With Him

Pt. 1 | Something's up

Nobody's POV

Marinette sat on her bed, dressed and ready for school at six A.M., staring into empty space looking numb. Her kwami, Tiki, floated in front of her with a very worried expression on her small face. Not only was her holder up early which never happened, but Marinette was normally bubbly and optimistic. Not an emotionless robot. It wasn't that strange, however, considering the information Marinette had just been given a few days ago.

"Marinette?" Tiki said hesitantly when it was finally time to leave. There was no response.

"Marinette?" Tiki asked again a little louder, causing Marinette to groan in reply.

"You're going to be late for school!" At this Marinette groaned again. She really didn't want to go to school. However, she didn't want to get in trouble again with the adoption agent, so she pulled herself to her feet and slowly walked to school.

Marinette's POV

I slowly walked into school with my arms around myself, avoiding everyone's gaze. I soon realized that I wasn't late, actually quite early. Tiki probably knew I'd want to get here before my friends.

I walked into the classroom, which was completely empty, and sat down at my desk.

Don't cry don't cry don't cry.

I repeated the silent order in my head as I got out my books. I still felt tears sting at my eyes and I clamped them shut.

Don't cry don't cry don't cry.

I put my head in my hands and stared at the desk as I saw my friends walk in the room out of the corner of my eye.

"Marinette are you okay?" Alya asked me, concern lacing her tone. 

DON'T CRY DON'T-

Too late. Tears poured down my cheeks as my friends looked at me, shocked and worried.

No! I can't get akumatized!

I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and shook my head, staring straight ahead as the teacher walked in and began the lesson, forcing my friends to stop questioning me. The day sped by in a blur, and I felt only partially present. Without my parents I just felt... empty. My friends approached me during lunch, but I gave them a shaky smile and sped off to grab lunch off of the campus before they could get too close. I knew they could see the pain and tears in my eyes, though. They all shot me worried glances all day, especially Adrien, which normally would've set my heart and cheeks aflame. Today, all I felt was an aching, terrible emptiness. 

After school I quickly grabbed my stuff and started walking to the bakery. I couldn't call it home anymore. It isn't without my parents flour dusted cheeks, beaming smiles, and warm, loving embraces. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alya nod pointedly at the boys as they all ran to catch up with me.

"Marinette, wait up!" I kept walking, tightening my grip around the books in my arms.

"What's up?" Alya asked me grabbing my wrist and forcing me to stop. I spun around to face them

"N-nothing I say," I cleared my throat. "I'm fine!" They all raise their eyebrows.

"No, you're not," Adrien said firmly.

"I-I just... have a lot of homework! Yeah, that's it! So, ummm, I gotta go bye!" I ran into the bakery and locked the door behind me, sighing as I leaned against the wall.

Why not just tell them? 

I shook my head, dispersing the thought and straightening my spine. 

Heroes don't cry. 

Nobody's POV

Marinette's friends watched in shock as she ran into her parent's bakery yelling something about homework. They knew something was definitely wrong.

"We haven't had any homework assigned this week, have we?" Alya asked.

"Nope," both boys confirmed her suspicions.

Alya squinted her eyes, considering the peculiar actions of her friend. It was time for some investigations.