Right to privacy
Summary:
The temperature in the class drops to absolute zero.
Marinette’s gaze is sharp and deadly.
And everyone, the universe even, holds their collective breath.
——
Or: Alya goes too far in invading Marinette’s privacy and deals with the fallout. Alya couldn’t believe that she got such a massive story for her blog! The views and clicks as well as the attention will be rolling in by tomorrow!
She can’t wait!
The young blogger goes to sleep, eagerly dreaming of the many buzzing questions and comments of adoration she’ll receive.
Not knowing that she’s just unleashed an oncoming storm.
——
And when Alya arrives at Dupont, bright and early, the gazes she receives are not one of admiration, they’re full of fear. And the whispers are loud.
“How stupid can she be?”
“Stupid enough to do something like that.”
“I’m glad I’m not in her shoes right now.”
“How long do you think the storm will last this time?”
“If we’re lucky? And she doesn’t want to destroy anyone’s social life? A few days.”
“And if we aren’t lucky?”
“Then we better prepare for the upcoming week.”
“Good idea.”
Alya doesn’t get the chance to quench her curiosity as all eyes are on her, and none of them are friendly. There it is again. The fear that she saw in earlier gazes.
It’s Nathaniel who breaks the silence, for once, not trying to catch some sleep before Miss Bustier arrives. “Alya what the hell did you do?”
His tone makes her bristle. “Reported the truth!” She responded, immediately on the defensive.
That got a scoff of disbelief from Chloe, as the heiress looked up from her phone. “What you did Cesaire..it was an invasion of privacy. You just couldn’t leave well enough alone could you?” She snarled, before exhaling a calm breath. “All of us are going to have tread lightly. And it’s your fault.”
Before any of Lila’s sheep or the girl herself can defend Alya, three things happen.
The temperature in the class dropped to absolute zero.
Everyone held their breath.
And Alya’s surname is called out by the offended party and the ice is enough to freeze even the most deadly of akuma in its tracks. “Cesaire.”
Alya goes to give Marinette, the bully, a piece of her mind, but stops at the sight before her.
Marinette’s signature outfit is gone. Replaced with something that screams respect. Even the usual pig tails are gone.
But it’s her eyes that shocks Alya the most. Warm and kind hearted blue-bell eyes have been replaced by cold sapphires.
“With me. Now.”
And it’s right then that the conversation she overheard comes back.
“ How stupid can she be?”
“I’m glad I’m not in her shoes.”
As Alya follows Marinette, the reporter feels something like fear settle in her gut. But that couldn't be right! Why would she have to fear Maribrat? The bully? She couldn't do anything to her! Alya will show her who's in charge!
But the next few minutes will show Alya exactly why Marinette should be feared.
--
They arrive at a hallway that's empty and no camera in sight. A blind spot. A hidden place. Every school had one. And Dupont was no exception.
Marinette made a mental note to thank Marc for showing her one day after art club.
But for now…
She had bigger fish to fry.
Marinette exhaled a calming breath through her nose as she faced Alya, the girl who she had once called her best friend, but now that bridge was burned. There would be no fixing it.
"So Cesaire." Marinette's tone was calm. Even. But the air around them was charged with tension. And it had a shiver going down Alya's spine. "Care to explain to me why, you thought it was appropriate to blast my private life?" She had pulled out the article in question and held it out for the reporter to see.
On the page it showed Marinette hand in hand with a girl that was a little bit taller than her. The girl's hair had dyed tips at the end, much like the couffaine siblings.
The expression the girl wore couldn't be seen.
But Marinette's expression could be. And it was one full of love and admiration for the girl next to her.
For a moment, Marinette's mind flashed back to that evening, a Saturday evening, where her Violette had called her in complete hysterics, on the verge of a panic attack and Marinette had managed to calm her down, assured Violette that it was going to be okay. They had video chatted throughout the weekend and if Violette's peaceful sleeping expression from said video chat was now the lock screen on Marinette's phone?
Well, no one else needed to know that.
Alya's throat felt dry as she tried to come up with an answer. "I...I...just…u-um…"
The reporter tried really hard not to fidget as Marinette's gaze pierced her in place. "Speak in full of sentences, please. We don't have all day before homeroom starts."
"I report the truth!" Is what finally tumbled out of Alya's mouth.
Marinette's expression twisted into something dark for a brief moment before her face smoothed out into a blank mask. "My private life is not something you can use to get your sham of a blog more clicks."
"You really are a tabloid."
"I'm not!" She hissed.
"No. You're right. Even tabloids have more respect for people's boundaries and privacy than you."
"If I ever see you post anything like this on your blog? It and your social life will be gone before you can blink."
Marinette sighed as she remembered the promise she made to Nino. The aspiring DJ was her oldest friend, and she had promised him that she would be lenient. This time. "And the only reason your blog and your social reputation is still intact, is because I promised Nino that I would be lenient. Just this once."
Just when Alya was starting to relax, she received a warning that made her freeze in place.
"But if we have this conversation again? I won't be as lenient. Am I clear?"
Alya wanted to protest but the gaze from Marinette stopped any chance of that happening. "Y-yes!" She squeaked out.
"Good. You can go."
Marinette watched as Alya practically ran back to their shared homeroom.
As she walked back to Bustier's class, she only had one thought.
It was good to be back.
