I updated again. Here's the humongous chapter with frickin 7,692 word count. Holy guacamole batman, this took forever.

Hopefully, this chapter will fully clarify the nature of this crossover. You can look at the end author's notes for a bigger explanation.

Italics is French or emphasized text. Also can be thoughts. I kind of over use it.

"hello" is when someone is speaking over a device, like a TV or phone.

I groan, feeling warm rays of sunshine beat on my face and warm my side. A hard floor was underneath me- wood? Not wood, I amend after feeling it with my fingers. Cement, asphalt, or stone. None of which I should be waking up on.

I tried to open my eyes, but found them thoroughly glued together by crust. It felt like I just woke up after sleeping for fourteen hours straight with a sinus infection after crying in bed. Not like that's ever happened of course. It was the type of gunk that took a few eyelashes with it when you try to get it off.

That was when I registered the additional noise that accompanied a street. And that some of the sounds were nearby and...

"Are you okay?"

Were they talking to me?

I try to prop myself up on my elbows, much to the protest of my sore muscles.

I felt another set of hands push me back to the floor. "Don't get up, you might have a neck or head injury..." The rest of the person's dialogue was cut off into muttering that was incomprehensible.

I didn't feel like I had a head or neck or spine injury. All I felt was a headache, sore muscles, raw skin like I was healing from roadburn. All in all I felt like I just finished running a marathon, with minimal water, and then I tripped when I crossed the finish line.

I don't know why I feel that way, considering I'm not into sports, so I don't have a reason to feel this tired-

Wait.

Wait.

I reach up to my eyes, rubbing and picking away at the crust and goop that sealed them shut. I winced a bit at the pinches of pain, but soon enough I could open my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a concerned person in some sort of uniform. She seemed relieved when she saw my eyes open.

"Wha-What happened?" Please, please, please let it all be a fever dream. Just a weird dream and I was just on the floor outside because there wasn't enough room in the hospital. Or I passed out and this kind lady just so happened to be nearby. Maybe-

"You don't remember?" She questioned, her concerned look growing.

I shrug. "Maybe. Hopefully what I remember is not what happened."

She gave a small, sad smile. "If what you remember has anything to do with a rock monster multiplying and trying to take over paris, you'd be right."

Wow that was a complex sentence.

I took a moment to decipher it, only for my face to fall into a panic. "Are they still there?!"

"No," she shook her head. "Ladybug and Chat Noir stopped them from multiplying and causing anymore damage."

"Are-are the people who got changed... Are they okay?"

"Did you not get transformed?" She looked surprised

I shook my head.

"Hmm. I suppose that makes sense, you were found quite a distance away from the fighting, compared to the others." The woman reached up to pull a stray hair behind her ear. "But to answer your question, they all transformed back into humans."

I nodded, relief seeping into my heart and loosening the tightness that was wound up in my gut. Dad was ok.

"I got knocked asleep by one of the monsters." I told her as an explanation. I still wasn't sure if I actually fell into a sinkhole under the city filled with strange bones, or if it was just a weird dream. I didn't feel any of the injuries I remembered after the fall, so maybe I just fainted and they left me alone.

Her lips pursed and she brought out a phone, turning on its flashlight. Shining it into my eyes, she said, "you don't seem to have a concussion, or any other injuries for that matter."

She sighed.

I titled my head.

"It's a miracle really. All of the damage done from the attacks was cured. Everyone who was hurt or even..." She glanced at me, catching herself, "it was like it never happened in the first place. The people who were transformed lost all memory of what happened."

"O-oh." I swallow. "That's kinda surreal."

The woman shot me a confused look, as if she was surprised by the sudden change of dialect. Well, she shouldn't be- I butcher the French language all the time with my terrible American accent.

"W-well," she smiled, "do you need any help getting home?"

I smiled in return. "That would be wonderful, merci."

. . .

I stood in front of my house, in disbelief of the lack of damage. All the cars were upright and there were no craters in the cement or piles of rubble. It was like I didn't even leave my house this morning.

"This is it," I say, knocking on the door. I wait, and it flings open not a second later. Mom stands on the other side, frazzled and tired, but she doesn't hesitate to wrap me in a hug. We stand there together for a few seconds, relieved in the others safety. We release each other. Our family was never one for prolonged hugs.

Just as I broke free from mom, I was wrapped up into a bear hug by another person. Dad. I hugged him back just as fiercely and for even longer than I hugged mom.

He pulled away and placed a kiss on my forehead. I squint up at him. "Ewww, gross."

I'm almost glad I wasn't here to see Mom and Dad's reunion.

"Who's this?" My mom asked, gesturing to the woman who walked me home.

Which is when I realized I forgot to ask for her name. Crap. "Ummm. Sorry, I missed your name."

The woman giggled. "It's alright, I have a daughter around your age and she's just as forgetful. But my name is Sabine Dupain-Cheng."

"Thank you so much for helping Keana get home," Mom started. "My name is May Luana. This is my husband, Koma Luana. You've met Keana. We have a son named Chase, he's inside. We have two other daughters who are in college."

"Oh, My daughter's name is-"

Oh no, they started talking The Mom Talk(tm). They'll be doing that for another thirty minutes at least.

I maneuver my way around Dad, spotting Chase on the couch. He was on the phone, probably talking to one of our sisters. I plop down next to him. He reaches an arm up and gives me a side hug.

"-yeah, Keana just got home. Do you want to talk with her?"

Wow. Thanks Chase for throwing me under the bus.

He nodded and handed over the phone.

"Yoo, you alright? Chase told me you were missing."

"I'm fine, Pax," I sigh.

"You don't sound fine."

"Ok, I'll be real then. This is almost the worst day I've ever had."

Pax made a sound of acknowledgement. "There's my pessimistic little sister. Glad you're mostly alright, but I gotta bounce. I'm calling internationally and I have limited minutes. Tell Mom and Dad I love them. I'll call next week."

The phone hangs up with a beep.

Chase and I share a look.

"She says that like Mom and Dad aren't the ones paying for it." I say.

Chase shakes his head, "At least she didn't call you a nerd."

"Not enough time, I guess." I shrug. "And here I thought today couldn't get weirder."

He smirked. "You underestimate the threshold for weirdness."

It was quiet for a few seconds. The sounds of the conversation outside were drifting through the doorway, but I couldn't figure out what they were talking about since I hadn't followed their conversation. I think they were talking about recipes now? Dad was also avidly participating.

"Have you seen the news?" The smirk had dropped off of Chase's face.

I shook my head. "I literally just got home."

"You need to see it."

"I figured." I got up, interlocking my fingers behind my back and stretching. It hurt in the way sore muscles and joints protested against movement. But Mom always said the best way to not be sore is to stretch- so stretch I did. "But you should wait for me to take a shower. I feel disgusting."

"No," he said, "you should wait to take a shower, this is important."

I sigh overdramatically.

"Fine," I grumble. "But it's on you if I get dust and dirt all over the couch."

. . .

I slid upen the bathroom door, mumbling under my breath.

"Stupid rock monster. Stupid reality breaking magic. Stupid Hawkmoth."

To say I didn't take the news well was an understatement. The knowledge that there was someone behind all of it turned my confusion and fear into anger and simultaneously baffled me further. Who on earth would do something quite like this? What purpose does it serve to hold the city hostage? Gain power, money, fame? With his particular method to gain whatever the heck he wants, he puts such a big target on his back that anything he does gain is pointless.

It doesn't even matter what a miraculous is, because obviously the superheros are going to protect them. But Hawkmoth won't stop after one attack.

It's a war of attrition, with the people of Paris caught in the crossfire.

I was already sick and tired of it.

I slide the bathroom door shut behind me and locked it, mildly irritated that I couldn't swing it shut with a bang as a way to vent my frustrations.

I leaned over the bathroom sink, staring at my face. I really was dirty and sore, despite Ladybug's magical power supposedly fixing everything. My eyebags had bags, my hair was crusty, and my clothes were filthy. Disgusting.

I began to strip, shucking off my hoodie and shirt before I noticed it.

There, just beneath the middle of my collar bone was a black circle with white lines.

My jaw dropped.

It was the stone. The one from my weird dream, at least I thought it was a dream? I guess that was wishful thinking.

I reach a hand up to poke at it. My finger brushes against it, and I shiver. Definitely not a tattoo. I trace along the edge, frowning at where the skin becomes the weird rock that was most definitely not a rock. I pick at the edge, hoping to peel it off, but not finding any luck. It even hurt a little.

Which was when the stone began boiling with the inky black tar like substance.

I yelp, wrenching my hands away from it. I would have tried to get further away from it, but it was kinda embedded in my chest.

The bubbling substance slowly separated from the stone, drawing away from it in a fashion that dimly reminded me of a lava lamp. It separated completely, ending up as a black bubble floating a few feet away from my face. I pressed my back against the wall, but it didn't do anything.

I stood there and waited. It bobbed in the air innocently. I squinted at it. It remained doing nothing of interest other than existing.

Slowly, curiosity overcame my caution. I approached it, lifting up a finger to poke the bubble of whatever it was.

Of course, that's when it decided to do something.

It stretched and shrunk and stretched again. It twisted around, whirling and warping as it became something. The tar became a vague torso with stubby arms and legs and a bobble sized head. The head sprouted two horns that curved upwards slightly. Two pupiless, glowing white eyes opened and took up the majority of the face space it had.

I stared. It stared back.

Chase wasn't wrong when he said that I underestimated the daily weirdness threshold.

It wasn't everyday I stood half naked in the bathroom, staring at a weird, alien, magical fae creature.

It blinked. I blinked back, hoping it didn't take it as a sign of aggression. It tilted it's oversized head.

h̵e҉l̴l҈o҈

My eyes widened and I turned around quickly to see if there was anyone else in the room. This had to be a hallucination.

But of course no one else was there. And considering the prior events of the day, it wasn't even the strangest thing I've seen.

"H-hello?" I whispered back to it, because the last thing I wanted was for someone to think I was talking to myself.

It visually perked up.

l҉i̶s҈t̴e҉n̴?̶ u̷n̷d̶e҉r̵s̷t҈a̸n̸d҈?̸ s҈p҉e̵a̶k̸?̴ f̴r҈i̴e̷n̵d҈?̸

"Yeah, I can understand you." Which is a bit weird, since it clearly didn't have a mouth. "But I don't really know you, so I can't really call you my friend."

It wilted, looking at the ground forlornly.

h̷o̵l҈d҉e̶r̷ f҉r̵i̵e̴n̸d̴ k̶w̵a̸m̶i҉

"Is that what you are? A kwami?" I wonder. "And am I your holder?"

n̵o҈ y̴e̴s҈

"I am your holder." It nodded. "But you aren't a kwami?" It nodded again, sadly.

"Well, I don't even know what a kwami is, so that doesn't really matter."

k҈w̴a҈m̴i̷ m҉i̷r҉a̶c̵u̵l҉o̸u̴s̵ p̴o̸w҉e҈r̶

"So kwamis give a miraculous power?" I frowned, reminded of Hawkmoth's stupid demands. "It's good you're not one of them then, because then I'd have to deal with a terrorist."

It perked up, smiling with its eyes.

b҈r̸o҈k̶e̶n̷ n̵o̷t̸ k҉w̶a̴m̸i̵

"I don't care it you're broken, I'm sure you're much better than a kwami." I held firm on my decision. This little guy looks like they need moral support. And therapy. Don't ask me how I can tell, I just have a sense for these things. "My name is Keana. Do you have one?"

k҈n̶i҈g̴h҈t҈ l҉i̸t̶t̶l҉e҉ g̵h̶o̵s҉t̶ s҉h̵a҈d̸e̵ b̴r̵o҈k̴e҈n҉ e̴m̶p҉t̸y̷

The last two are a bit concerning. "How about you choose one?"

It paused, contemplating the decision.

k̸n̴i̶g҉h̶t҉

What a small protector. I giggle. "You are kind of cute, in a creepy endearing way."

It stared. I stared back, but was forced to blink first.

k̴n̷i҉g̸h҉t̶ p̴o̸w҉e̴r҉ t̶r̴a̵n҉s̵f̴o̵r̴m̴

"So you give me a power to transform? Like the superheroes on the news?" They nodded.

s҉p̴e̷a̵k҈ v̴o̵i̵d̴ r̸i̶s̷e̷ t̴r̵a҉n̸s̴f҉o̸r̸m҉

"You want me to transform now?" Because I sure didn't.

n̴o̵ n̴e̵e҉d̴

Knight must have been able to sense my hesitance to initiate the transformation that was probably very magical girly.

"Well I'm going to take a shower now. You can just... stay here for now." Knight nodded and I smiled at them.

While it's nice to have a surprise that's somewhat pleasant, despite initially terrifying, I really needed a nice long destressing shower to help process my emotions.

. . .

I was glad that I brought a change of clothes with me to the shower because climbing up a ladder in just a towel would have been hazardous, to say the least.

The shower didn't do much for my nerves or stress, unfortunately. All it managed to do was clean my crusty hair and dirt smudged skin. Shower's were one of the few places for me to get my mind off of the outside world.

It doesn't really work as a stress reliever when a curious magic fae creature pokes their head in.

Knight really seemed to like the steaming water. I didn't really have the heart to kick them back out, especially since they almost fell asleep in it. Normally I would be freaking out if someone walked in on me showering, but the creature had the same innocence about them as a cat or dog seeing me. I still am not entirely sure how to gage it's intelligence.

Not that they actually seemed to notice or care.

At the moment, my hair was wrapped up in a towel and I was on the floor, leaning against the wall. I wish I had a mattress, but the only thing of comfort I had in my room was a few pillows, a comforter, and a sleeping bag. Knight flew around my room. They hovered a little closer to a few of my unpacked things, peering at their own warped reflection from a snowglobe.

Knight poked at it, and flew back as if they were startled.

K҈n̵i҉g̷h̶t̷ n̴o̷t̵?̶

"It's a trick of the light, a reflection." I explain. I'm not sure how they managed to miss the mirror in the bathroom. Maybe it was a question they had on their mind.

N҈o̵s̴k̸?҈

"I don't know what Nosk is. But I promise it's not."

N̵o҉s̸k̷ T̶r̶i̴c̶k̷s҉t҈e̶r̶ k̷i̵l̴l҉e̴r̵

I shudder. A creepy monster that tricked and tried to kill you? No thank you!

Knight nodded sagely. g̶r̷o҉s̵s̵ a̴n̶n̷o̷y̴i̷n̷g҈

"You'll protect me from Nosk, right?" I giggle when they nodded. "Such a strong little knight."

They put their stubby arms on their hips like they were posing for a heroic photo. Y̴e̶s̶ s̸t̵r̷o҉n҈g̷

I chuckled and pat them on the head. They were cold and were solid despite looking very liquid. A strange combination for sure, but not an unwelcome one. I pulled my hand away, only to find the not kwamii leaning into it as I pulled away.

"Awww," I cooed, rubbing their head with my thumb- mindful of their horns.

They closed their eyes in apparent bliss and-

"Hey Keana, Mom said it's time for-"

Chase's eyes landed on me. I froze. His brow furrowed in confusion.

I could see it in his face when he registered Knight's presence.

"...Dinner."

And he stood there, on the ladder, staring emotionlessly at the floating inky black magic creature.

"What. Is. That." He said calmly. Calmly.

I doubted that he was actually calm.

I beckoned him up. He complied, climbing in a clumsy fashion like he's in a stupor.

"This," I reply, gesturing to the not kwami, "is Knight. I met them when I was about to get in the shower."

Knight was locked in a staring contest with Chase. Neither seemed willing to look away. I could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"What is it?" Chase didn't seem satisfied with my lackluster answer.

"Uhhh, not a kwami, that's for sure."

He snapped head to shoot me a look. "And what's a kwami?"

"Apparently some magical creature that gives the superheroes their powers. Before you ask how I know this," I quickly add, "Knight told me."

"It can talk? It doesn't have a mouth!"

"That's true," I admit, "but I'm pretty sure it was some sort of... telepathy link? Or something. It's like I can understand their intents."

Knight floated over to hide behind my shoulder.

S҈u̴p̸p̸o҈s̶e̸ t҉o҈ h̷i̸d̴e҈

That time they sounded a bit unsure, like they messed up with something.

Was this supposed to be a secret?

"Too late to hide this now, I guess."

Chase snorted. "Yeah, like you'd be able to keep a secret like this from your big brother."

We settled into a contemplative silence. Chase was obviously struggling to find which question he wanted to ask next, if any. Knight was still hiding behind my shoulder. Was that shame I felt coming from them?

"Knight also kinda popped out of this stone I found embedded in my chest," I admitted quickly. To rip off the bandaid.

"What!?"

"I mean I'd show you, but it's kinda close to my boobs!"

"I don't want to see it, I'm just concerned that you said its stuck in your chest!" Chase ranted. I shrug, but that only seemed to encourage him. "And I'm more concerned that you don't seem to be worried about it!"

"Calm down!"

"I will not calm down! Have you even tried to remove-?"

"Kids! Hurry up! Dinner's getting cold!"

Chase glared at me. "We'll talk about this later," he said pointedly.

"What makes you think I would avoid talking about this?" I protested.

He glared more. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe our family's inability to cope with things."

"Point." I acknowledge. "But, umh, please don't tell Mom and Dad?"

. . .

Dinner was spaghetti, but French. Apparently, the parents had struggled to figure out which brand of sauce and noodles we usually used amidst the foreign ones. The noodles didn't matter much, but since spaghetti was a comfort food, if it was too different from usual, we wouldn't like it.

We found that out the hard way when Mom had accidentally bought the wrong sauce. There wasn't much of a difference, but it tasted just a bit too thin...

The same problem applied here. I stabbed at it and twirled it around my fork. It wasn't too different, just enough to be noticeable.

"Sabine invited us over for dinner in a few weeks," Mom began. "She has a daughter around your age, Keana."

"Oh joy," I mumble. Mom sent me the Look.

"You need to make friends. If you don't try, you won't get any."

"I can make my own friends," I complained. "I don't need you trying to arrange me a friendship, it's embarrassing."

"Isn't it our job to embarrass you?" Dad joked.

I grumble something underneath my breath halfheartedly. I was only a little miffed about it, honestly. I was more worried that Sabine's daughter was Chloe, even though they didn't look alike and I was seventy-five percent sure that Chloe was the mayor's daughter.

"Whatever," I sigh. "Hopefully her daughter is as nice as she is."

"She's also runs a bakery with her husband," Dad added. "They sell macarons and other delicacies."

"Are you going to try and impress them with your cheesecake recipes?" I didn't think it would work. They might be tasty casually, but those two were professional bakers. Like Paul Hollywood, from the Great British Baking Show.

"No," he denied modestly. "It's probably nothing they haven't seen before."

Silence fell over the table briefly, only filled by the clink of forks against plates.

"Oh yeah," Chase pipped up. I sent him a warning look. He sent me one back and mouthed 'chill out.'

"Yes, Chase?" Mom questioned.

"Right," he continued with one last glare in my direction. "I learned they don't actually have a drama department at school. And the band program is really small."

"Wait, really?" I ask.

"Yep, apparently the drama class doesn't have a real teacher. It's just the art teacher and instead of doing plays or a musical, we just paint set designs."

"That sucks," I lamented.

"Are you going to try to drop the class?" Mom asked.

Chase shook his head. "There isn't any other electives that I want to take anyway." His tone showed his disappointment and frustration, even though his words were nonchalant.

Dad huffed out a breath. "I'm sorry you aren't able to do anything you want this year."

"It's not your fault," I argue. I could tell he somewhat blamed himself, especially since he was the reason we moved in the first place. But he shouldn't blame himself for things outside of his control, like his work transferring him to Paris two months after he got hired.

Or the school curriculum sucking.

"Maybe you could start a drama club." Mom suggested.

"Maybe," Chase said. "But then I would have to figure out how clubs work in France."

Mom sighed at his stubbornness. "It's just an idea."

Silence settled over the table again. Chase was stewing in his frustration. Mom looked at her plate dejectedly. Dad lowered his forehead into his hands. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably.

None of us wanted to bring up the metaphorical elephant in the room. No one wanted to talk about the terror that we witnessed in the past day. I just wanted to have an opportunity to relax and for things to be normal again and I could tell everyone felt the same way.

But then I remembered the stone in my chest and my new bestie upstairs and decided that things were not going to go back to normal. At least, not the old definition of normal.

"I'm going to see if I can transfer back to America," Dad broke the silence. "But I can't promise that my company will greenlight that, especially since all of the damage was reversed, so nothing's off schedule."

Chase grumbled under his breath.

"We'd have to pack up and go house shopping, not to mention we wouldn't be able to sell this house because of..." Mom trailed off, not speaking the obvious.

The silence resumed and Dad stood up from his seat at the counter. He took his dish and began loading the dishwasher. I cleared my own plate, and Chase quickly got the memo to do the same. I could tell Mom was in a funk because she didn't yell at us stay down and help clean up while we climbed the ladder.

We ascended up to my room. I closed the trapdoor after us.

I snorted. If that had been closed earlier, then I wouldn't have to talk with Chase regarding the fae-like creature that popped out of a stone stuck in my chest.

"Hey Knight," I greeted. The not-kwami zoomed into sight from some hiding spot and hovered few feet from my face.

Chase sighed. "Look," he said, "I'm only going to ask a few questions, because I worry about my sister and I doubt I could remove you even if I tried."

He sent me a look. I shrugged, "hey, I didn't try too hard to remove the stone thing, but it hurt a bit when I picked at it, so..."

Chase shook his head. "I expect nothing less. But be warned- if you're some sort of parasite trying to suck her life away, you're dead, understand?"

"And you," he pointed an accusing finger at me, "did you even ask what it is?"

"I know what Knight is, sorta," I protested.

He glared. "No, the thing in your chest."

"Oh." I smile sheepishly, then send a wide eyed glance at Knight. They started back with equally wide eyes.

c҉h̷a̴r̷m̸

"A charm!" I exclaimed, looking to Knight for more info. "Is-" Chase raised an eyebrow.

Knight shrugged with tiny shoulders.

n̶o̷t̶ m̶i̸r̴a҉c̵u̵l҉o̷u̶s̴

"-is not a miraculous. Yaaay..." I cheered weakly.

"And what is a miraculous," Chase pestered.

"Well," I start, "according to little Knight here, a miraculous is the source of the Superheroes powers."

He hummed. "Well it's nice to know what Hawkmoth actually wants. Since the charm is not a miraculous, I guess we can be relieved that we won't get targeted."

"Yeah, a bit of a relief that I won't get targeted by the magical terrorist attacking Paris."

Chase glared and shoved me so I staggered.

"What is the difference between a charm and a miraculous anyway?" He asked. I shrugged and looked over to Knight.

c̶h҈a̵r̵m҉ c̴l̷o̶s̷e̶r҉ b̴o̷n̸d̸ m҈i̵r҈a̵c҈u҈l̸o̵u̸s҉ d̸i҉f̵f̵e̶r̷e̷n̴t̵ r̸u̵l̶e҉s҉ s̵t̸o̵l̸e̶n̸ p҈o҈w҉e҈r҈

"...Right. That's an excellent question." I stew over it before hesitantly adding, "I think they're pretty similar, but charms are more permanent and they have a bit different rules? Knight's answer was a bit complex."

"I guess it doesn't really matter." Chase shrugged. "But one last question. What does Knight eat? Can Knight eat? They don't have a mouth..."

I regard the not-kwami as they floated innocently. They shrugged. I shrugged.

"No idea."

. . .

Next day at school. Everyone's talking about Ladybug and Chat Noir. I listen in on conversations, making it to homeroom as quickly as possible. Attendance is called. I feel uncomfortable sitting next to someone who the only other time I met them was a supervillain.

Unsurprisingly, I had to go to school the next day.

Surprisingly, Knight snuck into my bag to join me. Apparently they couldn't get too far from their charm's holder.

I walked through the halls, only hearing things along the lines of "Ladybug is so [insert random complimentary adjective here]" and "Ladybug fixed this." Occasionally I heard something regarding Chat Noir. But I didn't hear anyone mention Hawkmoth.

Good. That terrorist doesn't deserve the attention.

I settled into my desk. Madam Bustier wasn't at her desk, yet. Maybe she was spending her morning in some staff room with coffee and sharing teacher drama with other teachers. Or preparing for the stressful day ahead of her.

Which is completely understandable.

People were already filtering in, and each one of them was talking in some manner about the superheroes or the attack. I was already sick it, just like I got sick of political talk when election season rolled around. At least now I had a good excuse to avoid politics here, because I'm not technically a French citizen.

I don't have an excuse to not talk about fricken magic terrorism and superheroes.

But, luckily, the news distracted people from me. Which means I can pass under the radar for another few days at most.

The introvert behind me had his phone and sketchbook out, probably going to make some picture of the two heroes in combat.

Pink was chatting Goth's ear off about the two heroes. I think she was referring to them as a... couple? I can't say I'm surprised, but it is a bit early to ship the two in my personal opinion.

Jock and Skater girl were arguing about who was stronger, Ladybug or Chat Noir, while Nerd was trailing behind them with a notepad full of equations. I wondered if the math was for the theoretical fight or something completely different. It's probably not related, since it's hard to apply math to magic.

Hat and headphones kid (whose name I think was Nino?) slid into the front row, pulling out his phone to put on music.

I sighed, slouching in my desk. I wished I invested in airpods while I had the chance so I could drown out my surroundings with music I could actually understand. Normally I could deal with being lonely and listening to other peoples gossip (it's not like I tried to eavesdrop, they were just loud), but it makes it a bit difficult when it was a struggle to understand every other word in a sentence.

Plaid and Pigtails walk in next, confidently and not late this time. They sit in the row in front of me instead of the front row in the other column. They seemed pretty smug about it, but I didn't understand what the big deal was. It's just a seat. Then I heard Chloe in the sentence and figured it was some form of payback for the gum chair incident.

When Chloe arrived, she threw a big fit and sat where Plaid and Pigtails were yesterday, so I assumed the payback worked.

Madam Bustier walked in next with a stack of papers and her computer tucked underneath her arm. She sat down and looked to be doing a bit of planning before class started.

Adrien (if I remembered the name correctly), ran in just a minute before class started. He slid into his seat besides Nino and they gave each other a fistbump.

The last two people to come in was the girl who got kidnapped (Mylene?) and a big burly dude with crossbones (no skull) on his T-shirt and a... baby face. I blinked. It was like he got his growth spurt and the added muscle mass, but his hormones skipped out on giving him a defined jaw and thinning out his cheeks.

A bit odd, but considering this was the French equivalent of Freshmen year, I can't say I'm too surprised.

The big guy seemed pretty hesitant at entering the classroom, but Mylene gave him a pat on the shoulder and went to sit down in her seat next to Skater girl.

The big guy (all the other seats were taken up, so he must be Ivan) edged closer to his seat, hugging the wall like he didn't want to be noticed. Was he shy? Man, I can relate, but even I don't think I've been this scared to go into a classroom before.

He sat down next to me, hunched over. The bench creaked under his weight and I wondered briefly if he lifted weights. He seemed like he would be good at lifting weights. Or maybe he was a gentle giant type.

I sent him a smile, hoping to ease his nerves. My insides screamed at me to avoid contact with the enemy and to disengage before I misspoke, but my people pleaser brain made my mouth move.

"Hello," I said. He flinched, just a bit. "My name's Keana."

He only seemed confused, which was when my brain finally began working again.

Oh. That was English.

Knight was laughing at me. How could I tell when they were tucked safely away into my bag? Magic.

I felt heat creep up my neck and into my ears. I began fumbling-

"I mean, greetings, Keana is my name- no no, that's too formal-"

"You speak English?"

My mind screeched to a halt. I promptly forgot Ivan in the wake of discovering that someone in my class spoke English. (Ivan didn't seem too bothered by this, merely confused which I could appreciate).

The sentence came from the boy in the front row whose hair looked like it was touched by the sun. Adrien.

My savior.

"I should be asking you that." I snarked back. Because of course the first thing I did to someone who spoke English was make fun of them. It's like a right of passage, in a way. If you speak English and you've never been insulted or been the target of sarcasm, snark, or any form of facetiousness then something's wrong with the world.

Ha laughed. Good, I'm glad he got my humor. it would suck if the only person in the class willing to talk to me hated me. That'd be a bit awkward.

"Do you come from America?" He asked.

"Yeah," I admitted. "Just moved here on the day of the apocalypse."

He winced. "Not the best first impression of Paris."

"Nope." I agreed. "I-" Which was when I noticed Madam Bustier staring us down like a hawk. My mouth shut abruptly.

Adrien looked confused for a bit, before I gestured with my head and he understood.

She stood up at the front, in the center between the two rows.

"Welcome, Class." She greeted with a smile. "I have a few announcements and changes to make before I take attendance, today."

"First off, I know most of you want to talk about it, but please refrain from talking about the attack yesterday. Some people in the room were more affected by it than others and may feel uncomfortable if it gets brought up." A lot of the heads in the room turned to Mylene and Ivan. Mylene was of no surprise, but I didn't quite understand what Ivan had to do with any of it.

Chloe scoffed while many others murmured faint noises of distaste, particularly Plaid, over the restraint. Ivan and Mylene calmed down a tad bit.

"Good. Also, I know the majority of you all have known each other from prior years of schooling, but-"

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"-we have a new student, from America, here with us today. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

Well there goes my anonymity. I sigh, quietly. "Hello, my name is Keana Luana." I say, without standing up from my seat. And here I thought I could trust her, but then she went and put me on the spot like that.

I could already feel the stares of the other people, sizing me up like they were wolves and I was the weak runt in a herd of deer.

No I am not being dramatic.

I could feel Knight's amusement from their place in my bag.

"So we'll have a small seating chart change-" which was met with mild outrage and panic from the class as a whole. "-nothing to worry over. The only change is that Adrien and Nino switch places with Marinette and Alya so Adrien can help Keana with any problems she might have."

Marinette grumbled, which made sense, sense she had just won the bench after a power struggle with Chloe. I hope she didn't blame me. Alya gave her a pat on the back and whispered something that seemed to cheer up the girl somewhat.

Adrien gave me a smile full of sunshine, so he didn't appear too bothered by the change either. Nino seemed more relieved- probably didn't want to be in the front row. Understandable, have a nice day.

My ears were still red from introducing myself, but now she was making changes because of me. I felt guilty, even though there was nothing I should feel guilty over. It's not my fault she was moving people around, she made the decision on her own without asking me.

Of course, I still wasn't completely faultless, but I hope I didn't just ruin some sort of hidden class social structure.

I could still feel the stares of the French students.

And Adrien was still smiling at me with a grin on his face that made him look like he was five years old and just found out his birthday party was at Disney World. I gave him a hesitant smile back and that seemed to make his happiness grow, if that was possible.

I was stumped, completely and utterly stumped.

How on Earth can someone be this happy just to meet someone new?

I wondered if I stuck around him some of that positivity would rub off on me.

. . .

Adrien felt like not even another Akuma attack would be enough to ruin his day. The rain didn't even make a dent in the bubble of joy that surrounded him. He was on cloud nine and nothing was going to ground him.

Why?

He was a superhero for one. The thought was so freeing that at any moment he could transform and escape. He could fight his problems for once in his life and it was the most exhilarating feeling he's ever felt

And he made it to his first actual day of school. Real school- not private lessons with private tutors who were paid by the thousands to teach him and a thousand more to stay 'professional' and not 'involve themselves more than they must.'

Even better, he managed to make a second friend!

The English lessons that Father made him take actually paid off!

Just thinking about it made him grin.

Keana seemed a little shy and quiet, but she did talk with him. She even laughed when he told her a joke in English!

Plagg sighed irritably from his position in his bag. "It's not that big of a deal," the cat whined. "She hardly even counts as an acquaintance. You two barely talked."

Adrien shrugged. "An acquaintance is just the step between stranger and friend." He still couldn't keep the excitement from his voice.

"You sound like you just quoted some dumb kids' TV show," Plagg complained. "Besides, the only thing that really matters is cheese. Specifically Camembert."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "How do you even know what a TV show is?"

"I have my secrets," the Kwami of destruction and misfortune said smugly.

Adrien zipped up his bag swiftly as Nino walked into the boys locker room.

"Sup, dude," the musician held out a fist in greetings. Adrien pounded it, a gesture that filled him with warmth. Before, he had only seen it done on Television, but now he gets to receive the special handshake.

Adrien shouldered his bag. "See you tomorrow, man."

"Dude, wait," Nino stopped him. "I haven't gotten your number yet."

"Oh," Adrien was stunned. His smile grew and he fumbled to get his phone out of his pocket. "Here."

He handed over his phone and Nino quickly typed in a number, talking as he did so. "So do you have a new phone or something?"

Adrien hummed. "No, why?"

Nino's brow furrowed. "Dude, you don't have a lot of contacts, unless they're business related."

"This is my first year at school," Adrien grinned. "Let's just say I didn't get out much. My father can be a bit overprotective."

Nino raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. "See you tomorrow, dude."

His first ever friend(!) left and Adrien had a feeling his cheeks might(probably) be sore tomorrow from all the smiling. His phone buzzed. Once. Twice.

He checked it:

Ninbro

hey dude, its nino

hope u dont mind i named my contct 4 u. ninbro = nino + bro

Adrien

Hey, Ninbro!

Adrien got another notification.

Mme. Nathalie

Adrien, Gorilla is waiting for you at the entrance of the school.

Adrien sighed, slipping his phone into his pocket and leaving the locker room. He made it to the main entrance, spotting Keana standing off to the side.

He smiled, walking up to his... almost friend. "Do you need a ride?"

Keana jumped, looking a little startled. "Oh, Adrien."

"It's raining pretty hard outside," he continued, "I'm sure my driver wouldn't mind dropping you off."

"Thanks," She shifted, "but I already have a ride. I'm just waiting for him." Her eyes scanned the people still milling around in the threshold. Probably looking for her ride, whoever that was.

"Want to trade numbers?" He asked. Daring, he knew, but he really wanted to be friends.

Keana blinked, as if she were surprised. Maybe she was, but Adrien was still pretty bad at reading body language. "Uhm, sure?"

Adrien handed her his phone and the process repeated itself. She handed it back, a bit uncertain. He grinned, "Thanks!"

"Bye," He waved and then he walked away, feeling wonderful.

He stepped outside, opening his umbrella. Then he spotted Marinette. The girl he was pretty sure hated him.

She was standing underneath the ledge overhanging from the roof, the ones Adrien was pretty sure were created just for people to get out of the rain. But they were more often than not barely thick enough to cover one person and they also came with the drawback of funneling the rain into even larger drops.

Marinette stood alone, just out of reach from the rain and it looked a little sad.

Adrien steeled himself and stood next to her. He honestly felt bad about the gum chair incident, even if it wasn't his fault.

Now was the perfect time to apologise.

. . .

Marinette stood stalk still as Adrien hopped into a limousine and drove away.

She gripped the giant umbrella in her hands like it was a lifeline.

Her heart was thumping in a way she has never felt before.

Her ears were still red from the embarrassing blunder she made in front of... Adrien.

"Tikki," She whispered, a feeling she could only describe as giddy flooding her veins. "Tikki, is this what love feels like?"

. . .

I observed the rain falling from the safety of the window.

It was nice of Adrien to give Pigtails his umbrella.

"I wish I had an umbrella," I mumbled.

"You don't need an umbrella." I jumped, whirling to face Chase. He raised an eyebrow. "I got the car."

"We still have to walk to the car," I complained.

He snorted. "It's hardly raining."

I rolled my eyes and gestured to the downpour

Knight sent me faint traces of laughter and relief. Probably relief from being able to get out of the bag.

We walked in silence to the-

No I can't even lie about that.

Chase kicked a puddle of water at me, and I complained loudly about my wet shoes and socks. Then I failed to get revenge because he ran away like a coward.

Such is the way of the world.

AN:

So yes, the world is a fusion. Hollow Knight characters will most likely be some form of Kwami or charm user. There may be a few other charms appearing in the crossover...

I hope the Zalgo text isn't too hard to understand. I might put the translations in if someone asks me to, but Knight mainly uses single word answers and key words to get their point across. It's also worth noting that Keana is the only person that can understand Knight because of the link they have.

Next chapter is a bit of a time skip, probably a few weeks, or even a month. Keana is very introverted and not outgoing, so I don't think you all want to see the process she takes when deciding if someone counts as a friend or not. Also, if you look at the canon timeline, the first few akumas are spaced out a fair bit.