breaking point.

She thought this was it.

As if she was paralyzed. Frozen still. She could feel the dark spores creep up her sides like a infectious disease, and cling onto her like molasses.

The akumatized person had her stuck in one spot, purple orbs starting to surround her. Ladybug was scared. Afraid. Chat Noir hadn't shown up yet and honestly, she was nothing without her partner.

Who was the person without the akuma? She had to at least know something about this person.

"You're mine now, Ladybug!" The persons' voice indescribable. Almost like a robot. She could feel her eyes water as she started to shake her head, not wanting her miraculous to be taken.

This was it. No hands, no lucky charm... And no Chat Noir. Where was that pest? She was never going to know. Because now, she had lost.

"Ugh!" A cry shattered her ears.

It wasn't until she opened her eyes to see the villain on the floor and a hero in front of her.

"Sorry I'm late, My Lady." She knew that nickname anywhere. The unlucky hero wiped off the spores that covered her body, and stood on her right, his signature sly smirk glowing in the dark.

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "You're late, Kitty Cat."

"I know." Chat smirked, his vibrant green hues staring her down like predator to prey. "Do you know where the Akuma is?"

"I'm unsure." Ladybug knitted her eyebrows, not that Chat could see. "But I'm sure it's in them somewhere."

The two took a fighting stance as the akumatized figure came at them with full force. Chat took the lead, putting himself in front of Ladybug and poking his staff out.

It was a battle between the two ebony figures, while Ladybug had some time to think about where the akuma was.

She didn't see any signs. No 3D objects, nothing of value, nothing. It was as if the person was an illusion of her imagination.

Chat pinned the person down, grunting in pain. The figure was now engulfing him! "Uh, I could really use my Lady Luck right about now!" He gave a shrug and a weak smile.

Ladybug then saw what she needed to see.

A pendant in the centre of their body. That had to be where the akuma was. It had to be.

"Chat Noir! The pendant! Grab the pendant!" She screamed, thrusting her yo-yo at his legs, the purple fuzzies leaving his body free to smash the pendant onto the ground in front of her.

It was in pieces but no butterfly appeared like normal.

What?

Just then, The figure underneath Chat disappeared into thin air, and left with a witch-like cackle, causing Chat to fall into the floor with an OOMPH.

"Me-OWCH! That really makes my fur stand up!" Chat chuckled, looking up at his lady. Chat was confused; She didn't acknowledge him. "Ladybug?"

What the hell? There was no akuma. Nothing. The person vanished.

What in the name of Miraculous was going on?

"This is really weird." Ladybug ran her fingers through her bangs. "There's no akuma."

Chat almost fake choked on a fake hair ball. "What?"

Ladybug looked down at the ground. "Nothing. What is Hawkmoth up to? And where is his pawn?"

She stood there thinking. Praying. Pleading that she didn't set another butterfly astray to clone itself. But there wasn't a single butterfly to be found. The real fight had to be somewhere... But where?

It's wasn't long until Chat's miraculous started beeping, the cat looking at his two paw prints on his ring. The lady in spots cocked her head. "Already?"

The blonde kitten chuckled at his lady. "I had to use my special power to break in here... They keep the doors pretty tight."

And speaking of doors, Ladybug and Chat looked at the group of kids; her friends, walk in with smiles at the sight of Ladybug.

Alya was the first to scream and yell the heroes' names.

"Chat Noir and Ladybug? You're still here? Can I have an interview, please?" Ladybug chuckled at her friends glowing eyes, but she knew she was down a few spots. No way could she stay for a full interview.

"I'm sorry, but we really must be--" Paris' Heroine started, but was interrupted by someone she really didn't want to talk to.

Chloe.

"Excuse me, Ladybug, can I talk to you for a second?" She scoffed, pushing all of her friends out of the way.

As much as her inner self wanted to scream at the blonde Barbie, she had to keep the mask on. "Okay, let's make it quick." Ladybug looked at Chat, who was now signing autographs. He always had a pen on him... What a silly cat. "You don't mind if I-"

"Not at all, LB. Take all the time you need." He gave her a sweet smile before Chloe dragged her by the arm, to a secluded part of the laser arena.

Ladybug was boiling on the inside. Marinette was ready to cry and hit her in the face... But she was Ladybug. Her idol. She couldn't do that. And she wouldn't.

"What's up, Chloe?" The fake smile feeling so natural on her face fooled Chloe while she twirled a strand of golden hair in her fingers.

"I have a problem." She pleaded like she was talking to her dad about getting money. "There's this girl at my school who thinks she can steal my boyfriend and it's so annoying can you believe it? Anyway, it's just really hard to be around her and she's so plastic like oh my god."

Ladybug couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Because it was about Marinette. Adrien. Their love life.

Suck it up, Ladybug, you're her hero. You can't just--

"She was there when we got together so why can't she lay off its actually irritating." The mayors' daughter took a lip gloss container out of her pocket and applied it. "What do I do, Ladybug?"

She thought the akuma from earlier was freezing her in place again.

Why was she so...vile? So.... poisonous? So...mean. Marinette did nothing wrong to hurt Chloe, and it's not her fault that they're bonded together because of parents... But Her life... His life.... Wasn't he miserable? She definitely was. And every time he wasn't looking, Chloe and Sabrina were bullying her.

The pain was building up in her again.

"Um...Ladybug?" Chloe scoffed. "I need advice from my favourite superhero!"

Ladybug didn't know what to do. No way in hell did she want to help Chloe, but she didn't want her status as "Hero of Paris" to be crushed by the biggest daddy's girl of all time.

"You know what, I think I have an idea!" Her lip gloss popped on her lips as she gave her hero a big hug before slipping away to her friends. "That loser won't see it coming! Thank you anyways, Ladybug!"

Don't cry, don't cry.... She's not worth it, she never was, and never will be.

But the words weren't enough as she saw droplets of water hitting the floor. Her eyes filling with tears.

She cried softly with the mask on, feeling Tikki's comforting aura around her, trying to make her feel better.

Long story short.

Chloe Bourgeois was going to make Marinette's life worse.

"Adrien...." She sniffled.

"My Lady? Are you all right?" Chat immediately came to her aid, almost hugging her.

And when I mean almost, Ladybug swatted his hand like an annoying fly.

"I'm fine, Chat."

"No, you're not." He interjected. "A-Are you crying?"

"No, I'm not." She wiped her eyes as Chat came and hugged her from behind. Ladybug didn't want it at first, but... She needed it.

Ladybug was truly happy to have Chat as a partner... Someone to lean on. But....

She can't be open with him. Her identity was at stake.

Chat was surprised when she pushed him away forcefully, tears now streaming down her eyes.

"My Lady...I'm sorry-"

"It's fine." She snapped.

Silence filled the atmosphere, Ladybug sniffling and wiping her eyes. Chat didn't know what to do- to say... He just felt so bad for his crush. He couldn't help her.

Why was she so weak...

"Don't worry about me. I'll be okay." She flung out her yo-yo and headed for the small skylight above them.

"I'm sorry."

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Marinette now sat outside the Laser Tag building under a tree, which still had leaves falling.

It was the middle of October. Breeze wasn't too cold for a jacket, but not too warm for no sweater. The sun was just setting over the Eiffel Tower andThe falling leaves made autumn look like Da Vinci's greatest masterpiece.

She had stopped crying approximately 7 minutes ago. The air out here actually made her feel warm and in her own world, like she could breathe and be herself.

No Chloe, no Adrien, no Hawkmoth, no nothing. Just Marinette.

Well, and Tikki of course, but she was quietly munching on some cookies in Marinette's handbag.

The autumn air filled her lungs, Marinette taking a slow, relaxing breath out as she looked at the orange painted skies.

She wished this had never happened. This stupid and ridiculous set up by the parents. But who was she to say anything about it? They were more important than her.

She was but a normal teenage girl with feelings for Adrien Agreste.

Or so, that's what they're allowed to know.

Maybe... Her love will never come true. Maybe, and she hates to admit it...

Needs to move on.

A single tear leaks from her left eye. Not again...

Suddenly, she hears crunching of leaves. "Marinette? Are you alright?" A voice sends shivers down her spine. Looking up at them and wiping her eye quickly before they notice.

"Nate?" She questions, looking into his one teal coloured eye, which was contrasting with the colours around him. Kind of interesting. "Oh, yeah. I'm okay."

Nate knitted his eyebrows, knowing she wasn't. Instead of saying so, he just sat beside her and quickly scampered though his bag.

Marinette looked closely at him. What was he doing? It's not like she needed anyone at this point... She was perfectly fine on her own.

After papers were flying around, being stuffed into his bag and the paper cut he got, the ginger pulled out a small sketch book and flipped numerous pages until he found the one he was looking for.

He placed it on her lap.

"I know you're not doing so well, so I thought this would cheer you up a bit." He scratched his head as the bluette picked the leather book, eyes wide.

It was gorgeous.

Flattering, it was a portrait of her. Marinette. The girl in the picture was sitting near the Eiffel Tower looking at the fountain below. A true genuine smile was on her face, and it looked like Nathan was trying over and over again to get the face right. The splash of water colour made the drawing so vivid, it almost glowed.

She was speechless. Almost.

"Wow... This is beautiful, Nate." She smiled. Yes, it was a fake one. Not because she hated it, but because she was still a bit upset. "You're amazing at this."

Nathanael felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he looked as his crush. "Umm-- thank you. But I'm pretty sure you're more talented than I, it's just a hobby."

Eyebrows were raised, both for different reasons. "Just a hobby? Nathanael, you really have a talent, you know. People would love to see your work."

He just smiles, knowing Marinette is making his heart go absolutely bonkers.

"Would you like to see more? My house is just down the street from here...if you want." He shoved his hands in his pockets, pouting and blushing.

Marinette couldn't help but giggle a bit. Nate was really cute and adorable. He's usually so shy and barely talks to anyone but Juleka and Rose. Usually, he's never this shy.

Of course she knew he had a crush on her. It was last year she found that out. Of course he didn't ask her, but he probably got the hint.

But now, she was finally breaking free. And maybe... Maybe changing it up wouldn't be so bad.

"I'd love to." Was all she said, and the two got up and headed towards his house, striking a conversation about the weather.

She was really happy. Truly.

No more tears over Adrien.

But Watercolour Paintings with Nathanael might just fix her broken heart.

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A/N: As promised, Chapter Three!!!! Oh yeah and I re-made the cover! I love it so much more than my last one it makes me so proud ^u^ plus, I'm now starting to make edits for every chapter! Please look at them and tell me if you like them or not xD

And also, rest in peace everyone's feels 😂

Yeah. Also, if you haven't voted for me yet on the IG picture in the update, please do! I'll give you crackers!

Cookies?

Oh, just take my candy! *tosses candy*

Anyway, I had a spark for this today, so chapter four will be coming sooner than you expect. THIS CHAPTER WAS LIKE 2000 WORDS SO BE HAPPY!!!!

LadyNoir AS PROMISED UGH FEELS

Also, I'm glad I have you all bc I don't think I'm going to make it out of this hiatus alive... BLESS YOUR SOULS!

See you all then! I have MEP parts to do!

Xoxo,

(A giggly but happy) ~Ember💕