Chapter Text
Sun shining, birds chirping in the early morning light, the day was shaping up to be picture perfect-
"Late!" came a shout, followed by a thump.
At the sudden noise, the nearby birds shot into the sky.
The one who shouted was none other than Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Finding herself on the floor, tangled up in her blankets, all Marinette could do was thank her Ladybug luck that her fall was quiet and that her blankets managed to cushion her fall. Still, that could not prevent the inevitable hurt that accompanied her fall.
"Oww!" Marinette groaned. A small red blur zipped to her side.
"Marinette! Are you okay?!" The kwami asked.
"Yeah..." She groaned, "I've had worse. Don't worry Tikki." She smiled, untangling herself from the nest of blankets that had followed her down. Glancing at a clock, she sighed, "It's only 6:30?... I could've slept longer."
"But," Tikki chirped, "You can get ready for school at a slower pace, and still make it to class on time."
Marinette pondered this, before visibly perking up, "You're right Tikki! Hmm... I feel like wearing something different today, what do you think Tikki?"
Tikki smiled, "I think that's a great idea Marinette." When Marinette turned around to rifle through her drawers, Tikki's smile turned sad. It had been a while since her chosen had gotten some time for herself. With her time being eaten up by, the daily akumas, a lack of support from Chat Noir, patrols (Tikki managed to convince her to make it weekly), Lila and the class, keeping up her brand new business MDC (she started it after the class trashed her old site), and the pressure from her teacher and class as class president, Marinette hadn't had time for herself. So Tikki was willing to take what she could get. Realizing that she had zoned out, Tikki focused back onto Marinette's mumble of words.
"...Red, Pink or Blue?..." Marinette contemplated.
Knowing how powerful Marinette felt in red, Tikki whispered, "How about red?"
"...Red... and black... and brown. Yes!" Marinette exclaimed, pulling out an assortment of clothes. Tikki smiled fondly, she had always loved it when her holders got that creative sparkle that had currently found it's home in Marinette's eyes.
Smiling at her collection, Marinette picked it all up and moved it to the bathroom. While she took a much-deserved, refreshing shower, Tikki flitted about the room, picking up loose ends (quite literally). If she hid more of the photos of classmates that were on Marinette's wall, well, no one was the wiser. Rentering her bedroom with a flourish, Marinette twirled asking, "What do you think Tikki?"
"I love it!" Tikki squeaked, "It suits you!"
"Are you sure?" Marinette asked, uncertain.
Tikki frowned at her lack of self-confidence. Dressed in a wine-red knitted turtleneck top, a black mini-skirt with black leggings, and tall brown boots, Marinette looked amazing. Voicing that, Tikki said, "You look so powerful, and sure of yourself in this outfit. It's so professional, while still being your warm, cuddly self." At Marinette's raised eye-brow, Tikki asked "Why is that so hard to believe."
"Well... That all sounds more like Ladybug, and not-"
"And not nothing! You are Ladybug, you made Ladybug who she is today because you are behind that mask. You are the greatest Ladybug- no, Guardian- that has ever been because you are strong, Marinette is a creative genius, Marinette is professional, Marinette is adaptable to change, Marinette is understanding, and self-less, and hardworking. Marinette is Ladybug. So you look me in the eyes when you try to say you're not, 'cause you're all that and more." Tikki proclaimed with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, Tikki was snatched from the air-
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Marinette sobbed, clutching Tikki close to her chest, "You don't know how much that means to me!"
"Maybe I do," Tikki whispered into Marinette's shirt, memories flashing behind her eyes. "Maybe I do."