Back to School
Tom and Sabine packed the lunch for Adrien and Marinette with an extra box of macarons. Although the kids woke up early because they were used to getting up much earlier, due to the time difference, they took their time to get ready for school and put away the miracle box.
Finally, after breakfast and more than a few conversations, more pastry in the bakery and hugs from all three adults (Tom, Sabine and Adrien's bodyguard), they were leaving the bakery at the last moment to reach the school in time, just like Marinette always did. Old habits die hard.
"I am sure your friends from school will not let you go, you will have to tell them everything." Sabine smiled widely as she added one more paper bag with cookies.
Adrien's bodyguard offered to walk them to school, but the two of them thanked him and went on. The man had his own business to take care of. The two kids only learned that morning that he sent a resignation letter and quit his job the day he saw Gabriel was Hawk Moth. Of course he decidedly stayed by the boy's side, but refused to be on the villain's payroll. Mme Leclerc insisted that the man got paid by the Gabriel company at least until the custody of Adrien was shifted and there were other issues to attend to.
Adrien and Marinette chatted on their way out. Once the door to the bakery shut, Adrien offered her his hand. She smiled and blushed and took his hand. They walked like that in silence, glanced towards their joined hands and then each other and then back, both pink in the face, both with gentle smiles on their faces.
"I like this. I might pick you up in the mornings." Adrien smiled.
"Mhm" Marinette smiled "I'd like that."
Then they continued walking in silence. It was not awkward. It was happy silence. There were no words needed. But the moment they spotted the school building in the morning mist, it reminded them of the classes and homework.
"So, do you remember what was our last literature assignment?" Adrien asked.
"I totally forgot." Marinette shrugged, the last day of school was seventeen days ago? Impossible, must have been last year or something.
"Wasn't it something about ancient Chinese texts and ..." The boy smirked, because he remembered it clearly.
"And different interpretations." Marinette nodded, there was something ringing the bell, faint memories from the time long gone.
"Don't tell me you are going to use those ridiculous interpretations." Plagg retorted.
"You know how to interpret those texts much better now." Tikki chirped.
"Yeah, what if we offered our own interpretation?" Adrien beamed.
"Our own interpretation? I … needed you to read the bag of instant noodles for me." Marinette squeaked in panic.
"You didn't." The boy smirked. "You just wanted me to cook."
"That was as much of a cooking as it was a Chinese lesson. That hardly qualifies me ..." The girl protested.
"No no no, remember those chants that the monks were singing? Those are ancient texts too. So I was thinking ..." Adrien explained his idea.
"Well it is not as if we have a better option, don't we?" She shrugged.
They were already standing at the stairs that led to the school entrance. The large gates were closed. They were surrounded by the morning mist that released light drizzle. It was really unpleasant to be outside. The complete absence of students outside of the school suggested they might have been late for school, so Adrien checked the time.
"We still have some time before the bell." He noted.
"Oh, we are early." She noted.
They both laughed.
"I don't feel like waiting outside in this weather." Adrien smiled.
"This mist is rather unpleasant." Marinette nodded.
"Perhaps we should go inside." The boy said and the two of them climbed up to the large gates.
Adrien raised their joined hands, they pushed the door open together and the two of them passed the gate. The courtyard inside was full of students. They both recognized a few classmates on their first glance. They let go of the door too quickly and the door slammed with a loud clang.
The two of them stood before the door.
Everyone stopped talking.
Those who were not facing the door turned around to see them.
There was a complete silence.
Marinette and Adrien just stood there hand in hand and encouraged each other for whatever was going to be thrown their way. Because literally everyone was there, their class, their teachers, everyone. Adrien smiled. Marinette wiggled the fingers on her free hand as a greeting. Adrien held the box with food so he nodded.
Practically the whole school was there and stared at them.
"Hi everyone." They greeted in unison although they did not even try to do the same thing simultaneously.
After that someone started clapping their hands. Then another person joined. And then one more. Until all the students and few present teachers were applauding.
Adrien and Marinette walked through the inner courtyard followed by the applause. They noticed principal Damocles, Ms Bustier and a woman they did not recognize clapped their hands on the top of the stairs in front of principal Damocles's office.
The two of them walked towards the locker room to pick up their books. They were followed by their fellow students who whistled and clapped after them. Alix stuck two fingers in her mouth and was the loudest. Kim tried to howl louder than her whistle. While they were in the locker room, the other students finally stopped the applause and resumed their normal chatter.
Both teens were soon surrounded by their classmates.
"I cant believe." Ivan waved his head.
"You were so brave." Mylenne smiled.
"You were wonderful." Rose cooed.
"You were fantastic." Juleka muttered.
Alix whistled with each exhale and waved her fist while she inhaled.
"Man" Kim bumped Adrien in the shoulder with his fist.
"There was less than one percent chance for your success." Max recited.
Nathaniel was drawing them.
Marc was scribbling in his notebook beside him.
"My father sends his compliments." Sabrina smiled.
Chloe stood there with her arms crossed and a genuine smile on her face. But she schooled herself in her usual pout when the first person noticed.
Alya was filming the whole scene, she was probably streaming it live to her blog.
Nino just stood beside his best bro and smiled. He adjusted his red heat from time to time and continued to smile.
They went to the classroom all together when the bell rang. When they entered, Ms Bustier was waiting. Lila sat in the last row, with that same woman nobody knew next to her.
"Adrien! Marinette!" Ms Bustier exclaimed and quickly made a few steps towards them and hug them. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" The teacher had her brightest smile on. "Welcome back!" Her eyes beamed at her students.
"Would you mind if you waited here just for a moment?" she asked them next as she pointed to the space in the front of the classroom.
Adrien and Marinette both stood next to the teacher's desk. The teacher cooed, and hugged them and offered her help with anything they needed, she asked about Adrien and how he was doing.
The woman who sat in the last row beamed at both of them with a huge smile on her face. It was obvious she wanted to bounce on her feet and approach them but she schooled herself to stay put in her seat, ever professional
"Welcome everybody. Please take your seats." Ms Bustier called and finally let the two students take their usual seats.
"I will take the attendance and then introduce the guest in our classroom." Ms Bustier started to call names.
Marinette beamed. Was her suggestion for a learning assistant finally accepted? She was not sure. She did not want to get her hopes up. But why have they taken her proposal down only to bring it back?
They went to their seats and arranged their books and notebooks and pencils. It was strange to do something like that after the last two weeks, but there was comfort in familiarity.
The teacher took attendance. It was the same procedure as it has always been, save the applause Adrien and Marinette received when they were called (plus the whistle from Alix for which the pink haired girl received a warning look from the teacher).
"And finally to introduce the most recent addition to our class, thanks to Lila." The teacher explained about the teaching assistant. "She got a teaching assistant to sit with her and help her with schoolwork and homework."
Chloe could not resist but add a story about her own contribution in the matter. She might have been silent about her other contribution, when she literally threatened someone in that embassy, that she kept to herself, and Sabrina, and she might brag about it during recess, later, as well as about her other accomplishments.
Then Ms Benini introduced herself briefly and explained that the two of them would sit in the last row in each class not to disrupt the classes too much.
Adrien and Marinette both had their silent celebration and a fist bump. Alya saved the glare for the said girl for later, she was too busy with her two friends and the first day of school after the holidays. She was ready to shoot daggers at the liar. Nino stoically ignored the very existence of the girl. The rest of the class was somewhere between Alya and Nino.
"Please open your books on the page 144." The teacher instructed.
"Does she honestly believe that any of us will be able to take in any teaching from her?" Alya muttered and raised her hand.
The rest of the class had, albeit reluctantly, remembered to reach for their books and open it to the correct page.
The teacher was busy arranging her papers and did not notice Alya right away.
"So" She began and raised her eyes to the classroom. "Yes Alya?" She noticed the raised hand of the bespectacled girl.
"Ms Bustier, sorry, but any of us could hardly pay attention in the class today, don't you think it would be better if we just talked to our heroes over here?" Alya, ever the journalist, proposed.
Marinette silently groaned, she did not want to be grilled by more questions after last night. And she did not particularly enjoy being the centre of attention. Adrien smiled politely to the teacher and shrugged.
"Well, we are dealing with ancient Chinese history and literature, which was sort of blended in the studied period of time." Ms Buster began her explanation. She was looking forward to this lesson.
But the teacher never got to finish her explanation how this particular lecture was fitting the current mood and the interest of the class.
The door to the classroom burst open.
"Huuu Huuu" There was a voice heard through the door.
Two seconds later, principal Damocles dressed in his Owl costume burst into the classroom.
Marinette facepalmed.
Ms Bustier clutched the papers in her hands and after a few seconds of bewilderment plastered a timid smile on her face.
Adrien and Alya both bothered to raise an eyebrow, one each.
Nino casually leaned back and waited for the show.
The rest of the class was too busy snickering.
Save Chloe, her nails were always so interesting.
There, in the front of the classroom, stood principal Damocles and waved his arms as he flapped his wings that were a part of the costume.
"Your hero, The Owl, is here to pay respect to out civilian heroes." He bowed towards Adrien and Marinette who simply stared at their school principal with an amused smile.
"Thank you principal .. I mean mister Owl." Ms Bustier tried to stop him by simply wishing him away.
"I am here for the heroes, Ms Buster." The man exclaimed.
Adrien turned around to look at Marinette and they both shrugged. They both had no clue what to do with the school principal.
Then Marinette got to her feet and Adrien did the same and they both bowed.
"Thank you principal Owl." Marinette stumbled out. "I mean mister DamOwl I mean .."
"Thank you mister Owl. We leave the safety of this school and the city in your capable hands." Adrien added with a signature Chat Noir lopsided grin.
The first reaction of the class was to laugh, loudly, so they masked it by another applause. That was, fortunately, sufficient for principal Damocles to shoo himself out of the classroom.
Adrien and Marinette both sat down.
"So. Page 144, please." Ms Bustier tried to continue where she was when they got interrupted.
Alya raised her hand again. The teacher nodded.
"What about my question?" She repeated.
"Adrien, Marinette, what do you think about that proposal?" Ms Bustier passed on the responsibility for the decision. Well she did not want to burden the two students and ask them to talk, but she also did not want to prevent them if they wanted to.
Faced with another situation to resolve, Marinette inhaled deeply, clenched her fists for a moment to steel herself and got to her feet. But Adrien was already talking.
"Actually, we heard a few interesting interpretations of ancient texts while we were in the temple. They are rather different from what is offered in this book." The boy spoke calmly.
"What do you mean?" Kim teased, but it sounded serious at a first glance, until Adrien saw his smile. "Instead of this." The huge boy punched his fist forward. "We should be actually doing this." The same boy punched his fist forward and into the air.
"That would be enough, Kim, thank you." Ms Bustier cut in.
The teacher took a deep breath. It was clear that nobody was going to pay much attention in the class today. Max raised his hand and Ms Bustier let him speak.
"Statistically speaking." Max adjusted his glasses. "The writing and the meaning of the signs could have changed over time and in different regions so we can trust any interpretation only with a low amount of certainty."
"Thank you Max." Ms Bustier sighed. "Anyone else?" Several students raised their hands.
"Ms Bustier, Adrien has learned Chinese for years, I am sure he could offer a meaningful interpretation of the original." Alix grinned, she knew from her father and her brother how those interpretations sometimes came to life.
"Well, I am sure Marinette knows just as many stories." Alya cut in.
"They mentioned the teachings of the monks in that temple last night in the interview." Rose piped in.
"Ms Buster, both of them spent their holidays learning about the stuff, we might as well hear them." Chloe bothered to remove her eyes from her nails.
Apparently, the teacher was pushed into the corner (figuratively).
"Well, if you don't mind, please tell us those alternative interpretations." The teacher resigned. "But the rest of the class will have to take notes and compare to the section in the book. And no talking and no questions out of topic."
Adrien did most of the talking although Marinette had more than a few inputs. But each time they got even close to magic and miraculous, she would glare at him and he would simply skip to the next subject.
And that was exactly the way that Ms Bustier managed to get some history taught that morning.
They had the science class next. And all the students greeted in very friendly tone and smiled widely to Rosa. Rose even brought her a small rose flower that she made of paper because they in fact had the same name.
The whole class got to witness another historic moment because they all saw Mme Mendeleev smile. She smiled and hugged both Adrien and Marinette together in a hug while she praised them and thanked them. That did not last for long though. Because the moment she let them go and they turned away her face assumed her usual stern expression.
"Well, thanks to your brave colleagues, we can look forward to a whole double period of science classes and experiments uninterrupted by the akuma attacks." Mme Mendeleev stood proudly before the class who mostly silently groaned.
The science teacher knew how to keep the students busy, too busy to try to initiate another story telling exercise. The taught, she explained, she repeated and then she instructed, and of course she expected them to complete the experiments, make the notes and do the computations during the whole two school periods. She also noticed that Marinette's bladder functions worked properly today as she did not ask to be excused to the bathroom once. The teacher was also glad that now she could make her students perform any experiment from the science curriculum, not only those that can be abandoned easily in a case of an akuma attack. And finally, she noticed how several of her students had much better attention span, because Adrien and Alya were not constantly checking their phones as they waited for the next akuma attack.
Then the lunch bell rang.
Lila was swiftly taken away by her learning assistant.
Chloe greeted the ordinaries and strode away towards her white limousine.
The rest of the class surrounded their two classmates.
"How did you know?" "When did you find out?" The questions were popping from all sides. The two civilian heroes mostly repeated the same story. Then they spoke about Ling and Ye, about Pema and Dorje and other people they met on their way.
The lunch break passed in story telling. Marinette told how they walked to the temple and Adrien spoke about the train ride and the flight, but they both conditioned them, for any story of question, their classmates had to provide a story of their own before the two were telling any further story. They asked each of their classmates to tell about something they did during the holidays in return. And everyone was telling exactly where they were and what they were doing in the moment they learned about the final battle and watched it.
By the time the afternoon lessons have started, it was almost a normal school day.
Note: This is the end for now. I plan to continue with the search for the book and issues with Felix.
Thank you all who survived reading this monster up to this point.