15: Positivity

"Which color looks the best for the background?" You asked Marc, who was standing beside you. You were currently working on the art project at your house. You made a simple image of a water bottle with a simple pastel background with a small border.

"Hm... Light blue..? I guess? For the background, I mean, not the bottle..."

"Yeah, that sounds good. Blue helps with the simplicity." You spoke as you changed the hue of the background layer, turning it into a light blue along with the border. The bottle was already blue/transparent-ish, so that was good. Beneath the bottle was a small caption that read 'Stay Hydrated!'.

Marc and Max didn't actually need to do much work. You were working on more simple posters than stuff with lots of information since this was an art project, and looking at a page full of words wasn't really the best. You went on to the next poster, deciding if you should change the color scheme or put in any more details, then flattened the layers and moved on to the next one. Nathaniel and Max were working together even though you expected Nathaniel and Marc to be together. You weren't so sure why Marc ended up being with you, but you didn't mind.

"Hmmm, any other ideas?" You asked. You had done the list of ideas you had made as a group. You kind of wanted to finish, but decided to ask anyway.

"Uhm, maybe advertisements for clubs?" Marc asked unsurely. 

"Eh? It's their job to get themselves members, not ours..." You spoke with furrowed eyebrows. Club advertisements? Why??

"No, I mean... Like, for clubs in general? So asking people to stay for clubs?" Marc explained awkwardly.

"Ah, I get it. So telling people we have after-school clubs and encouraging people to join one, right? Though, I think that's already on the list..." You mumbled as you went to search the list of ideas you have made with the group.

"Oh, it is?" Marc asked, leaning over your shoulder and reading off the computer screen. "Oh, yeah. It's there... I think Nathaniel and Max are doing that one."

"So, uh..." Marc trailed off awkwardly. You didn't know each other well, and he was very awkward. You let out a small huff with a smile at his awkwardness.

"I guess we can just slack off for the rest of the day. You said you were going back at nine, right?" You asked with a smile. 

"Yeah... Uhm, I'm not really sure what to do now, aha..." He gulped. You span on your chair, thinking of what activities you could do to pass the time.

"Hm... Don't you and Nathaniel make comics?" You asked. Marc nodded.

"Yeah, we do... It's a shame not a lot of people get to read them though..." Marc sighed. People in your class liked to read their comics, but no one else outside even knew about them.

"Why don't you make a webtoon?" You asked nonchalantly. A confused expression appeared on Marc's face.

"Webtoon...?"

"Eh? Have you not heard of it? It's a site where you can post your own comics and stuff. If they're good they get featured and stuff." You spoke, getting the site on your laptop.

"Oh, yeah, I've heard of that... Do you think Nathaniel would agree to do it?" Marc asked.

"Well, why wouldn't he? You could make something pretty cool. Plus he could always ask for help if it gets too stressful." You shrugged. You weren't the best at drawing humans, but shading them was easy. Shading, in general, was easy for you.

"O-Okay... I'll ask him!" Marc said, a determined expression appearing on his face. You laughed with a bright smile.

"Alright!"

"Uh... Should I do it now...?" He asked unsurely. You shrugged.

"Not sure. But are you going to post one of your Ladybug things, or make a whole new story?"

"W   -Well, I thought we'd make a new story, since all the Ladybug ones aren't really... Original? Well, they are, but..."

"They're like fan comics." You finished. Marc paused.

"...Oh. That's the word." Marc laughed awkwardly. You smiled at his uncertainty. Ahh, both Nathaniel and Marc were both awkward beans.

"Do you think Max and Nathaniel are done by now? We could all do something together if they are."

"Uhm, Nathaniel didn't finish some of his drawings since he had a lot of extra science homework, since he didn't do so good in the lesson or any recent tests. So Max will help him out before they get onto the drawing, so they'll probably take a while..." Marc laughed awkwardly.

"Video games, then?" You asked with a smirk. Marc let out an awkward laugh.

"Sure."

You both headed down the stairs to set up your console. Marc sat stiffly in the couch, still not so comfortable in your house. You decided you shouldn't push him and let him relax in his own time. You grabbed your controllers and handed one over to him. He gulped.

"Uh, I'm not so good with games..." He mumbled, slightly nervous with the controller in his hands.

"It doesn't matter." You shrugged. The console was turning on when you heard a noise behind you. Almost like a phasing sound. You ignored it, but Marc, since he was so on edge, whipped his head around. You rolled your eyes at his paranoid behavior and continued to concentrate on the screen. Before you could even scroll the games, he yelled.

"Y/N! WATCH OUT!" He shouted, pushing you aside. You yelped as you fell to the floor. Marc stumbled back in the opposite direction, leaving a purple butterfly with glowing wings between the both of you.

"A-An Akuma...!?" You gulped, scurrying backward. Marc did the same. The Akuma started to slowly flutter toward you. You gulped. But wait...

Isn't this what you wanted?

You glanced at Marc. He had fear in his eyes. But there was something else... His eyes were full of regret. Why? You didn't understand. Was it because he regretted coming? No, that wasn't it...  Could it have been because he regretted not being able to help you...?

...You didn't want this Akuma. You didn't want to turn back. Why would you?

No, this wasn't what you wanted.

The Akuma slowly fluttered toward you, but you didn't care. You had no negative emotions. It couldn't touch you.

"Y-Y/N! QUICK!" Marc yelled, throwing a pillow at the Akuma. The Akuma simply phased through, but it had stalled for a few seconds. Before you realized it, Marc was already dragging you out the door.

"W-Wait, Marc..!"

"We've got to get away!!"

You continued to run until you reached the Trocadero, the place where Alix and Kim had their race. You were left out of that... Everyone forgot to invite you. Marc continued to drag you until you reached an area with fewer people. Some people looked at you strangely, but it was okay. The Akuma hadn't followed you. You both stopped, out of breath. Marc was clearly more tired than you.

"Y-Y/N... The Akuma was after you..." Marc panted, looking up with concerned eyes. You let out a humorless laugh.

"Yeah... It did..." You gulped, not having the will to meet his eyes. He suddenly took an abrupt step forward, causing you to lean back.

"B-But why?! Are you okay? You've already been akumatized! Wh-Why's it happening again...?! Is it because of me..? Did I do something wrong...??" Marc gulped, shrinking backward.

"W-What? N-No..! No, no, that's not it, I promise! Honestly, I'm not sure why... Aha..." You laughed. Ugh, this story wasn't convincing in the slightest.

"Y/N..." Marc sighed, the concerned glint still evident in his eyes.

You continued to desperately search your mind for lies or excuses. How were you meant to get yourself out of this? You couldn't tell him you were willingly Akumatized the first time, and Hawkmoth was going to try Akumatize you like that again! He'd avoid you forever!

You momentarily stopped panicking and looked in his eyes. He looked so worried. It seemed genuine. How could someone you barely knew care so much. You let out a sigh.

You didn't want to lie. But you still didn't want to say the truth. What to do?

You stayed silent.

"I... Alright, I believe you... Hawkmoth can make mistakes... R-right?" Marc gulped, his eyebrows furrowed and a forced smile plastered to his face. You let out a sigh.

"Look, I'm honestly fine..." What else could you say? Everything you could think of was a lie. 

"It's okay. No need to explain if you're uncomfortable. U-Uhm, you can talk any time, though..." Marc spoke awkwardly, using reluctant hand motions as he talked. You smiled.

"Thanks... Anyway, wanna go play some games?" You smirked as you walked off. Marc quickly caught up.

"W-What?? But... We can't go back to your place! What if it's still there?!"

"Ahh, it doesn't matter. It can't hurt me anyway. Plus we didn't lock the door, so we have to go back." You shrugged. Marc paled comically at your last sentence.

"I-I forgot about that..! Let's go, quick!" He yelled, running off. You laughed.

"Alright!"

So your life was taking a positive turn. How nice.