Where Does the Red String Go? -Miraculous Ladybug AU Soulmates

Chapter 1- Late Again

Marinette's POV

The traffic light has 5 more seconds to cross the road. My legs burn as I try to make it to school in time. Bam! My legs connect with a loose piece of gravel as the ground rises to meet my face. The croissant that's gripped precariously between my mouth barely manages to stop me from bruising my face as I fall.

The green light turns red as I groan. Late again. Discarding my now dirty croissant, I wait the painstakingly long three minutes until the light turns green again.

"Marinette, please don't tell me your late again!" Ms Bustier's sympathetic voice calls out to me as I stumble my way in the classroom. Today I don't even have the energy to acknowledge anyone as my feet trudge up to my seat, my body making a loud thud on the wooden surface as I slump.

My best friend Alya giggles as her fingers brush away the croissant crumbs off my face. "What time did you wake up today?" She chuckles. I moan again, too tired to do anything else. I wave her hands away and she pulls back, flinching. Thinking I hurt her, I scan her arm. There's more bruises. My eyes widen. "He hurt you again?" I whisper.

Alya quickly rolls up her sleeves with a quick glance at Kim. "No." She says, wincing from the pain. My eyes go to her wrist, watching her red string connect to Kim's. In the middle, is a knot. The symbol of a broken soulmate. Not everyone was lucky enough to find their soulmates. Often the red strings would get tangled, and people would end up with people that weren't their soulmates. Sometimes, the strings would lead you to your enemy. The person that was everything that you hate. The person that would make your life a living hell. This was the case for Alya. And she didn't even know.

It doesn't matter if they beat you, curse you or break you, you'll still think that they're your soulmate. And the sick thing is, you'll be happy.

"He's hurting you Alya, do something!" I whisper-shout. She snorts. "Please, he loves me so much. He does this all the time and although it's not pleasant, I love him. He's probably doing this for my own good."

I shake my head hopelessly. It was no good.

My eyes look at Nino, hunched over his desk, his red string floating in the breeze. With no one on the other side. I knew that Alya and Nino were soulmates, but life unfortunately wouldn't allow them to be together.

"Wanna hang out after school?" Alya whispers.

"Sure." I whisper back.

When school ends, I walk back to my bakery, shoulders hunched and stifling a yawn. I'm supposed to meet Alya at her house, but I needed to deliver some pastries first. I unload my pastries on my motorcycle and speed off towards the river.

I stop my motorcycle at a ship on the ocean. Walking on the bridge, I call out.

"Hello! Delivery for Juleka Couffaine?"

A tall girl with purple accented hair walks out, smiling.

"Hi! That's me. The pastries are for me and my brother."

"Cool!" I say with a smile.

"Me and my brother are starting France Dupon High School next week, so the pastries are our lunches. Our mom is on vacation." (Sorry for the spelling)

My jaw dropped. No way!

"I go to that school! I can show you around sometime, would you like that?" Juleka ecstatically nods. We exchange more small talk about the school. Juleka asks about my soulmate.

"Have you found him yet?" I shake my head. Juleka sighs.

"I've found mine. Except, I don't feel anything for him. But he has to be my soulmate, our red strings are tied together! Who else would be?" Juleka says, sounding more like she's reassuring herself then talking to me. I smile sympathetically.

"I'm sure you'll learn to love each other. Relationships don't start in a day."

Juleka doesn't say anything,

I look at my watch. I yelp, I had thirty more minutes to meet Alya! I wave goodbye to Juleka and her cozy boat before going to my last delivery.

"Hello. Delivery for Gabriel Agreste?" I speak into the door camera.

His assistant Nathalie, beeps me in.

I meticulously go up the many steps that lead to the entrance of the Agreste mansion, careful not to let one foot slip. The exterior is cold and unwelcoming, unlike the warm cozy interior of the boat.

I reach the entrance to the door, breathing a sigh of relief as I begin to unload the pastries. Croissants, chouquettes, baguettes, this was a big order. I smile as I unload the last item and tie them all with a red string. I look at my wrist and find that my red string is pointing through the doors of the Agreste Mansion. How far did my soulmate live? The Agreste Mansion was already on the far side of Paris, my soulmate must be in another country.

I stand up, pleased with not tripping over for the last thirty minutes. My confidence doesn't last long however as when I begin my descent my foot slips. My arms shoot out as I desperately try to save myself but with no avail. Just as I'm about to fall, a hand reaches out and barely grabs my wrist.

My head turns and I glimpse a pair of green eyes before someone pulls him back through the door.

I pause, bewildered. What just happened? Who had rescued me? There was no one else living in this mansion except the well-respected Gabriel Agreste and his son Adrien. Those startling green eyes... Did Adrien...save me? Why would he? We don't even know each other.

With a sigh, I walk down the stairs and back to my motorcycle, looking behind at the grand Agreste Mansion. I wasn't looking and I smashed against something. Hard.

I fall down to the floor, clutching my head as I scream in frustration. Twice in five minutes?! That was a record for me.

"Are you ok?" I look up and see a boy with blue hair stair down at me with his hand outstretched. His eyes are mesmerizing. I realize he looks identical to Juleka. Could this be the brother she was talking about?

"I-I-I'm f-f-fine. T-Thanks f-for a-asking." Why was I stuttering? I take his hand and he hauls me up. I feel blush creeping up on my cheeks. No! I turn into a tomato when I blush! I let go of his hand to fan my cheeks only to accomplish falling down again. He laughs. His laugh sounds so musical, like a sweet melody. He picks me up again and my cheeks start to cool down.

"I'm Luka, what's your name?" he asks.

"M-M-Marinette." I stutter. Why. Was. This. Happening. He laughs again and walks away, waving behind me. "Nice to meet you M-M-Marinette." He mimics my stutter, still laughing. My cheeks heat up again, was he mocking me? But my brain forgets about that as I replay his laughter. So...Beautiful...