Author's Note: With the positive response all around that the previous chapter got...I just had to give everyone more of what they want: Adrien showing his shiny new spine and righting the wrongs cast on his lady by the morons at school that have hurt her. Oh there will be a Salty Adrien ahead, backed by an squad of high-priced and highly-sought-after lawyers sporting their best 'unpaid bill' faces for intimidation only (as we all know that Adrien always pays well and promptly), school admins will be called out on their severe lack of functioning braincells, and Marinette just finds her sweet, silly kitty to be so adorable when he's flexing his claws and teeth in the name of justice.
Cash money says that Sabine is already planning the wedding and Tom is planning the reception.
(Tikki and Plagg may or may not be adding onto those lists/plans, but they have it on good authority that no one has any evidence.)
Adrien frowned as he checked his phone from his position in the backseat of the car. "So...the Law Squad will meet us at the school after we pick up Marinette."
In all truth, Adrien had no clue who exactly came up with the name 'Law Squad' for the team of lawyers...though he suspected that one of the younger lawyers had been responsible and they all had just decided to go with it instead of using everyone's names. Which may have been a good thing in the end as the group never could agree on the naming order and, well...when lawyers start arguing with lawyers...it gets ugly.
Gorilla nodded from the driver's seat, never letting his eyes stray from the road nor the fellow maniacs driving the Parisian streets, as this car had only one small dent on the passenger-side rear fender and he would be damned before he allowed anything to tarnish that testament to his expert driving skills, thank you very much. "We should be arriving at the bakery within ten minutes."
"Good." Adrien's frown melted into his usual pleased grin at the knowledge that he would soon be with the love of his life...and then on their way to their school so that he could bring down purely legal, righteous justice on the heads of all those who had wronged his lady.
Gorilla drove on in silence for a few moments before he finally ventured... "If I may be blunt?"
"Always."
"First, I am happy that you and Miss Dupain-Cheng have finally stopped dancing around each other." Gorilla said calmly, though internally wincing because all of that denial and waffling could have made a politician proud, and he was genuinely glad that it was finally over because, to be completely honest, it had caused him physical pain to witness it all. "However...I wish that you had waited one more week before confessing to each other."
Adrien frowned, though it was less fury and more genuine curiosity. "Why exactly?"
"Next week was my week to win the staff betting pool." Gorilla said as if it were completely normal to bet with your co-workers on your teenaged boss' love life. Adrien, however, just processed this...a blush rising on his face as he came to terms with the fact that EVERYONE had been able to see Marinette and himself together before he had, before barely squeaking out an embarrassed: "Who won?"
Oh man...Plagg and Tikki knowing was fine since they were in their heads sometimes, but...everyone on staff? What about at school? Did literally everyone (actually everyone!) know?!
"Nicolette. The younger gardener. She was ecstatic." Gorilla answered as he pulled the car to a stop in front of the bakery. "The pot from that pool just paid off her house and car, with leftovers."
Adrien just blinked slowly in response before shaking his head (hoping in vain that the action would help to clear the scarlet from his face) and opening the door to step out so that he could escort his lady to their 'chariot' like the gentleman that he had been raised to be by his mother and nannies. "Good for her. I'm happy for her. We never speak of this to Marinette."
Gorilla simply nodded his head and bided his time waiting for the blond to return with the bluenette...though, internally, the bodyguard was snickering at the 'young love'...and relieved that he was, thankfully, well past that stage of his life with not intentions to ever repeat it.
[one cuddle session in the back of the car while Gorilla drives like a certain six-foot-tall dog-man with a shark-toothed rabbity-partner later]
Adrien frowned in concern when Gorilla pulled the car into a parking space at the school. When two more expensive cars pulled up to flank his own, the blond breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The 'Squad' had arrived. He looked over next to him, before frowning again and gently pulling Marinette over to him, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "Bugaboo?"
"Sorry...I...I guess I'm just worried that everyone will come screaming at me or something." Marinette said, looking over at the blond. "I...just really, really don't want to be yelled at by everyone again. I...I...Lila really did ruin my life."
"No...she only made things difficult." Adrien said gently as he hugged his queen to him. "And I'm sorry I didn't step in to stop it sooner...I should have-"
"Adrien...I refuse to let my king guilt-trip himself over something that I tried to keep secret like I thought that ignoring it would make the problem go away." Marionette leaned over to place a chaste kiss to the blond's lips, before drawing back with a small, worried smile. Adrien nodded and reached up to cup Marinette's cheek in one hand, brushing his thumb over the subtle rise of her cheekbone. "Alright then...how about we stop blaming ourselves and, instead, go and take down everyone who deserves the blame?"
"Now that sounds like a plan."
The door opened next to them, a certain bodyguard having discreetly slipped out of the car so that his passengers could have a few moments of privacy and peace before whatever legal apocalyptic scenario was about to be unleashed by the vengeful blond for the defense of his beloved. Gorilla just nodded as Adrien stepped out first, before the blond extended a hand back into the car to help Marinette out. As soon as she was standing next to her Chaton, Marinette looped her arm with one of his. "Let's do this."
Adrien nodded and, with a showy flick of his wrist, produced a pair of mirror-lensed sunglasses that probably cost more than most of the teachers' cars, before he slid the sunglasses on with practiced grace. "My lady...I would like it if you would stay with Gorilla if you're not with me today. Just so that he can make sure that no one tries to accost you because of Lie-la getting arrested, charged, and the fact that she's going to be tried, sentenced, deported, then tried and sentenced again."
Was it overkill? Maybe to some, but Adrien had stated that he had warned the sausage-haired girl...and he wasn't losing sleep over how the Embassy had flown into a panic to make certain that the 'criminal terrorist' (and oh, it had been so satisfying to hear that Lila had been branded by her own country as a 'criminal terrorist' and was going to be put on the international watchlist, for even as little as the 'suspicion' that she had worked willingly with a terrorist to do harm, as well as being barred from ever leaving Italy again) was punished to the fullest possible extent of the law both by France's courts and by Italy's own in "hopes of maintaining current relations" and Italy proving to France that they did not "support a known terrorist".
He would never ask how exactly Nathalie had gotten a hold of that information and, personally, he didn't want to know.
(Plagg, on the other hand, would not shut up about wanting to know EVERYTHING...up until Tikki had dumped a bottle of grape soda (where she got it, no one knows) on the black kwami and then...well...at least they were all four outside and no one had seen anything that couldn't be explained away as the viewer having possibly inhaled weird fumes.)
"I can protect myself, silly kitty...but, I wouldn't mind the back-up if it isn't too much trouble?" The bluenette asked as she looked at the bodyguard who simply gave a nod and then a formal bow before he fell into step just behind them. Within minutes, several men and women of varying ages and all dressed in the sharpest of formal suits like Adrien's own personal Men In Black, were flanking them like a protective barrier from the students and faculty members who were staring slack-jawed at the sight of the two teens, the stoic-faced bodyguard, and the squad of lawyers...each of the lawyers sporting unamused expressions in enough varying degrees of contempt that, had she been present, Chloe would have been taking notes for future references.
To the students and teachers...even an idiot could see the righteous fury of intent in Adrien's walk as he, Marinette, and their entourage stalked towards the doors and into the building. The blond, normally sweet and pure sunshine, was now dangerous...the lion stalking among sheep.
Anyone could see that Adrien was here with one purpose in mind: he was here to crack skulls...kick asses...take names... and flip tables. He was here to rain hellfire and damnation the likes of which had not been seen outside of the Old Testament, on every single one of them, with the apparent legal firepower to back-up whatever he did...and there was nothing that they could do to save themselves except throw themselves at the feet of the girl that they had turned into a pariah through no fault of her own, and plead with her for a scrap of mercy.
Marinette, however, merely held onto her Chaton's arm as they walked into the school. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Alya, Nino, and a few others whom she had thought were her friends until Liar had shown up...and all of them were staring in confusion if not anger at them. The bluenette frowned-if they wanted to be angry at her for being right, and they wanted to turn on her...well, that was their choice. It hurt, a lot more than she wanted to admit, but Adrien's words from only days before rang true in her head...
"If our so-called friends want to argue then, you know what, who needs them? We have each together, and Chloe's been on your side in her own way, and we can make new friends. You and me, my lady. We can make everything better together."
She grinned to herself and chanced a look at her Adrien...who she was certain was only using those far-too-expensive sunglasses as a mask while he mentally worked himself up into the righteous frenzy he would need so that he could give the principal and other admins both barrels like he had so freely given to Lila and, interestingly enough and on a slightly smaller scale, his father and Nathalie.
Actually...
"Adrien...how is your father?"
"Holed up in his office, knee-deep in a bottle of wine priced like a zip code the last time that I peeked in on him. He was alternating between being confused about why I was acting like I apparently am, how did I stage a "hostile takeover as politely as possible" on him without him knowing...and then, terrifyingly, weeping with joy and pride that I really am his son." Adrien said with a small shrug of his shoulders; he had absolutely no idea why Gabriel would ever think that Adrien wasn't his son...especially since the older Agreste was clearly the type who would demand at least three paternity tests on any child claiming, or claimed, to be his. "I think the last part scared Nathalie almost out of her skin actually. I know it freaked me out."
"And Nathalie?"
"She's...kind of weirding me out. I keep swearing that she says something under her breath only to backtrack to say some kind of affirmative whenever I tell her to do something." Adrien said with another shrug...that got a raised eyebrow from Marinette because, in all honesty, that was very strange behavior. "Maybe you should send her on a vacation of some kind? She sounds like she might need it after everything."
"Good idea." Adrien said with a thoughtful nod. "She was looking a little red in the face this morning."
If neither teen noticed the minute cracks of amusement on the faces of the lawyers and the bodyguard at Adrien's descriptions of their 'former' boss and his assistant, well...no one was going to inform them. The two young lovers should maintain some of their innocence for just a little while longer after all.
And The Gorilla himself? Well...he was going to enjoy his front row seat to the upcoming show.
[one walk of badass to the office later...and please insert the epic music of your choice for that imaginary montage of undiluted awesome]
[I personally imagined the guitar solos from "Through The Fire And Flames" tbh]
Adrien stalked into the office, Marinette at his side, Gorilla at their back...and the squad of lawyers filed in quickly to flank the trio. Marinette frowned at seeing so many of the teachers who had turned on her...even Miss Bustier. Especially Miss Bustier. The bluenette shifted to rest her cheek against Adrien's shoulder as she tightened her arms around the one of his in her grasp.
Mr. Damocles frowned at the intrusion. "Mr. Agreste...I see that you do not remember how to knock. If you do not mind, we are busy."
Adrien scowled and reached up to remove his sunglasses, folding them up one-handed, and hooking them onto the collar of his shirt. "Oh, I assure you, Mr. Damocles...we are about to get VERY busy."
Adrien reached over and gently took one of Marinette's hands from his arm, only to draw her hand up so that he could kiss her knuckles. Marinette stepped back just behind Adrien to watch the fireworks display about to go off. Truthfully? A part of her wished that she had been able to fully appreciate seeing this side of her Chaton when he had taken down Lila...but, well...nothing wrong with witnessing a reprisal.
Adrien stepped away, entrusting Gorilla to keep his lady safe from these miniscule threats, and leveled his glare on the principal. "Mr. Damocles...I am deliriously happy to inform you that Lila Rossi will NOT be attending this school, nor setting so much as a toe in Paris again. You see...everything that she ever said about herself, aside from her mother working at the Embassy, was pretty much...oh, how do I say this? Oh, yes...directly from the business end of disease-ridden cow."
Marinette covered her mouth with a hand to hide her smile at her Adrien's creativity. Gorilla didn't so much as let a facial muscle twitch, but the bluenette suspected that he was enjoying the sight as well.
The teachers and principal? Not near so much.
"Mr. Agreste-!"
"Do. NOT." Adrien snapped, folding his arms over his chest. "Oh believe me, it took a while, but the police were very capable of extracting a full confession from Miss Rossi. It was even easier when her own mother confirmed that everything that Lila said was a lie. Lila Rossi never had any kind of disability, hearing or otherwise. Her mother was very adamant that her daughter had a, quote, "clean bill of health" and seemed offended at the idea of anything to the contrary."
Miss Bustier bit her lip at that and Mr. Damocles tried to compose himself...only for Adrien to step forward as he continued. "The 'heirloom' necklace? Bought from a gift shop then planted in Marinette's locker to frame my lady for crimes that she didn't commit."
The lawyers moved forward not unlike a flock of vultures circling a week-old carcass. One salt-and-pepper-haired man with, in Marinette's opinion, the most amazing pair of sideburns in history, set his briefcase onto a desk, snapped it open, and proceeded to bring out several folders that he passed to the other lawyers who turned their disdainful glares on the school administrators.
Adrien? Oh...he was not done yet.
"Lila wasn't on vacation when she was gone for several months, sir. She was skipping school as she apparently told her mother that the entire school shut down for months because you were akumatized, Mr. Damocles. I think you and I both know how false that tale is since Ladybug and Chat Noir are highly efficient heroes when it comes to taking down any and all akuma."
The principal's jaw dropped slightly, but the blond was quick to pounce on the openings that he was carving open. "Lila stole the mock exam answers to frame Marinette, just like she walked herself down the stairs, sat on the floor, and tried to claim assault."
"Ironic that, from what we have been informed of...you did not in fact call an ambulance nor the school nurse after the incident in question?" One lawyer said smoothly as three of the lawyers let their disdainful expressions slip into predatory smiles as they skimmed their respective files. One finally chimed in. "And according to information that we were able to acquire, thanks in part to Mr. Agreste's diligence in directing the investigators to where they needed to go...we have it on good authority that there was no investigation, by anyone in this school, into any of the falsified claims against Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng? The thefts, the supposed 'assault'?"
"The...the perpetrator would have-"
"If you say 'lied'." Adrien all-but snarled, cutting the man off practically at the knees. One of the female lawyers pinned her own brand of resting homicide face on the principal. "Are you admitting that you simply acted on the claims made against a previously model student, a student whose only misdemeanor at school was that she was sometimes a few minutes late...are you admitting that you simply took claims against that student at face value, never sought her side of the story, and then enacted punishment without any form a due process?
Another lawyer chimed in at that, the strawberry-blond adjusting his glasses in a way that could almost be mistaken for flipping someone the bird if not for how clearly classy the man was. "We have been made aware that there are, in fact, working CCTV throughout the school...yet you never thought to check the footage to see if any of the accusations made were true? Quite...distasteful."
Mr. Damocles paled, stumbling over his words. Before the man could answer, the salt-and-pepper-haired lawyer chimed in. "Are you also admitting, sir, that you never once sought any attempt at confirming or disapproving any of Miss Rossi's falsified claims regarding her hearing disability?"
Miss Bustier froze at the, which only drew one of the lawyers on her. "You were Miss Dupain-Cheng's teacher, correct Miss...Bustier?"
The woman could only nod only for the lawyer (a somewhat young man with a truly majestic handlebar moustache) to give her a flat look. "So the same statements made to Mr. Damocles could also be made to you, correct? Did you ever once investigate any of the claims either girl made against one another?
"Um...no, I-"
"So, in layman's terms, if I may be so bold...both of you are admitting to my lawyers that, under no circumstances, did you investigate any of the claims made?" Adrien said coolly as he glanced between the two as a group of teachers who had not been involved in the 'Lila' debacle slowly slunk out of the room with their proverbial tails between their legs in hopes that they could avoid the fate awaiting anyone left in the room. Adrien raised a brow at his teacher, principal, and those foolish enough to remain after realizing that they were pretty much rats on a sinking ship. "My lady was never once questioned for her version of events. You never gave her the chance to defend herself? You simply detained, accepted charges, passed judgment, then punished her for crimes that she did not commit?"
"I-" Was all Mr. Damocles could get out before one of the lawyers answered. "So far, we have evidence of miscarriage of justice committed by your school against Miss Dupain-Cheng, we could also prove a degree of slander has been committed, as well as wrongful expulsion. I am, however, certain that we can add several more thing to the list."
"Negligence on the part of the administration...perhaps even abuse of power considering that, from the files presented, the Board of Governors was never contacted in regards to the expulsion nor the reinstating of Miss Dupain-Cheng." One lawyer said with a thoughtful look to his associate.
Another lawyer (a red-haired woman short hair and an equally short skirt) chimed in. "Oh yes, and we can most certainly sue for the considerable emotional duress that Miss Dupain-Cheng has been subjected to by your administration."
"Of course, aside from all of that, I'm certain that the Board of Governors would be very interested in being made aware of everything that occurred here regarding Miss Rossi who is, probably by the end of the day, going to have her name permanently added to the international terrorist watch list?" Adrien said as casually as you please...like he hadn't just dropped the equivalent of a tactical nuke on top of the bombs from his lawyers.
For the first time in a long time, Mr. Damocles looked faint...and several other teachers looked sickly at realizing that this could not only cost many of them their jobs, but that there were most likely many...MANY lawsuits in their collective immediate futures if someone didn't figure out a way to dig them all out of the grave they were finding themselves in.
One of the lawyers (an older, bald-headed man who gave of a stern but grandfatherly vibe) looked at Adrien. "Is there anything else that you wish to add, Mr. Agreste?"
"Only this. I want the Board of Directors called and informed of the entire situation that has occurred so that they are aware that it may be high time for a full investigation of their own." Adrien said smoothly, seemingly taking in the terrified expressions on the administrators' faces. "I also wish to press charges for what occurred to me on school grounds with the sexual harassment that I was subjected to by Lila Rossi and that no one ever attempted to stop."
The blond walked back over to Marinette and took her hand in his with a small smile. "Shall I, my lady?"
"You shall."
Adrien nodded and drew her hand up to kiss her knuckles. "And I wish to file charges for everything that my Marinette was subjected to as well, on her behalf and with her permission."
The lawyers expressions bordered on the crazed looks of the hyenas in the Lion King, before each nodded and the older, bald man spoke up. "Right away, Mr. Agreste. We shall stay and handle matters personally if you and Miss Dupain-Cheng wish to take your leave."
"Shall we depart then, my queen?"
Marinette looped her arm with Adrien's and rested her head to his shoulder once more. "We shall, my king."
As the two exited and left the lawyer to their business, Marinette looked up at Adrien. "...Adrien. How do you feel about confronting our so-called friends for what they did?"
What's this?
Did I set up the possibility of a part three to this with Alya and Nino and maybe a few others getting ripped a new one by Adrien?
Why yes, yes I did.
Not gonna promise it, but I left the option open just in case.
Hope this part 2 lived up to expectations.