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A Step at a Time	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 4022 -:- 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
- 7
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- 9
Tuesday morning, Adrien entered the classroom to see Alya and Marinette hugging each other tight in their seat. He smiled as he idled in the doorway, reluctant to interrupt, before deciding to just take his seat as unobtrusively as possible. They were whispering, apologising and reaffirming their friendship, Adrien guessed. He was glad they were friends again.
The rest of the class slowly drifted in, gossiping among themselves, while they waited for class to begin. Rose was happy about her ongoing correspondence with Prince Ali. Max was excited for a new upgrade. Kim was boasting about his latest athletic achievement. Adrien huffed a breath of relief. Today was going to be a normal day.

'Adrien, a word if you please,' Caline called as the other students left for lunch.
Adrien approached her desk and asked, 'yes, Madame Bustier?'
'You may recall from our parent teacher conference, your Father and I discussed the possibility of making an appointment for you with the school counsellor.'
Adrien squeezed the strap of his bag and lowered his head. He had hoped Caline had forgotten.
'The counsellor, Monsieur Durand, was on bereavement leave, but has returned and is now taking new appointments.'
Adrien looked up, meeting Caline's eyes as he tried to smile sincerely. 'Great,' he said.
Caline smiled back and continued, 'he has seen most of your classmates already.'
Adrien's eyebrows shot up, 'really?' he asked.
Caline nodded, 'yes. They needed someone to talk to after being taken over by Papillon. Monsieur Durand has even suggested group therapy sessions, but due to a combination of reluctance from the children to speak in front of others and Principal Damocles' unwillingness to allow a private space for them to meet in, it has never happened.' She shook her head sadly. 'Would you like to meet with Monsieur Durand, Adrien?' she asked.
Seeing no gracious way to back out, Adrien nodded, though his smile felt stiff and unnatural.
'Excellent,' Caline responded brightly. 'I really think this will be goo for you. Monsieur Durand specializes in adolescent psychology and has many years of experience, personal as well as professional. His office is at the end of the walkway to the right. He's expecting you,' she finished.
'Thank you, Madame Bustier,' Adrien replied, nodding to her as he left. He heard her sigh as he walked out the door.

Monsieur Durand's office was not what he had been expecting. It had light blue walls decorated with watercolour paintings, and a large window in the rear wall with sheer curtains. To the right was a desk bracketed by filing cabinets, and to the left was a sitting area. There was a bookcase next to the armchair by the window, filled with books on psychology, mindfulness and poetry. It also held a number of knick-knacks which seemed to have no other purpose than to collect dust. In front of the guest armchair was a coffee table with pamphlets, a pitcher of water and a glass. An old MP3 player on a dock sat on a side table between the guest chair and the wall. Adrien, however, could not see Monsieur Durand anywhere.
'Hello?' he called softly.
There was a loud thud and the desk jolted, followed by a muffled curse and the sound of a drawer slamming shut. A head poked up from behind the desk, light brown hair streaked with grey sticking out wildly as the man peered at Adrien.
'Hello,' he exclaimed brightly as he stood. 'You must be Monsieur Agreste. I am Joseph Durand. I'm so pleased to meet you. Glad you could make it,' he grinned as he moved from behind the desk to greet Adrien properly.
Adrien smiled sincerely in response. Monsieur Durand's easy grin and enthusiastic personality relaxed Adrien's mild anxiety as he was shown to his seat.
'Sit, sit. Are you thirsty? Help yourself whenever you need to,' Monsieur Durand babbled as he lowered himself into his own seat. He immediately stood again, mumbling about forgetting something and sifted through his desk drawers, eventually returning with a box of tissues. 'Now,' he began, 'why don't you tell me all about yourself?'

'I like that old coot,' Plagg said later that evening.
Adrien grinned, 'I like him, too.'
He had spent the entire lunch break with Monsieur Durand, talking about his life. It seemed that once he lifted the lid, all his thoughts and feelings from the last eighteen months had poured out. The grief after his mother left, his loneliness, and his need to make Gabriel happy. It all came out in an unstoppable torrent. By the end, Adrien felt drained and weary, but it had been cathartic to finally give voice to everything that had been weighing him down.
Not everything, Adrien reminded himself. His life as Chat Noir was still a secret, despite Monsieur Durand's assurance of Doctor Patient confidentiality.
Plagg curled up on Adrien's shoulder as he sat in his desk chair. 'When's your next appointment?' he enquired.
'Tomorrow. I guess he hasn't got too many patients right now,' Adrien replied.
Plagg wiggled closer to Adrien's neck saying, 'this'll be good for you, Kid. You've bottled up too much stuff already.' He began to purr.
Adrien sighed as he tilted his head toward Plagg. Today was just the beginning; they had barely touched on Adrien's issues and he suspected he would need that box of tissues tomorrow.
- 7
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