Miraculous Ladybug: Season Six | Part One

Chapter Thirty-Three: Internal Conflict

Adrien breezes through his classes thanks to his friends' notes from the day prior, including the chemistry exam. The final bell dismisses the student body, allowing them to leave for the end of the day. Not without a final announcement from Mr. Damocles.

"Students, be wary of the protests occurring off school premises. Be safe and thoughtful!"

Adrien winces as he packs his belongings into his bag. "Adrien! What are you still doing in here?" Nino runs over to his desk. Adrien looks up as he zips his bag, "Why are you in such a rush, Nino?" He mumbles, standing up as he swings his book bag behind him. "The protesters are getting worse by the hour; you must leave. Like now, dude." He states, practically dragging him out of the classroom. "W-wait, I need to talk to Marinette," He stammers as they reach the lobby. Adrien could feel the stares of his peers focus on him; great. Another reason to hate my father, I get it. Nino continues to drag him onto the courtyard, "Nino," Adrien snaps, digging his heels into the ground and forcing him to come to a stop. "I think I can handle this myself," he assures, looking around for Marinette. Nino sighs, "She's the one who sent me for you, dude!" He exclaims, turning around to face him.
Adrien blushes as he puts his face into his hands. "Where is she?" He groans as his bodyguard pulls up to the school. "I'll tell her you want to hang out at your place; you just can't be seen right now. Who knows what the protesters would think if they saw the son of Gabriel Agreste!" Nino lectures, grabbing Adrien's arm and pulling him to the vehicle pulled up for him. He opens the door and shoves him into the back seat. Gorilla nods at Nino in appreciation. "NINO." He snaps as he slams the door before Adrien can say anything else.
Marinette comes running down the school stairs with Alya not far behind. "NINO, I TOLD YOU TO WAIT," Alya shouts as the vehicle takes off. They stop before Nino, "Well, he was already getting stares, dudes!" He argued, crossing his arms. Marinette groans, "He needed to talk to me, dude," She mocked before she started running after the white vehicle.
Alya glares at Nino, "You couldn't have waited another 30 seconds." She mutters, crossing her arms as well. Nino shrugs, "It's better than him being dead, Alya." He protested, watching Marinette run through crowds of protesters. Alya inhales, "He wouldn't have gotten killed... I don't think," Alya sighs, also watching.
The vehicle reaches a red light as Marinette catches up to them. She knocks on the window, hoping to gather attention from Adrien. The door opens slowly as he grabs her hand and drags her into the back seat. She lands awkwardly on his lower half. He closes the door as she slides over to the seat next to him. "Marinette, I-" Adrien starts looking over at her away from the door. Marinette winces as she watches people come rushing around from the sidewalk. "Y-yeah, I know I should've waited, but-" Adrien shakes his head as his bodyguard floors it toward the mansion. "No, I wanted to wait for you, but it isn't exactly the "safest" for me right now," He sighs, slouching in his seat and looking out the window. Marinette frowns, touching his shoulder, "I'm sorry about your father, Adrien." She whispers as they finally reach the gates of the Agreste mansion. There's a group of protesters blocking the entrance, shouting at the vehicle that's in front of them. Gorilla groans and rolls his eyes as he honks his horn. The protesters scatter as he inches closer for the gates to open.
Adrien looks back at Marinette, "It's alright, it's just something I have to get used to. Finding out he wasn't a hero made a lot more sense than him when I was told he was one," he half smiles as the gates close behind them. The car switches into park, and Adrien hops out of the car, opening the door for Marinette and grabbing her hand to help her out.
He led her inside as Nathalie greeted them. Marinette's eyes widened as she bit her cheek; s-she isn't supposed to be here. She thinks as Nathalie gives Adrien a lengthy instruction on choices he can make if he wishes to remain safe until this blows over. Marinette regains focus, "You can continue going to school, but you can't risk putting your friends, including Marinette, in danger." She finishes looking down at Marinette. She swallows hard, looking over at Adrien, who thinks deeply. "Are you saying I would have to stop seeing her and my friends?" He inquires, grasping her hand so tight it almost hurts Marinette. Nathalie shakes her head, "No, just not in public, Adrien. This is for both of your safeties. It's a liability otherwise." She states coldly, looking at both of them. He nods, "I understand," he sighs, looking back at Marinette. She smiles, "I understand as well," she adds as he loosens his grip on her hand.
  After the continuing lengthy lecture from Nathalie, Adrien leads Marinette upstairs. Her thoughts were making her lose her focus on why she was here.

Nathalie... used the peacock miraculous; could she be? No.
Nathalie was the wish...
I watched her die.
Nathalie was...

  "Marinette?" Adrien grabs her attention as he opens his door. She looks up at him, "Sorry, lost in thought," she smiles as he lets go of her hand. He smiles back slowly as he sits on his desk chair. "So, your father-" "Yeah, I know. I feel so... stupid for not figuring it out sooner. It makes sense why he was always so distant after mom disappeared," he whispers, looking up at her from the chair. She slowly sits on his floor to look up at him. "I know you thought he was a hero, and I'm sorry that's how Ladybug made it-" "She had a reason; I know she did. She wouldn't have lied to all of Paris without a reason, Marinette." He cuts her off again, staring into her eyes. She grimaces, "Y-yeah, I guess that could be why." She whispers, looking away from him.
  He sighs, "My father was not a great father, but I couldn't expect him to be worse than what I initially anticipated." He mutters, covering his face with his hands. Marinette looks back at him, touching his knee, unable to think of what to say to him. He looks back at her, smiling, "I am grateful you told me to stick up for myself that one day, Marinette." He mentions sliding off his chair to join her on the floor. "I-I was just doing what was right, Adrien," she stammered, looking at him. He takes her hands, "You taught me how to be myself, Marinette. Even with my father's control." Marinette blushes, glancing at his rings before smiling. "I've never felt like more of myself until you, Marinette." He adds, tightening his grip slightly.
Marinette looks back up at him, tightening her grasp as well. "Adrien, I-" she choked, looking deep into his eyes. He smiles, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I know you do," He whispers, placing his chin against her shoulder. Marinette closed her eyes, as her breathing slowed as she slumped into the embrace. "I love you," she whispers softly into his shoulder.
He hides his smile into her shoulder as they sit silently in each other's arms. Adrien pulls away slowly, looking at Marinette up and down. Her face was still flushed, "Our project is due Friday," She smiled sheepishly, looking up at his desk. He groans, "I forgot all about that," he responds, pressing his hand against his forehead. She giggles, standing up reaching down to help him stand. He looks up at her, placing his hand gently on top of hers.

  "And finished!" Marinette exclaims, saving the PowerPoint presentation to Adrien's desktop. He sighs out of relief, looking out his window, "They're still protesting." He mumbles, watching the crowds gathering at the Eiffel Tower. Marinette sighs, turning in his chair to face the window. "It's never-ending, I guess; until some change happens, they won't stop." She responds, standing up to join him in the window. "If anyone should be upset, it should be my family," He insisted, crossing his arms to look down at the gates of his home. "See, they're upset with me because I'm his son," he pauses to look at Marinette, "I'm not my father." He continues as she leans against his shoulder, watching the sunset from a distance. "I know, you're too kind to be anything like him." She whispers as Adrien wraps his arm around her to bring her closer.
  "Do you think this is going to be an issue for Ladybug and everyone else fighting for us?" He inquires softly, worried about his own integrity as Chat Noir. Marinette shrugs, "I'm sure there will be some issues along the way. Nothing they haven't dealt with before; this time, it's just not under the manipulation of your father..." She reported watching two superheroes jump from rooftop to rooftop as they patrol. He winces, "Yeah... this is self-made hatred," he mumbles, also watching the group jump together, trying their best to stay hidden. It was Miss Hound and Vesperia; they were trying their best to avoid the angry crowds of people surrounding multiple businesses they had properties involving any superhero.
  Marinette pulls out of his grasp, "I should go; it's getting late." She whispers, grabbing her bicep regretfully. Adrien frowns as he nods, "There's no telling how ugly it will get as the night goes on,"