Chapter Text
Marinette had been thinking an awful lot about that night.
The one where Hawkmoth took all the miraculous.
She knew it had been a while since then. It was nearly six months ago, now. She was 16 already, and had even already started her last year of lycée. I guess it must just be trauma, like Alya said…
But no matter what, she just couldn’t get it out of her head. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have made such huge, glaring mistakes? She had been so, so focused on the whole identity thing that she completely forgot about making sure she wasn’t compromising the miraculous in other ways. She let that Felix kid play her…
Marinette shook her head. That was the past. Focus on the now. Mlle. Bustier was droning on about Victor Hugo and 19th-century French literature. She looked down at her notebook and tried to passively take notes, but she just ended up doodling, regardless of her efforts. She doodled a very unflattering picture of Hawkmoth, and smiled, despite herself.
At least we’ve gotten some of them back, Marinette thought, quickly glancing over at Alya, who flashed her a quizzical look. She swatted her hand in a “nevermind” gesture at her, and Alya turned her head back to Mlle. Bustier, the new braids she was sporting today bouncing softly as she did.
But then there was another problem with that night. Aside from the fact that Hawkmoth still possessed most of the miraculous and Felix had taken the peacock and gone MIA, along with other secret-superhero-oriented issues, Marinette was also dealing with average teenage girl problems, like-
“Adrien. Nice of you to finally join us.”
Mlle. Bustier’s voice startled her and tore Marinette’s attention away from her thoughts. She turned her attention to the door, where Adrien was sheepishly walking in with a tardy note, and her heart skipped maybe 30 beats.
“Sorry, Mlle. I have a note from my dad’s assistant. I was doing an early morning photoshoot and it ended up taking a bit longer than expected.” Adrien apologized, handing Mlle. Bustier the note and then passively ran his tanned fingers through that sandy blonde hair of his. Marinette couldn’t even help but sigh, a bit dreamily, despite herself.
Mlle. Bustier raised an eyebrow. “An early morning photoshoot? Oh, Adrien. I ought to speak to that father of yours. You’re still a minor. Your work should not take precedence over your education.”
“No!” Adrien shouted, suddenly, making everyone who wasn’t already looking turn their head to stare at him in confusion. “Sorry. I meant no, please,” he repeated, in a gentler tone. “We got caught in the rain after the shoot. That’s why I’m late. It ended way earlier, but the weather just complicated things. I promise I’ll try to be on time next time.”
“But, Adrien-” Mlle. Bustier began.
“Please, Mlle. Bustier. I promise.” Adrien gave her sad kitten eyes that made Marinette’s heart melt a bit.
“Well…” Mlle. Bustier sighed, clearly taken by Adrien’s begging. “Okay, Adrien. But just this once. If it happens again, I’m calling your father and giving him a piece of my mind.”
Adrien smiled so brightly Marinette felt like the world slowed down around her, and hugged their teacher, taking her off guard. “Thank you!”
“Alright, alright,” Mlle. Bustier warned, pushing Adrien off gently, despite the warm smile on her face. “To your seat. Nino can share the notes on what you’ve missed.”
Adrien rushed over to his seat and fist-bumped Nino, whispering some stuff to him too quietly for Marinette to hear. That was her problem. Sitting right there, in front of her, like he had been for three years already, since they first met when they were 13. Adrien Agreste…
She was still as madly in love with him as ever, and still as friendzoned as ever. Well, at least she was closer friends with him than before. Ever since she gave him all that support back when his dad tried to force him to go on a modeling tour with Lila earlier in the year, their friendship had improved drastically. They were actually hanging out a lot, and had even hung out alone a few times since then. He had even had dinner with her family.
She was glad they were closer friends and wanted to continue supporting him as much as she could, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit sad about it all. She wanted to tell Adrien how she felt about him and had had a few opportunities, but on top of not having the courage to say how she truly felt and knowing that he was dealing with some bigger issues, she couldn’t stop thinking about-
Thunder suddenly boomed outside the classroom, making everyone jump and Mlle. Bustier drop her dry-erase marker.
Marinette stared out the window, watching the rain pour down all over the Parisian skyline outside, and thought again to that night. When she and Chat stood on a roof before the Eiffel Tower as the people of Paris stared on, cheering Ladybug’s name as he took her hand, embraced her-- even after that awful fight they had had-- and told her-
“We’re gonna get them back… You, the greatest superhero there ever was. Them, the people of Paris! And me, your loyal partner.”
Marinette whined, slamming her head down onto her desk, onto her arms. Half the class turned to look at her, quizzically, including Adrien. She turned bright red in embarrassment.
“Sorry! Stubbed my toe!” Marinette laughed, sheepishly, pointing to her taupe ankle boots. Adrien shrugged, Chloe scoffed, and Mlle. Bustier turned back to the lecture. Marinette went back to her thoughts.
Her feelings for Chat Noir had definitely become… complicated. She didn’t like him like that! Not like how she liked Adrien!
But… she couldn’t deny there was something different about her relationship. She found herself… blushing around him. When he caught her in his arms after she fell while they were taking back the snake miraculous recently, she turned bright red like a tomato. She tripped around him, too. He was even seeming to catch on to her! He had been teasing her lately, accusing her of-
“Being clawfully bashful around me, lately, My Lady…”
Marinette squeaked quietly as she remembered that, and how Chat Noir had drawled those words out with an infuriatingly smug grin while he had kissed her hand on patrol recently.
Ugh! Marinette shook her head. She was not bashful, and did not like him like that. She was just more… aware. Of him. Lately.
***
The bell rang, signaling that class was over for lunch. Marinette quickly jumped up to gather her things. Alya elbowed her, and looked at her, quizzically.
“Are you okay, M?” She asked, looking concerned.
Marinette smiled, clearly faking enthusiasm. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Really? Is that why you have your serious Ladybug mode face on?” Alya asked, whispering the ‘Ladybug’ part and raising a perfectly lined and fluffed eyebrow.
“What? I do not.” She argued back.
“Do too! And you only get that look when you have one of two things on your mind- that... secret stuff or you-know-who.”
Marinette sighed. “Well, if you must know-”
“Marinette!” Adrien suddenly called, from a few yards away by the teacher’s desk.
“Adrien!” Marinette replied, a little too suddenly, tucking a bit of her bangs behind her ears. At least I don’t stutter anymore, she thought. “What’s up?”
“I was meaning to talk to you earlier. I really like the outfit you’re wearing today. Did you make it?” Adrien asked, his grass green eyes making him look so cute and innocent in Marinette’s eyes.
She looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a pink corduroy mini skirt and a magenta puff-sleeve button-up, along with her boots. She had her hair in a cute, messy bun on the top of her head, and was wearing some delicate silver accessories along with her miraculous.
“Um, yeah!” She said. “I found the skirt at a vintage shop, but I made the top a few months back with some fabric that Alya gave me for my birthday.”
“I like it a lot. I love when you wear pink and similar colors. It really suits you.” Adrien smiled, and Marinette’s entire face probably matched her skirt.
“Oh. Well, um, thank you.” She smiled, shyly, looking down at her shoes. “A-anyway. Was that all you were gonna say or…?” Well, maybe she still stuttered a little.
“Oh, no! I was actually also gonna ask you if you wanted to hang out this weekend just us. Nino said he’s taking Alya on a date, so we won’t be able to do our typical weekend hang. Maybe we could hang at your house and play some video games?”
“Oh! Sure. I’d like that a lot.” Marinette smiled, secretly kicking Alya who was trying and failing to hold back her giggling beside her.
“Okay, great!” Adrien beamed. “We’ll talk more about it after school?”
“Yeah, sounds romantic! I mean, fantastic! Haha, what a funny slip-up.” Marinette laughed super nervously, making Adrien laugh, too.
For a second, it got quiet, and Marinette thought she saw a small pink twinge on his cheeks, but he turned away before she could get a better look.
“Well,” Adrien said, picking up his backpack. “I’ll see you later!”
“Great! See you!” Marinette waved goodbye as Adrien went off to lunch with Nino, who signaled to Alya that he would wait for her.
Marinette sighed dreamily, watching as he walked away, leaving her alone in the classroom with Alya.
“So, you were saying?” Alya asked, making Marinette turn around suddenly to look at her.
She cringed. “I was really hoping you’d forget.”
“Call me an elephant, because you know I never do!” Alya said in a sing-song voice, before getting serious again. “But seriously. What’s going on? You seem more distracted everyday.”
Marinette sighed. “I was just thinking about everything. Hawkmoth and the miraculous and Adrien and Chat.”
“What’s wrong? I thought everything was going great.” Alya frowned. “You’ve already gotten a few of the miraculous back, plus you’re spending time with Adrien. And you told me your relationship with Chat was better than ever.”
She sighed again. “I don’t know, Als. I feel like I’m missing something huge with Hawkmoth. Like I’m on the edge of connecting the dots but just can’t. Plus, I’ve been feeling anxious about Adrien… and, like, my relationship with Chat is a little off since that night.”
“Okay. First of all, the Hawkmoth thing isn’t your fault. Maybe you are on the edge of something, but if you keep just staring at the evidence you have, the mystery is not just gonna solve itself.” She began. “Secondly, the Adrien thing won’t solve itself unless you make a move. And, thirdly, what do you mean ‘off?’”
Marinette looked up at her, having had her face in her hands. “I don’t know. I just feel like I’ve been so nervous around him! His flirting has even been making me… blush.” She looked at Alya through the spaces in between her fingers, feeling mortified.
Alya raised her eyebrows so high they almost hit the ceiling. “What?!”
“Don’t get it twisted, Alya! I don’t like him like that. It has to be something else.”
“Uh-huh.” She replied, smirking.
“I mean it.” Marinette pouted, puffing her cheeks.
“Of course. I mean, I believe you.” Alya nodded, patting her head.
“You do?” Marinette’s eyes sparkled in hope.
Alya crushed that hope immediately. “Yeah, totally. I mean, it’s not as if you’re blushing at every cute thing he does, thinking about him 24/7, dreaming about him, skipping other obligations in order to hang out with him, and staring at him when he’s not looking or something like that.”
“…shut up.” Marinette was tomato red and sulking.
Alya burst into laughter. “Chillax, girl. There’s nothing wrong with liking him.”
“I do not like him!”
She just kept laughing as the girls gathered up their belongings and walked out the classroom in order to go grab a bite to eat.
***
But, unbeknownst to Marinette, someone was watching her. A tall man, lurking in the shadows, hiding in the bushes outside, despite the rain. Waiting for his opportunity…