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Sabine has always known Marinette would be a remarkable and resilient child. After three miscarriages, the couple came to terms that they would never be parents, only for Marinette to be born a year later, though she was born at only 26 weeks. This came with its own set of challenges, all of which Marinette conquered, which was why they named her Marinette, which means ‘to rise.’ Sabine insisted her middle name be Qíjī, which means ‘miracle’ in her native language, while Tom and Gina wanted Felice, an Italian name meaning ‘lucky.’ In the end, they all won and Marinette Qíjī Felice Dupain-Cheng went home 4 months later.
Marinette’s health conditions didn’t disappear after she left the hospital, however. She had asthma, which was controlled with an inhaler when needed, and her gross motor skills were slow to develop, leading her to be clumsy and uncoordinated. She also tended to stutter, which calmed through time with a speech therapist at the school. The biggest challenge was when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. From then on, her parents made sure to have sugar-free sweets on hand so Marinette could enjoy them with her friends.
Marinette never really thought much about her health issues and her friends were supportive of her. She had practically grown up with Nino and Kim, as their parents were all in the same birthing classes together and continued to stay in touch. The boys were protective of their ‘baby sister’ and while Marinette was able to protect herself, she loved that her ‘brothers’ would step in when she needed them to.
When Marinette had to start watching what she ate and test her sugar levels, the boys decided to go on the same diet and exercise plan, as a show of support. Kim took up swimming with her while Nino was happy to help with her dancing. They all made sure to go to either the park or on a walk every day as well. The trio also stopped eating pork, to support Nino, which led to their bodies having an almost allergic reaction when they ate it.
At the end of their final year in college, the group had been excited when Marinette was allowed to try out a new device to monitor her sugar levels. It attached to her arm and gave her up to the minute readings through an app on her phone. She was happy that she no longer had to prick her already sensitive fingers and it also meant they weren’t sore while she drew or designed.
Marinette’s life was normal when she entered lycee. After finally telling Chloe to back off, falling head over heels for Adrien, befriending Alya, and becoming Ladybug, Marinette didn’t think her life could get any crazier. She was wrong, so wrong.
Enter one Lila Rossi, liar extraordinaire. The fox walked right into the hen house and took everything that Marinette had worked so hard for this year away within a few weeks. The only people who believed Marinette were Nino, Kim, and Adrien. Chloe chose to stay out of the drama of it all, knowing the vixen was lying but not caring as long as she was left alone. The girls all followed Alya, who was firmly in Lila’s corner. The tension reached an all time high when Alya accused Nino of cheating on her, which resulted in a screaming match and the end of their relationship.
Marinette felt terrible when the couple broke up, but Nino convinced her it had been coming. Alya was stubborn and never took his thoughts or fears into consideration, even when he explained alternatives to her reckless behavior. He also didn’t like how she would push Marinette into uncomfortable situations with Adrien in hopes the two would finally get together. He knew about Marinette’s anxiety and other issues, which seemed to act up around the blonde model, and usually left the girl feeling humiliated. Marinette insisted she had come up with many of the ideas, but had to admit that the schemes had gotten out of hand, such as the one at the wax museum. The trio had decided after that incident, that Marinette needed to take a step back and reevaluate her behavior. She realized she had been no better than a stalker to her friend and vowed to stop her obsessing. It was difficult, but without Alya and the other girls constantly pushing her, she found that being near Adrien was a lot easier. It also helped that she had Nino and Kim with her and Adrien had started dating Kagami.
---
A few months after Nino and Alya’s break up, the unthinkable happened. Alya and the rest of the girls had been eating lunch with Lila on Wednesday when the viper saw Marinette handing out treats to her little group of misfits before enjoying one herself. She smirked internally before turning to her little flock.
“It’s so mean of Marinette not to share her treats with the whole class anymore,” Lila simpered, nodding her head slightly to indicate the group she was referring to.
“I know right!” Alya huffed. “If she would just get…” her sentence dropped when she looked over at the group. After a few seconds, her expression darkened.
“Alya, is everything okay?” Rose asked, placing her hand on the brunette.
“She’s been lying to us,” Alya hissed through clenched teeth. The girls leaned back a bit and Lila looked especially nervous, thinking Alya had somehow figured her out.
Alix was the brave one to voice the question everyone wanted to ask. “Who?”
“Marinette!” Alya stood up and started pacing. “She told everyone she couldn’t have sugar, yet she’s over there eating sweets!” She finished her sentence with a wave of her arm in the bluenette’s direction where she was, indeed, eating cookies with the rest of her friends. “All the times she tried to accuse Lila of lying and she’s been boldly lying to our faces this whole time!”
“I bet she used it to gain sympathy from Adrien!” Lila accused. “No wonder he’s always with her! He’s such a sweet boy, of course he would help someone with medical problems.”
“Then why won’t he help you?” Alix asked.
“Oh, he was! Well, until Marinette talked to him,” Lila folded in on herself. “I don’t know what she said, but Adrien started accusing me of lying, saying he wouldn’t help me anymore because, unlike Marinette, my ailments aren’t real.”
“We have to do something,” Rose burst out. “We can’t let sweet Adrien be led astray!”
“And I have the perfect way to do it,” Alya stated in a voice so cold, it sent shivers down everyone’s spine.
---
Friday Alya put her plan into action. The class was working at the Le Grand Paris hotel again for some work study and Alya had managed to get Ms. Bustier to let her work with her mother this year. After that, it was simple to get everything ready. The class would be eating in the restaurant and there were three bowls of soup set to the side for the little liar, Alya’s cheating ex-boyfriend, and dense jock. Alya knew that they were there to make sure that no pork products made it into the dishes, since Nino had explained everything to her while they were dating. However, Lila had told her that not eating something wouldn’t cause allergies, it was just another cry for attention.
Alya waited for her moment, and when it came, she acted. She dumped ground pork she had managed to swipe from another dish into the bowls, stirring it so it mixed with the beef that was already in there. Next, she switched the chocolate cakes for new ones. Her task done, she went in search of her mother.
---
When lunch came around, Alya couldn’t sit still. The girls at her table kept sending her looks, but all her focus was on the table next to hers, where the four friends sat chatting quietly about their mornings. Alya had to suppress her grin when the soup was brought out for everyone to enjoy, though she did have her phone out in case something happened.
“Does this taste right to you?” Kim questioned after taking a few bites.
“I’ve never had this, so I wouldn’t know,” Adrien confessed.
“Seems fine to me,” Marinette commented as she took another bite. “Though, I can see what you are talking about. The flavor is a bit off. Maybe Mrs. Caseire is trying a new recipe?”
“If she was going to, we would be the group to use,” Nino said as he pushed his bowl away. “I’ll have to let her know I’m not a fan.”
“Why would she use students as guinea pigs?” Adrien raised an eyebrow in question.
“We're in Alya’s class,” Marinette said, as if obvious. “We wouldn’t be upset if she wanted to try something new.”
“Though I wish she would’ve said something, because I’m with Nino. Not a fan.” Kim also pushed his half finished bowl away. Marinette also didn’t really like it, but she knew she needed to eat, so she finished hers.
Alya smirked as she watched the table eat their dessert. It had been a good half hour since lunch started and not one of them had complained because of their food. This was the proof she needed! Her phone had been subtly recording the table next to her, gathering evidence of the liars.
“Are you okay, Alya?” Lila asked, placing a hand on her arm.
“Yeah, you’ve been awfully quiet,” Rose whispered as Juleka nodded in agreement.
“Sorry, I’ve just been focused on something,” Alya stated with a wink to Lila. Lila winked back, internally smirking. Alya had told her all about her little plan and Lila couldn’t wait until everything blew up in little miss perfect’s face.
A commotion from the table next to them pulled everyone’s attention. Marinette was hunched over, gripping her stomach. Nino and Kim didn’t look much better, a green tint coloring their skin.
“Mari, what’s wrong?” Adrien asked in a worried tone.
“I don’t feel well. My stomach,” Marinette managed to get out before covering her mouth and running out of the room.
Adrien stared after her before turning to the only person in the room he trusted beyond the ones at his table. He picked up Marinette’s phone and walked over to another table. “Chlo, can you please go check on her. I would, but”
Chloe huffed, but stood. “Of course, Adrikins,” she quipped, taking the phone from him. “What kind of hero would I be if I didn’t help the less fortunate.”
Adrien glared at the other blonde for a moment before she walked away, then turned his attention back to the table. Kim was sweating, looking more and more sick by the moment. Nino seemed to be doing better, but wasn’t okay either. “What’s wrong guys?”
Nino looked at him from where he was trying to help Kim up. “Can you get Mrs. Ceseire to meet us outside?”
Adrien nodded and moved to walk toward the kitchen when his arm was grabbed and he was pulled into a chair. He looked down to see sharp, orange nails wrapped around his forearm.
“We should let Alya go,” Lila stated, fluttering her lashes at Adrien. “I’m sure she would know where to look, since she’s been working with her mom all morning.”
Alya nodded and jumped up. “Yep, I know just where to go. I’ll be right back.” She took off before anyone could react, snatching Marinette’s purse as she passed the empty table, and disappearing through the kitchen door.
---
“Dupain-Cheng, are you in there?” Chloe knocked on the closest bathroom door, listening for any answer. When she didn’t hear a response, or noises of sickness, she opened the door. She stopped dead in the doorway upon the sight inside. Marinette was laying on the floor unconscious near one of the stalls. “Dupain-Cheng!” Chloe shouted as she darted into the room.
Nino had been slowly moving a nauseous Kim to the same area when Chloe’s scream caught their attention. Their heads snap up, looking first in the direction the shout had come from before turning to each other. With a nod, Nino untangled himself from Kim, left him in the hall next to a potted plant and took off.
Nino could hear Chloe’s voice from about two doors down, calling out to his baby sister over and over. She sounded hysterical and it turned Nino’s blood cold. He threw open the door to see Chloe cradling an unconscious Marinette, shaking the girl to try to wake her. Noticing Marinette’s phone discarded next to the pair, Nino picked it up, unlocked it, and quickly scanned Marinette’s sugar monitor. He gaped at the number on the screen before dialing 112 and running back out of the bathroom. He had to get to Marinette’s purse and her insulin now.
---
Adrien pulled his arm out of Lila’s hold as he stood, much to the disappointment of the table. They loved seeing the young couple together, especially since they had to hide the relationship. When asked about Kagami, Lila said it was a cover to keep Lila safe from Adrien’s rabid fans.
The blonde glared down at the brunette before turning to look for Alya. She should have found her mother and returned by now. He started toward the kitchen when the dining room doors burst open and Nino sprinted toward their table. Adrien noticed the pink phone he was on and moved over in time to hear Nino saying that someone needed to hurry before hanging up.
“What’s wrong?” Adrien asked, though he wasn’t sure Nino heard him.
“Marinette needs her insulin,” Nino gasped out as he continued to tear their seating area apart. “It’s in her purse, which was on the back of her chair, but it’s not here! It’s not here and if she doesn’t get it soon…”
“Nino, calm down!” Adrien grabbed his friend by the shoulders, turning wild eyes toward him. “You can’t help her like this.” Nino nodded and took a shaky breath. When Adrien thought Nino was calmer, he continued. “Go downstairs and wait for the paramedics. I’ll look for her purse and take it to her if I find it.” Another nod and Nino was running back out the doors toward the stairs.
Adrien turned back to the class, who were still sitting shell-shocked from the events of the past few minutes. “Did anyone see what happened to Marinette’s purse?” No one moved or answered, angering the blonde. He slammed his palm on the table, causing everyone to snap out of their stupor. “I’ll ask again,” he said slowly, a cold edge to his voice. “Did anyone see what happened to Marinette’s purse?”
Rose rose a trembling hand, shaking harder as cold, green eyes focused on her. “I think I saw Alya grab it. I thought she was going to take it to Marinette after finding her mom.”
Adrien growled and took off in the direction Alya had disappeared in. Why had Alya taken Mari’s purse? He knew that Alya was firmly in Lila’s camp, convinced Marinette was a liar and bully, but why.... He stopped dead as a thought crossed his mind. He had noticed the creole girl was watching their table the whole meal, smirking when she didn’t think anyone was watching. Had she done something to their meals that caused all of this? She had jumped at the chance to work with her mother, stating she had always wanted to be a chef. Everyone in class but Chloe, Adrien, Marinette, Nino, and Kim praised Alya for wanting to follow her mom’s example, but they weren’t buying it. Nino knew firsthand how much Alya despised her mother’s job because of how it kept her mother away from the family. Besides, the girl had always dreamed of being a big-shot journalist. Something wasn’t sitting right with Adrien and he was determined to figure out what happened.
As he moved through the kitchen door, he ran into the two people he was looking for. Alya was talking to her mother as she subtly kicked something under the table she was next to. Adrien saw red as he noticed the hint of pink before it disappeared under the cloth that fell to the floor. Clearing his throat, Adrien made his way over to the women. His face and tone when he spoke were more reminiscent of his father than his normal demeanor. “Excuse me for interrupting, Mme. Cesaire, but there is an urgent matter that needs your attention.”
Marlena looked between the two teens. “What seems to be the problem, Adrien? Alya was just telling me how everyone was enjoying their meals…”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding then,” Adrien interrupted. “As your daughter was supposed to come find you to help figure out why three of our classmates got sick.”
Alya pipped up, “I don’t think that’s necessary, since they are just faking it anyway.”
“What do you mean, ‘got sick’”? Marlena asked Adrien, ignoring her daughter.
“Nino, Kim, and Marinette started feeling sick as lunch was finishing up. I’m not sure where Kim is, but Nino just ran in looking for Marinette’s insulin.”
“Oh, please,” Alya huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “There is no way she needs it. It’s just a fake pen she found to make everyone feel sorry for her. Teenagers can’t have sugar issues.”
Marlena’s jaw dropped at her daughter’s words, utterly gobsmacked at the nonsense coming from the teen. Where had she come to that conclusion?
Adrien, on the other hand, ignored the brunette. He knelt down, reached under the table behind Alya, and pulled out Marinette’s pink purse. He rummaged through it, but didn’t find the insulin pen. “Alya,” he growled, his eyes dark with anger as they bored into hazel. “Where is Marinette’s insulin pen?”
“I threw it away,” she stated proudly.
Marlena turned to the closest trash can, praying to every deity she could think of that the pen was in it. Luck was on their side as it was sitting on top. “Here,” she called, pulling out the pen and wiping it off on her apron. “Go to her. I’ll have a talk with my daughter.”
Adrien nodded and took off through the dining room, barely missing Lila’s grasp. He found Kim in the hall and checked on him quickly before continuing to the bathroom, following Chloe’s voice as she continued to call to the unconscious bluenette.
“Do you know how to use this?” Adrien asked, holding up the pen as he barreled through the door.
Surprisingly, Chloe nodded. “I had to give it to her once when she passed out in 4th grade,” she explained. “I don’t know how much to give her though.”
At that moment, Nino burst through the door, smacking Adrien with it. Behind him were two paramedics, who pushed through the boys and knelt to start working on Marinette. In a few minutes, she was stable and loaded onto the stretcher to be taken to the hospital for observation.
The trio, who weren’t allowed to go with Marinette as they were minors, found another paramedic with Kim. He was looking better but still wasn’t back to his old self. “What happened?” he asked, looking between the three.
“I think I can answer that,” Marlena growled as she marched up behind them, Alya in a firm grip. “We need to call the police.”
“No need,” Sabrina called, walking up to the group. “My dad is downstairs. Protocol for emergencies.”
Marlena nodded, afraid she might explode if she opened her mouth, and dragged a pissed-off-looking Alya toward the elevator.
---
A few days later, Marinette walked into the school with her ‘brothers,’ Adrien, Chloe, and Sabrina by her side. They had explained everything to her while she was recovering.
Alya had been caught on security cameras tampering with their food and the lab confirmed the sabotage. She was currently in custody while the authorities decided what to charge her with and whether she would be charged as a minor or adult. Marinette, Nino, and Kim also had the option to sue her personally, but they had declined to save the rest of the Cesaire family, though they were making sure she was charged criminally for bullying and cyber harassment.
Lila was also in hot water for conspiracy to whatever charge Alya gets brought against her. Alya had spilled that she and Lila had come up with the plan together and her texts backed her up. The spell the Italian had over the class was shattered that day. Lila was also fired from Gabriel and was issued a restraining order and lawsuit for her harassment of Adrien. Marinette was also adding to the charges for the bullying and cyber harassment.
Principal Damocles and Ms. Bustier were both fired after word of Marinette’s torment under the Italian and the rest of her class made it to the school board. Both were replaced by board members until permanent replacements could be found over the summer.
Adrien convinced his father to help pay for Marinette’s bills after he had figured out that Lila had been spying for Gabriel. He was also given more freedom and a relaxed schedule. Adrien was allowed to hang out with his friends, as long as he continued to act appropriately in public.
Gabriel had also reached out to Marinette about possibly interning at his company for the next couple of summers, with the possibility of more after she graduated. He realized that in keeping Lila, he almost lost one of the greatest fashion minds this century. Greatest akuma or no, villain or not, there were lines even he wouldn’t cross.
Nino and Kim recovered quickly from their illness and were back in school the next day. The class tried to apologize and rationalize what had happened, but the boys ignored them as they sat down, only speaking to Adrien, Chloe, and Sabrina. When Marinette was released from the hospital the next day, all five students were there to welcome the bluenette home with a small party. They also insisted that Chloe and Nino had insulin pens and the app to read Marinette’s glucose reader in case this ever happened again. Marinette’s parents were happy to agree, as long as the two went to classes to learn how to use them.
Marinette’s hand tightened in Nino’s as she moved to her locker, hyper aware of the stares and whispers that were going on around her. As Adrien opened her locker to switch her items she needed for her first class into the backpack Kim insisted on carrying, Aurora and Merielle walked up to the group.
“We are so sorry to hear about what happened,” Merielle started, flicking her eyes from the floor to Marinette and back.
“However, we are glad to see you are back with us,” Aurora finished, holding out a bouquet of carnations, daisies, and baby’s breath. “The student council pooled together to get you these. We were going to take them to your house, but we heard you were coming back today.”
Marinette gently took the bouquet and smiled at the girl’s in front of her. Someone in the crowd began to clap and soon the whole courtyard was cheering and clapping for the small teenager who had won yet another battle. Maybe soon, she would win her biggest victory yet and take down Hawkmoth.