A/N So here is the final installment of Hard Math and Harder Language! Thank you laureleaf and Fairy Dell for being wonderful editors and friends! It's been an amazing first week of my last year of grad school and publishing this now seems very appropriate. This chapter wraps everything up with a little Adrinette and a lot of Awesome Alya. I don't own Miraculous Ladybug and this is just for pleasure, not for profit. Also, thank you all so much for the reviews!
"So do you want to tell me what all happened with that study session?" Alya asked after the girls had walked a block. Marinette sighed, tilting her head back to look up at the sky. The shadows were starting to grow longer and dusk would be settling soon over the city of Paris and yet the city was still alive with people rushing.
"I managed to talk to Adrien without stuttering," Marinette grinned brilliantly. Alya snorted.
"That's good, but you know that isn't what I mean. Tell me all the details so I can determine what punishment is right for the new idiots on my hit list."
"You don't need to punish them for me," Marinette shook her head.
"Excuse me! That is one of the perks of being a best friend!" Alya protested.
"Al, listen. What I mean is that it wasn't me they insulted. So I'm half Chinese and half French? So what? I can't exactly change what I am? Really, I was more upset about the insult to my parents. They love each other so much, Alya, and to have someone act like that's a bad thing? Something to be ashamed of? It makes me so mad and upset and confused because how stupid is that?! There is so much wrong with this world, even without the akumas and Hawkmoth feeding on negative emotion and making it worse! Why would you want there to be less love? It doesn't make sense!" Marinette spoke passionately, her eyes blazing as she let more of her frustration leak out in her words.
"You're right, Mari. It doesn't," Alya nodded solemnly and quietly, barely breaking into Marinette's continued speech.
"That's why I went to see Biyu and Jinhai. They immigrated from China years ago, have been best friends with my maman for ages. They knew her before she and Papa started dating, and you know what? They fully supported it. They loved Papa and welcomed him with open arms. Never made him feel like an outsider and never made me feel like an outsider for my mixed heritage! They understand that love is wonderful and precious and should be defended, not sneered at!"
Chat Noir couldn't help but stare in wonder at the fiery girl walking below him. Adrien had transformed soon after leaving the school, scouring Paris to find his missing friend only to discover her hours later with Alya.
He had been about to drop down and greet them, under what pretense he hadn't decided yet, when Marinette's words rose from the streets to the rooftops and reached his ears. Enhanced cat hearing really came in handy sometimes.
"And then Adrien...he didn't know what the word meant. He wanted me to explain it and I...I couldn't...I didn't want to explain to him what it meant because what if he doesn't understand, Alya? What...what if he agreed with them and thinks that love needs to be kept between people who are from the same race or something like that?" Marinette whispered, her voice breaking.
Chat made up his mind immediately. He lept over the rooftops, dropped down in a nearby alley, dropped his transformation, stuffed Plagg into his jacket, and ran from the alley and around the corner only to crash right into Marinette and Alya.
"Whoa!" The young model exclaimed as he quickly rolled off the two girls.
"I'm so, so sorry, I was just in a hurry and...Mari! Oh my gosh, I finally found you! I've been looking everywhere for you, I was so worried!" Adrien exclaimed excitedly, putting his skills to good use and pretending that he hadn't planned to intentionally run into her. Well maybe not quite that literally, but still…
"Adrien!" Marinette gasped in surprise.
"What are you doing here Agreste?" Alya demanded.
"I took care of Yvonne, Alya," Adrien pouted a bit under Alya's glare. He may have gained a bit more Chat confidence, but no one was ever really prepared for a righteously-angry Alya.
"By what, refusing to sign an autograph?"
"Alya!" Marinette hissed in disapproval.
"No," Adrien rallied himself, taking a firmer stance under Alya's glare. "I told her off in front of everyone, and had plenty to say to her in multiple languages. I made it clear that she and the others she was with aren't welcome in my fan club anymore. It may not seem like a lot to you, but -"
"But for a precious cinnamon roll, it's a decent start," Alya interrupted. "And having their idol crush diss them doesn't hurt."
"Marinette, are you okay?" Adrien finally turned fully away from Alya to give his full attention to her.
"Alya told me what the word means. I can't believe they would be so stupid. As if having a mixed heritage is anything to be ashamed of. I mean, I'm half Russian and half French for crying out loud!" Adrien shook his head in not completely feigned disgust.
Marinette gaped a little then remembered how to use her mouth and words.
"R-r-really? I didn't know that a-a-about you," Marinette stuttered slightly.
"It's not something Father likes to advertise," Adrien admitted. "He loved Maman very much, but…"
"Not everyone is understanding that an international fashion designer might be a part of a love that is international?" Alya asked with a quirk of her lips.
"Exactly. The company and public image is a high priority. But that's not what is important to me right now," Adrien's eyes drilled into Marinette's. Just like Yvonne, Marinette was helpless to look away from the young teen's gaze. Unlike Yvonne, Adrien wasn't looking at her with the intent to destroy.
"What's important is knowing how you're doing, Marinette."
"I...I'm better," Marinette responded. "I'm sorry for running away, but I felt so stressed from studying and then their words on top of it, I just...overreacted. Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize," Adrien insisted. "Your actions make perfect sense. I just wish you hadn't been hurt."
"That's very sweet of you," Marinette said quietly, blushing and glancing down. Adrien raised his hand and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
"It really isn't. I should have told them to go away before they even said anything. They were being really distracting staring at us."
Alya opened her mouth then shut it, her eyes glowing with excitement as she watched Marinette raise her head.
"M-maybe we could try studying at my house instead then?" Marinette offered, meeting Adrien's gaze again. Alya bit down on her tongue, refusing to squeal out loud and ruin the budding moment.
"That sounds like a great idea!" Adrien grinned, and it was such a lighthearted expression on the normally so controlled teen. It was at that moment that Adrien's stomach chose to let out perhaps the loudest growl either girl had ever heard. Adrien's face turned beet red with embarrassment.
"Here Agreste," Alya couldn't help but laugh as she offered the box of leftover fried dough twists to Adrien.
He took the offering curiously then sighed with delight at the taste.
"Somewhere my nutritionist and Natalie are sobbing. I don't care," Adrien took another hearty bite, relishing the delicious treat.
"Why don't you come with us?" Marinette offered. "We're heading to my house and we can all study there and have dinner with my parents?"
"That sounds pawsome!" Adrien exclaimed in delight. Alya snorted with laughter while Marinette's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Pawsome?" she asked cautiously.
"Yeah...it's kind of a pun? I've heard Chat Noir say it before and he's so cool, I just...couldn't help myself?" Adrien said weakly. Marinette nodded slowly and let the moment pass.
"Come on you two," Alya exclaimed, throwing arms around both Adrien and Marinette. "Let's get going! We can discuss Adrien's sense of humor and secret hero worship after we eat and he saves us from failing physics!"
Adrien laughed and ducked out from under Alya's arm, jumping a bit out of the way. Marinette laughed too, but she didn't move away until after she had given Alya a hug. She could feel the warmth coming from Tikki's happiness and knew she'd hear a glowing review of this conversation later. But for now it was getting late, she and her friends were hungry, and her parents were waiting for her.
WIth a bright and happy laugh, Marinette Dupain-Cheng raced down the streets of Paris to home, Alya and Adrien close behind her.