Normal School Day

Chapter 2

Adrien woke to Plagg snoring. Making roll over and shove the only pillow he had between him and the cheese eating cat. Last night was terrible and normally, Marinette let him in and would exchange sass and words. Would listen to him vent his frustrations and he really needed to talk with her last night. Mostly about Ladybug and how the sudden acceptance of advances just made him question what exactly was going on in her head. It was really hard to distinguish what changed between both girls in his life. With Ladybug, she got distant but accepted the flirts, jokes...anything really romantic but never fully saying that she had fallen for him. Plus, during fights now and it was rare but becoming frequent with how often they attack his dad, she would watch. Not attack but watch and normally she'd already be in the battle at times. Instead and of late, he'd find her standing around. She even walked away when her timer would be beeping its normal "times up" alarm. It bugged him as well that the only answer to these sudden changes from was that it'd be life changing for her and her life.

With Marinette, he couldn't get a word out of her about it. It was the other reason he went to see her. As Chat, he got so much out of her and it wasn't even her normal stuttering self. She had that...sass, the wit and comfortably. Yet of late, like Ladybug, she got distant. He caught her once staring off when Alya was remarking about the latest Ladyblog picture of his lady's latest change in wardrobe and how many people liked it. Plus planned a convention that only he attended without his lady really present. It made him leave early to try and find her but he never did. It wasn't really fair to be kept in the dark. Not know when he knew Nooroo was here somewhere at last and just...probably hovering secretly to keep out of sight like Plagg always did or he wished the cat would do.

A knock made him get out of bed and head to the bedroom door. Opening it as she said he had school and then hand a tablet. She said he had a busy weekend but when he looked, nothing was booked. No surprise though, him and Ladybug kept Hawkmoth on his toes. He never knew when the two would attack. He didn't have time to worry about what Adrien would do. Going to his desk and dropping the tablet onto it. He grabbed his school bag and put some cheese inside like normal. He could ask Plagg about Ladybug but when he did the last time, he didn't reply. The most the cat did was state he didn't know who it was. Then threw in that he wouldn't have told Adrien anyways if he did knew. Out of respect probably to the kwami his lady had. This meant that he knew the kwami enough to be friends. Why did he have to be kept in the dark? Something was...wrong. It was unclear why but something in him said it had to deal with his lady and it felt horrible. He couldn't help her if she didn't tell him what was wrong yet she didn't. Mari was the same way now. Both had something that just felt like it would end something very precious to them but neither said what it was.

Yeah because of how sheltered he was, he couldn't really state what he had was precious. Well...he could and it was the pictures of his mother on his phone. The ones he never deleted since they were before she vanished. So he understood why one would keep such a thing so secret. Yet he could share his with friends and know they would do nothing. Marinette was his friend. Ladybug was his partner. Both could trust him so why didn't they? He sighed as Plagg flew into his bag as he left his room and headed down the stairs. The gorilla outside waiting for him in the car as he headed to the front door. Outside, he asked the Gorilla to drop him off a block away from the school. It was risky but he was going to visit Marinette at school during the day. Maybe he could have some luck now that she had rested up. Thankfully, he agreed and when Adrien got into the car and shut the car door, drove down the street. The blond hoped his luck would hold out. Plagg didn't exactly bring good luck though. Only the bad alongside several other issues that involved cats but he could usually keep those issues under a tight leash. One thing he did like was the night vision and man, seeing in the dark was fun. He remembered fighting that weathergirl and seeing Ladybug try to navigate the darkness. Best moment was holding her hand and leading her to the light so to speak. The car stopping made his thoughts scatter and see he was being dropped as requested.

Quickly getting out, he shut the door and watched the gorilla drive off. Running into the nearest alleyway and transforming into Chat Noir again. With his staff in hand, he reached the roof and saw the school. Chloe and Sabrina were out and talking. Kim and a few others were going in. Nino and Alya were out but no Marinette. He landed on the roof and continued to watch and finally spotted her. She was walking slowly, taking her time and looking around her as if taking the sights in. Distant like Ladybug but aware of where she was at and who was around. Running and then landing on the next roof, he jumped to the school roof and peaked in as Marinette walked through. Stopping when she caught him and sighing. Turning, she told someone she'd be back and followed where she was walking. Alya and Nino were now gone. No doubt inside for class but Sabrina and Chloe were taking their time as his princess headed to the side of the school. A quick leap had him land right next to her on his feet.

"You didn't open your tower last night princess. It really hurt me," He said, leaning towards her. "Then again, you looked like you were in pain yourself."

"Chat, you should be patrolling with Ladybug. Why are you here?" She asked him, crossing her arms. "If this is about flirtatious ways, then save yourself for another."

"Whoa, cold shoulder today too. Kinda reminds me of what My Lady is doing. What's going on though with you. You are usually so welcoming to this cat," Adrien asked her.

"It's nothing. Just something that I need to take care off. You need to focus on being a hero. I have to focus on school and...a few other things," She sighed. "Besides, I have graduation soon. I can't have a hero keeping me from that."

He remained quiet but did look at her intently. It was clear she had a secret. A deadly one from how she would look away with such pain in her eyes. There had to be a way to find out but it would mean diving into personal files and he was sure the kind he needed wasn't in this school. Her steps walking away showed the usual proud stride she once had was gone. Slowed to a pace where anyone could catch up to her and simply stop her. Heck, the cat could jump over and grab at the corner with how slow it was. Adrien didn't stop her though. Just watched her until she was out of sight. Nothing aside from some pain filled eyes and that didn't help him as he had hoped it did. Later, he would ask Ladybug about this. Those two were friends and knew one another. He let Plagg revert him and hide in his bag before heading around to see no one was there. Running in was the same thing so it was class or close to it.

The blond went upstairs to his class and sat down just as the teacher walked in. Nino fist pumping him for making it on time. A glance back had him catch Marinette staring out the window. Alya looking at her from time to time but they focused on the teacher. Chloe caught on and shouted to the world that "Marinotte" wasn't exactly listening. Yet when the teacher looked, she looked to her desk and then kept the lesson going. It caught them all off guard and made them look between the desk, the teacher and their classmate. She was still staring off at the moment. Lost in thought or daydreaming. Something had her attention and when she stood, he got her attention. Adrien asked what was bothering her but she coldly took her hand back and moved on. Grabbing something with a thank you from the teacher and leaving. He saw test on the paper and sighed. This was a clue but it made no sense. Why was she taking a test? Why was she so cold suddenly? What was it that had her...he held his head at the pain the thoughts were causing.

Due to having no information and no way of obtaining any without prying, he was stuck. In a loop where he wouldn't know anything. Never be told anything and despite being ladybug's equal, kept in the dark about her life as well. Normally, he could shrug this off. Especially when he was just starting to get to know the girls. Now, he knew them or at least some of them. Both had a secret and if Mari's caused her pain then Ladybug was in pain. Something he wasn't okay with as Adrien and as Chat Noir. Staying school wouldn't help him though! He had to get out and find Ladybug and see what was wrong! Maybe tonight...she patrol! He could join her and maybe get some information at last or at least get her to show some...reaction of sorts to his questions!

The teacher asking him to pay attention made him sigh and do so. The only way out was to get school done and over with. Once class was over, he searched for Mari with Nino and Alya helping him. Neither found her but they were told she taking some tests home to do for the rest of the day in prep for early graduation. They weren't told why though. Just told she asked for this and they complied. It left him more questions than answers.

"What's going on Marinette," Adrien muttered to himself.


okay, onto the next chapter.