Chapter Six: Back to School
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Towards the end of the movie, it began to rain. And while Luka had offered all the guests a chance to sleep over, Gorilla had already been on his way and had driven Adrien and Marinette home. They sat next to each other in the backseat, staring out their respective windows as the rain fell in thick sheets around them.
"Father is sending me to boarding school in London next year," Adrien blurted out.
Marinette turned towards him abruptly, her eyes wide in shock and dismay. "No! Why?"
Adrien kept his gaze locked on the window, but Marinette could see his face in the reflection. "He thinks I'm hanging with the wrong crowd. He doesn't like Nino or you. Chloe is the only classmate he approves of," Adrien explained, his voice growing quieter by each spoke word. He turned towards Marinette and his normally bright green eyes glistened with tears. "And she's the worse! You and Nina are the best! I don't understand him at all. And the band, it's the most fun of all. I can just lose myself in the music. I can't sing like the others can, but they make me feel included. And you're always there with Luka. I'm so glad you and Luka are back together— I felt so awful being the reason for you not being together."
"Oh, Adrien," Marinette whispered, her heart breaking for her friend/former-crush. She reached out and drew him towards her. Adrien clutched to her waist and he laid his face against her shoulder, warm tears soaking the material. She rubbed her hand soothing up his back. "I will always care about you — I don't care where you are. We found each other in China didn't we? And we have the upcoming summer break—that lasts for two months! London is just a train ride away from Paris. Your dad is probably just worried about you because of all the attacks by Shadow Moth."
"I actually hate him," Adrien whispered. "And I'm not allowed to hate him because I'll get Akumatized. Shadow Moth ruins everything. Ladybug and Chat Noir have got to defeat him. The longer he's around the more life in Paris is disrupted."
"They will defeat him," Marinette promised.
Adrien started to laugh. It was a quiet chuckle at first and then when he pulled away from Marinette his face red from the effort. At the look of concern on her face, he waved his hand dismissively. "I'm sorry. It's just kind of funny. After our awkward date and me breaking your heart, now you're back with Luka and being around you — I'm more comfortable than ever." He rubbed his forehead and his laughter died off. "You're very pretty, Marinette. But, something in you transforms when you're with Luka — you become radiantly beautiful. Him too— when you guys weren't together there was this deep sadness within him and now he practically glows."
Marinette gaped at her friend. He thought she was radiantly beautiful and that Luka glowed? She shook her head briefly, in an effort to clear her thoughts. "That's very poetic, Adrien. I'm sorry, I couldn't make you glow."
Adrien reached for her hand and stared down, focused on their fingers. "I don't think anyone can make me glow, Marinette. Kagami tried. You and Luka try. Nino tries. My glow died when my mother died. And whatever embers I have left become smothered under my father's tyranny."
"You could file for emancipation," Marinette suggested softly.
"He's still my father and he needs help. I can suffer a while yet." He looked up and squeezed her hand. "As long as my friends don't give up on me."
"We won't. No matter what, Adrien," Marinette vowed.
Gorilla parked outside of the Dupain-Cheng residence. "I'll see you at school tomorrow," Adrien said, releasing her hand.
"And we have all summer, Adrien. Maybe Shadow Hawk will be defeated by then!" Marinette smiled at him brightly and Adrien forced a weak smile in return. "And even if he's not, you're allowed to feel things." She lifted her purse and showed the charm that Adrien had given her. "Your's helps me."
Adrien's smile widened and grew more sincere. "And yours has helped me, Marinette. Goodnight."
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There was a good chance that Marinette would have slept in again if Luka hadn't called her early in the morning to make sure she was awake.
"Mrng," Marinette mumbled sliding her thumb up the screen of her phone to answer.
"Good morning, my my Marinette!" Luka greeted, his aqua eyes bright and energetic as he changed his teasing name for her into something a bit more possessive. "Rise and shine! I'll be outside your house in twenty minutes to take you to school."
"Twenty minutes? Luka?" Marinette sat up abruptly and started to sooth her hair, it was probably sticking up everywhere. "You're bringing me to school? I can drive myself, you don't have to bother."
"It's not a bother, Mari. And it gives me a chance to have your arms around me to start my day." Luka pouted visibly over the screen. "You don't want me to start my day feeling sad do you? I would be very broken-hearted if I don't get to see you off to school."
"Then I'll see you in twenty minutes," Marinette promised, feeling suddenly awake. She did not want to disappoint Luka!
"Nineteen minutes, see you!" Luka disconnected and Marinette whirled around and rushed to the bathroom to start the day.
She managed to run down the stairs without tripping over herself. At the landing, her parents greeted her with a pastry she devoured and she guzzled the green tea her mother handed her.
"Have a good day, Marinette," Sabine said, smiling serenely.
"Luka's already out front," Tom added. "He's so punctual! Such a good boy!"
"You knew he was coming?" Marinette asked, leaning over and tying her shoes carefully. They'd become loose on her flight down the stairs.
"Of course! He called to ask if it was okay to take you to school and pick you up afterwards," Tom said, folding his arms over his chest. "He's so considerate!"
Marinette pulled the shoestring taut and smiled up at her parents. "Yes, he is." She stood, kissed her mom and dad on the cheek and rushed out to find Luka waiting for her patiently, with his helmet in the crook of his arm and her's balanced on the seat behind him.
"You seem energetic this morning, my Muse," Luka said smiling up her. He reached out and brushed his calloused fingertips across her cheek and cradled her face gently. "I can already feel a song forming in my heart."
Marinette held her hand over his briefly. His hands were so much bigger than hers! She smiled shyly at him. "Thank you for bringing me to school — on time." She brought his hand to her mouth and kissed the back of his fingers.
"I haven't gotten you there yet," Luka pointed out with a laugh in his smile and a lightness twinkling his yes. "Get on before we're late now for gazing into each other's eyes too long."
"Yes, Monsieur Luka," Marinette teased, slipping behind him on the bike and together they secured their helmets. Then they shot off into the Parisian streets towards her school. Marinette enjoyed the sensation of Luka's strong back against her front and her arms held on tight to his narrow waist. Maybe she was perfectly capable of driving herself to school in the mornings now, but this way was better for the environment, smaller carbon footprint. Naturally, Marinette was very concerned about protecting the environment.
"We're here, Mari," Luka said, laughing a little when he'd parked and her arms were still snug around him. "Not that I'm complaining, but the whole point was to avoid you being tardy."
"Right." Marinette reluctantly disentangled herself from her boyfriend and placed her helmet inside the seat compartment. "What about your sister and Rose?"
"Rose's parents drive them to school together every morning. They are probably already in the class." Luka didn't stand, but he did remove his helmet and they were the same height in this position. "Can I have a kiss for good luck? I have a quiz today."
"Luka! I didn't know you'd have a test today!" Marinette hugged him fiercely. "I wouldn't have bothered you all weekend if I knew you needed to study!"
He laughed. "Mari, I have a quiz every Monday. It's fine, I was just teasing you!"
Marinette cradled his face between her hands and after biting her lower lip briefly in nervousness, leaned forwards and captured his mouth with hers. Luka eagerly returned the kiss, pulling her lower lip into his mouth teasingly before he leaned back with a boyish grin.
"Have a good day, Marinette. I'll pick you up after school. Text me during lunch, let me know if you'd like to do anything this evening in particular. Otherwise, I'll come up with something," Luka said. "And text me if you feel like it. I'll try to resist blowing up your phone." He gestured towards the building. "Go on, I'll stay until I see you've made it inside."
"I don't want you to be late," Marinette worried.
"My school doesn't start for another twenty minutes. Surely, you won't be that slow," Luka teased.
"Right, sorry," Marinette smiled again and then holding the straps of her backpack turned away from him and jogged towards the school. She didn't miss the gaping, shocked faces of her classmates. Adrien had been standing with Nino and he gave her a casual wave which she returned — he was the only one not shocked.
"Dupain-Cheng!" Chloe screeched petulantly. "Who is that?"
Marinette ignored her and turned back towards the parking lot. Luka lifted his hand in a salute and she waved back shyly and watched as he drove away.
"Leave her alone, Chloe," Adrien said, coming to Marinette's side. "He's her boyfriend and one of my best friends."
"But I'm still your best friend, right?" Nino asked, flanking Adrien's other side.
"Sure," Adrien said, smiling at his classmate. He met Marinette's eyes briefly.
"Alya is going to be so upset she's running late," Nino said with a chuckle. "That was pretty steamy, Marinette! I didn't know you had it in you!"
"With the right person, anyone can be confident," Adrien answered for her. "Excuse us, Chloe."
It was strange walking into school that morning feeling so confident. Not once did Marinette stumble. She had to check her sleeve twice to make sure she was actually herself and not in her Ladybug form. "I'm going to ask Nathaniel something," she said once they reached their classroom. She waved at Juleka and Rose, both girls waved back with knowing smiles on their faces.
"Oh, hey, Marinette," Nathaniel greeted when she stood in front of his desk.
"Hi, Nate, I was hoping I could get your help with a project," Marinette started. By the interested in light in the comic artist's eyes, she felt the courage to continue. "I want to write out a comic adventure for my boyfriend and was hoping you could help me with the illustrations. I can draw still figures pretty decent for my designs, but I don't really know how to create a comic."
"That sounds awesome! What's the subject?" Nate opened his journal and prepared to take notes.
"Ancient Egypt. A couple of super heroes." Marinette smiled shyly. "I wanted to see if you were interested first. I can write out the general idea later."
"Which superheroes? Any of the Miraculous?" Nathaniel asked. "Ladybug and Chat Noir perhaps?"
"I was thinking more Ladybug and Viperion," Marinette clarified. "Though it's okay if Chat Noir is an ally. I really can't imagine Ladybug without him."
"Got it. I've already got some ideas," Nathaniel assured her. "What's your time table?"
"Oh, maybe a month or two?" Marinette noticed Alya rush into the room and look up at her with wide curious eyes behind her glasses. "I gotta get in my seat. Thank you, Nate!" She hurried down the steps and was about to sit next to Alya when Lyla seemed to appear out of nowhere and took her spot.
"You can sit next to me," Nathaniel offered. "I'll brainstorm with Marc once you give me a rough draft of the story." He pointed out the rough sketch he'd already started. It was of Ladybug and Viperion in their current costumes. "I'll figure out how to give them an Egyptian flare."
"You already just now drew that?" Marinette was in awe.
Nate's pale cheeks bloomed in crimson. "Um, no. I drew this about two months ago. They were just so pretty together."
"I agree," Marinette said, her voice taking on a dreamy quality.
Nate leaned close. "Marc and I ship Ladybug and Viperion. But don't tell anyone else."
"I think you're the perfect person for this project," Marinette said, resisting an ear-splitting smile.
As Ms Bustier started her lecture, everyone could overhear Chloe complaining in a loud whisper to Sabrina about how her mother was planning to send her off the London this summer. "Could you believe that? That place only speaks English!"
"Chloe, please, can you keep from chatting with your friends during my lecture?" Ms Bustier asked, rubbing at her pregnant belly nervously.
"I think my dilemma is slightly more important than learning about conjugation of verbs," Chloe huffed. "And also, I think we should talk about Dupain-Cheng! She came to school on the back of a motorbike with some hot boy I have never seen before!" The blond queen bee whirled around and glared first at Lyla and then became confused until she spotted Marinette in the back of the class next to Nate. She pointed accusingly at the class representative. "Is trying to take my Adriekins not enough for you Dupain-Cheng! Now you have to go after hot strange boys?"
"Chloe, I think that's enough," Ms Bustier tried again.
Chloe whirled on her. "Do you? Well, why don't I call my father and see which topic of discussion should be priority?"
The teacher blanched in fear of the mayor's threat. Crossing Chloe could very well mean she could lose her job.
"Chloe, shut up," Adrien spoke up, surprising everyone with the steel in his voice. He looked back at Marinette briefly and she shot him an encouraging thumb's up. It seemed enough to give him confidence to continue. "I would like to hear with Ms Bustier has to teach us. And just so you know, Marinette is my very good friend. And her boyfriend is my very good friend. I suggest you not bother either one of them if you wish to remain friends with me." He smiled at the teacher. "Please, Ms Bustier, if you'll continue."
A grateful sighed passed their teacher's lips and she began her lecture anew.
Marinette jotted down notes while Nate sketched out several images of Ladybug and Viperion in their current costumes as well as some with ancient Egyptian modifications. Though, Marinette didn't miss the curious looks from Alya or the venomous ones from Chloe or Lyla.
However, she quickly forgot about that when her phone vibrated and she saw a couple of heart emojis from Luka and a picture of him holding up his quiz with a perfect 100 written in red across the top.
She texted back twice as many heart emojis and took a quick selfie with Nate holding up a sketch he'd done of their superhero selves.
Luka texted back. 'Stay out of trouble. I'll see you in a few hours.'
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