Bug Bites

Chapter | Nine

Tikki worried sometimes when she felt Marinette's moods shift up and down. Recently she had been better, happy and looking forward to the next day. After what happened with Luka, well she had more mixed bad and good days. She was happy, Tikki knew that and felt it the most when Marinette was in the presence of Peter. Yet when she was alone in the apartment, Tikki knew that was when Marinette's mind turned on her and the overthinking began. 

Tikki had tried and tried over and over again to tell her what happened with Luka was not her fault. That she was valid to have feelings for anyone she wanted, and that it was okay her feelings for Peter had grown much more faster than she had thought. Tikki had been around a long time, had many holders and witnessed a lot. She knew true love when she saw it, and she had seen it the moment Marinette met Peter. It was like something had shifted in the world around the two.

Their connection was something ethereal, something so divine that it was extremely rare. The way Peter unknowingly pacified Marinette's soul was reassuring to Tikki that in the end Marinette would be okay. Tikki knew that he was going to be the one to save Marinette from herself, and it wasn't because she loves him but because he loves her. Yet realistically Tikki knew the two teens hadn't come to that realization in their feelings and that they were working their way there. She just knew. 

Marinette had thrown herself back into her work once again, sewing long nights or staying up late to rereading lessons Stephen had given her to practice. There wasn't a book she hadn't read by now that was given to her. There wasn't a lesson she hadn't gone over with her eyes while sipping coffee. 

Yes, Marinette was still frequently texting Peter, Ned, and MJ. She face timed Peter when she was sewing, talking to pass the time by while he was all too happy to lend an ear. When she wasn't talking to him, she was talking to her parents. Often she asked what was new with the bakery, or how their day had gone. Simple conversation she would have daily with her parents if she was still in Paris.

Currently Tikki watched as Marinette sat in Stephen's study, looking at techniques she could potentially use. It was amazing to see how far the teenager had come in learning the ancient magics, and even Stephen was impressed. Of course Tikki knew it was a feat that Marinette would overcome, she was smarter than she thought she was. She was also the future guardian, she had a knack for understanding more complicated things. 

"It's been a few months since you started reading these books and learning lessons." Stephen says, stepping into the study peering at his student who merely looked up at him, "Have you tried to channel magic of your own yet through the learnings?"

Marinette gave a slow shake of her head, "No. Nope I have not."

"She's nervous." Tikki tacked on at the end, earning a glare from her holder. 

"Tikki!"

Stephen nodded, knowing well enough that he was going to have to push the teenager out of her comfort zone. Yes, she was a quick learner and he knew she had more than the right capabilities to be one with the ancient magic as well. More than enough ability to do this. 

"Let's go." Stephen says, opening a portal to a very high mountain in the middle of Alaska.  

Marinette raised an eyebrow at the portal, but not thinking much of it she followed Stephen through it. The first thing she felt was the biting cold, causing her to rub her arms since she had no jacket on and was in shorts. 

"What are we doing here?" Marinette asks, frowning at Stephen.

"You are going to open a portal back to the study without the help of a kwami. Tikki, let's go." Stephen says as steps back into the portal with Tikki who gave Marinette an apologetic smile.