Chapter Text
Marinette was running late. Again.
She swore she’d set her alarm, but when she awoke to the sound of her mother screaming at her in Chinese rather than the grating beep of her clock, she knew she must have forgotten.
“Of all days,” she cursed, yelping as she tumbled off her bed and landed on the floor with a groan. “Of all frickin’ days not to ring!”
She grabbed her alarm clock and contemplated throwing it out of the window in frustration, but her mother’s fourth shout of “MARINETTE!” jolted her back into her senses.
She had no time to look through her closet, so she grabbed random clothes scattered on the floor, doing the quick sniff-check to see if it was clean (it wasn’t, but there wasn’t enough time). Her jeans were about an inch too short- ugh. She’d have to throw these ones out later. Her shirt was pink and rumpled, so she threw on an old granda cardigan she’d salvaged at a thrift store and sewn patches of hearts on it. She threw herself down the stairs, throwing on her backpack and tying her hair back as she stumbled down the stairs.
“Did you brush your teeth?” her mother asked as Marinette bustled downstairs.
“Mmhm!” Marinette sealed her lips, secretly sneaking a hand into her emergency pocket of gum. Thank god for mint gum.
Marinette tried to grab a macaron on the way out from the cooling rack, but her mom smacked her hand away.
“You don’t deserve those!” her mother yelled, and Marinette scowled. “And you better not be late! I better not get another call from the principal, Marinette! Do you hear me? I am not going to stand for it"
“Yeah, yeah, I got it! Bye!” she shouted back, giving her a backward wave before sprinting out of the door.
She hurried off to school, pulling her phone out of her pocket as she raced through the streets. By the time she’d arrive the Françoise Dupont Middle School, it was 4 minutes until class started.
Yelping, she started walking through the hallways, digging through her backpack for-
Crap.
Where was her schedule sheet?
She dropped down to the floor, ripping open her backpack and pawing through her papers. Crap, crap, crap! How could she forget her schedule? She had no idea what classes to go to. People were sidestepping around her, giving her confused, slightly dirty looks as she was blocking the hallways. Oh, crap, she was blocking the hall! Quickly, she shoved everything back into her backpack and stood up, heat rushing to her cheeks as she stepped aside, mind racing.
It was okay. It was going to be okay! She kept telling herself this, whispering under her breath like a frantic mantra. It was the first day. Teachers were always more easy-going on the first day. It was fine, it was fine fine FINE. Stop freaking out, just stop! Oh, god. Everyone was gone already. They probably already are at their classes. What should she do…? She couldn’t very well just stay here, right? Perhaps she could go to office, and they could pull up her schedule? Maybe the school sent her a digital copy of her schedule? Maybe? Marinette grasped at that faint hope as she pulled out her phone.
She was scrolling through it when he showed up.
Adrien Agreste.
Now, to give you some context, Adrien Agreste was a boy rising to stardom due to modeling. His father, the revered Gabriel Agreste, was a fashion designer. Someone Marinette strived to be. Marinette had some pictures of models and clothes in her room for inspiration, and about 70% of them were of Gabriel’s design and Adrien’s modeling. The boy was just so popular.
She didn’t even notice Adrien approach her until he quietly coughed into his fist. She jerked up, hitting his chin with her head.
Marinette cried out, stumbling backwards as Adrien freaking Agreste let out a yell and toppled down, hitting the floor hard.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Marinette blubbered, sitting up fast, pressing a cool hand onto her throbbing forehead. “I didn’t see you, I…”
‘Blergghhh,” Adrien groaned from the ground.
“I’m so sorry,” Marinette repeated, standing and holding out a hand for Adrien to take. “I don’t know what came over me, I can’t believe I didn’t see you…”
Adrien struggled up, ignoring her hand and fumbling from his cane. Marinette blinked at him as he heaved himself upwards using that thin pole of metal, fingers flexing on the steel as he rose uncertainly.
Marinette stared at the cane; a mixture of surprise and curiosity flickering inside of her.
“It’s fine,” Adrien said, although from the cold tone of his voice, it was anything but. “I was just wondering if you happened to know where Miss Bustier’s room would be.”
“You’re a student here?” Marinette blurted out, shock bleeding into her voice, her head snapping up. “You go to this school?”
Adrien gave a little impatient sigh. “Yes, I do,” he said slowly, as though she were a toddler who needed to catch up. His condescending tone was so frigid Marinette felt the hairs on her neck stand.
“Ah- uhm- I can show you where her room is,” Marinette stammered, unsure what to do with her hands, so she folded them tight across her chest. “I’m pretty familiar with her class, you know, I TAed for her for a bit. She’s really quite nice, and-”
“So where is it?” Adrien prompted. Again with that same unkindness. Marinette stuttered to a stop, slowly turning red-faced with embarrassment. She shifted her shoulders around her backpack and murmured, “Take the stairs and go to the first classroom on the other side.”
Adrien stared up, then blinked back down at her. “Show me where it is.”
Marinette gave a nervous laugh. “I’d love to, but I don’t want to be late for my own classes-”
Adrien interrupted her. “You know what, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have tried asking your help, I’m wasting my own time. I’ll try the office.” He sounded immensely annoyed, and he turned around and started to walk stiffly
“No! Wait!” Marinette skidded in front of him, arms splayed in a comical direction. “I can show you where it is. It’s the least I can do for hurting you!”
Adrien merely raised a fine, thin eyebrow. “Are you even sure you know where it is?”
“Yes. I promise,” Marinette emphasized, trying to smile encouragingly at him.
Adrien didn’t smile back. He gestured wordlessly up the stairs. “Well, after you then.”
Marinette turned and started walking up the stairs, acutely aware of Adrien’s presence behind her. She turned sharply, and stopped at Miss Bustier’s door. Nervously, she swallowed, her hand hesitating on the doorknob. She didn’t know why she felt so apprehensive.
Her fingers closed around the doorknob, just as the bell rang.
She opened the door, pressing her weight against it so it would open wider, and Adrien stepped in, surveying the classroom with shuttered eyes. Miss Bustier, a perky young woman with sweeping red hair, glanced up from her attendance sheet. Her eyes lit up with warmth.
“Ah, Adrien! And Miss Marinette! You’re just on time! Right on the bell, it seems.”
“Wh-?” Marinette said, reeling as Adrien stepped beside her. “Miss Bustier, you’re my first period teacher?”
“You are on my roster, so yes, it would appear so.” Miss Bustier gave a sunny laugh, turning to Adrien. “You must be our new student. Adrien Agreste. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you,” Adrien replied, and sudden shift in his voice was astounding; with Marinette, he had sounded irritated and scornful. Now he sounded polite and respectful.
“Why don’t you take a seat? I’ve allowed the students to choose where they sit today.”
“Thank you, Miss Bustier.” Adrien brushed aside Marinette without a second glance; she suddenly felt an slight irritation of her own. She sacrificed her time to get him here, and he didn’t even say thank you? It was by pure coincidence that they happened to share the same homeroom. If they hadn’t, Marinette would have been late, and been in so much trouble with her mother.
“You too, Marinette. I’ll be taking roll shortly,” Miss Bustier said to her, pulling Marinette out of her reverie. Marinette gave Miss Bustier a shaky smile, before turning to walk up the aisle.
The only seat that was left was the seat next to a dark-skinned girl with big glasses and hazel eyes. She offered Marinette a small smiled and scooted over.
“Hi, sorry,” Marinette muttered as she took her seat. She felt like all she had done today was apologize, over and over.
“Don’t sweat it. I wasn’t gonna be sitting next to anyone, anyway.” The girl’s eyes drifted behind Marinette, and she frowned.
“What is it?” Marinette swiveled her head, wanting to see what the girl was looking at.
Marinette’s heart sank as she took in the blonde girl sitting right across from her, eyeing her like she wanted to eat Marinette and spit out her bones. Her blue eyes were piercing, her lips curved into a mocking smile and she gave a little wave.
Not again.
“Do you know that girl?” Her table mate prompted, and Marinette glanced at her.
“Yeah. Unfortunately.” Marinette sighed, rubbing her temple to ease an oncoming headache. “That’s Chloe. She and I have known each other for years.”
“Judging by the way she’s glaring at you, I’m assuming y’all aren’t friends.”
“God, no,” Marinette sputtered, mock shuddering. The girl laughed.
“I figured. You seem pretty cool, and even though I’ve only met Chloe for a few minutes, she seems…” The girl tilted her head, chewing her lip in thought. “... not very cool. I’m Alya, by the way. What’s your name?”
“Marinette,” she told her, and she couldn’t stop the smile from lifting her face. She almost forgot about Chloe, about Adrien, about waking up late. She’d made a possible friend!
“Alright class! Please quiet down and turn your attention back towards me.”
The buzzing died down, and all students turned to face Miss Bustier.
“So! First day back from summer vacation,” Miss Bustier said, smiling at them, folding her arms. “Be honest, on a scale of 1 to 10, how awake are you all right now?”
There was uncomfortable shifting, some muttered answers.
Miss Bustier took in all in stride, laughing. “A solid 0 then, I presume? Perhaps you’ll be feeling more awake as the day progresses. Well, then. This class period is all about getting to know me, and your peers!”
Miss Bustier pulled up a presentation. She explained how she was a 35 year old woman single mother who was working to provide for her child. She was pursuing her goal as a teacher because she genuinely loved being around children.
“And now that you know all about me,” Miss Bustier concluded, setting down the projector remote, turning to them with a mischevious glint in her eyes. “Now you can all introduce yourselves to each other!”
There was an audible groan echoed throughout the classroom; Miss Bustier chuckled. “Awake now, are we? Go on! Find a partner and tell them about how summer was for you, your hobbies, interests- and try to talk to people who aren’t your friends! Go on!”
Everyone started getting up and mingling. By now, everyone has noticed Adrien Agreste was sitting in their class. They paired up, but even as they talked to each other, everyone’s eyes continued to stray towards Adrien.
Specifically, Adrien’s cane.
So, Marinette had no idea what was up with the cane. Maybe it was some kind of fashion accessory? Certain people were trend-setters, and Adrien was one of them. She wryly wondered how many people on on the internet would start posting pictures of themselves with canes one word got around Adrien was bringing one to school everyday.
Adrien seemed to be talking to another kid; someone Marinette vaguely recognized. She thought his name was Nino. He had big ears and a bigger smile, and was talking to Adrien animatedly, gesturing with his hands. He had a set of black headphones tucked around his neck, and he too wore glasses as well as a baseball cap. Whatever he was saying, Adrien was nodding along, his shoulders slightly relaxing.
“Helloooooo, earth to Marinette?”
“Sorry!” Marinette said reflexively, turning back to Alya, who was looking at her with an eyebrow raised. “Were you saying something? I kind of zoned out.”
Alya rolled her eyes, giving Marinette a light, good-natured push. “What’s the dealio with you and Mr. Model anyway? You guys came in together at the same time. And you were late!”
Marinette gasped at what Alya was insinuating, shaking her head. “Oh, no, it wasn’t anything like that at all! I was running late, and uhm- Adrien kind of approached me, and I kind of… hit him? It was an accident!” Marinette frantically clarified as Alya’s eyes widened. “I just hit his chin with my head, it was an acci… anyways, he asked me where Miss Bustier’s classroom was, so I showed him where it was, and…”
“Why did he approach you, though?” Alya wanted to know.
“He just wanted to where Miss Bustier’s classroom was,” Marinette said again, her eyes drifting back to Adrien. She wasn’t the only one with wandering eyes. Something about Adrien felt magnetic. It drew you in.
“He didn’t tell you anything about the cane, though, right?” Alya said, and Marinette snapped back to her.
“Oh, yes! That thing. No, I have no idea why he has it. I was thinking maybe it was a fashion statement…”
“To bring a cane? To school?” Alya shook her head, tapping a finger to her lips. “Fashion statements are for the media. Not for educational institutions. Also, canes are impractical to have if you don’t need them.”
“What are you, a detective,” Marinette teased, and Alya’s lips quirked into a smile.
“A reporter, actually.”
“A reporter! Practically the same thing.” Marinette leaned in conspiratorially. “So then, Reporter Alya, what’s the verdict?”
Alya craned her neck to look at Adrien, losing her smile, brow furrowing. “I don’t think it’s an accesory. I think it’s a necessity.”
“What?” Marinette whipped back. “You don’t think-?”
Then she heard it. The whispering.
Enveloped and veiled in chatter, it was clear everyone else in the classroom was tryint to deduce why Adrien was carrying a cane to school. And just like Alya, they seemed to have figured out why.
Chloe was the one who was brave enough to confirm it though. Brave, or audacious.
Marinette couldn’t help but bristle when Chloe stood up and glided towards Adrien with a calculating smile pinned on her face.
“Hello, Adrikins,” she purred, sliding up on the next to Adrien.
Nino made a yikes face behind Adrien’s back; Adrien cleared his throat, and very reluctantly said, “Hello, Chloe.”
“How has your summer been? I haven’t heard from you in a while,” Chloe said with a pout, a little whine in her voice.
“I’ve been away,” Adrien said evasively, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“Seriously? I get that your parents are insanely overprotective, but to go MIA for a whole year?” Silence. “Does it have anything to do with your jacked leg?”
Adrien flinched. Nino said sharply, “Not cool, Chloe.”
Chloe shrugged airily. “Was I talking to you, Walmart David Guetta? No, I was speaking to Adrien.”
“You didn’t have to say it so bluntly, though,” Nino said, his voice firm, folding his arms.
“Oh, please. Did Adrien allow you to nest in his asshole, or something? Why are you so far up it?’ Chloe wrinkled her nose at Nino.
“What is wrong with you?” Alya interrupted loudly, even as Marinette stared at her bug-eyed as she approached the crowing mass of students crowding up on the stairs. “It’s none of your business if there’s something wrong with Adrien’s leg.”
“Oh my god. None of my business? This is none of your business, sweetie.” Chloe’s eyes cut back to Adrien. “Oh my god, just spill, Adrien. It’s not even that big of a deal.”
Adrien was leaning slightly against the table, looking a little pale. Marinette noticed with some concern that he was sweating a little, and the look in his eyes was a little wild. She recognized that look- it was the same look she had whenever she was spiraling into a panic. Was it because of the crowds? The shouting people? Marinette glanced back at Miss Bustier, who was watching them with a smile. She didn’t seem to think anything was wrong.
Marinette carefully walked down the steps and pulled Miss Bustier aside.
“Miss Bustier?” Marinette began meekly. “Uhm… I don’t want to be a bother… but I think Adrien is getting bullied right now.”
“Oh? You think so?” Miss Bustier’s smile fell away, and she squinted at the crowd. “Who was it, Marinette, and what were they saying?”
“Oh, it was just Chloe. She’s making Adrien really uncomfortable… and said mean things to Nino and stuff,” Marinette mumbled.
“What ‘stuff’?” Miss Bustier pressed. Marinette was beginning to regret telling her. Her palms were sweating.
“Just, um… Chloe was asking Adrien about his leg in a really awful way, and Nino defended him, and Chloe started cursing at him.”
“Thank you for informing me. Nino! Chloe! Adrien!” Miss Bustier sharply, her voice hard like Marinette had never heard. They all turned to Miss Bustier at the bottom of the stairs.
“All of you, down here. Now. The rest of you, continue your discussions.”
Marinette stepped aside silently as the three of them came down the stairs. Chloe was glaring at Marinette; she stuck out her foot and Marinette stumbled over it, nearly falling over. “Thanks a lot, Dupain-Cheng,” Chloe hissed.
Marinette didn’t look back, just took a seat quietly.
Alya slid into her seat next to Marinette. “Did you just snitch Chloe to Miss Bustier?”
Marinette winced, glancing down in her lap. “... Yeah, I did. I saw that Adrien looked really uncomfortable, so I thought…”
“Damn, girl!” Alya gave a whistle as she looked over at the group. Marinette’s eyes followed hers, to Miss Bustier lecturing them all. Adrien was staring at Miss Bustier, then his eyes cut to hers.
Marinette flinched. They were so cold, the sharp emerald in them threatening to cut her down.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Marinette said out loud, feeling the shame well up in her.
“You did the right thing,” Alya said, and Marinette blinked. Adrien wasn’t at her anymore, his gaze resolutely focused on Miss Bustier, although she could see his jaw was clenched. She swallowed, and turned to face Alya. Her expression was serious. “Okay, kiddo? I’m serious. I know it might be embarrassing, but that was probably best for him.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Marinette still felt white-hot embarrassment bubble in her stomach, especially after they all went back to their seats; Chloe had shot her a scalding look. When the bell rang, Marinette was glad for it. She hurriedly began packing her things. She had finally found the image of her schedule on her phone, and she knew where her next class was.
“Oh, cool!” Alya said, leaning over. “We got the same class. History’s gonna suck!”
Marinette grinned at Alya, and they began walking out the door, when Marinette felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Excuse me,” Adrien said, voice blunt. “Bullied victim coming through.”
It was a jab at Marinette, and Marinette flinched back. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I… I’m sorry. I thought that it was the right thing to do.” She found herself echoing Alya.
Adrien glared intensely outside, not making eye contact with her. “What makes you think you know what’s right for me? I’m sick of people pretending they know what’s right for me.”
“I don’t-”
Adrien stormed out of the room, leaving Marinette open-mouthed and flabbergasted.
╔═.✾. ════╗
ɱιɾαƈυʅσυʂ σʋҽɾԋαυʅ
╚════.✾. ═╝
It was lunchtime, and everyone was gathered in the cafeteria.
Alya had invited her to sit with some friends. With a grateful, little awkward smile, Marinette said down and said hello to the group. The group consisted of Alya, Rose, Alix, Juleka and Mylène. Marinette recognized them from their first period class.
Adrien was being hounded by the students in school, all wanting to sit by and talk to the Adrien Agreste. He had plastered on a perfectly blank expression and wasa studiously picking at his food while everyone else was chattering around him. He was clenching his fork so tightly Marinette was afraid it would snap.
“What is wrong with that Adrien kid?” Alya complained loudly, causing Marinette to jump. Alya was gesturing broadly, scowling at the dissenting crowd of fans. “Did y’all hear what he said to Marinette during first period?”
Rose shook her head, blue eyes wide. “No, I didn’t! What did he say?”
“Guys, come on,” Marinette said automatically, waving her arms in front of her. "It's not even that big of a deal."
“What are you talking about? You were just telling me about how rude he was!” Marinette opened her mouth to respond, but Alya cut her off and started going on this wild tangent about what a jerk Adrien Agreste really was. Everyone nodded and listened, gasping appropriately and murmuring “the audacity!” at the right times.
“I mean,” Alix said when Alya concluded, adjusting her shirt sleeves. “You tattletaled on him. Nobody’s gonna be super appreciative of that.”
“Alix!”
“What?” Alix was unapologetic; she shrugged, pink hair bouncing against her shoulders. “I’m just saying, I get both sides.”
“Ughhh, what am I going to doooo,” Marinette moaned into her hands. “He probably hates me by now for embarrassing him in front of the whole class.”
“Apologize?” Rose offered.
“I’m too chicken for that!” Marinetted yelped.
Juleka cackled. “At least you’re honest.”
“Be serious,” Marinette begged. “I can’t have Adrien Agreste hate me or anything! That would be super bad for my fashion career! Also, I don’t want anyone to hate me, period! I was just-”
“Mylène?” Alix interuppted, turning to the shorter girl, the one with braided colored hair, a note of concern bleeding into her brusque tone. “Hey. You’ve been really quiet. What’s up?”
Mylène started, glancing up before quickly looking back down. “It’s not as big of a deal as Marinette’s thing,” she murmured.
“No! What? Talk to us!” Marinette demanded, a tad too forcefully. Mylène jumped a little. “Whatever you’re going through, it’s important. I’m sorry I didn’t notice it sooner.”
“It’s okay.” Mylène gave Marinette a shy smile, then turned to the rest of the group. “Ah… well… Ivan sort of- he sort of confessed to me.”
“HE WHAT?” everyone screamed at the same time, causing the conversations in the cafeteria to stutter as they all looked towards their table curiously.
“Ivan? Ivan Bruel?” Alya gasped. “No way. The kid who wears that same old skull shirt everyday?"
"He scares me a little," Rose admitted. "He's so tall, and intimidating…"
“So what happened? How did you react?” Alya demanded. “Give us the dirt, girl!”
“I don’t want to embarrass him,” Mylène said quietly.
Alix winced. “Ooooof.”
“I didn’t… per say… reject him….” Mylène shifted in her seat. “But he played this rock song, and the noise startled me so much. You guys know how much I hate loud noises. And then… I kind of ran away.” she blurted out the last part in a rush, and everyone gave a horrified gasp.
“You didn’t!”
“That was so ballsy of you.”
“Did he cry afterwards?”
“I had no idea you were such a heartbreaker-”
BOOM!
There was a loud shaking of the cafeteria walls. The chatter died down , and people were glancing at the walls nervously.
“What’s going on?” Nino said from his table, slowly taking off his headphones.
Suddenly, a huge chunk of the wall caved in, spraying chalk and cement all over the floor as a the wall came crashing down among the students. A mangled chorus of screams sounded out as everyone scrambled to get out of the way. Marinette froze for a split second, and then let out a panicked shout of her own, grabbing any and all arms she could find and yanking them away as the cement came tumbling down.
“MYLÈNE!”
A inhuman roar sounded out from outside the cafeteria. People were getting up and scrambling to exit the buildings; a few stayed behind, clearly hyperventilating. Panicking. One kid was on his knees, heaving behind a table; the sharp stench of puke startled Marinette back to reality as she realized that kid was Adrien. He was bent over, chest rising and falling rapidly, cane cast a few feet away from him.
“MYLÈNE! WHERE ARE YOU?”
They all flinched. The voice was definitely closer than it was from a moment ago.
“They’re- th-they’re calling my name,” Mylène stuttered, her voice shaky.
“Can you recognize who it is?” Alya whispered.
“No!”
Marinette crawled over to them all- a piece of the wall had grazed her leg, causing her jeans to tear and a small cut to slide across her leg. “We don’t have time for this,” she whispered, frantic hysteria bleeding into her voice. She had no idea what was happening- she tried to connect the thoughts. A wall was blown out. A bomb attack? Was the school bombed? But why would the bomber want to know where Mylène was? She didn’t seem like the type to associate with criminals, but what did Marinette know?
Focus, Marinette, focus!
“We don’t have the time,” Marinette repeated again, slower. “Can you all get up?”
They all nodded. Marinette felt the ground tremble again.
“Where do we go?” one kid asked on her left side. He was younger than Marinette- maybe just 13? Someone new to middle school. Marinette remembered how she felt when she first entered middle school in 7th grade- nervous, apprehensive. Overwhelmed.
Okay. Okay. Marinette had gone over the procedure of a school shooting many times. If you could escape, you escape. Though the noise was booming, it also sounded as though it were echoing. They had time.
They had a chance.
“We just run,” Marinette said encouragingly, keeping her voice hushed, looking from person to person. “and get as far away as we can. Do you know the-”
Marinette’s voice choked. The name Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie was just on the tip of her tongue, but her chest tightened, and her lungs wouldn’t work. God. Her parents. Her father, warm and comforting. Her mother, sharp but loyal. Her family.
Tears rose up to her eyes. I have to text them. Just in case…
“The Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie,” she said steadily. “Do you know where that is?”
Everyone nodded.
“Okay. It’s not too far from there. That’s my parents shop. We’ll just run there, take shelter, and then you can call everyone you need to call. Okay?”
All the heads nodded.
“Ok. Let’s go!”
They all started to scramble upwards, heading to the swinging double doors. Marinette rose to her feet and was about to start running when she noticed Adrien was still on the floor.
“Adrien,” she whispered, and despite her entire body screaming to go run and save herself, she found herself dropping to her knees against, roughly shaking him. “Adrien, we have to go.”
“I can’t,” he whispered, his lips twitching violently. “My legs, they won’t… they won’t move…”
Marinette glanced around wildly, then slid forward to grab that cane of his before coming back, holding out her hand urgently.
“Let me help you,” she said.
“I don’t want your help,” he snarled, the light coming back into his eyes for a brief moment.
“I don’t care about your stupid pride!” Marinette snarled right back, at a wit’s end. “You’re going to die if you don’t move, and I’m going to die because I decided very stupidly to help you, and I don’t want to die, so take my hand now!”
Adrien’s head jerked up, his gaze a turmoiling green sea of emotions. He contemplated a moment longer, then said quietly, tightly, “Put your arm under my arm so I can get up.”
Marinette did as she was hold, letting Adrien lean on her like a crutch.
“Okay,” she grunted; he was a little heavy. She started running as fast as she could towards the double doors, Adrien’s legs skittering uselessly at her side.
The sun was glaringly strong, and they both winced at its brightness.
There were kids pouring outside the gates, rushing down the marble steps. There was another spray of light brick, another elongated, gravelly scream of “MYLÈNE!”
There was a wet crunch from underneath Adrien’s foot. They both froze, slowly glancing down.
Adrien let out a curse, slamming into Marinette from how fast he scrambled away. He had stepped on a hand that had been crushed by a giant boulder.
“Oh my god,” Marinette cried, half-covering her eyes and cringing. Last night’s dinner was rolling sickly in her stomach, threatening to come up.
They say something falling- no, jumping- towards them. It was horrific. A giant rocks were clumped together, shining pupils and a gaping mouth. It was some kind of rock monster. Marinette felt her mouth dry. This was a dream, right. No way this was real. She must have fallen asleep in the cafeteria, or something.
She glanced over at Adrien, who was blinking up at the monster in a way that looked as though he was awaking from a deep sleep.
The monster’s swiveling glowing orbs suddenly zeroed in on them, and the running students.
“Duck!” Adrien hissed, and suddenly he yanked Marinette to take cover behind the boulder.
“What is happening?” Marinette cried again, chest heaving with sharp bursts of breath. Her head was dizzy, so dizzy. Everything felt fuzzy and unreal. “What- what i-is this? Why is this h-happening? Wh-”
“Marinette, calm down,” Adrien snapped savagely. Marinette pulled her trembling lips up into a twisting, angry frown.
“Don’t tell me to calm down when you were just throwing up 2 seconds earlier.”
Adrien’s eyes widened, and his eyes narrowed. “You’re acting irrational. I’m telling you that you can’t panic right right. What I did earlier has nothing to do with you hyperventilating now.”
She hated he was right. “What else am I supposed to do?! How are you so calm right now?”
A faintly troubled look skittered over Adrien’s face. “I don’t…” His voice trailed off as the voice boomed again; this time, they could see it was coming from the rock monster.
“LET ME GO!”
A feminine, high-pitched voice rang out clearly across the school grounds.
“Mylène,” Marinette breathed, blood draining from her face. “She- it-”
“Mylène,” The rock monster rumbled as well, a note of pleasure in its gutteral voice. “Mylène, Mylène, Mylène. I’m sorry I startled you earlier today. I don’t want to do that. I want to protect you from that, Mylène.”
It had her gripped in its rocky paw. Marinette peeked over the boulder, and saw Mylène’s look of terror had subsided into confusion. Confusion- and recognition.
“Ivan?” Mylène gasped.
“Ivan?” Marinette repeated, hissing. “Are you serious? How?”
“Who’s Ivan?” Adrien asked. She jumped; she had nearly forgotten he was there.
“Just some guy Mylène kind-of rejected,” Marinette explained quickly, and Adrien’s eyebrows quirked up. “I don’t know why he’s… that… though…”
“Are you telling me he was a student at this school?”
“Yes, Adrien, that’s exactly what I’m telling you!” Why was he so patronizing always, even at a time like this?
“I know no IVAN,” Ivan rumbled again, angrier this time. “I am reborn of stone and earth; the almight STONEHEART! I will keep you safe, Mylène.”
“Ivan, no, stop! I don’t know what happened to you, but stop!” Mylène yelped, but Stoneheart held no heed, and instead swept his free hand, tearing more chunks of ground and rock, knocking everyone else aside, sending them flying as he created a small rubble shield.
Marinette and Adrien both shouted as they were hit by the powerful force generated by Stoneheart, and they were flying as well, along with the boulder and body they were seeking shelter behind. Marinette flew over and hit a tree, which broke the force as she then promptly slammed into a building. Richoeting pain ebbed in her back and she moaned, sliding to the floor.
Stoneheart turned and roared, and charged back inside the school. There were suddenly further shrieking, but Marinette’s hearing was fading. It felt as though someone was dunking her head underwater.
“A-Adrien?” She glanced around slowly. “Anyone? Hello?”
A horrible silence followed. There was no one there for her.
She tried to move, and found herself unable to do. An eerie calm settled over her. Was this what acceptance was? She thought she would be fine if she died right here. Acceptance felt kind of light.
Marinette closed her eyes, focusing on breathing. Her hand dropped to her side, and her fingers lightly grazed on smooth wood.
Wood?
Marinette opened her eyes and tried focusing on what she had touched. It was a small, dark box. Marinette wondered whose it was; it looked really fancy. She took hold of the box, and opened it just out of curiosity.
A bright, iridescent light burst forth from the both, and Marinette let out a little yelp, trying to lean away as the light swirled around her body. The light then came to a halt, hovering in front of her and bursting into this…
This creature.
It looked like a plushie, to be honest. The kind you could get from those claw machines. It was small and red, patterned with black dots like a ladybug.
“Greetings, Miraculous Holder,” the creature spoke, and Marinette’s eyes bulged. She had flattened herself as much as she could against the wall. “I am Tikki of the Ladybug Miraculous.”
“You’re what?” Marinette practically screamed, and then burst into hysterical laughter, and tears finally started to slide down her cheeks and she devolved into nonsensical sobbing. The things that had happened today had finally gotten to her.
Adrien pushing her around. Chloe. Waking up late to school again. The fear for her new friends. The worry for them, and even for Adrien. Her back hurt so much too. It was too much. It was too, too much.
Tikki froze, big eyes widening, and then she very hesitantly hovered closer to Marinette.
“Get away from me!” Marinette shrieked, scrabbling back on all fours, her back screaming in tearing pain, but Marinette could hardly feel it at the moment. “Just- just get away from me! Everything just go away!”
“Miss-”
“My name is not miss! I’m Marinette!”
“Marinette,” Tikki tried again, her voice soft and gentle, concern shining in those eyes of hers. “Please calm down. Okay? Look at me.”
Gulping for air, Marinette looked up at Tikki.
“Okay, that’s good,” Tikki encouraged. “I want you to do this, okay? Look for 5 things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. And breathe in and out slowly. Can you do that?”
Marinette nodded dazedly, trying to focus. “... R-right. Uhm… I can see you.”
“Good,” Tikki prompted.
“... This box. That chunk of boulder that went flying. I can see the school from here… and there’s a cloud up in the sky that’s shaped like a bean. Four things I can touch… the ground. I can feed rocks. I can feel my skin. And the f-fabric of my clothing. And I can touch my hair. What was next?”
“Three things you can hear.”
“I can hear you talking. I can hear me responding. And…” Marinette’s voice darkened, trembling slightly. “I can hear Ivan and Mylène yelling in the distance.”
“Two things you can smell,” Tikki said softly, touching Marinette’s knee with her little arm. Marinette didn’t mind the touch, somehow. It was comforting.
“I can smell my own sweat. It’s gross.” Marinette laughed a little, wiping her running noise. “I can smell smoke.”
“What can you taste?”
Marinette thought, and her lips twisted. “Blood. I can taste my own blood.”
“Okay. That was great, Marinette. Do you feel better?” Tikki sai anxiously, rising to hover face-to-face.
“Yes. I do. I feel more- more here. Does that make sense?” Marinette said, and Tikki nodded, smiling. “How did you know to do that?”
“I’m a kwami.” At Marinette’s blank expression, Tikki clarified, “I’m the helper to the holder of the Miraculous. I aid in transformation and occasionally emotional support. You learn a thing or two after the centuries.”
“Transformation?”
Tikki smiled a secretive smile. “Marinette, this box chose you.”
“Uh- should I be worried?” Marinette asked, eyeing Tikki suspiciously.
“Nope,” Tikki said cheerfully, and flew down to the box that had laid forgotten at Marinette’s side. “Pick this up again, and put them on!”
“... Earrings?” Marinette muttered, grabbing the box and pulling out two small earrings. They, too, had a ladybug pattern on them. At Tikki’s encouragement, Marinette tentatively clicked them on. She didn’t feel any different, other than maybe feeling a bit like a thief. “Now what?”
“Repeat after me. ‘Tikki, spots on!’”
“What- why?” Marinette asked confusedly, her thoughts sluggish.
“Just say it. ‘Tikki, spots on!’”
“Tikki, spots on,” Marinette repeated, then yelled as an all-compassing, pink, fluttery light seized hold of her body. Her clothes melted away, her pain faded.
Transforming her from 14-year old Marinette…
… into the new-found superhero Ladybug.