"Adrien." Gabriel's voice came from the other side of Adrien's bedroom door and the teen stiffened, glancing at the clock. He was nearly ready for his fitting and shoot. He'd been able to snag a quick shower after returning from Marinette's.
"Yes?" He asked, glancing at the door. Whenever Gabriel wanted in, he let himself in. Why was he staying in the hallway now?
"May I come in?"
"Uh- sure?" Adrien croaked out the word, surprised by his father's question.
"Adrien, I've come to let you know that your fitting and shoot this evening have been canceled." Gabriel stood tall in the doorway and Adrien nodded, glancing at his calendar. "When will it be rescheduled?"
"Most likely tomorrow. Nevertheless, that is none of your concern. A different model will be finishing the shoot." Gabriel glanced around the room, full of distractions, and frowned. Had he really needed to pawn his son off on books and video games for this long?
"Is this my punishment for getting out of my fencing class late?" Adrien followed his father's solemn gaze and frowned in confusion. Since when does dad care about my room? Had he forgotten to pick something up? No. His room was spotless. Then why-
"Actually, I have decided to forego punishment for that uh- indiscretion. I was a teenager once. In fact, I was quite often tardy myself. It was..unfair…of me to push rules and restrictions on you that I cannot hold myself to. I will just have to hope that you grow out of it, as I did. In all honesty, it was Natalie who made the decision to pull you from the shoot. In fact, we've decided to pull you from all upcoming shoots for the entirety of this season."
"Why?"
"Adrien, I..I've been too hard on you. Since your mother- I find it very hard to have empathy for others. Including you. I've worked you too hard. Natalie made me see that. So I'm giving you a break. A vacation of sorts. You'll still have to go to school of course, but outside of school you are now free to 'hang out' with your friends, so long as you let Natalie, The Gorilla or I know." Glancing around Adrien's room, Gabriel's eye landed on a cookie peeking out from behind a photograph. "And I have instructed the chef to shelve your current diet for a much..bigger portion. A normal one. Of whatever you'd like." Gabriel's voice began to crack and Adrien's head shot up, looking his father in the eye.
"Father, are you alright?"
"Yes, yes. Just some irritation I believe. I was just on my way to speak to Claudia about the state of the manor. Much too dusty." Gabriel turned and left just as fast as he came, the door gliding shut behind him.
"Tikki…I think my father was crying."
~•••••~
"This has to be a joke." Marinette deadpanned, rolling her eyes, as she glanced down at the red and black box. A carefully handwritten note on top read 'open me'
"You've got to be kidding me." Marinette picked the box up off her desk and opened it, expecting Tikki to jump out and claim her as the ladybug holder once more.
But that didn't happen. In fact, not a single kwami popped out of the box. Marinette turned it upside down, jiggled it, closed it and opened it again. Still nothing.
"Are they being serious or just trying to make me lose my mind?" She whispered to herself, fiddling with the box.
"Neither. I'm right here."
"Ahh!" Marinette jumped, tripped over a stray textbook and slid, banging her elbow on her desk's leg as she crashed to the floor. "Ow!" Marinette complained, rubbing her elbow as she pouted. "What did you do that for?"
"It's more fun this way." Plagg cackled, landing on her knee. "Nice to see ya again, Princess. Looks like you're gonna be stuck with me for awhile. Oh and by the way, we're ten minutes late for school." The Kwami glanced at the clock and Marinette practically growled, jumping into action.
"Fine. Get in my bag and stay put. After school we're finding Chat Noir and giving you back." Marinette hurried to throw her supplies into her bag as Plagg found a comfy spot to lay down in.
"How are you going to do that without knowing his identity? Hm?" Plagg teased, not even bothering to look up from his new spot.
"I'll figure it out. Now shush before my parents hear you." Marinette headed for the trap door and Plagg rolled his eyes.
"Tikki has lived here forever and they've never heard her. You know," Plagg began, rolling over onto his back. "This bag is pretty comfy but it needs some cheese. What if we need to transform?"
"Not happening." Marinette burst through the trapdoor and practically bounded downstairs, a quick wave to her mom and dad as a goodbye. She was across the street and sliding into her seat just in time for Ms. Bustier to start handing out assignments.
"Good to see you finally made it, Marinette." The teacher nodded as she passed Marinette's seat. Marinette sheepishly took her assignment and nodded.
"Girl, where were you? You're usually late, but not this late." Alya nudged her friend and Marinette smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, a cat was pestering me all night." Marinette ground out the word 'cat' and Adrien subconsciously began to pay attention to their conversation.
"Oh! Did he bring back you know who?" Alya whispered, leaning closer to her friend conspiratorially. Marinette frowned.
"Uh…not exactly?"
"Girls! Do we need to share with the class?" Ms. Bustier asked sweetly. When both girls shook their heads and answered 'No, Ms. Bustier!' the teacher nodded and walked back to the front of the classroom. "Good. Let's begin our assignments then, please."
"Ms. Bustier! Ms. Bustier!" Marc yelled, running into the classroom. "There's an akuma in the cafeteria!" Sure enough, just as Marc was speaking, everyone's phones lit up with a notification of the attack.
"Ms. Bustier! I have to go check in with my father!" Ms. Bustier nodded and Adrien stood, rubbing out of the classroom in an instant. As Ms. Bustier gathered her things and started leading the class towards the newly built akuma shelter in the basement, the class followed, whispering nervously amongst themselves.
"Marinette? Don't you have somewhere to be?" Alya whispered, elbowing her friend in the side as they walked downstairs.
"Ah..no. Not today." Marinette shook her head and sped up, leaving Alya dumbfounded on the steps. Looking down at her kwami, Alya frowned. "She still doesn't have Tikki back. Do you think Chat Noir won't give her back?"
"If that was the case surely Marinette would say something." Trixx assured, trying to hide her own worries.
"Yeah. You're probably right."
~•••••~
Watching Boxed Lunch from the rafters, Mister Bug took note of the akuma's powers. From other students in the hall he'd gathered that she was a lunch lady upset with the teen's food choices and her powers certainly fit the theme. As she rampaged, Boxed Lunch turned her victims into sentient vegetables or pummeled them with fruit platters. Her meat cannon was definitely something, but nothing she did seemed particularly threatening. In fact, Mister Bug found the situation a bit- corny. He laughed at his own pun, accidentally giving his position away, and Boxed Lunch turned to greet him.
"Ladybug and Cha- You're not Ladybug." The akuma stopped short, pausing in her rampage as a purple butterfly symbol appeared over her face. "Where's ladybug?" The akuma asked, stomping her foot.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Mister Bug teased, swinging across the building to get a better look at how the akuma moved as she followed him. Halfway to him, the akuma stepped on a discarded chips packet and slightly shrunk in size. Ah- so that was it then.
"Stop playing bug, stupid cat. We need both miraculous! Where's your partner!" The akuma took a step forward, raising her meat cannon and Adrien hurried to call his power.
"Lucky Charm!" He raised his hands to catch the object, not surprised to find a giant red and black bottle of oil. Opening it and dousing the akuma in the sticky substance, Mister Bug swung down to the ground, grabbing the now very oily apple out of her hand and smushing it, releasing the akuma. Cleansing the akuma and setting things back to normal, Mister Bug glanced around once more for his partner. He made his way to the boy's bathroom to detransform and sighed as he fed Tikki in one of the stalls.
"Don't worry, Adrien." Tikki encouraged around the chocolate chip cookie stuffed in her mouth. "Plagg's only had a couple of hours. Let's give him some time to nag before we decide the plan hasn't worked."
"You're right. It does take Plagg awhile to warm up. But once he gets going.."
"He'll get her in the suit. I know he will." Tikki settled back into Adrien's pocket and Adrien softly pat her head.
"And once she's in the suit she'll remember how much she loves being ladybug. And it'll all go back to normal." At least that's how Adrien hoped it would work out. Sneaking back into class with the others, his eyes met Marinette's. She smiled and waved and he hurried to join her and his friends.
"Dude! There you are! Your dad make you go home or something?" Nino asked, clapping his friend on the back.
"I had to stay in the car with The Gorilla until it was over." Adrien turned to look at Marinette, but caught Alya's downward expression on the way and stopped, studying her face. "What's wrong?"
"Oh. She's just upset about Ladybug." Nino waved a hand dismissively and reached out to squeeze his girlfriend's hand. "People were already theorizing on what happened after the last battle. Since she didn't show up for this akuma attack…some people are convinced she's dead. But Mister Bug used the miraculous ladybugs after she was injured, so she's gotta be fine. Probably off somewhere recuperating." Nino's efforts to comfort his girlfriend seemed to do nothing as she sighed and shook her head.
"I just..wherever she is," Alya glanced at Marinette in her peripherals and then back at the boys. "I hope she's really okay. You know? I'm sure Nino's right and the ladybugs brought her back to life. But dying and coming back has got to be..you know, painful. Or traumatizing."
"Ms. Bustier, I need to go to the bathroom!" Marinette practically yelled, standing up from her desk in such a hurry she knocked all of her books over. The books hit the ground with a loud thud and Ms. Bustier's head snapped up at the commotion.
"Marinette! Are you alright?"
"I just really need to go to the bathroom. I'm not feeling well." Marinette's face was quickly turning a pale shade of pink and her fingers were a stark white as she gripped the edge of her desk like her life depended on if.
"Of course, go!" Ms. Bustier agreed and Marinette fled the classroom, leaving all of her things behind.
"Ms. Bustier," Adrien jumped in before Alya could, grabbing Marinette's things off the floor. "I'll take Marinette her things and see if she needs me to get the nurse."
"Thank you, Adrien. I'm sure she'd love that." Ms. Bustier hinted, going back to her lesson plan as Adrien left the classroom. Heading towards the girl's bathroom, Adrien wasn't surprised when Marinette's purse popped open.
"There you are." He greeted Plagg. Even if they'd only been separated less than a day…he did miss the little god somewhat.
"Pigtails is not happy about you leaving me with her. You should have seen her tantrum this morning. Very unbecoming."
"Well lucky I'm Adrien right now then, because Marinette didn't look good at all when she left the classroom." Adrien peered into the girl's bathroom and called out for Marinette. When there was no answer he decided to check the girl's bathroom on the next floor down. Maybe she had wanted to be further away from the class.
"The girl is in serious denial." Plagg muttered, shaking his little head. "I managed to talk to the other kwamis while she was sleeping. It's not good. Wayzz said they used to be allowed to roam her room freely, but they're been banished to the miracle box ever since she.." Plagg choked up on the word and Adrien stopped in the middle of the hallway, looking down at the god of destruction with sudden worry in his eyes.
"Plagg? Are you okay?"
"Kid. It's rough watching you die. Whenever you're hit..I see it. Whenever you go down..I see it. I have for thousands of years. Not just you, but all of my holders. That's the responsibility of the black cat. But seeing her..our tiny little bug bleeding out in an alley..no matter how many times I see it happen I just-" Plagg burst into tears and Adrien's heart sank to his stomach. Never had he seen Plagg show any sign of emotion besides disgust. Care and concern were not what Adrien ever expected to hear from his kwami.
"Oh, Plagg." Adrien sank to the floor and cradled the kwami in his hands, bringing him in for a hug.
"She was so afraid." Plagg whispered. "She knew she was going to die. She kept up the strong facade for you, but the second you were gone.."
"It's okay. She's back now. We're going to help her." Adrien reassured, his own heart beating out of his chest. The more he thought about Marinette laying in that dirty alleyway, terrified and injured, the more he began to blame himself. If only he had been quicker, if only he'd seen it-
"Don't. Move." Tikki's voice suddenly appearing from above shocked Adrien and he jumped, causing Tikki to hiss. "I said..don't move. But..look up. Slowly."
"Ok. Okay." Adrien slowly lifted his head, shock encasing his entire body when he came face to face with a purple butterfly. "Oh my god what do I-"
"Shh!" Tikki whispered as she motioned for Plagg to move away from his holder. "Don't freak out. Any strong emotions and it could akumatized you."
"You gonna take care of it or are we going to sit here having a staring contest with it?" Plagg asked Tikki, suddenly looking much better than he had previously.
"If I take care of it, Shadowmoth will see the connection break and have reason to suspect Adrien. I can't do that. If Adrien resists long enough the akuma will find a new target and I can follow it and take care of it away from here." Just as she finished speaking the akuma turned and began to flutter down to the next floor.
"It's probably going for Marinette!" Adrien took off down the stairs, frantically knocking on the girl's bathroom door. "Marinette? Are you in there? Marinette? I saw an akuma! I need to know you're-"
"I'm right here." A sniffle came from behind and Adrien turned, finding Marinette huddled under the staircase. The akuma fluttered closer and closer, finally finding it's target and landing on Marinette's head.
"'Marinette!" Adrien screamed, terrified for the monster she was about to become. How could he fight her- how could he fight his lady? How- But as the seconds passed, Marinette didn't change. In fact, nothing happened. She sat there, the akuma on her head like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You're not…you're-"
"My uh- uncle, he taught me how to meditate. When I feel strong emotions I just breathe and focus until I can control them. It..it can't get me if I don't want it to."
Adrien sighed in relief, whole body wilting as the adrenaline fled his system.
"I'm sorry it scared you." She whispered, looking up at him. "Though now we've got to figure out what to do with the thing. It's not like I have a direct hotline to Mister Bug or anything." She reached out her hand and Adrien bent down.
"I'll go see if I can figure out where he is." Adrien smiled, helping Marinette off the floor and handing her purse back to her. "Maybe Alya can summon him via the Ladyblog or something."
"That's a good idea. Are you sure you're okay to go back to class?" Marinette studied his face for a moment and frowned. "You still look..off."
"I'm sure. It's my responsibility anyway."
"Why would it be your responsibility?" Marinette questioned, causing Adrien to stop suddenly as his mind ground to a halt. Oh no. His brain screamed. Identity reveal in the halls of Françoise Dupont with an akuma on Marinette's head was not the way to go.
"Uh..well, I mean..the akuma was after me at first. Seems only right I help to get rid of it?" Adrien started up the stairs at a hurried pace, leaving Marinette behind.
"You in there?" Marinette whispered, following after Adrien lazily. Plagg peeked out of her purse, looking up at the akuma wearily. Marinette looked down to meet his eyes and he nodded. "Something is up with Adrien. I'm not sure what's wrong, but we can't let him be akumatized. He's one of my best friends. We'll have to investigate."
"Investigate? What are you, a super spy?" Plagg cracked at a whisper, trying to hold back his laughter. In retaliation Marinette simply snapped her purse closed.
"Adrien! Wait up!" Marinette tried to follow Adrien back into the classroom but he held out his hands to stop her.
"You should probably wait out here. We don't want to start a panic in the classroom." He nodded towards the akuma and Marinette nodded, agreeing.
Not letting her whole class see an akuma riding around on her head was probably the smartest idea she'd ever heard coming out of Adrien Agreste's mouth.
Not that she'd been paying that much attention since falling in love with Chat, but still. Best not to interrupt Ms. Bustier's lesson once again.
Adrien disappeared into the classroom and within moments reappeared with Alya at his side.
"Oh yeah. That's definitely an emergency." Alya pulled out her phone and began furiously typing. "Now we just have to hope Mister Bug sees this before the bell rings." Alya held out the phone to show her friends what she'd written and Adrien nodded in approval.
"I bet he's on his way now. But while we're waiting, I've got to use the restroom." Adrien disappeared down the hallway and Alya turned to face her best friend, looking up at the akuma.
"You know, besides when I was akumatized I've never been able to touch-" Her hand reached out and was quickly slapped away by Marinette's smaller one.
"Don't you dare, Césaire."