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Redemption	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 2815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Adrien was late to class on Monday morning. With a hushed apology to Caline, he took his seat and hastened to pull out his book, tablet, and pen. Nino discreetly slid his workbook over so Adrien could copy his notes. With a smile and a nod of thanks, Adrien listened to the lecture, while subtly writing down Nino's work, then gently nudging his book back once he had caught up.
Once they were dismissed for lunch, Marinette lunged over her desk to tap Adrien's shoulder. He turned around and smiled, expectantly, up at her.
'Hey, Marinette, what's up?'
'Why were you late?' she asked, skipping the pleasantries.
Alya and Nino leaned in to listen as well.
Adrien scratched the back of his head. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I wasn't actually late, I was just talking to Principal Damocles, that's all.'
Marinette sat back, and began to pack her things up. 'Oh, I wasn't worried, just wondering where you'd run off to, is all.'
Alya and Nino both snorted, before turning away to hide their snickers.
Adrien eyed them, curiously. 'Ok.'
'So, what did you have to talk to Principal Damocles about?' Marinette hurried on.
Adrien hefted his bag over his shoulder. 'I was asking if Sabrina could come back to school early.'
Marinette, Alya, and Nino looked at him with wide eyes, and open mouths, as Adrien shrugged.
'Why?' Nino finally asked, as he got up to leave as well.
Adrien explained as they exited the classroom, and school, for lunch. 'She, Alix, and their fathers came to visit me on Saturday.'
'Marinette was telling us this morning that they'd been to see her,' Alya told him. 'She said it went as well as one could expect.'
'At least they apologised,' muttered Nino.
Adrien laughed quietly. 'They came to apologise to me, too. But, it was obvious Alix was only there because her father made her.'
'How did it go?' Marinette asked, as they turned toward the bakery.
Adrien lifted his shoulder with a non-committal hum. 'They came in, sat down. I prepared tea and biscuits, then their dads told them to say sorry.'
Marinette chuckled. 'Their dads had to prompt them with me, too.'
Adrien sighed, a corner of his mouth quirked up, wryly. 'Alix gave me some pre-prepared spiel she clearly didn't care for, but I appreciated the effort it must've taken her, and accepted her apology.'
Marinette nodded in understanding, as Alya and Nino listened with rapt attention.
'Sabrina was more genuine. She explained why she was hurting, and told me it would take a long time before she felt she could accept my presence here. I thought it was brave of her to be so open and honest. She said she was sorry to have stooped so low in her effort to get revenge, and that you were right, Marinette.'
Marinette looked up in surprise, as she pushed open the bakery door. 'I was? About what?'
'She said you told her that being mean would only make her feel worse. She then admitted she had gotten no satisfaction from bullying me, and that she felt like a monster after she told the others to throw garbage on us.'
'She hid that well,' Alya muttered, darkly.
Sabine emerged from the kitchen, smiling wide. 'Hello, children,' she greeted, wrapping each of them in a hug.
Marinette felt a squishy warmth in her chest when she hugged Adrien. He returned Sabine's affections, looking happy and peaceful.
'Go on upstairs. Marinette, there's soup in the pot. Could you serve everyone, please? I'm expecting someone to pick up a delivery, and your father is still adding the final touches.'
'Yes, Maman,' Marinette replied, dutifully.
They filed up the stairs and sat around the kitchen counter, so Adrien could continue his narrative. Marinette listened as she withdrew bowls from the cupboard and filled them with Sabine's soup.
'Sabrina seemed genuinely remorseful, even if it was only for Marinette's sake, but I'll take it. I think a lot of her pain comes from missing Chloe, as much as being akumatised.'
'Chloe leaving had nothing to do with you, though,' Nino argued.
Adrien raised a brow at him. 'Mayor Bourgeois pulled her out of school, and sent her away, because I started going there. It may not have been my doing, but I was still the reason she left.'
Nino huffed, folded his arms, and pouted mulishly. 'Well, if you insist on being reasonable about it,' he groused.
They laughed as Marinette distributed the bowls and soup spoons. 'Would anyone like a drink before I sit down?'
Three hands shot into the air. Marinette turned to the fridge and pulled out three bottles of soda, giving one to each of them, before fetching another for herself. She then sat across from Adrien, on the kitchen side of the counter, and began to eat.
Adrien unscrewed the cap and took a sip, humming his appreciation. 'What is this?' he asked, pointing to the unfamiliar characters printed on the side of the bottle.
'Peach soda,' Marinette replied. 'Do you like it?'
He nodded. 'Yeah, it's not too sweet, but not too bitter, either.'
They ate in silence after that, until Nino asking for seconds broke the quiet camaraderie.
Sabine entered a short time later, bearing a plate of pastries she deemed unworthy of selling.
'What's wrong with them?' Adrien asked, staring at the stack in puzzlement as Sabine placed it on the counter before him.
'They're uneven. Utterly unfit to be seen,' Sabine replied, throwing an arm over her brow, dramatically. 'If only I had four ravenous teenagers to take this offensive blight off my hands.'
Nino didn't wait. He devoured something before Marinette could identify what he'd picked up.
'Ugly, but delicious,' he proclaimed, his mouth still full.
Alya elbowed him in the ribs. 'How can you still be hungry after two helpings?'
'I'm a growing boy,' he defended himself.
'Growing outwards,' Alya snickered as she selected a macaroon.
Sabine laughed and left them then, pleased with herself.
Marinette cleared her throat. 'So, what did Principal Damocles say about Sabrina coming back early?'
Adrien swallowed his mouthful of éclair. 'He said he was impressed by my maturity and thoughtfulness, but he would have to make the punishment last for another week, at least. If he allowed her to come back early, then other people would expect the same. He said it could set a dangerous precedent and undermine his authority.
'I guess that makes sense,' Alya conceded. 'I can see Kim making such a demand, even though he's done nothing to earn it.'
'That was why I asked if Sabrina could come back in the first place. She had earned it. I told Principal Damocles what happened, and he agreed with me, in principle, but in practice, too much could go wrong.'
'Well, no one would think his punishments meant anything. He'd lose all respect as an authority figure. I suppose Sabrina will just have to tough it out for another week,' Alya added, thinking aloud.
'She'd still be coming back early, though,' Nino pointed out.
'Yeah, but only by a week. So long as it's pointed out that she earned that right, and that Kim and Alix are still suspended, the other students should accept that without too much drama,' Alya explained.
'It might even encourage them to be more honest the next time they're caught doing something wrong. They'll want to lessen their punishment any way they can,' Marinette added.
'It worked for me,' Adrien shrugged.
'Probably not the best example, considering,' Alya stated into the awkward silence.
Adrien blushed and turned away, scratching the back of his head. 'Right, sorry.'
Marinette cleared the dishes, and washed up, while Nino dried, and Alya put them away. Adrien stood to one side and watched, his offers of assistance politely declined.
'Right, we should probably head back now,' Marinette suggested, once the kitchen was clean.
The others nodded and picked up their bags on the way out.
'Did you enjoy your meal?' Sabine asked as they passed by. She was answered with a chorus of affirmatives.
'It was delicious,' Adrien elaborated. 'What kind of soup was that?'
Sabine smiled. 'An old family recipe, passed down from generation to generation. My ancestors will be pleased their creation is still so well received.'
Adrien smiled back. 'I hope to be able to try it again, one day.'
'I'll give you the recipe. It's not some great family secret,' Sabine assured him, when Adrien began to protest. 'My uncle always says food should be shared with everyone.'
'Thank you, I really appreciate that,' he replied. 'See you later,' he called, as Marinette tugged him out the door.
'We'll be late,' she chided him. 'If you're so desperate for Chinese food, Maman and I can give you a whole stack of recipes.'
'Hey, maybe Marinette can cook for you, some time,' Alya suggested, with a wink at Marinette.
'Lucky,' Nino drawled, enviously. 'She's a fantastic cook.'
Marinette blushed. 'Can we just go, already? We're gonna be late.'
They continued to laugh and tease each other right up until they entered the classroom, where Caline greeted them with a soft smile. Marinette grinned back, happy to feel like a normal teenager for the first time in what felt like years.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Redemption