Taking Bets -- (ML)

Frozen in Time

Alix groaned, lifting her head.

'Huh?' she looked around, only to find most of her classmates and several other Parisians were doing the same. 'W-what?'

Ladybug turned to face her, giving a small smile as she knelt down to the girl.

'Here;' she said, holding out Alix's pocket watch, now fully intact. 'I think this is yours?'

'Sweet!' Alix exclaimed, grabbing it. 'How'd'you fix it?'

'Nothing a little magic can't do.' the hero replied with a wink.

'Well, thank you!' she grinned, clutching it close to her chest. 'I should never have given it to someone else to look after. I was my responsibility.'

Ladybug smiled, helping Alix to her feet. 'Responsibility isn't something to be taken lightly. Believe me, I should know.' she looked slightly guilty, giving a tiny shrug.

Alix nodded. 'You're right, Ladybug. I'll be more careful from now on. Thanks.'

'Alright then, Bug out!' Ladybug gave a two-fingered salute, a trait strangely similar to her partner. She gave one last smile to Alix, before running back over to her partner. Alix rolled her eyes as she watched Chat Noir lean in, saying something. They were just out of earshot, so she shrugged, casually rolling away.

Something was nagging in the back of her mind.

She turned again, her classmates still scattered about in various states of confusion.

Oh no.

Alix dragged herself to a halt in front of Ivan. The boy caught sight of her skates, and didn't look up. 'Hey... Alix.' he muttered, picking himself up and walking off.

She bit her lip, turning away. A small way off, Juleka was being helped up by Rose, the smaller of the pair glancing worriedly her way.

If Rose was nervous, that meant...

The ridge of her pocket watch dug into her hand, no indication it had ever been broken.

Chloé was complaining to Sabrina about her ruined hair, although the scathing glares she sent over to Alix told an entirely different story.

'Al...?' Kim groaned.

'K-kim?' The words tasted foul, like she wasn't meant to say them. 'Did... did I....?'

He stood up, rubbing a graze on his elbow and walking over. 'I think so?' he sounded unsure, shifting his weight to one side. 'I dunno, you kind of aimed for me first.'

'W-what?' Alix gasped, staring up at her rival.

'It'd probably be better to go ask someone else.'

'Kim, nobody wants to talk to me.'

'Understandable.' He nodded.

She scowled "Don't joke about this! I turned into an Akuma, didn't I?'

'Well, yeah, you did.'

'And?'

'And what?' he snorted 'I'm not bothered by it- I mean, you're not one anymore, are you?'

'But--'

'No buts, Al.' Kim sighed, poking her helmet. 'You got turned into a villain, I'm guessing Ladybug and Chat Noir saved the day, you're back to normal. I don't see why people should be mad at you.'

'Doesn't stop them from being afraid.' she muttered, folding her arms.

'Mmmm, they do seem more scared than usual from this.'