⚠⚠⚠ (!!Warning!! Suicide, abuse, self-harm, swearing and bullying are mentioned throughout this chapter and I advise sensitive readers to be cautious reading ahead.) ⚠⚠⚠

Lots of love Abs xx

Nino Lahiffe

A man of little words but expressive in his own way

Not very social but stays strong with the one friends he holds dear to his heart, this was once Marinette.

Once, a word with many meanings. It can be the start of a fairy tale, Once upon a time. If only she lived in a fairy tale, her life was everything but one. Her life started off as one, but not all fairy tales have a happy ending where the Princess lives Happily ever after with her Prince lover. Expectations vs reality if you must.

Once. It can be temporary, I once owned something. Something that formerly belonged to you or you had; it could be an object, friendship, emotions, a life and so much more.

Once. It can symbolise even a number, it practically has the number one in itself. It's also the number eleven in Spanish but that's irrelevant right now.

Once upon a time, there lived a girl called Marinette. It starts like every other fairy tale does, the mother of the main protagonist is dead and she's left to be raised by her father and other family members. Marinette wasn't born in the most ideal city but her family made it more than ideal, they made it perfect.

Everything was amazing for the girl, all till the city decided to be its usual self; which lead to the young girls departure to Paris. The city of Love should've been it, Marinette truly did believe it too but life isn't what it seems. She had loving Guardians, amazing friends, it was all going great and she couldn't wait for the coming years.

She wish she could wait, the years came all too quick.

She soon became a heroine with powers to stop a megalomaniac. She was fine with it, she knew her family worked in a similar field, it wouldn't hurt to try and she enjoyed it thoroughly. All till one person ruined it. The antagonist in our Fairy tale: Lila Rossi.

She's the evil queen in Snow White

She's the Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty

She's the Jaffar in Aladdin

She's the Lady Tremaine in Cinderella

She's the Cruella Deville in 101 Dalmatians

She's the Gaston in Beauty and the Beast

You get what role she plays in this tale.

The story starts to go downhill with her lies, back stabbing, stealing. She reaches her lowest, everyone's gone. No partner in 'crime', no friends, no family, no one.

Then when the Prince is meant to enter the plot, he hasn't no, not yet. She's still stuck, she's digging her own grave; she's aware she is and won't stop the process.

Yet, unbeknownst to our antagonist, her Prince is shining armour isn't real, he isn't her love interest No. It's the trip she won for her class.

I'm not speaking metaphorically, this trip is what's going to bring her back up, it's going to be apart of her stories climax. She's just not aware. To the girl, she's coming to the ending of her story, the words 'the end' are approaching faster and faster.

Her ending isn't going to be your typical fairy tale ending where she lives Happily ever after with the love of her life. She's ending unhappily ever after. She's aware.

Anyways, back to the subject at hand. Nino Lahiffe:

First male best friend of our favourite protagonist

DJ in the making

Former Turtle miraculous holder

Older sibling and role model to his younger brother Chris

Once akumatised bubbler. And even,

Ex boyfriend of an Alya Cesaire.

So it all started with Lila, surprise!!

She had managed to pull one of her many tricks after finding Nino annoying and useless to her. She had many minions and he was ruining her kingdoms structure, Why you say? All because he started to hesitate at her lies ever since they arrived in Gotham. Why he only started to hesitate now?

When Marinette first came to Paris and didn't know French, let alone having a really strong accent that he wasn't familiar with, and then later finding out it was a Gotham accent. He was given brief background information on who she was just without all the famous last name and family stuff. To him and even now if he deeply considered it, it was so cool to have someone he could call his friend come from a place like Gotham.

Lila didn't know what caused this sudden hesitation but decided that one less peasant to rule over wouldn't affect her Kingdom much, if any, none at all. So she decided to pull her trusty editing skills out along with her none failing crocodile tears. Mix them all in one big mixing bowl that you would use for baking a wedding cake, and you've got proof of a boyfriend cheating on his girlfriend he was in a 4 year relationship with.

The question he asked himself after the whole ordeal was, Did he still love her?

He probably would've still be in love with her if it wasn't for Lila, but she was a real game changer for his. She showed the boy everyone's true colours and maybe even his own.

Reflecting was hard, he couldn't find it in himself to cry or regret not backing himself up. What he did regret was his actions in the past, leaving his friend, no longer trusting in Ladybug after Chat Noir left the hero team abruptly without warning. He regretted not helping his friend when the whole class began bullying her, abusing her, shouting at her; he regretted it all. How could he approach her after all he didn't and did do, that would be out of the question.

But for once in his life, he would appreciate his friends social ability, her ability to be selfless and forgiving, her ability to be kind and a role model. For once, he was glad he was happy he was friends with social people despite being an introvert himself; Marinette was definitely an extrovert and for once he wouldn't mind and would embrace her lovely personality and factor.

Once is a very strong word as you can see, and its a key word in this Chapter as of far. This word 'Once' is very peculiar. I may be only fourteen myself but this word is one that even I find hard to interpret and give a definition, Even google agrees with me because Google gives more than one meaning for the word. It hasn't got a single meaning, it can be used in several scenarios and can meaning several different things; this is what makes the word so different and special from the rest. It's also why the first half of this chapter is practically based on it.

Once again, back to the subject at hand. Nino didn't hesitate to accept the break up, did his actions shock anyone? He doesn't know and frankly doesn't care! What did you suspect from him? He's known to be clueless, gullible and care free anyways; what's the problem in him letting loose and going back to his old self?

The old Nino was the one that everyone liked, The old Nino was the one who made friends with Marinette, The old Nino was the wielder of the protection Miraculous.

It was about time that old Nino made his comeback, Once and for all. Better late than never, Don't you agree?

Him changing into his previous self also made talking to Marinette easier. What took it in her to forgive him for his doings? He will never know and frankly he doesn't mind what voice in her mind told her to do what she did, he was just glad he didn't loose his friend. He could've teared hearing the words that came from her mouth

"I'm sorry Nino, I forgive you."

He was sure he teared at that but being in the moment, he didn't realise the salty tears dropping from his brown eyes. He was so ever so grateful for her forgiveness, even if it was less than thirty minutes ago.

Their ten minute break somehow stretched into a twenty minute one but Nino wasn't complaining, it gave him the time to apologise and earn his friends forgiveness. She was too pure for this world.

Eventually, after their break Marinette 'forgot' to go to the toilet and left while they continued the tour. Their tour guides didn't seem to notice the missing pupil and they didn't seem to care. Did they notice she was gone?

After some recollection, he made a story in his head as to why they wouldn't 'from how they interacted, they somehow knew each other which was near impossible if he didn't know her origins. She must've come to the building before leading to them not worrying for the 'lost' girl.

Not even ten minutes later, they made it onto the next floor and Marinette caught up with the group, her hands constantly clutching her abdomen. Nino barely noticed but brushed it off after countless times he encountered his now Ex girlfriend doing it when she was on her monthly, he didn't want to bring that up just in case. That would be hella awkward not only for him but maybe even her.

All till lunch, the tour was great. It was peaceful not having someone constantly attached to your arm and nagging you who runs in every directions for some pathetic blog that lost its purpose. It was peaceful to not hear someone's lies and having to be infatuated with them and listening to the class be mesmerised. Being single, he forgot how it felt after being in a relationship in his early teens.

It felt different and it would sure take some time to get adjusted to his own timetable and not his girlfriends one. Heck, he'd have to actually make his own because he literally followed Alya's one. But he felt free, it was nice and he couldn't look forward to when they got back to Paris.

Thinking back to it, their relationship could've been one sided. Thinking back to it, he would've still had a random crush on Marinette if not for Animan and Ladybug. Thinking back to it, Alya was manipulative. Thinking back to it, Alya was clingy. Thinking back to it, Alya was fake and wanted attention and to be with only the best of the best. Thinking back to it, Alya went from person to person who had good connections.

For once and only this once, he was glad Lila lied. For once, he's glad he went through this realisation. For once, he's glad he's gone through these ups and downs over his lycee years. For once, he won't regret but at the same time regret his past. For once, his eyes are open wide and won't be blinded again. For once and only once will he be thanking Lila and her Kingdom of fakes.

For once. And only will he for once in his life, he wasn't thinking negatively of Lila Rossi. Thank you to the lying snake.

He won't ever turn a blind eye to the ones he can actually classify as his friends, he's for once made his mind up and won't stay quiet like his old timid self.

Nino was thankful, for Once.

"Thank you Lila Rossi, for what everything you've done."

For Once, the Thank you was genuine to a girl who didn't deserve it.

Just this Once