Work Text:
Lila had everything planned out for the downfall of Marinette Dupain Cheng.
Last night, after bringing back the takeout her parents had gotten for dinner, she had happened to pass by the bakery. She almost dropped the takeout in shock, when she saw Chat Noir sitting on the railing and leaning his chin against his staff. Marinette was talking excitedly about something, she was gesturing wildly and moving closer and closer to the black Chat. He didn't seem fazed by this at all, in fact he just continued to stare at her dreamily until she stopped speaking. He gave her a gentle smile, before reaching his hand out and laying it on the back of her neck to pull her in for a kiss. Marinette leaned into it for a moment, it seemed perfectly natural for her to be canoodling with a saviour of Paris.
Now, you may be wondering why Lila thought that Marinette’s happiness was a good thing when she wanted to completely destroy the girl. Well, if Ms Dupain Cheng is dating Chat Noir, then Ms Dupain Cheng cannot also be dating Adrien Agreste, in fact, considering the depth of her crush on the model, and how close- despite Lila’s attempted interventions- they had become, her relationship with the Chat could completely ruin her. All Lila had to do now was spin this in just the right way. She snapped a picture of the happy couple under the moonlight before turning on her heel, smirking deviously as she returned home for dinner.
“I can’t believe her. And Alya too! She just eats it up!” Marinette stormed out onto her balcony, not even bothering to say hello to the boy who had just landed on it.
“Well, hello to you too Princess.” Chat sat down on the railing and gave her his trademark smirk. He wasn’t even upset she hadn’t said hi, how could he be upset with her when she looked so cute when she was angry.
“Hi Kitty, I’m sorry.” Marinette hung her head for a moment before the fire relit and she looked back up again. Her voice was crackling with rage as she said, “I just wish we could cataclysm her.” Marinette continued ranting about the green eyed girl and Chat listened with half an ear.
Chat couldn't say he hadn’t thought about cataclysm in spite of trying to take the high road. Once he found out that his Lady had been threatened by the Liar, all bets were off. She had to go down.
Today had been particularly bad for Marinette. Lila had been going on and on about her friendship with Ladybug and Alya had been caught hook line and sinker, hanging on her every word. Marinette had just sat white knuckled at the back of the classroom, he had gently brushed his leg against hers to remind her that he was there, and she wasn't alone.
Marinette finished off her rant, and Chat gave her a gentle smile. “I know, but at least you’ve got me.” He reached out a hand to caress the back of her neck as he pulled her closer. “We’ll get through it together. You and me against the world, Bug.” He gave her a short but sweet kiss. The kind that says, I’m right here, and I trust you, and I love you unconditionally, and you’re not alone. He pulled back after a minute, knowing he had to leave but wishing he could stay.
“Go on Kitty,” Marinette smiled as she flicked his bell. God he loved that smile, it sent a wave of warmth through him and made thinking almost impossible. “You had a long day too, get to sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” She leaned in to give him a quick goodnight kiss and he made a show of “falling” off the balcony in shock, before launching himself across the rooftops.
The day started like any other. Adrien got there first and spoke to Nino and Alya politely for a few minutes before Lila arrived. She would walk in, present some fantastical lie and latch onto Adrien’s arm. It was then that he made sure to extricate himself and move to his new seat at the back of the classroom, where he would get his tablet and textbook out of his backpack, ready to begin taking notes. Then, usually at five minutes before the bell his sleepy, adorable, girlfriend would walk into the classroom, clutching her bag and downing a cup of coffee like an addict. What was supposed to happen next was that she would sit down next to him and they’d spend a few minutes conversing and enjoying each other's company before Ms Bustier started the class.
Today was different though. His lady still walked in , and she still had her precious cup of coffee with her (Adrien wasn’t sure whether he would win if Marinette had to choose between the two of them). What was strange though was that Lila lurched out of her seat next to Alya and grabbed onto Marinette's arm. Without even breathing Adrien was out of his seat and halfway down the aisle before she shot him a stern warning look. Right. If he tried anything too overt to protect her then things would likely get worse. He had tried protecting her before but Lila only doubled down on her attacks. Adrien knew Marinette would be okay, she was the strongest person he knew. Still, Adrien clenched his teeth, knuckles white at his side as he used all of his willpower not to pull Marinette out of Lila’s grasp.
“Do you really think you should still be sitting next to Adrien?” Lila’s voice was dripping with sweetness and concern but her eyes burned with hatred.
“Yes Lila, that is my new assigned seat after all.” Marinette managed to pull herself out of the other girl's grip, but hadn’t taken another step towards her seat. She could tell that Lila was scheming, and knew that it wouldn’t end well for her. Most of the class was already against her, they couldn’t understand why Marinette just wouldn't accept Lila into their class. Even Alya had begun to turn away from her, captivated by Lila’s tales of adventures with Ladybug and Chat Noir.
“I just mean, would your boyfriend really be okay with you sitting next to a supermodel.” Both Adrien and Marinette’s jaws hit the floor, the rest of the class did a double take. Adrien was busy trying to figure out what kind of verbal gymnastics Lila was going to produce that meant he would be unhappy to have his own girlfriend sit next to him. Marinette was wondering who exactly Lila thought she was dating if it wasn't Adrien. “I know that Chat Noir is a very trusting person, and Adrien obviously doesn't see you as anything other than a friend, but considering your cosmic crush on him should you really still be sitting there?” Lila smiled wide as she looked between the currently frozen pair. Her plan was falling perfectly into place. Everyone else seemed to be frozen in time, trying to unpack everything she had just revealed. “I’d be happy to swap seats with you.”
“Wait a minute…” Alya seemed to have caught on first. “You’re dating Chat Noir!”
“Lila,” Rose said gently, “I know you have that disease but you really shouldn’t have told Adrien about Marinette’s crush.”
“There’s no WAY the baker girl is dating Chat Noir, I mean look at her. It’s ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”
“That’s so cool dudette!” Nino joined in.
“Did it start after Evillustrator?” Nathanael turned bright red at the back of the classroom.
Everyone in the class seemed to have something to say about Marinette’s boyfriend and while they continued to go back and forth Marinette was trying to move towards Adrien. She had to talk to him and see what he thought about everything. Obviously they both eventually wanted their classmates to know they were dating, and for that to happen the class couldn’t think she was dating Chat Noir. One slip up from either of them could force them to reveal their identities to everyone else. Marinette had to think quickly, but she didn't even know how Lila could have got this idea.
“But. I’m uh… I’m not dating Chat Noir.” Marinette whispered as she ducked her head down and looked up at Adrien through her lashes, trying to gauge his reaction. He looked at her, eyes wide before giving her a small nod. Good, he had already caught on to what she was thinking. Years working as partners had built quite the bond between the pair. “I’m NOT dating Chat Noir!” She said more forcefully, finally getting heard over the rest of her classmates.
“But,” Alix said, “Lila just said you were.” Marinette resisted the urge to facepalm at that. Yes , she thought, trust her over me about my own goddamn relationship.
“I’m so sorry Marinette!” Lila sounded sincere. “I didn't know you were keeping it a secret, do you want me to delete the photo I have of you two making out on your balcony?” Adrien wanted to hit her right between her fake puppy dog eyes. Of course she had a picture. When had she taken a picture?
“You… what?” Marinette was lost and Lila took her hesitation as a chance to turn her phone around and produce the picture she had taken last night. It clearly showed Marinette kissing Chat Noir, and it was very clear that there was something deep between the two of them.
“Girl!” Alya screamed, “why didn't you tell me! I thought we were besties!”
“Settle down everyone.” Miss Bustier entered the classroom right on time. Marinette was still frozen in shock as Lila stalked past her and sat down next to Adrien at the back of the class. Adrien and Marinette stared at each other for another moment, both trying to come up with a solution. “Marinette, Adrien, please sit down, class needs to start.”
The next few hours were absolute agony for the pair. They had been quietly flying under the radar. Passing off their relationship as a really good friendship. They had been able to hold hands and eat lunch together, because most of the class was too focused on Lila’s stories to be bothered with them. They had managed to have a few weeks of just the two of them, with no interference from the green eyed monster. But ofcourse, with their luck it was bound to come crashing down eventually.
Marinette spent the next hour trying to field Alya’s questions. She had to promise the reporter that she would tell her everything at lunch after Miss Bustier had threatened both of them with detention if they kept chatting.
Meanwhile, Adrien was sitting next to Lila. He spent the lesson pretending to be very focused on his notes, he really didn't want to talk to her after she had tried to embarrass Marinette again. How dare she try and frame his Princess as a two timer! His Princess who had been so torn up about liking two boys, before she found out it was just the one. Unfortunately, at the back of the classroom, their voices didn't carry and Lila was determined to have a conversation with him.
“I’m sorry I told you about Marinette’s crush before she did, I just thought it was so sickeningly obvious you must already know.” Lila tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up at him, a smile teasing at the corners of her mouth. On Marinette the look would’ve been down right adorable, but on Lila it just looked devious and manipulative. “I mean it was painfully obvious the way she would stutter and blush every time you spoke to her!” Lila was clearly trying to embarrass Marinette, unfortunately for her Adrien loved seeing the way Marinette’s blush would highlight her freckles. He loved that he could make her stutter, although since he revealed his identity it was much harder to get that reaction from her.
He stared longingly at the back of his lady’s head. He wished she was sitting next to him. She always made history bearable, and sometimes, they could hold hands under the desk, and make jokes and puns about patrol or akuma battles. But no, he got to sit next to a compulsive, lying, narcissist. Well, she needed to get her head on straight.
“Actually, Lila.” Adrien’s voice was dripping with salt. “I find Marinette to be delightfully captivating and I feel privileged that she would have any kind of feelings for me.” He smiled to himself and went back to staring at the front of the classroom.
“I, well!” Lila actually stuttered, at a loss for words. Good. “Well, she’s taken! She’s dating Chat Noir. Don’t you think that flirting with you makes her a two timer?”
Luckily the bell sounded before Adrien could reveal his identity. He had grabbed his bag and was out of his seat, reaching for Marinette’s hand before it had even stopped ringing. She was also quick out of her seat, trying to make a run for it before Alya trapped her. Adrien leaned down to whisper in her ear, “we need to figure this out quickly.”
“I’ve been thinking all morning, and I don’t really see a way out of this.” Marinette looked lost, usually she was the smart one in the relationship and if she was out of ideas what hope did Adrien have.
“I might have one idea.” Adrien’s face lit up. “It would mean that we could be open about our relationship.” Adrien’s smile grew even wider. He wanted the whole world to know that she was all his. “But we need to be very careful.”
“Look, I know we wanted everything to be on our terms, and take things slowly, but Lila hasn’t given us much of a choice. Whatever your plan is I’m sure we can make it work.” Adrien noticed a flash of orange in his peripheral vision. “Alya’s coming, tell me everything later tonight, okay?”
“Okay, but until then, you need to stay away. I’m dating Chat Noir.” She smiled wide and winked at him before turning towards her “best friend."
His heart fluttered, her smile was always so disarming.
“Dude, come get lunch with me. We probably need to talk.” Nino fell into step beside him.
The two of them spoke about Marinette’s crush over lunch. He tried very, very hard to not look like a lovesick puppy. He told Nino that he had known for a while, but that since she was such a good friend he didn't say anything. He also mentioned that he was pretty sure Marinette had moved on, and said for what felt like the millionth time, that they were just friends. He didn't like lying to Nino, but he and Marinette were just good friends. Good friends that happened to defend Paris together, and hold hands all the time, and cuddle, and make out occasionally.
Meanwhile, Marinette spent the entirety of lunch being grilled by Alya who was in full reporter mode.
“When did this start?”
“I started dating Chat very recently.”
“But what about Adrien?”
“I moved on from Adrien a while ago.”
“So, you’re just friends with Mr. Perfect, and you’re dating Mr. Charming?”
“Yes, we’re just friends. Being friends has made me realise that I put him on too much of a pedestal.” Marinette didn't really like lying to Alya so she tried to keep some kind of truth behind her answers.
“Mhmmm. And Chat?”
“Uhm yeah. He just swept me off my feet I guess. He charmed me.” She blushed, remembering the night he had intended to confess to Ladybug but had taken Marinette to the rooftop instead. He really was charming. So that was true enough.
That night, Chat Noir landed on Marinette’s balcony but ducked quickly inside, hoping to avoid any prying eyes. He dropped his transformation as he pulled her into his arms for a much needed hug. “I really missed you today.”
“Me too kitty. I’m sorry this all happened.” Adrien could tell she was feeling guilty. Ladybug, and Marinette, both of them always felt like they had to carry the responsibility.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. It was Lila. You’re not to blame at all, Bug.” He gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go and dropping onto the chaise. “So, tell me this plan to get you and I together.” He gave her his devilish, Chat Noir smirk, and she returned it.
“You’re gonna break up with me.”
Adrien's heart shattered.
“Uh. No, Bug. The plan is for us to be together. Right? You don’t want to break up do you? Oh my god. You do. You want to just be friends. I was too much. I did something wrong? I haven’t had a girlfriend before. I messed up. I’m sorry, Bug. I--”
“Hey,” she cut him off, and pulled him into her arms again. “We’re not actually breaking up. But Chat Noir is going to break up with Marinette.” She looked him in the eyes and brushed some of his hair away from his face. “And then, Marinette is going to go to Adrien for comfort, and then, maybe Adrien falls for Marinette and they end up together. If that’s what he wants.”
Adrien took a few deep breaths.
"That is what he wants." He said, and held her even tighter. “I’m sorry I freaked out. I just don’t wanna lose you.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, like it was as easy as breathing. “That sounds like a great plan. So, tell me, how am I gonna break up with you?”
Marinette’s whole class had gone to the park to watch a race between Alix and Kim, unfortunately Adrien had a “photoshoot” and so he wouldn't be able to be there until later.
The entire class cheered as Alix crossed the finish line barely a millimetre in front Kim. The race had gone to a photo finish declared by Markov. Just as everyone was heading back inside, a black and blonde blur landed in the middle of the park, right in front of Marinette.
The entire class stood transfixed as Marinette’s boyfriend, Chat Noir, leaned on his staff and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Hello Princess,” he said. “Can we talk for a moment? It's rather important.” Marinette blushed slightly, but grabbed Chat’s hand.
“Of course, what’s wrong?” She lead him over to one of the nearby benches, the rest of the class was seemingly forgotten to the pair, but they looked on just the same.
“I’m sorry Princess, but I just don’t think we could work out long term. You’re a wonderful girl, any guy would be lucky to have you.” As Chat reassured her he gripped both her hands in between them. “But I can’t keep putting you in danger, now that your class knows it’s only a matter of time before Shadowmoth finds out and you get hurt.”
Marinette looked down at their joined hands. She appeared to be shaking. Oh no! Thought Alya, the poor girl must be crying.
Oh no! Thought Marinette, I can’t laugh right now! The poor girl tried to make it look like she was crying, and not laughing at the idea of her civilian self being in danger from Hawkmoth. She had already fought him directly, and every one of his akumas, and Mayura.
“You’re right Kitty,” Marinette hoped the shaking in her voice sounded sad enough to convince her class (although they had shown themselve to pretty gullible). “I don’t even know who you are behind the mask. I can’t keep risking myself, especially since I might not even love the real you.” Marinette pulled her hands away from Chat’s, the hurt on his face seemed real enough so she gave him a small smile, to remind him that she had in fact fallen in love with both of his identities.
“I’m sorry Princess. Maybe in another time, or another universe. Do you have someone to go to, to help you handle your emotions?” Chat stood up from the bench and extended his staff.
“Yes, I’ll be fine Kitty. You better get back to protecting Paris.” She flicked his bell one last time, and he responded by giving her a kiss on the cheek.
As Chat Noir disappeared across the rooftops Marinettes classmates all turned back towards the school and tried to look like they hadn’t overheard everything.
“Girl, are you okay?” Alya asked as Marinette fell into step beside her while everyone made their way back to school for afternoon classes.
“I’m okay Alya, it was only the early days and I figured something like this would come up eventually.” Marinette picked up the pace, she wanted to get back to the classroom as soon as possible to initiate phase two of her plan.
“I guess so. Do you want to sit next to me? I’m sure Lila would be happy to swap seats with you again.” Alya reached out and squeezed Marinette's shoulders, but the dark haired girl just smiled.
“No thanks Alya, Adrien will be there for me, he always is.”