Adrien
The empty house still felt the same. It was as if his father had never left. The only indication that he was indeed gone, was that the light in his study was off, and remained off. He wondered if Grant had discovered anything, he prayed he hadn't. He didn't want his father to be hawkmoth. It didn't make sense. Sure, Gabriel was standoffish, but he wasn't a monster. He showed affection, in his own way. Adrien found it hard to believe that he could manipulate people like hawkmoth did. Plagg was snoring over in the bed, while Adrien caught up on the Ladyblog. His interview had been posted, and true to her word, she had cut out the part about Marinette. It was a short interview, but they usually were.
"I hate this."
He whispered, scrolling down to a picture of his lady. She was stoic, her features hardened. Perhaps it had been taken during an acuma attack. She had changed so much over the years. She used to be so out there, always looking at the positive sides of things. He had noticed when Ladybug changed. He had seen the way her fighting style changed, her attitude adjustment. He had tried to talk to her, but she had always brushed him off. He felt guilty. Marinette had needed him this entire time, and he was so distracted by her alter ego, that he had missed her completely. He could see why she was worried about not matching up to Ladybug, he understood it. But he loved her. Spots or not. He hated that she seemed so unsure of herself. It felt like Adrien was to blame. She had spent years trying to get his attention, and he ignored her every move. Sure, they had been friends. Good friends. But he wasn't as attentive as he should have been. He could have been better. He will be better. He was going to fix everything. He just didn't know where to start.
* * * * *
He quickly shut off his alarm, it had gone off several times. He was going to be late again. He threw on his clothes, Plagg quickly scarfing down a piece of cheese.
"You slept hard."
"You could have woken me up."
Adrien hissed, putting on his shoes. Plagg made a face, shaking his head.
"Then I would have had to get up earlier."
Adrien rolled his eyes, opening his shirt pocket. Plagg flew in without complaint, and he grabbed his bookbag, racing down the stairs. Maybe Marinette had waited for him. He sent her a text, asking if she was still at home. He didn't have to wait for a reply long, since she responded just as he made it to the car.
"Running late Agreste? Tsk tsk."
He smiled, pulling out of the driveway and onto the road. He booked it to the bakery, where she was standing outside. He threw open her door and she jumped in, giving him a bewildered look.
"I know I know. I slept in."
He sighed, pulling back out onto the road.
"It's not that. I don't think I've ever seen you sporting a bed-head look."
He glanced at his reflection in the side mirror, shaking his head. He looked like a mess.
"Forgot to fix my hair."
She giggled, and he glanced at her. Someone was in a good mood.
"Sorry, that just sounded like such a model thing to say."
He made a face, pulling in to the parking lot. Most of the spaces were already filled up, and the sky looked as if it would open any minute. He finally found a space, a good distance away from the stairs.
"Like you don't fix your hair?"
"I brush it, throw in hair ties and bam. Done. You probably take at least an hour on yours."
He chuckled at that, and she leaned over, ruffling his hair.
"Ohh... that made it worse."
He scoffed, grabbing a comb out of the glove compartment.
"I appreciate that."
She grinned, and he focused on combing his hair while she looked out the window.
"It's gonna rain soon prince charming. Let's go already."
That was a new nickname. He sighed, sticking the comb in his back pocket.
"Alright, for someone who is late all the time you're pretty impatient."
He grabbed his bag and they both got out, heading towards the school.
"We've got a minute and like thirty seconds to get there before the bell rings."
She mumbled, checking her phone.
"Wanna race me? Last to class has to pay for the winner's lunch."
She paused, before looking at him.
"You're on. We go on the count of three."
He grinned, pulling his bag over his chest, so he wouldn't have to worry about holding it.
"Just say when."
She took up position, and he marveled at the stance. That was such a Ladybug thing to do.
"One... two..."
She paused, grinning at him.
"Are you goi-"
"Three!"
She shouted, taking off. What a cheap move. He was close behind, and it started to sprinkle.
"That was cheating and you know it!"
She glanced behind her, and for a small fraction of a second, time stood still. Bright bluebell eyes were on him, and she was smiling. Genuinely. How could he have missed that smile? Those eyes? How could he have been so blind?
"Don't be a sore loser!"
She called over her shoulder, before turning back to the steps. She took them two at a time, and soon he was in step with her. They both rushed through the doors, straight to the stairs. They were side by side, and he could tell she was annoyed by it. She tried to pick up her pace, but he was right there with her. It was starting to pour, but he could barely feel it. They made it to the classroom, and it was so close he couldn't tell who won. The bell rang, and he struggled to catch his breath. She was fast, though he should have expected that.
"Glad to see you made it in time. Take your seats."
The voice was familiar, and they both turned to look at the origin. Grant stood behind the desk, wearing a small smirk. What the hell was he doing here? Marinette seemed as shocked as he was, staring at him in disbelief.
"Hi everyone, I'm Grant. I'll be your substitute teacher for the day, since your teacher has come down with a cold. Please take your seats, and will someone come to the front to explain to me what you've all been working on?"
Adrien took his seat, his eyes locked on Grant. Why was he here? Did he find out something about Hawkmoth? Why was he pretending to be a substitute? Sabrina moved to the front, telling him what the class had been doing. Grant looked completely bored, and eventually waved her back off to her seat.
"So, unfortunately for you guys, I hate history. I'm more of a live in the present kind of person. Let's play a game instead."
"A game? We aren't five anymore."
Chloe whined, and Grant looked over at her annoyed.
"What? This isn't kindergarten? Gosh. I must be in the wrong classroom."
He replied, sarcasm thickly coating his words. Several students snickered, but Adrien couldn't muster a laugh. There had to be a reason Grant was here. What was it? Chloe mumbled under her breath, and Grant moved around to the front of the desk, sitting down on it.
"We're going to do group exercises. I'm going to assign three to a group, and your job, is to create an acuma."
Marinette was tapping her finger on the side of her desk, her breathing labored. Was it from all the running? Or was she really just that pissed off?
"So, in history class, we're going to work on campfire stories?"
Marinette asked, and he watched Alya look at her, her jaw slack. Grant smiled, standing up and walking over to her desk.
"It's miss...?"
"Marinette."
Her tone was cold, and Grant nodded.
"Well, miss Marinette, history is literally a story. So unless you'd like to copy three chapters of that story down, I'd sit back and listen. Would any of you rather sit there and copy a few chapters?"
A few shaking heads appeared, and several answered with a 'no'. Adrien sighed, already annoyed with Grant. He didn't have to respond to her like that.
"Great. I want everyone to get in groups of three."
The class shifted around, and Chloe immediately drug Sabrina over to him, giving him a wide grin.
"Hey Adrikins."
At least it hadn't been Lila.
"Hey Chloe."
"Everyone settle down!"
Grant shouted, and the class dissolved into silence. Grant glanced around the room, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. He pointed at Adrien's group, and he felt Chloe grab his arm a little tighter.
"You, Sabrina right? Come here."
Sabrina made her way through the seats, and he looked down at Marinette.
"Up you go."
He nodded towards Adrien's group, and Marinette scoffed, before storming up the rows to his desk. She plopped down in the seat, glaring at Grant. He moved a few more people around, but Adrien figured it had only been to get on Marinette's nerves. Maybe he somehow knew she hated Chloe? He shifted closer to Marinette, so Chloe could sit down on the bench with them.
"Alright, now that that is settled, there are a few specific points I want you to cover on this. I want the design thought out and described. I want why they were acumatized written, as well as what their powers are. And, I want you to explain how they came to be defeated. No copying. Do not just write about a previous acuma attack. Have some originality. Get to work."
The class started talking immediately, and Marinette grumbled next to him. Chloe seemed annoyed too, and he immediately felt weird being between the two of them.
"Where should we start?"
He asked, and Marinette pulled out a sketch book, opening to a blank page.
"I'll do the design. Just figure out the acuma."
"So you get to color while we do all the hard work?"
Chloe snapped, and Adrien took a deep breath, looking up at Grant. He was smirking, and when they made eye contact his smirk turned into a grin.
"Oh Chloe, I didn't know you could draw out a well detailed suit. Please, be my guest."
She ripped out a page of her sketchbook, reaching across Adrien and slamming it on the desk in front of Chloe. She looked disgusted, and turned to Marinette.
"I'm not going to draw anything. Unlike you, I actually want to do some of the work, so Adrien doesn't have to do it by himself."
"Please. I've never seen you do any kind of work the entire time I've known you."
He gulped, grabbing the sketchbook paper and passing it back to Marinette.
"Okay, so ideas ladies? Can we figure that part out first?"
Marinette sighed, digging out a pencil from her bag.
"I don't know. It's hard not to plagiarize when there have been so many different acumas over the years."
She responded, and he heard Chloe mutter under her breath, Marinette immediately turning to look at her.
"Too scared to say it to my face?"
He closed his eyes, leaning forward in an attempt to block their view of each other. This was going to be one hell of a class. He felt Marinette's hand on his chest, and he opened his eyes as she eased him back against the back of the bench.
"Not everything is about you Mari-trash."
"That's hilarious coming from someone who thinks she's the sun."
Chloe looked down at her outfit, then back up at Marinette.
"I don't recall the sun wearing stripes."
"God you're dense. It means that you think everything revolves around you."
Marinette snapped, and he looked over at her. She looked pissed.
"You know what Marinette?"
"Can we please just focus on the project?"
He asked, but both of them ignored him.
"What Chloe? What words of wisdom do you have for me?"
Her tone was practically dripping with malice, and he prayed for class to end, though it had just started.
"I think it's good that you're doing the design for the acuma. Because that's as far as you're ever going to get. No one with your lack of skill could ever make it in the fashion industry."
He could feel Marinette tense up, and she stood, leaning over him.
"You know what Chloe? I think it's about time I rip out all of those bleach blonde, trashy, probably made from dog hair-because that's how awful you are, extensions. Time to do the world a fucking favor."