Just Fine

Joy

"Hello, Bug." He emerged from the shadows like a breeze in the wind.

His face was covered by a mask, almost all of his features hidden from her view. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light in the room.

She scrambled to get the upper hand, but she knew he was at the advantage here. She stood carefully, not wanting to reveal her weakness to him.

She didn't think he knew her identity, she assumed he saw her through his akuma. And she was sure the akuma hadn't seen her transform.

Right?

She had a few questions, but she found she'd rather hear him explain first.

"I'm impressed." He smiled.

"You've made it very far. But sadly, you've gotten too comfortable. Right?" He grew closer to her, and she held her ground.

She wasn't scared of him. She was angry with him.

That was enough to make him chuckle.

"You have no clue what's going on, do you?" He stalked away slowly, seemingly preparing for some kind of back story.

"I bet you'll understand it soon. You're smart. But by then it will be too late." He turned around again, grinning evilly at her.

She felt her mask crease against the furrow of her brows.

"Keep your friends close, Marinette."

Her eyes widened as she felt the ground giving out beneath her. She flailed her arms around, looking to grab anything she could her keep from falling.

But instead, she found herself on the sidewalk once again.

As fast as it occurred, it all disappeared. The akuma, the portals, all gone.

She could've convinced herself she'd imagined it, move on. But her partner in crime fighting was running towards her, just as confused as she was.

Which only confirmed one thing.

Hawkmoth knew who she was.

******

The two of them usually sat on the Eiffel Tower, a well known tradition for the pair of them.

But now, they simply sat on a rooftop, a view of the buzzing streets for them to see.

Everything was so blurry now.

She couldn't remember what they had been talking about at school for the past weeks. She could barely remember even going to school. Even though she knew she had.

Ladybug was a big part of her life, but now she was taking over. It wasn't her fault though.

"Hey...LB....what happened?" His voice was quiet, soothing almost, but at this point she didn't care what it sounded like.

It was what he said.

What did happen?

She wasn't sure herself either.