Waking up the next time was all too pleasant, and with how tired she was from yesterday, she almost didn't want to get up. She was exhausted from both the physical and mental draining being Ladybug came with.

Her persona was not fake, it was just the amplified version of who she used to be, along with the adrenaline that rushed through her whenever she was swinging around as if she were Spiderman.

"Marinette?" Tikki floated above her head, sending her a worried look, "You've been staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, now."

"Have I?" she hummed, pushing herself to sit up. Checking the time on her with a yawn, she climbed out of bed, and started getting ready for the day.

Freshen up, black leggings, baggy t-shirt with a Chinese phrase, and shrugged on her ash grey hoodie, rolling the sleeves up to her elbows. Slipping on her socks before tying her high-top Vans, she readjusted her hood before waving Tikki over.

"Come, you can hide in my hood, it would definitely be more comfortable than my bag," Tikki gasped excitedly, and darting into the soft material of the hood, and curled up.

Marinette headed down to start helping with the pastries, it was only five-thirty, so she had a couple hours to kill before heading to school.

"Good morning," she murmured to her father, simply leaning on him while he gave her a tight, warm hug.

"Morning, Mari- Mari!" he whined as she took the spoon with cookie dough on it and walked away, eating the raw substance. Ignoring him, she tied her hair back in her usual low bun, feeling the band stretch a little too much, though paid no mind to it.

"Marinette, dear?" she heard her mother call from the front, "do you have your umbrella packed? It's supposed to rain later today!"

"I'll grab it before I leave," she replied, smiling a bit.

She likes rainy days.

-

"You disobeyed me."

Adrien stared straight down at his lap, guilt ridden, as the car pulled up to the school he took a glance and saw Marinette walking with Alix and Nathaniel, both seemingly ranting angrily at the girl who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.

He sighed, looking back down, fidgeting with his fingers.

"That school...you are never allowed to go back there. Ever," his eyes stung, having expected this, but not wanting to face it, "...without your bodyguard." Adrien's head snapped up, eyes wide with shock. "Gorilla will drop you off and pick you everyday, no exceptions. Nathalie offered to work out your schedule, and you must continue your piano, Chinese, fencing, and your modeling shoots."

He turned to Nathalie, who looked away from him, "Thank you, Nathalie," he grasped the head rest, where the screen of his father was, and frowned, guilty. "Father, I...I don't hate you. I could never," he whispered, "you're all I have left."

Gabriel closed his eyes, Adrien grabbing his bag and exiting the car, and heading up the stairs quickly in hopes of catching up to Marinette, but she seemed to already be going into the classroom.

Marinette dragged Nathaniel to the seat she would have sat in if Chloe hadn't bothered her. Somewhere along the years, she forgot who she was. It clicked when she had let that butterfly go, returning to how it once was.

She used to be happy, she used to enjoy herself with the different but same knowledge that was accessible, though she never expressed it.  She had pushed herself to not care about others around her, only for those she held close. She had tried to keep Alya away because she felt like she didn't need her like the original Marinette had.

The panic and fear that had coursed through here as she was almost crushed by a car was undeniable, and she understood that her mentality was not in a safe state.

She was no longer the girl from only a few years ago, who had stood up to Kim for bullying her friend, though some things stayed the same, there was no denying the fact that she had changed.

(Deep in the back of her mind, she knew why.)

So, she would start with little things. You can't break out of habitual instincts that quickly, but she would do her best, for her friends...and for herself.

"Where do you think you're sitting, Dupain-Cheng?" Chloe hissed after entering the room and seeing her there with Nathaniel fidgeting.  Everyone watched with bated breath.

Marinette hasn't faught back with Chloe in two years, never feeling up to an argument, but this time she seemed ready.

"At a desk," she replied, leaning her chin on the palm of her hand, "in a chair."

Chloe growled, stomping her foot, "That's my seat."

"Actually I've been sitting at this desk since we were twelve, three years, and not once has there ever been a problem since this year," Marinette's icy glare was cold, "I can also see from this seat, and I didn't think you cared much for learning since your father practically buys your straight A's while the rest of us actually work for our grade."

Chloe's mouth dropped, just as Adrien was coming in to see what all the noise was from, seeing Marinette and Chloe fighting. He was about to step in when Nino held in arm in front of him, shaking his head.

"You don't want to get into this one, dude. Marinette is infamous for her royal beat-downs," Nino whispered. Adrien's mouth drew into a frown as he watched on with the rest of the class.

"How dare you! That's my business that you have no right to tell!"

"It's not like it was a secret," Marinette shrugged, causing the students to snicker, but it was true. Everyone knew.

"This is bullying. I could report you to the principal-"

"Because you can't report me to your father, since you and I both know that your father likes me quite a lot," Marinette interrupted, Chloe fumes silently. "Do you know what my shirt, says, Chloe?"

"Of course not, it's in another language!" she hissed.

"It says 'What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.' Meaning treat others how you want to be treated. I know I'm not the best at talking with people, but I'm never rude without reason," Marinette stood from her chair, "so I'm treating you how you've treated everyone in this room. So sit at another fucking seat before I make you."

Adrien's jaw dropped at Marinette's crude language, but no one seemed off put or shocked, and then he remembered what Nino said. 'Marinette is known for her royal beat-down's.' They glared at each other, Marinette's more steely than ever, when Chloe growled and sat herself at the very front, everyone snickering at the Queen Bee's loss. Alya had long since moved and was now sitting behind Marinette, next to Ivan, who had greeted her nicely.

There was so much more to Marinette than meets the eye.

Marinette returns to sitting and looks up too meet his eyes, the icy glare was still present, but held no threat towards him.

"Do you need something?" she asked, and Adrien shook his head quickly, taking his seat next to Nino who chuckled and patted his shoulder.

Finally, Miss Bustier walked in, smiling at her students and soon began roll call.

At least, this time, they were able to finish.

-

His first day of school was finally over and Adrien was heading towards the entrance looking for his umbrella. Rummaging through his bag for a solid two minutes, he remembered having left the black umbrella right on his bed and left in a hurry this morning.

He looked outside, grey clouds covering the sky and rain drizzling. He was about to simply speed walk to the car, after all, a little rain never hurt anyone.

"Adrien."

He paused, whipping around to face the person who called out to him. Her strides were short, and she stopped only a few feet away from him.

"Marinette," he breathed out, watching as her mouth twitched. "Nino told me your name..."

"I figured," she nodded, "you fought."

Adrien blinked, surprised, but huffed an embarrassed laugh, "Yeah, I didn't think it would work, but father is letting me attend school."

"Not without circumstances, right?" she rolled her eyes, and as she muttered something to herself, Adrien took this chance to really look at her.

Unlike last time, her hair wasn't clinging to her face with sweat, and was a lot neater and loosely tucked in a low bun. He remembered seeing its actual length at the park, as she only had it in a ponytail, though he wondered how long it was when let down.

Without thinking, he reached over and brushed a loose strand behind her ear, freezing when her eyes fluttered back to his, looking at him from beneath her lashes curiously.

"How bold of you, Adrien Agreste," she teased, and his hand jerked back, his face flushing with heat.

"S-sorry! I didn't mean to- I'm just-" he spluttered, shaking his hands.

Marinette's mouth twitches again, but this time, it stretches into a grin as she laughs lightly at his flustered state. He stops, staring at her in wonder, her eye's became crescents, her cheeks flushed lightly, and her laugh was one of pure happiness.

Her laughter stops, but a small smile still rests on her lips, a look he's not used to seeing.

"I'll walk you to your car," she gestured over to the silver ride that was still waiting on him. Bring up and opening her clear umbrella, she stepped closer to him and made sure they both fit.

"Thanks..." he murmured, and they began the short walk over to the car. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, but she looked ahead, the smile no longer there, but it was clear that she wasn't upset. He wondered why his heart always seemed to pick up around her.

Always excited and happy to see her.

Always jittery.

Anxious.

Expecting.

Waiting.

"Marinette," he called out, as they arrived at his ride, hand on the wet handle, he looked at her with furrowed brows, showing his confusion as she turned to him, expecting. "Do I know you?" He didn't elaborate, hoping that she would know what he meant.

But, her only response was a hum, tilting her head, something she seems to do often, "I don't know," was her response, "do you?"

He doesn't understand her answer, though, before he can ask, she turns heel and starts leaving, leaving him to his thoughts, only getting a bit soaked before actually getting in the car.

Gorilla glanced at him through the rear view mirror, seeing him swimming in his own head, before looking through the back, where Marinette was staring straight at him, her glare cold and mouth in a frown. He remembered her being smaller, tinier, when he was ordered to carry her out and away from the Agreste home, never to allow her near.

Then years later, he sees her again, talking his Adrien, but he didn't recognize her at first, but then he saw her eyes. Those same, glaring, blue-bell hues challenging him to try and take her away this time.

And now, they glared at him with determination.

Not wasting another second, he put the the gear in drive, and sped off back to the Agreste estate.

Marinette watch the car disappear, she turned to see the old man from yesterday, smiling up at her from under a black umbrella.

She bowed to him in a brisk greeting and continued her way home, not noticing Tikki peak out to wave at the man at the green Kwami next to him.

"What curious holders you have chosen, Master," Wayzz commended. Master Fu stroked his beard, looking at the girl walking away before glancing at the turtle Kwami with an amused smile.

"They were made for each other, but," he glanced at where the silver car head disappeared, "it seems fate has been cruel to these two."

He turns, beginning to head back to his home, "Fate has a tendency to be cruel, but only when it wants to see something grow stronger. I can't wait to see what it had in store," he chuckled.

And Master Fu was correct, fate is cruel like that, and there was so much more in store.