It took all of Nathalie's will power to not suddenly breakdown into a trembling mess beneath the cool, unemotional, gaze of Gabriel Agreste.
There was absolutely no doubt that her boss was displeased with this morning events.
Gabriel's gaze softened a touch when his eyes landed on Adrien's disfigured face. "Are you in any pain?" he asked quietly.
"No," Adrien replied politely, "I'm fine."
Gabriel exhaled quietly as the tension in his shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit. "Good," he said, "since we have no idea how long…this," he gestured at Adrien's face, "is going to last. I will have all of your modelling engagements for the rest of this week cancelled."
He nodded at Nathalie and instantly she was on her phone tapping out emails to all concerned parties.
"I am sure this will be fixed by the end of the day, Father," Adrien said cheerfully, "Ladybug will catch the Akuma in no time."
"Hmmm…." Gabriel pursued his lips in disapproval. "I think caution is the best path to take."
Adrien bristled at the slight against his favourite superhero. "Ladybug will fix this!" he insisted. "She always saves the day."
"Ladybug is a teenage girl doing the job that the police should be doing," Gabriel replied coolly, "she cannot be expected to clean up every mess made by that brainwashing psychopath nor can she be expected to do it immediately."
"She rescued you!" Adrien pointed out passionately. "Surely you have more faith in her abilities because of that. This," he waved at his face dismissively, "is nothing compared to you almost jumping off the roof under that spell."
"Exactly," Gabriel replied stiffly, "she only just saved me in the nick of time. Both Ladybug and Chat Noir are underprepared, untrained, and just plain sloppy. This," he waved his hand at Adrien's face, which, Nathalie noticed from the corner of her eye, was screwed up in a pained grimace, "happened because they weren't there to prevent it. They were probably asleep and with that in mind I have no expectations of them rescuing the day today."
Adrien crossed his arms defiantly and glared up at his father. Gabriel, however, ignored his son's sullen behaviour as he leaned forwards to rest his chin against his fingers and studied Adrien thoughtfully.
"Now then," Gabriel said eventually after several, painful, long moments of silence, "is your current appearance in anyway whatsoever hindering your abilities?"
"No," Adrien said sulkily, "Father," he tacked on with a little more respect in his voice.
"Very well," Gabriel nodded, "you may continue your classes at school and your extra-circular activities then. I wish you a good day."
Adrien beamed at that and Nathalie had to quickly cover her mouth to smother the gagging noise that erupted from her throat at the sight of Adrien's rotted teeth. They were yellow with several dark brown stains and a couple actual black spots of pure rot.
It was absolutely revolting.
Gabriel, to his credit, managed to hide any revulsion he may feel with another expressionless mask as he returned to his paperwork. "You may go now," he said to Adrien without looking up.
And with that dismissal, Adrien hastily picked up his schoolbag and rushed out of the office.
"Sir!" Nathalie cried out as soon as the office door was firmly shut. "I don't mean to speak out of turn but do you really think it is wise to send Adrien to school in his condition?!" Gabriel looked up and raised an eyebrow. "I mean," She added hastily, "children are cruel, Sir, they will bully him."
"You are right on both accounts," Gabriel said calmly, "you are speaking of turn and children are cruel. You are my employee, Nathalie, not my equal. You have no say in how I raise my child."
I know I don't! Nathalie thought furiously. Because if I did you would buy his birthday presents for yourself and that's just for starters!
Instead, she coughed and collected herself before she lost her temper and job in one sure swoop. "Forgive me Sir," she murmured, "I just thought….you were so against Adrien going to school in the first place, and now when he's actually vulnerable I thought you would want him safe."
"I would love nothing more than to keep Adrien safe," Gabriel said smoothly, "but if these last few months have taught me anything it is how naïve and trusting my son is, and that is on me. I have kept him from the world and now he unprepared for hardship. His future business associates will eat him alive. However, spending a day looking like that," he shuddered at the memory of his son's newly disfigured face, "at school where shallow, petty, children like Chloe Bourgeois goes to will be excellent character-building for Adrien. He will be stronger in the face of adversity."
Nathalie gritted her teeth at that.
On one hand she couldn't fault Gabriel's line of thinking. It was putting up with school bullies that strengthen Nathalie's determination, made her work harder, and toughened her against people's words and attitudes. She could not deny it, being bullied had in fact made her the perfect woman for a demanding job like this.
And yet on the other hand, Adrien had already dealt with a great hand of sorrow in his life. His mother had vanished, his father might as well have vanished too majority of the time, he never got to do things most normal teenagers got to do, and no one treats him like a normal person because he is famous.
In short he didn't need any more character building.
But he was still so open and trusting…
"Nathalie," Gabriel said from behind some paperwork he was pursuing, "you may also leave now.
"Yes Sir."
When she exited Gabriel's office she spotted Adrien muttering to himself as he fiddled with his schoolbag. He has taken to doing that a lot lately, she had no idea what a Plagg was and why it was so important to school, and she really had no desire to find out either.
"Adrien!" she called out softly. Adrien hastily slammed his bag shut and turned round to ace her with a guilty look on his face. She really didn't want to know what a Plagg was. "Adrien," she repeated firmly as she stepped closer to the boy, "I want you to know that….well," she faltered slightly, "children are cruel. Very cruel."
Adrien tilted his head to the side curiously. "Nathalie?" he said bewilderedly.
She reached out awkwardly and squeezed his shoulder in an attempt for comfort. "You have to remember that it doesn't matter what you look like right now. You're an Agreste, you keep your head held up high and you remember that sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you, you got it?"
"Erm," Adrien looked completely lost, "okay?"
"Good boy," Nathalie awkwardly patted his shoulder. She was really useless at this whole affection thing. Seriously, what was wrong with a good hearty business-like handshake? "Now go to school…and Adrien?"
Adrien smiled sweetly though hi rotten teeth spoiled the effect it used to have there was still something heart-warming and bright in his eyes. "Yes, Nathalie?" he replied.
"You….just…" she shook her head unable to get the sentiment unstuck from her throat. She really wasn't good with this sort of stuff. "…Have a good day," she said eventually.
"I will," Adrien promised.
He won't.
But that didn't stop Nathalie from crossing her fingers really tight under the desk as she hoped otherwise.
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Adrien soon learnt what Nathalie meant about children being cruel as soon as he stepped into the school building.
He was used to people staring at him.
(Well, okay, he hadn't really but he no longer felt the urge to hide his face in his shirt collar so that was an improvement.)
That sounded arrogant but it was the truth. Since he had arrived at school there had been girls and boys all over him and when they finally got used to him and were less….insane, they still stared at him appreciatively.
This morning however they all just looked horrified.
Girls dropped their books at the sight of him and let out shrill screams that hurt his ears. Some even swooned (and Ladybug thought he was a melodramatic cliché)! Boys let their jaws drop open unattractively as they gawked at him while some sniggered nastily behind their hands. Ghastly whispers followed Adrien as he passed, making the hairs of the back of his neck prickle uncomfortably.
It was just a bit of weight gain and some spots!
Honestly, what was the big deal?
Adrien ducked his head down and walked quickly when a larger boy from a couple years above bumped into him. Their shoulders collided harshly and Adrien staggered backwards in surprise at the suddenness of it.
"Hey!" he cried out startled. "Watch it!"
"You watch it," the boy spat out, "crater face."
He then marched off down the corridor without another word.
Adrien sniffed disdainfully at that. His patience felt very much tried at this moment, it had been a very long morning and it was only half eight! "Well that was rude," Adrien muttered down to Plagg. "He didn't have to re-hey!"
Another boy shoved past Adrien, this time sending the model flying forwards. "Get out of the way ugly!" the boy yelled over his shoulder.
Adrien opened his mouth to retort something incredibly witty back when another boy suddenly pushed past him in the opposite direction. "Watch where you're going pedo!" the boy snarled.
Adrien spluttered indignantly at that one.
He knows right now that his hair is thinning and that sort of gives him the appearance of a middle-aged man but seriously? Pedo?! That was a bit far, surely?
Adrien suddenly fell sideways when someone elbowed him harshly in the stomach. He lost all footing in his attempt to stay upright and immediately crashed into a girl from the year below.
"Oh God!" he groaned as he used her shoulders to regain his balance, "I am so, so, sor-"
The girl pulled a disgusted face at him. "Urgh!" she shrieked as she pushed Adrien away. "Get off of me you creep!"
Adrien staggered down the corridor as person after person shoved, pushed, ad bumped into him. He eventually laid eyes on a familiar blonde ponytail and almost sagged onto the floor in relief at the sight of a friendly (to him) face.
"Chloe!" he cried out delightedly. He reached out and turned her to face him as he grinned radiantly far too pleased for his own good to see someone he knew. "You'd never guess what happened to me to-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Chloe screamed into his face. "It's horrible!" she wailed. "Hideous! Disgusting! Revolting! Sabrina!" she clicked her fingers hastily. "Get this…this….this…THING out of my face!"
"But Chlo!" Adrien protested. "It's me, Adri-"
"All right bub!" Sabrina barked as she pushed Adrien away. "Back away from the Lady! No means no!"
"Wha…?" Adrien shook his head bewilderedly as Chloe and Sabrina huffed in unison and marched away from him with their heads held up high. It really stung that Chloe acted the way she did but he wasn't really all that surprised. It was Chloe. She prided herself on appearances first. He looked about lost for a moment (and a bit fearful that someone will shove him into something a little harder than a human being like a locker or the wall) when his eyes landed on Mylene and Ivan holding hands. He sighed in relief at the sight of familiar, friendly, people, and then grinned. "Hi guys!" he called out. "How are y-?"
"EEK!" Mylene squealed as she suddenly ducked behind Ivan. "A-A-Adrien?" she stammered as she nervously peered round Ivan. "Is that you?!" she asked flabbergasted. "Oh my God! I am so sorry but you scared me!"
Adrien couldn't help but bristle at that.
He knows he isn't the best looking guy around right this moment but he wasn't that hideous. Mylene was dating Ivan! And no offence to Ivan but Ivan was incredibly intimidating at first glance!
"It's all right," he managed to get through gritted teeth, "I, erm, haven't exactly been having a good day."
"We can see that," Ivan said quietly, "Akuma?"
Adrien nodded.
"Then you should be cured soon enough," Ivan said reassuringly, "and your day will improve."
"Thanks," Adrien mumbled. The bell rang out a warning ring before he could say anything else and he tried to smile cheerfully but Mylene's horrified gasp and Ivan's grimace made him want to shrink back and hide somewhere. "We should go to class!" he said forcefully.
Their journey to their classroom had, thankfully, been uneventful.
Unfortunately the same could not be said for when he entered the classroom. He barely made it pass the threshold when he was suddenly greeted by loud, melodramatic, gasps from his classmates. Nathaniel dropped his pencil noisily, Max moved his head so quickly that his glasses fell off of his face, Kim's jaw dropped unattractively, Rose and Juleka clutched one another, and Alix rudely pointed at him.
"Oh my God!" she yelped. "What ugly train hit you this morning?!"
"Dude!" Nino cried out. "What happened to you?!"
"I was attacked by a model-hating Akuma," Adrien explained as he sat down beside Nino, "it hasn't been a good morning so far."
"An Akuma?!" Alya and Marinette both yelled out. Marinette sounded horrified and fearful which was rather flattering as Adrien could almost convince himself that it meant she was worried about him. In fact her big blue eyes seemed to have grown larger and rounder with worry as she nibbled her bottom lip anxiously. Adrien felt his stomach do a happy somersault for reasons he couldn't understand. Alya, however, sounded way too ecstatic about Adrien being attacked as she then went on to say; "What happened? Did Ladybug and Chat Noir show up? Was it an epic battle? Are they injured? Is that why you're not cured yet? Hey, can I interview you?"
"Babe!" Nino cried out exasperated. "Give the guy a moment to breathe. He's had a rough morning already."
"It's not been that bad," Adrien smiled reassuringly, "I'm sure Ladybug will resolve this in no time."
Marinette gasped as she covered her mouth while Nino and Alya both flinched away from him. "Oh my God!" Marinette cried out. "A-A-Are you right? I-I-I mean right all? No, gah, I mean are you all right?!" she managed to choke out the question coherently and correctly. "Your t-t-t-teeth they look really p-p-p-p-painful!"
"Oh," Adrien licked his teeth. To him they felt exactly as they did this morning after he brushed them. Smooth and squeaky clean with an aftertaste of mint but he was well aware from seeing his own reflection and the faces Nathalie kept pulling whenever he smiled that his teeth looked horrendous. "No, it's all right," he reassured Marinette, "I think it's just an allusion because they don't feel off or in any pain."
"G-Good!" Marinette stammered out determinedly. "I would hate it if you were in pain on top of everything else." He smiled warmly at that and was ready to say something grateful when Marinette suddenly flushed bright red. "Meep!" she squeaked as she suddenly ducked down onto her seat and covered her face in embarrassment.
For once though Adrien didn't mind as at least someone wasn't acting differently around him. He sank down into his own seat as he felt tension ease out of him.
"What is THAT doing sitting in Adrien's seat like that?!" Chloe shrieked as she stepped into the classroom. Her face was flushed with fury, her eyes bulged out, and she pointed at him rudely as if he was a zoo exhibit or something. Adrien instantly tensed up again at the sound of her cross voice. "YOU!" she barked. "Disgusting, filthy, thing, get out of my Adri-kins seat! You're not fit to touch a normal seat let alone the one that cradles my Adri-kins' sort, pert, behind."
Nino snorted into his hand as Adrien blushed at the humiliation.
"Chloe!" Marinette shouted indignantly. "Don't be so rude and mean! That is Adrien!"
"What?" Chloe scoffed. "That's not Adrien. Adrien is a billion times more good looking and better dressed than this thing."
"He," Marinette stressed through gritted teeth, "is wearing the same clothes he always wears. Stop referring Adrien as if he is an object!"
Adrien couldn't help but glow under Marinette's defence. Something sweet fluttered in his stomach as he felt his heart burn with a fierce joy. It was such a relief to know that someone still cared about him regardless of his appearance. This morning has been rather soul destroying with the way people have been behaving.
Chloe's mouth dropped open unattractively. "N-n-no way!" she stuttered. "There is no way this could be my Adri-kins! My Adri-kins is a beautiful specimen of perfection not this…this…this ugly beast!" Adrien cringed at that as Marinette spluttered furiously but before either of them could say something Chloe whirled round and clutched her head melodramatically. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screamed. "My dreams of being Mrs Adrien Agreste are now ruined! How can I ever marry t-t-t-that thing?!"
"All right, class," Ms Bustier called out as she stepped in, "Settle down. We have a long day ahead of us."
Adrien silently thanked the Gods as Chloe flounced off back to her seat and everyone else turned their attention to their teacher. He was just about to relax and enjoy the peaceful break from all the staring and insults and screams when suddenly Nino shoved his hat onto his head.
"Seriously Dude," Nino muttered, "I keep seeing you from the corner of my eye and freaking out that there's some creepy middle aged perve sitting next me. Keep this on for now."
"Yeah," Adrien mumbled as he slumped down in his seat, "sure thing."
He can't believe he's actually beginning to miss being beautiful.
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Marinette wished she sat behind Nino so she could give his chair one hell of a kick!
She was sure Nino didn't mean to come across a tactless douche but he was doing a fine job being one that was for sure! Adrien was now entirely slumped down over his desk and she wanted nothing more than to cradle his poor balding head to her bosom and reassure him that everything was going to be fine.
Instead she just flushed at the thought of Adrien being anywhere near her bosom.
She couldn't believe how disgusting people have been behaving towards Adrien. It was so ridiculous! Who cared if he was now a little overweight? Or that he was now losing his hair? Or that he had so many spots dotted all over his face? Or even that his teeth was horribly rotted all the way through?
He still had his beautiful, soulful, green eyes.
He still had his kindness, and his good-naturedness, and his honestly, and his bravery, and all that made him so good and pure and true…
Marinette nibbled her lip anxiously.
She wished she could do something to cheer him up, a cute little note, a comforting hug, a special wink, or just something! But her stomach twisted up with nerves and guilt. She felt nervous at the thought of any interaction with the love of her life and how she would undoubtedly screw it up. She felt guilty because she was the reason why an Akuma had gotten away with attacking Adrien as she was fast asleep at the time.
If she had been awake she might have somehow found out about the attack while it was happening and have cured Adrien and whoever else has been attacked by now. But noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! She had to sleep all the way well past her alarm going off and only just make it to school on time to find out belatedly it had happened. And then to make things worse, she couldn't slip out now and resolve everything as soon as possible. The teachers have been keeping a closer eye on her activities recently and she hadn't been allowed any bathroom runs while class is on as she had stupidly not left the classroom the moment she saw Adrien's face to hunt down the Akuma like she should.
Instead she felt the need to wait and make sure he was physically okay despite his appearance and then waste more time fighting with Chloe when she should be punching an Akuma in the face.
She was so useless at balancing this double life thing.
She now had to wait an hour at least before she could escape and hunt down the Akuma and that was only if she could slip away from Alya's watchful eye between classes.
God knows how many other models will have to suffer in the meantime.
"….and as you know the mayor has recently introduced a new programme to encourage reading for younger students," Ms Bustier's voice finally broke through into Marinette's thoughts. Marinette suddenly jerked physically as she focused back on her teacher again. "Therefore we have been asked to do presentations on a fairy tale of your choosing. They will need to be ready for next week."
The class groaned in unison at that.
A whole presentation on one story that was supposed to fascinate little kids and make them want to read done within a week?
Impossible!
And way too much work!
"I know, I know," Ms Bustier rolled her eyes, "it sounds like far too much work when you could be blogging or playing games but you should all give this a chance. You may actually have fun." Some like Chloe, Kim, and Alix scoffed at this which all earned them an unimpressed raised eyebrow from their teacher. "Now then, I'm going to group you up in pairs and you can pick a fairy tale and start discussing how you would present it before class finishes. First pair, Adrien Agreste and Chloe Bo-"
"No!" Chloe snapped as she slammed her hands against her desk. She then pushed her weight on them forcefully as she abruptly stood up and moved her hands onto her hips. "There is no way in hell I am going to be seen side by side with that!" she spat out as she pointed to Adrien. "It will ruin my reputation as the most beautiful surrounded by the most beautiful things."
Marinette gritted her teeth at that.
Adrien wasn't a thing, for starters! He was a living being with his own thoughts and feelings and his so called childhood friend was blatantly crushing those feelings with her stinking selfish shallow attitude.
Marinette wondered if anyone would actually mind if she just slapped Chloe.
"Chloe," Ms Bustier said disapprovingly, "that is cruel and unnecessary. Adrien's appearance has no relevance on this presentation. You will have to learn quickly that in the professional world you will have to work with people regardless of how they look or-"
"I don't care!" Chloe interrupted with big, fake, crocodile tears. "I will not spend another moment staring at that horrible, hideous, disgusting face! I want another partner! Or I will call my Daddy right this instance and have all funding pulled from your department!"
Ms Bustier pursed her lips at that. "Very well," she said tightly, "but only because I do not have the patience to deal with your melodrama today. You can partner with Sabrina. Now then Rose, could you-?"
"Actually Miss," Rose interrupted hastily, "could I please work with Juleka? It's not fair if Chloe gets to work with her best friend but we don't."
"Fine!" Ms Bustier huffed. "You may choose your own partners."
Adrien eagerly turned to face Nino but much to Marinette's shock Nino immediately leaped back so his chair was resting against their desk. "What do you say, babe?" he asked hurriedly. "Wanna be my partner?"
"Sure," Alya shrugged, "but don't think you're getting out of doing your half of the research."
Adrien's eyes flickered hopefully to the other side of the classroom but, much to Marinette's disgust, the rest of her classmates all scrambled away as quickly as they possibly could to partner up with each other before Adrien could ask any of them to be work with him.
"Oh honestly!" Ms Bustier cried out. She sounded as revolted as Marinette felt as she glowered at the class in disapproval. "Won't any of you work with Adrien?"
SCREECH!
Marinette blushed brightly as her chair nosily scrapped against the floor in her attempt to stand up quickly. Everyone turned to look at her, including Adrien with the sweetest, most adorable, hopeful gleam in his eyes, and she had fight back the urge to suddenly hide her face behind her hands as she met Adrien's beautiful green eyes dead.
"I-I-I-I'll do it!" Marinette stammered as she felt her cheeks burn. "I'll be A-A-A-Adrien's partner!"
And she swore right there and then as Adrien smiled radiantly up at her that she would be the best damn partner he ever had.