The GenderBender (Miraculous Ladybug story/ kinda AU)

Chapter six ~ Marinette?

Lights. Sounds. Buzzing.

That's what ran through Marinette's mind. She felt herself moving but she wasn't putting in any strength to do so. Almost as if she was being-

Carried. Carried up somewhere. Stairs? Stairs? Stairs. Definitely upstairs. She tried to open her eyes but shut them quickly as the light was too bright. It hurt her eyes. Made it impossible to see. Right now she was worried. Worried about what was happening but also why it was happening. She wondered if she was asleep? In a coma? Dying? No.

No.

She couldn't be dying. She was ladybug! She was stronger then this. Stronger then...

She winced as she opened her eyes, the bright light still there. Though it didn't take too long for her eyes to adjust. She found herself in her bedroom, Alya was sitting next to her bed... at least she thought it was Alya. She looked worried and... hazy.

Her brain felt fuzzy again. She decided it was probably best to close her eyes, try to drift off and maybe things would make sense when she woke up again. Her face hurt... her...

"Al... y...?" She mumbled as she tried to talk. "My head... head..." the dizzy teenager tried to finish but found themself becoming more and more lost for words. Everything felt far too bright and loud, as if this was a new world. It was very strange and very confusing.

"Mari? Oh my god Mari! You scared me so much..." Alya stumbled on her words. It was clear she had tears forming in her eyes. Something wasn't right. Alya never really seemed hurt. Or at least never showed it. She was like and anchor friend. Mari... Mari would know. They were best friends, after all. They needed to know what was wrong. So they could help.

"What's... wrong..." They tried to say. Everything was becoming clearer now. Almost as if nothing had happened. In fact Mari was starting to forgot what had actually happened to begin with? Had there been an accident? Maybe they had fallen over or tripped. Clumsy so clumsy.

Alya gave her friend a sad sad look. "You've been hit by the... akuma..." she shuddered. That whole revelation made Mari shudder. Akumas were a big deal. They looked down at themself in case something had happened but everyone seemed normal. They looked back up to Alya with a puzzled expression, waiting for some sort of explanation which Alya was quick to give. "I don't know how to... to say this but..." she fell awkward. "You're not... you?... Mari!" She finished with a shout as Marinette swayed, nearly toppling off the bed. Alya leant to her friend to help support them, get them sitting up and leaning against the backrest of the bed. "Marinette? Are you-?"

Mari gave their friend another puzzled expression. "Who's Marinette?" They asked, cutting Alya's question short with their soft but confused tone. "Alya, are you trying to mess with me?" 'Mari' chuckled a bit. A friendly but confused smile on their face. They wondered what kind of weird joke this was. Unless 'Marinette' was some kind of weird nickname. Either way, being called it left a bitter taste on their tongue. Like copper or chalk. Not nice. They hoped Alya wouldn't keep this joke running.

Alya sobbed suddenly. "You're Marinette! You are! That's your name!" She cried out, standing up. This only made 'Marinette' worried and scared. Also a bit hurt. Like an embarrassed hurt. Something about being called a female name made him feel like part of his identity had been rubbed out. It made him wonder what sort of 'joke' this actually was but going by their friends face he came to a realisation. Maybe this wasn't so much a joke."I can't believe..." Alya continued softly, she had stopped shouting out and had fallen to barely a whisper. "After Nino... you're... no..."

"My names... Marin..." Marin stumbled a bit, feeling the need to clarify that now. If this wasn't a joke then it was a nightmare. But the look on Alya's face was worse then any bad dream. The wide hurt eyes, normally so warm and kind. Quivering mouth, normally pulled into a proud grin. It shook Marin to the core.

"No it's not! You're a girl Mari, a girl. A GIRL," Alya shouted before shaking her head. Marin was frozen in shock, even trembling a bit. "I... I'm sorry Marine- Marin... I know this isn't your fault... it's just... I have to go home..." With that Alya waved goodbye half heartedly before leaving a confused and worried Marin by himself. Alone. Hurt.

Even though he hadn't done anything... well at least as far as he was concerned... he felt so... guilty?

"Alya..." Marin stumbled, tears in his eyes. He looked to his hands. As if he hoped they'd have some explanation written on them. There was nothing. Nothing could have prepared him for what just happened. He looked around his room, at all the soft pink items and dresses. Yeah he was a feminine guy but he had no idea why Alya would suddenly start giving him a girls name? A thought suddenly came to him... what if she was making fun of him?

No, Alya wouldn't do that...

He thought.

Marin looked up and saw the photos of Adrien littered around the walls in an adoring manner. He smiled softly at them, wiping the tears he didn't know he had from his eyes. The dark haired boy hoped it'd all be sorted out soon, until then he had homework to be finishing, duties to be serving, and projects to be working on. Gradually, he stepped out of bed and slowly made his way to his desk. His fingers subconsciously held onto the walls of his room as he walked. Mainly for stability. He sat at his computer.

"Marinette! How much do you remember!" A familiar high sweet voice called. It was Tiki, though she seemed really worried. Marin cringed at the name Marinette. It didn't settle well in his stomach. He looked to his kwami.

"Tiki... not you too, my name is Marin..." Marin sighed, looking to the wall where more photos of Adrien were.

Tiki frowned. The little ladybug kwami then rushed over to the computer. "Marin... this may be hard to hear but... I want you to look at this-" the kwami began to type, soon a page started to load.

Marin, out of curiosity, left his hurt slump and turned to the screen. After a few moments of reading his hands covered his mouth.

"Oh god..."

"This can't be happening..."