Chapter Text
“Chat Noir WHAT?!”
Mari held the phone further from her ear, wincing as Cass’s angry voice rang around the room. “...Yeah. He did.”
“Oh no he didn’t! I’ll come whoop his a-”
“Believe me, I’m pissed too, Cass. But please, *please* calm down. Your voice is stressing me out and I don’t have the emotional capacity to hold your emotions, too.”
“Oh…” Cass’s voice softened and she paused for a few seconds, only static reaching Mari’s ears. “I am so, so sorry, Mari-doll. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now. I’m gonna shut up, you just tell me what’s going on it that polkadotted brain of yours.”
Mari fell into a chair, looking up at the ceiling. Tikki came to rest on her shoulder in a little, gentle hug. “Mostly I’m just hurt, I guess. It’s not like Chat and I have never kissed before. Way back when I was fifteen- one of my first times as Ladybug, actually- I had to kiss him in order to stop an akuma. And my friend Alya once had this picture of us kissing… And I even liked him a little a few years ago. I’ve almost kissed him more than once!
But this felt like a violation. Of my trust, of my boundaries! He didn’t give me an out. He was holding my hand so tight… I’m angry but more than that I’m so hurt. I feel like my best friend stabbed me in the back.” Mari put her head in her hand, trying to hold back a wave of tears. “I don’t even know if our friendship can survive this. How can I forgive him? How can I trust him enough to work alongside him? Is he even actually sorry? Is-”
“Nette. Breathe with me. In… and out…”
Mari turned the phone on speaker and set it down on the desk, hands shaking.
“Listen to me, hun. You and that scruffy cat boy have been friends for five years. Y’all have been through *way* more than most friends can claim. I believe that if you want to keep up the relationship, you two will find a way. But I don’t think that has to be today nor even this week. Heck, you can be angry with him for as *long as you want*, ‘kay?” Mari huffed. “You have every right to be angry. So accept the hurt right now, don’t worry about forgiving him yet, and go hang out with a cute blonde model who will completely take your mind off of this whol-”
Mari snatched up the phone to check the time. “Oh my gosh. Adrien! I completely forgot that we’re grabbing lunch! AHHHHH I’m not even out of my pajamas! Cass, I appreciate you, you are the best of friends, I have got to go, bye!” She hung up and tore off to the bathroom.
Dark circles hung under Adrien’s eyes like terrible shadows of regret as he showered that morning. He put little thought into his normal routine, carelessly grabbing a wrinkled t-shirt from the floor of his closet and putting it over his head.
“You look like actual garbage,” Plagg commented conversationally.
Green eyes met and Adrien stuck out his tongue. “Says the senile demon who smells like an old sock.”
The kwami clutched a paw to his chest. “You hurt me so deeply,” he deadpanned. “Really though, you’re going out on a lunch date-”
“Ladybug will never go on a date with me now…” Adrien lamented.
“-with your best friend-”
“Ladybug was my best friend.”
“-Marinette, who you love-”
“I love Ladybug.”
“FOR THE LOVE OF CHEESE, PULL. YOURSELF. TOGETHER, BOY!” Plagg grabbed the sides of Adrien’s face and shook him. “You done messed up, kid. And I fully expect you to fix it, because that’s what us black cats have to do when we hurt our bugs. But right now, you have to put on a brave face and hang out with your friend. Because you are a good friend. Put on a decent shirt, you smell worse than me.” Satisfied, the kwami flew back to the bedside table and began munching on Camembert.
Adrien’s heart ached, but he also was hit with the truth of Plagg’s words. Mari was a good friend who did not deserve a friend who was all mopey for something he did to himself. She was starting school and needed to have a good day.
He glanced in the mirror beside the closet and forced the corners of his lips up into a smile. He was fine.
Bluegrass bled through the speakers, soaking the outdoor restaurant in warmth that did not befit the weather. Mari sat with shoulders curled inwards like a wilted sunflower, hugging herself without knowing it. She chewed on her lower lip, picking at her pale blue sweater and counting the number of times her mind went back to last night despite herself. 29, last she checked.
Demeanor aside, she was looking her best in thick black tights and a corduroy skirt that matched her sweater like it was made for it. She had even done her eye makeup, filling her waterline with white and concealing red spots like there was no tomorrow. Adrien was not to find out she had been crying.
“This seat taken?” A low voice asked, shaking her from her thoughts.
She blinked, looking up. “Oh, yes, sorry it- Adrien!” She jumped up from her chair and gave him a quick hug. Um. Wow. His outfit was interesting, to say the least. Instead of his usual crisp button down and slacks, he wore a pair of jeans with a dark green flannel. It complemented his eyes quite nicely, but was oh so very not Adrien.
Holding him at arms length she clicked her tongue. “What happened?”
Adrien shrugged her hands away. “What do you mean? I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” Had his concealer failed? Were his under-eye bags standing out like Coach purses in a Goodwill?
“Adrien, don’t act like that. I’ve known you for a long time and I have not seen you wear jeans since your dad went to jail. Gosh, did something happen with him? Don’t tell me you guys fought again-”
“It’s not that Mari, I’m fine, really. Just a bad wardrobe day, I guess.”
Her eyes widened like a camera lens that saw straight through him. “You just went through a breakup!! How come I didn’t know you were dating someone! What am I, chopped liver? You have to tell your friends these things.” Mari grabbed his hand and began walking with him back to his car, a shiny black Audi.
“Wait, Marinette, where are we going?” Adrien questioned, shaking his head. “We literally haven’t even sat down for lunch!”
“We are going to get some Ben and Jerry’s, we are going back to your apartment, and I am going to beat you in some Ultimate Mecha Strike, got it?”
He opened his car door for her, still confused. “I’m afraid I’ve missed something. Why?”
“Because you’ve just had a breakup and this is what one does after a breakup.” She said simply, sliding into the seat.
“I haven’t had a breakup, I don’t know what you are talking about.” He shut her door and crossed to the driver side, climbing in. “I said nothing about a break-up.”
Marinette turned to him, sincerity written all over her face. “You wear your heart on your sleeve, Adrien. I can tell that you’re hurting and you’ve got your breakup shoes on.” She gestured to the all black converse on his feet, as if proving her point. “As your friend, I think you would benefit from video games and ice cream, but if I’m wrong, let me know.”
Adrien seemed to wilt in the seat across from her. Tears stung his eyes. “It wasn’t quite a break up, but it might as well have been.”
She reached over and patted his hand. Oh to hold that hand and never let go!
“I had a bad night, too. Let’s go commiserate.”
He looked down at her small hand and nodded, swallowing. “Yeah. Yeah, that actually sounds really good. Let’s go do that.”
She withdrew and buckled up. “Perfect.”
“HOLD ON!”
“Wa-”
“HOLD ON! HOLD ON! HOLD ON!”
“I-”
“HER SISTER WAS A WITCH! Right?!”
Mari was about to cry from laughing, holding a pillow to her stomach and looking up at Adrien.
“And what was HER SISTER? A PRINCESS!”
She snorted. “Oh my God, stop I’m literally going to cry!”
“THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST, BRO!” Adrien leaned forward, hands together and pointed at her.
“I’m gonna st- I’m gonna stab him-” she choked out, a tear leaking down her cheek.
“YOU’RE GONNA TELL ME THAT I’M WRONG?” He yanked the pillow away from her and tossed it dramatically on the ground. “Am I WRONG?”
Mari rolled back on the floor, cackling. “It’s my favorite movie!!!” She wheezed.
“SHE WORE A CROWN AND SHE CAME DOWN IN A BUBBLE… grow UP, BRO!” Adrien huffed, turning on his heel and walking away to the kitchen.
“You- you got the voice down so perfectly!” She grabbed the pillow back and stuck her face in it, rolling. “I- Oh my word.”
His laugh joined hers from the kitchen and she heard him banging his hand on the counter.
“I- I can’t breathe. My side hurts from laughing. If I die I’ll kill you!”
Another chorus of laughter and he appeared in the doorway, leaning heavily against it.
Mari slowly sat up, laughter subsiding, and chucked the pillow at him. “You’re the actual worst, Adrien Agreste. I can't believe you’ve got that whole thing memorized.”
“What else am I to do between modelling gigs? Youtube is my life!”
Mari sighed and leaned her back against the couch, looking at the TV screen where credits were rolling. “Wow, that was fun. I am so full of icecream and popcorn I might not make it out of this room.”
He plopped down on the ground beside her, throwing an arm around her slender shoulders. “Eh. You can stay. Become part of the decor.”
His offhanded words made her insides churn. Her face burned red. “Ha-ha, no! That would be silly!” Silly? Really?
The blonde sighed and leaned his cheek atop her head. “You’re such a good friend, Mari. I appreciate you. I don’t know anyone else who would cancel a nice lunch to watch old movies and play games.”
“Well then you don’t know many decent people, Ch- I mean, Adrien.” She choked on her words, eyes flooding with tears. Stupid, stupid idiot. Had she really just mixed the two of them up?
Why had she thought of Chat? Why was that scruffy alley cat cluttering her brain? Why had last night ripped such a huge hole in her heart?
Marinette abruptly stood, wiping away tears. “I, uh, have to go. You know, homework and stuff!”
Adrien frowned. Had he done something wrong? Her whole demeanor had changed so quickly. “Of course, Mari. I’ll drive you home.”
The pair each quietly put on their shoes and jackets, not looking at one another.
“Thank you for this, Mari,” He offered quietly, grabbing his car keys from a hook by the door. “I haven’t laughed so hard in a while. I hope we can hang out every once in a while even while you’re in school.”
Mari tucked hair behind her ear, looking up at him. “Absolutely, Adrien.”
The drive home was quick and quiet, and they hugged briefly before she climbed out of his car.
“Have a great night.”
“You too.” Mari sadly smiled, closing the door, and ran for the safety of her apartment.