Adrien lifted the hatch into Marinette's room. He froze at the chaos. Marinette turned to look at him, but all he saw was a conspiracy board on how to murder Lila. Adrien, quickly came back to his senses, climbed I and closed the door.
"What the fuck, Mari?" he whisper-shouted.
"Shhhh!" She shushed him, "See, if I can plan it carefully, I won't be caught."
Marinette smiled and turned back to admire her handiwork.
Adrien sighed, "Claws out."
Damian was at school when his emergency line rang. It was untraceable through the Justice League database.
"What did I say about phones, Mr. Wayne?" his teacher complained.
Damian stood up, grabbing his things, "It's my father and it says 'emergency'. He knows not to call me during school."
"Mr. Wayne." they growled.
"You can call him yourself, with the principal and our lawyer present." Damian declared walking out, "Emergency calls are authorized."
Damian sat in his car and sighed. He hadn't been using the 'Wayne' authority for awhile and had come to hate it as much as the 'Al Ghul' fame. Damian activated the soundproof windows and redialed the last number, on the hidden screen in the car.
"What is it?" He growled out, "Expect a call-"
"Uh, Birdy." Chat Noir spoke.
"Pussycat?" Damian replied, not expecting him to be on the line, "Why are you calling me?"
"I walked in on Minibug planning a murder." Chat admitted, turning the phone towards Marinette's wall and hideaway calendar, "She has evidence, everywhere. Think Bernard's board for 'Do the Butts Match?'"
'Habibiti.'
Damian sighed, "Yes."
His screen was suddenly filled with poster boards, papers, and strings.
"What happened?" Damian questioned.
"Well....today Lila pulled another stunt and Minibug went home early, but with all these papers, I don't know how long she's been planning." Chat Noir confessed, "It might also be because she's tired. There's been akumas every night this past week."
"Can you get rid of it?" Robin asked.
"She's not gonna like it , but you got it." Chat smiled, "Cataclysm."
Damian watched as everything vanished with a simple touch.
"How is she not screaming at you?" He wondered, out loud.
"Oh." Chat chuckled, moving the camera over to Marinette, "She didn't hear me transform and I tied her up with my tail. She fell asleep."
"I have a few calls to make." Damian responded, ending the call.
'Okay. Now, that the murder problem is solved, what do I do about you?'
Chat detransformed and looked at Marinette passed out. He carefully lifted her up and brought them to the ground.
"Tom!" he shouted, "Sabine!"
The couple rushed upstairs and found him scared, holding their daughter.
"What?" Sabine began.
"I don't know!" Adrien shouted frantically, "We-We were talking and then-Then she suddenly passed out!"
Sabine rushed over, checking for a fever.
"She was yawning and rubbing her eyes a lot." Adiren confessed, "She seemed tired these last couple days in class. Has she been really busy? I could help her with homework if she doesn't understand something!"
"She didn't tell us about any projects." Sabine replied.
"As far as we know, shes only been babysitting Manon." Tom answered, "Maybe twice a week. Three if it's important, but Nadia always checks if it's okay and it's not interrupting her schedule."
Adrien hid his scowl. He knew Alya and Nino were dumping their younger siblings on her if they saw her out and about. It seemed like her parents didnt know.
'I'll handle those two myself.'
"Why dont you head back to school, Son." Tom spoke.
"Hes right, Dear." Sabine suggested, "We can keep an eye on her and if anything changes, we'll take her to the doctor."
Adrien nodded his head and picked up his things, leaving the bakery.
'Thank you Father for the acting lessons. Onto phase two.'
"Hey!" Nino called out, "Where were you?"
Adrien smiled through his internal rage, "With Marinette."
"You were?" Alya questioned.
"Well, not that long." He answered, "She collapsed."
"What?" They cried out.
"Is she okay?" Alya pushed.
"I don't know. Her parents are keeping her home." The model answered, "We were talking and then her eyes rolled back and she fell!"
"Her parents couldn't figure out why. They said she isn't busy with projects right now and she's only been babysitting Manon, with her parent's permission." He announced, seeing them wince, "They said they might just close the bakery and take her to the hospital."
He watched as they looked over to the bakery with the 'CLOSED' sign now in full view. Adrien saw them pale and glance at each other. He knew he had gotten them worried.
'No one hurts M'Lady.'
Adrien strolled in after Nino and Alya, as they silently walked to their seats and hunched over.
"Ms. Bustier, Marinette is staying home." He announced, for the class to hear, "Her parents should be calling in soon; they might be taking her to the hospital."
"What happened?" Asked Rose.
"She collapsed during lunch." Adrien spoke, "We don't know why. She doesn't have a fever and she hasn't been too busy; just homework and babysitting."
He studied their faces and saw some had the decency to look ashamed.
"The doctor's note should say-" Lila interrupted.
"Why would she need a doctor's note?" Adrien questioned, "I just told Ms. Bustier. She can takes your word for it all the time or is mine not good enough?"
Everyone remained silent, in shock. They had never seen Adrien get like this, so upset.
"No!" Lila shouted, trying to back peddle, "That's not it, Adrien!"
"Then, Mari will be back and when she's back, she won't need a not." he growled out.
"No, Adrien-" Caline tried to interject.
"What if she's faking?" Lila called out.
Chloe stood up suddenly, "I can get Daddy to check hospital records if your all so worried and while he's doing it, we can get Lila's too."
Llila smiled, "I got to Italy for my treatments so-"
"Then, your passport records should be fine." the mayor's daughter scoffed, "Daddy doesn't have trouble talking to ambassadors."
"I wouldn't want to be a hassle." Lila pointed out.
Chloe smiled, "I can call him, right now, and get it over with. He does what I tell him."
Lila looked between Adrien and Chloe. They were smirking. They knew they had her cornered; if she pushed more about Mairnette, they would reveal everything.
"I'm sure....Marinette will tell us when she's better." Lila commented and kept her mouth shut.
Adrien took one look at Chloe and nodded, before sitting down.
Adrien let the class know the next day that Marinette was hospitalized and had to stay there for a few days. He could see that many felt bad for her, but Alya, Nino and Caline wore the guiltiest faces of them all.
'It's not like I could tell them she was tired from all the akumas. If they feel guilty, maybe they have something to be guilty about.'
When Marinette woke up, her parents demanded to know what had been going on. The doctors had told them she was mentally drained and dehydrated. Marinette looked between her parents and the doctors and broke down, realizing her miraculous was gone.
"Alya and Nino have been forcing me to babysit their siblings. Miss Bustier has been making me do so much work! She wants me to stay later and tutor people when I'm already doing so much. Then there's Manon and the bakery! My homework! I need to work on my designs!" Marinette sobbed out, "Then, there's all the akumas! Everyoen is being mean and I'm trying not to get akumatized!"
Sensing her distress, the doctor gave her a sedative so she could sleep without worry of akumas.
When Adrien arrived, he could see they were unhappy.
"Is Marinette okay?" He questioned, seeing their faces.
"Did you know?" Tom asked, "Did you know about the extra work she was doing?"
Adrien sighed as he closed the door, "Not at first; not until the day before. Marinette complained to me. She said she didn't get a choice. She would be out with Manon and the kids would suddenly run up to her, with Alya and Nino nowhere in sight. When she asked where they were, they answered that they would pick them up in two hours at the park."
"I didnt know she hadn't told you, until she collapsed." He confessed.
"You tell those two, they are banned from our bakery for two years." Sabine commanded.
"Yes, Ma'am." The model answered, "I did tell them that Marinette collapsed and how we were worried since she shouldn't be that tired from babysitting one kid."
"And?" Tom pressed.
"They have been quiet ever since." He declared, "They arent talking to anyone and most of the time keeping their heads down, like waiting to be scolded. I might have laid my concern on a bit too thick; they might believe they are the reason she is here."
"From our perspective, they did." Sabine replied.
"Another thing." Adrien winced, "I may....have told Damian, she was here."
"We'll call him." Tom spoke, softly, "You have a full schedule as well."
"Make sure you're getting rest, Dear." Sabine stated. Adrien nodded and left the room.
It had been almost a month, when the class saw Marinette again. She was walking with a guy. Alya and Nino sighed in relief. They quickly ran up to her.
"You're okay! Rose cried out.
"Are you completely better?" Asked Mylene.
"Are you coming back to school tomorrow?" Questioned Nathaniel.
"Ms. Bustier has been different since you've been gone." Announced Kim.
"No." Mari announced, "I'm never going back to that school."
"What?" Spoke Nino.
"But you're the class representative!" Alya shouted.
"You can take over, Alya." Marinette replied, "I'm sure the class rep duties will be .....significantly lessened with the board carefully watching."
"What do you mean?" Asked Juleka.
"Your teacher was forcing Marinette to do her own work." The guy announced, "She also signed her up for activities to ease your burdens, as your grades were poor. Before her collapse, she demanded Marinette begin tutoring, the likes of you."
"Wait. What?" Spoke Ivan.
"What does he mean?" Kim questioned.
"Who is this guy?" Alya demanded.
"Her boyfriend, Damian." Adrien announced, "Hey."
"Agreste." Damian nodded, "Thank you for informing me about her condition."
"Wait!" Nino shouted, "You knew?"
"That Mari had a boyfriend?" Adrien asked, "Of course, I knew. Mari's my best friend."
Marinette groaned, "Don't you know how much of a fuss he's been putting me through? You're lucky I'm not super gluing feathers to you!"
"Don't be so rude, Marinette. She can be so cruel." Lila spoke up, "Are you sure she's your girlfriend-girlfriend?"
"Bitch!" Marinette shouted, surprising them, "If I kill you are you dead-dead or just not breathing?"
Damian chuckled, "Okay, Angel. Obviously, you are still tired. We should return."
"What?" Questioned Lila, horrified.
"She's tired." Adrien stated, as if they hadn't just heard Damian speak.
"Did you not hear her threaten Lila?" Alya snapped back.
"It was a simple question," Damian declared, "but if she wants to feel threatened, it is a simple task."
The class looked between Lila, Marinette and her boyfriend, and Adrien, who was happily smiling.
"Uh, Dude." Nino spoke up, "Your best friend is a little bit psycho and so is her boyfriend. You might need a new one."
"Nah." Adrien brushed off, "Princess only gets like this when she's super tired. It must be what happens with Lila. Mari never remembers when she sleep talks. The meds said they would make her drowsy, right?"
"Yes." Damian answered, "We got smoothies from the shop she goes to with Tsurugi-san. We were on our way back."
Adrien nodded his head in understanding, "So, when is the move?"
"Move?" Nino piped up.
"Is he moving away?" asked Alix.
"He talked to Mari's parents and convinced them to allow Mari to move in with his family, in the states." Adrien announced, nonchalantly, "Damian is over protective and his family is always making sure no one is stressed out."
"You make her sound like an object." Lila commented.
The model scoffed, "There's two overprotective people together."
"Marinette isn't overprotective." Alya declared.
"She doesn't lock her diary in a box that traps a thief's hands in it? She doesn't show anyone her designs and keeps a locker, in town, full of her things?" Adrien questioned, with a smile, " Perhaps, you never knew Mari at all, so-called ex-best friend. Mari could defend me for days because I did something wrong. When was the last time she defended any of you?"
'Defend?'
The Agreste heir glared at them, taking his stance next to the couple, "Don't you realize you are partially to blame for her leaving?"
"But Miss Bustier-" Rose began, uncomfortably.
"You're also the reason why Mari wasn't sleeping or eating!" Adrien shouted, pointing to Alya and Nino, "Tossing your siblings at her because it was convenient for you! Having them run up to her as you walk away, so she can't say no! Hell, you don't even talk anymore!"
"Why do you all go to her for help?" Adrien continued to shout, "She isn't the only artist in class! Are Alix and Nathaniel not good enough? Both Max and I have excellent grades, as well!"
Everyone looked down, never expecting the scolding. They had come to rely on Marinette so much, they hadn't realized the pressure they had put her under until now and it took Adrien to tell them.
"I'm okay." Marinette spoke up, hugging Adrien.
Damian swiftly scooped her up, "I'm taking her home. She doesn't need to be here, with them."
Adrien nodded, "I'll see you at dinner tomorrow." and with that, the couple was gone.
"Adrien." Nino called out.
"You guys pushed her so hard, she hadn't slept in almost a week." Adrien spoke softly, "It can cause neurological damage. You guys have been mean to her in school. She was just trying to meet you expectations; she was trying to be your friend."
"Wait, how long has Mari been dating that guy?" questioned Mylene, "Her parents wouldn't just let her move into a stranger's home."
"Three years." Adrien answered.
"What?" asked Alix.
Rose perked up, "What about her bullying Lila?"
The model rolled his eyes, "Mari never bullied her."
"Yes she did." Alya shouted, "Marinette wanted to date you!"
" Well, I asked her out and got rejected." Adrien announced, "She did admit that she liked me when Lila moved here, but she was getting over me. Marinette helped me get with my ex-girlfriend, Kagami, despite her feelings for me. By the time I asked her out, she was already with Damian. Lial has been lying to you and getting you to harass Mari."
"But....Why are you saying all of this now?" asked Nathaniel, getting increasingly frustrated.
"Oh, I told Alya and Nino years ago." he said, showing off his model smile, "They thought it was 'cute' that I was trying to defend Mari and be her 'knight in shining armor'. Doesn't matter now, though."
"What do you mean?" asked Kim, as people turned to look at the couple.
"Like I said before, her boyfriend is overprotective and Mari finds it cute. Her parents adore him. They think she's in good hands and so do I." Adrien replied, "Damian is known for not putting up with anyone's shit and breaking bones, if people get in his way. His mother raised him to believe that women were criminal masterminds, looking for the next big catch."
Lila unknowingly flinched.
The model smiled, "She taught him to fight and that anyone was an opponent. He is trained in several martial arts and banned from several competitions because he was trained since he could walk."
"I know Mari will always be protected and no one will ever hurt her again." He continued, glaring at them, "No more torn up homework. No more getting tripped in the halls. No more unnecessary work. I can guarantee that if Damian ever saw it happening to Mari, he wouldn't hold back. Bruce tells him he's too advanced and he could cause some serious damage to someone if he went all out. Damian wouldn't care and I would be cheering him on."
Adrien walked away leaving them stunned.
"Why didn't you tell us that Adrien told you Lila was a liar?" Questioned Ivan.
"Huh?" Nino answered, still in shock, "Uh, we...just thought he was...that Adrien wanted to help her. It was out of nowhere!"
"Why did you dump your siblings with Marinette?" Countered Nathaniel.
"She always helped before. She could be trusted-" Alya began.
"Trusted enough to look out for little kids, but not enough to be you friend?" Juleka pressed.
"It sounds like she was never given the chance to reject you...generous offer." Max countered.
Agitated, Alya shouted back, "What about your theatre's club backdrop?"
Everyone quickly turned against each other, fighting over who had pushed Marinette pass her limit. Who had pissed off Adrien? While they were busy arguing, Lila slipped away, tossing away her wig.
'Well, that school was a bust. Back to being Cerise.'
Despite disagreeing with her judgement of carrying it all alone, Félix knew he couldn't just interfere with her work, and will respect her wishes of working on it alone, even if he somehow dislike it. He also knew that when the time comes that Marinette needs help with anything, he can imagine himself suddenly putting down everything in a second and rushing to her as fast as his legs could.
Maybe it might not be for saving Paris, but just to see her smile at him knowing he'll be there to help.
— previous chapter... —
"That's enough Chloé! You're being a real bitch right now!" Alya shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I've always been a bitch, and you're not changing it now." Chloé rebutted.
Alya is already on edge about what's happening. Everything was collapsing around her, suddenly everyone is fighting her for Marinette. For Marinette!
"Why are all of you suddenly like this?! Suddenly ganging up on Lila? That's so low for all of you!" Alya screamed.
Alya couldn't understand why every student in the class is suddenly becoming hostile to her new best friend. She never understood why it is Lila's fault that suddenly the bully, Marinette, is gone. She was the one to blame, she tried to bully a student who did nothing but befriend her. They should've been celebrating. They should be happy that they got the bully to leave! But here they are fighting over the said bully.
"Als... Maybe it's time for you to listen." Nino said, coldly.
She flinched at the sudden tone of her boyfriend. Nino hadn't spoken to her like that ever, not even when he was angry for her being so careless. She knew Nino as a caring person, so she couldn't comprehend that the person in front of her is the same one.
Chloé stepped much closer to Alya, to the point where she was standing right in front of her.
"Listen very carefully. Marinette knew from the very beginning. I could see it on her face. The moment she heard you speak so proudly about your stupid interview with that liar, I could see from afar how she doesn't believe it." Chloé started.
"If anything, Ladybug's best friend should be Marinette. I mean, isn't she the one who asked the heroine for an interview just for you?" Sabrina questioned.
Alya blushed hard. She knows that she still owes the ravenette for the very first interview up close with the heroine for her blog.
"Later on, I understood why. Jagged Stone's cat? Really? You all call yourselves his fan when you know that he doesn't have a fur pet but a reptile pet. And an airline allowing a mere teenager to enter the hangar with absolutely no supervision from any airport personnel just to save a cat?" Chloé continued with a mocking look on her face.
"And don't you hear how ridiculous it is for a grown-ass man, to write a song for a teenager? What you wanna call him a p*dophile now?" The blonde said.
Alya was dumbfounded. While others looked away after hearing it clearly. As if a hidden veil was suddenly lifted from their brains, allowing them to see reason.
"Let's add more injury to the wound, who in their right mind would accept the reason of 'catching a tissue that could gouge out an eye' when the said person that was 'supposedly hit by a ball of tissue' is wearing glasses." Sabrina added gleefully with a hidden tone of mockery.
Chloé sarcastically covers her mouth, "Wow, who knew a ball of tissue could cause such a fatal injury? Oh, what a disaster! Help!" She said with dramatic flair.
If anyone aside from the class could see around them, they will see Alya was flushed red, maybe even darker than Ladybug's new costume. She knows about the sarcastic replies and tones she was receiving from the two.
Lila was seething on the inside. All she knows that everything is getting out of hand, but she couldn't leave the room, as Kim had blocked the exit and is staring blankly at her.
—————
"So when do you plan to execute this plan of yours?"
"Hmm... Who knows, I need more before pursuing it, or else it might backfire all on me."
With a cold hard gaze, people could wonder what happened to the person that they could make such a gaze.
—————
"It's revolting to know that even an adult is willing to help her lies." Chloé sneered.
The blonde looked around before continuing, "Did you all know that Bustier and Damocles believed this little snake's lies about a certain 'Lying Disease'? Guess not."
Then Chloé's eyes moved towards a certain pair of green eyes. "And that somebody had the gall to cover up the lies and continue to act as your friend. Wow, what a coward."
By that statement, everyone knew she was talking about the nervous Adrien Agreste who suddenly had everyone's attention.
"Chloé, please. Marinette tried to warn all of you, but you didn't listen to her and then left her, I didn't want that to happen. It's the first time I made friends, I just didn't want to lose it..." Adrien pleaded.
"That. I hate you for that." Chloé said.
The boy was confused.
"You think everything is about you. You didn't care if Marinette was being bullied or being left by her so-called friends, all that mattered to you is that it doesn't happen to you. And your first time making a friend? What am I chopped liver?" She said.
"Chloé you don't understand... We were friends because our parents were acquainted with each other." He said.
The blonde girl shook her head, "You're wrong. I didn't like you at first, I could see how you slightly manipulate everything around you. That you had to make it all about you."
Adrien was hurt when he heard it.
"It's kind of true. When Marinette planned a party for getting rid of Chloé, I saw you talked to her and saw how her mood deflated." Juleka spoke loudly enough.
"I thought between the two of us, I was the rotten one. But no, it's you. And what's worse, you're not only rotten but you're like a wolf hiding in sheep's clothing. That's why Marinette left." Chloé said harshly making everyone flinch at her tone.
—————
The day passed by in a blur. Alya was walking home, alone, as Nino chose to excuse himself for the reason of having some space.
Alya was confused as to why she was being a target of such hostility when all she did is defend a harmless exchange student from a hidden bully.
The pained look in Nino's eyes hurts her as if it was telling her that Alya personally hurt him. And she didn't like that feeling.
As she walks slowly, she gradually points at the reason for what's happening around her. Marinette.
This is my holiday gift to the readers! Hope you all enjoy reading it, next chapter will be uploaded 'next year' XD Let me know if you'd like to be added to the Taglist!
