Eiffel Tower
Adrien held Marinette as she cried, "I'm here, Mari, I'm here for you."
She stopped crying, finally realizing Adrien is Chat Noir. Wait, if your Chat Noir that means I have been rejecting my crush almost everyday. I have thrown Adrien around as a weapon. I hit him on the head for flirting with me, oh no, this is such a disaster! Crap, I just said I have a crush on Adrien in front of him!" She bowed her head into her knees, pulling them towards herself in embarrassment.
Adrien laughed, "I already know, Bugaboo. Alya may have told me in a rant that you kinda went over bored stalkerish. Lila told her that you just wanna use me, but let's get real, we both know she a liar."
"Alya told you what?" Marinette shrieked, "Wait, how did you know I was Ladybug?"
"Kwami Buster, I saw you head to the bathroom during the show and our kawmis were both at our school together. Then there is the similarities between Multimouse and Ladybug, which made sense after I figured out that you used the fox miraculous to trick me. Well played by the way."
Marinette blushed, "Clearly not enough, since you still figured me out."
"But that's not the worst thing, now I know that my crush and the amazing girl who sits next to me at school. A plus is she likes fashion, so my extremely picky father can't possible not approve. And now I know my crush has a crush on me and where to find me always," Adrien teased.
Marinette squeaked, unable to respond in a coherent sentence. Finally she was able to reply, "This is a lot to take in at once. I need some time to process all this." Adrien smiled understandably at her, making her relax. "Can you take me home?"
"Of course I can," Adrien removed the Ladybug earrings, handing them back to Marinette and putting his ring back on. Tikki and Plagg shot out of both, "Finally, our suffering can end!" Plagg exclaimed, getting a shush along with a dirty look from Tikki.
"Wait, you two knew?" Marinette asked.
Tikki sighed, nodding, "We weren't allowed to say anything to you two about it. It was heartbreaking and frustrating to watch you two dance around each other."
"Like the time she let dim brain here think that scarf was from his dad, even though her signature was on it just like that hat she made."
"Plagg!" Tikki smacked him on the head.
"Oops, sorry Marinette." Plagg looked down.
Adrien looked confused, "The blue scarf?" Plagg nodded, earning another smack from Tikki. "How come you never told me Mari?"
She looked down, "You look so happy when you thought it was from your dad, I didn't want to ruin it for you," she mumbled. Adrien pulled her in, hugging her tightly.
"Thank-you." He looked at her, "I don't understand, why would he do this." He scowled at the thought.
"Actually it was the assistant lady, your dad was giving her a hard time about buying a present on his behalf, she must have forgotten, which is fair because she is busier than you and she isn't fighting Hawkmoth or Mayura." (If only you really knew Plagg haha.) Adrien relaxed, clearly understanding. Plagg sighed, relieved this didn't result in something bad.
"Shall I take you home, princess?" Marinette blushed, nodding,not trust herself to speak. "Plagg, claws out!" After he was transformed, Marinette started to giggle a little. "What?"
"Who are you having a cat fight with? The air?" She giggled some more, Chat Noir glaring, but smiling, he loved her laugh.
"You wound me." He picked her up, and pole vaulted off, bringing her home.
Alya's house.
Carapace landed in an alley nearby, carrying Alya. "Wayzz, shell off."
The turtle kwami shot out, looking for Trixx, "Where is Trixx?" Alya and Nino noticed for the first time that the fox kwami was missing.
"I still have the miraculous," Alya reasoned, "maybe she flew back to the guardian?"
Wayzz inspected the pendant, "That is a fake, not the real one. Besides, kwami's always stay at their holder's side."
Alya started to freak out, "No no no, if Ladybug finds out I lost a miraculous, she would never go to me for help again." She slid down the alley wall, head in her hands. "This is all Marinette's fault, if she didn't cry like a baby and get akumatized, we would ever been called and the fox miraculous would still be safe."
Nino nodded, agreeing to her point, "Its Marinette's fault, that part is true. But we have to make this right. Ladybug and Chat Noir are coming to collect the miraculous, we can ask them for help and maybe they will understand."
Wayzz said nothing, one hundred percent done with these two humans.
Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie
Chat Noir landed in front of the bakery, setting Marinette down gently. Her parents ran out, hugging their daughter tightly. "Thank you Chat Noir, you are always welcome here. Stop in anytime, within reason of course," Tom smiled at him.
Chat bowed humbly, "Just doing my job, I'm always there to protect people in danger." With that he vaulted off. The family moved back into the bakery.
"Marinette," Sabine looked at her with great concern, asking "Are you ok?"
Marinette broke into tears again, "No, they, they destroyed my sketchbook." Tom and Sabine gasped, knowing their daughter has been working on those designs for years.
"Who is they," Tom asked, anger all over his face. Sabine put her hand on his arm, calming her husband down.
"My class, well except for Adrien, he wasn't there." She hesitated, "I can't do this anymore. I want to transfer to a different school." Her parents nodded understanding.
"We will look into options for you to transfer to. Tomorrow is Saturday, and Monday school is closed while they ensure that the damage to the building is fixed. That should give us enough time to find another option." Her mother smiled at her, "Then you don't have to face them again hopefully."
"Thanks mama." Marinette smiled sadly, "I'm gonna go upstairs and rest for a while." Her parents nodded, heading back into the bakery's kitchen. Marinette headed upstairs, snagging a plate of cookies for Tikki.
Agreste Mansion
Gabriel sighed frustrated in his office. His ultimate masterpiece was supposed to be Marinette, but the result was a failure, as well as the girl remembering everything that happened while she was akumatized. He hoped she wouldn't be traumatized, that would be on his conscience forever. A knock came from his door. "Come in," he said in a flat neutral voice. His son walked in nervously, a pink sketchbook in hand.
"Father, I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you?" Gabriel nodded for him to continue, interested. "You remember Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl from my class who made that hat that won your contest and impressed Audrey Bourgeois at the fashion show?" Gabe nodded again, interest growing. "This is her sketchbook and I was wondering if you could take a look and maybe comment on her designs?" he asked nervously.
"Did Ms. Dupain-Cheng put you up to this?"
"No," Adrien rubbed the back of his head, "She doesn't know that I have it right now."
Gabriel smiled, "So you planned this as a surprise? You planning on asking this girl out and what to be in her good favors? Didn't you say she is a very good friend?"
Adrien froze, realizing he friend zoned his crush practically every week, "Yep, that's her, so I kinda want to make it up to her before I ask her out."
Gabe smiled, remembering when he first met Adrien's mother. "I'll take a look at it, then give it back to you." With that he shooed the boy out of his office, then set about looking through the sketchbook, using sticky notes carefully place not to ruin the sketches.
Adrien closed the door, Plagg flying out the moment it was clear, "Wow, that was easy. Is he sick today?"
"Maybe he wants to encourage her talent, Plagg," Adrien reasoned, also confused by his father's kindness. He was relieved his cheer up Marinette plan might work. Before the shoot that morning, he snuck into school after she left her locker. Plagg got the door opened, allowing him to switch out Mari's sketchbook for a look-a-like, just in time before Nino and Alya came in the locker room. Then he just needed his father to look it over before Marinette realized her sketchbook was swapped out. He didn't stick around, missing Alya and Nino breaking into Mari's locker, taking the decoy, unaware it was a fake.
Somewhere in Paris
Bunnix sighed in relief, Princess Justice was defeated without her help required. Ladybug and Chat Noir knew each other's identities earlier now, but it seemed everything was OK for now. "Burrow." She walked back through the portal, hoping not to encounter drastic changes.
Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie
Marinette laid on her bed while Tikki attacked the plate of cookies. She checked her phone, seeing a message from Kagami. Opening it, her new friend's message played, "Marinette, I heard what your class has done to your sketchbook. That was wrong and uncalled for, I believe it is time for you to transfer to a new school where you won't be treated poorly. If you are interested, I can request my mother to recommend you to the headmaster at Paris Exceller Apprentissage, the school I attend. You are more than talented to get accepted in there, with my mother's recommendation, you would have a full ride paid for, so your parents won't have to worry about paying the expenses. The school would be more than happy to have such an accomplished student to show off." She smiled, "But it's your decision, though I hope you accept it. Talk soon." The message ended, leaving Marinette thinking about Kagami's offer.
If she transferred, she would be out of reach of her classmates, in a recognized school that offered fashion and sewing classes to improve her skills. As she considered this, her phone buzzed again, a text from Adrien. Opening it, the message read 'Hey Mari :) Are you OK?" She smiled, texting back "Yes, though i miss my sketchbook:( But Kagami sent me a message, offering to help me transfer to Paris Exceller Apprentissage. I think I might do it."
A few moments later, the reply came, reading "That's not a bad idea, maybe we can talk about it more tonight. Do you mind if I stop by tonight around seven?"
She texted back, "Not at all kitty, but don't expect food, my parents don't want stray cats to keep showing up ;)" Adrein only sent a smiley face, followed by a pout, causing her to giggle. "Mom, Dad, Adrien is coming over at seven!"
"Good!" her mother called back, "I can finally give the boy food that he needs! He is too skinny and that is not healthy!"
"Am I gonna need to give him my blessing? He already has it but it never hurts to ask!"
"Dad! Please don't embarrass me!" Marinette cringed, the thought of her dad interrogating Adrien not pleasant to her. Her put her head in her hands, hoping her parents wouldn't act weird in front of her crush.
Agreste Mansion
Adrien was getting ready to leave when his father approached him, Mari's sketchbook in hand. "Your are visiting Ms. Dupain-Cheng?" Adrein nodded at him. " How is she?"
"She is doing better I think. She is thinking about transferring to Paris Exceller Apprentissage, Kagami's school."
Gabriel nodded approvingly, "An excellent fit for a young woman of her talent. If she applies, this may help her." He handed over the sketchbook, along with a letter. "I had similar thoughts to recommend this to her. This is a letter of recommendation from me. Between this and her sketchbook, they would be begging for her to join their school. I assume you would also like to transfer. I would approve, their fencing team is top notch, as shown by Ms. Tsurugi's skills. They also have Chinese, fashion and other classes available at Collège Françoise Dupont that would benefit you, also freeing your schedule with some extra free time."
Adrien was surprised at his father's support, "Thank you father."
"I'm only doing what I consider is best for you. I have heard what has happened at Collège Françoise Dupont, the poor treatment of -Cheng. I want you to not have any contact with Lila Rossi, the girl has lied to everyone, I don't want her to start rumors about you two being an item."
Adrein nodded, "I understand father."
"Good, now go and make sure Ms. Dupain-Cheng applies to that school, you will also go with her there to apply on Monday. I will accompany you two to make sure there are no bumps in the road."
"Thank you father!" With that, Gabriel left, leaving Adrein to get in his bodyguard's car.
Lila's room
"Alya was hurt, so Ladybug gave you to me, so I can help to save the city just in case," Lila said sweetly to the fox kwami.
Trixx frowned, Alya was knocked out, maybe worse, so Ladybug would need a new fox hero to help. "OK, to transform, you say 'Trixx, let's pounce.' To detransform, you say, 'Trixx, let's rest.' Your power is mirage, to activate it you blow into your flute, then say 'Mirage.' Then you can make the illusion you want. After you use Mirage, you only have five minutes before changing back. Then you need to feed me before transforming again, I prefer chocolate, but anything can really work."
Lila smiled, her lies finally breaking through to the kwami. Soon Ladybug will pay for ruining her chances with Adrien.
Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie
"Adrien, welcome to our home my boy!" Adrien smiled, he loved being in Mari's home. Her parents were always warm and welcoming.
"Are you hungry?" Marinette's mother asked, walking over with a plate of baked goods.
"Moomm, Daad, please stop," an embarrassed Marinette came down the stairs, "Adrien and I are going up to my room."
"OK dear," her mother gave the plate to Adrien, "No mischief you two."
"Moooomm!" Marinette's face was as red as her Ladybug suit, Adrien blushed as well. She grabbed his hand and dragged him up stairs. "Thanks Mrs Cheng, Mr Dupain."
"Call me Tom."
"You can call me Sabine." Marinette let out another sigh of embarrassment, dragging him behind her. He smiled at her parents, following upstairs, while the couple smiled knowingly.
"I'm so sorry about my parents, they aren't always like this." Adrien laughed, then noticed the shrine of posters and cutouts of his modeling photos, her desktop background and the framed photo of them sleeping on the train on her desk next to her sewing station.
"Looks like someone has a big crush on someone," he wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to stammer and blush.
She recovered as he laughed, "I'm sure you have a Ladybug action figure or two."
Adrien froze up while Plagg burst out laughing. "Try every Ladybug action figure ever made, he even has the matching Chat Noir ones. Sometimes I catch him…"
"Plagg, shut up or no cheese for a month," Adrien muttered.
Marinette noticed his fear, pulling out a slice of Camembert from behind her. "Go on," she smirked at Adrien who put his head in his hands groaning.
Plagg stuck his tongue out Adrien before continuing, "As I was saying sometimes I would catch him playing with a pair, acting both parts before making them kiss." Marinette and the kwami laughed while Adrien's face burned red.
"Don't worry Adrien, one time Marinette was so out of it watching your cologne ad, I had to push the spoonful of yogurt in her mouth before she spilled it. She wasn't drooling over you."
"Tikki!" The kwami laughed at her owner's sudden embarrassment.
"So you want to talk about what happened this morning?"
"I guess I should, at least with you. They made a fake note saying I have to go to the office. When I left, they broke into my locker and stole my sketchbook. Then they shredded it, leaving the pieces on my desk." She started to tear up again.
Adrien pulled her in for a hug, "That wasn't your sketchbook."
"What?"
"I put that fake note in your locker, the principle agreed to it. Then right before Nino and Alya showed up, I swapped your sketchbook out for a look-a-like. Alya and Nino must have not noticed that it was a fake," he said as he reaches into his courier bag, pulling out her sketchbook. Marinette took it in shaking hands, opening it to find all her designs intact, each one with a sticky note or two, compliments and the occasional suggestions for all of them. On the cover was a note from Gabriel Agreste, encouraging her to keep designing. Tears of joy in her eyes, she hugged him tightly.
"Thank-you."