Who We Never Thought We'd Be... (Miraculous Fanfiction)

Afterstory: A New Normal for Heroes

Adrian didn't know how people would see him at school, now that his father was behind bars for being a supercriminal.

He looked at the building as they pulled up to the curb, and he leaned over and hugged his mom. "Promise you'll still be here when I come home?"

"Yes, dear... Now have fun."

Adrian stepped out of the limousine and then started towards the door. His eyes skimmed the yard for Nino or Marinette, but he saw no one.

Not a word was spoken to Adrian by most of the students as he entered the building. Some gave waves and light smiles, but the whole school seemed filled with awkward silence.

Adrian reached his classroom, and took a seat in his usual spot by Nino. Neither friend spoke for several moments, then Nino broke the silence.

"So...your dad."

"Yup." Adrian mumbled, slumping over in his seat.

"...Did you know?"

"Nope." Well, not until the other day...

Nino elbowed him gently. "Eh. Even if you had, I'd still like ya!"

Adrian sat up up straight again, giving a smile. "Thanks. I needed that, Nino."

"Anytime, bro."

Adrian looked up as Marinette and Alya entered the room, giving a wave to Marinette.

Marinette waved back, though looking very nervous. Her hair was pulled back into a single ponytail, and she blushed as Alya elbowed her a little.

"ADRIKIIIINS!!!!"

Adrian jumped, then turned to face Chloe as she came near. "C-Careful, Chloe! I might still be contagious..." He warned, remembering the lie Nathalie had used to hide his disappearance.

"Oh, of course! I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. It must be so hard for you, knowing you're related to a criminal..."

"Leave the guy alone!" Alya replied. "It's bad enough without you rubbing it in!"

"Alright class." Miss Bustier took her place in front of her desk. "Let's all settle down and get started."

Adrian looked up to Marinette, motioning towards Alya while mouthing 'She knows...?'

Marinette shrugged sheepishly, but motioned they'd talk more later. Adrian nodded, then went back to facing the teacher.
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After school, Adrian walked to Marinette's parents' bakery, reaching the door about the same time that Marinette and Alya got there.
"Your parents won't mind me being here, will they?" He asked.

"Nah, they seemed to like you last time!" Alya replied, elbowing Marinette again.

Marinette rolled her eyes, then the trio stepped into the bakery. "Mama, papa, I'm back!"

"Did you have a good day?" Mrs. Dupain-Cheng asked, then she saw Adrian and Alya. "Visitors, too!"

"Yeah! Uh... School project Marinette and I got assigned!" Adrian replied.

"And I'm here to chaperone...!" Alya joked, giggling as Marinette elbowed her with a glare.

"Alright then, I'll just have your father make extra cookies for you kids!"

"Sounds great!" Adrian replied before hurrying up the steps to Marinette's room, Marinette and Alta following. "I didn't get anything last time."

"What are you talking about?" Marinette asked.

"When I was over here practicing for that video game tournament with you, your dad kept trying to bring up snacks and you shooed him off every time!"

"Did I? Oops."

Once all three teens were settled, Adrian and Marinette released Plagg and Tikki from their hiding spots.

"Sheesh! Once you guys knew each other's secret identities, you're like me and Camembert!"

"So which one's lazy and which one's stinky?" Adrian joked.

The girls giggled as Plagg pouted, but even he eventually had to smile.

"Okay Alya, so you found out about all of this the same time as Marinette?"

"Well, Plagg did fly into the window and scare the crap out of us."

"I don't remember running into a window..." Plagg murmured.

"You were like, half-dead when you got here, Plagg." Alya replied. "If it weren't for Marinette taking you to the old man, you wouldn't be here right now."

"Oh... I was wondering how I got there..."

"So I was wondering about those two that came to assist us. They didn't seem to be from around here."

"Wait, more superheroes!?" Alya asked excitedly.

"Moufette and Hood. They seemed pretty experienced, though. Master Fu says they may be miraculous holders from another region."

"It's possible..." Tikki murmured. "Also, I remember them talking about someone named Leonardo..."

"Leonardo Da Vinci, perhaps...?"

Marinette snapped her fingers. "There's a traveling circus in Paris right now called Leonardo Armand's Traveling Circus. Maybe they're performers there!"

"That would explain their acrobatic abilities..." Adrian stroked his chin. "I seem to remember an acrobat in a circus becoming a crime fighter in a comic book once..."

"Back to real life, Adrian." Alya warned. "Maybe you could ask your mom to take us and see the show."

Adrian winced. "Sounds a bit stalkerish, but... I'll see what I can do."
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A/N: Had to go back and watch "The Gamer" to know if I was referencing it properly... So many things in there that should've hinted Marinette to Chat's alter ego.