Pretending to like Adrien may have been the worst decision of her life.

—–

It started when their mothers, Sabine Cheng and Emilie Graham de Vanily, met when they attended university. They were roommates and best friends. They did everything together, from studying to going out to parties. It was all that mattered between the two. That was until they fell in love.

Sabine began dating the baker’s son, while Emilie found interest in a business mogul whose focus is fashion. The two couples slowly began doing everything together. Double dates were a common thing.

After graduation, the two couple went their separate ways. Gabriel went on to start his own fashion company while Emilie focused on her acting career. Tom and Sabine took their in-home bakery and turned it into a storefront. Yet, they still managed to make time for group events.

Everything was perfect for their little group until their businesses grew on international levels.

Sabine and Tom jumped to stardom after participating in a baking contest in England and joined other celebrities in the food industries, specifically the pastries.

The people loved when Emilie was on the big screen or stage, as Gabriel expanded on his fashion company, Gabriel Designs, despite its rocky startup.

Soon the family of twos welcomes their new members: Adrien and Marinette. Adrien was born several months before Marinette. Both heirs were smiling and babbling babies, filling the households with laughter and joy.

Growing up, the two would spend the day at each other’s homes when their parents were on business trips. They grew to see each other as brother and sister. Marinette had asked her parents about going to her big brother’s house, and when asked who was she talking about, with the brightest of smiles, she said Adrien. Sabine and Emilie cried together when they realized that their children had taken to calling each other siblings.

When Adrien and Marinette were five, their parents received an invitation to a Wayne Gala event in Gotham, New Jersey. It was their first time going to the United States.

Despite being strictly business, Sabine and Tom quickly became friends with a Mr. Bruce Wayne. Though to Marinette, it was an opportunity to gain new siblings. Dickie and Tim Tam slowly became frequently used names in her vocabulary. Sadly, Adrien felt jealous of the two and entered a competition regarding Marinette’s favorite brother.

All was fine until Mari met the latest addition to the Wayne family when she was close to ten. Damian Wayne.

He wasn’t like the others, and she had met plenty of the adopted and non-adopted Waynes over the years. He was rude, always looking like he was out to get the world. His posture was always tense, almost like nobility. However, what Damian never expected was her determination.  

She had the utmost pleasure in breaking through to the older boy. Her challenge every time she visited was to get him to laugh. She didn’t exceed.

When Adrien met the young Wayne, he screamed and hid behind Marinette, who (at the time) was taller than the two boys. Adrien hugged Mr. Kitten, his stuffed black cat, like a lifeline until Alfred had called the three kids for lunch. He swears that Damian could see through into his soul. Marinette believes that Adrien’s reaction was from Damian unknowingly placing his dominance.

Reaching their pre-teen and early teen years, Damian took a liking to Marinette and had developed a crush on her. His older siblings found it hilarious when they caught the apathetic teen lightly blushing at any mention of the Parisian girl. So, of course, they had a ball in making it their job to embarrass their young brother.

Unfortunately, a family loss disrupted the Agreste household. Emilie had fallen ill and suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. Gabriel didn’t know how to deal with the loss.

So to prevent endangering his son’s lifestyle, he ended up giving the Dupain-Cheng household temporary custody of Adrien until he figured out his next move. However, the custody move didn’t sit well with members of Emilie’s family, despite being the best move for Adrien.

After the custody transition, that was the last time anyone had seen Gabriel Agreste in public. Thankfully, Adrien had plenty of surrogate siblings and family to help him through the loss of his mother, but he also ended up losing his father in the process.

Months before Adrien and Marinette entered 8th grade, Damian has worked up the courage to ask Marinette out on a date. His actions surprised everyone, as they thought he would have waited until they were in high school (lycée).

Once the shock wears off, Marinette smiles, wrapping her arms around the taller boy’s neck. Her boys had grown to be taller, even if it was by a couple of centimeters. Everyone around them suspects that they’ll be at least 5’8” to 6’2” while Marinette would grow to be Sabine’s height at best. Not that they would mention that in front of Marinette. The little lady has a unique way of turning her sweet words into threats.

Despite their ages, the media went wild, sending the couple celebratory announcements online the second a reporter reportedly leaked an intimated image to the press. No, it wasn’t something sexual; it was a photo taken out of context. Which, surprisingly, was photographed a week before Damian and Marinette made it official. The couple’s parents promise their kids a normal relationship thinking nothing of the media interference.

It was all fine and dandy until the first day of school. Marinette and Adrien received their Miraculouswithin the hour of each other. But before that, Marinette knew that this would be Adrien’s first time in a public school, so she thought of a harmless prank.

Adrien was to play the oblivious friend, using Chloé as his alibi. Marinette took on the role of the clumsy, babbling, do-gooder friend. It was supposed to be for laughs and last at best until the spring holiday.

However, not even a day after they started college, Marinette had become friends with the new girl, an aspiring journalist. She’ll quickly soon regret that as what she didn’t count for was Alya’s determination.

———

“I’m fine, Dami,” Marinette says to Damian over video chat. Her attention was nowhere on her computer screen but a mannequin with a work-in-progress outfit. Adrien, in the same room with her, was being no help.

Damian raises an eyebrow. Marinette scowls and states, “I’m serious. They cannot bring me down, especially after this week.”

“She’s lying.” Adrien sings from his position on the chaise. In his hand is a wrapped-up croissant. Marinette turns to the blonde model (he’s taking a bite out of his pastry) and glares at him. Adrien stops eating and stares back at her with a what expression. Marinette rolls her eyes and returns to her project.

“If you ever feel like your sanity is lost, I will gladly put a sword through her if she doesn’t stop.” Marinette turns to Damian with an eyebrow raised. Her lips purse together, she’s thinking.

“I didn’t know you like crazy. At this rate, my sanity will be gone before graduation. And, if you haven’t placed a sword through her, I’m sure Luka would.” Marinette pauses. “Though, not with a sword. Maybe a guitar string.”

“Lulu would rather give up his ability to speak, than lose a guitar string.” Adrien interrupts. Marinette ignores him and begins to stitch together pieces of fabric.

Damian quickly chuckles. The three return to what they were doing, each talking when bored or necessary.  

“Well, your lunch is ending soon, same time tonight, your time?” Marinette states, pulling her focus away from the outfit and onto the clock. On her face is a sad smile hidden by a soft smile on her face.

“Father will understand if I ditch the other half a day.” Adrien obnoxiously coughs in the background. Damian tsk.

“Dames…” Marinette turns to her computer.

Damian smiles fondly at her. The two share a chuckle.  “I’ll go, Angel.” Damian folded. “Are we still on for tomorrow’s date night?”

“I would be crazy if I said it wasn’t.” Marinette waves goodbye to the small screen. The screen goes black, signaling the end of the call.

“So, Maribug, what are we going to do about Alya?” Adrien asks; before Marinette could reply, both of their phones dings. Adrien looks down and sees the call-id, “It’s Nino; he’s asking if I want to hang out with him and Alya tomorrow.”

Marinette sighs and sends a quick reply. She doesn’t look up from her phone when she responds. “Alya texted me about wanting to hang out with her rather than Nino.”

A beat passed, and realization set in their minds.

Together they state, “She’s setting us up again.” Groans follow through.

—–

Two weeks of planning all come down to this.

It had to work; there was no way that it wouldn’t. Alya Cesaire, the Ladyblogger, was determined to make her favorite ship, Adrienette, a reality before the end of the school year, which was coming up fast. Ever since they met in college, Marinette, not once, managed to work up the confidence to ask out the blonde model.

And what kind of friend is she for not helping her best friend get the guy? A bad one. Considering this is why she is staging her latest plan for Operation Adrienette at the Place des Vosges.

Almost everyone –that was once a part of the akuma class– sits on the green pasture, waiting for information. Alya, however, stands on a makeshift podium front and center with Lila by her side. She points to the easel with a large poster board.

“Here’s the plan. We all know that graduation is coming up soon, and I tend to make it my legacy to ensure that Adrienette becomes a reality. I have done too much for it not to happen. They have ditched us for the last time, and I planned to end that this week.” Alya states, pretending to be heartbroken. She places her hand over her heart and shakes her head. Lila awkwardly pats on Alya’s back. She stops when Alya continues to talk.

Lila couldn’t help but notice that Chloé and Juleka were missing from the meeting, and she was 90% sure that it wasn’t by design.

When she came into their class, she didn’t want Adrienette to happen. Adrien was her best bet to gain attraction due to his connection to Gabriel Designs. She, of course, tried everything within her power to make Marinette look bad, but when she tried to get Marinette expelled from college, she found out there was more to the story than a simple crush.  

Adrien came up to her during their photoshoot and practically threatened her. The message was clear: stop messing with his sister or else. She got the picture well after that encounter. Since that encounter, she made a deal with the duo, learning that there was no romantic attraction between them– just mischief.

The reason for Lila being at the park is mainly for Alya’s sake. She could care less about the plan and would have preferred a spa day with her mother. That and the rest of them are still her puppets, so she must continue playing the supportive friend.

Alya mutters something under her breath before stating, “I’m still salty about the last plan.” That statement piques the interest of her audience.

“They were supposed to have a romantic time at the ice rink, and nothing came of it. All they did was skate around the rink for a couple of hours. The most they did as a couple was drinking hot chocolate. Drinking hot, mother-freaking, chocolate. The closest intimacy I saw was a kiss on the cheek.” Alya pauses, trying to recollect herself.

“This time– I’m planning a romantic dinner where Nino and I would ditch the two for another booth. That way they are forced to interact with each other.”

“What are we, we meaning you, going to do if that backfires?” Rose raised her hand, inputting her concerns.

“I– uh– we don’t expect it to.” Alya confidently states, slapping her presentation stick in her hand.

It was a Friday night– aka the very next day– when the plan commenced.

Adrien had agreed to meet up with Nino and Alya for whatever they had planned. He ended up dressing up at the request of Alya, as she was blowing up his phone under Nino’s contact name. Not that he minds, but after the third text, it was annoying.

When he appeared at the restaurant, Adrien had a look of disinterest. To which Alya ignores downgrading it to nerves.

Alya hangs off of Nino’s arms, smiling at the model. It was creeping him out, but Adrien didn’t want to seem rude, so he smiled back.

“Why are we so dressy? If this was meant to be a simple outing with friends?” He asks even though he knew the answer already.

“We’re waiting for Marinette. She’d promised me that she’ll be here in a moment.” Alya deflects the question, “Might I say, Adrikins, you look nice in that suit of yours.” She looks elsewhere, no doubt to find Marinette. “Ah, there she is. Marinette!” She waves down Marinette, who looks irritated more than anything.

Marinette walks over to the group.

Adrien gasps, causing Alya to smile smugly at Nino. Her plan is working. Nino continues to watch the two in wonder.

Adrien’s gasps were at what Marinette was wearing. She’s wearing a v-necked checkered red and black patterned T-shirt dress with Gotham’s vigilante Robin’s icon in the upper right corner and thick heel ankle boots.

“Hey gurl, glad you can join us.” Alya pulls away from Nino, giving the poor teen his arm back. Nino then formally greets Adrien with a side-bro hug and an awkward smile.

“It’s not like I had a choice, Alya,” Marinette murmurs, but Alya heard it anyway. The blogger pulls her bestfriend closer.

“Of course, you did. Look you’re already here, and let’s go get to our seats.” Alya pushes Marinette towards the door and gestures for Adrien and Nino to follow.

However, before the two reach the door, Alya whispers, “Now’s your chance. Go get your man, gurl.” To which Marinette stutters out of embarrassment.

Before they were seated, Marinette noticed the two-seat table. Like that didn’t raise any red flags about this evening. In all honesty, she thought it was a double date–one table and the four of them hanging out. Then again, she should have known better.

There were only two chairs. Alya pushes for Marinette and Adrien that take that table. All this despite their outcries. She and Nino grab another table on the opposite side of the restaurant.

From where Alya sat, Marinette and Adrien both looked very comfortable. That’s a great sign. When the waiter came over, that’s where everything slowly began to fall apart.

The waiter asked the brother-sister duo if they needed anything. Marinette asks for water, and Adrien states that he’s just a stand-in. The waiter didn’t question it and walked away to get Marinette’s drink.

Alya and Nino had ordered their meals, but Adrienette had not. Marinette’s calmly sipping her water all while making conversation with Adrien. Alya was slowly getting fed up with the lack of couple-ly actions between the two. She would have stalked over there had Nino not been holding her back.

At the peak of Alya’s frustration, it all came crashing down. A tall, tan, sleek dark-haired gentleman suddenly walks over to the table. He coughs into his fist. Adrien immediately gives up his seat, but instead, Marinette gets out of her seat to hug the man. Adrien smiles at the two.

Alya sits at her table flabbergasted. Marinette had the audacity to kiss the unknown male on the lips before wishing Adrien out.

Adrien had the nerve to turn to Alya, smirking. He winks at her before walking towards the entrance and out of the restaurant.

Marinette and the male happily held hands across the table and chatted. When the waiter returned a couple of minutes later, Marinette placed her order. The waiter wasn’t surprised to see the new face.

Alya watches as the couple happily eats, seething. Anger could not describe what she was feeling. Who was this guy, and how dare he hijack a date she’d been planning for weeks? Weeks! When Nino finally gave his okay, it was after Marinette and her mystery date had left the restaurant. He will never admit that his reasoning was because the guy screams dangerous. Alya wanted to scream and shout. Scream to the heavens to let out all the anguish she was suffering from Adrienette and scream at Marinette for daring to bring another guy in while she has a crush on Adrien.

She must break them up. Consequences be damned.

—–

Alya didn’t see Marinette or Adrien for the rest of the weekend. It was not because she was busy, no. But because when she tried to reach them, they ignored her. The Ladyblogger visited the patisserie only to discover that Marinette was not home. Where was she? It’s not like Marinette to go off the grid.

Alya was a crazy mess when she returned to the classroom that following Monday morning. She was surrounded by her very curious classmates wondering how the date went. Is Adrienette finally a couple? How did the date go? The pressuring amount of questions nearly caused Alya to have another breakdown.

Keeping her cool, to which Alya did a fantastic job. Or that was until she was just about to answer the questions when Marinette and Adrien walked through the doors. All coolness goes out the window.

“You, how could you? Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get you that date?” Alya shouts at the designer as if it;’s her fault for all her problems. She would have gotten into her face if it wasn’t for Lila holding her back.

Marinette raises an eyebrow; she quickly turns to Adrien, who shrugs and sits beside Nino.

“Well?” Marinette turns to Alya, who couldn’t get a read on the designer.

Marinette squares up to her former friend; sighing, Marinette shakes her head.

“I didn’t ask to be set up with Adrien, Alya. Nor did I have ever had a crush on him. At first, it was hilarious, but now… it’s impacting both our love life.” Marinette explains before taking her seat in the back.

“Love life? Marinette, you are destined to be with Adrien. Have been since the two of you first met in this classroom several years ago.” Alya screeches, but her cries go unheard by the two siblings.

“Maybe you should cool it, Alya. Class is about to start.” Lila states, tugging on her friend’s arm. Alya looks at the clock on the wall and scowls, cursing the bell.

The teacher walks in and demands the class to sit down. Alya turns to Marinette and mouths, “This is not over,” to which Marinette shrugs and absently sketches in her notebook.

Alya couldn’t get a one-on-one conversation with Marinette at the school. She, of course, is infuriated. So, she planned for another meeting in the Place des Vosges that following weekend. However, this time on her way to the park, she saw something she didn’t want to see.

Andre’s ice cream cart was in the area, and Marinette just so happens to be walking hand in hand with the same male from the failed date attempt. They were looking all lovey-dovey and stuff. What was worse was the ice cream flavors (colors). It practically matched Adrien’s from when they last had Andre’s ice cream as a group. Alya growls, her face turning red from the heat of her anger. That’s it; the gloves are on now.

“I have called you all here because it has come to my attention that all my hard work is going unnoticed. Marinette has had the audacity to be around another man knowing that Adrien is her forever. That ends today.” Alya states, standing in front of the remaining members of team Adrienette, practically the majority of her classmates. They whisper amongst themselves, unsure how to answer the reporter.  

Alya nods, knowing her plan is working, “Our job for the next couple of days is to take incriminated photos of Marinette. I need to gather as much evidence to break up our gurl and this supposed boyfriend of hers.”

There is a pause. The silent question for suggestions lingers amongst them.

“Oh, I’ve seen Marinette with these two men lately outside of school. I think there’s somethinggoing on between them. You don’t think she’s going something scandalous, do you?”  Lila lies through her teeth, but who was she to turn down a good opportunity for drama. Sure, she already knows the truth, but Alya didn’t know that.

“Someone that isn’t this suppose boyfriend of hers?” Alya pushes with a mischief glint in her eyes.  

Lila nods, still feigning innocents. It’s not like she’s hurting anyone. Though, she might be hurting herself in the long run once Marinette finds out what she did.

“Good. That is excellent news.” Alya clasps her hands.

———

It wasn’t excellent news. It wasn’t at all.

——–

The first attempt was a disaster in the making. Alya didn’t think it through for several reasons. A couple of days after the meeting, she and Nino had noticed that Marinette was spending more time with Marc. They hadn’t seen the boyfriendin a while, which to them was perfect.

Every day, Marinette met up with Marc during lunch. The two consistently talked, though Marinette was sketching something in her sketchbook. And whenever Alya gets near them, Marinette closes her sketchbook and dismisses her.

Since Nathaniel was the closest to Marc, she sent him to take the photos and investigate. Let’s just say the results were not in his favor.

It turns out that Marc was commissioning a scarf with a matching tablet cover for Nathaniel. Their anniversary was coming up. Marc wasn’t happy; he was furious when Nathaniel told him. Marinette was his friend; how dare he try and use him for something so pitiful.

It finally dawned on Alya that everyone in the school knew that Marc and Nathaniel were in an item. And since Marinette is a designer, she works with lots of people regardless of gender, so of course, she would hang around other males.

Realizing that she’ll have to be picky with her choices on ways to make Marinette look like a cheater, she had to dig deep. Luka? She’ll have to save him for the last resort. Alya still remembers the last conversation she and Marinette had over Luka. The latter was head over heels for the musician.  

Alya couldn’t have been more frustrated than she we tried to go through with her second attempt. For a week, Marinette was with her boyfriend and close friends. Weren’t they close friends?

Anyone around Alya could see the invisible tick marks across the reporter’s head.

“Alya? Are you okay?” Her teeth grind together at the question Marinette had asked her during class. It was no secret that her pencil broke into two. She smiles back at Marinette and asks: what her plans are for the weekend. To add salt to her aching mind, Marinette says, she was spending time with Adrien and Luka. Uh– what?

It was a lie.

With her phone in hand and her supporters behind her, Alya followed Marinette throughout Paris. Only to find out that Marinette was not spending any time with Adrien and Luka but with Chloé and Kagami instead. Sure, Marinette was also into girls, and it could have played well into her plan. But Alya feared Kagami putting a blade through her more.

Back to the planning board.

Alya lost count of how many attempts she had gone through before resorting to one of her last options–Luka Couffaine. He was perfect. Well, not perfect, but he and Marinette had chemistry. That has to count for something. Right?

Holding her head high, she approaches the one person she hasn’t seen during their group meetings. When was the last time the two of them spoke? It couldn’t have been that long ago. Could it?

“Hey, Juleka…” Her voice lingers, feigning innocence.  

“No.” Juleka didn’t even face her. Rude.

“C’mon, he’ll agree to do it if you’re the one asking. Please, Jules.”

Juleka huffs, rolling her eyes and placing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’ll see what I can do, but don’t blame me for the outcome. Also, don’t call me Jules.”

Alya smiles cheekily, not realizing the fault in her plan.

The next day, Juleka struts up to her and states, “Yeah…, I forgot to mention that Luka is in a committed relationship. Sorry.”

“What!” The reporter’s voice echoes in the school’s hallways. Her voice alone created an opening in the halls as she ran after Juleka once the shock wore off.

There had to be something better. Bigger. Yeah, something bigger that would break up the couple. It couldn’t be normal– it had to be perfect.

After everything she went through to stage Marinette as a cheater to her so-called boyfriend, Alya finally struck gold.

It was a victory that no one would have expected. That’s because it had happened randomly. On a whim, in fact. Nino had suggested that they go on a stress relief night stroll.

They had caught Marinette in the streets, leaving a building with two unknown men. The two men appeared older and more dangerous (well, one of them at least). The one with a white-streaked in his hair offered Marinette his jacket. She takes it.

Alya had to double-check with Nino to confirm that neither of them had ever seen the two males before in Paris. With a firm nod, the reporter knew she had the perfect story.

Grabbing her phone and opening the camera, she began to work her magic.

Instead of posting the images immediately, Alya followed the three, gathering as much incriminating evidence for her plan to come together.

Too bad her peers didn’t think the same. Anyone familiar with Marinette knew had seen the two males and Marinette from time to time. The two males were regulars at Marinette’s family bakery and have been for years. To them, the gossip from the akuma class meant very little.

Despite having several incriminatingfootage and photos, Alya favors the video where the three subjects are in the park throwing a frisbee. One of the males came up behind Marinette and spun her around before placing a kiss on her cheek. Marinette giggles, then return the gesture with a kiss on the cheek before grabbing the frisbee out of his hand and tossing it to the other.

Downloading the edited video, Alya knew this would be her masterpiece. She was ready to take on the world. All she needed was the perfect opportunity.  

She didn’t have to wait long.

Alya had caught Marinette and the alleged boyfriend sitting underneath a tree at Place des Vosges. Marinette was sitting between his legs, sketching something down in her sketchbook. The perfect couple’s picture.  

Alya ignores Nino’s disagreeing outcries to races across the street.

Approaching the couple confidently,  Alya states the following, “Your girlfriend here is a cheating bitch.”

Marinette stops sketching and turns to her boyfriend, then back to Alya. She doesn’t say a word, probably cussing out Alya in her head.

Alya freezes. She’s unsure what to think about the lack of emotions showing between the couple.

“What makes you think that of my beloved.” The male asks, raising an eyebrow.

Marinette made no moves to leave her spot, though she does start to pack up her things.

Refinding her confidence, Alya pulls a power move, “I got evidence.”

He didn’t seem convinced.“Pray tell.”

Alya digs into her purse, pulls out her phone, and touches the screen furiously.  

Finding what she was looking for, she held the phone to the boyfriend’s face.

“Do you mind if I–“

“Yes, everything in this fold proves my point.”

He takes his time examining the evidence. Leaving little to no facial expressions.

A minute passed. Then another. Maybe she can win this, and her Adrienette ship will be sailing by the end of the day.

A sigh exits his lips as he pushes the phone into Marinette’s hand. Her eyes widen.

Oh!

Marinette coughs, trying to hide her awkward snickering.

Another pregnant silence. The scrolling continues.  

“So that’s why they were here. I really need to place boundaries on those idiots.” He says thoughtfully.

“Don’t you dare.” Marinette counters, playfully hitting the male’s chest. “I actually enjoy spending time with them.”

Ah, what? Hundreds of questions began to arise within the blogger’s mind.

“Your poor skills in journalism, seemed to caught my Habibti with my idoitic older brothers. Those photos that you have of them are without consent. That video of them has poorly used VFX. I could press charges against you on their behalf.”

“I give credit where it’s due, Alya, this might be your best attempt yet.” Marinette states, standing up to pat the blogger on her back. “Did Lila put you up to this?”

“Wha–?” A squeak exits Alya’s lips.

“If Rossi did, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to cross a Wayne and Agreste.” The dark-haired male mutters.

“Damian…” Marinette sighs, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be too hard on her. Rossi’s just as much as a player in this little game of ours than most.”

“Lila? Game? Player?” Alya was losing every ounce of confidence she had.

“Hey Mars, look who I found.” Adrien hollers from afar.

“Dude…” Nino? How she could have forgotten her boyfriend. Alya scurries over to Nino to be in his arms. Maybe having his presence will save everything.

“Hey Nino, long time no see.” Marinette greets the DJ as Damian grunts sending Adrien a look of acknowledgment.

“What am I, chopped liver?” That voice was too familiar.

Not wanting to add fuel to this trainwreck, Alya refused to look up.

Her stubbornness got the best of her. She looked over and saw Adrien standing hand-in-hand with Luka. Since when were they thatclosed?

Adrien rests his head against Luka’s chest, giving Marinette a warm smile. There’s hope for her ship.

That ended with a single kiss. The blogger screams. How could all this go so wrong? Just yesterday, everything was like it was at the start of their 8th-grade year. And now, it was a loaded mess.

“Dude when did this happened?” Thank kwamifor Nino.

Adrien rubs the back of his neck, sending Nino a sheepish smile.

“For a while now, but not as long as Marinette has been with Damian. Those two have been dating since Mars’s thirteenth birthday and been going strong ever since.” Marinette hums as Damian kisses her cheek. She’s practically glowing.  

“But…but,” Alya stutters. Her brain could not comprehend the situation.

Marinette steps in front of Alya and looks her dead in the eyes.  

“Alya, dating Adrien would be like dating my brother. Which practically it is, considering we’ve been friends since we were in diapers.” Marinette then adds more fuel to the fire, “You and the class would have noticed had you not been set on this Adrienette ship.”

Adrien also decided to add in his two cents. “Yeah, a simple search online and you would see photos of Mari and me at galas, movie premieres, fashion shows. She and Damian have been in news coverage from the first time they announce their relationship to their recent engagement announcement.” Marinette blushed at the thought of the now visible giant ring on her ring finger.

“Alya, in a different universe I would proudly be Adrien’s girlfriend,” There’s a pause, a false moment of hope, “But it’s not this universe.”

Her knees gave in. If it wasn’t for Nino, Alya would have hit the ground. She watches the nearly engaged couple walk out of the park and in the direction of the bakery. A string of unidentifiable words leaves her lips in mumbles.

“Better luck next time, Alya,” Adrien smiles before he and Luka follow the two, but not without waving goodbye to Nino.

Alya remained lost for words.

Her ship will never become canon. All her hard work was for nothing–a false dream. Breaking free of Nino’s grasp, she falls onto the green pastures.

———————

Rewrite of Request #19. 

[LATE]Day 9of#Daminettedec21:

Tears <w/ Eh in ea-Ripped cloth>

[After a Day & Night of Training]

Marinette: “Seriously Dami, you need to stop sword training in your Robin suit. If you keep this up, I’ll have to make you a new designed Suit.”

Damian:‘I have no problem with your offer, Angel’*Smiles at her focused expression*