Life is too short to hold grudges or be scared of leaping to try new things. Yet I also understand if you want to stay, but you're more than welcomed to stay with me if you chose to come."

Alya's eyebrows furrowed together, "They don't want me there."

"You'd be surprised." Marinette tried to offer a smile, "Everyone has matured, and sure it'll be a little rocky at the start but you're a part of our dysfunctional family. Families fight, but they forgive eventually. Forgiveness is hard, but it's attainable. Do you think I was happy to see Luka after he left New York? No, I was torn and pissed when I saw him, but there was a part of me that knew I needed him in my life. He helped me heal, and I'm truly sorry we never reached out."

"Luka loves you, he always has. I ruined everything with Nino, he hates me." Alya shook her head at the idea of seeing her ex. "It won't work."

Marinette leaned back, raising her hands in the air as a sign of good faith. "No one is going to force you, but Nino doesn't hate you. You made a mistake, just like he did back then. Can you live without saying you at least tried? As for Luka, he deserves someone who can love him back fully. That isn't me anymore. It hasn't been for a long time."