Chapter Text
"Dude, are you okay?" Nino asked snapping his fingers in front of Adrien's face. Adrien had fought an akuma last night and it lasted until 3 in the morning, so he was exhausted.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What were you saying?" Adrien asked his friend.
"I was talking about the party this Friday and how I'm going to be DJing for it. I can't believe that Chloe Bourgeois wants me to play at her party!" Nino rambled on for a little while longer about how good it would be for his career, but Adrien couldn't pay attention. It wasn't that he didn't care, he was just really tired.
"Hey Alya, Marinette." Nino greeted after he was done talking.
"Hey Nino," both girls responded in sync.
"Hello," Adrien said to the girls that had already sat behind him.
"Hi Adrien." Marinette replied without even stuttering. Mid yawn she froze realizing who she just spoke to. She stared at the blond boy in front of her. Alya let out a slight laugh. She leaned over to the bluenette.
"You said something to him without stuttering! Granted it was only two words, but that's a record for you!" Alya whispered excitedly in her friends ear. A blush spread across Marinettes face. Before she could say anything, Madame Bustier walked into the class.
"Hello class." And with that she started the lesson.
"I can't believe that we got invited to a Bourgeois party!" Alya yelled, clutching the golden envelope that was handed to her.
"What if it's a prank? What if she's gong to dump slime on us or maybe cut up our outfits?" Marinette looked at the shimmering casing with uneasiness.
"But it was technically Sabrina who invited us and she likes us. Or, at least," Alya paused trying to find the right words. "She doesn't hate us."
"I'd guess, but I'm still a little nervous."
"What do you mean you can't come?!" A familiar voice yelled behind them. The girls turned to see Nino shouting at Adrien. They shared a confused look before moving closer to the two boys to hear the conversation.
"I mean that my dad just called me and told me that I have a photoshoot from four to eight tonight so even though I will technically be able to make it to the party I'm tired enough already but that will completely drain me." Adrien replied in one long sentence.
"What? You can't come?" Alya asked loudly.
"Sorry guys, you know how much I wish I could come, but this is really important." Adrien held on to the strap of his bag, looking down at his shoes sadly. He really did want to go, but his father was more important. He knew that his friends didn't mean to, but they made him feel kind of bad. He wanted to be there for Nino's first time playing a party. He wanted to be there for Chloe. He wanted to, but he couldn't and his feelings didn't go unnoticed.
"I'm sorry, Adrien," Marinette said after a few seconds of silence. All of them turned to her. She hadn't said anything yet and she had managed to say it without stuttering. Adrien looked up to see Marinette staring him in the eyes. Usually when people give him that look it never means anything. They say sorry but they don't mean it. But this was her actually apologizing. She looked genuinely upset.
"F-for what?" Adrien stuttered. It wasn't her fault that he couldn't go to the party.
"For everything," Marinette's eyes never left Adrien's. "I know how much you want to go but you can't because you don't want to disappoint your father. Every other kid in this school would go no matter what their parents said, but you won't. I heard about your mom, by the way." Marinette looked down sadly for a second before meeting Adrien's eyes again. Alya and Nino started in awe at Marinette. "I'm really sorry about that too. I've never lost a parent, or even anyone close to me, so I can't even begin to understand how much pain you and your father are constantly going through. You don't want to disappoint your father because both of you don't have anyone else. I'm sorry that we made you feel bad about not going to the party. I'm sorry that you can't go. I'm sorry that we made you feel like you had to. I'm sorry for everything." They all stared at Marinette in complete silence. She had never said more than a sentence to him before.
"I-" Alya started before silencing herself. Marinette giggled nervously.
"W-where did that c-come f-f-rom?Anyway t-that's j-just um, s-sorry, I-I-I should g-go. Bye." Marinette ran past them and towards her house. She heard footsteps echoing behind her.
"Girl! Wait!" Alya's voice yelled from behind.
"I," Marinette had trouble breathing after running that much. "Can't... believe... I... just... did... that!"
"I can't believe... you just did that either!" Alya replied, out of breath as well. Marinette looked back at the schoolyard to see Adrien and Nino still just standing there. Marinette sighed and pushed open the door to her parents bakery.
"Hi honey," Her mother greeted. "Oh, and hello Alya."
"Hey, mom." Marinette walked through the bakery.
"Hello, Madam Dupain-Cheng." Alya followed.
"Alya, I told you to call me Sabine." Sabine hugged both girls. "Marinette, you know you don't always have to come in through the bakery right? You can go through the front door."
"I know but I needed to talk to you. There's a party tonight and I was wondering if I could go." Marinette grabbed two cookies off of the tray and handed one to Alya.
"I don't see why not. Is Alya going too?"
"Yes Mada- I mean, Sabine," Alya corrected.
"Well, I'm okay with it. What time will you be home?" Sabine started to wipe the counter with a wet rag.
"Um, it says on the note that it will end anywhere from 1:00to4:00am." Marinette sped through the last part of the sentence.
"Did you say 1:00 to 4:00?!" Sabine almost yelled. She hated yelling, especially in public.
"Um, yes? But I promise that I'll be back by midnight, I probably couldn't even stay up later than that." Marinette assured.
"Okay." Sabine still sounded unsure, but she agreed. She knew her daughter was responsible enough.
"Thanks mom!" Marinette hugged her mother and ran up the stairs. Alya waved and followed Marinette up.
"What are you going to wear?" Alya asked when she got through the trapdoor.
"I have," Marinette paused looking through her clothes. "No idea."
"What about this one?" Marinette came out of the bathroom. She had already tried on four different outfits and Alya said no to all of them. This time she was wearing a short pink dress with a pale yellow cardigan. Last time she had black shorts with a white long sleeved shirt and and a pink scarf. The time before that was a simple red spotted dress. The first one was a blue, high waisted skirt and a black dress shirt.
"No," Alya looked back at her phone. She was wearing a black skirt, a purple shirt, and a grey beanie.
"Why not? I thought this one was cute." Marinette complained.
"It is, it's just not a party outfit. Everyone is going to be in gold, so if we're in black, then we will stand out," Alya explained.
"Ugh, fine. I'll try and find something black." Marinette looked through her closet but was only able to find one.
"What about this one?" Marinette was wearing a Chat inspired outfit. It was a dark green tank top with a leather jacket over it. She had a short black skirt on. Her hair was up in a messy bun. Alya gasped.
"It's perfect." Alya stood and admired her outfit. Marinette looked at the clock.
"It's about to start, we should get going." Marinette grabbed her purse and headed down the stairs. "Mom! We're leaving!" Marinette yelled.
"Okay! Have fun!" Sabine yelled back.
"Have I ever told you how much I love your mom?" Alya asked as they stepped outside.
"You didn't have to, my mom is great and I know it." Marinette bragged. Alya just laughed in response as they made their way to Le Grand Paris. They kept walking in silence before they got to the doors leading into the hotel.
"Are you ready?" Alya asked putting her hand on the door, about to push it open.
"No. What if she is going to prank us? What if-" Marinette was cut of by Alya.
"I'm opening the door now," Alya said, before pushing the door open. The second the door opened, loud music flooded their ears. They walked into the dim room. They could see a lot of their friends.
"You guys came!" Sabrina yelled excitedly. She was wearing a simple golden dress.
"Thanks for inviting us!" Alya yelled back. They could hear some yelling they couldn't understand and Sabrina turned to yell back at them.
"Sorry guys, I have to go, but if you need anything I can help! Later!" Sabrina ran off in the direction of the music.
"What are you two doing here?!" Chloe's voice rang out behind them.
"Sabrina invited us!" Marinette yelled back.
"Ugh! Fine, you can stay, but if you guys try to upstage me then I'm kicking you out!" Chloe stomped off.
"That was the nicest she's ever been to me!" Marinette yelled to Alya. The music stopped and Nino's voice took its place.
"How's everyone doing tonight?!" Nino yelled out. Everyone cheered in response. Nino continued to talk.
"I forgot Nino was DJing!" Alya yelled.
"Me too!" Marinette responded. "I wonder how Adrien is doing."
Adrien groaned as he walked into his desolate house. He was exhausted and wanted to collapse right there on the floor. As he neared his room something white flew in front of his face. It took a second for Adrien to realize but when he did his breathing became erratic. It was an akuma. It started to fly away and Adrien followed. Adrien walked through the massive house. The white butterfly flew through the massive halls. It eventually flew into a room Adrien didn't recognize. The butterfly flew through the slightly opened door. Adrien looked through the crack and saw his father standing there talking to something.
"Nooroo, dark wings rise!" Gabriel exclaimed. Adrien's eyes widened. Something purple flew into the brooch. Butterflies swarmed the man in front of him. When they dispersed, the one and only Hawkmoth was stood where his father just was. Adrien pushed open the door and slowly walked in. The floor under Adrien creaked, alerting Hawkmoth of his presence. Hawkmoth turned to face the boy.
"Adrien, what are you doing in here?!" Gabriel asked furiously.
"F-father?"