Chapter Text
*Flashback*
"Tikki spots off," I shout, the sound echoing around the empty bathroom. I detransform, my spots changing into my usual tank top and shorts. I sigh deeply, reaching into my pink purse, pulling out a macaroon, and handing it to Tikki. "Good job, Marinette!" Tikki squeaks out before tucking into the sugary biscuit.
Slinking back against the blue stall door, I feel the cool against my back. Beating the akuma was easier than usual, but the constant stream of akumatized villains has me exhausted to the bone. "Thanks, Tikki, but we should still be careful; his attacks are getting more frequent." Tikki nods in agreement.
I push off the stall door and swing it open, walking over to the mirror, noticing heavy bruising in several places. "Guess I fell down the stairs again," I mutter sarcastically under my breath before pulling my makeup kit out and hastily gliding it over the bruises, grimacing at every small bump and graze.
The door lock clicks, the door slamming open.
Coming out of the door was Lila. I scowled, turning back to the mirror in hopes I wouldn't have to interact with her. Staying calm was hard around her because for some reason all of my friends turned into lovesick puppies around her, hanging on to every word despite the fact I've never acted in the ways she says I do, but questioning is useless, it's better to just ignore her. "Hi, Marinette," her fake sickly sweet voice echoes around the bathroom. Great, now I have to talk to her.
"Hey Lila, what's up?" I say dismissively, glancing towards her before turning back to the mirror, pretending I had been powdering my face instead of covering up bruises.
"You know." She says slowly, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "If you're worried about them questioning your bruises, just tell them you're Ladybug." My jaw drops for a second as I try and school my expression, and I laugh out shakily.
"You might like lying about being Ladybug, but I don't." Well, there goes me being cordial. She smirks her horrific smirk at me.
"I mean, I could always tell them if you're too scared, Marinette," and I watch in horrific slow motion as she pulls out her phone, showing a very distracted Ladybug running into a stall, yelling, "Tikki, spots off," and emerging again as Marinette.
I'm screwed. What am I going to do?