Disclaimer:

I do not own Miraculous Ladybug or any of its characters. They are the property of Thomas Astruc, Zagtoon, and other rightful creators. This is a work of fanfiction created for entertainment purposes only, with no intent to infringe on any copyrights or trademarks.

However, any original characters, plotlines, and world-building additions—such as Gurvinder Singh and his story—are my own creations. This fanfiction is purely a passion project, written out of love for the Miraculous Ladybug universe.

Chapter 1 : a new guy at school

Marinette sat at her desk, hunched over her sketchbook, her pencil moving in quick, fluid strokes as she designed a new outfit. Alya leaned in, watching with interest.

"That looks amazing, girl," Alya whispered.

Marinette smiled, about to respond, when the classroom door opened. Their teacher stepped inside, followed by a tall guy none of them had seen before. He stood at about 5'11", an Indian student with a neatly tied white Sikh turban. His beard and mustache were well-groomed, and though his clothes were a bit loose, it was clear he was fit.

A few whispers scattered across the room.

"A new student?" "Is he in our class?" "Whoa, he looks cool."

Marinette blinked, looking him over curiously. He definitely had a presence—calm but confident.

The teacher clapped her hands to get their attention. "Class, we have a new student joining us. This is Gurvinder Singh. I hope you'll all make him feel welcome."

Gurvinder glanced around the classroom before flashing a playful grin. "I promise I won't bite… unless someone steals my lunch, then we might have a problem."

A few students chuckled. Even Marinette found herself smiling at his lighthearted tone.

The teacher gestured toward the empty seat next to Nino and Adrien. "You can take that seat, Gurvinder."

Gurvinder made his way through the desks, giving Adrien and Nino a nod before sitting down. As soon as he did, he leaned toward Adrien with a smirk.

"So, do you guys come with a manual, or do I just figure you out as we go?" he quipped.

Nino snorted. "Dude, you're gonna fit right in."

Adrien chuckled, adjusting his posture. "Guess we'll have to see if you can keep up."

Marinette found herself staring just a little longer than necessary before shaking her head. Why was she paying so much attention? It wasn't like she—

"Girl, you're totally staring," Alya whispered, nudging her with a knowing grin.

Marinette nearly dropped her pencil. "I was not!"

Alya just smirked. "Uh-huh, sure."

As the teacher continued with the lesson, Marinette stole one last glance at the new student. Something told her things were about to get interesting.

As the classes went on, Marinette couldn't help but notice how easily Gurvinder blended in with Nino and Adrien. Between each lesson, he kept cracking jokes, making both of them laugh.

At one point, when the teacher had just finished explaining a particularly boring math problem, Gurvinder leaned over to Nino, whispering just loud enough for Adrien to hear.

"So, if numbers are imaginary, does that mean my grades will be too?"

Nino burst out laughing, quickly covering his mouth when the teacher gave him a sharp look. Adrien chuckled, shaking his head.

"Only if you imagine them high enough," Adrien whispered back.

Gurvinder grinned. "Oh, don't worry. I always aim for unrealistic expectations."

Marinette found herself smiling despite herself. He was effortlessly funny, and the way he bantered with Adrien and Nino made it seem like he had been in their friend group for years instead of just a few hours.

At one point, Alya nudged Marinette. "Okay, I'll admit, he's kinda hilarious."

Marinette huffed, going back to her sketchbook. "He's… okay, I guess."

Alya smirked. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

As the lessons continued, Marinette noticed something else—Gurvinder wasn't just a class clown. While he joked around between lessons, during class, he was surprisingly attentive.

He listened carefully, his eyes focused on the board, occasionally nodding as if processing the information. When the teacher asked a question, he didn't hesitate to answer. And what surprised Marinette even more was that his answers were actually good.

During history class, when Ms. Bustier asked about the significance of a historical event, Gurvinder responded without missing a beat.

"Well, if you think about it," he started, leaning back slightly, "that event wasn't just about politics—it completely changed how people saw leadership at the time. It wasn't just about who had power, but how they used it."

Ms. Bustier smiled. "That's an excellent perspective, Gurvinder."

Marinette blinked. Not what she was expecting from someone who joked about imaginary grades earlier.

Alya nudged her. "Okay, not just funny—smart too. What do you think, girl?"

Marinette quickly looked down at her sketchbook, pretending to be absorbed in her designs. "I think… class is still going, Alya."

Alya snickered. "Uh-huh. Deflecting, I see."

Marinette ignored her, but she couldn't help but steal another glance at Gurvinder. There was definitely more to him than she initially thought.

As soon as the class ended, Marinette stretched her arms, letting out a small sigh. But before she could gather her things, she heard a familiar, irritating voice.

"Oh, how pathetic," Chloe sneered, crossing her arms. "Staring at Adrien again, Dupain-Cheng? Do you seriously think he'd ever look at someone like you?"

Marinette tensed. Just as she was about to open her mouth, a sudden, high-pitched voice interrupted.

"Ohhh my goooosh, Adrien! Look at me! I'm sooo much better than everyone else! Ugh, why is Marinette even breathing in the same air as meee?"

The entire class turned toward the source. It was Gurvinder.

He was standing next to Chloe, mimicking her exaggeratedly, flipping his non-existent blonde hair and fluttering his lashes like an overdramatic diva. His voice was screechy, filled with mockery.

The room went silent for a split second before Nino burst out laughing. Even Adrien struggled to hold back a chuckle.

Chloe's eyes widened in shock before they burned with fury. "How dare you?! Do you even know who my daddy is?!"

Gurvinder gasped dramatically, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh nooo, your daddy?! Should I start shaking now or later?"

Chloe's face turned red with anger. "You—! You—!"

Before anyone could react, she raised her hand, about to slap him.

But Gurvinder, completely unfazed, calmly pulled up his sleeve, revealing a well-toned bicep and tricep. He flexed just enough to show definition and then tilted his head, his eyes sharp with warning.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said casually, his voice dropping a little. "Step closer, and you might just break your hand."

Chloe froze. For the first time, she looked genuinely unsure. She glanced between his arm and his confident smirk before huffing loudly.

"Ugh! Whatever! You're all losers anyway!" she snapped before storming out of the classroom.

The second she left, the room erupted into laughter. Nino clutched his stomach. "Dude—dude! That was epic!"

Adrien chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't think anyone's ever made Chloe back off like that before."

Even Alya was grinning. "Okay, I like this guy."

Marinette, still stunned, finally found her voice. She looked at Gurvinder with wide eyes. "That was… really bold."

Gurvinder shrugged, rolling his sleeve back down. "Well, can't let bullies think they run the world, right?"

Marinette found herself smiling. Maybe this new guy wasn't so bad after all.

During the physical education class, Gurvinder quickly became the center of attention.

A group of guys gathered around him, impressed by his physique. Nino, Adrien, and a few others asked him questions, their curiosity clear.

"Dude, how do you get arms like that?" one guy asked.

"Do you lift weights, or is it all natural?" another added.

Gurvinder chuckled, leaning against the locker with an easy smirk. "Nah, no fancy gyms. Just basic bodyweight exercises, push-ups, pull-ups, and a lot of stamina training. You don't need expensive equipment, just dedication."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "That's actually kinda cool. So, no personal trainer?"

Gurvinder shook his head. "Nope. Just me, my routine, and a whole lot of consistency."

Just then, Kim pushed his way through the crowd, his expression stiff. He had always been the fittest guy in class, the one people looked up to when it came to sports and training. But now, all eyes were on Gurvinder, and it was obvious he didn't like it.

"So," Kim crossed his arms, eyeing Gurvinder up and down. "You think you're the strongest guy in school now?"

Gurvinder smirked, his sharp wit already loading up a response. "Nah, man. Strength isn't just about muscles—it's about endurance, speed, and knowing when to use it. You should know that, right?"

Kim's jaw tightened. "Of course, I do."

Gurvinder gave a lazy stretch. "Then what's the problem? You feeling threatened or something?"

The other guys exchanged glances, sensing the tension. Adrien and Nino looked between them, unsure if they should step in.

Kim scoffed. "Please. I could outrun and outlift you any day."

Gurvinder grinned, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh yeah? Wanna put that to the test?"

The challenge hung in the air, and the entire class went silent, waiting for Kim's response.

Gurvinder swiped the back of his hand through his beard, his smirk widening. "Alright then, let's settle this with a pull-up challenge. See how many we can do."

Kim scoffed. "Easy."

Gurvinder held up a finger. "Ah-ah, let's add some stakes to make it fun." He leaned in slightly. "If I win, we shake hands and call it even—become friends, yeah? But if I lose, you get to brag about it and bully me for an entire year. Deal?"

Kim raised an eyebrow, clearly considering. "You serious?"

Gurvinder extended his hand. "Dead serious."

Kim smirked and shook it. "Fine. Hope you're ready to lose."

The class had already gathered around, excited for the showdown. The gym teacher, intrigued by the challenge, allowed them to use the pull-up bars.

Kim went first, gripping the bar with confidence. He pulled himself up, steady and strong. 10… 15… 20… His arms started to shake slightly around 30, but he pushed through, reaching 40 before finally dropping down, panting.

The crowd clapped as Kim wiped the sweat from his forehead, shooting a cocky glance at Gurvinder. "Beat that."

Gurvinder simply cracked his knuckles and stepped up. Without hesitation, he jumped and grabbed the bar.

1… 5… 10… 20… He maintained a smooth, steady rhythm, barely looking strained.

By the time he hit 40, he still looked completely in control. When he passed 50, the class started whispering in amazement.

Then, without dropping down, Gurvinder adjusted his grip—and pulled himself up in a powerful motion, rising over the bar with his chest. A muscle-up.

The class gasped.

He didn't stop there. He did another. And another.

By the time he reached ten muscle-ups, everyone was in complete shock.

Gurvinder finally dropped down, rolling his shoulders like it was nothing. "Whew. That was fun."

Kim's mouth hung open slightly. The rest of the guys were speechless.

Gurvinder extended his hand. "So… we shaking on it?"

Kim clenched his jaw for a second, then sighed, accepting the handshake. "Yeah, yeah… fine. You got me."

Gurvinder grinned. "Good. You're pretty strong yourself, man. Keep it up."

Kim exhaled, looking at him in a new light. "You're not half bad either."

Adrien and Nino clapped Gurvinder on the back, while the rest of the class murmured about how insane that performance was.

Marinette, watching from the sidelines, blinked in disbelief. "Did he just…?"

Alya let out a low whistle. "Okay, girl, I really like this guy."

As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Adrien clapped Gurvinder on the back.

That's when Marinette caught it—just for a second, a subtle reaction. A sharp inhale, a barely-there wince.

Gurvinder quickly masked it with a grin, rolling his shoulders as if nothing had happened. No one else seemed to notice, not even Adrien or Nino. But Marinette did.

Was he hurt?

She furrowed her brows slightly, watching as he laughed and joked with the others. If he was in pain, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it.

Maybe I imagined it… she thought, shaking her head.

Still, something about it nagged at her. But before she could dwell on it, Alya nudged her. "Come on, let's get changed before we're late for the next class."

Marinette nodded, pushing the thought to the back of her mind. Maybe it was nothing… or maybe Gurvinder wasn't as unbreakable as he seemed.

The day kept moving, and soon, the lunch bell rang. Students flooded into the cafeteria, chatting and laughing as they grabbed their food.

Marinette had just sat down with her tray when she noticed someone stepping beside her. She looked up to see Gurvinder standing there, his usual easy-going smile in place.

"Hey," he said casually. "You good? I hope Chloe didn't bother you again."

Marinette blinked, a little surprised that he was checking up on her. "Oh! Uh, no, she didn't." She glanced away, twirling her fork in her food. "She usually picks on me, so I'm kind of used to it."

Gurvinder raised an eyebrow. "Used to it?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "That's not exactly a good thing."

Marinette gave a small shrug. "I mean, I try not to let her get to me."

Gurvinder crossed his arms, his tone still light but firm. "Yeah, well, you shouldn't have to deal with it in the first place."

His words made something warm settle in Marinette's chest. She wasn't used to someone outright standing up for her like that—at least, not someone new.

She smiled. "Thanks, Gurvinder. That was really nice of you earlier."

He grinned, resting a hand on his chest dramatically. "Ah, but of course! It's my duty as a man of honor to protect my classmates from royal pain-in-the-neck tyrants."

Marinette giggled. "A man of honor, huh?"

Gurvinder smirked. "Obviously." Then, he plopped down across from her. "So, what's good to eat here? Or am I about to regret my life choices?"

Marinette laughed. "Well… let's just say, the food here is an acquired taste."

Gurvinder stared at his tray. "Noted. If I don't survive this, tell my story."

Marinette shook her head, still smiling. Maybe having him around wouldn't be so bad after all.

"besides wanna have some MARI-cons, i heard you like them" said gurvi

Marinette paused mid-bite, blinking in confusion. "Wait… what?"

Gurvinder smirked, leaning slightly closer. "MARI-cons." He wiggled his eyebrows. "I heard you like them."

It took her a second. Then it clicked.

Her eyes widened. "Do you mean macarons?!"

Gurvinder burst out laughing. "Ohhh, so you do like them! Caught ya!"

Marinette groaned, covering her face with both hands as Alya cackled beside her. "Gurvinder, that was awful!"

"Nah, that was gold," Alya said between laughs. "MARI-cons! Oh man, I wish I had recorded that."

Marinette peeked at Gurvinder through her fingers, her cheeks slightly pink. "You totally did that on purpose."

He grinned. "Guilty. But c'mon, you walked right into it."

She huffed, crossing her arms but unable to hide her amused smile. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're just mad because you know it was funny."

Adrien and Nino, who had just sat down, glanced between them.

"What'd we miss?" Adrien asked.

Gurvinder smirked. "Oh, just me inventing a new pastry in Marinette's honor."

Nino raised an eyebrow. "Uh… should I even ask?"

Marinette groaned again. "No. Absolutely not."

But despite her embarrassment, she couldn't stop the small giggle that slipped out.

"besides marinette" he dropped a spare key of her home on the table, "i have managed to take a job at your bakery aaaand... i dont have a place to live so they offered me a room at your home" said gurvi

Marinette stared at the key on the table, her brain short-circuiting for a moment.

"Uh…" She blinked, looking up at Gurvinder. "What?"

Gurvinder grinned, resting his chin on his hand. "You heard me. I got a job at your bakery aaaand—plot twist—I don't have a place to stay, so your folks were kind enough to let me live there." He leaned back, smirking. "Guess that makes us housemates now."

Alya nearly choked on her drink. "What?!"

Nino and Adrien looked equally shocked. "Dude… that was fast," Nino commented.

Marinette, still trying to process, pointed at the key. "How did you even—when did this—why?!"

Gurvinder shrugged. "Well, I needed a job, and your bakery is the best in town. Your parents were looking for extra help, and when I mentioned I didn't have a place yet, they insisted I stay in the spare room upstairs." He tapped the key. "So, here we are."

Marinette's mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again.

Adrien chuckled. "Wow. That's… unexpected."

Alya smirked, nudging Marinette. "Looks like you two are gonna be seeing a lot of each other now."

Marinette finally snapped out of it, grabbing the key and shoving it back toward Gurvinder. "Th-That doesn't mean you can just drop this information on me like that! You could've at least warned me!"

Gurvinder chuckled. "I did—just now."

She groaned, covering her face with both hands. "This is so not happening…"

Gurvinder leaned in slightly, his voice teasing. "Oh, but it is, roomie."

Marinette let out another groan as Alya cackled beside her.

"oh also expect some late night taps on your window the thing is i go to a mma club, and sometimes i get late when cominh home so i might climb up and knock on your window" said gurvinder.

Marinette slowly lowered her hands from her face, staring at Gurvinder like he had just spoken in an alien language.

"You're going to what?"

Gurvinder smirked, casually stretching his arms. "Oh, y'know… expect some late-night taps on your window. I go to an MMA club, and sometimes I get home late, so I might climb up and knock on your window if I don't wanna wake your parents."

Marinette nearly dropped her fork. "You're joking."

Adrien and Nino exchanged amused glances, while Alya looked like she was living for the drama.

"Nope," Gurvinder said casually. "I mean, you live on the second floor. Nothing too hard to climb."

Marinette gaped at him. "That's not the point!"

He leaned on his elbow, giving her a playful grin. "Then what is the point, roomie?"

"The point is—" She groaned. "Ugh! You can't just show up at my window in the middle of the night! What if I think you're a burglar?!"

Gurvinder stroked his beard in mock thought. "Well, I could wear a name tag that says 'Not a Burglar,' but I feel like that'd ruin the mystery."

Alya lost it, nearly falling off her seat laughing. "Oh, Marinette, you are so doomed."

Adrien chuckled. "I mean… at least he's warning you?"

Marinette threw her hands up. "That doesn't make it better!"

Gurvinder grinned. "Relax, I'll only knock if I forget my key." He tapped the spare key on the table. "Which I totally won't."

Marinette snatched it and shoved it into his hand. "Use. The. Door."

Gurvinder laughed, pocketing the key. "No promises."

Marinette groaned again, while Alya wiped tears from her eyes. "Girl, you have to keep me updated on this."

Nino grinned. "Dude, you're a legend already."

Marinette just slumped forward onto the table. This is my life now…

As soon as school ended, Marinette stormed home, her steps quick and full of frustration.

She barely greeted her parents before marching straight to them in the bakery. "Maman! Papa! We need to talk."

Sabine and Tom, who were in the middle of preparing some fresh pastries, looked up at her sudden entrance.

Sabine smiled. "Oh, hello, sweetie! How was school?"

Marinette crossed her arms. "Oh, it was fine—except for the part where you decided to let a guy I barely know live in our house without telling me!"

Tom chuckled awkwardly. "Oh… you found out already, huh?"

Marinette gaped at him. "Of course I found out! He dropped a house key on my table at lunch like it was nothing!"

Sabine wiped her hands on a cloth. "Marinette, sweetheart, we were going to tell you tonight."

Marinette threw her arms in the air. "When? After I found a random boy in my hallway?!"

Tom sighed, setting down a tray. "We didn't mean to surprise you like this. Gurvinder needed a place to stay, and he's such a nice young man. He's hardworking, respectful, and…" He paused, then smiled proudly. "Did you see how strong he is? He lifted those heavy flour bags like they were nothing!"

Marinette groaned. "Papa, that's not the point!"

Sabine gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Honey, we really thought you'd be okay with this. You two will barely cross paths. He'll be working in the bakery most of the time, and he's got his own space."

Marinette crossed her arms tighter. "Oh yeah? He also said to expect late-night knocks on my window because he goes to an MMA club and might climb up instead of using the door!"

Sabine blinked. "Oh."

Tom chuckled. "That's… impressive climbing skills, actually."

Marinette groaned again. "Papa!"

Sabine stifled a laugh. "Sweetheart, you'll get used to it. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to have another friend around?"

Marinette exhaled, realizing she wasn't winning this argument. "You could've at least warned me…"

Sabine kissed her forehead. "We're sorry, sweetheart. But give him a chance, okay?"

Marinette sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fine. But if he does climb to my window, I'm throwing a shoe at him."

Tom and Sabine chuckled, and from the staircase behind her, a familiar voice chimed in—

"I'll be sure to bring a helmet."

Marinette whipped around to see Gurvinder leaning casually against the railing, smirking.

She groaned for the hundredth time that day. This was going to be a disaster.

Marinette stormed towards her room jumped on the bed and just slept in frustation, she slept through the entire afternoon and it was evening now.

Marinette groggily opened her eyes, still feeling the weight of frustration from earlier. But what had woken her up wasn't just any noise—it was her father's voice, firm and unmistakably scolding someone.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, then slowly got out of bed. As she stepped downstairs, the voices became clearer.

"…your first day, Gurvinder! You were supposed to be here for your shift, and instead, you just disappear?" Tom's voice was stern, filled with disappointment.

Marinette reached the bottom of the stairs and turned the corner, only to see Gurvinder standing in front of her father. His head was slightly bowed, hands clasped behind his back, silently listening to every word Tom threw at him.

His usual cocky smirk was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't arguing, wasn't making excuses—just standing there, letting her father's words hit him without a single protest.

Something about the sight made Marinette pause.

Tom let out an exasperated sigh. "If you had told us you'd be late, that would've been different! But you didn't say a word! Do you think this is how responsibility works?"

Marinette frowned. Before she could stop herself, she stepped forward.

"At least tell him where you are next time, Gurvinder." Her voice was firm, but not unkind.

Gurvinder lifted his gaze slightly, his dark eyes meeting hers for just a second.

He still didn't say a word.

Marinette took another step forward, her brows furrowed. "Papa, at least listen to him."

Tom turned to her, arms crossed. "Marinette, he didn't even try to explain himself."

She glanced at Gurvinder, who was still standing there, head slightly bowed, his hands clasped behind his back. He hadn't uttered a single excuse or defense.

Marinette frowned. Why wasn't he saying anything?

She sighed and looked back at her father. "I get that he messed up, but maybe there's a reason he was late. Shouldn't we hear him out before jumping to conclusions?"

Tom hesitated, his expression softening slightly. He exhaled deeply and turned back to Gurvinder. "Fine. Speak."

Marinette crossed her arms, waiting for his response. But Gurvinder remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then, finally, he took a breath.

"…I lost track of time." His voice was calm, but something about it felt… off.

Tom huffed. "That's not an excuse."

Marinette's frown deepened. She knew there was more to it than that. But why wasn't he saying anything?

mari told him again to speak we will listen she said, to which the gurvi spoke "i... was at my uncle's mma club he is my gaurdian and its just he does not know i got a job and i go to school too, i cannot live with him for some reasons but i train at his mma club and help him too, and he called me to get there asap and today the training was... harsh thats why i got late, iam sorry it wont happen again i can go uncle if you dont like my schedule I don't wanna disturb you im sorry" said gurvi.

Marinette's expression softened as she heard his words. She could tell how hesitant he was to even say this much.

She took a small step closer. "Gurvinder, you don't have to apologize like that. We just… we just wanted to know what happened."

Tom's frown deepened, but his tone wasn't as harsh anymore. "So, your uncle doesn't know you're working here? Or that you're even in school?"

Gurvinder shook his head. "No. He thinks I'm just training full-time. If he knew, he'd probably make me quit both." He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I can go live with him if you don't like my schedule. I don't wanna cause trouble here."

Marinette exchanged a quick glance with her father.

Tom let out a long breath, crossing his arms. "Look, kid… I'm not kicking you out. But if you're staying here and working in my bakery, you have to communicate. I can't have you disappearing and missing work without a word."

Gurvinder nodded, his gaze still downcast. "I understand. It won't happen again."

Marinette bit her lip. She could tell there was more to this situation than he was saying, but now wasn't the time to press him.

Sabine, who had been quietly listening from the side, finally spoke up. "Gurvinder, we're not upset that you train. But we need to make sure you're taking care of yourself, too. If your training is too harsh, maybe we should talk about it?"

Gurvinder quickly shook his head. "No, no—it's fine. I can handle it."

Marinette wasn't convinced. She remembered how he had winced when Adrien clapped him on the back earlier. If the training was that rough… just how bad was it?

But for now, she just sighed. "Just… don't keep everything to yourself next time, okay?"

Gurvinder finally met her eyes. There was a flicker of something—gratitude, maybe—but it disappeared just as quickly.

"…Okay."

Sabine smiled warmly. "Come, Gurvinder, join us for dinner."

Gurvinder hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, uh… I don't wanna intrude. It's your family time—I'll just eat in my room."

Tom huffed. "Nonsense! You're living under our roof, that makes you family. And in this house, we eat together."

Sabine nodded. "We insist."

Marinette watched as Gurvinder shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure. He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. After a moment, he sighed, giving a small nod. "…Alright."

Sabine smiled. "Good! But first, go wash up. You must be exhausted after your training."

Tom waved a hand. "Bathroom's down the hall. Get cleaned up, and we'll set the table."

Gurvinder nodded again and headed toward his room.

Marinette started walking to her own room but paused when she noticed something—Gurvinder's steps were off.

He was limping.

It wasn't obvious, but when he thought no one was looking, his posture stiffened, and he let out a small, barely audible wince.

Marinette frowned. So his training really was that bad…

She wanted to ask him about it—if he was okay, if he needed anything—but something told her he wouldn't answer honestly.

So she said nothing.

Instead, she just watched as he disappeared into his room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Marinette sat on the edge of her bed, her thoughts swirling.

Gurvinder had been limping. He had winced. That wasn't normal training soreness—he was hurt.

Yet, even when her father was scolding him, even when he had every right to explain himself, he just stood there, silent, taking it all without a word of defense.

Why?

Most people would've at least tried to explain. But Gurvinder barely did. He only spoke when she pushed him to. And even then, he brushed it off like it wasn't a big deal.

Marinette frowned, gripping her bedsheets.

Was this just how he was? Did he think he had to take everything in silence?

Her mind flickered back to school, to how he was laughing, joking around like nothing was wrong.

And yet… this was the same guy who had winced from a simple clap on the back and limped when no one was watching.

She bit her lip.

He was definitely hiding something.

And whether he liked it or not, she was going to find out what.