The unlucky shot

„Not that I'm complaining, Master Fu, but why are we meeting at a café today and not at your apartment?", Marinette asked as she took a sip from her cup of tea and enjoyed the warm sunlight that tickled her skin.

She was sitting at a corner café with her elderly friend and master in the centre of Paris, as so many others on this fine and sunny Sunday afternoon. The owners had put out the furniture for outside, as spring had finally conquered winter and it was time to sit outside and bask in the sun again.

Master Fu smiled.
„What kind of a friend would I be if I wouldn't treat such a lovely young lady friend to an afternoon of sunshine and tea once in a while? Our duties can be paused sometimes, Marinette. Especially on a sunny day like this."

Marinette smiled, snatching a Macaroon from a plate and secretly giving it to Tikki and Waizz, who where hiding under the table, sitting on her knees. They did not know it yet, but Marinette, Master Fu and their Kwamis didn't have much time to bask in the sun and enjoy the day.

Being Ladybug, Marinette knew how to fight Akumas by now. Transform, find the Akuma, capture it, set it free.
The problem was that in the real world, not all evil came with an Akuma. And not everyone who attacked someone else was evil. So when she got shot through the left shoulder by a mentally ill woman with a gun, there had not been a time or an opportunity to transform.

The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was Master Fu and his concerned expression.
But while the blood was gushing from her shoulder, her eyes closed and she fell to the ground, she had the strangest pictures in her mind – one of Adrien – and one of Chat Noir.

When Marinette woke up, she felt the excruciating pain in her left shoulder. It spread like a wildfire through her entire torso, shooting lightning bolts of adrenalin through her entire body. The first thing she saw when she woke up was the white and sterile ceiling of a hospital room and the moonlight that was brightening her room a little.

Before she could think she was alone in the room, she felt something moving against her hip, from under the covers, slowly emerging.

"Marinette! I was so worried!", Tikki whispered, tiny tears running down her face, as the Kwami snuggled against her neck.
"T-Tikki… What happened?", Marinette said – or tried to say. Her throat was so dry…

Tikki, realising that it was hard for Marinette to move, flew into her field of visionand started to explain.
"We were...well, you were sitting at this café in the city with Master Fu. And.. and suddenly there was this woman and she-… she pointed a gun at – well everyone.."

Slowly, the memories came back.
There had been nothing particularly extraordinary about the woman passing them on the street. She had suddenly pulled out a gun from her bag, shouted at everyone, waved her weapon and Marinette, reacting on instinct, had stood up to act as a shield for Master Fu.

The movement must have scared the woman, because she had aimed – and fired.
"I- I'm so sorry Marinette. I only had a second to react! My luck-magic saved you from getting a bullet through your heart and from dying… but you still got hurt. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Marinette clenched her teeth, forced her right hand to move and took Tikki in her palm to comfort her.
"You saved my life, Tikki. There's no need to apologise.", she whispered. Finally, she took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain in her shoulder. She looked around the room and realised she was alone.

"Is Master Fu okay? What happened after I passed out?", she asked, as soon as she felt that Tikki had calmed down a little.
Marinette felt Tikki snuggling a little closer to her.

"Waizz happened. ", she mumbled. "He released a huge amount of magic, a ginourmos shield spell to protect everyone. The woman got knocked out by the force of his rage."
"His rage?", she asked
Marinette felt Tikki smile. "He gets really angry when someone gets hurt and he can't protect them. So when he saw that you got shot to protect his Master, well… He lost it a bit."

Sighing, Marinette closed her eyes again. The pain was still pulsing through her body, but it was dulling down a little with every throb of her heart. Pain medication, probably. "The woman is in custody and will get help for her mental disease. The police didn't take long to come and arrest her. Nobody knew why she did it. But sometimes, bad things happen randomly."
All Marinette could do was agree. As her mind began to wander, she thought about what her mind had shown her before she lost had consciousness. She had seen Alya, Adrien, Nino, her parents – and Chat. All of a sudden, another burst of warmth filled her body, but it did not come from pain, but from thinking about Chat.

"Do my parents know where I am?"
"They came as soon as they heard and stayed when you were in surgery. They were sent home. It's three in the morning, but surely they're not sleeping… But if you press the button for the nurse they'll get called over right away."
"And Master Fu?"
"He has to take care of Waizz. And himself. The burst of magic both knocked them out."

There was nothing more to be said. Marinette was tired, her whole body hurt, but she wanted to see her parents.
With all the strenght she could muster, she reached out with her right hand and pressed the button to summon the nurse.

Alya didn't know why, but when Miss Bustier came into the classroom on Monday morning and Marinette was late, she knew that something was wrong.
Her best friend being late for school was nothing new – it happened a lot, she was used to it.
But something on this particular Monday morning and the frown on her teachers face made her worry.

"Good morning, class.", Miss Bustier said and put her things onto her desk before turning to everyone with a stern face.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news, so please listen carefully."

The chatter in the class immediately stopped and all attention was focused on the young woman in the front.
"I am sure you have all heard about the horrible shooting incident yesterday afternoon. A mentally ill woman pulled a gun and fired it at innocent bystanders."
The class was silent still, but suddenly, a rush of adrenalin shot through Alyas body. Surely Miss Bustier didn't mean…

"All teachers have been called to the principals office today. I'm sorry to have to say this, but the young girl that was shot was our lovely Marinette."

The outburst was instant and everyone reacted in their own ways. But Alya didn't realise how – she just knew that it was loud as she stood up and clenched her fists, fighting off tears.
Miss Bustier called for silence.
"I have just spoken to Marinettes mother on the phone.", she shouted. "The bullet apparently went straight through Marinettes shoulder and her life is not in danger. She will be fine. However, she will have to stay in the hospital for a while."

Alya fell back down onto the bench and could feel Nino wrapping his arms around her. Apparently he had stood up from his seat in front of her and set beside her the moment he had heard.
Miss Bustier coughed.

"Marinettes mother wanted me to know that Marinette is well enough to receive visitors, but she wishes that you don't come all at once. Also, since you are her closest classmates, the Principal will send you all home for today, since a normal schoolday will not be possible. I also have to assure you that the woman who did this is in police custody and can not hurt anyone anymore."

Alya didn't hear anything. All she thought about was Marinette and how she would go straight to the hospital and not stop at home. And that she would bring Nino and Adrien.