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Redemption	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 2816 -:- 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
- 12
- 13
- 14
Marinette didn't see Adrien again until Monday. She had spent the remainder of Saturday, and most of Sunday, holding ice packs to her face, hoping she didn't look too awful. Come Monday morning, the swelling had gone down, but the bruising was spectacular. It was so dark and widespread, there was no point in trying to cover it with concealer. Resigned, Marinette trudged downstairs where Sabine immediately began clucking over her.
'Oh dear, that is a shiner. Are you sure you feel up to going to school?'
Marinette held up a hand to forestall any more questions. 'I'm fine, Maman.'
'You're not in any pain?'
She shook her head, and sat down to breakfast. Her face was still tender, but the pain had diminished significantly. 'It only aches a little,' she replied. 'So long as no one tries to poke it, I'll be fine.'
Sabine put her hands on her hips and hummed. 'Don't Alix and Kim come back to school today?'
Marinette groaned and slumped in her seat; she had forgotten about them. 'They're going to laugh themselves sick.'
'They'd better bloody not,' Sabine grumbled.
'Maman,' Marinette exclaimed, scandalised.
To their credit, neither Kim, nor Alix, laughed at her.
'You look like crap,' Alix told her, before turning to mount the steps into the school.
'Dumb-arse,' Kim added, before following her.
'That could've gone a lot worse. Yikes,' Alya yelped, as Marinette turned to look at her. 'You look like the Phantom of the Opera.'
Marinette put her hands on her hips and frowned at her.
'Nah,' Nino argued, 'she looks more like Prince Zuko.' He wrapped an arm around Alya's waist as they stood and appraised Marinette's face.
'Was Zuko's scar even on the left?' asked Alya, thoughtfully.
'Was the Phantom's mask? Zuko's scar was definitely on the left.'
Marinette's frown deepened. 'If you two are quite done?'
'Marinette, what happened to your face?' gasped Rose, as she, Juleka, Mylene, and Nathaniel approached her.
She opened her mouth to reply, but Nino beat her to it. 'Some dude decked her one when she stopped him from flattening Adrien.'
Alya elbowed him sharply in the ribs. 'No one asked you, Loud Mouth.'
'Oh, my God. Is that true?' Rose asked, turning back to Marinette, her eyes wide and watery.
Marinette rubbed the back of her head, and scuffed her shoe. 'Yeah.'
Her admission was met with silence. She could feel herself sweat, the longer they stared at her.
'You really took a punch for that guy?' Mylene finally asked.
Marinette's hand dropped. 'He's a really nice person, once you get to know him. If you gave him a chance, you might see what I've been talking about.'
Mylene and Nathaniel shared an uneasy look.
'I don't know, Marinette,' Nathaniel began. 'He had a terrible reputation as Chat Noir.'
Rose looked thoughtful. 'Yes, but Chat Noir never attacked a civilian. In fact, wasn't he usually the one to suggest fights take place away from populated areas?'
Alya nodded. 'That's right. I can't believe I didn't notice that before.'
'Some journalist you are,' Nino snickered, grunting when Alya shoved him with her elbow.
'On another note, when did you two become official?' Rose went on, clasping her hands before her as her eyes shone.
Alya and Nino pulled away from each other with a start.
'We're not,' he lied.
'It's not what you think. We're just friends,' Alya added, her cheeks ruddy.
Everyone regarded them, sceptically. Alya and Nino shuffled, awkwardly, under their scrutiny.
'Anyway,' Mylene said, turning back to Marinette. 'You really feel that strongly about this? About Adrien?'
'I can vouch for him,' Marinette confirmed. 'He wants to put all of that behind him, and move on, to be a productive member of society. Can I ask that you try and be polite?'
Mylene sighed. 'Ok, I'll try to be civil. But I won't make any promises beyond common courtesies.'
'Yes, of course,' Marinette agreed.
'I'll do my best,' Nathaniel promised, 'but that guy freaks me out.'
Marinette held both of her hands up. 'There's no need to push yourself; it's ok to go at your own pace. All I ask is that everyone just be polite. You don't have to be his friend, or initiate conversations whenever you see him. Just don't bully him any more, please.'
'I think I can do that much, but, maybe not right now,' Nathaniel muttered, as Adrien's car pulled up. 'I'll see you guys later.'
He, Rose, Juleka, and Mylene scurried into the school without a backward glance.
Marinette, Alya, and Nino greeted Adrien at the base of the steps with wide smiles.
'So, how're you doing?' Nino attempted to sound casual.
Adrien cringed. 'I'm really sorry I freaked you out. It won't happen again, I swear.'
Alya's smile relaxed and became more genuine. 'It's not that unusual to be protective of your friends. Just, try not to be so Chat Noir about it, yeah?'
Adrien blushed as he scratched the back of his head. 'Yeah, ok. I hear you.'
'Good,' Alya nodded. 'Now, shall we go deal with the rest of the school?'
'Let's get it over with,' Marinette sighed.
Nino held up a finger as they mounted the steps. 'At least the others will have spread the news for us.'
'Thank heavens for small mercies,' Alya retorted, drily.
Everyone turned to stare as Marinette entered the courtyard. She proceeded toward the locker room, resolutely ignoring them, but the weight of their stares felt like a physical presence on her shoulders. She exhaled gustily, once she was inside the relative privacy of the locker room. She went to her locker and opened it, preparing for her lessons.
'Well, well. Marinette Dupain-Cheng,' called Chloe from the doorway.
Marinette rolled her eyes, stifling a groan. For the last week, Chloe had been ignoring her as thoroughly as she had Adrien. Marinette had hoped the trend would continue.
'I see your sticking up for Adrien has finally cost you,' Chloe drawled, as Sabrina hovered nervously behind her. 'Good for you.'
'Huh?' Marinette, Alya, and Nino cried in unison.
'Chloe?' Adrien had a painful hope in his eyes.
She held up a hand to stall him. 'I'm mad at you,' she told him. 'You were my oldest friend, and you lied to me. You dressed up in that ludicrous outfit, and terrorised the city. Then, you just stopped talking to me. You hurt me, and you betrayed me. What do you have to say for yourself?'
Adrien lowered his head. 'I'm so sorry, Chlo. I know mere words will never make it up to you, but I want you to know that I am deeply sorry, for everything.'
Chloe eyed him, critically. 'Even that outfit?'
Adrien met her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 'Especially the outfit.'
She huffed. 'Then, I suppose I may consider forgiving you. But, it'll take time, understand?'
He nodded. 'Of course. Take your time.'
'I intend to. In the meantime,' Chloe turned back to Marinette. 'Keep an eye on this dunderhead for me. He's easily led astray, as you may have guessed already. Toodles,' she flipped her hair and wiggled her fingers at them as she walked out.

Chloe's apparent acceptance of Adrien acted as a catalyst. Over the next week and a half, students from across the school let go of their enmity, and began to treat Adrien as if he were someone they just moderately disliked.
Adrien was thrilled. Not only did he have his oldest friend back, but he was well on his way to making more. Marinette wasn't sure which was stranger, the fact that Kim was fast becoming Adrien's newest buddy, or because it was Chloe who instigated it. Kim's crush on Chloe had not diminished during their time apart. In fact, he seemed more enamoured by her than ever. His motives for being Adrien's new fried aside, it was doing Adrien immense good.
'I'm glad he's befriending more people,' Sabine commented, one Wednesday afternoon. 'It'll get him used to other personality types, and help him become a well rounded person.'
Marinette stacked fresh loaves into a display basket. Her bruises were receding, more yellow than purple, now, something she was immensely pleased about. She was getting tired of people's well meaning, but misplaced, concern for her wellbeing.
'I just wish Kim's motives weren't so self-serving,' she complained.
Sabine nodded. 'I know what you mean, but no relationship with Adrien is going to be conventional. You never know, some of the strongest friendships began between the most unlikely pairs. Kim could end up being the best friend Adrien's ever had.'
'That bar is set pretty low,' Marinette muttered, under her breath.
Tom peered around the door frame. 'A better friend than our daughter? I don't believe it. I ship it,' he said, turning to Marinette with a wink.
She rolled her eyes. 'That's not how you use that phrase, Papa.'
'I know what I'm about,' he retorted, disappearing back into the kitchen.
Marinette groaned as Sabine laughed.
'Oh, I almost forgot,' Sabine said. 'Nadja would like to know if you're free to babysit tomorrow.'
Marinette scrunched her face up. Ever since Nadja had aired her story about Adrien attending school, Marinette had avoided her. 'I don't know. Adrien usually comes over to tutor me, remember?'
'I know you don't respect Nadja anymore, but she's in a pinch. Besides, despite what she did, she's still my friend. Please, Dearest?'
Marinette rolled her eyes with a dramatic groan. 'I can't believe you played the friend card. Fine, I'll do it, but I'm not rescheduling with Adrien. We have a test coming up, and I need all the help I can get.'
Sabine clapped her hands. 'Thank you, Marinette. I knew I could count on you.'
'It's too late to suck up to me now, Maman.'
- 12
- 13
- 14
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Redemption