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Marinette was tired.
Marinette was hungry.
Marinette had been awake for twenty four long fudging hours.
She was done.
She was also hoping that Hawkmoth was done too. There was no way he could continue this reign of terror to the extent he had over the past day. Nine Akumas had come and gone, ten if you counted the twins as individuals, and that was just before teatime. In the night, another seven, seven, Akumas had hit in quick succession, not even Tikki could believe how many were being sent their way.
Marinette was just grateful that she narrowly missed landing in the stench from the last Akuma that was thrusted upon them. She had not even been able to grab a decent breakfast, let alone a shower after she returned to her home a little past eight. That would have been the cherry on top of her day. Feeling like crap and looking like crap while smelling like crap would have been the last straw. Boy, today was going to be fun.
Looking around to her peers, they looked just as tired. Obviously the constant threat of Akumas had interfered with everyone's forty winks last night. Alix and Kim were strangely silent, Max stared off into space, Mylène was dozing off, Chloé had found a pillow in the form of Sabrina's shoulder and Ivan was snoring at the back. Not even Miss Bustier had bothered to brush her hair this morning, as it sat perched on her head resembling a bird's nest sans any eggs.
"Why school is open today is beyond me…" she muttered to herself while rubbing her eyes from behind her desk.
Alya was running late, the reporter had been diligently running around Paris trying to get footage of each and every Akuma. Nino was walking to school with her and the only other person that could possibly cause a smile to grace her face had not arrived yet. For once Marinette was early, however, the amount of effort she would be putting into her school work today was debatable.
Through the open door walked Juleka and Rose, looking equally as tired as everyone else. No greetings were exchanged with any of their classmates, they simply took their seats and slumped into each other, as Nathaniel trailed behind with his hair spiking out all over the place. Marinette was just hoping Lila would not show up today, she was not in the mood for her shit. What. So. Ever. After being Akumatised not just once but twice during the past twenty four hours, you would think it would have taken it out of the Italian. However, the sound of fake-as-hell sweet laughter echoed through the open door signalling her imminent arrival.
Marinette groaned.
She was sure she even saw Miss Bustier's shoulders slump and eyes roll at the noise of the devil incarnate approaching.
Out of all the Akuma victims herself and Chat Noir had saved last night and yesterday from the influence of one of Hawkmoth's evilised butterflies, Lila had been the most ungrateful daughter-of-a-dick ever. By the sounds of it, she had also managed to get some sleep. Lucky cow!
On what planet does that girl get to be bright eyed and bushy tailed when everyone else was suffering? Oh right. This one. At least Marinette was not the only one grimacing at the brunette's chipper attitude, as everyone in the class seemed to recoil when she walked in the door. The blonde she was hanging off looked like he could throttle her; if the bags under his eyes were anything to go by, he had gotten just as much sleep as Marinette. Zero. Even Alya was hiding behind her hair and cradling a cup of hot coffee, which Miss Bustier wistfully gazed at, before making her excuses and leaving the class to their mutual turmoil.
Alya slipped into Nino's seat and did not budge when the two lads gave her a questioning look. "Nino's shoulder is comfier than Marinette's," she spoke into her coffee. Not looking up, she pointed at Adrien, "you, can sit in my seat," she gestured absentmindedly behind her. If Marinette was at all coherent, she would be panicking at that moment, but as it happened, she could not give two hoots who sat next to her, as long as they would wake her up when she dozed off.
"Morning everyone!" Lila greeted the class as a whole once Adrien had wiggled out of her claws, "why is everyone so glum?"
The groan which circulated throughout the room did not deter her, as she smiled happily at everyone. Lila was taunting them with her energy, Marinette was not in the mood for this today. By the atmosphere in the room, she was not the only one.
"Didn't you see the Akuma attacks last night," a muffled voice came from behind.
"It was going on. All. Night. Long." Another said hoarsely.
"Why are you so awake? Weren't you Akumatised twice last night?" A sarcasm laced voice stated closely to Marinette.
Marinette looked around to see who voiced what she was thinking, only to find everyone's eyes resting groggily on her.
"I said that out loud, didn't I?" The tired secret hero asked rhetorically with an accepting shrug.
Alya snorted into her coffee, while a few of her classmates hummed and nodded in affirmation. 'Damn it'. Marinette was going to find it very hard to keep her sassy remarks to herself. Forget incoherent ramblings, the Ladybug-no-nonsense-side was about to be unleashed for the class to see, with Adrien having a front row seat.
The designer crossed her arms on the desk in front of her, and slumped her head onto them. Face down, she was hoping to get some much needed sleep. Marinette was not so lucky.
"How did you know I was Akumatised twice?" Lila looked ashamed suddenly, holding herself as if she was self conscious about the matter.
"It's been on the news this morning." Marinette's reply came muffled. She did not know if any of the overnight Akumas had been televised, or if any of the victims had been named, but she was airing on the side of caution to cover her faux pas. No one said anything to contradict her answer, so the tired teen was under the impression she had gotten away with it.
"God Lila!" Alya looked up to the Italian standing at the front of the class, "how are you still standing?" The reporter looked incredulously at her, "I was wiped after being Akumatised, and you are full of energy this morning, I didn't even realise…" Alya trailed off stifling a yawn, "The twins were still asleep when I left."
Nino turned back to Marinette, "I watched the news this morning," Marinette peered up to see him looking thoughtfully to the floor, his furrowed brow barely visible from under his hat. "She was only featured once."
"Must have been on the Ladyblog then," Marinette dismissed quickly with a wave of her hand and a stifled yawn. "You were live streaming last night Alya weren't you?"
"Ye-ah..." Alya replied questioning her own answer, "at least, I think I did." She turned to her phone.
"You did Alya," Rose interjected, "I watched all night how Ladybug and Chat Noir kept fighting off the Akumas. They were so brave!" She squeaked quietly. Marinette dropped her head again, as she listened to her classmates.
Relief washed over the designer and she felt the urge to carry on with her external pondering. However, she held in her sarcasm laced questions in accordance with her better judgement.
Alix chuckled slowly, "it was funny when Chat Noir had to shake Ladybug awake while that one was monologuing." The pink haired girl shook her head, "it's like Ladybug had just had enough of the same old shit and decided to use that time to have a cat nap." Reaching up with her arms, Alix stretched out with an exaggerated yawn, "honestly how they did it last night is beyond me."
"You've been akumatised a few times now haven't you Lila," Alya commented while sifting through her phone. "I think the only person who has been Akumatised more than you is Mr Pigeon." The throw away comment would not have had much attention, if Marinette had managed to keep her mouth shut.
"You'd think with you being best friends with Ladybug, you wouldn't be such an easy target." The bluenette followed it up with an involuntary snort into her arms, but she was not finished. Marinette laughed while the Italian narrowed her eyes dangerously beneath her bangs, as her fingernails dug into the skin on her other arm. Marinette lifted her head and rested it on her open palm. Making sure she was leaning away from the gangway, she leaned closer to a slumped over Adrien. "Maybe you're not as close with the hero as you say you are!" Marinette rolled her eyes, as the class collectively cast their tired gazes between her and Lila. They seemed to be waking up slightly with the prospect of a confrontation, that they might need to intervene in, brewing up.
"I don't think she is Ladybug's BFF." Chloé sat up slightly, leaning her chin on her knuckles lazily, smudging her foundation. "I've met Ladybug many times," she gestured with her free hand to her chest as she spoke with an air of entitlement, "and I can stave off an Akuma because I believe in her." The smug blonde looked very pleased while Lila turned her gaze on the socialite.
"What would you know Chloé, you don't have any friends!" The Italian bit back defensively, "Ladybug is my friend!"
"If you are my friend, then why did I embarrass you in front of Adrien?" Marinette casually commented with a flippant hand and wandering gaze. "Not one of my best moments but hey," she focused back on Lila, "we all have a breaking point."
Lila looked horrified at Marinette, the cogs working overtime in her head. "When the hell did you embarrass me?"
"Sweetie," Marinette leaned forward in a patronising fashion, "you embarrass yourself on a daily basis with your lies…" Marinette rolled her eyes and turned to a taken aback Adrien, "you remember when she claimed to be a hero right?"
"Uh, yeah?" Confused, Adrien was watching Marinette closely.
"Remember when I-" Marinette winked at the blonde with Ladybug confidence before turning back to a tight lipped Lila. "-swooped in and set her straight with her lying about how close we were meant to be? How we were inseparable and she told you she was, what was it again," Marinette tapped her chin in feigned thought, "a descendant of a super heroine that she just happened to then be Akumatised into…"
Silence.
Everyone in the class sat speechless, and Marinette started laughing incredulously. "You guys!" She pretended to wipe a tear of amusement from her eye, "you're so gullible."
The whole class seemed to relax out of their shocked state at what Marinette had been confessing to. The secret hero was glad her sass had not been taken seriously, as she half chuckled at the disgusted look on the Italian's face. Lila stated definitely, "you are not Ladybug!"
"And you are not her best friend." With raised eyebrows, Marinette finished by poking her tongue out childishly, "just proving my point that anyone can claim anything about the heroes." She lay her head back on her arms and turned her face towards her seatmate. She was initially trying to hide the relief that she had managed to discredit her own confession, but the look those sunken green eyes gave her, made Marinette realise she messed up.
"Wake me up if I fall asleep please would you Sunshine?" Playing the whole scenario off as if it was nothing seemed to work, as a blushing Adrien found no words and simply nodded. "Thanks." Marinette closed her eyes and held a contented smile on her face while internally panicking about those green eyes that she was sure were still staring at her.
"How many times have you been Akumatised Lila?" Chloé asked with determined sarcasm. Marinette did not look up or open her eyes, but she could imagine the diplomat's daughter starting to seethe with irritation.
"Nine," Alya's voice came out thoughtfully. "I have them all here in my files." There was a pause for a moment while Marinette assumed people were waiting for Alya to elaborate. "I keep a file with everyone's Akumatisations- for reference to see if Hawkmoth is trying new angles."
Marinette had to hand it to the reporter, she was thorough in her job. "And the rest..." She muttered to herself.
"What?"
"What?"
"What did you say Marinette?"
Marinette peered up to see Adrien looking at her with curiosity. Averting her gaze from his, she turned to Alya. "I said Alya's the best!"
"Aw," Alya swelled with pride, "thanks girl!" Marinette smiled at her best friend and put her head back on the desk.
All she needed to do was keep her mouth shut and this day would fly by. Lila finally made her way up to the back of the class but Miss Bustier did not make a reappearance. Most of the class went back to dozing on their desk tops.
Not Marinette.
She was convinced there were still two green eyes boring a hole in the side of her head, and her suspicions were confirmed by Nino.
"Dude, why are you staring at Mari?" Nino commented lazily with little interest.
"Oh-no-I'm, not staring, I'm just, just zoning out that's all," he stretched out with a silent yawn.
Alya was not fooled, Marinette could tell by the tone of mischief in her voice. "Uh-huh, and that dopey smile is just because you're tired isn't it."
"Purrcisely."
Marinette risked peering up at him through her bangs. She heard that subtle pun, even if everyone else was too tired to notice the stupid cat reference. She could not miss it. They always came at the most inconvenient times, just like now. In the middle of class. On his perfectly sculpted face lay a shit-eating grin, so, Chat Noir, so, not Adrien!
'But they are the same person!' A voice similar to Tikki's spoke in her head, as their eyes met and for a moment, they both panicked. As if that one look confirmed EVERYTHING.
"Adrikins," Chloé's voice brought them out of their realisation when she called his name, Marinette looked over to see the socialite smirking devilishly while glancing towards the back of the class. Her holler at him had gained other disoriented eyes drifting over to her, as Lila's eyes narrowed.
The slight reprimand in his voice told those listening he was warning her not to cause trouble. "Yes Chloé?"
Drawing it out tauntingly, Chloé asked: "did Ladybug really embarrass Lila in front of you?" Finishing with fluttering eyelashes, Chloé looked very pleased with herself, despite the annoyance clear on Adrien's face.
The eyes around the room had woken up again, as they all rested on Adrien who was reluctant to share anything on the matter. Marinette had to come up with some sort of explanation for the whole shabackle that she had originally brought to light.
"It was pretty brutal actually," Marinette stated nonchalantly at Chloé, reluctantly enjoying this exchange between herself and her former foe. "I saw it because I happened to see Lila throw an important looking book in the trash and I went to investigate."
"What book?"
"Oh just the one your dad pulled you out of school for." Marinette shrugged as if it was nothing to be concerned about.
He stood up and looked directly at a recoiling Lila. Fists balled at his sides. He was shaking, the dark circles only added to the anger emitting from his eyes.
"You stole my book and threw it away!" Adrien almost bounced. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
It was safe to say that any of the tiredness from the surrounding viewers had dissipated in lieu of shock and disbelief. Even Ivan had woken from his slumber, his heavy eyebrows knitted together at Lila.
"Dude that's harsh!" Nino shook his head at the girl at the back of class. "I can't believe you'd do that."
"Oh, just to add to the unbelievable shit she's done," Marinette rolled her eyes, not glancing back at the brunette. "She called you all dumb when she threatened to turn you all against me-"
"You threatened Mari?" Adrien asked in astonishment and turned with a softer, pleading look at his seatmate, "why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"You said to leave her be-"
"That was when I thought she was harmless." He exhaled his frustration before turning to the culprit of the awful actions. "Was this before, or after I told you to get Marinette back into school?"
"Wait, what?" Alix looked between the participants of the discussion. "What is going on right now?"
"Also," Marinette continued, 'in for a penny…' "I forgot to mention that it was an Akumatised Lila that conjured up Ladybug using Chat's cataclysm on himself during the Heroes' Day celebrations." Marinette slumped over her desk once more. "Can I sleep now?"
Alya thrusted her cold coffee into Marinette's outstretched hand. "No, you need to explain."
Marinette looked into the cold caffeinated beverage and thought better of it, 'not enough sugar and cream for me,' before addressing Alya. "Which hero does Volpina look like?"
"Rena-"
"And what is Rena Rouge's power?" Marinette looked pointedly at Alya, who was working it out in her over tired mind.
"Illusion."
"And what did we all see on Heroes' Day?"
Rose piped up in her sweet and innocent demeanour, "but Lila said she was visiting Prince Ali?"
Chloé scoffed bitterly, "it's ridiculous that you of all people didn't realise that the time difference was wrong!"
All eyes settled on Chloé while they waited for an explanation. The blonde continued as if it was obvious:
"We spoke to Lila in the morning…"
Still no one was any wiser.
"Achu is only four hours ahead of us…"
They still, were not getting it. Maybe it was because everyone was tired, or it was because Chloé had actually tried to work out when it would be acceptable for her to contact Prince Ali in the unlikely possibility that he had fallen for her during his visit. Rose finally understood.
It was as if an epiphany suddenly struck her, eyes wide and her finger pointed up, she gasped: "Lila said it was getting late and the sun was going down!"
"Thank you!" Chloé rolled her eyes and slumped over her desk imitating Marinette's previous motion. She sighed as if she had done strenuous exercise, "that was hard work."
The bluenette and blonde former childhood enemies shared a look as they both snorted in amusement. The rest of the class were reeling with anger at the deception and upset one person had caused.
Mylène looked like her puppy had been kicked, "you lied to us Lila?"
"How could you be so awful?" Juleka murmured.
The Italian scoffed in differently, "took you long enough." She turned her steely gaze on Marinette, "if you hadn't been so obsessed with me and stalked me and Adrien, no one would be any wiser-"
"I'm not obsessed with you Lila!" Marinette turned her face away indignantly. Alya raised a single eyebrow at the designer, which Marinette curtly ignored.
The pointed glares all rested on Lila, the classmates’ emotions ranged from angry, sad, confused and mortified. Kim stood up in his chair and turned to fully face the manipulative cow, a strangely somber expression resting on his face. "I think you best leave Lila."
"Actually Kim no," Alya stood up and made her way to the door, "bullying and stealing are actions Mr Damocles needs to be made aware of." She pointedly looked at a very pissed Lila, "she does not leave this room!" She disappeared briefly before re-entering. "And for Christ's sake no one had better become Akumatised before I get back!"
Most of the students looked puzzled at the now empty doorway before Nino sighed an explanation: "she would need to get the footage for her blog."
Most hummed in understanding, while Alix and Chloé rolled their eyes. Sabrina seemed to have fallen asleep, missing the excitement the class had just experienced, while Nathaniel passed a note down to Marinette.
The bluenette opened the paper to find a drawing of Evilustrator standing next to a drawing of Marinette. However, Marinette was wearing a Ladybug mask and spinning the iconic yo-yo. The text box next to the drawing read:
From an Akumatised victim, to the hero that saved him.
Thank you
Smiling up to Nathaniel, Marinette nodded slightly, to which the red head nodded back kindly before returning to his notebook. Only one other person seemed to notice their exchange.
"We have some things Chat about, wouldn't you say," Marinette turned to find a knowingly seductive smirk on Adrien's usually angelic face before he purred, "M'lady." The blush which instantly appeared on Marinette's face brought the biggest Cheshire grin across his face as he leaned in closer. "Now let's talk about how you really saw Lila throw that book in the trash."
Resisting the urge to push him away by his nose, Marinette looked at him pointedly while muttering quietly, "oh give it Agreste Kitty, I told you already, I just happened to see her do it, that's all."
He did not miss the amused glint in her eyes as she turned back to lean on her desk facing him. Invading her personal space once more, he whispered so his breath tickled her skin. "If mew say so purrincess."
Marinette rolled her eyes playfully at a softly smiling Adrien. The blonde pulled her slouching form to snuggle into his chest as Alya entered the room followed by Mr Damocles and a flustered Miss Bustier. Adrien and Marinette paid little attention to the chaos which erupted behind them: with their eyes closed, they both drifted off to sleep. Both content in knowing that their work was done for now, and someone else was responsible for dealing with Lila's sorry ass.