Marinette sighed, still trying to keep her eyes open after the terrible night sleep she'd gotten. The patrol from last night drained her, so she wasn't sure if she'd be able to focus in class without drinking coffee. She felt lucky that she's used to wake up early, with the job she had, hopping for a normal day where she could relax wasn't an option.
Approaching the stairwell to her classroom, she heard the teacher changing Nino's seat and glanced at Chloe. She looked ready to tear someone. Drinking a slip of her coffee, Marinette entered the classroom with a bright smile.
"What's with the face, Dupain-Cheng?" Chloe questioned, crossing her arms.
"No reason, I just guessed that since I got to see you again, you're probably going to do something." She made a point by looking at the seat near Alya. "So, are you going to force me to move or do I do it myself?"
Chloe seemed angry. "Who do you think you are to talk back like that?!"
"Your classmate."
"Now, now. That's enough." Ms. Bustier gently urged. "Marinette, considering that Alya's alone, mind sitting by her side?"
She answered immediately. "Only if you let me keep my seat and actually do something about Chloe interrupting the class." There was silence. "I thought so." Bustier looked offended, making sure to send a disappointed look.
Rivaling the look, her teacher sent her, Marinette went to her seat with Alya happily following, she was really enjoying this.
"Marinette, this isn't necessary, we can -"
Marinette raised a brow, "Don't you have a class to give?"
Before Bustier could either move or think of anything, silent whispers shut her up. Not wanting to lose control over the class, Ms. Bustier gave up. If Marinette refused to be a good model for Chloe, she needed to accept it for now, maybe things will calm down next period.
However, Chloe didn't give up. She tried to send threatening stares at Marinette every few minutes, but never managed to scare the girl. As soon as she glanced her way, Marinette made a knowing smile, she really wondered how she did it.
During lunch break, Marinette grabbed her stuff and stomped from the classroom, listening to Alya's babbling for superheroes was tiring her out. Arriving at the bakery, her mother sent her a big smile. "[Hello, dear, you seem happy. Did something happen?]"
"[Nothing out of normal, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who thinks my teacher methods sucks.]" She gave her Maman a kiss on the cheek.
"[I see, here have your lunch.]" Sabine gave a wrapped box to Marinette and waved as she dashed to her room. Maybe she should try to talk with Tom about exchanging her class?
Not long after arriving, Marinette put her computer on and tried to eat her lunch, with Tikki phasing from the purse. Neither paid much attention as the news icon appeared and just let it roll, they were too busy eating.
Then, something Nadja said caught her attention. "It seems like a giant golem is causing havoc on the streets -"
She blinked, there was no way she heard it right, then glanced at Tikki with wary. "Tikki, did I hear it wrong?"
The Kwami looked confused, then turned to face the screen the woman expression soured. "I don't think you did."
BOOM.
"Marinette?" Tikki urged.
Another cracking sound from outside, she knew what it meant. Marinette bitted her lip and slapped her cheeks. "Tikki, spots on!"
Alya was running the streets with her bike looking for any sign of Stoneheart. She wasn't going to give up. So, in her brief stop to catch back her breath, she spotted a flash of black and red appearing. It seemed to have something akin to a yo-yo.
She cleaned her glasses for a moment, she was probably imagining it, then tried to focus better. Now looking back, it looked like a person, was that even human? She didn't know if this was true or not, but chances were big. Recovering her breath, she jumped back at action. This was her chance to be like Majestia, no way she's going to miss this!
Where is he... Ladybug was getting anxious; Stoneheart was nowhere to be found and this was stressing her out. Hearing a scream, she stopped in the edge of a roof. Are those screams coming from the stadium? She tried to get closer but was stopped by a boy with a leather suit and cat features appearing in front of her.
The boy looked guilt. "What the -"
"Sorry for the sudden appearance, I saw you jumping and felt like I should introduce myself, since both of us are new to this!" he paused with a grin, "My name is Chat Noir, are you the partner my Kwami mentioned?" Chat Noir offered a hand.
Ladybug accepted it. "Name's Ladybug and most likely."
Boom.
Both gripped tighter into their weapons and fixed their gazes.
"As much as I would like to chat, it seems like we have a job to do!" Chat Noir winked playfully and darted to the source of the explosion.
The fact that he was this exited, made Ladybug slightly worried.
As soon as he heard his ring beeping, Chat Noir left so Ladybug was forced to deal with the aftermath. Really, she was lucky she even managed to catch the akuma on time.
Ignoring the stern look of the hero, Alya's eyes shined. "Hey, miss, are you guys superheroes? What are those things? What is your name?!"
Not bothering to answer, Ladybug tried to calm down a shaken Ivan. "You okay there?"
"I'm fine, just some guy teasing me at school." He looked back at his hands, feeling guilt.
"Really? Then next time you see him, make sure to make him regret it." She made a point by punching the air, earning a chuckle.
Beside them, Alya mind was racing. Why did only Ivan receive attention? Didn't the hero know she was there? "Excuse me?!" Alya yelled.
Right, she forgot about that. Ladybug directed her attention to the other teen. "Sorry, so you wanted a scoop?"
In another side of Paris, Hawk Moth was fuming. This wasn't going according to plan, the miraculous should be his already! Detransforming he glanced at the dizzy Kwami.
"Nooroo, why did the girl barely flinch! Shouldn't she be a newbie like the boy?!"
The kwami looked confused. "I don't know master, rather weren't you lucky the miraculous you wanted were even here in the first place?" Nooroo replied shakily, the transformation was still messing with his head.
He snorted. "Even if it was luck. It doesn't matter, I'll succeed in the end!"
The next day news over the new heroes were all over the place, apparently an amateur footage of the fight was worth it if it made her famous. "Marinette look at it, Nadja's talking all about my info!". Alya's eyes shined as she listed every detail of the fight to Marinette, who was drinking from her coffee. "… And I'm going to name it the 'Ladyblog', what do you think?!"
"I think it's a good name, still if someone end up akumatized again, are you sure you want to risk your life like that?" Marinette looked to her purse with worry and then at Ivan. She really hopes he's fine now.
"Don't worry, everything's going to be fine! Besides people deserve to know". Alya ignored her friend comment.
Marinette wondered about that. From the purse, Tikki seemed to agree. A voice suddenly echoed from ahead. "He's a monster and once a monster, always a monster!"
"Hey, he isn't a monster, sure he almost crushed me…" Kim voice sounded guilt. "But that's because I was behaving like an asshole!"
Juleka nodded.
"He's right. And besides didn't Marinette basically roast you?" Alix smirked a little at the blond wince. "So, aren't you the actual monster?"
Smiling at the defense, Ivan side glanced the front and waved at Marinette. She returned it cheerfully.
"Y-you -" Feeling cornered, Chloe chocked a retort. "A-at the very least, I didn't terrorize the city!"
"…"
Marinette knew Chloe could be harsh, but he wasn't himself at the time, what was she thinking? Ivan stomped away from the mess, Marinette following, he wasn't in the state to think clearly.
"Wait, Ivan! -" Alix tried to follow, but someone grabbed her hand.
"No, let him. Right now, we need to deal with this." He pointed to Chloe and Alix reluctantly nodded, she guessed the brat was more important now.
In the lockers, Marinette seats near Ivan, who had his headphones on. Glancing her way, he blinked at the girl strained smile, did she follow him? "… Thanks." He paused for a moment. "Do you mind if I talk a little?"
Marinette nodded. He takes out a note from his pocket. "Okay, so this was my item."
Receiving the note, Marinette looked carefully at it, then engineered an idea. "I don't know if this will work, but…"
Marinette bided Ivan farewell and rushed back to the classroom. Arriving there, a certain blond hair and green eyes caught her attention. They looked familiar – specifically to a certain cat hero -, she shacked her head. Better not think too much about it.
Attempting to show Adrien how things in her classroom work, Chloe tries to startle Marinette, but she hears the footsteps and glances her way. "Something wrong, Chloe?"
Chloe flinches. "N-no, j-just showing Adrien around."
"… Okay." Marinette looked away; this was none of her business.
A minute later, Alya appeared from the door and notices a pouting Chloe, she wordlessly wondered what happened to the girl, then she sees Adrien. It was weird, the boy looked like someone who might appear in a magazine, so she took her phone to search it.
After a while, Alya uttered a grin. "I knew it!" Leaning a bit on Marinette, she showed her friend the screen. "Look it's that famous model Adrien Agreste, son of Gabriel Agreste!"
Marinette raises a brow. "You mean the guy who only uses depressing tones on his clothes?"
"Well, he does use darker tones -" Alya paused, then looked back at the screen. "… You're right, compared to others he's just more famous." She looked down at her phone and Marinette flinched upon hearing a squeak in the first row.
Adrien's bag seemed to move a little, specifically in her direction… almost as if warning her of something. Meanwhile, Ms. Bustier finally appears in the classroom, gathering everyone's attention.
"Alright students let's start the attendance! Alix -"
The wall suddenly cracked and pushed Ms. Bustier to the floor, a giant hand making itself aware, with the other carrying a screaming Mylene. "Help! -"
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!" Chloe was swapped from her seat.
Alya made a wide grin. "It's him again, crap he took Mylene and Chloe!" Grabbing her desk mate, she smiled. "Marinette, Hurry up!"
Marinette winced, she could understand why Alya was smiling like a mad man, but she didn't expect to be involved.
In the end, Hawk Moth was really a coward. Is this how things are going to be now?
Ladybug was sure that Ivan and Mylene were probably going to need a lot of therapy after this, and viewing the blond girl, she guessed Chloe as well.
"Thank you so much for saving my daughter!" André offered a hand, Ladybug smiled then turned her attention to Chloe. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing, I just though I heard someone say, 'I promise I'll change my ways, I'll become a better person, so someone save me!'" Chloe's face reddened a bit, deciding to spare the girl, she walked away. "I guess it was just my imagination." Glancing back at the Eiffel tower, Ladybug notices the sound of sirens with relief.
She hopes the media got this covered, the police reputation might have been ruined thanks to this. Still, the mayor will surely do something about this, right?
Lost in her thoughts, Ladybug barely noticed as Chat Noir approached her from behind. "Hey there, Ladybug!"
She quickly straightens. "What is it?"
"Just trying to appreciate what an incredible partner I have." He leans closer, much to her confusion.
In another side Chloe watched as Ivan and Mylene kissed with disdain. The shook of almost dying was eating her alive and trying not to look at Ivan without shivering was hard, so she desperately gripped to the safety of her father embrace.
No way she's letting go of him now. Mylene was thinking the same, officer or not, no way she's letting go of Ivan!
Luckily for everyone present, there was some solace at seeing Ladybug shrugging Chat Noir's flirting. The heroine seemed stressed as well, so the laugh was really appreciated.
The hero himself didn't seem to think so. Come on, they just saved the city, what's wrong with a little kiss?!
Third day of school and it seems that Chloe got silent, she didn't even try to take the seat again, not even a lingering need to stare her, maybe it was karma for her actions?
Tikki peeks her head from the purse. "Something wrong?" The girl shakes her head and at the sound of raindrop, glances at the front. "Hmm … it's raining." Tikki breaths in.
Marinette nodded. "It's beautiful, now that I think of it." Looking at Tikki peaceful expression, she breaths in, it felt like the calming sound of a melody was being played inside her.
"Hey Tikki?" She affectionally petted the kwami head.
Tikki chuckled. "Yes?"
"Thanks for being there for me."
Tikki smile grew. "Your welcome, Marinette."
Going to the road, a voice appeared from behind, making Tikki go back to the purse. "Marinette!"
She glances back, noticing the umbrella over her head. "What is it, Aurore?"
Aurore sighed. "I know your house is literally a street away, but mind if I accompany you?" she nodded, and Aurore voice soften. "So, do you think that this is going to happen frequently now?"
Marinette pondered for a moment, then leaned a bit. "Most likely." The two girls giggle. Going back to the bakery, no girl noticed as a blond boy passed beside them, hurrying to a car.