The ambience of aimless chatter was building slowly, Adrien only aware of the growing crowd because of the absences in it. As students started to regroup in anticipation for the lunch period to end Adrien tried to swallow his unease, but he could feel his heart sinking as time went on. It wasn't exactly a nervous feeling, or fear or anything else, of course it wasn't. He had to acknowledge though that there were likely quite a few people on this campus who would be terrified if they knew what was going on, or what he assumed had happened at least. It would explain why he still hadn't come back.

Yeah... it was a much sadder feeling than that.

Adrien sagged against the stairs, looking at nothing as kids started to file past him and up towards their classes. Part of him wondered if he should even feel so involved, but he shook off that thought pretty quickly. His hand tightened into a fist around the strap of his school bag, turning and looking up the stairs and down a hall that no one else really noticed.

It didn't matter if Nino was practically a stranger, it didn't mean it wasn't... terrible. They had only had brief moments of actually speaking but Adrien got more of glimpse into what was hurting him than anymore else had so far, and what he had seen had admittedly shaken him.

When he gave Nino an out at the beginning of lunch he had been impressed when Nino apologized, surprised that he had even taken a moment to think about someone else. He apologized for being rude, and not having it together. Like anybody had any right to expect him to be okay in the first place.

Even when he was falling apart he was trying so hard to be brave, and had shown Adrien a moment of trust since he had so few people to rely on. It was short, but when he had left in a hurry Adrien had been left sitting alone, and he thought that the moment showed a lot about him.

He was ashamed, and scared, and had a prideful instinct he seemed to fight off, but he was also kind and earnest. Even when he was so damn scared he had really, really tried to make it through the day and meet everything head on. He had been tense and reserved but he showed up, and now having even a slightly clearer picture of just how insurmountable that must have been Adrien couldn't think of him as anything other than brave. Again though his shoulders fell, because he knew that back in his room Nino probably felt like a coward. And that was so intensely unfair.

Students filed around him and talked and bantered without any regard. They were just as uninvolved, but something sat in his gut and kept him where he was even if he knew he should be heading to class.

It was worse than watching something sad happen to someone you don't know. It's sad, of course it is, but you're distant enough to know you can't do anything, and hope that someone else can. You hope that the stranger has someone who can do something. This was worse, because he knew that he didn't.

He was a classmate at best, one that probably just made things worse because he was another unknown. He had known him for one day, and it was sympathy that motivated him to linger as well as a little of that moment of honesty.

There were only one or two people left in the quad when he decided he couldn't wait any longer, thinking that maybe the best he could do was cover for him in class. If he came back the next day to try again it's possible that he would appreciate the fact that Adrien had thought to take notes for him and give an excuse to the teacher. Maybe that would be a good move, or should he check on him in his room? Or was that too far... it probably was. Nino seemed prideful enough that having an audience would probably just upset him, but doing nothing didn't sit right with him either.

He was lost in thought as he made his way up the stairs, hurrying now that he knew he needed to speak with the teacher. He was doing his best to formulate an excuse that didn't paint Nino in a bad light as he reached the landing and jogged down the hall, only slowing in front of that empty, unused hallway.

Adrien held for a moment to look down the tiled, vacant halls that led to the unused wing of the school, hovering helplessly, knowing that somewhere in there...

He paused for only a few seconds more before leaving, running off to class as the bell rang to do what little he could.

-----

This time, Adrien made very, very sure to be at school on time.

He had a nearly obsessive amount of precautions against sleeping in, and a strict request of his guardian to make sure he left when he was supposed to. That of course did nothing, Plagg was the laziest cat he had ever met, but still, he had wanted to set up as many things as he could. He had composed a plan in his head the night before, going over it now as he ran through the entrance and looked around at the scattering of students who had already arrived.

He had to be subtle, real cool about it. He had made up his mind to be utterly casual, act like Nino hadn't needed to bail early and just be happy to see him, since he had never rejoined the class by the time school ended. He was going to be as even as possible all day, treat him just as kindly as he had the first time and make sure Nino knew he wasn't going to hold anything against him. To Adrien this was a given, of course he wouldn't treat him differently, but it was important that Nino knew that too.

Adrien had already committed to the idea of befriending the new student when Ms. Bustier first mentioned it to him, but now he understood why she had asked. It wasn't just the discomfort of being the new guy, and at the time he had vaguely understood that he must be having a hard time but... he hadn't had any idea. Now it was just that much more important, and he scanned the thin crowd with determination.

He paced forward a few steps, slowly sorting through the faces in the crowd. There were about fifty or so people already there, a small handful of kids living at the school itself or nearby in the human parts of the city. When you lived in an area of others school became a safe place to relax and be yourself, so students were more inclined to be early then at schools in the Far Lands, he assumed.

He wasn't surprised to not see him there, getting to know people on his own free will probably an ambitious expectation, but he lived on the school campus so he could show up at any time. Adrien remained optimistic, adjusting his school bag and making his way up to the classroom to wait for him.

He considered hanging around the quad to see if he could catch Marinette and Alya like he usually did, but when he reached the landing his gaze flickered again to the hall he knew Nino's room must be down and decided against it. Nino in all likelihood would walk straight from his room to class, so he just decided to be at their desk already waiting instead. He could set out the notes he had taken for him and maybe catch Ms. B for a second to talk, if the room was empty.

When Nino wasn't with him when they switched back to her from Ms. Mendeleiev she had visibly paused, looking through the students as they walked in and moved to their seats with a completely even expression. They only time she slipped was when she calmly approached him to ask where he was, and he could see a flash of something in her expression. She had just nodded, asking him to take diligent notes on his behalf and left without adding anything more, but even when he agreed he had looked over his shoulder to Marinette.

It was common knowledge that one of Marinette's passive abilities was the detection of emotion, something that at first had pretty largely annoyed her classmates. Adrien had thought it was fascinating when had met her at the beginning of the school year, but could understand why it might bother some people. It did leave you feeling partially exposed when you were trying to hide something, but knew she could see right through you. It wasn't something she could help though, so eventually everyone just accepted that she could see them openly with the unspoken agreement that she was as unobtrusive as possible about it.

With that understanding though it had been second nature for Adrien to check Marinette's face as Ms. Bustier walked away, and frowned when he saw that she looked worried.

Ms. B might have tried to hide her concern, but he could see it clearly reflected in Marinette.

Adrien tried to shake the memory, forcefully reminding himself to be positive. Nino might not be able to clearly see every emotion like Marinette could, but people could still naturally pick up on things. If he was worried or pitying Nino was going to be able to tell, and he had already made a promise to himself to be as normal as possible, for his sake. So he was going to treat him like anyone else and that was the end of it.

Adrien didn't knock or pause outside, walking straight into the classroom when he arrived outside of the unassuming door. He was greeted with the familiar sight of the room almost 80% of his education took place in, noting right away that a few people were already there.

Mylene was hovering near Ivan's desk, looking at something the golem had been nervously showing her, hoping for the shy nymph's approval. Nathaneal was already sitting behind them, minding his own business and fiddling with some dark black ink bottles in the back that look half used. Alix was there early as well, but was flat out asleep on her desk as the teacher milled around in the front, trying to get ready for class.

Adrien said his good mornings and walked the short distance to his desk to settle in to wait, careful not to spread out like he was used to doing.

As he waited he pulled out his notes, as well as his extra set of notes for Nino and set them on his side of the desk. If you hadn't been there to meet him the day before you might not have been able to tell he had been there at all, his side of things completely empty and not much of a trace left if you weren't as close as Adrien was. His sense of smell was better than most, but the stink of Nino's dog overpowered anything Nino might have left behind, Adrien's expression twisting a little when reminded of the animal.

He was fine with it, honestly, but the dog was very not fine with him and it made him nervous. He knew if it wasn't loyal to its friend it probably would have attacked him on sight. Despite the dog though Adrien was determined to befriend Nino anyways, and he'd like to see it say something about it.

He was reminded of Plagg's reaction when he had detailed the day for him once he got home, his guardian having been about as disinterested as always until he mentioned the pet dog his new classmate kept with him. He had been stretched out on the cluttered counter in the room that served as their kitchen, lounging in the light until Adrien mentioned Carter.

"A dog?!" he demanded, the sleek black cat visibly bristling and twisting around just so Adrien could see his grimace. "The Werewolf is one thing but a dog is just distracting, I wouldn't have put up with it."

Adrien had frowned at the way Plagg disregarded Nino at the time, but seeing his Sidhe elder pouting in distaste had been pretty funny anyways.

He rolled an old pen between his fingers, letting his thoughts lapse over themselves and allowing time to pass. He tapped the plastic against the soft binding of his textbooks, distantly aware of the classroom filling while the seat beside him remained empty.

He was still patient when Kim and Max arrived, giving a polite hello to Chloe when she greeted him enthusiastically. He deliberately discouraged conversation with the sphinx, knowing she had a... disapproving personality and not wanting her waiting around for when Nino got there. She left with Sabrina when she hurried in with Chloe's recently finished school work, Juleka drifting in along with Rose.

When Alya and Marinette walked in together, chatting between themselves Adrien shifted uncomfortably in his seat, Marinette looking up and the girls slowing in front of his desk.

Adrien watched Alya's eyes land on the empty seat before looking up to him, his expression set as Marinette looked him in the face.

He tried to smother his slight unease, looking past them towards the door as it swung shut behind them, the classroom filled with chatter as no one seemed to notice that not everyone was there. Marinette opened her mouth to speak, but seemed to think better of something she was prepared to say. Instead she just said, "Good morning Adrien," and moved to sit behind him. Alya said nothing and did the same, her expression unreadable, and whatever easy conversation she had been entertaining lost as suddenly they were all slightly sobered.

Adrien kept tapping his pen, shifting in his seat again.

Class would be starting soon...

He waited only a few more minutes before standing, knowing that Ms. Bustier was about to start teaching as she drew away from her desk with a few papers in her hands. He had a small window to still speak with her before the entire class would be called to attention.

He ignored the feeling of the girls watching him and stepped to the front of the class, catching his teacher before she was fully in the center of the room and seeming to surprise her, though she still smiled warming and professionally. He smiled back, though he wasn't sure how it looked.

"Good morning Adrien," she greeted him, the cervitaur smiling down at him.

"Um, good morning," Adrien answered, one hand rubbing at the back of his neck as he looked up at her. "I just wanted to ask if Nino would be getting here before we started? I have the notes from yesterday ready for him, I was going to try and run him through some of it before lecture started, um if-..."

He trailed off, watching as Ms. Bustier's expression evened again.

The classroom still chattered around him, for the most part unaffected as he felt a chill run across his back, Ms. Bustier speaking calmly and her face giving nothing away.

"Actually, thank you for being prepared for him but unfortunately Nino won't be joining us today. If you could hold on to those until he's ready for them I'm sure he would appreciate it."

Adrien stared for a moment, finally saying, "Oh. Well, um, do you know if he's going to be here tomorrow?"

Ms. Bustier hesitated, just for a moment, before she gave him a very careful smile. "Yes I believe so. Thank you for waiting for him but it's time for us to get started, so if you could please take your seat."

She gestured out for him to sit and he hesitated again, watching her face before finally he turned, walking silently back to his desk.

He did not miss Marinette's quiet whisper as he was sitting, that heavy feeling settling in their chests to stay.

"She was lying..."

-----

The entire school day that Thursday had been quiet, Adrien unable to shake his anxious unease. He went from class to class, sometimes able to relax and do his work, but whenever his hand would drift over to add to his second set of notes he would pause.

More than once Adrien had stood in front of the unused hallway on the second floor, students milling around him to get to lunch or their other classes.

His attempts to speak with Ms. Bustier further had been cut short, and eventually he was forced to mind his own business. Still though, at random points in the day the empty seat beside him would catch his eye and he would hesitate, before looking forward again.

When he went home that night the stack of notes set neatly aside on Nino's desk had doubled, and when every student had gone and the day had finally ended, they were lifted quietly from their place.

Caline Bustier looked through the pages silently, lifting one after the other in the emptiness of her room. She found them carefully made, many of the words altered or replaced but the concepts remaining the same. Along the margins of every page were small definitions, extras that were added in to make them easier for someone just starting out to understand.

She ran her thumb over one of the sentences, crowded near the bottom. It was a little note that Adrien had added in, it read simply, "If this doesn't make sense ask! I can maybe explain this one better."

After a while, having read every extra effort and looked through every line, she slowly set the pages back on the table, straightening them in their place.

This.

This is what they were trying to teach.

Caline moved away from their desk, her hand raising slowly to her face as she turned away. She stood apart from him but her heart was with a cowering young boy, and she wondered at herself how she could just keep teaching after having seen him.

He had hidden from her when she first went to see him, the only covered space in the darkness beneath his bed. She could hear the creature whining and despite how kind and eager Carter had always been to see her he had guarded the bed, darting to it the second he was freed from the door and standing against her. He did not attack or growl, but it had been clear that she was not allowed to advance.

She had spoken gently for hours, hiding herself in her glamour in a desperate attempt to put him at ease. It was made clear to her right away that he had lost the ability to speak all together, and her heart had broken to hear him cry.

She wasn't sure if he heard anything she had said. Or if she had ever said anything that could help him.

The statistics about these things terrified her, but she had been so hopeful. He was trying so desperately hard, he was the bravest child she had ever met, doing his absolute best. He had hidden in numbness for as long as he could, but he hadn't made it far. Eventually he lapsed, and it was clear he was terrified it was forever. She had spent her time assuring him it was natural, it wasn't permanent, that it was okay.

She knew that in all likelihood she would spend tonight repeating herself, bringing him food he would not eat. Or maybe, he would be gone by the time she returned to check on him.

She had left the door open, and the path from the school unlocked.

It was his right to run if he wanted to, to come and go when he was ready and willing. But she looked with clouded eyes to the dutiful notes waiting on his desk and she prayed that he was there. She prayed he was brave for just a little while more. Because it could be better, she knew that, she knew he could be okay. They were learning, her students... They could learn about each other, and themselves and everything else. Or perhaps she gave herself too much credit, and she was reminded of something she had mentioned to Nino as he was strong enough to let her lead him.

Children were incredibly kind. It was something she believed, knowing that in them they had a grand capacity to understand and forgive. She could see it in Adrien's face, how his shoulders fell when she turned him away. His compassion for a stranger... the effort in his small actions... she knew he wasn't alone. That the others could and would do the same. And as she stood in her room and tried to steady herself she held on to that thought, and put faith into the kindness of children.

Perhaps they could say something she couldn't.