Sightless 『Miraculous Ladybug AU』

✫ C h a p t e r 2 ✫

Marinette's mother walked alongside her daughter until the two of them had reached the school's main entrance. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, Sabine quickly kissed Marinette's forehead before turning around and rushing back to the bakery before more customers arrived. Marinette took her cell phone out of her purse to check how much time remained until homeroom began. Once the VoiceOver assistance voice had told her the exact time, she began to panic slightly. Miss Bustier's class was to start in approximately two or three minutes. Realizing that walking would not get her there on time, Marinette made the sudden decision to run to class. Granted she had promised her mother that she would start to be more careful with her surroundings out in public, but she didn't have much of a choice at the moment. Her literature teacher would not be very happy with Marinette if she were to be tardy on the very first day, even if she were blind. So, without hesitation, Marinette took off towards her classroom at a sprint. Once she made it up the set of stairs, she stopped paying much attention to the sounds around her. Preoccupied, Marinette ran directly into another person, smacking quite roughly into them. The two of them fell down onto the ground, dropping whatever they had been holding in their hands.

"Good gosh, Marinette" The nasally sound of Chloé Bourgeois's irritated voice echoed in both of Marinette's ears. "Me and my precious Adrikins were trying to have a conversation before you so rudely interrupted us. Why don't you try to watch where you're going for once?" The blonde wretch paused with disgust before continuing. "Oh, that's right! You can't." Chloé laughed uncontrollably as she walked away from the two students, sticking her nose up high into the air. Of all people that could have been somewhat involved in the situation, it just had to be Chloé.

The other blond student helped himself up from the floor once Chloé had left. Once standing, he quickly gathered up his belongings before glancing over at the young girl who still remained on the ground. The boy watched in confusion as the girl stretched both of her arms out and moved them across every inch of the floor in search of her things. To him, it appeared as if she was struggling to find her notebooks even though they were sitting directly in front of her. Adrien thought that perhaps she wore glasses and when the two of them collapsed into one another, they fell over the railing near them.

Adrien made his way over to where the girl's remaining notebooks were and picked each one of them up. He then turned around to Marinette and held his hand out, offering it to her. Noticing that she didn't immediately accept his help, he attempted to use his voice in a calm, polite tone to comfort her. "Need a hand?"

"Oh, yes, thank you." Marinette stretched her own hand out, searching for his. Finding it, she immediately accepted it and stood up straight. "So, you're the new student that I heard about? The one who's friends with the mayor's daughter?" Adrien handed Marinette all of the notebooks and school supplies that he had collected for her. Once she was able to realize that he was holding them out for her, she took them and placed them safely inside of her customized bookbag. "You sure are a lot kinder than I expected. Just a word of advice: that little friend of yours isn't as sweet and innocent as she appears to be." Marinette rested both of her hands on her hips in attempt to hold back the anger that rested inside of her.

Adrien sighed deeply, "Yeah, I'm starting to finally understand that. I'm really sorry, by the way. I have no idea what all of that was about!" Adrien turned his head for a brief moment to see Chloé and Sabrina laughing and insulting another student in the hallway. "Anyway, I'm Adrien Agreste. You actually might have seen me modeling my father's designs throughout Paris this past year."

"Unfortunately, I haven't. I am a huge fan of your father's work, though! It sure is nice to meet you, Adrien. I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng." Marinette reached her hand out, which Adrien gladly shook. "My parents actually own a bakery not very far from here." Marinette stuck her thumb out, motioning to the direction to where she suspected her parents' bakery to be located. After all, she did get a bit turned around when she hit the ground.

Adrien attempted to think back on his earlier morning ride to school. "Do you mean the Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie? I actually just saw it on my way here! It's in a very nice location, too. You must love having a view like that."

Marinette stood silent for a moment, realizing that the boy probably had no idea that she was unable to see him. "Oh. Um, did Chloé not tell you?" She hesitated, not sure how her new acquaintance would handle the news.

"Tell me what?" The blond raised an eyebrow in pure confusion.

Marinette lowered both her head and her voice, "Why am I not surprised?" She looked back up in Adrien's direction, speaking at a normal tone of voice, "Um, I've actually been blind for almost a year now." Before Marinette could say anything else, the first class bell rang, indicating only a few minutes before the late bell.

"Oh, I'm so very sorry, Marinette. Nobody told me! May I, uh, walk you to class?" Adrien nervously scratched the back of his head. He felt extremely stupid. Not only had he embarrassed himself, but he also just made things quite awkward. With all of the clues that were just given to him, he should been able to know. Yet, Adrien's oblivious mind got the best of him.

Marinette smirked. "I'm not completely helpless, you know."

Adrien's green eyes went wide with guilt. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sound like...I wasn't assuming that...I just-"

Marinette smiled at the mortified boy. "I know, it's fine, Adrien! I'm just messing with you." Marinette let out a small, cute giggle, "I lost my eyesight, not my sense of humor." At this point, Adrien couldn't even resist his laughter. "I think I will take you up on your offer, though. I actually could probably use a hand finding a seat. Since we're nearly late, there most likely won't be much of a choice left." She couldn't help but feel grateful that good people still existed. For someone who hung around Chloé, Marinette was pleasantly surprised that Adrien was nothing like her.

"You can just leave that to me. Knowing how clingy Chloé is, she probably saved me a seat directly next to her. You can have her spot." Adrien's jaw clenched slightly, beginning to grow a feeling of hatred towards Chloé. All of the other students were right when they said how horrible of a person she was.

Marinette said nothing in response. She simply nodded her head and nonchalantly wrapped her arm around his as the two marched into the classroom. She wasn't used to such kindness from anyone other than her own parents. Even though she would never be able to see Adrien, she felt as if it was unnecessary. His heart was beautiful and that was all that mattered to her.