Chapter Text
Mornings in the Agreste mansion were quiet.
Even if the sun was shining brightly outside, the rays only seemed to reflect off the emptiness of the hollow rooms. Okay, objectively, it wasn't that bad. He technically wanted for nothing. But it didn't mean much when loneliness permeated through the material haze inside his home.
“More like household,” Adrien mumbled to himself with a tired yawn. Homes were supposed to be warm and inviting- loud, with all of the memories the walls bore proudly. Adrien sighed, not even knowing what a functional home looked like- well, that’s not true. As he watched the sun finish rising, Adrien thought back to the Dupain-Cheng bakery.
That was a home in every way imaginable. There was love between those walls; Adrien could tell just from the few moments he spent with Marinette’s family last week before The Gamer attacked. It was no wonder his classmate was such a kind and compassionate person, growing up in a home like that. She kept surprising him, each time she revealed a little more about herself to Adrien. It shouldn’t surprise him, though, considering most everyone in their class adored her. He was starting to see why. She was still painfully shy around him, though, which bothered him. It didn’t make too much sense, with the way she was confident around others. Thinking back to her parents, he understood where that confidence came from. Both parents were powerful presences in their own right, something Adrien admired. He was glad his friend had such awesome parents, but he still felt a little guilty pang of jealousy when he thought about his own household.
“You’re brooding at the sky again.” Plagg’s sleepy voice cut through Adrien’s thoughts, causing him to jump and knock his head against the window pane he was leaning against.
He scowled at the howling laughter that tore out of the kwami. “Was not,” Adrien muttered but it only fueled his companion’s delight.
“You totally were! What’s got you up early this time Adrien?” Plagg didn’t seem too concerned from the lazy stretch he did from Adrien’s bed, but he had learned the kwami usually didn’t ask anything rhetorically; he cared in his own way, and there was usually a point- even if it was usually strange, or conceited, or centered around food.
“Maybe it’s all the stinky cheese you hide in my bed,” Adrien replied airily, smirking at the genuine offense contorting Plagg’s face.
“You take that back!” Adrien rolled his eyes as Plagg dug out one of the hidden pieces of camembert from the duvet and stroked it in an oddly loving manner. “And anyway, I don’t always hide it. Sometimes I eat it all first. So you can’t use that excuse every time.”
Adrien shook his head, ignoring his kwami in favor of gathering his books for school. Eh, sleep wasn't that crucial to basic human function, right? Hopefully not, because it was definitely something that eluded Adrien most nights. It wasn't too bad honestly, since it gave him more time to catch up on homework. Or video games. Usually video games. Okay, almost always video games. Time management wasn't Adrien's best skill.
“Fine, don’t answer me. Just ignore me. It’s fine, I’ll be okay. Unloved, but okay. Broken, but-”
“There’s more camembert in my bag.” Adrien held open his school bag, ready to head out before Plagg’s soliloquy got too long.
“Well, you could have just said so.”
The halls of Collège Françoise Dupont were scarcely populated an hour before the first bell rang. That was fine, though, since Adrien only came to school early to do homework in the library. Where there weren't game systems to distract him. Or the Ladyblog. Or anything ever that just wasn't homework. And still, even if there were barely any students milling about, the atmosphere of the school was still more lively than at his house and it put him more at ease. There was the potential for excitement and interaction at school at least. There were a couple of times he tried to convince Nino to get up early and come with him, but his best friend didn’t believe his totally convincing argument of “no dude it’s totally fun I swear” for one second unfortunately. Actually, he typically didn’t see too many familiar faces so early before classes, so it was a surprise when he rounded the corner of one of the stacks in the library and caught a glimpse of familiar dark hair.
“Hey Marinette! What are you doing here so early?”
“A-Adrien! Oh!” Marinette’s head whipped up at the sound of her name, her face quickly reddening at her caller. Adrien glanced down at the book splayed open on the table in front of her when her hands started fumbling with notes, instantly feeling a little guilty when he recognized the material for their Physics exam later that day. She had probably been studying in the library for the peace and quiet, and he just totally shattered that. Hopefully she wouldn’t be mad about it.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were studying. I’ll leave you be, it was nice to-”
“No!” Marinette winced as her loud protest elicited an annoyed hush from a few tables over, where a student Adrien vaguely recognized as one of their classmates glared at them before returning to his notes.
“No, you’re fine- I mean, it’s fine! You’re not fine, I mean, well, you are, but well.” Marinette’s words were mumbled, eyes glancing toward their classmate and her face reddening even more. Adrien could barely make out her words, just getting the vague sense she was assuring him. Finally she took a deep breath and smiled a little, breathlessly saying, “You can sit here if you want.”
Adrien smiled, actually able to understand her that time. Sweet, this was perfect. Ever since their team up last week he had really wanted to get to know her more. “Sure, thank you.” Marinette opened her mouth to say something as he settled in a seat across from her, but promptly shut it as soon as Adrien looked at her expectantly. As she looked down at her notes awkwardly, Adrien sighed. Well, she wasn’t completely comfortable around him yet. He got out his own notes for the test, despite not really needed to review them again. He stared at them blankly for a few beats, before glancing up to find Marinette peeking up at him. He gave her a half smile, which she tentatively returned before shuffling her notes around a bit.
“So,” Adrien drawled, searching for something to say, “are you ready for the exam?” Nice. Small talk. He could do this.
“Um, I think so. I h-hope so. Ms. Mendeleiev kind of scares me, especially when she’s mad about our grades.” Marinette admitted in a whisper, her cheeks still tinged a little pink.
Adrien hummed contemplatively, a mischievous tilt to his lips. “She reminds me of a vulture sometimes. Looks like one too.”
A shocked giggle burst out of Marinette, surprising her before she clapped her hand over her mouth. “T-that’s so mean!” An angry ‘shhhhh’ sounded from a few feet away, the student from earlier looking at them expectantly with narrowed eyes. Marinette mouthed an apology before turning back to Adrien, who was regretting his joke, thinking Marinette would think poorly of him. How was she supposed to get comfortable if she thought he was mean?
He was about to apologize when she giggled quietly and whispered conspiratorially behind her hand, eyes darting around, “I can kind of see it though.”
Adrien grinned at her playfulness, the worried squeeze in his chest easing. Marinette giggled again, smiling back at him, and Adrien caught himself being distracted by her smile. It was no wonder everyone adored her, she was so sweet and naturally put others around her at ease. He had witnessed it the couple of times he was around her as Chat as well, noticing the way she took control of situations to keep others calm. It was almost baffling, trying to reconcile that strong leader with the blushing girl with such an infectious laugh in front of him.
“I like the sound of your laugh,” Adrien’s eyes went wide as he realized what he let slip out. Crap, that was weird, wasn’t it? Totally weird. Friends don’t just tell friends like that, do they? He hoped he didn’t think he was some creep, but the way her face lit up like fire, he was pretty sure that was a lost cause.
“I- um, thank you! I do too- yours I mean! Your laugh is nice!”
“Excuse me, but this is a library! Where people study! For important Physics tests! So please, let me study in peace!” Their classmate finally shot up, pointing to the library door, an eyebrow noticeably twitching. Adrien felt bad but the guilty laugh Marinette let slip when they were out of earshot, standing on the other side of the library doors, made it worth it.
“He was so mad. I feel bad,” Marinette let out between laughs.
“I just feel bad I got you kicked out before you finished your studying. C’mon, I’ll help you review before class starts. I bet the classroom is empty.” Adrien offered, nodding in the direction of their classroom.
“Oh, um,” Marinette gripped her books to her chest, glancing towards the hallway. “Sure. T-thank you.”
So that’s how their respective best friends found them before the bell rang, huddled over a physics textbook in a classroom with a growing number of students. Honestly, Adrien didn’t even notice as their classmates had started filing in, constantly getting distracted from studying by telling Marinette the worst physics jokes he could think of, feeling proud every time her laugh would fill the room and each time it would look as if she was surprised by how hard she laughed. See, they could be friends. Adrien was grade-A friend material. He just had to get her to see that, and then she would be comfortable around him. Brilliant plan.
“Marinette! There you are girl, I was looking for you out front. Don’t you have your phone on you?” Alya’s voice broke them apart, both teens jumping in surprise and looking up. Adrien saw Nino raise his eyebrows suggestively and rolled his eyes at his best friend’s antics.
“Oh, sorry Alya! Adrien was helping me with studying for the Physics test and I guess, well, I forgot to check my phone.” Marinette rubbed the back of her head, her face apologetic.
“It’s fine, I’m sure you were distracted.” Alya said with a wink in his direction, causing Adrien to blush slightly. Forget it, nevermind. He didn’t want more friends. Friends were the Worst. With a capital ‘W.’
Before either of them could defend themselves from further teasing, Ms. Mendeleiev strode into the room with the door slamming behind her.
“Alright, everyone take your seats. I want to get your test started so I can have grades posted by the end of the lunch. Seats, that means you too Mr. Agreste.” Adrien flushed as he returned to his own seat from where he had been standing next to Marinette’s desk gathering his things. He gave Nino a sheepish smile when he gave Adrien A Look, grateful for their teacher beginning to hand out tests.
“Man that test was hard! Maybe I should have come to you two’s little study group this morning.” Adrien ignored the tease in Nino’s voice, choosing to ignore his suggestive tone.
“Yeah, you should have! I’ve offered for you to come with me to the library before.”
Alya rolled her eyes from where she sat across from nino at the table, “It wouldn’t have been hard if you studied for more than five minutes.”
“Hey, I resent that! I studied for at least fifteen minutes.” Nino shot back with an easy laugh, not actually offended at all. Marinette giggled across from Adrien, picking at her sandwich in lieu of participating in the banter. They were all sat at a table in a nearby deli at Alya’s suggestion, supplying they needed fresh air and fresh food after that killer test.
“Sure you did. Using your textbook as a pillow doesn’t count as studying, just so you know.”
“Says who? Maybe I can learn through osmosis.”
“Aaaand that explains why you’re flunking Biology as well.”
Startling laughter surrounded their table, causing a few heads to be turned their way. Adrien didn't even care they were probably being too loud; he was just happy to be out with friends. Sure, he had Alya and Marinette during school to hang out with, but he rarely saw anyone besides Nino outside of class. Actually, he thought, last week training with Marinette was probably the first time he really hung out with anyone other than Nino outside of class since he started at Collège Françoise Dupont.
He looked over at the shy girl, finding her laughing along with her best friend, eyes alight with humor. Adrien was struck again by how fitting laughter looked on her; it wasn't that she was a normally serious person, but her smile just looked like it was created to be stretched wide in a laugh, eyes twinkling and cheeks slightly flushed.
Adrien realized he was staring by the time Marinette had quieted down into a chuckle, glancing his way only to catch his soft smile. Her face immediately went red, her hands flying up to her mouth. “D-do I have food in my teeth or something?”
Startled, Adrien shook his head. “No, you're fine.” Marinette lowered her hand slowly, her blush still evident. Crap, he probably embarrassed her. Maybe not Grade-A friend material. Probably A- friend material. Adrien would just have to make up for it with more jokes that were totally great-and-not-corny-at-all-thanks-Plagg.
“Earth to Marinette, did you hear me?” Alya’s voice caused her best friend to jump and Adrien laughed again.
“Something about… Um, Ladybug?”
Alya’s eyes narrowed and after a suspicious pause, “That was just a good guess. But yes, I was asking if you read my latest article for the Ladyblog!”
“Oh! Yes, actually, I read it last night. It was a really good commentary on Ladybug’s fighting style.”
“Right? She must have some background in a type of martial arts or something. What do you think Adrien?”
Adrien only hesitated for a second, figuring it wouldn't hurt to be honest, right? “I don't know about martial arts, but I think she's amazing either way.”
“R-really?” Marinette’s lips were slightly parted, her eyes hesitant but bright.
“Yeah, of course! She and Chat Noir are awesome! They're so cool, especially Chat Noir.” Adrien couldn't help but preen a little as Alya and Nino voiced their agreements. “Don't you think so Marinette?”
“Chat Noir, cool?” The snort she gave deflated Adrien’s pride, but he hid his disappointment well. “I don't know about that. He's too goofy to be cool.” Adrien didn't know why her words stung so much, but it was surprisingly hard to keep the hurt out of his eyes.
“You don't like him?” Nino asked, curiosity in his voice. Adrien wasn't sure if he could stand to hear the answer. And to think the day had started off so well.
“What? No, of course I do! Just because I think he's goofy doesn't mean I don't think he's wonderful. He's brave, and loyal, and protects this city with his life which is really something to be admired.” The soft look in Marinette’s eyes as she spoke make Adrien's cheeks burn slightly.
Adrien was still staring at Marinette with something akin to amazement when Alya started ushering them out of the deli, realizing their lunch hour was almost over. He was used to hearing others hail praises upon Ladybug, and honestly he was the first to speak highly of his beloved partner, but it wasn't often he overheard admiration of his own alter ego. For someone he actually admired as well to speak so highly of him? Adrien felt his chest bursting with some kind of emotion he couldn't identify at the moment. It was good, though. Really good.
Adrien's trio of friends didn't have time to stop in at the Physics teacher’s office to check out their posted grades before the warning bell cut through the halls. It didn't really matter since they would just receive the grades back in the morning, but there were several students looking dejected who apparently couldn't wait to get their grades back. Adrien barely had time to sit down and pull out his books before an angry shout could be heard reverberating through the halls. There was a confused beat of silence before there was a rush of students going to the door to see the commotion.
“Dude, isn't that Adam?” Nino whispered as they watched a boy run down the hall, paper crumpled in his hand and Ms. Mendeleiev’s shrill voice yelling after him. Adrien nodded, vaguely recognizing the boy as the same student from earlier in the library. The student, Adam, stopped as he saw the conglomerate of students eavesdropping and leaning halfway out the doorway, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Adrien watched as he seemed to be embarrassed from all of the attention, eyes darting to the faces of all the students before stopping on one in particular and narrowing in anger.
“You! This is all your fault!”
Silence fell over the group, everyone turning towards Marinette, who was at the wrong end of an accusing finger. Adrien stepped up behind her along with Nino and Alya, all ready to defend their friend, who was stammering and wide-eyed. “Wh-what do you mean? What's my fault?”
“You just couldn't shut up this morning in the library! I couldn't focus, I failed the test! I had to make an A, I had to!” Adam spat, his fist shaking with his test being wrinkled up even more.
“A few minutes of studying in the library isn't enough to make or break your test score, Adam.” Adrien tried to reason, but the guy was beyond listening.
A firm hand fell on Adam's shoulder, Ms. Mendeleiev’s commanding voice leaving no room for argument. “This is completely inappropriate behavior. You are to report straight to the principal’s office.” A beat passed before Adam finally shrugged off her hand and stormed away. As the huddled group’s chatter began growing, the Physics teacher whipped her head in their direction and let out a disgruntled ‘humph’, “And you all need to stop being nosy and get ready for your next class! Go on now!”
Alya had a comforting arm around Marinette as they all headed back to their seats, the girl still looking a little shocked at being pointed out. “I honestly didn’t mean to affect his studying so much, this is all my fault.”
Before Alya could reassure her friend, Adrien laid a hand on Marinette’s shoulder with a reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault. We weren’t being that loud, and even if we were, we left after only a few minutes. We couldn’t have had that big of an impact on his preparedness.”
Marinette’s eyes were wide, staring up at him with her mouth hanging slightly open. Too many beats passed before Alya spoke up for her friend, “Right! He’s just trying to find someone to blame. Don’t sweat it, girl.”
Marinette seemed to listen to their encouragements, which was one less thing Adrien had to worry about. His mind was already filled with concern over the sheer anger Adam emitted earlier; it was definitely more than enough anger and resentment to fuel an akuma. If their classmate was caught by Hawkmoth, there was no doubt in Adrien’s mind that Marinette would be one of the first stops on his rampage. He could keep an eye on her during class, but that only gave him a couple of hours to watch over her. It looks like Chat Noir would have to pay a visit to the Dupain-Cheng bakery this afternoon.