Kintsugi

Chapter 3

August 12, 2017 - Dupain-Cheng Bakery

Marinette POV - 

The sun shines through my window as I snooze another alarm. I had had grand ideas of getting up early in the morning and getting a nice start to my day... but could I ever get to bed at a reasonable hour so that I could be the morning person I desired to be? No. No I could not.

Slowly, I sit up and swing my legs over the side of my bed. With one swift motion, I launch off the side of the bed and land silently on the floor. I turn 17 today! I think back to the Guardians. Had I been there today, I would have gone through a grand coming-of-age ceremony, not a "birthday party" - as those hadn't really been something that we did. But the ceremony was essentially the last part of the bonding, my miraculous becomes a part of me and I could finally unlock the true powers of being the Ladybug Holder. Tiki told me that she could, in fact, perform the ceremony if I really wanted to, but I would be getting the powers either way - as they had come with age, not the actual ceremony. This had been a big deal while I was with the Guardians. The one excuse they had to party, and those parties were usually pretty fun. Even the oldest Guardians talked about them with a reverence and youthful glint in their eyes - thinking of their own coming of age ceremonies. I couldn't help but feel saddened at the fact that I wouldn't get that experience.

Not today! This is a happy occasion! You've grown as a person and a Holder, Marinette. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I shake my head slightly to get I grab some clothes and get dressed. Gone was the pink-and-white polkadots of my clumsy cover persona. I now opted for darker colors, and more comfortable styles. My favorite being forest green. 

The color of the eyes that I can't seem to get off my mind.

 The eyes from long ago that I used to get lost in late at night. 

The eyes that held, and still hold, my world.

I tace the scar on my wrist, lost in thought before I blink and turn to the stairs.

I softly step off the staircase, smiling at my Maman and Papa, both hard at work in the kitchen. I had never had parents before. At least parents that I remember, and the Guardians had placed me in Tom and Sabine's custody after the League had fallen to shambles. They seemed to fit the role so well, I loved them as if they really were my real father and mother. 

I grab a croissant and a coffee and walk out the door, yelling a quick goodbye to my parents before the bell jingles behind me. The sun warms my face as I step onto the sidewalk. Closing my eyes, I bask in the morning sun for a moment. I glance at the clock displayed on the lockscreen of my phone. School starts in a half hour, I have time. I start slowly walking, enjoying the beautiful morning when a limo pulls up beside me. The window rolls down and I see Chloe and Adrien inside. Along with Luka and Kagami. Odd.

"Bug. Get in the limo." Chloe leaves no room for argument as she opens the door for me. I roll my eyes and slide in next to Luka. 

"What's all this for?" I raise my eyebrow. We usually met up at the school, so Chloe purposefully rounding everyone up before school is weird. 

"We all wanted to see you check for the results." I gasped. I had forgotten that I was going to get my confirmation email (or consolation email) today. I pull out my phone, clicking the email app with shaking fingers. Right at the top is an email from the Bruce Wayne (most likely his assistant, but his name is on it so, same thing). I handed the phone over to Kagami so fast I might've thrown it at the poor girl. But she just laughed quietly and Chloe sighed with a small smile on her face. I looked at the midnight-haired girl as she stares impassively at the phone.