"Once again, Paris has been saved have been saved by Ladybug, CatNoir and Raven!"
"But why so early?"
Ella giggled at her kwami's complaints, locking her phone after the news story ended. True, the akuma from the morning was a wake-up call, but it was a simple fight and ended just in time for classes- the teen walking into the building at 8:35 am.
"At least there haven't been any in the middle of the night so far!"
"I think that's called a jinx, Elly-bean."
"Yeah, probably just doomed the three of us now." The teen giggled, entering the locker room and grabbing her stuff for homeroom and literature.
The hour started with the announcement about class rep elections, a conversation Ella gladly tuned out. Classes came and went, the lunch bell ringing at noon. Ella went to the library, deciding to work on some homework while Kiismet napped in her bag on the table.
" 'Here we stand, hand in hand, as we look out on the world
Just one umbrella, to keep us dry from the storm' "
Ella muttered, tapping her pen against the journal pages. The words fit the theme of 'hope' she was aiming for, and it wasn't gonna be hard to fill in the rest. She could add the chorus again and change a line or two at the end of it, to venture back into the second verse theme...
Her thought process was interrupted by the same peaceful feeling as the other day when she was sleeping in the classroom. Ella's gaze moved up, seeing Adrien standing there.
"Hey." She smiled gently, pink dancing on her cheeks.
"What are you working on?" Adrien asked, pulling out the chair beside her.
"Finishing the music assignment- the one about the three emotions in one song? Since it's due Monday." Adrien nodded, setting down a café bag. He pulled out a ham and cheese croissant, as well as a fruit crepe- handing it to Ella.
"Thank you." The girl smiled, taking a bite while scribbling a few more words out. Adrien nodded again, taking a bite out of his own sandwich.
"You have fencing today?"
"Yeah. Wanna come watch?"
"Sure!"
The pair smiled at one another before continuing to eat and work on assignments.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. The students gathered back in the classroom for French and the continuation about class rep. While Ella had no desire to see Chloé in a position of power, the teen also had zero desire to run against her and deal with other people's problems along with her own.
"Given that Chloé and Sabrina are the only candidates, there's no point in voting. So, Chloé and Sabrina-"
"I'll run!"
Ella startled at Marinette's outburst, her eyes wide. Did the blunette really think she had time between schoolwork and being Ladybug?
"Wonderful! You'll need to develop your campaign and have a speech ready by tomorrow. We'll have the vote then."
"Good luck, Mari." Ella whispered to her friend as she reclaimed her seat.
"Thanks, Ella!"
The final bell rang, students packing up and heading home. Adrien and Ella collected their music supplies and headed down to the locker room for the male to change for his fencing lesson.
"Adrien! Ella! Marinette can count on your votes, right?" Alya called from across the courtyard, drawing the pairs attention.
"Of course!" Ella called back, smiling.
"Sure. Depending on her speech..."
"Why depending?" Ella asked as the pair entered the locker room.
"Well, it all depends on what her stance is. What kind of issues she's gonna tackle- is she gonna listen to what the class wants versus other things."
"Well if either of us know Mari, she'll put all her friends needs and wants above her own."
"True, and I'm sure her speech will reflect that."
Adrien changed into his fencing clothes while Ella waited by her locker.
"Finally gonna show your lady your skills?" Plagg teased, floating above Adrien's bag in his locker.
"She's not 'my lady'! She's a close friend!"
"Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that! Just be careful you don't lose her to someone else- she's almost as beautiful as my camembert!"
Adrien frowned, shutting his locker on Plagg's smirking face. The teen moved around the corner, seeing Ella still on the bench by her locker. He stopped, just taking a moment to think about what Plagg said... could there really be a possibility he could lose Ella before he got a chance with her?
"Adrien?"
The teen started at his name, Ella gazing at him.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? You were staring..." The girl blushed, making Adrien smile.
"Just got distracted, that's all." 'You distract me in so many ways...'
Ella nodded, standing and moving toward him.
Adrien led the way back into the courtyard, other fencing students arriving.
"I'll be over here!" Ella waved and moved to a bench. Adrien smiled at her as he began warming up. As he did, he watched Ella; she scribbled away in her journal, that little smile on her lips, before she cocked her hand and pulling out her phone.
"Good afternoon all!" Adrien pulled his gaze away from Ella, determined to show her what he could do.
Ella was fascinated by the lesson. Fencing really was an art, a dance almost. She took a few pictures, grinning like a lovesick child, ignoring Kiismet's chuckles and pokes as the kwami hid on her shoulder.
"Huh?"
Ella frowned as her phone buzzed, Alya's name flashing on the screen.
"Alya?"
"Girl- where are you?"
"At the school, why?"
"Just checking. Chloé's up to her usual scheming ways and is buying other's votes with Jagged Stone autographs! I've always called Marinette and she's on her way to me."
"What else is new with Chloé... but good on you for warning Mari. I won't be there, I'm not that big a fan of him."
"...why are you at school still?"
Ella blushed, even though Alya couldn't see her.
"...Adrien asked me to watch him fencing practice."
"Girl! You two are moving quick!"
"Alya! I'm hanging up!"
Alya giggled as the dial tone echoed in her ear. While she wanted Marinette to have a chance shooting her shot with Adrien, the girl couldn't help but silently cheer for her shy friend and the blond boy.
Ella huffed, sliding her phone into her pocket and turned her attention back to the fencing class. Mr. D'Argencourt, the fencing teacher, was demonstrating a move- using Adrien as an example.
"Wow, Mr. D'Argencourt, never seen you on fire like this! That was some attack!"
"It ought be. This particular maneuver hither was developed by my ancestor Darkblade."
"Darkblade?"
"In the days of yore, Darkblade conquered Paris and ruled over it with an iron fist. Until he was overthrown vence by a wealthy Frenchman who used his dirty gold to buy the loyalties of the common people. To think that not so long ago, my ancestor's flag was waving above Paris..."
"Is that what you ran in the election, Mr. D'Argencourt? To seek revenge on your ancestors behalf?" Ella cocked her head at the appearance of the news reporter. When did she get in here?
"Part le fer! Who dost we have hither?"
"Nadja Chamack. Don't be bemused, it's just the news! Do you have anything to say about your quote un-quote landslide defeat?"
"Hey, you! Excuse me! How did you get in the school?" Thank you, assistant teacher Fred.
"I think it's time to get back to the studio!" The reporter ran, Fred chasing after her and her cameraman.
"Here endeth the lesson." Mr. D'Argencourt spoke curtly, still clearly agitated. He walked away, Adrien watching him go before heading over to Ella.
"I guess my lesson is over now. Wanna to go get some ice cream? I don't have anything scheduled after this."
"Sure! Don't you have to ask your father, though?"
"I'll send him a text but since I'm going with you, I doubt he'll say no. Let me go change and I'll meet you at the door." Adrien smiled at the pink blush he drew from the girl before he ran off to the locker room.
"Impress your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, Plagg!" Adrien quickly changed, shot his father a text asking about ice cream with Ella, and grabbed his bag, running to meet Ella at the school doors. The pair walked outside, but instead of heading for the car, they saw Mr. D'Argencourt transformed into a villain.
"Ella! Go hide!"
"You too, Adrien!"
"I'll be right behind you! Go!" Ella hesitated but nodded and ran for the girls bathroom. Adrien watched her vanish before opening his jacket for Plagg to zip out.
"That was some medieval madness that guy was spouting!"
"Come on, time to transform! Plagg, claws out!"
"Knights, swords, AND revolutions?! Reminds me of the stories I heard from Tikki about another Ladybug!"
"You can tell me those stories later! Kiismet, touch the sky!"