Chapter Text
It was a long day already for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The night prior was filled with fighting against an akuma alongside her partner, Chat Noir. Because of this, she had gotten a measly 2 hours of sleep. She struggled to keep her eyes open while class was starting, until something took her by surprise.
"Today we have a new student, he just recently moved here from London, can you introduce yourself, please?" Mrs. Bustier asked. The boy nodded compliantly.
"My name is Félix Fathom, and you may know me as being your peer's cousin," Félix said. The entire class greeted him. She couldn't believe her own senses. The guy who...assaulted Ladybug was going to be in the same class as her for the next six months.
"Welcome Félix, you may sit at the empty seat in the back."
Her eyes widened. This was even worse than she had hoped. The boy sat next to her, now paying attention to the lesson that had just started.
This was going to be a long year.
*
Surprisingly, her day wasn't going that bad.
To her surprise, the jerk she initially encountered that impersonated Adrien wasn't as terrible a person she thought he would be. He wasn't a bother at all while at class. During passing period, she decided to walk up to him and introduce herself to him.
She walked up to him and said, "Hello, my name is Marinette Dupain-cheng. I sit next to you in class." He thought for a moment, then nodded. "It is to my liking that I do not have someone like the girl of Italian descent in the front to be close colleagues with for the remainder of my stay in this class," Félix said neutrally.
He was very soft spoken, and for some reason... Marinette forgot her ill opinion of him for a moment.
She thought, well he's certainly well read. "You mean...Lila? Have you already forgotten her name from the morning? And also, what do you mean by that?" He spoke with a slightly cautious tone, almost sounding like he was nervous. That was new. "I, uh, have a difficult time recalling someone's title since I am not very experienced with individuals of adolescence similar to myself." So that was why. Hmm, no wonder he talks like that. She nods. "I see. So.. why do you mean by 'like her?'" He replies calmly. "Meanwhile our course was taking place, I couldn't help but notice how much that girl speaks nonsense; about her so-called 'tinnitus' and 'weak wrists.' I have just recently witnessed her prove her untrue speakings false last passing period. I am simply expressing my relief to not be next to such a cheat." Her eyes widened. Someone who actually can tell past her lies...she was beyond glad to have someone like that. Especially on the first day that they're here..!
"Wow. You're very smart, Félix. I appreciate that for once I have someone in my life that isn't extremely dense," Marinette said gratefully. The boy took slight offense to that. His demeanor changed in the slightest to what she would more or less expect from the person she met as Ladybug.
"Thank you. But pardon me, Dupain-cheng, but do I appear to be an inadequate school kid that is too dim to see through a terrible fabrication? I sincerely hope not," He said with a flat tone. She wove her hands around in embarrassment. "No, of course not! I was just saying." He gave a contemptuous smile towards her. "I appreciate that. However, this exchange has to come to a close since our short leisure time that is passing period has concluded. I look forward to encounter you in class soon, Ms. Dupain-Cheng. Farewell," Félix said. He walked towards class, and so did she.
*
The rest of her day wasn't anything interesting. Just a typical school day, with a few hiccups here and there. And she was so excited to just lay back on her bed and chill for the rest of the day....oh wait. She has plans with Alya, they were going to go get ice cream... at what time again? She checked her phone sluggishly and opened the calendar app. It was at 5!? It's 4:30! She needs to get ready fast. She quickly brushed her teeth and brushed her hair, then scrambled to her clothes to throw them on. After that, she quickly put on her flats and sprinted out of the bakery while saying, "Bye mom, bye dad! I'm going out with Alya! Love you guys!" After the door closed, she faintly heard her mom yell, "Love you too honey! Have fun!"
*
Alya waved at Marinette from a distance, watching her brisk walk towards the place. "Hey girl! You need to stop being late to everything, soon it'll cost you," she said. As Marinette finally caught up to her she laughed nervously and scratched the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Ye-heah, I know Als. I'll try to work on that," she said. They walked alongside each other into the parlor. Once they were settled into their seats and eating their tasty cold snacks, the best-friend conversation started. "So, girl, how was today?"
"Ehh. It was fine, nothing really out of the ordinary."
"Really, even with new guy Félix? With what happened in the past, I highly doubt that," Alya said flatly. Marinette sighed and spoke afterwards. "Yeah, surprisingly he wasn't that bad. Besides the subtle snide remarks, he was very polite. And he doesn't believe in Lila's lies." Alya sighed. "Seriously, girl? Still about her 'lies?' And now there's someone else who thinks that... Marinette. Don't you think that...it's maybe a red flag that a douche like him is the only one who shares the same sentiment as you on her?" Marinette frowns. "Let's not start again with this, Alya. Please," she said in desperation. Her best-friend nods, sighing yet again. "And also, he's not a douche," Marinette states. Alya gives her a look, then takes a spoon of her ice cream. Marinette follows.
After a couple of minutes, Marinette reignited the conversation. After finishing both of their bowls, they parted ways. As soon as Marinette arrived home, she plopped on her bed sluggishly. She checked the time on her phone to see that it was currently 7:30 PM. Wow. Maybe for once she could get a good night's rest and get to school on time, or maybe even early for a change. She changed into her night clothes and dozed off.