Chapter One: The Shocking News
Adrien turned to face his lovely lady, a grin on his face as he held up his fist to her. "Pound it!" They chorused together in unison.
After checking on the victim, a.k.a. Chloe, and suggesting she go to lunch with the group, Adrien went one direction while his lady went another. Dropping down into an alleyway near the school, Adrien sucked in a deep breath. "Claws in." A bright magical green flash surrounded him, blinding him temporarily.
When the light faded away, he was back in his everyday designer clothes, and a small flying cat kwami was hovering in front of him. "Do you have any cheese on you, kid? I'm starving."
Adrien rolled his eyes as he pulled a smelly piece of camembert cheese, wrinkly his nose in disgust. "You're always hungry Plagg. Now here, eat up. I need to go catch up with my friends for lunch."
Plagg swallowed the piece of cheese whole, without chewing. Adrien shook his head at him in disgust, before quietly slipping out of the alleyway and heading to the predetermined diner. Pushing the door open, he spotted his best friend and his girlfriend holding hands as they stood next to a long table…where the rest of his friends were sitting. Well, most of them. A frown crossed his face upon noticing that Marinette still wasn't there. It wasn't that he like her, his heart belonged to his lady after all; it just wasn't like her to not show up for a group activity.
Sliding into one of the free seats, which thankfully was not right next to Chloe, Adrien turned to face Alya. "Is Marinette late or something?"
Alya shrugged as she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. "Let me call and see what's taking her soo long." Silence fell as she sat down next to Nino, who was sitting on his left side. "Girl….that was the last thing I ever thought you would tell me." Silence fell again as Marinette talked to Alya. "Well, maybe I should leave you to deal with your family drama instead of checking to eat lunch with us? Remember, lunch with you-know-who? Everyone even is making sure that there is a seat next to him for you…" Adrien frowned as he wondered who it was that Alya was talking about. A smirk was on her face as she spoke though, so he guessed Marinette must have a crush on someone. "Yeah…she's sitting across from Adrien. Not happy by the way…you get here when you can. If your, uh, parents put their feet down, call me and we'll continue without you." Alya nodded her head, a grin on her face. "If you say so. Bye!"
Alya clicked her phone off, slipping it back into her pocket. Mylene nervously leaned forward. "Is Marinette not coming?"
Alya shrugged, uncertainty dancing in her eyes. "Maybe…she's gonna try and make it. Apparently Tom and Sabine aren't her actual parents, and they decided today would be a great day to introduce her to her actual father and she's trying to wrap her head around this news. She'll call me if she can't make it."
Just then, a waitress came over asking if they were ready to order their drinks. Adrien quickly placed down his order, as did his friends. Turning to face Nino, he started up a conversation about the newest gaming system. Immediately, Max joined in, eager to discuss the different statistics compared to the old one. Adrien noticed and nodded his head in thanks when the waitress came back with their drinks. After requesting a few more minutes to decide on what they wanted, the waitress left them again. Almost immediately after she left, Alya's cell went off. Whipping it out, Alya quickly scanned the text message, disbelief flooding her. "Unbelievable! They want Marinette to move in with her actual father since that supposedly would be safer from the Akuma attacks than her staying at a bakery."
Adrien frowned at that, disappointment that he wouldn't see his good friend not a crush any more that day flooding him. "I guess we should order our food and get going."
With nods all around, they finally opened up their menus and started looking at the available selection. At least they would see Marinette tomorrow at school…
~The Next Day at School~
Adrien glanced around the classroom, glad to see everything appeared to be back on track. Alya was showing off her latest video of Ladybug and Chat Noir from the day before, and Chloe was bragging about her latest manicure.
…And Marinette was running late like always. Shaking his head over the predictability of the cute class president, who was just a friend, he pulled out his notebook, vaguely wondering if he should doodle some ladybugs on it this time during class or not. He had figured out pretty quick that Marinette liked watching him work, whether it was modeling or notes in class. Ms. Bustier walked into the class, a smile on her face even as the school bell rang out. Adrien mentally started the countdown of when Marinette would come barging into the class out of breath. Ms. Bustier picked her roll call up and started calling out names. Adrien more or less ignored the roll call like he normally does, until she sat it down without calling Marinette's name…and Marinette was five seconds late with her usual entrance…six seconds…seven….eight….Adrien couldn't stand it anymore, he raised his hand. "Excuse me, Ms. Bustier? Why didn't you call Marinette's name?" Yes, that was why Marinette hasn't come barging in yet, her name wasn't called.
Ms. Bustier sighed as she sat down the book she had picked up so as to begin the class. "I guess I should explain right now what is going on. You see Marinette's father has pulled her out of this school. I am uncertain if he is homeschooling her or just sending her to a different school. But she is no longer a part of this class."
Outbursts ripped through the air as everyone, surprisingly enough including Chloe, stood up, protesting the removal of their classmate and friend. Alya, who was understandingly more upset about this than anyone else, ran out of the room, tears brimming in her eyes. Nino reached over, placing a hand on his hand, a frown crossing his normally chill features. "Dude? Are you ok? You look like you want to punch someone….as if you…no way!" Nino gasped as he tried to connect the dots. Dropping his voice to a whisper, he continued on. "You have a crush in Marinette!?"
Adrien quickly shook his head, even as he sat back down. "No, she is just a good friend Nino. I love Ladybug, you already knew that."
Nino shook his head sadly at him, even as he pulled his cell phone out and sent a text to someone, Adrien wasn't entirely sure who though.
Ms. Bustier had finally calmed down the class, weariness flooding her. "Nino? Can you go find Alya and bring her back to class?"
"Sure thing dudette." Nino stood up and causally walked out of the room.
…
Adrien knew the minute Alya walked back in that she was nowhere near calm and probably would get akumatized soon. Biting his bottom lip, he was debating if he could get away long enough to transform, when he spotted the black butterfly flying straight towards her. "Alya! Watch out!" Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, everyone began to freak out.
Before Adrien could think of something to calm them down, a familiar voice rippled through the air. "No more evilizing for you little butterfly!" A familiar, magical yoyo whizzed through the air, catching the butterfly before it could make it to its target.
Turning around, Adrien blinked rapidly as he noticed that Ladybug was standing on the classroom's window sill, and was already releasing the purified white butterfly. "Bye-bye little butterfly." Looking up suddenly, she froze upon noticing that everyone was staring at her.
Alya spoke up, her voice full of awe. "You swooped in here before anyone even got akumatized! How did you do that?!"
Ladybug scratched the back of her neck, a nervous habit that Adrien knew she did when asked a question that would be better explained if she could tell people her secret identity. "I was…on a walk when I noticed the akuma and gave chase." Pausing, she thought over what she just said, and then deemed it close enough to the truth with the slightest nod of her head. "I've gotta go! Bye!" Ladybug swung out of the window quickly to avoid any more questions that might reveal her identity.
Adrien dreamily sighed as he picked up his pencil…knowing exactly what he was drawing this time around.
A/N: Done! Say hello to Sir Kitty, this will make more sense if you read Princess Coccinelle alongside it or before it. Either way works. Hmm, looks like Adrien has a crush on someone and is in denial… also, I really need akuma ideas guys! Princess Coccinelle will be postponed till next week, but I might withhold it even longer if I don't get akuma ideas. Just saying… I need akumas.
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SkyTalon