"So let's recap, right. Marin was accused of stealing the answers to the mock exam- Adrikins, are you listening?" Alya asked as Adrien and Nino sat on the staircase before her.

"Yeah...yeah." Adrien rambled with a headache. He'd lost track of Marin after he disappeared before his eyes. He thought that he had looked around everywhere, but there was no trace of him at all. In then he was forced to just go back to school and act like he wasn't losing his mind.

"Charge 1: Apparently the paper with the answers for the exam was found in Marin's schoolbag, from an anonymous tip who no one knows the origin of. Even Miss Bustier says that she found it on her desk this morning. Charge 2: A box that was from The Dupain-Cheng family bakery was found in Marin's locker, one that contained items that were missing from students. Mr. Damocles and the rest of the teachers were informed that items were going missing but no one saw anything. Until Lila thought she saw Marin taking something out of you bag Adrien."

"You think Lila has something to do with this?" Nino asked.

"It's hard to say. You've known Marin the longest, you think he'd do anything like this Nino?" Alya asked.

"No way, if you asked, Marin would be the one to actually help you look for anything that went missing. Plus we all know how much he actually studies." Nino said gently jabbing Adrien in the side with his elbow.

"I totally believe you, but the evidence is stacked against him. Did you get a chance to talk to our boy, Adrien?" Alya asked.

"Kind of, but he didn't say much before running off. Just that he didn't do it, and his mom was probably going to kill him when she found out about this." Adrien recalled, trying to push away the memory of what happened right after.

"Okay well, I tried to check for clues, but I didn't find anything. The lockers were wiped clean, that box only had Adrien's fingerprints, and the note only had Miss Bustier's fingerprints."

"Wait, you just have everyone fingerprint patterns memorized? Are we just accepting this?" Nino asked in surprise.

"No, no. There was only one set on each piece of evidence, luckily Adrien and Miss Bustier are good sports about this kinda stuff." Alya said as Adrien held up his hands now marked with black ink. "And without any leads, it's hard to say who could've done this." Alya sighed.

"...I think Lila might have done this." Adrien said boldly garnering the attention of both of his friends.

"Lila?" Alya and Nino asked in surprise.

"I thought she and Marin were on good terms, what makes you think that she did it?" Nino inquired.

"It's kind of hard to explain, but she's a bad egg." Adrien said. "All I know is she's not above lying, manipulating, and getting other people in trouble to get her way."

"That's a little harsh dude." Nino said. "She seems pretty alright to me."

"Yeah, do you have anything solid you back up what you're accusing her of?" Alya asked.

Adrien hesitated for a moment before taking out his bracelet. "Alya, you were there when we found this in the box right? Along with the rest of the stolen stuff?"

"Yeah, it's where we found my phone charm." Alya said.

" I lost this a while ago," Adrien said pulling out his charm. "which is strange because I'd never go anywhere without it. Then it just pops up all of a sudden in Marin's locker of all places?" Adrien pointed out.

"Well yeah, that and the rest of the stolen stuff," Alya said.

"But here's the thing, this good luck charm was a gift from Marin. He gave it to me months before Lila even joined the class full time."

"So what you're saying is..." Nino said as he started to put the pieces together.

"Why would Marin steal something that originally belonged to him and put it with a bunch of the other stolen items? The only one who could have taken it was Lila, back when she came over to my place to study."

"And you think just because of that Lila is the one who framed him?" Alya asked as she looked more interested as to what Adrien was saying.

"I do think that Marin and Lila had something going on. Whenever we'd hang out he always seemed uncomfortable about when she hung around or I brought her up.

Alya took a deep breath. "Adrien I hate to say it, but that's all circumstantial. We can't go to the Principal with only suspicions.

"Alya-" Adrien tried to argue back, standing up.

"First off, a culprit always leaves clues. If you're so quick to accuse Lila, you might just overlook another potential baddie, or baddies." Alya said.

"Right, but Marin only got suspended because someone clearly set him up. Whoever did this was pretty smart, all they needed to do was leave the note on Miss Bustiers desk and let everyone else arouse suspicion. It's the perfect crime." Nino observed.

"You're not actually saying we take this lying down, are you? Adrien asked, standing up before his friend.

"Of course not dude, but there's no way to tell who did this." Nino said defensively.

All of them simultaneously sighed heavily as they were getting nowhere. But Adrien's attention was caught as he spotted Marin's parents entering the school, walking up towards the principal's office.

Adrien grasped his phone in hand, walking past Alya. "I'm going to try and find Marin.

"Now?" Alya asked. "What about class? The lunch period is almost over."

"You know me, I can't sit still, ever." Adrien said, but just before he was about to walk towards the entrance of the school he turned back towards his friends."Hey, if it was me being accused, how far do you think Marin would take this?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure he'd fight someone, maybe even yell," Nino said with an air of certainty.

"Yeah, especially if it was our precious Adrikins."

"What do you mean "especially"?" Adrien asked as he started to feel a little embarrassed.

"Dude. Nino said with a knowing expression. "He spoils you to heck. Like, he spoils everyone, but you take it to a whole new level."

"He does not..." Adrien was about to argue, but realized how futile it was too. Now realizing how much he actually relied on his best friend. But then snapped back to reality as he saw both Nino and Alya smiling at him mischievously, clearly up to no good. "Okay bye." Adrien ran up the stairs, intercepting

"Hell Mrs. Cheung."

"Hello Adiren, how are you?" She asked with a smile, holding her hand before her.

"Uh, fine." He said, lying. "I was just wondering if maybe you've seen Marin?" He asked and hoped that his friend wasn't going to be mad at him as he saw Marin's mother's expression turn more fearful.

"Not since this morning, is something wrong?" She asked.

"Well...uh, you see-"

Your song who was almost akumatized disappeared and I have no idea where he is or even if he's alright.

But before he could come up with a legitimate explanation he saw her phone was ringing.

"One-moment dear," Sabine said turning away for a moment. Her conversation was brief but she nodded a few times before speaking.

["Where are you?"]

Adrien overheard Sabine saying, feeling a little guilty that he was eavesdropping. He noticed her narrowing her eyes before taking a deep breath.

[ "Alright dear be home soon, I love you."] She said before turning back towards him with a smile on her face.

"That was just him, poor dear seems like he's gotten himself into a little trouble." She said resting her head on her hand sadly.

"I-is he alright?" Adrien asked, trying not to sound too eager for news.

"I'm sure he is. Don't worry dear, he's just fine, thank you for worrying about him." Sabine said gratefully before entering the principal's office.

Adrien stood there for a moment, replaying that conversation in his head. It sounded like Marin was alright, like he had nothing to worry about, but something still wasn't sitting right with him. He then quickly found an empty classroom and then opened up his shirt so Plagg could play out. His Kwami then hovered before him, not even saying a word as he pouted. His expression softened as he could sense his Kwamis worry. "Don't look at me like that."

" What were you thinking?! Your identity could've been found out!" Plagg yelled at his partner who rubbed the back of his head sheepishly

"That's the thing, I wasn't, Plagg." Adrien said as he clutched his shirt. "But this is weird isn't it? You saw it too didn't you?" Adrien asked almost desperately.

"Sure but you know that kid, always disappearing here and there." Plagg tried to play off but Adrien was still unsettled.

"Marin didn't go home Plagg, and I checked that bridge probably a dozen times, there was no trace of him.

"His mom literally just said that he was fine. Ask him yourself once you see him again, you're just being a worrywart about this. Then after you make sure he's fine buy me some of that Camembert bread for the stress you put on me." He demanded as he crossed his arms.

My best friend disappeared just after he got expelled for something he didn't do, yes I'm worried about him!

Is what he wanted to say, but he knew Plagg was right. Adrien just chuckled to himself, scratching behind Plagg's ear as he watched his Kwami purr at the affection.

Marin sat in the doctor's office by himself. His injured eye was covered with a large cotton cloth and his arm was in a cast, being held up by a sling. All he really could do was hand his head as he looked down to a pocket watch that he hadn't realized he was holding the entire time.

No thought went through his mind as his eye's dulled, he wasn't even that sure he was actually sitting in a doctors office right now; though that was probably due to the shock from earlier. Marin didn't even lift his head as the door opened. Any words said didn't stick and he just followed the person who grasped his hand, guiding him out of the office.

Adrien looked out of the window as he was being driven towards his photoshoot. His best friend hadn't left his mind all day. Even though he was reassured over and over again there was still something that just didn't stick with him. " Thank you." He said to Nathalie as he opened the door and walked toward the riverfront.

"Oh, Adriano!" Vincent, the photographer greeted as he walked towards him. "How are you?"

"I'm good. Thanks, Giuseppe." His eyes widened as he recognized the other person sitting in a chair next to his. "Lila?

"Do you know each other? Oh my, your papa's new muse is incredible! She's been all around the world, she knows all the celebrities, and she's Italian, just like me!"

Adrien stared at him for a moment, trying to process what he had just said as they walked towards her. Lila smiled as she turned towards him.

"Hi, Adrien. You're gonna have to give me tons of tips, because I'm not as experienced as you are." She said with a smile, which Adrien returned as there were people around them.

He sat down right next to her. "Would you mind leaving us alone for a second?" Adrien asked to the make-up artists who gave them space just as Adrien's smile fell.

"I warned you once already, Lila, but you didn't listen." Adrien said coldly as Lila turned towards him in surprise at his tone. "You got my friend Kagami akumatized and you framed my best friend, and that's not okay."

"Me? Adrien, I didn't-"

Adrien didn't give her a chance to explain herself as he was already tense. "I don't know how to prove you lied Lila. So you'll just have to come up with another lie, just as convincing. Only this time it's gonna prove Marin's innocent."

Lila glared at him as she turned her head away. "And why would I do that, Adrien?"

"Because we're friends, aren't we?" Adrien asked as he noticed Lila waver at his words.

"...Master Fu, why did we stop here?" Marin asked aloud as he looked down at the ice cream cone in his hand, both of them were sitting just outside an ice cream parlor. One that Marin recognized as he often visited with Tikki. In his hand, he held a cone of what looked to be pistachio and cream while Master Fu sat next to him with a cup of pistachio for Wayzz.

"For ice cream of course." He responded simply as he looked fondly at Wayzz licking the iced cream in his cup.

"That Master always has his own reasons for doing what he does." Wayzz informed his face covered in ice cream as concern started growing in his eyes. "More importantly, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine." Marin said instinctively. However, he didn't feel like those words would have traction considering the way Wayzz looked up towards him." I just had a bad day that's all." Marin tried to insist but couldn't bring himself to smile as he recalled those cold icy blue eyes staring back at him with no kindness in them. "I'm just tired, and I had an accident, and all I really need is just a good nap to get over it.

Wayzz wasn't phased by Marins' words. "You aren't wearing you-" He was about to say but was then shushed as he glanced up at his partner.

"Don't trouble him Wayzz." Master Fu said, holding his composure. "Go on, try it Marinus." He prompted.

"Isn't there anything you want to ask me?"

Master Fu never wavered as he continued to look down at this Kwami. "You'll tell me when you're ready." He said. "How is the ice cream?" Master Fu asked as he held a cup of pistachio for Wayzz, who was eating it with the small spoon.

Marin bit the bottom of his tongue, ignoring his cut lip before taking a tentative lick of his ice cream. Master Fu hasn't asked any questions ever since he'd asked him to pick him, not even when he drove him to the hospital and he was treated. They just played it off like he was his grandma, which wasn't unusual, but it always felt odd when he referred to his master with little formality.

He wondered what his Master was thinking when he first saw him with a broken arm, an injured eye, a badly bruised neck, and the rest of his body covered in smaller cuts and bruises. His mom already knew about him so that anxiety was relieved, at least until he went home.

As he licked the ice cream Marin couldn't detect the flavor, all he could feel was the cold as he licked his lips. He turned towards his master with a small smile on his face, despite the hollowness he felt in his chest.

"It tastes really good."

Adrien waited outside of the principals office with his back to the door. He saw Lila walk in there earlier, he tried not garnering any attention but flinched as he heard someone behind him.

"What are you doing?" Chloe asked as stood nearby, crossing her arms.

"Ah-Chloe!" Adrien greeted as he tried to catch his breath. He noticed that Sabrina was nowhere in sight, oddly enough. "What are you doing here?" Adrien asked in surprise, quickly trying to divert the conversation from himself, but she frowned at him.

"It's none of your business Adrikins, I was just going to walk in before I saw you standing here." She said. "What are you waiting for exactly."

Adrien darted his eyes away for a moment, it probably wouldn't hurt to tell her. "Lila had something to do with Marin getting framed, so I asked her to fix it."

" Well obviously." Chloe said as-a-matter-of-fact-like.

Adrien stared at her for a second in disbelief."Why didn't you say anything?!"

"Why didn't you?!" Chloe retorted as the two grew annoyed at each other. She huffed in exasperation before placing a hand on her hip. "Obviously she's bad news, and clearly she's been a nuisance ever since she popped up. She just wants attention, yours specifically."

Adrien felt a pang of guilt. "This is a little strange. Marin's my friend, why would you want to help him out?"

Chloe looked at him in annoyance, crossing her arms and turning her head away. "It's none of your business, I just owe him one that's all. I'm only doing this so we'll be even! "

Adrien looked at her in surprise. The Chloe he knew wouldn't go so far for someone she didn't like, debt aside, but before he could ask a follow-up question both of them heard the door open. They saw Lila leaving the principal's office with her head held high and Mr. Damocles wiping away his tears.

"I did my part." She said simply as she walked past Adrien, fully ignoring Chloe.

"Mr. Damocles!" Adrien called out as he walked up towards the door. " About Marin-" He was about to say but the principal interrupted.

"Lila told me everything, about her rare disease and how she gets confused sometimes. I shall be calling Mr. Dupain-Cheung's parents today to set everything straight and he'll of course be allowed back in the school tomorrow." He said before blowing his nose and closing the door behind him.

Adrien thought for a moment about what the principal said about the rare disease Lila had but pushed those thoughts aside. This was a victory, albeit a messy one, but one nonetheless.

The next morning, Marin opened his eyes, still wearing his school clothes from yesterday, still clutching the pocket watch in his hand. The night was rough as the pain set sending waves throughout his body. It would take around 3 months for his arm to fully heal; But with his luck it would probably be double that.

He really didn't want to wake up, but he knew all too well once he was up he was up. Climbing down from his bed was more of a challenge as he could only use one arm, even stumbling as he hit his chair. Taking a moment to steady himself he walked over towards the sink, realizing that with his right arm broken he was now deprived of almost all of his daily functions. Brushing his teeth became harder, washing his face was more of a hassle as he tried to avoid his face injuries; however, some soap still managed to sting the cuts on his hands. In the mirror he saw how pale he looked, and even more troubling he saw the bruises around his neck that had now darkened, looking ugly against his pale skin and white shirt. With one hand he buttoned up his shirt all the way to the top, effectively covering up most of the injury but as an extra precaution, he placed his cat hoodie over his head, tying the sleeves around his shoulders so they wouldn't drag by his side.

As he walked downstairs he saw that his parents were at the table- which was extremely offputting as they had never been late opening up the bakery a day in his life. "Why aren't you guys downstairs?" Marin asked looking between them.

"Sit down son, we need to talk." His father said as Marin noticed that his eyes were red and puffy.

"You are no longer expelled from your school." His mother said as Marin sat before them.

He furrowed his brow for a moment, trying to recall what happened yesterday and eventually remembered that he was expelled for apparently stealing. He hadn't even thought about it since he left school.

'However, we both feel it's appropriate to pull you out until further notice.

"Until further notice?" Marin echoed looking between them.

"We've noticed that school has been tiring you out a lot lately, what with all your class assignments and extra-"

"It's fine." Marin said simply, not needed to hear her reasoning justified. " May I be excused?" He asked.

"Of course sweetie." His mother said while they both started to stare at his father starting to weep in his hands. Sabine gestured that he could leave as she started to comfort her husband while Marin snatched the cookie jar, going back up to this room. He closed the hatch behind him, standing alone in his room. Marin wondered to himself, about why he just accepted his mother words. Why he didn't try to argue with her. Had she made this decision a few hours earlier he'd be fighting tooth and nail against her. But now...he was just tired.

His eyes then widened as he looked at himself in the mirror, realizing that he wasn't wearing his Miraculous. He patted down his pockets...nothing. Marin then reached for his blazer lingering for a moment as he saw dried blood on the lapel, it was minimal and only noticeable if you were looking for it. He found the earring in the pocket of the jacket but then realized he couldn't place them in his ears with just one hand available.

Marin closed his eyes, gently grasping the Miraculous in his hands as he sat down at his desk, content with being truly alone for just a little while longer before he had feel the weight of the world on his shoulders once more.

Notes:

-This was just a follow up from the previous episode, so the characters can breathe a little.

-The akuma attack didn't happen because Chat Noir's identity wasn't placed under suspicion.

-Marin is right-handed, so having his arm broken is going to suck.

-Basically Adrien saw his friend, disappear after a car drove by, just as Mar was taken by bunnyx so it just looked like he disappeared.

-This a new timeline but more on that later

-Ya'll heard of slow burns, get ready for a slow burn of Marin eventually breaking down...and hopefully season 4 will air before then because the season 3 finale for this will be a thing, and I need to know where to end it proper