Brief Author's Note:

In this AU, every holder is a permanent holder. This is also set before Marinette becomes the guardian.

And now, without further ado, onto the story . . .

Adrien stared down at the incriminating necklace on the ground, his heart thumping in his chest as the whole world seemed to slow. Lila stood in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest, smirking down at Marinette from her platform shoes.

Adrien lifted his head to survey the rest of the room. Shock and disbelief covered their expressions, but their faces were turned toward Marinette instead of Lila. They believed Marinette had stolen the necklace.

"I think it's pretty clear what's going on here," Mr. Damocles said.

Marinette finally looked up from the necklace, glancing desperately at her friends. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw their expressions, until her gaze finally landed on Adrien. "Adrien, you don't believe this, do you?"

Adrien's gut twisted at the pain on her face. Of course he believed her. There was no way Marinette would do anything to hurt anyone, and besides, he knew Lila was a habitual liar. It seemed like she couldn't help herself, but that was no excuse to go after one of his best friends. "Mr. Damocles, I don't think—" he started, but the principal didn't let him finish.

"Enough! Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you are expelled from this school!" Mr. Damocles announced.

Everyone in the room gasped and shied away from Marinette, except for Adrien, Lila, and Marinette's parents. Lila smirked gleefully, and Adrien felt a rare emotion bubble up inside him: anger.

"Mr. Damocles, sir," Adrien began again.

"Enough, Mr. Agreste, unless you want detention too." Mr. Damocles face brooked no argument, and Adrien glared at him in disbelief.

Marinette let out a whimper before charging across the room, bursting out of the door and down the hallway.

Adrien looked after her, wanting to follow her but hesitating nonetheless. He turned to Alya, Marinette's best friend. "Alya?" he asked, not entirely sure what he was looking for.

"I'm sorry, Adrien. The evidence is too much." She looked away, and Nino, Adrien's best friend, wrapped his arms around her.

Adrien's jaw slackened in disbelief. Lila had managed to turn everyone against Marinette, even her own best friend. She was good at what she did, although Adrien couldn't imagine why she was doing this

Marinette hasn't lost everyone, he reminded himself. She's still got me, and it's up to me to make sure she doesn't get akumatized.

Adrien drew himself up to his full height, drawing on the inner courage he usually reserved for his superhero identity of Cat Noir. "All of you should be ashamed of yourselves," he announced, not caring of how angry the principal might be at his words. "Lila is a liar, and you all know it. I can't believe you would believe her over Marinette."

Before he could see any of their reactions, he ran down the hall, not entirely sure where Marinette would have gone. She probably hadn't gone far as her parents were still here—he'd try the girl's bathroom.

He slowed down next to the door, taking a moment to catch his breath before he pushed open the door and peered around the corner. "Marinette?" he called out, his voice sounding puny in the open space. He cleared his throat. "Are you in here?"

He heard a sniff from somewhere inside the bathroom, and he quietly edged into the space, closing the door behind him gently. "Marinette, it's me, Adrien." He pushed open the stall door he thought the sound had originated from.

Marinette lifted her head to gaze at him from where she sat on the floor, her clothes rumpled and one of her pigtails loose. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears soaked her red cheeks. He winced at how upset she was. Curse you, Lila.

"Are you okay?" he asked, although he knew the answer. He slid down the stall door to sit next to her.

"Yes. I was just getting my stuff from my locker." She looked away and wiped her face, frantically adjusting her hair. He still made her nervous.

"I hope you know I believe you," he offered, clenching his fists. "Lila is such a big liar, and I know she has it in for you."

Marinette laughed ever so softly. "Yeah, well, you're the only one."

"What do you mean?" Adrien ruffled his hair, not sure what to do with his hands in such an enclosed space.

"Everyone thinks I did it! Lila convinced everyone, even my own parents. It doesn't matter how big of a liar she is because she's good at it, and everyone always takes her side." Marinette reached out and punched the stall wall, causing the entire structure to shake.

Nervous, Adrien grabbed Marinette's hand. "Marinette, I know this is horrible, and I know you're upset, but please try to stay calm. I don't want you to get akumatized."

Marinette stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide and full of tears. Finally, she pulled her hand away and stood, marching past him to look at the bathroom mirrors.

Adrien jumped to his feet and hurried to follow her, watching her as she leaned against the counter and glared in the mirror.

"What if I want one to come?" Her voice was soft when she spoke, and it sent chills down his spine.

"What?" Adrien took a subconscious step toward her.

"All my life, I've tried to help others. I've never given a thought to myself, only trying to serve the greater good. And what to I get for it? Expelled, rejected by my own friends and family." She shook her head. "Nothing seems to go right, and for once, just for once, I'd like to think about myself!" She was yelling now, and Adrien bit his lip, his mind working fast.

"Marinette, revenge is never the answer. That path can only turn dark, and that's not who you are. Trust me, I've seen it!" He reached out a hand to her, but she shied away.

"It's not revenge, Adrien. It's justice." Her eyes widened and shone like stars. "After all, criminals should be punished, and balance should be restored to Paris." Her lips twitched upward in a smile.

Adrien cast his eyes about, trying to find anything that would help him, but instead caught sight of a small black butterfly worming its way through the seams of the bathroom window.

"Marinette, there's an akuma." Adrien's heart pumped loud in his chest, and he grabbed his ring, the miraculous that would allow him to transform. If he transformed now, he could destroy the akuma, but then Marinette would know his identity . . .

"Run," Marinette whispered. The sound was so cold and empty Adrien turned to look at her, shocked to see tears running down her face. "Please," she pleaded, her eyes on the butterfly, which now flew toward her.

"But Marinette—" He reached toward her.

She faced him, her eyes wide and angry. "RUN, ADRIEN!" Adrien jumped back, scared by the expression on her face.

The next moment, the akuma made contact, and Marinette was swallowed by Hawk Moth's dark powers.

Adrien swallowed hard against the tears and ran from the room, his heart pounding in his ears, and his mind replaying Marinette's desperate cry. Why had she been so scared of the akuma? No—she wasn't scared of the akuma, she was scared for him.

Adrien stopped and pressed himself against the wall. It didn't matter. He would save her. Or, more accurately, Cat Noir would save her.

"Plagg, claws out!"