Chapter Text
Marinette walked through the grand gates of Lycée Royal de Lune, her heart pounding in her chest. The marble columns, the pristine lawns, the students who looked as if they'd walked out of a fashion magazine, it all made her feel out of place. She wasn’t used to this world of expensive uniforms and untouchable wealth. Her parents owned one of the most famous bakeries in Paris, but even that wasn’t enough to make her feel like she belonged here.
She tugged at the strap of her backpack, nervously adjusting her white shirt and black jacket, her eyes darting around at the students who didn’t spare her a second glance. Her cheeks flushed, the whispers and pointed stares like daggers in her back. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of her shorts. 'I can do this. I deserve to be here. I’m good enough!' she thought, trying to rally her nerves.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a soft voice pulled her out of her self doubt.
"Hey, you must be the new student, right?" The girl who spoke was standing near the entrance to the school courtyard. She was beautiful, with long, light blonde hair woven into a neat French braid, and her bright blue eyes looked warm and inviting. Despite the extravagant environment, she carried herself with a quiet confidence.
Marinette blinked, surprised by the friendly greeting. “Uh, yes! I’m Marinette... and you are?”
“Allegra. Nice to meet you!” the girl smiled, offering a hand in a polite but friendly gesture. “I’m the class president. I was asked to show you around today, if you don’t mind.”
A weight seemed to lift from Marinette’s shoulders and she shook Allegra’s hand eagerly. “That’s really kind of you! I’m... I’m still trying to get used to everything here...” she admitted with a slight laugh.
Allegra chuckled softly, her smile warm. “Don’t worry. It’s a lot to take in at first. But I think you’ll be fine. You’ve got the right attitude. And trust me, being new can be tough, but I think you’ll find your place.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” Marinette felt her confidence rising just a little.
“Come on, let me show you around before our first class. The other students can be a little intense. But I promise, not everyone’s like that.” Allegra continued, leading her towards the school building.
As they walked through the halls, Allegra pointed out different rooms and areas of the school, explaining the schedule and what to expect. Marinette couldn’t help but admire Allegra’s calm demeanor. She seemed like someone who knew exactly where she was going in life.
They reached the classroom, and Allegra opened the door, ushering Marinette inside. The class was already settling in, and the students glanced up as the two girls entered. Allegra’s presence seemed to quiet the murmurs and stares. Marinette couldn’t help but feel like she was being sized up by the entire room.
“Don’t worry...” Allegra whispered, noticing Marinette’s discomfort. “I’ll introduce you.”
The teacher was already at the front, going over the lesson for the day. Allegra led Marinette to an empty desk in the middle of the room. “You can sit here. It's the only seat let.” she said with a smile, gesturing toward a spot next to a very intimidating figure seated at the back of the class. “But unfortunately... your deskmate, Felix, isn’t exactly the warmest person.”
Marinette looked up and her breath caught in her throat.
Felix Culpa. The name was infamous around the school, but Marinette had never imagined he would look like that. He was leaning back in his chair, eyes half closed, his blonde hair falling messily over his sharp features. His icy grayish blue eyes locked onto hers for a brief moment, and Marinette froze. There was something about his cold, disinterested gaze that sent a chill down her spine.
'What did I get myself into?' she thought, but Allegra was already nudging her toward the desk.
“Good luck...” Allegra whispered with a knowing grin before heading to her own seat at the front of the room.
Marinette swallowed hard and walked to the desk, doing her best to ignore the way Felix was staring at her. She took a seat next to him, careful not to make eye contact again. Felix didn’t even acknowledge her presence anymore, his focus entirely on the desk in front of him.
She could feel the tension but she forced herself to sit up straight and open her notebook. 'I can handle this. Just breathe..' she thought, trying to steady her nerves.
“Excuse me...?” Marinette mumbled, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t used to such coldness. “Hi. I’m Marinette.”
Felix’s gaze flicked to her for just a second before his eyes drifted back to the front. “I’m aware.” he replied, his voice clipped and formal, like he couldn’t care less about her existence.
Marinette’s face flushed. She tried again, “I... uh, I’m new here. Allegra said I’d be sitting here..?”
Felix didn’t even look at her. “So it would seem.” he said, his tone flat, as if the situation didn’t interest him in the slightest.
The silence between them was suffocating, and Marinette could feel the weight of his indifference pressing down on her. She shuffled in her seat, feeling like a fish out of water. 'I guess it’s better this way... at least he’s not making fun of me like the others' she reasoned.
Before she could settle into the awkwardness, a voice cut through the tension.
“Hey! I see we have a new face!” A loud, cheerful voice came from the front of the room.
Claude, the class clown, practically bounded across the room, his friendly brown eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re Marinette, right? Welcome to the crazy class!” he exclaimed, grinning as he gestured to the group.
Marinette smiled nervously, relieved by his warmth. “Thanks. It’s... it’s nice to be here” she said, trying to sound confident.
“Allan!” Claude called out to the quiet boy sitting next to him. Allan, with his headphones slung around his neck, gave a shy wave but didn’t speak. He seemed kind but distant.
“Don’t mind Allan!” Claude said, plopping down next to Marinette with an exaggerated grin. “He’s a bit shy. But he’s awesome once you get to know him. And Allegra? She’s like the queen of this place.” He gestured to Allegra, who was sitting at the front. “She practically runs the school.”
Marinette laughed a little, feeling a bit more at ease. “I’m just trying to fit in.”
“You’ll do great!” Claude said enthusiastically. “Everyone here is kind of stuck up, but you’ve got that... you know, something special. You’ll be fine.”
Felix’s coldness wasn’t something Marinette was used to, but she found herself wondering... what made someone so sharp and distant? It was all so intimidating. But in some strange way, Marinette was curious.
By the time the bell for lunch rang, Marinette felt like she’d run a marathon.
Each class had been its own kind of trial. The sneering glances from students who didn’t think she belonged, the whispers behind her back, and the suffocating feeling of having to constantly prove herself. The only silver lining had been Allegra, who had kindly checked in with her between classes, and Claude, whose energy made it harder for anyone to stay anxious for too long. Even Allan had offered her a shy smile once, though he remained quiet.
But that wasn’t enough to shake the tightness in her chest.
And Felix. Ugh.
Sitting next to him was like sitting next to a glacier that had come to life and decided it hated you. Not once had he looked at her again after that first soul piercing glance, but somehow, she still felt judged and dismissed.
The moment the final pre lunch bell rang, she grabbed her bag and slipped out of the classroom, ducking away from Allegra before she could ask her to come along. It wasn’t that Marinette didn’t want to make friends, it was that she needed to breathe. Alone.
She wandered the halls until she reached a wide set of double doors with golden handles. A small plaque read Bibliothèque. She hesitated only a moment before pushing one door open and slipping inside.
The library was like stepping into another world.
She wandered past the shelves until she found a tucked away corner, shielded by bookcases on either side. A large, cushioned window seat overlooked the courtyard and there was a small side table beside it. It was perfect.
With a soft sigh of relief, Marinette slid her bag off her shoulder and curled into the window seat, pulling out her sketchbook. The moment the pencil touched paper, her heart started to slow.
Lines flowed easily under her fingers. Curved hems, flared collars, delicate embroidery along a sleeve. The design was a blend of soft elegance and playful flair. Creating helped her forget everything. She didn’t have to prove herself to paper.
She was so focused that she didn’t hear the door open again. Not until she heard the quiet but firm click of shoes across the polished floor. She barely registered it until a cold voice broke through the stillness.
“You’re in my spot.”
Marinette blinked and looked up.
There, a few paces away, stood Felix, looking more annoyed than he had before, if that was even possible. His sharp eyes were narrowed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
She blinked again, more confused than anything else. “Sorry... what?”
Felix tilted his head ever so slightly, like she was being particularly dense. “That seat. You’re in it.”
Marinette sat up straighter. “It’s... a window seat in a library.”
“I’ve been sitting there every lunch since I joined this school two years ago.” he said, the annoyance in his voice rising by a fraction. “It’s my spot.”
Her expression twisted slightly. “There’s no name on it.”
His eyes narrowed. “There doesn’t have to be.”
A tense silence stretched between them. Marinette closed her sketchbook slowly and let out a breath through her nose. She wasn’t usually combative, but something about Felix’s tone rubbed her the wrong way.
She zipped her pencil case and shoved it into her bag with a little more force than necessary. “I just started this school three hours ago, clearly I didn’t know.” she said, her voice tight, though she kept it quiet.
She stood, slipping her sketchbook into her bag and yanking the zipper closed. “But fine. Sit.”
Felix’s gaze flicked to her bag, then her face.
She stepped aside and gestured toward the window seat like she was presenting a throne. “Enjoy your spot, Your Highness.”
Then she turned, storming past him.
Felix didn’t say anything.
He didn’t move.
He just watched her walk away, the soft clicking of her shoes against the floor echoing in the silence.
And then, just before she reached the end of the aisle, she glanced over her shoulder at him. It wasn’t a glare of anger.
It was disappointment. Sadness. Her eyes were glassy, and though she quickly looked away, Felix caught the way her throat bobbed like she was swallowing something down.
Then she was gone.
“Bloody brilliant.” he muttered.
Marinette found a quiet stairwell two floors down. It was dusty and clearly unused, tucked away behind a maintenance door she wasn’t sure students were supposed to open. She sank down onto the steps and curled into herself, hugging her bag to her chest.
She hadn’t meant to get emotional. It was just a stupid seat. But everything felt like it was piling up. The stares. The whispers. The overwhelming sense of being an outsider.
And then he had to come in and act like he owned the entire school.
She sniffled and wiped her cheek. 'I will not cry over a smug, uptight pretty boy with the emotional range of a teaspoon.' She thought bitterly.
Still, the tears came. Not loud sobs, just quiet ones. The kind that come when you’ve been holding your breath too long.
Back in the library, Felix sat in the window seat. But it didn’t feel the same.
He glanced at the spot where she had been sitting, her sketchbook open on her lap, pencil moving with gentle precision. He wasn’t close enough to see what she’d been drawing, but he could picture it now, the way her brows had furrowed, how the light had caught her dark blue pigtails and made them shimmer.
He was used to silence here. He liked it that way.
But now the silence felt hollow.
He opened a book and stared at the pages without reading a single word.
Marinette returned to class just before the bell rang for their post lunch lesson. She didn’t look at Felix as she sat down. Allegra cast her a concerned glance, but Marinette gave her a small, reassuring smile.
Felix noticed the way her eyes were slightly red. He also noticed the way she kept her face turned away from him, her body angled toward the front of the room.
He hated that it bothered him.
Marinette's hands were folded in front of her, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her notebook, trying to keep herself calm. She wasn’t sure why it bothered her so much, the way he had treated her. She wasn’t used to this, people like him, so cold, so dismissive. She wasn’t used to being made to feel so insignificant.
And yet, there he was, sitting next to her, like a silent storm waiting to wreak havoc.
Felix, as always, was leaning back in his chair, his sharp gray blue eyes barely acknowledging the teacher as he droned on about something she couldn’t quite focus on. Felix's gaze, however, seemed to lock onto Marinette the moment she sat down. She tried to ignore him, focusing hard on the notes in front of her, but she could feel his attention like an icy hand on her back.
And then, when the silence stretched too long, Felix’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Dupain-Cheng.”
His tone was laced with a sharpness that made her wince, the deliberate use of her last name ringing in her ears as if he couldn’t be bothered with the niceties of calling her by her first. It was as if she was nothing more than a nuisance, something to be tolerated for the moment.
Marinette blinked, her heart skipping in her chest as she reluctantly turned toward him. “What?” Her voice came out a little more clipped than she’d intended, but it was the best she could manage.
Felix’s icy eyes flicked toward her, his expression unbothered. “You’re disturbing the class.” he said, his voice low, but carrying. “You keep shifting in your seat like a nervous wreck. If you’re unable to focus, perhaps you should reconsider whether this school is the right fit for you.”
The words felt like a slap to her face, and her cheeks flushed with the sting of humiliation. “Excuse me?” she managed, her throat tight. “I’m not disturbing anyone.”
“Oh, I beg to differ.” Felix said, his lips curling into a slight, mocking smirk. “You’re quite good at drawing attention to yourself without even trying. It’s impressive, really.” He spoke as if he were offering some twisted compliment, but his tone made it clear that he wasn’t interested in any of her explanations.
Marinette’s chest tightened, her breath caught in her throat as she fought back the urge to defend herself, to argue that she was trying her best, that she wasn’t here to cause trouble, that she deserved to be here. But Felix didn’t care. He never cared.
“Look, if you’ve got a problem with how I sit, or if my ‘nervous wreck’ presence bothers you, maybe you should just mind your own business!” she shot back, though her voice wavered with the frustration bubbling inside her.
Felix didn’t even flinch. His gaze remained as cold as ever, his posture still perfectly composed. “If I’m to be stuck next to you all semester, I’d rather not have you making a spectacle of yourself. It’s beneath me.”
The words landed like a heavy stone on her chest and her stomach churned with embarrassment. "You think I’m beneath you?" Marinette’s voice barely rose above a whisper, the sting of his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. "I’m just trying to get through my first day here without everyone treating me like I don’t belong."
Felix didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he tilted his head ever so slightly, as if analyzing her reaction with that same, detached look. “That’s your problem, Dupain-Cheng,” he finally said, his words cold and precise. “You do want to belong. But people like you don’t belong here. Not in this world. You’ll never be anything more than a passerby in this place. So you’d best learn how to keep your head down and stop trying to be anything more than you are.”
The venom in his words hit her like a physical blow, and for a moment, Marinette couldn’t breathe. She could feel the heat of her anger and humiliation rising in her chest, and before she knew it, her hands had clenched into fists.
“I don’t need to prove anything to you.” Marinette said, her voice shaking with emotion. “You don’t know me, and you sure as hell don’t get to tell me what I am or am not capable of.”
Marinette’s words hung in the air, and for a moment, she thought she might see some kind of acknowledgment, some sign that he wasn’t entirely the cold, cruel person he seemed to be. But then Felix leaned back in his chair, his posture more relaxed, his gaze once again distant. “That’s cute.” he said, as though humoring a child. “But it won’t change the fact that you’re out of your depth.”
He turned his attention back to the front, dismissing her as easily as he had before. But something about the way he did it, the casual finality, the coldness in his eyes, made Marinette want to scream.
Instead, she bit the inside of her cheek and turned away, her hands shaking in her lap. She didn’t deserve this. She wasn’t some helpless, clumsy girl. She was more than that. She would show him. But right now, all she could do was sit there, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
The rest of the class passed in strained silence. Marinette didn’t look at Felix again, though she could feel his presence at her side, like an invisible weight pressing down on her. Every time the room shifted, every time the teacher spoke, it felt as if Felix’s gaze followed her.
She tried to focus, to force her mind back on the lesson, but it was hard to concentrate with the knot of emotions twisting inside her. Felix Culpa had made it clear that he thought she didn’t belong, that she wasn’t good enough. But she was going to prove him wrong.
Marinette walked briskly down the hall, ignoring the usual stares and whispers. It had become too much to bear. Too many eyes on her, too many conversations about her that she didn’t want to hear.
She needed air. She needed space. She needed something that didn’t make her feel like she was suffocating.
Without thinking, she found herself in the same hallway she had been in before, where the stairwell leading to the old storage rooms was hidden behind a small door. It was quiet here, a little dusty, and she could escape from everything. She liked it here, where no one expected her to smile, no one demanded anything from her.
But as she reached the door, she was suddenly shoved hard against the lockers.
Her breath was knocked out of her chest as her face collided with the cold metal, pain shooting through her nose and head.
“Get lost, baker girl!” a voice sneered.
Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, trying to swallow the pain, but she could feel the blood trickling down her face. The moment she pushed herself off the lockers, she turned her head just enough to catch sight of the girl responsible: Chelsea. Another girl from her class who had been glaring and gossiping about her all morning. She stood there, arms crossed, flanked by two friends who were giggling like hyenas behind her.
“Don't think you belong here.” Chelsea continued, her voice dripping with venom. “Just go back to your stupid little bakery.”
Marinette’s head was spinning, but she bit down on her lip and stood tall, despite the searing pain in her nose. She wasn’t going to let this girl or anyone else bully her.
She wiped her nose quickly, feeling the blood still dripping, and locked eyes with Chelsea. “I’m here because I actually have talent, unlike you lot, who are only here because your daddy bought you a seat.” Marinette said, her voice steady and quiet but laced with a sharp edge. “So, I’m here to stay, whether you like it or not.”
Chelsea’s smirk faltered as Marinette stood her ground, blood still dripping from her nose but her gaze unwavering. Her friends looked uncertain now.
Chelsea glared at Marinette for a long moment before she finally clicked her tongue and jerked her head toward the exit. “Whatever, freak!” she spat, before turning to walk away, her two friends reluctantly following behind her.
Marinette’s knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily. She managed to steady herself, but the world around her seemed a little too blurry.
“Stupid, stupid!” she muttered to herself, trying to push the pain away. She couldn’t fall apart now, not after everything she’d fought for just to be here.
But the tears were starting to form, and no matter how much she tried to fight them back, they fell. She let out a soft gasp as a sob tore through her chest.
And then, just as she started to gather herself, she heard footsteps approaching.
She couldn’t stop the wave of anger that surged through her at the sight of him. It was him again, the person who had made her feel so small, so alone, when all she had wanted was to find some peace.
“Don’t pretend to care...” she said harshly, not bothering to look up at him. “I know you’re just disappointed I survived.”
Marinette brushed past him without another word.
She didn’t give him the chance to respond as she hurried down the hall, desperate to get to class before anyone could see her.
He didn’t move from the hallway for a long time after Marinette left. Her words echoed in his ears, colder than anything he’d ever said to her.
It hit him harder than he expected, sharper than her glare, heavier than the silence that had existed between them since their first encounter. He wasn’t sure what stung more... her assumption of what he thought, or the fact that it wasn’t entirely undeserved.
Marinette reached the bathroom before the tears could start again.
She leaned against the sink, gripping its edge tightly. Her knuckles turned white as she tried to steady herself. The pain in her nose had dulled to a throb, and the blood had slowed to a trickle, but it was still enough to make her dizzy.
She splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
She didn’t recognize the girl looking back. Eyes red and puffy. Again. Skin pale. Shoulders hunched, like she was trying to make herself small. Again.
'You’re stronger than this' she told herself.
And she was. She had to be.
But strong didn’t mean invincible.
Later that day, Allegra cornered Felix outside of class.
He was standing with one hand on his satchel strap, waiting for the next bell to ring, his eyes far away and unfocused.
“What the hell happened?” she hissed under her breath, pulling him aside by the sleeve.
Felix blinked, startled. “What?”
“Marinette!” Allegra said. “She looked like she was in pain, Felix. Claude told me she was bleeding earlier. And you were seen near the hallway when it happened.”
Felix’s jaw tensed. “I didn’t do anything.”
“I know that!” Allegra snapped. “But I also know you didn’t do enough. What happened?”
Felix sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I saw her after it happened. Someone shoved her into the lockers. I think it was that Chelsea girl.”
“Of course it was.” Allegra’s face twisted with disgust. “And what did you do?”
Felix hesitated.
Allegra narrowed her eyes. “Felix.”
“I didn’t say anything.” he admitted quietly. “I didn’t know what to say. She was already getting up. She looked at me like I was the last person she wanted to see.”
Allegra shook her head in disbelief. “You’re really bad at this, you know?”
“Thanks.” he muttered.
“No, I mean it.” she said, poking his chest with one finger. “You can’t expect people to understand you if all you do is stand there and brood like a tortured statue."
Felix didn’t answer.
But something flickered in his expression.