ML: Are They Worthy? Chapter 86: Unity!
The next day, Lila was in her hospital bed being visited by Lorenzo. They were reminiscing about their time in Italy and having a generally fun time. Their giggles were interrupted when someone else opened the door. Lila was expecting a nurse, a doctor, or maybe one of those miraculous experts she met the day before after Gabriel left, but was surprised to see that it was none of the above. “Alix?”
Alix walked in, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to Lorenzo in front of Lila. “Hey.”
“Hi…” Lila replied awkwardly.
After a bit of silence, Alix asked “Well, how are you doing?”
“Oh, um, I’m feeling alright,” Lila answered. “Well, I guess as alright as I can be.”
“Right…” Alix responded. An awkward silence permeated.
“Why are you here?” Lila asked, breaking the silence like a plate crashing to the floor. “I’ve done nothing but manipulate you and your friends.” She sunk into herself. “I don’t deserve your friendship.”
Lorenzo was shook. Alix simply smiled and said “Yeah. You probably don’t.” Lila looked up. “But whether it be kindness or foolishness, I think we’re willing to give it to you anyway.”
“Why?” Lila demanded.
“Well, I don’t know about anyone else for certain,” Alix explained, “but for me, it’s a case of I can spend time disliking you, or I can see that you’re trying and at least move on, if not help you try. And I don’t have the time to waste hating someone who is trying.”
Lila was stunned. She looked at Lorenzo who smiled and chuckled. She looked back at Alix and started crying. “Lila, are you OK?” Lorenzo asked.
“Yeah” Lila sniffed. She wiped her eyes, although tears kept coming. “I’m alright.” For so long, Lila was trapped in the darkness of trying to make herself seem like an amazing, untouchable, Goddess. She was pushing other people away to push herself upwards. However, it felt lonely, which is what she was trying to avoid in the first place. Yet she had a hard time realizing it until it swallowed her whole.
So when someone was reaching out to her honestly and earnestly, and she was fully committed to doing the same, it all hit her at once. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and she liked it. Lila looked up and smiled at Alix. Alix reciprocated the smile. Nathalie looked on, assured that things will be alright.
Meanwhile, Adrien came into Marinette and Emilie’s room. “Hey” he said upon entering. He looked and saw Marinette was alone. “Where’s my mother?”
“She’s beginning physical therapy,” Marinette explained.
“Oh” Adrien said, surprised and delighted by the news.
“Some of the doctors were worried, but she insisted she get a start” Marinette continued.
Adrien chuckled. “That’s mother alright.” The couple shared a giggle. “It might be better this way.” Marinette seemed puzzled. Adrien’s smile widened. “Someone’s been missing you.” He took out a box and opened it.
As the box opened, Tikki appeared. Marinette was overcome with delight. “TIKKI!” she gasped.
Tikki flew up to Marinette as fast as she could and hugged her cheek. “Marinette!” The two snuggled each other. Once the little hug was over, Tikki said “I’m glad you’re OK.”
“Me too,” Marinette responded. She averted her gaze for a bit. “I feel like I should have asked you.” Tikki was curious. “About the ultimate move thing. I mean, after what happened with you and the previous holder of the wolf miraculous…”
“Marinette, it’s fine,” Tikki said. “The lucky charm gave you the idea for a reason. In spite of needing to perform that move, both you and her are amazing Ladybugs, and nothing can change that.”
Marinette smiled and blushed. “Thanks Tikki.” Adrien stood there, observing but not interrupting.
As the days went by, the recovery process progressed for the patients, as well as Paris itself. While the city had seen a great deal of damage from Hawk Moth, the Nurushwa attack was on a whole other level. While the miraculous cure did its job, the city was still in shock, and it needed some time to readjust.
During this time, Gabriel was meeting constantly with lawyers to figure out the details of his case. He was making certain arrangements to make sure everything goes smoothly. Meanwhile, Marinette and Lila were getting visits from their classmates to make sure they were doing well, and in Lila’s case, assuring them that they could bury the hatchet.
One of the processes of Paris’s recovery was a self-imposed quarantine. This was an effort to maintain order, get accounts from everyone involved, and maybe trap this Nurushwa figure. However, this was a temporary process, and nearing its end. Among those set to leave Paris once this quarantine was over, Travis and Cassandra were some of the most anxious.
Vlad was meeting with them in their hotel room. “It sucks that we gotta leave soon,” Travis lamented. “I was getting used to having you being in the same neighborhood as us, just like old times.”
“Hm,” Vlad grunted. “I’m going to miss it too. But we’ll never be too far apart. We have cellphones and such.”
“Right…” Travis reluctantly agreed. “It’s just not the same, you know?”
“We can come visit whenever, you know,” Cassandra said.
“I guess that’s true” Travis said, cheering up slightly. He sighed. “Part of me wishes we could just move here, you know? Not only are you here, but the friends you’ve made are amazing.”
“Well, what can I say?” Vlad asked. “Only the best for me.”
Meanwhile, Cassandra chuckled. “Are you sure this isn’t about one friend in particular?” she insinuated.
Travis was caught off-guard. “Well,” he blushed, “I can’t say she isn’t one of the BIGGER reasons… But you must feel it too, you know? The general presence of Vlad’s friends here.”
“Of course,” Cassandra said. “I just can’t miss an opportunity to tease you.” Travis rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile, Kagami was doing some fencing training. Longg was watching her. She was working aggressively, and losing focus. Longg imagined it had something to do with the conversation they had when they got home after the attack and the incident with Katelyn.
Flashing back, Kagami walked into her room. She sat in front of her tv and started playing video games. Longg floated out beside her. “So, um, why did you tell Travis and Cassandra you’re Ryuko?”
Kagami shrugged. “I guess I felt like it.”
“It’s a little unorthodox,” Longg informed her.
“I know…” Kagami replied. She had just been defeated in her game. “Ugh. Fine.”
“Fine what? Longg asked.
Kagami sighed. “I think I’ve made my decision.”
“‘Decision’?” Longg inquired.
“Yeah,” Kagami answered. “And as amazing as Luka is, I think I actually like Travis more.”
“Oh” Longg said, realizing what Kagami was talking about. “So that’s why?”
Kagami nodded. “I figured if we were going to end up going out, he’d have to know the truth at some point or another.”
“So, if you don’t mind,” Longg began, “what was the deciding factor in all of this?”
Kagami smiled. “Like I said, Luka’s great...but Travis has this air about him. He’s just so passionate and free, and I feel like I want that out of a potential boyfriend, you know?”
“I see” Longg said. “So, when are you going to tell him?”
“That, I’m not sure,” Kagami said. “This whole time has been crazy...I want to wait until things settle down a bit before I go jumping into this.”
“That sounds fair,” Longg replied.
Back in the present, Kagami was making mistake after mistake in her training. She threw off her helmet and said “I can’t take it anymore!” She went to go change. Once she was finished, she stormed out of the house.
She started out walking, but then sped up into a run. She was on her way to Le Grand Paris, hoping that he’d be there. When she arrived, she stopped, caught her breath, and composed herself. She walked in, and calmly took the elevator up.
When she got to the floor they were staying in, she left and hurried down the hall. She arrived at their room. She hesitated at first, but she shook herself out of it and knocked. The knock was gentle, but forceful.
Vlad opened the door. “Kagami? What’s up?” Kagami brushed past Vlad. “OK?”
Kagami walked up to Travis. “You!”
Travis seemed confused over this confrontational Kagami. He pointed to himself and said “Me?”
“You!” Kagami repeated. She sighed and loosened her tension. “When I first came to Paris, I thought I was the best there ever was, the best there ever is, and the best there ever will be.”
“O...K…?” Travis said, confused. Vlad and Cassandra were looking on equally confused.
“But right away, I was made apparent of my flaws,” Kagami went on. “As time went on, I’ve slowly learned to overcome those flaws, or at least work towards that. Yet when we first interacted, you seemed to fall in love with me almost instantly. At a time where I kind of hated myself, and I took my anger out on you.” Kagami intensely stared at Travis. “Do you think I’m perfect when I’m not?”
Travis was puzzled. He looked at Vlad and Cassandra, neither of whom were able to help. He turned back to Kagami. “Well...that’s...um…” He sighed. “To be honest, being perfect is overrated.” Kagami was confused. “I didn’t say any of what I said because I thought you were perfect. I said what I said because I thought you were amazing. You still are. But perfect is a bit much to expect, you know?”
Kagami smiled. “Yeah. I do. Hm. Today, while I was practicing fencing, I started to lose focus.” Travis was stunned. “This was the first time since the battle against that Nurushwa thing that I did.”
“I’m sorry…” Travis said, unsure of what else to say.
“Don’t be,” Kagami said. “Because it was the first time since the attack that I had a focus to lose. That I can let my mind think about other things. That I don’t have to worry about a monster peering over my shoulder.”
“Oh” Travis said.
Kagami closed in on him. “I was thinking about you. I think you’re amazing too. So...um...will, uh, will you go out with me?”
Travis’s face was now beat red. Kagami was also blushing, but she looked a little more composed. Still, blushing, Triavis laughed a little. “Hah. Of course.”
Kagami grabbed the lapels of Travis’s jacket. “Oh yeah?” She pulled herself in closer, pressing her body against his. “Prove it.” She gave him a kiss. Travis was taken aback for a second, but wrapped his head around what was happening and focused. He wrapped his arms around Kagami, squeezing her tenderly.
Once the kiss was over, the two looked at each other. They noticed the other was blushing, and started giggling amongst themselves. Travis then said “Now THAT was truly amazing.”
“Congratulations you two,” Cassandra said.
They looked at Cassandra and Vlad, who were smirking, but supportive all the same. “Hm hm. Thanks” Kagami said.
The following day, Mylene and Ivan went to visit Lila, who was also getting a visit from Lorenzo, because of course. “Hi Lila. Lorenzo” Mylene said upon entering.
“Hey,” Ivan said. “How are you all doing?”
Lila giggled. “Well, I’m doing better with all of the visitors I’m getting.” She looked down. “It is nice. After all this time, all of this double-dealing, it is nice that there are people who are willing to give me another shot.”
“It happens to the best of us,” Ivan explained. “If you’re willing to change, people will be there to help.”
“Speaking of helping people,” Mylene said, “the food pantry’s been missing you for the past couple of days Lorenzo.”
“Ah ha ha” Lorenzo laughed. “Well, uh…”
“It’s fine,” Lila said. “I’m in good hands. You’ve been here enough to know that.”
“Right…” Lorenzo said. “It’s just...I’ve missed you...a whole…”
“I know…” Lila said. “I’ve missed you too. And I also missed me as well.” Lorenzo smiled, as did Ivan and Mylene.
Meanwhile, Adrien, Vlad, Travis, Cassandra, and Kagami were visiting Marinette. “Are you two really leaving tomorrow?” Adrien asked.
“Yeah,” Cassandra answered. “We figured we should visit before we’re off.”
“Well, it’s always a pleasure,” Marinette said. “Whenever you come here next, we should hang out more.”
“Hopefully you’re not laid up in a hospital” Cassandra replied.
“Of course,” Marinette responded.
“Let’s hope things aren’t as hectic either” Vlad noted.
“Yeah, there sure were a lot of ups and downs this time around,” Travis added. He looked over at Kagami. “But I will say, this trip went out on top.”
Kagami walked over and embraced him. “We have something to tell you.” Adrien and Marinette were curious.
Travis wrapped his arm around her. “Heh. We’re kind of going out.” Adrien and Marinette were stunned. Kagami gave him a kiss on the cheek to highlight that.
Marinette smiled. “Congratulations you two.”
Kagami turned to Adrien. “You’re not jealous, are you?”
Adrien smiled. “Of course not. I have a wonderful girlfriend, and you have a wonderful boyfriend.”
Kagami smiled back. “Thanks Adrien.”
After they left the hospital, Vlad looked at his cohorts. “You go on ahead. I’ve got something to do.”
“You sure?” Travis said.
“Yeah” Vlad answered. “If I don’t catch back up to you today, I’ll definitely be there to see you off tomorrow.”
“Well, if you’re so determined, then I guess we’ll seeya” Cassandra said. “And good luck.”
“Yeah,” Kagami added. She nodded. Vlad nodded back and left.
While Vlad was walking, Beyyo popped out. “Um, just out of curiosity, what are you doing?”
Vlad sighed. “Mr. Agreste, Lila, Kagami… heck, practically everyone. They’re all starting to move forward. And I need to do the same.”
At the Liberty, there was a knock. Juleka answered. “Vlad?”
“Hey” Vlad said with little emotion. “Can I speak with Luka?”
“Oh. Sure” Juleka said. She left to get Luka.
Luka arrived. “Vlad?”
Vlad tensed up. “Listen.” He stood silent. Luka waited patiently. “GAH!” Vlad vented. Luka flinched. “Sorry” Vlad said, calming down. Luka readjusted himself. “I just have to say it. I..sort of have a thing for you…”
“I’ve noticed,” Luka said nonchalantly.
Vlad’s face grew a little red, but he pressed on. “But I can’t keep holding out for a light that isn’t going to come. So, I need to know now: Is it possible that the two of us could go out? Or are you straight?”
Luka chuckled. Vlad was stunned. “I’m sorry. But that whole speech just now was incredibly adorable.”
Vlad’s face grew redder. “You-You’re not answering the question.”
“Isn’t he?” Beyyo asked.
“Let’sssss wait and sssssee” Sass responded.
Luka grabbed Vlad’s hand. “I’d say it’s more than possible.” He moved in and gave Vlad a kiss on the cheek.
Vlad’s face was entirely red. “Wh-Where did this come from?”
Luka rubbed the back of his head. “Well, I’ve been thinking a lot. About me, and what I want out of someone. I mean, I was a bit down when Marinette started going out with Adrien, but you can’t hang on to one person like that forever. Otherwise, you’re just a one-hit wonder, you know.”
Vlad was taken aback by Luka’s explanation. “I...was sort of thinking the same thing...I needed an answer, otherwise I couldn’t move on…”
“And it’s things like that that made me realize, you’re someone I’d want to go out with” Luka said. “Plus, your impassioned speech was, again, adorable.” Vlad turned his head, a little embarrassed. Luka smirked. “C’mon.” He grabbed Vlad’s head, turned it towards him, and gave him a kiss, this time on the lips. Vlad was surprised, but followed through almost instantly. A few minutes later, all of Vlad and Luka’s friends got a picture of the two of them announcing their new relationship.
The day after, Kagami, Vlad, and Luka were there to see Travis and Cassandra off. “Seeya!” Vlad said.
“Of course!” Travis exclaimed. “And congratulations yourself!” Vlad blushed, but Luka took his hand, and he calmed down. The two started to wave.
“Don’t have too much fun with us!” Cassandra said. The two started getting on the train.
Kagami called out. “Hey!” Travis looked at her. “Promise you’ll call when you get back.”
“Heh” Travis laughed. “What do you take me for?” They both smiled at each other. Travis and Cassandra got on the train, and it started going.
Meanwhile, Alya and Nino were visiting Lila. Of course, they also forgave Lila after Lila apologized. They were having a good time. But then Lila’s face went from happy to somber. “What’s wrong?” Nino asked.
Lila looked at the two of them. “Do you know if Marinette’s coming?”
“Marinette?” Alya wandered.
“Yeah” Lila said. “She’s the one I want to apologize to the most.”
“Oh, um, well…” Nino sputtered.
Lila sighed. “She’s not coming, is she?”
“No no, she’ll come,” Alya replied. “It’s just…”
“It’s fine,” Lila said. “I know a lie when I hear it. I can’t say I’m surprised. Marinette is the one I was the worst to. I can’t imagine she’ll forgive me.” Alya and Nino were awestruck. Lila turned back to them and smiled again. “But thank you two for coming. Honestly.” Alya and Nino nervously laughed.
A little later, Alya and Nino entered Marinette’s room. “Hey guys,” Marinette said.
“Um…” Nino pondered. “What are we telling people who AREN’T in the know?”
Marinette was confused. “Ugh” Alya groaned. “Lila wants to know if you’ll come and visit.”
“Lila?” Marinette wondered.
“Yeah, she’s upstairs,” Nino said. “Room 303.”
“And she’s resigning herself to thinking you won’t forgive her” Alya added. “Um, you will forgive her, right?”
“Huh? Oh, of course” Marinette said.
Alya said. “Good. Because I know you girl, and you got SUPER worked up about her.”
“Yeah…” Marinette said, embarrassed. “When I think of something, I’ll let you know.”
“Great!” Nino said. The three of them had a little visit, but Alya and Nino had to leave. Adrien hung around a little bit, but also left eventually.
That night, Marinette’s mind drifted towards Lila. From what everyone who visited her told her, she really was ready to turn over a new leaf. When she was through apologizing, she was pleasant and fun to be around.
She thought about what Alya told her. Lila really believed that she wouldn’t forgive her. Of course, Marinette had every right not to and then some, but darn it, that just wasn’t who she was. If she can forgive Hawk Moth on some level, she can forgive Lila.
Marinette looked around. Mrs. Agreste had already fallen asleep after another exhausting day of physical therapy. She decided to follow her lead and give it a go. She moved herself to hang her legs off of her bed. “Now or never.”
She gently flung herself downwards. She landed on her feet. She had only done so to use the in-room bathroom, and even that was a bit strenuous, since previously she had been unconscious for a week. She started moving to the door.
By the time she reached it, she was already breathing heavily. She proceeded to open the door. She had been in plenty of situations where she needed to move something heavy when she was Ladybug, and it felt like that. Still, she opened the door and continued to walk.
She had to lean on the wall for support. She was feeling the strain of every step. Yet she was determined all the same.
She made it to the elevator. She got in, pressed the buttons to head up, and leaned back against the wall. The elevator granted her a small reprieve. “You can do this.” The elevator opened. She lifted herself back up and headed out.
She didn’t have to go very far to find room 303, but it felt like a struggle all the way. She arrived at the door. She placed her hands on the handle, and began opening it, calling upon the same strength she used to open her own door.
When she slid the door open, there was a loud sound, which woke up both patrons of the room. Nathalie turned the light on. As soon as she saw a fatigued Marinette wandering into the room, she immediately pressed the “Call Nurse” button. Lila just looked at her in shock and said, “Marinette?”
Marinette looked up at Lila. “Lila…” That was all she could muster before passing out.
Marinette woke up back in her own bed. She was greeted by a doctor. “You gave us quite a scare, Miss Dupain-Cheng,” the doctor said.
Marinette looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright” the doctor noted. “Frankly, I admire your drive, but we should work on baby steps.”
Marinette looked up and smiled. “You’re right.”
“I’m sure with your adventure last night, you’ll do great, '' Emilie said from her bed.
Marinette looked over at her. “Thank you Mrs. Agreste.”
The door opened up.It was Lila. She rushed over to Marinette’s bed. “Marinette! I’m so sorry.”
“Lila? What are you doing here? Marinette asked.
“Well, um, you did come to my room last night,” Lila said.
“Right…” Marinette replied. “I came because Nino and Alya told me that you were asking why I hadn’t visited yet.”
“Oh. That makes sense” Lila realized. “Well, don’t worry, Mr. Agreste explained everything.”
Marinette was confused. “He did?”
“He was here this morning,” Emilie jumped in. “After he heard about what happened, he came to make sure you were OK. When the doctors told him you were stable, he was relieved. He would have stayed, but he said he was busy with the upcoming case.”
“I see…” Marinette said.
“Marinette,” Lila began, “had I known he’d attacked you like that, I would’ve understood.”
Marinette was confused. Before she could say anything, Emilie said “Remember? You were offered the butterfly miraculous to continue Hawk Moth’s mission. And when you said no, he attacked you. Thankfully, Cat Noir, Judgement Wolf, and Ladybug figured him out just then and saved you.” Emilie winked.
“Oh” Marinette said. “Yeah.” She looked downward. “Lila. I don’t want you to think I wouldn’t forgive you. I mean, from what everyone has told me about their visits with you, you sound so sincere about wanting to make it up to everyone. I can’t be mad at that.”
“But you were the person I was the worst to,” Lila admitted.
“I know,” Marinette said. “And trust me, there were days where there was nothing more that I wanted than your complete humiliation.” Lila was stunned with this honesty, but understood it. “But I can’t live in that animosity. I just can’t. Ladybug is working so hard to fight for peace, and I want to be able to live up to that.”
Lila’s face was filled with mixed emotions. “I’ve been living in that animosity for so long. And I thought I enjoyed it, but it all came crashing down on me, and I realized I didn’t want that anymore. But I thought it was too late, so I kept running because that was all I was good at.”
Lila smiled. “But when Ladybug said she wanted to save me, I was overjoyed. She could have left me for dead, and I would have understood it. But she wanted to save me. So now I want to live up to Ladybug’s light too.”
Marinette smiled and reached out her hand. “Friends?”
Lila was about to shake her hand, but instead dove in for a hug. Lila started crying tears of joy. “Friends.” Marinette was startled by this hug, but returned it once the suddenness wore off.