Body Aches and Butterflies. Mari has just landed back in her room after de-akumatizing yet another victim of Hawkmoth’s endevore to obtain her and Chat’s miraculous when her mother calls up that she needs to leave right that minute. She knows that her hair will look fine and she can just slip into a dress and her shoes before she’ll be too too late. In her frantic rush to get ready she skips the bathroom entirely and barely remembers her bags on the way.
Alya and Leo are talking fanfiction politics when Marinette makes her grand entrance. She’s wearing a pink Lemonade themed dress and tying her hair up in her signature pigtails with pink ties. But that’s not what grabs Leo’s attention, no what draws him in is the hickey right on the center of her collarbone. Who knew the goodie goodie could be so flauntingly devious? She was just making it too easy for him to cut her down.
“Oh my goodness! You poor thing!” He cries out in faux horror, running to the bluenette’s side. “That’s has to hurt, have you iced it yet? Ice with help with the swelling. Especially since it looks like they used their teeth!” He shouts so the whole class can hear. “You really shouldn’t let someone do that to you, you could end up with a permanent mark or a blood clot!” And now everyone has eyes on them, the stage is set and Leo can already hear the applause.
Marinette is confused by not only the class liar’s concern but what he’s concerned about. “Leo I’m not sure what you are trying to pull but leave me out of it I had a long night.” She huffs in blatant annoyance, she goes to try and get to her seat but Alya gasps next to Leo and murmurs ripple through the class. “What!?” She demands as she looks around the room for some kind of clue.
She truly was making this too easy. “I can tell you’ve had a rough night that’s why I’m so worried. It’s not some older boy is it? You can’t let people pressure you into things!” And oh he was loving this. “If you’re not careful people might start thinking you’re easy. And how would it look for your position as class president or for your brand?” Behind him he can hear the others whispering about older lovers and secret boyfriends.
None of what the Italian boy was saying was making any sense but Mari could tell that the last part was a threat. If she didn’t figure out his deal soon he was liable to ruin her life even more. “Leo I was up all night securing my brand! Why are you being so weird today!? And no one is pressuring me about anything outside of getting along with you!” She snaps, honestly at her wits end with this game she’s out of the loop for.
“Oh dear it’s worse than I thought.” He bellows out, forced tear fogging up his eyes as he hugs her close. “I can’t believe whoever did that is trying to use you. And to get to me no less! They must have gone after easy prey, the worst ones always do.” He could feel her freeze under his touch and it was thrilling to know he had so much power over her right now and she was completely clueless. It would be cute if it was so sad.
“Stop calling me easy! Stop touching me!” She finally forces out, she shoves him and the entire class can now see the dark mark the rests on her collar. Shocked gasps empty the room of oxygen and Marinette feels light headed. She knows the air isn’t really gone but all this sideways talk is freaking her out and the silent looks of alarm and pity are making it worse. “Just leave me alone!”
Just as Mari is about to head out the door Leo grabs her wrist and gives her an evil smirk that doesn’t match his scared tone, “At least tell me it was a one time thing, that you won’t do it again!” He begs, trying to pull her further into the room. “Tell me it was just the one and I’ll leave you alone!” And wow someone should have gotten that on tape, he almost fooled himself.
“Why would I stop? And why would you ask me that? I can’t stop or it’ll just hurt me in the end!” She doesn’t know why she’s saying all this but it’s true whether it’s her commissions, doing class president duties, or being Ladybug she will not stop until the job is done! Now Leo lets go and he looks like a cat that drank the cream, what was she missing!?
Leo covered his face with his hands and let out a sob, “If you can’t see that this is a problem and that we just want to help them I guess we can’t do anything. Just please please be careful and practice safety!” Whatever he was talking about he sure made it sound bad and kind of dirty. It’s at that line of though Mari realizes she messed up, everything she said fit right into his narrative.
“Hahum slut cough” comes one of the boy’s voices, a few students laugh, most just look sad and betrayed. Marinette feels the swell of heat tears flow from her eyes and wet her pink dress. She had forgotten about that stupid birthmark and now she’d ruined herself without much help from her bitter tormentor. She ran, not caring about destination just as long as it was away. She didn’t notice Adrien and Chloé walking in late with Ms Bustier. All she saw was her life in tatters over some dumb genetic glitch.
