Gotham Mouse, Paris Bug

Chapter 2

Max and Marinette sat in Max’s room. Max was poised and attentive, having dismissed Markov to continue running bug tests on his new game. The game had actually been Kim's idea, a vigilante miraculous game where you had to use lucky charms, solve puzzles, and fight bosses. It was only halfway done apparently, but they made it so your avatar was customizable under the suit, which could also be altered as you progressed through the game, Marinette had designed the majority of that with Max's help. Marinette wished she was only there to discuss the game, but it was too late now.

Marinette anxiously paced around the room as she rambled out her explanation, Max for his part did not interrupt or act surprised at all. “So I need to go, anywhere in Paris and my parents will find me. I’m going to use Kalki to get to Gotham. But I need I.D. and I don’t know if this is too much to ask but-“

“Marinette it is child's play for someone of my intellect,” Max countered calmly. He then stood, easily sitting at his computer and gesturing her to sit next to him. “Kim knows as well, of course, he may not have noticed your strangely timed absences but he realized it was you when you began rolling your eyes at Lila. He’s seen you do that to Chat Noir, and after that, other things seemed to fit,” He patted her shoulder in compensation. “You can’t hide anything from us, Bug.”

If it was anyone else, Marinette would have been anxious and upset at being figured out. But being as it was Max and Kim, the people who had stuck with her even when her supposed best friends had not, she felt relief. Relief at someone accepting her so easily for this secret she supposed.

She couldn't help but wince at the thought that her own parents hadn't done that.

Her gut told her they were safe, and she knew they had been nothing but considerate and supportive. “Can I text him to come over and say goodbye then?”

Max nodded as he finished pulling up her records. “I should be done hacking in and transferring your school credits to a new profile in an hour, my parents are staying with some friends out of Paris, so you should grab some lunch and write down any contacts you wish to keep on some paper,” he hesitated. “I know you want to forgive Nino, Alya, and Adrien. But you shouldn’t risk them telling your parents, especially Alya.”

Marinette wanted to refute that, stand up for her old friends, bring them in on the secret. Mend what had been broken by Lila, but the truth was that it hadn’t been broken by Lila. Lila had placed some stress on and manipulated the situation so Alya had to choose, but it was still Alya’s decision. Nino followed Alya, and Adrien was so stuck in his high road principle that he couldn’t even see her.

Some might argue that Adrien had never really seen Marinette.

So she just pulled out her phone, scribbling down Max, Kim, and Luka’s numbers. She deliberated for a moment before adding Kagami and Alix. Although she herself wasn’t close to Alix, Max and Kim were and if Alix ever took a moment and realized the truth then Marinette would love to speak to her again. And as for Kagami, well they had agreed to try and remain civil and friendly before, but when Marinette removed herself as competition for Adrien, Kagami had taken a step back and reassessed as well. Turns out that Adrien’s divided interests were harmful to her and Marinette stepping back gave Kagami the reassurance that she could as well.
She dialed Kim’s number, knowing Max had probably picked up on the fact she needed some comfort. And while Max was kind and helpful, he was uncomfortable in such a position. “Hey, Kim? Can you come over to Max’s real quick?”

“Will do May-day, I was on a jog anyway. Be there in ten,” Kim replied easily.

As she clicked off the call she debated calling Luka. He most certainly knew she was Ladybug, especially since he had read her song as both Ladybug and Marinette. They hadn’t talked about it, but if Ladybug happened to swing by on patrol once or twice to get a bandage or some pain medication then he didn’t ask why she chose him.