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

Chapter 8- Too late

Marinette's POV

"The pants are too high," Luka says, eyeing me down. "B-But t-their just a-above the a-ankle." I splutter. Like clockwork. Luka would make some comment about my outfit and send me home so I could put together an outfit that he approved of. "L-Luka I-I can't g-go b-back, I'll b-be l-late." I stutter. Luka raises his palm and I flinch. "O-Ok," I say and go back to the bakery.

There I found long baggy pants that covered the ankle. I walk back downstairs. Hoping Luka doesn't find something else that is wrong with my outfit.

His eyes search me, finally landing on my arms. "Why is it sleeveless? You need to wear sleeves." he says. I hear a swift slap as Luka's palm connects with my cheek. I buckle, holding my swollen cheek and trying to hold my tears in. Don't cry, don't cry. Luka doesn't like it when I cry. He says I'm an ugly crier.

"Change and meet me at the table at lunch. Or else." Luka threatens and walks to the school. I rush back to my room and find a long sweater. Sure, it was going to be a hot day but at least the outfit would make Luka happy. For cautionary measures, I let down my hair to cover myself even more. I wanted to make Luka happy.

"I-I'm sorry Ms Bustier," I say as I stumble into the classroom, ten minutes late. Sweat is pouring down my face but I wipe it away and sit down. "Why don't you be like Luka here, he's always on time." Ms Bustier smiles and nods approvingly at Luka. I beam. Maybe this would make Luka happy enough not to hit me again.

Sure, the hits were unpleasant, but Luka was just disciplining me. He was doing this for my own good. I find myself repeating those words a lot nowadays.

He's doing it for my own good.

He's doing it for my own good.

He's doing it for my own good.

When lunch comes I wait dutifully at our lunch table, hands filled with Luka's lunch tray. Luka said that I shouldn't have lunch unless he told me to. He also says I'm ugly and skinny and curvy girls are pretty like Alya. I agree with him because I am ugly.

When Luka arrives at the table and snatches his lunch tray I begin to sit down with him but he stops me. "This is for the new girl, Katie," he says as a girl with blonde hair and heavy makeup walks in. "She's Chloe's cousin." she plonks herself on my seat and starts flirting with Luka. She has a heavy American accent. I flush red with jealousy, Luka was mine! I watch Luka's hand trace circles around Katie's leg. I fume.

Walking away, I get the ketchup bottle from the 'seasoning' station and loosen the cap. I'm not allowed to directly talk to Luka's friends but I can nudge Katie to do it. I place the ketchup bottle in front of Katie, smiling sweetly as her fingers trace Luka's muscles underneath his see-through shirt. My fists clench, as I wait for her to pick up the bottle.

Splat! The ketchup had covered her whole face and makeup, her mascara dripping down her face and mixing with the ketchup. She shrieks and stands up, running to the bathroom. I triumphantly smiled, now Luka was broken out of that girl's spell! Luka stands up, eyes furious as he growls out "I need to have a word with you Marinette".

I happily follow him. He was probably going to thank me, it was a genius plan after all. We reach a hidden place behind the school and he slaps me, harder than before and kicks me as I fall. "WHY DID YOU FUCKING DO THAT MARINETTE?" he roars as he kicks me harder and harder. I shrink like a mouse, confused. He wanted to be with Katie after all? My arms start to bleed as his rough shoes cut me.

Rough hands shove me in the dirt as his fists connect with my body. I curl up into a ball, whimpering as I try to ease the pain in my mind. I open my eyes and see Luka above me, hands clutching a rock. He smiles as he lets it drop.

Pain explodes in my temple as ringing fills my ears. Black etches the corners of my vision as my hands blur and multiply. The lunch bell rings, the noise echoing across my vision as I sink to the ground. Was I supposed to go to class now?

I hear Luka's footsteps disappear as the ground continues to spin. I had no energy left inside me as I lay there in the dirt. I was so tired...I just wanted to sleep...Where am I? I'm so tired...My breaths grow longer and deeper as sleep threatens to pull me under. I want it to pull me so bad. Black obscures my vision as I sink and surrender to a peaceful slumber.

I dream of green eyes.

"Marinette? Marinette? MARINETTE! Oh my god, I found her!" Alya says as my eyes flutter open. "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" Alya screams as some of the other boys lift me up. "It's...nothing..." I groan. The whole class looks at me incredulously, except Luka who is chatting to Katie. I sit up, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes. "It's really nothing! I just fell over again, that's all." I say, wanting to protect Luka.

"You fell over so hard that you fell unconscious and bruised your whole body? Do you need help? How many fingers am I holding?" Alya panics and grips my shoulders. I try to smile weakly. "It's fine Alya, I just fell harder than usual," I say as the boys lower me to the ground. I scanned everyone's faces, why didn't I notice before? Everyone looked somber.

Everyone in my class's eyes were rimmed red. Except Nino. He wasn't here today.

"Guys, what's wrong? Where's Nino?" I ask. I feel a light pressure on my arm as Alya holds my hand, tears filling her eyes.

"Nino... he's gone," she says, looking away. "I was... too late."

"Gone? What do you mean?" I ask, my heart hammering furiously in my chest. What was happening. Juleka walks over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Nino...committed suicide."