Work Text:
Marinette sighed in relief as she leaned up against the side of the building. Just another day when the Akuma had been devilized, and the Miraculous Ladybug once again saved Paris. Reaching into her bag, Marinette pulled out a macaroon for Tikki to munch on when she felt the familiar vibration inside her purse. Smiling to herself, she pulled out the touch screen phone in her custom pink case and stared down at the illuminated screen.
CN:
Great work today, M’Lady. Did you get home okay?
Though her feelings for him had not changed, Marinette couldn’t help but smile at his thoughtfulness.
MLB:
Not yet, but I will. Thanks for checking in! 😊
She quickly put the device away to find her Kwami staring at her curiously with some pink crumbs on her face.
“What?” Marinette asked. She lovingly reached up and wiped away the residue of the treat, causing Tikki to laugh from the soft caresses.
“Oh, nothing, Marinette. It’s just that… Chat has been more attentive since you two set up the secure messaging portal.”
Marinette playfully rolled her eyes. “It’s called an App, Tikki, and I don’t see your point. We are just friends! Besides, we keep things strictly professional.”
“I know I may be a Kwami and don’t always understand human feelings, but don’t you think your messages have been more… personable than professional?”
Marinette blanched. “What?! That’s silly! Of course, not Tikki!”
The Kwami sighed, giving her holder a knowing look before floating back into the small, pink bag. As soon as Tikki was safe inside, Marinette quickened her pace to hurry back to the bakery. She was trying not to think about the conversation about Chat when the phone inside her purse buzzed again. Marinette gasped, reaching in to view the new message.
CN:
Text me when you get home safe, bugaboo.
Marinette blinked, staring at the message in disbelief. There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with the text, per se. That was just how Chat talked! He always had little nicknames for her that were innocent and endearing. Besides, he knew she had a crush on someone else. He’d even encouraged her on multiple occasions and offered advice on how to approach Adrian.
Not that she ever told him her crush’s name. No, that would reveal too much about their real identities.
“Marinette! There you are!” her mother called out as she opened the door.
“Hello, Mama. Baba,” she greeted.
“We were beginning to worry, sweetie. It’s getting late,” her father pointed out.
“I know. I’m sorry for scaring you,” Marinette apologized as she leaned down so her mother could kiss her.
“It’s alright. Why don’t you head upstairs, eat your dinner, and then start your homework,” Sabine said. “There’s Ratatouille on the stove.”
Marinette smiled. “Thank you, Mama.”
“And don’t stay up too late!” Tom yelled up the staircase. “You need more sleep.”
“Yes, Baba!” Marinette replied. She helped herself to a generous portion of the meal before climbing the ladder to her attic room. As she sat at her desk and devoured the much need substance, she couldn’t help but admire her collage of photos that consisted of her friends… but mostly Adrian.
“We’ve had this discussion so many times, Marinette. You just have to talk to him and tell Adrian how you feel!” Tikki emphasized her point by waving her arms up and down in exasperation.
Marinette sighed. “I know. Chat said the same thing.”
The Kwami scratched her scalp when an idea suddenly popped into her head. “Why don’t you go back through and see what other advice Chat has offered? Maybe you could try it out tomorrow when you run into Adrian!”
“That’s a good idea!” Marinette explained. She pulled out her phone and then gasped when she realized she was meant to text her partner as soon as she made it back.
MLB:
Home and eating dinner.
CN:
What’s on the menu?
MLB:
Want a taste? LOL
CN:
Looks fantastic, M’Lady. 😊
She shook her head, silently laughing to herself as she texted her good night to her partner. He was such a silly kitty sometimes, but that didn’t mean he was being unprofessional.
CN:
Please let me know when you get to school tomorrow. I just want to know you’re safe.
Marinette typed her reply while also making him promise to do the same before she plugged in her phone and fell asleep with dreams of Adrian dancing behind her eyelids.
________________________________
Despite heeding her father’s advice to go to bed early, Marinette was still late getting to school. She ran up the steps of Dupont with the intent of racing to her locker before the bell rang. But, of course, the best of intentions was met with missteps, quite literally in Marinette’s case, as she stumbled before colliding into someone’s hard chest.
“Oh! Good morning, Marinette,” Adrian greeted. He was trying to steady her while also making sure not to drop his phone in the process.
Marinette jumped, a few noises of surprise involuntarily leaving her mouth. “Adrian! I mean… Hi. How are you?”
His slight chuckle made Marinette’s heart stop, and her cheeks flush red as he said, “I’m well. How are you?”
She giggled nervously while not so discreetly pulling out her phone. “I’m doing well! Hang on. I told someone I would check in with them when I got to school…” she stammered as her fingers rapidly moved over the keyboard.
MLB:
OH my heck. Chat! I just ran into him! What do I dooooo….
“No worries,” Adrian replied when he felt the device in his hand vibrate. A slight blush graced his cheeks as he read the notification. “Oh, I uh… had something I wanted to ask you, but um… give me a second? Nathalie’s worried about an upcoming photo shoot and keeps sending me texts.”
“Of course!” Marinette squeaked out as she frantically looked down at her phone, waiting for Chat to reply.
CH:
Keep a cool head. You’ve got this!
Marinette’s mouth fell open, a small groan escaping as she frantically typed back while saying. “Hope everything is okay with your shoot.”
MLB:
I can’t! I’m panicking!
“Oh! Yeah!” Adrian said. “Just a last-minute location change.”
CH:
Just look into his eyes and act natural.
“Natural,” Marinette parroted under her breath.
“Did you say something?” Adrian asked.
Marinette gasped. “No! No, absolutely not, no.”
MLB:
I need to abort the mission.
CH:
Not yet. You’re winning his heart.
“So, I know the bell is about to ring, but I wanted to ask you something before we have to go to class,” Adrian reminded her.
“Oh?” Marinette breathed out. She gave him an awkward smile as she scratched the back of her neck. “Go for it!”
“I was wondering if you could come to the shoot this afternoon….”
“Afternoon?! As in today?” Marinette repeated back in a high-pitched tone.
MLB:
He just asked me to go to a photo shoot with him! What do I do?
“Yes,” Adrian confirmed.
CH:
What do you mean what do you do? Say yes!
“Well… I… uh… you see, the thing is….” Marinette stuttered, her words stringing together, so they didn’t make any sense.
MLB:
I’m failing.
CH:
It’s only one word, M’Lady. You can do it.
“So, is that a yes?” Adrian cajoled. “Please? We can even go get ice cream after.”
Marinette bit her bottom lip, trying to fight through the crippling anxiety and fear of rejection from her crush, when her mouth spoke before her brain could stop her.
“Yes!”
Her hands flew to her lips, covering the bottom half of her face as Adrian’s eyes widened in surprise. He quickly recovered, a smile slowly spreading across his face as realization hit him.
“Great! I’ll meet you out front at the last bell! You can catch a ride with me in my car!”
The conversation was cut short by the bell ringing, causing Adrian to tell her he would see her in class. Marinette stood there for a second, her hand slightly raised as she watched him disappear through the threshold of the classroom.
“Marinette,” Tikki whispered. “Should you be going to class?”
She nodded. “In a minute, Tikki.”
MLB:
I DID IT!
Her phone dinged almost instantly.
CH:
I knew you could do it.
MLB:
Thank you for your help! You’re the best Chat!
CH:
Any time M’Lady.