AN: DISCLAMER. For all of you who are deaf, hard of hearing, or CODAs i am so sorry if this is incredibly offensive or inaccurate. I am studying ASL and i thought writing a story would help me, specially since ASL GLOSS is very hard for me to understand. I am not deaf. I am Hearing but i love the idea of a deaf Marinette and the challenges that that would bring and i love the idea of more deaf of hard of hearing main characters or any characters at all. I mean absolutely no offense and i hope that if any of you are better versed in the deaf community, have comments and advice on how to better write this, it would be greatly appreciated. That being said, if you are reading this and don't know what GLOSS is, its basically the way to write ASL. Some of the "dialogue" is in GLOSS and again i apologize for any incorrect phrases. The structure is different than english but i find that it's not hard to understand. Please let me know if this story is confusing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Another thing i want to make clear is that even though this story begins similar to the Origins episodes, it is set when they are older teenagers. So Adrien started school later and Alya transferred later. Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't happen until this year as well.

Lastly, be nice. The deaf people that i have met are some of the absolutely nicest people i have ever met. Very understanding of people who are learning asl. Do not be the person who comments something rude.

Oh sorry last last thing. I don't know French sign language so i'm doing American sign language which is similar but not the same. As i am studying the latter, it would be easier to write.

One more thing. Hearing people are not supposed to assign name signs and i feel a bit bad that i did for this. I apologize and these name signs are not to be taken seriously. They are not official and i have no authority to assign them, but i did thing that Marinette would be the kind to give some to her friends and to have one so yea.

Adrian Agrest was a calm, sweet and intelligent boy. He liked to think of himself as generous and humble as well and tried to prove that through his everyday activities when the opportunity presented itself, so when an elderly man tripped and fell in front of his school as he was walking in, he didn't hesitate to rush over and help him up, making sure that his wooden cane was firmly in his hands before letting go.

"Thank you, young man," the man said placing a gentle hand on Adrien's elbow while using the other one to stead himself on his cane.

"No problem sir," he answered just as the bell rang signaling for students to being making their way to class. With a small bow, he turned quickly and ran into the open building. He didn't want to be late to his first day of class.

After arguing with his father for months about public schooling, Nathalie had finally convinced him that Adrien could attend a regular school and maintain his perfect GPA along with continuing his piano, Chinese and fencing lessons. Would it be a lot? Yes, but Adrien was more than willing to lose some sleep and frankly some sanity for the opportunity to make new friends.

He walked into Mrs. Bustier's class five minutes before the bell rang. He smiled when he saw his longtime friend Chloe sitting expectantly in the second row. Her arms were crossed and she was tapping her foot expectantly. He noticed that the girl she was sitting next to was holding a piece of chewed gum with a disgusted look on her face. He squinted at them for a second before Chloe noticed him and her eyes lit up standing abruptly.

"Adrikins!"

"Hey Chloe," he managed to breath out before she launched herself at him nearly knocking him off his feet. He tentatively wrapped his arms around her back noticing the dirty looks that the rest of the students were giving them.

"I'm so glad you came! I saved you a seat right in front of me," she said in a shrill voice pushing me towards the front row a seat in front of her. A boy with a blue shirt, orange headphones and a red cap sat on the seat right next to it. Excitement coursed through his body at the sight. This was his chance to make a new friend.

"Thank you," he said to Chloe as he slipped into the seat, setting his satchel down next to him. Nerves replaced the excitement for a second but he pushed it aside remembering all the lessons his father had taught him about being polite and introductions. He was practically bread to make good first impressions.

He straightened his back and rolled his shoulders into place. He let a small smile grace his face and he stuck his right hand out confidently in front of him.

"Hi, I'm Adrien," he said cheerfully. The boy turned slowly to look at him, a completely unimpressed expression on his face. Adrien's smile faltered slightly but he called in his back up model smile so as not to look unfriendly. The boy didn't not take his hand. Instead, he looked over Adrien at Chloe and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him.

"You're friends with Chloe," he asked in a drawl and Adrien's eyes twitched. The boy's tone was completely unfriendly and stand offish. Adrien wondered if maybe he was having a bad day or if maybe he was just a loner but when he nodded hesitantly, the boy pulled his bright orange headphones over his ears and blasted music turning away from him.

Adrien's heart sank. Had he done something wrong? Perhaps he had insulted the boy somehow. Maybe his smile wasn't quite right, or he came on too strong. He let his shoulders slump a bit but he snapped to attention when he heard giggling behind him.

He turned over to see Chloe and the girl with the chewing gum hunched over the desk directly to his right. He looked at them curiously before registering the disgusted facial expressions of the students behind them. He decided to stand to get a better look of what was going on, standing up and walking around the giggling girls.

His jaw dropped when he realized what was going on. Chloe's friend, the girl with short red hair, was placing the gum on the seat while Chloe instructed her on what position and how far into it she should stick it.

"Chloe, what are you doing," Adrien asked, outraged at his friend's behavior. He wasn't sure who was going to sit in that seat but he knew that whomever it was, was not going to enjoy finding an of piece of chewing gum in their place.

He gently pushed the red head out of the way and began to try to pry it up. It squelched when his fingers made contact with it but he pushed through the disgust that was consuming him to try to fix his friend's rudeness.

"Hey," he heard someone say from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see another girl standing over him. She wore glasses and had pretty auburn curls that rested around her shoulders, which were covered by an orange plaid shirt. She seemed furious.

"Hi," said Adrien feeling his cheeks burn in embarrassment, realizing it must have looked as if her was trying to stick the gum in place not remove it.

"What do you think you're doing," She basically yelled at him as he stood. As crazy as it was, he was actually a bit scared by the fire-y girl.

"I was just trying to-"

"Actually I don't exactly care," she interrupted glaring at the two girls who had returned to their seats and were laughing maliciously as they watched the scene. Adrien briefly considered telling the girl that it had been Chloe's friend who had placed the gum in the seat and he was only trying to take it off but then he noticed hoe nearly everyone was glaring at him save for Chloe and the girl next to her and he snapped his mouth shut, "Why don't you go pick on someone else. It's hard enough to be the new girl. I don't need you to make it harder."

With that, she stepped around the desk and sat on the opposite side of the chewed gum, crossing her arms angrily. Adrien frowned but sat back at his desk, resting his head in his hands. Chloe leaned forward in her seat when he settled and a strange chill ran through his body.

"You have a lot to learn about earning respect at school Adrikins. Lucky you have me to teach you."

Before he could turn around to say something, the bell rang and a flustered girl with raven hair and pigtails rushed into the room along with an adult whom he assumed was the teacher. His eyes were drawn to her and it took him a couple of seconds to realize why. She was wearing something in her ears. Ear buds perhaps? He stared at her for a little while until she noticed his gaze. Quickly, she turned bright red and turned her attention to the adult.

"Dude," said the boy next to him, finally removing his head phones and placing them around his neck, "Why didn't you tell the new chick that it was Chloe and Sabrina who put the gum on the seat?"

Adrien let his shoulders sag, a move that would probably make his father glare at him, and spoke softly towards his desk, not remotely happy that his first day was going so badly.

"Chloe is my only friend," he said sadly, "I don't like what she did, but I couldn't just throw her under the bus. I've been homeschooled my whole life and this is my first day in public school. I feel, I've made enough enemies as it is."

He sighed wondering if he should have said any of that. The boy next to him clearly did not like him and he couldn't help but worry he had given him some sort of ammunition against himself.

"I think you need some new friends," he heard the boy say and his head shot up faster than he thought he could move. The boy held his hand out in front of him as Adrien had earlier, a small friendly smile on his face now. Adrien took it, ecstatic at the turn of events.

"I'm Nino," he finished and they shook hands. Had he just made his first friend?

"Good morning class," the adult who had walked in with the girl in pigtails said and Adrien assumed he was right in thinking that she was the teacher. A theory which was proven correct as she introduced herself.

"I'm Madam Bustier, and I will be your teacher this year. I'm going to start by calling roll."

"Agrest, Adrien," she asked and Adrien tilted his head in confusion. Nino elbowed his ribs firmly then whispered, "You have to say present."

"Present," he said without even stopping to think as he stood stretching his and up above his head. His classmates giggled at him and Adrien awkwardly touched the nape of his neck. He guessed that standing was not necessary for roll call. He nervously laughed with them, sitting back in his seat slowly as the teacher continued.

Adrien watched with curiosity as the girl with the pigtails waited patiently by the teacher, her back to the rest of the class. She seemed to be hyper focused on the teacher. Adrien wasn't sure if this was normal or not. He did think it a bit odd but no one aside from the girl who had yelled at him seemed confused, so he assumed it to be normal.

"Dupain-Cheng, Marinette."

The girl raised her hand and the teacher smiled at her appreciatively. Before she continued, she nodded at the seat next to the girl with glasses and Marinette nodded eagerly. The teacher made a couple of hand gestures before Marinette turned around with a bright smile and walked over to the desk.

When her eyes landed on the gum, she instantly turned with a fierce glare directed at Chloe. Adrien looked at the blonde, only to see that she was closing her eyes with a teasing smile.

Marinette stomped her foot loudly, calling attention from the rest of the class and Madam Bustier stopped again to see what the problem was.

Marinette said nothing. She pointed at the seat with an angry expression and Madam Bustier furrowed her brow. The teacher made a couple more hand gestures which greatly confused Adrien but Marinette seemed to understand and reciprocated the teachers actions. Hand gestures were exchanged and by the end, Marinette had a tissue from M. Bustier placed over the sticky gum. She sat down, clearly still furious. Her arms were crossed over her chest and a pink hue lingered on her pale skin. Adrien stared at her again, completely baffled by the exchange.

Again, Marinette caught him, but instead of flushing, she glared at him as well and he felt the blood drain from his face. He quickly turned away, hiding his face from her. Nino chuckled next to him and Adrien turned to face his friend.

Friend. That had a nice ring to it.

"Dude what's wrong with you? You think Marinette is cute?"

"What," Adrien almost screamed but he forced his tone to stay quiet, "No, no I just don't know what all those hand movements were. I was just curious. And she didn't take off her ear phones when class started."

Adrien met Nino's eyes and found astonishment reflected back at him.

"Dude have you never seen a deaf person before?"

Adrien's green eyes widened considerably as he chanced another glance at the petite girl who was now writing a note with the girl, Alya, he learned when rollcall was finished, next to her.

"D-deaf," he stuttered.

"Yeah. Marinette is deaf."

"Oh," he sighed, realizing that those ear phones must be hearing aids. He watched her write something down then Alya took the pencil and scribbled something furiously. Marinette read it quickly, and her head snapped up to see him looking at her again. Her glare seemed to intensify as her deep blue eyes met his. She shook her head and Adrien felt as that if looks could kill, he would be on the floor right that instant. Alya must have told her that he had put the gum in the seat, not Chloe.

Adrien waved, not sure how to communicate with her that he hadn't stuck the gum in her seat, but it didn't seem to matter, as she turned back to Alya and continued to scribble.

He turned back around sadly. This wasn't how he thought his first day of school would go.

Marinette was late. Again. It wasn't new to her and everyone expected her to be late anyway but today was her first day of class and her alarm failed to wake her. It flashed endlessly behind her closed eye lids but she only covered her head to avoid them.

By the time her mom had come up and shook her awake, she was more than thirty minutes later than she was hoping to be. She had jumped around getting dressed and brushing her dark hair into her two signature pigtails. Quickly, she grabbed her hearing aids and placed them into her ears. When she came down, her mom waved her over for some breakfast but she quickly shook her head as she shoved a croissant into her mouth and waving goodbye to her mother with a quick "I love you" held up by her free hand. Her mom reciprocated as her daughter closed the door behind her.

Before leaving, her father handed her a box of green macaroons for her to take, and with a quick kiss to his cheek and a thank you, she ran out of the door.

Sure, the school was right across from the bakery but she always somehow managed to be the last one to show up to class. Teachers tended to be understanding to an extent as her condition was widely known, but after a couple of months of consistent tardiness their understanding was wavering. Now it was a new year and this wasn't how she had wanted to start it.

She glanced across the street at the flashing cross walk sign and noticed a short elderly man with a red Hawaiian shirt slowly making his way over. Marinette happened to glance to her left and saw a car barreling toward him. Frantically, she waved her arms to get his attention, but when he noticed and continued at the same speed, she made the split second decision to run out and pull him to safety.

It went about as well as one could expect. She took hold of his arm and dragged him the rest of the way. She tripped over her leg as she got him onto the sidewalk and the car speed past. Her macaroons slipped from her hands, toppling to ground. She spared them a sad glance before standing up and looking at the man again.

Vaguely, Marinette could see that he was saying thank you to her. She smiled politely and bowed her head and holding both her hands up in identical "o"s saying it was not problem.

The older man smiled at her suddenly switching his tune and signing back to her to have a nice day. Excitedly she signed "thank you" then catching a look at her watch, she pointed at the school and excused herself leaving the ruined macaroons behind.

She ran into the building as quickly as she could only to be met by an adult woman with red hair tied up in a bun. The woman smiled at her and waved.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at the woman, but before she went by, the woman finger spelled, "MARINETTE?"

Marinette ginned. It was always a great relief when someone knew sign language. It made it much easier for her anxiety.

"YES," she answered using her right hand.

The woman seemed pleased and gestured for her to follow. Marinette noticed her glance up and she wagered a guess that the bell had just rang for class to begin. She did as asked and kept her eyes on the kind woman, happy to have someone who understood her. It had been hard to make friends in her class, as no one knew sign language.

Yes, she had taken to just writing what she wanted to say and even learned to read lips, reluctantly, but still, it seemed that it was too much work to be close to a deaf girl. She didn't particularly blame them. It was difficult. Marinette was mute, as well as deaf and to her huge disappointment, the only person who seemed to have any knowledge in the language was Chloe Bourgeois. Though Marinette suspected that she only learned the cruelest and meanest things to say to torment her.

Some of her class mates had actually picked up a bit. Being able to spell their own names and great her in the mornings but prolonged conversation was difficult.

"MY NAME IS MADAM BUSTIER. ME YOUR TEACHER," She gestured, pulling Marinette away from a boy who was running towards a classroom with a glare.

NICE TO MEET YOU," Marinette signed adding on a quick thank you as she saw what she had just been saved from. A boy with blonde hair had skidded past them nearly knocking directly into her.

told her it was fine then continued to lead the way to class, expressing to her that if she needed something, she could always come to her. Marinette felt her spirit soar. She had been used to having an interpreter with her most of the time, but this year it proved unnecessary. The school had contacted her parents and told them that her teacher would be able to communicate with her directly, speaking and signing her lessons for her. Already, she was feeling mountains better than she had only minutes ago. Her day was looking up.

Of course, Marinette had thought too soon. As and herself walked up to the door of what she assumed was her new classroom, she noticed that Chloe had taken her usual seat in the second row along with Sabrina. She huffed angrily, but before she could march over and give her a piece of her mind, she felt eyes on her. Her head snapped down a row and she saw the same boy who had almost toppled her over watching her intently.

Subconsciously, she turned her head away, realizing that he was new and wouldn't know about her. She felt heat rise to her cheeks as she scurried after the teacher. wasted no time in an introduction and roll call. Marinette read her lips as she called the first name, not recognizing the words. She furrowed her brows but when the teacher marked something on her roster, she shrugged it off.

The next name she knew perfectly well and she almost rolled her eyes as the teacher marked the roster once again. Then another new name rolled off the teachers lips before calling hers. Marinette beamed and raised her hand. M. Bustier smiled right back and gestured with her head to the seat in the front row that was usually occupied by Chloe. She decided that this wasn't worth a fight. It was a new school and a new year. If she could avoid her school bully for even a couple of minutes longer, it would be a major improvement.

M. Bustier let go of her roster and placed her pen down for a second, facing the small girl with pigtails. Marinette watched her with bated breath.

"ALYA," She finger spelled and Marinette nodded turning over her shoulder and walking to her new seat only to find a chewed piece of gum in her spot.

She turned over her left shoulder and glared at the blonde spoiled brat only to find her with her eyes firmly closed. Her favorite was to get on Marinette's nerves. If she had more confidence, maybe she would have gone over and punched her but she wasn't a violent person so instead she breathed out aggressively.

Without thinking, she stomped her foot as hard as she could. Vaguely, she noticed that her classmates all turned to her and she guess that she was being a bit loud but she didn't particularly care. M. Bustier looked up at her again with concern in her eyes.

Without a word, Marinette pointed at the seat with her right hand and signed GUM with her left.

"TISSUE YOU WANT?"

Her teacher pointed at her own desk where a box of tissue sat and she stomped up to it and too one, giving her another quick thank you before retreating and covering the chewed tablet with the paper.

She sat next to it, her arms crossed, her fury building. No wonder Chloe had switched seats. Marinette should have known. Again, she felt a pair of eyes on her directly coming from her left and without hesitation, she snapped her head to the side. It was him again. The boy. He was watching her apprehensively as if she were an animal that would go ballistic at any moment. She glared at the boy. He gave her a weird feeling that she wasn't all too sure that she liked and when the blood drained from his face and he turned back to Nino, whom she knew was a fairly decent guy, she couldn't help but feel happy with it.

She felt something on her shoulder and turned to see the girl she was sitting with, Alya, had a note book out with big letter written on it. Her hand was extended in front of her excitedly. Marinette stared at her blankly. Her anger fading as she took in the sight before her. The paper read:

HI! MY NAME IS ALYA, NICE TO MEET YOU!

It took her a second before she smiled brighter than she had all day and she put her hand into the new girl's and shook it. Alya set the paper down and handed her the pen. She quickly scribbled a response.

I'm Marinette. It's nice to meet you too.

Alya read her writing in a matter of seconds and took the pen from her hand to answer. Marinette felt giddy excitement seize her as she watched the words form in near bold hand writing.

Are you deaf?

Yes.

Can we be friends?

Marinette felt her heart flutter happily as she looked at her soon to be new friend. Instead of writing it down she raised her right hand and signed YES, while nodding her head. Alya's eyes widened excitedly and she quickly wrote more. Marinette watched as her hand flowed smoothly across the lined paper.

Can you teach me how to sign that?

Marinette tilted her head to the side, confused.

Sign what?

My name? A greeting? How am I supposed to say hi to you from across the room with a pen and paper?

Marinette considered that. True it would be difficult for Alya to constantly be writing what she wanted to say but learning a new language was difficult.

You can just wave at me.

But what if I want to say more?

I can teach you some basic phrases if you like…

Marinette handed her the notebook again, nerves beginning to eat at her but when Alya lit up, she knew right then and there that this was the friend she was waiting for.

She decided to show her new friend how to finger spell her own name first as it had less letters that her own. Alya picked it up quickly and insisted on learning Marinette's though instead of finger spelling it, Marinette showed her, her name sign.

What does that mean?

That's how you sign Marinette. At least that's how my parents do.

Are your parents deaf as well?

Only my maman. Papa is hearing.

Okay. Well how do I go about getting a sign for my name?

Once I get to know you better I can give you one? Usually deaf people are the ones that assign them. Mine is just my first initial with pigtails combined.

Pig tails?

It's a combination name. I can give you a tentative one if you like?

Alya glanced up at Marinette happily and mimicked her sign for yes from earlier. Marinette was satisfied to see how easily Alya was catching on and focused on her appearance. Finally, Marinette decided to give her a sign based off of her curly hair.

Holding her right hand by her forehead in an "a" shape, she drew big curls down to her shoulders. Alya beamed at her and copied her movements mouthing her name. Marinette nodded and was elated to see how genuinely excited Alya was.

Then she caught her glancing over her shoulder with a glare. She too the note book again and scribbled furiously.

I'm sorry about the gum. The blond boy over there was sticking it on the seat when I walked in. Don't worry, I yelled at him.

Marinette scowled. She knew she was getting some strange feelings from that boy and it made her dislike him all the more.

It's not your fault. It's his. I thought for sure it must have been Chloe who had done it.

The blonde girl? She was laughing while I was getting upset with him. I think they're in kahoots or something.

Marinette stifled a giggled as she read the last written message before answering.

Maybe. Perfect, spoiled, beautiful people tend to stick together. I bet he's just as bad as her. What was his name? I didn't get it when called roll.

Adrien Agrest.

Marinette's stomach sank. Agrest? As in the Agrest? As in Her favorite fashion designer, Gabriel Agrest's, son?

She pulled out a magazine from her back pack and flipped through it, finding tons of pictures of the boy with the butterfly logo on. Marinette, pushed the magazine under her friend's nose as she took the pen and wrote furiously.

That's Gabriel Agrest's son!

Alya took a quick glance at the pictures then at her writing before writing back nonchalantly.

The designer? So he's a stuck up model? Makes sense.

I guess so. It does make me a bit sad that he turned out like Chloe.

Before Alya could answer, her head snapped to the front of the room and she sheepishly grinned. Marinette glanced forward and saw M. Bustier signing for her to look us as class was going to start and she definitely could not pay attention when she was busy writing notes.

Marinette nodded, focusing her attention to the white board behind the teacher, resigned to pay attention, though she found it hard when green eyes seemed to burn holes into her head.

By the time lunch came around, Alya had learned to sign Marinette's name flawlessly along with YES and NO and her new favorite phrase "DON'T YOU SIGN TO ME IN THAT WAY" since Marinette tended to forget that Alya was learning and signed very fast, though the grammar of her signing was incorrect. Marinette had to apologize so often that Alya had also picked up the sign for SORRY and FINE. Marinette would write what she wanted to say first and as per Alya's insistence, she would then sign it slowly word for word. It proved to be helpful when she signed the same sentence back to Marinette.

It was easy to teach someone who was willing and Marinette found herself thanking God for a friend who was willing to join her world.

They were walking out of the front door of the school, Marinette teaching Alya the sign language alphabet when her face contorts into a glare behind her shoulder. Marinette glances over to see where Alya is looking, only to be met with the sight of a chest covered in a black t-shirt and a white button up.

Marinette jumped back in surprise and nearly knocked Alya over when she bumped into her. The brunette caught her arms and steadied her, sparing her a concerned look before focusing her glare back at the blond boy who had the sense to look a bit abashed. He rubbed the back of his neck and reluctantly, Marinette admitted that he was quite handsome.

Nino was next to him with an encouraging smile to the model. When he made eye contact with Marinette, he waved politely, finger spelling "MARI" and she couldn't help but wave back with his assigned name sign that she had given him.

(Both hands in an "N" shape signing CAP as he was never seen without it. It may as well be part of his body)

He blushed slightly but it went relatively unnoticed by everyone and Marinette decided not to point it out. Alya tapped her shoulder with a confused look, mimicking her last sign. She pointed at Nino and slowly finger spelled his name and signed his name again. Alya's face lit up with understanding and she turned back to the boy signing "HI NINO" and Marinette noticed she also spoke it.

She looked at the bespectacled boy who waved back and asked for her name, from what Marinette could read on his lips. Alya expertly introduced herself in Sign and Marinette smiled at her like a proud mother. Alya looked at her for reassurance and she signed "GOOD JOB" before looking at Nino and Adrien Agrest. When no one said anything and Alya continued to glare at Adrien Nino elbowed him in the side.

Adrien Agrest jumped and glared softly at Nino before looking at both girls and said something quickly and muffled. Marinette's hearing aids picked up some garbled sounds but none made sense to her ears and she hadn't been able to read what he spoke. She quirked a brow at Alya who was focused on the blond with her arms crossed. When she didn't say or sign anything, she turned back to the boys and Nino slowly and abashedly signed:

"ADRIEN WANT TO," he paused and seemed to think for a bit before he finger spelled just as slow, "S-A-Y H-E-L-L-O."

Before she could answer, she felt Alya take her arm and she looked up at her. She wasn't looking at Marinette but she spoke with her body turned slightly towards her so she could try to follow along.

"Maybe Adrien should apologize for the gum he stuck in her seat instead."

Marinette felt the ager from the morning return and she crossed her arms with her mouth screwed up. This time Nino answered when Adrien blushed floundering for words.

"You know that wasn't him-"

"Save it," Alya said effectively cutting him off, "When the boy decides to speak for himself, he can come find my girl Marinette and apologize for making her sit on old gum."

Marinette didn't get to see the boys' reactions, as Alya pulled her away. Marinette looked up at her hoping for some sort of explanation but when Alya continued to walk, Marinette tugged on her arm and pulled out her journal.

Where are we going?

Alya read it quickly then said out loud, "To eat at my house, if you want to."

Marinette perked up then let her shoulders fall, remembering that she had promised her mom to go home to eat. Sabine knew that Marinette had no real friends at school and made it a point to make her lunch every day to save her the humiliation, though she had never said this directly, Marinette knew that was the case and was forever grateful for the gesture. Today was not one of those days.

Maman is probably waiting for me for lunch. Can I get a rain check?

Alya read the writing then nodded and with two quick kisses to either cheek, they departed in opposite directions.

Marinette walked across the street to her family bakery, both happier than she had been in a while and a bit sad at having to turn down her new friend. She wasted no time in telling her parents about the development. Her mom specifically looked elated and Marinette flushed when she suggested she bring her for lunch the next day. Eagerly, Marinette agreed then at her food joyfully.

When she had finished eating, she noticed that she still had enough time to go up to her attic bedroom and take a nap. She told her parents as much and made her way up making sure to ask her mom to wake her so she didn't sleep through her alarm again before she closed her hatch and sighed happily at the sight of pink walls.

Half of her wanted to jump into her chase and nap for the next hour, but she caught a glimpse of her design note book laying on her desk innocently and decided to sit and try to finish a design she had been working on for a while. She sat down in her chair, and flipped to the page that had a rough sketch of a Chinese inspired dress. She had been struggling with the pattern she wanted on the fabric and the colors for the actual dress and it was clear that she was indecisive by the eraser marks all over the page.

Maybe she should start all over?

Marinette tapped her pink pencil on her lip, looking around her bed room hoping for some inspiration. It wasn't much help if she was being honest. Her room was all the same color and style. She thought about adding her favorite flower design into it somewhere but couldn't decide where would work best and her idea for the pink wasn't working well in her head. She took another gander at her surroundings and was surprised to find a red and black hexagonal box next to her computer. How had she missed that? Maybe it was her mom who had gotten her something. It defiantly seemed Chinese and the pattern was intricate. She smiled ad copied it onto the dress. When she was done, she gave her design one last look before closing it with a satisfied sigh.

Exhilarated, she turned to the box and pried it open. A blinding pink light sparkled before her. She blinked back tears as it subsided and when she looked back up a red floating creature smiled up at her.

"Hello Marinette. I'm Tikki," it said and Marinette jumped back in wide eyed surprise. The nose vibrated in her head as if bouncing off the walls of her skull.

She heard that. Marinette heard the creature speak.

Some many things were throwing her off. So many un answered questions. So much fear gripped her that she couldn't even begin to comprehend what she just heard. How could Marinette hear the creature? What was the creature doing in her room? In that box? Most importantly, what on earth was that think?

Marinette, reached to her left and threw the first thing she got her hands on. Her cup filled with pens and pencils. They flew all over the place and she noted that she still did not hear the cup hit her sink nor did she hear the pencils scatter. This only helped to build her confusion as the flying thing zipped at her face.

She pushed herself back but the chair gave way and she fell back onto the floor.

"Marinette wait don't be scared!"

There it was again. The voice. The noise. Marinette had been deaf since birth. She had never been hearing and the new…loudness of a voice was startling to her.

Was it a bug? A rat? She held her hands up in front of her, getting ready to swat at it but she realized that the cut she had thrown and somehow made its way to her side. She picked it up and captured the bug under the glass. The bug sighed but smiled up at her and said, "Okay, if it makes you feel safer."

Her thoughts were spiraling and before she could even understand what had happened, Marinette spoke, her eyes growing wide.

"Why can I hear you?"