13: First Encounter

                                    

                                          
•••
                          
Marinette gasped at the sight before her eyes. The medieval Paris looked as lively as ever, picture perfect, just like in her textbooks.
                          
'The time after the revolution. Wow.'
                          
"We need to stay low." Aurora said and Bridgette nodded in understanding.
                          
"I know that you're not really used to this, but we would have to work like the normal folk here. I know that this is not the best type of life for someone—"
                          
"Who lived in a huge house where with each passing second, they were reminded of their worthlessness and frowned upon existence, continuously and without fail? Where they had no control over their own life and say in decisions? I beg to differ but I think that working for myself might be the best life after all."
                          
This seemed to have quietened Aurora down, until she smiled sadly.
                          
"I'm sorry Bridge. I know that it was hard for you there. Especially with her around."
                          
"Hm."
                          
"Well, we'll just look around for now, okay? Try and find work?"
                          
The rest of the day, the two young girls, looked around and went from place to place in search of work. Luck wasn't in their favour, in the outskirts of the town, but they were fateful enough to find a decent place to live and work not far out the town square. 
                          
Marinette knew about the miraculous but Bridgette didn't. She could feel herself spacing out and muting out the outside world, despite trying to resist. With no luck whatsoever, she gave up eventually and let herself be drowned in by Bridgette's thoughts and confusion.
                          
What the 17 year old bluenette found the most amusing was how Bridgette freaked out just like she did. The latter was ready to throw the box away in a frenzy had not Aurora shown up at the convenient moment and postponed the reaction. Now Marinette knew why Tikki wasn't offended by her calling the little kwami a 'bug mouse' on their first encounter. 
                          
Thinking about her lovely and lively little friend, her heart filled with sadness and longing. Sure, Tikki was here, with Bridgette, but Marinette missed the kwami that she knew and had grown to love so much. Her Tikki.
                          
"—tte? Bridgette? BRIDGETTE?!"
                          
"Wh—a? What is it?"
                          
Aurora sighed, wearing a slightly annoyed expression. 
                          
"You've been spacing out a lot Bridge. I could've really appreciated some help and input from your side when we were searching for work."
                          
"S-Sorry."
                          
"Now help me arrange the cupboards please?"
                          
"Sure thing!"
                          
As they both busied themselves on with the work, Marinette heard Aurora sigh and sit down with a thump, a while later. She then clapped her hands together and closed her eyes, as if praying.
                          
"I thank our stars that we managed to make it this far with ease."
                          
"Yeah." Bridgette smiled. "Now, we can finally start anew."