Chapter Text
“So how did your business class go?”
“It went fine, it’s hard sometimes but usually one of the boys can help me with it.”
Alya and Marinette are walking together to eat lunch at the cafeteria at university. Alya has her ethics class and Marinette has business and patternmaking classes on Thursdays. They are enjoying their lunch and giving each other life updates when Marinette noticed that she doesn’t have her tablet with her. “Shit shit shit, I forgot my tablet at home. I need it for the next class!” she says with panic seeping in her voice. The teacher of patternmaking is really strict and without tablet she isn’t allowed to follow her class!
“Girl calm down, just ask Luka to bring it?” Alya suggests. Marinette shakes her head, “He can’t right now. He’s busy setting up for a show”. Ayla nods, “Adrien? I know you don’t like asking him stuff cause of the gossip and the fans but you need that tablet!” Marinette bites her lip while thinking. She could ask Adrien, but that means exposing him to a whole group of young women who probably all crushed on him like she did when she was younger. Their poly relationship also isn’t out to the public yet. But she really needs that tablet for class! “I’ll text him, hopefully he can get it to me without a lot of fuss.” She grabs her phone and starts typing furiously.
Sugar: Kitty, can you bring my tablet to school? I forgot it on the kitchen table
Sweetie: Sure! I’ll leave in 5 minutes
Sugar: Thank you so so so much!! I normally wouldn’t ask you but otherwise I can’t attend class
Sweetie: Don’t worry about it 😊
Sugar: Try to be incognito okay? I don’t want you to get swarmed and in the tabloids again
Sweetie: Yes m’lady. See you soon, love you
Sugar: be careful! Love you too
She smiles at her phone and gives a thumb up to Alya. Crisis adverted. “I really hope he won’t get recognized,” she mumbles. Everyone from the fashion class is here, they all know who he is! Marinette is starting to panic. Everything is going to end up in the tabloids and she’ll ruin Adrien’s life! “This is a disaster,” she whisper-yells “oh Alya What am I going to do, I’m ruining his life with asking him to come here.” Ayla looks at her fondly and says “Girl breathe, it’s all going to be okay. He’ll be here in a hot minute and you’re just going to grab your tablet and go to class.” Ayla looks at her with fondness while she takes a deep breath.
“So, do you want to know about the trip to Lille Nino and I took?” Alya asks with a wink. She knows her best friend needs a distraction until her blond boyfriend arrives. Marinette just listens and asks the right questions at the right time while she keeps checking her phone for the text. It’s been 15 minutes and still no text from Adrien.
The tablet is suddenly in front of her together and Adrien’s hand is on her shoulder. “Hey princess, here is your stuff” he says with a big smile. He’s dressed in a hoodie and some sweatpants but he didn’t wear anything to hide his hair or face. “Adrien, what are you doing? Someone will recognize you like this and they will know we’re dating and Luka isn’t here and you’re going to get in so much trou-“ her rambling is cut off with a quick kiss from Adrien. “Mon coeur, calm down. I’m fine. I just wanted to surprise you,” he says with a small pout, “would you rather have me go?”. Alya jumps up and quickly tells him that he should stay. She leaves while yelling, “Going to call Nino anyway. I’ll say hi from the two of you”.
“So how was class today?” Adrien asks, he loves hearing Marinette being passionate about her work. “Class went really good this morning, you might not have to explain this part to me,” she tells proudly, “next class is going to be hard, I’m so glad you brought my tablet without it I might have gotten in trouble.”
“Wow are they that strict?”
“Oh yeah, we needed to make some designs and she picks someone randomly to project their designs and then she just criticizes them in front of everyone.”
“Holy shit, sounds like a nightmare.”
“Sometimes it’s brutal but it’s to prepare us when the public and the papers will inevitably criticize us.”
“I still think it’s mean,” Adrien mumbles. He hugs her really hard. “But she won’t criticize your designs cause they are amazing.” Marinette smiles and snuggles closer to him. Adrien worked so long in the fashion industry, it’s always nice when he compliments her work. “I have to leave soon, class will start in a few minutes. Be careful on the road?” he nods and kisses her again. “Let me enjoy you for a little moment longer,” he mumbles against her lips. They end up making out a little. Adrien lips are red from her biting them. “I’ll go now, good luck at class,” he whispers at her. They hug one more time and then Adrien leaves again. She straightens her clothes and leaves to class.
Marinette is still slightly dreaming when she enters class. She goes to her usual spot and sits down. She starts up her tablet and adds some finishing touches to the designs she has to present today. She sits quietly and bothers no one until class start.
Some poor other student gets chosen to present their designs. The professor is a harsh critic and plans her lessons around the criticism she gives that class. Marinette spends the rest of the class on the placement of zippers. It was boring but at least she learned a trick or two from the class. The other student also got some tips. Although this class is brutal, it’s a very effective way of teaching them.
After the class is dismissed Marinette packs up all her stuff while thinking what she can make for dinner. It’s her turn and she’s in the mood in some classic Chinese food her mom prepares. She tries to remember if they have enough ginger or if she has to stop by the shop. When she leaves class she bumps into Lila. Marinette can’t stand the girl, Lila is always lying about her connections to famous designers and how she has dined with powerful people. She knows she lies cause Adrien has never heard of her and doesn’t recognize her when she showed him a picture of her. “Oh sorry, didn’t see you there,” Marinette utters politely. She tries to pass again but Lila blocks her path. “Don’t worry about it,” she says cheerily, “it’s not the first time you didn’t see me today. You seemed really cosy with Adrien Agreste.” Marinette whole body stiffens, out of all people Lila saw them? A mean glint appears in Lila’s eyes. “Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone,” the tan girl smiles wickedly and continues to speak, “but could you ask Adrien if he could reconsider my offer for modelling our end project otherwise some pictures might end up with the tabloids on accident.” Lila struts out the door without another word leaving Marinette behind her.
The feeling of panic is clawing its way up her throat. Lila saw them. She saw them and took pictures and is now blackmailing her with said pictures. She needs to let the boys know as soon as possible. She breezes past Alya without looking up in favour of getting to the metro. She feels a little guilty for that but she’ll explain when she sees Alya again. While running for the metro she texts her boys, asking them when they will be home. Marinette spends the whole metro-ride nervously checking her phone. Luka will be home soon and Adrien is already waiting for her.
Adrien hugs her when she enters his apartment. Technically they don’t live here but she and Luka both have a closet here with stuff and a toothbrush in the bathroom. He ushers her inside towards the couch. “We’re ordering in, this is important and you shouldn’t have to worry about cooking right now,” Adrien states with confidence. She can already see the delivery app open on his phone. “Do you want Chinese or pizza?” he asks gently. Marinette protests, “I’m perfectly capable of cooking, you don’t even know the news yet. How are you so sure it’s bad.” Adrien looks at her with a loving look, “I know you, you’re almost having a panic attack over this. You don’t have to care for us. So what do you want Chinese or pizza?”
“I say we order Chinese,” a third voice adds. They both startle at the sudden sound. Luka enters and kisses them both hello, he plops down next to Marinette and folds her into his chest. Adrien puts in the order real quick and slips on the other side of Marinette. They hold Marinette close till she calms down enough to tell them what happened. When she’s done talking Adrien looks defeated while Luka looks angry. “So this girl is blackmailing you to get Adrien to model for her?” he hisses angrily, “I’ll talk to the bitch.” Marinette shakes her head at him, “That’s a really bad idea”. “I could model for her, I mean if we want to keep it a secret I could just do that” Adrien offers. Luka lifts Adrien his head and summarizes his and Marinette thoughts: “You have to decide songbird. We’re not the one with a reputation with the tabloids, you decide what we’re going to do with this situation”. Marinette chirps in: “we’ll support you no matter what happens kitten. We’re here for you”. Adrien looks pained when they put the decision on him, he mumbles: “can I decide after dinner, it’s a lot to think about”. Luka and Marinette both hug him really tight. Luka whispers in his ear: “It’s your decision beautiful, even if you choose to go public with Mari and not me I will support you”.
They start up a Ghibli movie while waiting for dinner to arrive. When the doorbell rings Luka goes to grab it and brings it to his partners on the couch. They eat in silence. The mood is slightly tense. Marinette is still blaming herself for the situation while Adrien is mulling over his decision. He squeezes both their hands in hope to convey that he loves them and supports them no matter what. When the movie is finished Marinette takes all the trash to the trashcan. When she comes she sits down next to Luka. They look at Adrien with an anticipating look on their faces.
“I’ve made a decision.”
Adrien swallows before he continues, “I’ll model for Lila to keep her quiet but if she keeps asking for favours we’ll go public with us.” Luka’s shoulders sag in relief, he didn’t want to be a secret third part but would have supported them anyway. Marinette her face shows dissatisfaction. “It’s not that I don’t love you both or am not proud of you guys but I wanna come out on my terms and not cause someone is forcing is to,” Adrien defends himself quickly, interpreting their body language as angry at him. “It’s not that, mon amour, I just know that you don’t like modelling. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” Marinette explains. Luka adds, “I’m just relieved you don’t want to hide me. I would have supported you if you made that decision if that was what you wanted.”
They plan how they will go from here. Adrien will answer the message Lila had send him and set up a short photoshoot with her. Marinette will not talk about it to Lila unless she starts about it herself. They’re going to ask their friends to keep an eye on the tabloids in case they get outed anyway.
Marinette ended up telling Alya what happened the next day and her best friend was ready to throw hands. Alya promised not to physically hurt Lila and to keep an eye and an ear out for any scoops. For now the situations seemed under control for now.