Broken Melody

Moving forward

Instead of heading home, Marinette walked to the end of the bridge and sat on the bottom of the stairs.

She scooped up some of the icy sweet treat into her mouth and then offered some to Tikki when she saw her popped her head out from her purse, staring curiously, with a touch of worry in her eyes, at her.

“Tikki?” Marinette whispered out when Tikki didn’t make a move to take it.

“How… how are you feeling?” the little kwami hesitantly asked, her tone quiet as she stared intently at Marinette with apprehensive eyes.

Marinette stared at her, her eyes trailing to the little flippers curling onto her purse’s clasp in a tight grip. Her shoulder’s slumped apologetically as she placed the plastic spoon she was holding, back into her ice-cream before gently scratching the top of Tikki’s head to relax her, “I’m feel fine now.” She did. Not 100%, but she felt better than all the weeks combined. All the things that she had been bottling up in her heart had been lessened and she had a bit more room to breathe.

Tikki’s lips pressed tightly against each other as she stared harder at Marinette, searching for any signs that she wasn’t. Marinette had said that many times before in the past and looked what had happened.

She had thought things were fine until Master Fu told her it wasn’t.

She had thought that things were getting better when Luka started appearing more into Marinette’s life and even more when Aurore came.

But then things started becoming worse and Tikki was trying to make things better.

But it wasn’t enough, and she didn’t notice Marinette was spiraling further down to the point that she had enough.

Marinette had cried and all Tikki could do was leave it up to Luka to help put her back together.

She felt she had failed Marinette.

“I really feel fine now.” Seeing the intensively troubled look on her friend, Marinette placed a finger under her chin and gently lifted her head up to look at her, “Honest this time.” She smiled sheepishly though it faded into a small sad smile with a huff. She could tell from Tikki’s face that she didn’t believe her, and she couldn’t blame her for that since all those times she told her that ‘she was fine’ were all lies. She pulled back and leaned back lightly on the stairs behind her with closed eyes, taking in the sounds around her.

She could hear the occasional ‘cooing’ from the pigeons as the wind rustled through the leaves in the trees while she took slow calming breaths. Her eyes half-lidded when she opened them with a calm smile, “Talking to Luka… it made me feel relieved.” She had been surprised when he got angry on her behalf, but that shouldn’t had surprised her, seeing how he had gotten angry when Bob Roth stole their music and threatened her, “I think… I just needed to talk to someone about what I was going through and… just know that someone was by my side.” Luka hadn’t doubted her like the others, hadn’t told her to remain quiet while letting the liar continued with her charade. He had listened to her and was ready to take action for her the moment he knew what was going on.

If she were to try to expose the liar and show the others the truth again, she was sure Luka would help her.

And that was enough for her.

“As long as you and I both know the truth, does it really matter?” Adrien asked.

Maybe.

She didn’t know if it was enough, but she hope it did this time.

Because she was tired of fighting.

She then lowered her gaze to Tikki who looked like she wanted to say something, but she beat her to it, “Talking to you and Master Fu about it feels different.” She smiled apologetically at her, “You and Master Fu expect so much from me - to do my best, but sometimes that’s hard.” She leaned onto her knees, placing her cheek on them, “Master Fu entrusted me with you after all and I felt like I disappointed both you and him whenever I couldn’t fix a problem I was facing.” She admitted, gazing at her kwami.