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Felix and Marinette had never gotten on. Felix couldn’t get past her excessive cheer and energy and Marinette was sick of his cold shoulder and grumpy attitude. It was how it was between them and everyone knew it. Felix had joined the ranks of the exclusive group of people Marinette couldn’t stand and Marinette became another casualty of trying to befriend Felix and utterly failing.
That was until the day they got paired for a project. The partners had been paired by the teacher and were not up for debate. Whether they liked it or not they were gonna have to work together.
Things started off cordial enough. Straight to the point, no nonsense, everything was about their work. They chose what they were going to work on and figured out times they could get together to review the progress they made. It was going to be fine.
“Dupain-Cheng,” Felix approached her at her locker, “Did you finish the research for your part last night?”
“Yes.” She pulled out her notes on the subject. “You?”
“All done.” he flashed his own notes. “Meet at the library during free period to review?”
“Sounds like a plan.” And with that they parted and went to class.
Free period rolled around and they settled into the library to continue working.
Marinette sat across from her looking over her notes and making edits and constructing a good flow for the information when she felt like someone was watching her. She looked up and Felix’s sharp grey eyes were trained on her like he was studying her.
“Yes?” She asked when he didn’t say anything.
He blinked a couple times before sneering a bit. “Do you know you hum while you work? It’s quite distracting.”
“Sorry?” Marinette huffed as she went back to her work. She thought about humming again just to spite him but decided not to. She would be mature about this.
“It’s a fluke?” Felix said.
“What was that?”
“The song you were humming. It was It’s a Fluke, was it not?”
“It was.” Marinette nodded. “How did you know? I didn’t think that was your type of music.”
“You’d be surprised what all I listen to.”
“Hopefully not XY’s stuff.” Marinette grimaced.
“Goodness no, I have an eclectic palette of music and that man’s dribble meets nowhere near my tastes.” Felix scowled. “Doesn’t help that his latest song has been on every radio station on repeat for at least a week now. It is starting to drive me up a wall.”
“I know! It comes on at the bakery all the time and my parents are one repeat away from just disconnecting the sound system to the store altogether. I’ve never actively listened to it but if it started playing I would be able to sing along and I hate it.”
A brief smirk creased his otherwise blank face before dropping once again. “Yes, but enough about music. We should be getting back to work.”
“Right, of course.” Marinette shook her head and raced to find the place she left off.
The next day was more of the same with them working in relative silence. Marinette made a small comment about a song she liked that she thought Felix may be interested in. He didn’t say much but nodded consideringly which gave Marinette hope he would actually listen to it later.
When school let out Marinette frowned at the torrential downpour. Her house was right across the street but she would be soaked through by the time she got to cover. If only she hadn’t forgotten her umbrella again.
“Dupain-Cheng,” Felix met her at the entrance, “I was hoping to catch you before you left for the day.”
“What is it?”
“I won’t be able to work during free period tomorrow but I would like to finish up what we have so that we can do any final edits before our presentation Friday.” He said, “Would you mind if we worked after school? Considering your schedule is open of course.”
“Oh yeah, shouldn’t be a problem. Where were you thinking?”
“My house, six PM sharp. Does that work for you?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Then I will see you then.” He pulled out his umbrella and started descending towards the car waiting for him.
Marinette looked out towards her house and sighed. Might as well get it over with now. She stepped out into the rain trying to shield her head from the downpour as much as she could with her bookbag.
She was halfway to the street crossing when the rain let up around her. She looked up and Felix was walking next to her with his umbrella stretched over her. “What are--” she started to ask.
“I’m not so heartless as to let you trudge your way home in this rain.” He cut across her. His eyes trained forward. “Be quick though, my ride is waiting.”
“Thanks.” Marinette turned to him once she was at the bakery door. “That was kind of you.”
“Do me a favor and don’t forget your umbrella next time. It does no one any good when you’re forgetful.”
Marinette’s small smile curdled into a scowl. “Right. Sorry for inconveniencing you.” Marinette stepped into the bakery and slammed the door behind her. At least she tried. There was an automatic stopper on the door that slowed its close so it couldn’t be slammed.
Felix stood on the other side with an entertained smile as Marinette glared at the slowly closing door. Uppity little weasel!
She turned sharp on her heel and stomped upstairs. Every time she thinks he’s being nice he does a one eighty and she’s right back to annoyed.
A night of rest and a subsequent pleasant morning didn’t do much to improve her attitude towards Felix the following day. Which was bad seeing as how she had agreed to go over to his house that evening. Whatever. At least this project was almost done then she wouldn’t have to interact with him again.
She got to his house and was buzzed in. He greeted her at the door and Marinette was taken aback by the casual boy in front of her. Worn out pair of jeans and sweatshirt. Even his usually perfectly styled hair was mussed.
“Is there a reason you’re gawking at me?” Felix asked when she hadn’t said anything.
“Sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so...casual before.” She was going to say laid back but even in his pajamas she didn’t think she’d be able to say that about Felix. No matter what he was always ramrod straight and professional. No amount of sweats or messy hair could cover that.
Felix gave an amused scoff before gesturing her inside. “We can work in my room. Is that alright with you?”
“Sure.” She followed him up to his room.
Now this felt more like Felix. Simple decor, tall bookshelves, everything was organized and tidy and there was a distinct pine smell as if someone just finished dusting. Felix sat down at his desk and Marinette stood off to the side shuffling through her own work.
“You can sit if it makes you more comfortable.” Felix said after a couple minutes.
Marinette looked around but didn’t see another chair that she could use. “Where?”
“Oh right…” Felix looked up and scanned the room. “You can sit on the bed so long as you take off your shoes first.”
“Okay…” Marinette pulled off her shoes before nestling at the corner of his bed. She spread out her work around her as she tried to compose it all into a cohesive whole.
This is weird. This is so weird.
“What do you want done with this bit? I’m not sure where to put it.” Marinette asked.
“What bit?” Felix collected the paper. “Oh this, huh,” He pushed some papers out of his way to make room and sat down next to her. “We could put it--no that wouldn’t work. We could always--no that doesn’t fit either.”
“Honestly, I’m not even sure if we need it. It seems really irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.” She reached across him for a paper. “We could just jump to this next part and skip that bit. What do you think?”
Felix was staring at her again but it wasn’t out of annoyance. He was studying her again.
“Felix?” Marinette inquired quietly. “What are you…”
She glanced down and noticed she was far closer to him than she had been a moment ago. “Sorry. I should have just asked you to pass the paper instead of leaning across you like that.” She tried to withdraw but at the last second he touched her shoulder.
His eyes were still trained on her face flicking across her features like he was searching for something. Then he gently pushed her away. He stood up and stiffly walked back to his desk. “That sounds like a fine plan. You can throw that last bit out.”
Marinette was still trying to figure out what happened a moment ago. Felix was making a definitive point of avoiding looking at her.
They finished their work and Marinette started packing up to leave.
“Dupain-Cheng,” Felix walked her down to the door, “I listened to that song you recommended.”
“Oh. What did you think?”
“It was good.”
She waited for him to elaborate but that seemed to be as much as he was willing to share.
“Okay. Good. Glad you liked it.” She opened the front door. It was raining again. “Crap.”
Felix gave a small sigh. “Forget your umbrella again?”
“The forecast said it was gonna be clear tonight. Would you mind if I borrowed yours? I’ll give it back first thing tomorrow.”
“If you can’t remember your own umbrella what is there to convince me you’ll remember to bring me mine?”
“Fine then. Geez. I’ll just use my bag.” Marinette took one step outside before she pulled right back in. “Felix!”
“Calm down.” He pulled his umbrella out of the rack by the door. “Let’s go.”
“You won’t let me borrow your umbrella but you will walk me home?”
“Do you want to be dry or not?”
“Are you going to make a snarky remark like you did yesterday if I do?”
“If I apologized would you come along already?”
“Don’t. My house is just down the block. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s also late. And I would feel better knowing you got back to your house safely.”
“Nothing is going to happen in the five minutes it’d take me to run to my house.”
“Marinette,” the use of her first name caught her off guard. He held the umbrella towards her. “I am sincerely asking you to let me escort you home for peace of mind.”
She stepped out next to him. “Okay. Thank you.”
They started the walk home in silence before Felix spoke up again.
“I am sorry if whatever I may have said offended you before. Sincerity seems to spark a defensive reaction in me for reasons unknown.”
“That seems rather silly, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” he chuckled dryly, “I suppose it does.”
Marinette could see the lights of her house in the distance. For whatever reason Felix slowed down in his stride forcing Marinette to slow as well to keep under the umbrella.
“Dupain-Cheng, I was wondering something.” Felis asked, “What is your thoughts on vinyl records?”
“Vinyl? My mother really likes them but she never let me touch them when I was younger. Why?”
“There is a little vinyl shop I know that has some albums I think you would like if you were interested.”
“Are you serious?”
“I would like to see what other recommendations you have for me. My usual tracks have grown stale to listen to and could do with some newer sound.” He looked away from her. “I understand if you would rather pass. I fear I am not the best company even in the sincerest of circumstances.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. You’re grumpy and have a tone issue but you’re not outwardly malicious like other people I know. I have to say I am surprised though. I had the distinct impression you didn’t care for me very much.”
“True you are far bubblier than I would like and it is hard to take in all at once. But I would much rather be partnered with you then say Kim or Nino.”
“Such praise.” Marinette rolled her eyes. They were finally back at her house. “When were you planning on going to this shop?”
“Tomorrow after class?”
“It’s a date.” She nodded. “I mean not a date. Like a date date. But a get together as friends kinda date. You know what. Let’s call it an outing. Not a date. That sounds good to me.” She fumbled for the door handle to her house. “I’ll uh see you tomorrow?”
Felix was smiling at her in much the same way he did when he walked her home yesterday. “See you tomorrow, Dupain-Cheng.”