Chapter Text
Marinette sat back in the classroom, head in her arms. She was exhausted from the past week. Taking down Hawkmoth had been difficult, but taking the ring from her partner had been worse. But if she was completely honest with herself, it was extremely freeing to not have as many responsibilities and worries. She hadn’t realized how much being Ladybug had eaten away at her mental state, having to worry about the entirety of Paris and her cure always working.
It helped that hiding her face had the added benefit of not having to hide her reactions to Lila’s stories. Marinette wasn’t certain how she managed it, but Lila had somehow made the claim that she had been instrumental to the takedown of Hawkmoth. Marinette wondered if she would have someone claim to be her best friend ‘Ladybug’ next.
Ms. Bustier stepping through the door should have stopped her classmates, but it didn’t. It hadn’t taken long for Marinette to realize that her teacher wasn’t great, although she certainly didn’t always recognize it as she ought. Dragging her head up long enough to peek at her teacher and see what she might be doing, she managed to catch sight of all of her classmates in the process. She ignored most of them, but the misery on Adrien’s face caused a pang in her chest.
My poor Kitty she thought silently, pulling her gaze away so she couldn’t look at him anymore. She hadn’t wanted to do it. Take his ring, take his best friend. She couldn’t imagine the blow it must have been to see that Hawkmoth was his father, his mother being kept alive by a machine, and then to lose Plagg on top of it. But his final words rang in her ears.
I deserve this.
Adrien had declared that he deserved to know her identity, that he deserved to keep the ring and his place by her side. He was wrong of course, he couldn’t see her real identity when it was in plain sight, always chasing her and flirting with her in battle. He was a poor partner, and an even poorer friend. And her identity as guardian was even more imperative than it was previously. So Marinette withdrew, taking his ring with her.
She had gone to his mother’s funeral, Doctors were unable to do anything and she perished not long after the battle. Adrien had ignored her in favor of the rest of her class. That didn’t hurt as much as it would have just a few months ago. He may have said he was on her side, but he had proven to be passive to a fault. All she had asked was for a conversation, and he couldn’t even give her that.
She dropped her head back into her arms with a plop. It wasn’t worth remembering anymore. As much as she missed hanging out with her old friends, Lila Rossi wasn’t worth any of her pain. Now that she didn’t have to be ladybug, she had applied for a transfer, out of Paris. Paris only held painful memories for her now, and she didn’t have many ties to it anymore. She had done her duty for Paris, but she had watched so many buildings fall, so many Parisians die.
Master Fu was gone, left after he had made her the guardian and lost his memories. All of her classmates had betrayed her, some only ignoring her while others had started bullying her. Alya had started a smear campaign against her website, so she had had to rebrand about a year ago. Even friends outside the school didn’t really exist.
Luka and Marinette talked as often as they were able, which wasn’t often. Luka had gone on the road with Jagged after things with Kitty Section had gone south (Marinette blamed herself, they hadn’t wanted her around when Lila started showing up to things). He had talked with her about a relationship, but Marinette hadn’t wanted to trap him down or start anything while he was on the road and she was still Ladybug. (She didn’t tell him she was Ladybug, but she had the sneaking suspicion he already knew). Chloe and her had started becoming friends with Lila began attacking her. Chloe had seen how truly awful Lila was and apologized to Marinette. She had moved to America with her mother 3 months ago after Lila became unbearable to her. She was desperately trying to get Marinette to leave as well.
Ms. Bustier finally called the class to attention, and Marinette re-dragged her head up, seeing her other classmates make it to their seats. Staring at the seat that used to house her bully turned friend she snorted a little. She would have never believed they would be friends, but now Chloe was the only thing really keeping her sane. Marinette prayed that her acceptance letter came through soon.
They were barely through first period when a knock sounded on the door. Marinette was a little surprised to see her parents walk through the door and sat up a little straighter.
“Maman? What are you doing here?” She asked her mother, cringing a little as the class looked her direction. She kept a careful eye on her mother, who definitely had the temper in the family. Marinette had confided in them a couple months ago about the bullying and Maman had taken it about as well as a mama bear. They had been supportive, and wanted to pull her from school right then and there, but she had told them about her exchange student idea and they had agreed. Especially since it was so close to the beginning of the school year.
Her mother glanced in her direction, shooting her a smile before turning to the teacher, a frown and glare crossing her features.
“I’m here to pick up my daughter and her things.” Marinette shivered a little at her mothers tone and prayed Ms. Bustier would have the sense to not cross her mother. She picked up her things and put them in the bag, enduring the stares as she walked down the stairs and stood by her mother.
“Marinette, you’ll need to read the next chapter in the history book. We have a quiz on Monday.” Marinette nodded her assent, eager to leave, but her Mother put a hand on her shoulder, shooting a cool smile at the teacher.
“My daughter will not be returning to this school. Marinette, if you would leave any school things here now so that we don’t need to return them later I would much appreciate it. Your father is talking to M. Damocles now. Marinette’s head turned so quickly she felt it wrench.
“Does that mean?” She whispered, leaving the question hanging in the air, not wanting to be disappointed. Her mother only nodded, tears glistening in her eyes, and Marinette quickly pulled the school’s things from her bag. She pulled her mother into a hug, and she shooed her out the door with orders to go pack up her locker and find her father.
Marinette left the class and teacher to her mother’s mercy with only minimal hesitation. She owed them nothing, and nothing could stop Sabine’s fury once it began. She was too relieved to be leaving at this point.
She met her father in the hallway and bounced into him for a hug.
“Thank you Papa.” She whispered, finally letting the tears fall from her eyes. The big man smiled and waved her papers around excitedly.
“We decided to pull you out of school early to help you pack. We figured you would appreciate it.
Marinette nodded and finished packing her things up. Her Maman joined them just as she was done, and the three of them walked out of the school, none looking back. It wasn’t exactly how she wanted to leave, but she couldn’t imagine it in any of a better way.
She left just as quietly as her betrayal had been.