Sincere Melody - A Lukanette Story

Chapter 5

"Marinette is Ladybug, isn't she?" I look at Plagg. I can see his eyes get wider when I say it, so I feel like I'm on the right track.

"Of course not! And even if she was, I wouldn't tell you!" he crosses his tiny arms and turns his back to me. "You shouldn't be trying to figure this out, it co-"

"I know... but I'm sick of being stuck in the dark, Plagg." I pull out my phone and get the lady blog out as I close my locker. Plagg flies into my jacket as I start walking out with my backpack slung on my shoulder.

I walk out of the locker room and into the gym, scrolling through the pictures of ladybug, and as I get outside I jump a little to hear a voice behind me.

"Hey Adrien! What are you doing on the lady blog... looking at ladybugs pictures?" Alya laughs a little and looks at me, but when she sees my face more serious than usual, she matches my expression. "Do you think you've figured it out?"

I feel a little reluctant to talk to her about it, but I sigh and shove my phone in my pocket. "I don't know yet... But even if we did there's no way you could ever put it on the blog. It would risk her identity." She nods and I grab her by the wrist as we walk to my car. "Let's try and figure this out."

- Marinette Pov -

"Marinette, what if someone figures out your identity! Adrien saw ladybug kiss Luka, that's not good!" she flies around my head as I'm rewriting some measurements for a new dress.

"Tikki, it'll be okay. Everyone's clueless to my secret identity." I giggle as I stand up and walk to the mannequin, pinning some fabrics together as I start to sew. I almost mess up a stitch as I hear my phone ring.

I turn around and pick it up, "Hey Alya, what's up?" I hear some muffled words, then she starts talking.

"Hey, do you think you could meet me at the Canal Saint-Martain? I have some stuff that I think could help me find the identity of Ladybug! No time to talk, meet us here!" she hangs up and I look at Tikki.

My face is blank, but I sigh and get my stuff ready, opening my purse for her, "Marinette, this is a bad idea... What if she knows!" I laugh and shake my head.

"She won't, I bet she thinks it's some celebrity, like Clara Nightingale." I can tell it lightens up a bit and she flies into my purse, so I grab my phone and go downstairs.

"Hey mom, I'm going to go hang out with Alya for a little bit. I'll be back later." I smile as I see her finishing up some macarons. I smile as I can smell the raspberry, grabbing one and trying it, "The new recipes really good." I smile.

She smiles as she pulls another tray of cookies out, "Thanks sweetie. Be safe and text me when you're on your way home." she kisses my forehead and mixes up some more icing.

As I walk down stairs, I see my dad helping out some customers in the bakery. I smile and open the door to look outside, walking out and closing it behind me. I start walking across the street to the park so I can start heading there.

I see Ivan and Mylene on their usual weekly outing, Rose and Juleka walking around together, and Kagami training with her mother in the courtyard. A little bit later, I finally get to the Canal and look around.

"Marinette! Over here!" I walk over to where I hear her voice, then I feel my face heating up when I see Adrien. I clench my fist as I hurry over.

"What the hell is HE doing here!" I point my finger at Adrien and Alya puts her hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, girl. I think we finally figured out who Ladybug is." She starts walking over to a bench where Adrien is sitting.

I sigh and sit on the ground next to the bench so we can all look at each other. Alya sits down, and for a moment everything is calm. It feels like so long ago when we were all so much closer than we thought. Back when I could barely speak around him... and now things are so different.

"Look, I get you're upset about me but Alya and I have found some... strong evidence as to who ladybug is." he looks at me with those green eyes... I see so many old memories within them. I don't even know how to react, so I can see Alya take it from there.

"For months now, I've been taking pictures of Ladybug and comparing it to people, but it wasn't helping enough so I tried... harder." she pushes her glasses up and sighs. "I took key elements of ladybugs image, height, face shape and measurements, voice, even evidence I've been paying attention to..." Alya looks at Adrien, and I know what's coming next.

"You're ladybug aren't you, Marinette." he looks at me and I can feel my heart sink. It feels like I'm weightless, I can barely think. My face hardens and I shake my head.

"I don't know what you're talking about, there's no way it's me." I look at them as Alya pulls her phone out and looks at a photoshopped picture of me with the ladybug mask on next to ladybug with the mask photoshopped off... it already started looking obvious.

"You guys have the exact same hair, every time there's an akuma alert, you always disappear. You've never been akumatiked, you wear the same earrings everyday, the face measurements line up, everything lines up... I think we know." she puts her phone away and I sit there speechless.

If I try to deny it, it'll look too suspicious with all the evidence they have, but if I admit it it'll put my whole life in danger. I look at the water in the canal, thinking. "Look, I get you have all the information, but it's not me."

I hear a person scream and I immediately turn around, my heart dropping along with the lump in my throat. Silencer is standing there, running over to us. "Adrien! Give me your voice so you can't spread your lies anymore!" I stand up and quickly grab their hands, running away.

"Alya, keep him safe! Run!" I push them away and see Adrien try to say something but Alya hurries him away. I turn around and see him looking straight at me. "Luka... it isn't worth it. Please, fight the power hawkmoth is holding over you." I put my hand on his cheek to comfort him.

He puts his hand over mine, closes his eyes and then looks down at me. "Adrien is spreading lies... he doesn't know what he saw." At least he was keeping my identity secret, but who knows what Hawkmoth could do now... His hands moved with every word be said, the stolen voice of a woman now his tone.

I take a step back, "It'll be okay. Ladybug will help you and I'll get you back." I nod and kiss his cheek, but he grabs my hand, a gasp escaping my lips. His grip was tight, it started to hurt.

"Stay with me. He can give you powers too." he keeps me there, but I struggle, "Luka let go." he scowls at me and shakes his head. "Wrong answer." and with that he shushes me and takes my voice while I look at him in shock. He kisses my forehead and then runs off.

Tikki peeks out of my purse and taps my hand, "Marinette what do we do now! You can't transform!" My eyes go wide as I realize what this means... no voice, no ladybug... no ladybug, no victory.

This is the ultimate checkmate.

- To be continued -

(Word Count - 1347)