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"I'm sorry. She said what?!?" Adrien screamed, looking as his girlfriend and best friends, who were all sitting on his bed- or in Chloe's case, sat on Kagami's lap. (It's either going to be Chloe and Kagami, or Luka and Kagami in these stories. Deal with it.)
The four were childhood friends. At first it was just Adrien, Chloe and Kagami who had always hung out at their parents parties. Then Chloe had introduced the small blunette- who had become her friend when no one else did- to the two. Marinette's parents used to provide some catering services for the parties and, Marinette had actually approached Chloe at one. From then on, the four were inseparable.
At first, his father had been reluctant for Marinette to be in their little group, but his, then, wife had convinced him to give her a chance and the little bug grew on him. Now, she was very much his protégé and Adrien was pretty sure his father was planning to pass his title as the company's designer to Marinette. Maybe even the whole company.
Her parents did, however, want her to remain out of the spotlight until she was ready so Marinette was rarely seen with the other 3 outside unless she met them at whatever enclosed place they were at. Marinette didn't mind- in fact, she loved the anonymity and had even gone as far as becoming the elusive designer, Ladybug. And only the closest people to her knew who the designer was.
"She said she saved Uncle Jagged's cat from an airport runaway and got tittinus from it or something. And everyone, including Alya believed her."
Jagged stone had met Marinette whilst they were at Chloe's hotel, goofing around when they were 15. She had accidentally broken his glasses when Chloe had been trying to push her towards Adrien, but Jagged had gotten in the way. The result was broken glasses and Marinette promising to make the rockstar even better ones. He had been delighted when he received it, even asking the girl to make the cover of his new album. Almost 3 years later (they were 17/18 now) and Marinette was made his honorary niece and was very much on her way to becoming his exclusive designer.
Which is why Marinette was pissed. This Lila girl had claimed that The Jagged Stone had a cat.
Something he was allergic to.
"I told you she was a ridiculous choice of friends."
Marinette raised an eyebrow at her friend, giving her a deadpan look.
"I'm friends with most people in the class Chlo."
"Yeah but none of them believe you do they."
"You do."
"Well she said that Jagged made a song about her. It's utterly ridiculous!"
The anonymity meant that Chloe and Marinette refrained them from looking like friends with each other outside. Whilst the class and most people saw that the two had some sort of distaste with each other, it was truly just the way they were with each other. Chloe had always been mean to most people around her- it was something she did to prevent people from manipulating her- but her rivalry with Marinette was moreso friendly quips and banter between the two. In reality, the two trusted each other and loved each other like sisters. (I just like Chloe and wish she gets the redemption she deserves.)
It was always fun to watch.
"And then she said that Ladybug is her best friend and she can get him- she really said him- to design clothes for everyone. I pointed out that we don't know for sure that she can be trusted because there's no proof that she is friends with the designer. And that since the designer is already well established in the fashion world, they probably have a lot on their plate already."
"Which you don't."
"Ugh. Chloe."
"What? You don't."
"It's not- ugh- it isn't about-"
Adrien and Kagami rolled their eyes at each other, waiting patiently for their girlfriends to stop bickering.
"Anyways she cornered me in the bathroom and actually tried to threaten me. Me!"
"What? Princess! Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Puh-lease. Our school is full if dimwits. And that includes the teachers. They all believed that bitch and her lies."
Marinette nodded her head cutely, "Yeah and she had the audacity to say in class to me- and I quote- 'I know Gabriel Agreste because I'm dating his son. I can ask him to give you some fashion advice if you want." Her hands were brought up to her face and the pitch if her voice was higher.
All three voices (Chloe hadn't been there to hear it) rang out, alarm ringing in their voices.
"WHAT?!?"
A few days later
"Did you hear?"
"Adrien-"
"The Adrien Agres-"
"He's com-"
"Here to our-"
This was all Marinette heard about when she walked into the school, early.
She knew he was coming of course. After hearing the liar's absurd claims about him, Adrien went straight to his father (who had been in the middle of something with Nathalie. But he didn't want to dwell on that since his father was happy) and told him everything the girls had told him.
After confirming with Marinette, the man was furious and was already barking orders to Nathalie to call the legal team up and get papers ready for slander.
Adrien, however, told his father to hold onto that for a moment, suggesting that he sign up to the school his friends were at and set things straight.
Marinette had also mentioned that she had spoken to Jagged already. What he would do with the information, not even she knew.
Chloe had then asked (read: ordered) her father to ask Prince Ali about Lila Rossi.
Whilst Kagami didn't do anything, she gave her girlfriend a device made by her mother's company, allowing her to record everything in real time, without anyone knowing, so Kagami could watch from the comfort of her own home.
Gabriel Agreste knew his son and the girls had a mischievous streak. It didn't deter him from being thoroughly impressed, if the look on his face was anything to go by.
Marinette glanced at Chloe, who smirked a bit. She knew Chloe had already planted the device to entertain her girlfriend. Kagami was definitely a vindictive girl who, only Chloe's own vindictiveness could match.
As Marinette sat at her seat in the back of the class she couldn't help the small smirk that grew on her face.
Lila came in and say next to Alya (Marinette liked Alya. She really did. They were on their way to being great friends before Lila came. Too bad the manipulative bitch had to ruin it.)
"Lila. You must be excited. You're boyfriend is finally coming here."
"Of course I'm excited!" But Marinette could see the small tremble in her lips, "I've been begging Gabriel to let Adrien come here for ages. It's a good thing too. Adrien needs to get away from his terrible home life."
"What do you mean?"
"His father is terribly controlling. Adrien has been wanting to get out of the house for more than just his work."
At this, Marinette silently seethed. Whilst it was true that Gabriel was a bit cold and slightly controlling at times- especially in the year his wife had passed away- Marinette knew that Gabriel had felt guilty when he would see how his son had reacted and had sworn to himself never to hurt his son like that again. Then he began a relationship with Nathalie, his secretary. Whilst there was always going to be a place in his heart for Emilie, Nathalie had been the one to open his heart up and become better for the sake of himself and for Adrien. He'd made an effort to be there for his son.
His friendship with Marinette's parents from even before Emilie had died had helped him too. To Gabriel, Marinette's parents were the one who he could go to for advice about Adrien. And in the last few years, that advice had stuck with him and his and Adrien's relationship had never gone back to the rocky period after Emilie's passing.
And Adrien got to go out for much more than just the photoshoots he did for the company. It's just, the press didn't know because he was good at taking precautions.
"I bet he will show you how grateful he is for you when he comes in."
"Of course. He loves me silly."
Marinette would have said something but at that moment, Miss Bustier walked in with her handsome boyfriend just a step behind.
This was actually the first she had seen him, today. He wore a simple outfit. But it was very chic. A black button up shirt with his three signature green, purple and yellow stripes running across his waist (Marinette made it for him). His top two buttons weren't fastened, giving a view of his collarbone. Marinette thought he looked delectable and, unconsciously, licked her already glossy lips. It was paired with charcoal jeans from his father's next fall collection. Finally, a simple neon green belt sit on his hips, where his shirt was half tucked in, half out (a tip he learnt from Marinette) and he carried a satchel with everything he would need.
( Let's be honest. Canon Adrien needs a better fashion sense. So I'm giving him one in this au.)
Marinette knew her boyfriend looked good in black. It was something she had once blurted out and he knew that seeing him in black made her feel hot.
He wore this outfit just to tease her.
"Everyone. This is Adrien Agreste. I know you have a lot of questions so Adrien has kindly agreed to answer them and get everything out of the way."
She gestured to Adrien to sit in her seat, whilst she made her way to the back of the room, near Marinette. She remained standing, however.
"Uh. Hi. I'm Adrien. Ask me anything."
Marinette's heart inwardly sunk for her kitty (yes, her kitty. What? He would never admit it, but Adrien acted like a cat at times). Regardless of his... sexiness, Adrien was still a little shy around new people. It was a trait he got from his Father who, even now, was still off-standish to those not already in their main circle.
Hands flew up like the speed of light and Adrien began to point to people, answering their questions more quickly and fluently as time went on. Throughout the q and a, Adrien barely spared a glance at Lila, but he did catch Marinette's eyes more than a few times. Something miss Bustier noticed, but didn't comment on.
It was sweet, sweet Rose who eventually brought up the question.
"Hi Adrien. I'm Rose. I'm such a huge fan of you and your work with Prince Ali when he came to Paris last time."
"Thank you Rose."
"Your girlfriend told us all about how you both helped him so much."
"My girlfriend?" His eyebrow was raised and looked at Marinette, who grinned at him.
"Yeah. Lila. It's so romantic that you came to the school for her," Her eyes were sparkling in delight, then her smile faltered a bit, "Did you- Did you come here to protect her?"
"Well," He leaned his hand on the desk and placed his chin on top of it, "I did come here for my girlfriend. And I did come here to protect her."
Rose looked like she was about to swoon whilst a lot of the class turned to slyly (not really, since she noticed) sneak looks at Marinette.
The class, well most of them, believed the lies Lila told them of Marinette cornering her in the bathroom on multiple occasions and bullying her- regardless of the fact that, before Lila was around, they all knew Marinette as one of the genuinely kind ones in the class.
Not that Marinette cared much anymore. Yes, at first, it hurt. The kids she knew for a long time. But she knew Adrien, Kagami and Chloe for longer. She knew that, no matter what, she had her best friends and she had people who were by her side. That's all that mattered.
But it didn't hurt to have a little entertainment now and again.
Lila looked like she was basking in the attention she was supposedly getting from Adrien. But Marinette knew better from the slight squint in her eyes and the constant twitch of her nose. She was confused.
Here we go.
"But," the class turned back to the boy at the desk, "I wasn't talking about Lie- Lila was it?"
Three...
She heard Chloe snort at Adrien's words.
"What?"
Two...
"She's not my girlfriend."
And one...
"What?!"
Lila was shocked to her seat.
Poor Rose looked traumatised.
Alya's jaw had hit the ground.
Even Juleka, the girl who was too shy to express her emotions outwardly looked positively stunned.
The varying faces of shock, dismay and anger honestly made Marinette want to laugh.
And that's what she did.
For a whole minute she just let out her laughter and Adrien felt mesmerised as he watched his girlfriend bellow out in pure mirth and vindication at what just happened. He smiled as she let it out, knowing she needed it after having to watch in disbelief as her class believed the web of lies Lila had spun.
Finally, she breathed a wheezing breath and straightened up from her seat. Heads were turned towards her with different levels of emotions, the most common being confusion.
"Sorry- I- Sorry. I just can't believe any of you would believe a word she says. And now, you all have the audacity to look betrayed "
"Marinette ple-"
She lifted her hand out to her teacher, "No Miss Bustier. They listened to her without asking for proof. They didn't bother checking her claims when a quick search on the Internet could tell you that uncle Jagged has never has never had a cat because he's fucking allergic to fur!"
"Marinette!"
"Sorry, Miss Bustier."
"Uncle Jagged?" Someone questioned. (For the sake of this story. Juleka and Luka are not Jagged's. It is an au. P.s. I love how Jagged interacts with both of them. Its adorable.)
"And Chloe has met Prince Ali. She could have told you that he doesn't know Lila. Heck, Rose. I thought you talk to him on a weekly basis ever since you met him at that children's charity. You could have asked him yourself."
She didn't want to go off on Rose, but none of this class had a single brain cell and it needed to be said.
Alix, the only one with actual brain cells, nodded and then raised her hand.
"I have a question for Adrien."
"Go on."
"So who is your girlfriend then?" It was a blunt question. But it was one that got everyone's attention.
Instead of saying anything, Adrien lifts himself off of the seat and walks (struts) up the steps in the middle of the class. He doesn't stop at Lila, like people were hoping he would. He continued up the stairs and their eyes followed as he sat next to Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
Lila looked like her eyes were being gouged out.
"My girlfriend is the sweetest, most kind being in my whole life. She brightens up my day and she never fails to make me happy. She is beautiful and brave and she deserves the universe and more. The reason I am here is because I can't stand to see her upset or belittled because all she wants is justice."
He untangled his satchel from his body and placed it on the floor.
"She wants justice for herself and the people that have been lied about."
He reached out of his bag and took his pencil case out.
"If it's okay with you Miss Bustier, I would like to sit here for the remainder of the year."
"Of course Adrien. There is no seating plan but I do find it a bit bothersome when people keep changing seats."
The comment was probably meant for Lila, who had constantly changed seats, practically everywhere, in her first month.
Adrien nodded in agreement with her before turning to Marinette with his usual adorable smirk planted on his face. He stuck his hand out to her.
"Hi I'm Adrien Agreste."
She grabbed his hand and shook it. Maybe a little too much.
"Hi Adrien Agreste. I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
She pulled his hand, effectively bringing him closer so that their noses were almost touching.
The class watched the interaction with curiosity, some (a liar) even with jealousy.
Chloe just looked amused at the whole situation.
"I'm your girlfriend."
She proceeded to smack her lips onto his and pressed on them for a few seconds before pulling away. Several gasps emitted around them and Adrien grinned widely, turning to them.
"This is my girlfriend. Not that liar. And if any of you accuse my princess of doing something she hasn't done. If any of you accuse her of lying without sufficient proof. Well, let's just say, Hell hath no fury then a man who wants to protect his lady." (Yes I know that's not the saying.)
Bonus:
Lila's lies became more exposed as the day passed by. And in the next few weeks, there was an onslaught of lawsuits suing her for defamation as well as assault charges (which, when Adrien had found out, he had been furious and had called up his father's legal team up himself) from Marinette. A restraining order was placed on Lila to stay the hell away from Marinette. It had been found that Lila had been skipping school for weeks at times, not because she was travelling to help the helpless. But because she had been plotting on how to manipulate the class and eventually, the whole school to believe her lies.
The kicker?
Lila had done this before. She wasn't a first time offender. She had even done worse things the first time round.
But this time, she wasn't going to evade punishment. She wasn't going to get away from all the distress she had caused. Diplomatic Immunity be damned. (Which her mother revoked anyways.)
Lila Rossi did not know Jagged Stone.
She didn't know Prince Ali.
She didn't know Gabriel Agreste or his son.
She didn't know the up and coming designer ladybug.
And when all of her lies were up and out in the open, she couldn't lie her way through it and come out on top. She just watched helplessly as everything she had ever wanted to do, to be.
It was all gone in an instant.