Miraculous Ladybug AU- Soulmates

Chapter 11 - Excuses

Marinette woke up entangled in a sleeping bag in Alya's living room. She looked around sleepily - she was still in that early morning haze where you drift in and out of sleep.

She looked towards Alya's sleeping bag, which was empty.

It was a Saturday morning, so they'd slept in. Marinette reached towards her purse, strewn on the floor near their sleeping bags. She pulled out her cellphone, checking the time: 1PM. The light from the screen hurt her eyes.

Jeez. She'd sure slept in late. She was grateful to Alya for letting her sleep - all the drama from the previous night had worn her out.

She rolled over and stretched, fully awake now. She shimmied out of the sleeping bag and yawned, now wondering where her best friend was.

"Alya?"

Alya walked in. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she laughed. Marinette smiled. "Hi, Alya. Sorry I slept so long."

Alya waved it aside. "No worries, girl. You needed it."

Marinette stood up and yawned again.

"I ran over and got croissants from your parents' bakery," said Alya. She really was the best friend in the world.

"Thank you!" said Marinette.

"So, time for breakfast, or should I say lunch," said Alya, laughing.

Marinette grinned and the two girls set off for the kitchen where a delicious breakfast awaited.

If there was a way to cure heartbreak, a breakfast of croissants at 1PM with your best friend was the way to do it.

Marinette and Alya spent the rest of the day together, going out to the park, baking, and watching a movie. At one point, when they were sitting on a bench eating ice cream cones, Alya began her interrogation.

"So, Marinette, I know you don't want to think about it, but I really need to know. What happened last night?" she asked.

Marinette ate her ice cream very slowly, thinking of a way to phrase it so she didn't give anything away.

"Last night, I found out that my soulmate loves someone else. Like, in love with her."

"I'm so sorry," said Alya. She was already getting a little bit angry.

"He likes me, but he loves her. And it doesn't seem like he'll ever be able to let go of her."

Alya hugged her and Marinette began to sob into her shoulder. "I will always be second best. I'm boring, and clumsy, and shy."

Alya pulled back and put her hands on Marinette's shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "You are not any of those things. Your soulmate is stupid, and if I knew who he was I'd march right up to him and tell him myself, okay? He doesn't have any right to hurt you like this. Not now, not ever."

Marinette nodded slowly, laughing a little, and hugged Alya again.

In the evening, Marinette went home and collapsed on her bed. Right now all she wanted to do was be alone. She didn't want to see Cat Noir - she didn't know whether to be angry at Cat Noir or just disappointed that he didn't love her as much as her other identity. It wasn't quite his fault, but she was still heartbroken right now. She wanted someone to love her for her, not her confident superhero self.

She understood that he was having a hard time letting go of Ladybug, but she just wished he'd try a little harder instead of making a full-blown declaration of love to her. Everything was so awkward now.

And then... there was a knock on her window.

Oh no. Not right now.

But it wasn't as if she could just ignore it, not let him in. He could clearly see her sitting on her bed, and he didn't know that she'd heard him tell Ladybug that he loved her. He loved Ladybug, and liked Marinette. It killed him that they weren't destined to be together.