Falling for a Villain (Miraculous Ladybug)

Potential

Marinette

~~~

Marinette got home after defeating Sabrina-- also known as Vanisher when akumatized. Vanisher was always a bit of a nuisance since she was invisible. Thankfully Marinette's lucky charm gave her some cinnamon to not only make Sabrina visible but also make her sneeze. If only all her lucky charms were that easy to figure out.

Marinette groaned into her pillow. She felt like crap. This weight she was carrying was heavy even for Ladybug's shoulders. She felt like she was about to explode with everything she was keeping in. If Chat Noir hadn't left so soon after the battle, she very well might have burst into tears on the spot. But she was Ladybug... heroes aren't supposed to cry.

~~~

Another long day at school was followed by another heavy weight added to Marrinette's shoulders as she was once again outcasted to the back of the class and to a separate lunch table.

The rumors about her had already begun.

"Didn't you hear? Marinette closed the library door on Lila knowing about Lila's wrist injury." One voice whispered as she passed.

"I heard that Marinette took the last apple even though Lila is a vegetarian and there aren't many vegetarian options at school." Another voice whispered back.

Marinette ignored them. They were such stupid little things. They weren't enough of a reason for someone to confront Marinette but they were just enough to lower her friend's opinion of her. Lila was already starting, she had to act, had to do something.

~~~

As her classmates were leaving the building to go home, Marinette cleared her throat and put on her best Ladybug confident expression.

"Everyone, I have something I'd like to say." She said, her voice shaking slightly but she did her best to move past it.

Her classmates, friends, and Lila, all turned to look up at her. Marinette was standing at the top of the steps leading to the school so she had almost a stage to speak on and get her point across.

She took a breath, "I wanted to address the rumors about me recently." She had their full and undivided attention. "I know I haven't been the nicest person to Lila in the past, but that does not mean I should be criticized for every small thing I do that might affect her." A few sour faces met Marinette's determined expression, perhaps not the best words to use but it's too late now.

"Yes, I didn't hold the door open for Lila," she says confidently and a few people seem upset, "But that was because she was so far away that I didn't even know if she was going to the library. for all I knew she was going to the art studio, or a classroom." a few expressions softened.

"And yes, I took the last apple at lunch today, but you know what? I was late to lunch and everyone had already sat down to eat." She sighed, "I'm not asking for an apology but I don't want you all to think less of me without knowing the context of my actions." She spoke sincerely.

Her classmate, Rose, was especially touched, "Marinette is right, we didn't give her the benefit of the doubt. Besides, it's not her fault that there aren't many vegetarian options for Lila, I say that we should bring that issue to Principle Damocles."

The other students nodded in agreement and Marinette felt a bit of the weight leave her shoulders. She didn't even notice the scowl on Lila's face or the skeptical look on Alya's.

~~~

Felix

Felix had seen everything. He had parked the car and had been waiting for Adrien five minutes early, he hadn't expected to see this. Always something going on at this school wasn't there? Felix had seen how Marinette commanded the group, how she seized their attention and spoke from the heart. He saw how she completely influenced their emotions and thoughts with her words and rallied them together simply to clear her name. It wasn't perfect of course, but it had potential.

Felix would be lying if he said he wasn't even the slightest bit impressed. He'd say she was a better actor than that brunette if it weren't for him knowing that Marinette wasn't acting at all. Her eyes said everything, she truly just wanted her friends to understand.

Perhaps this was the person he needed to find out what was going on in that school... but he'd have to test her first.

~~~

After Felix dropped Adrien off, he did some quick research into Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He couldn't find too much about her other than some school records, however, he did learn that her parents run and own the most famous bakery in Paris... impressive. Seems like it's time to make a quick errand.

Felix drove to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. It was near the school, no more than a five-minute walk, how on earth could this young lady be late to school all the time? Felix had asked Adrien a few questions about her, and her being constantly late was one of the things he learned.

Felix walked inside and was immediately bombarded by the smell of any and every kind of pastry he could imagine. Behind the counter stood a large man-- perhaps even larger than Adrien's gorilla-like bodyguard. The man wore a blue shirt, tan pants, and an apron. Despite the fact that this man was a behemoth and behind the counter, Felix probably could have guessed the man worked here just based on the coating of flour on his clothes and facial hair.

"Hello and welcome to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery, my name is Tom Dupain. My wife, Sabine is getting our daughter but she will be happy to help you when she gets back, please take the time to look around." Marinette's father, Tom said with a cheery smile.

Felix decided to do just that and started looking around the shop. There were so many choices from chouquettes to macaroons to Danishs. Felix supposed he would start coming here just to try everything whether or not Marinette was an asset to his plans.

Soon he heard voices and two pairs of footsteps coming from the back.

The door opened, "But mom, I always get covered in flour and then it takes hours to wash it all off." Marinette pleaded with a small woman-- about the same height as Marinette with the same midnight hair.

Sabine responded, "Then you can work behind the counter, your father and I really need to work on this order for Nadja." She then saw Felix and smiled. "Look, we already have our first customer, go ahead Marinette."

Marinette looked over and her eyes widened in shock, "Felix?"

Felix smiled-- a sly look on his face, "I don't think we've properly met, although it seems you know of me and I know of you." he held out his hand, "Felix Fathom, a pleasure, Miss Dupain-Cheng."

~~~