Work Text:
“Sorry, I got carried away again.”
She shook her head and came over to watch Adrien at his workbench, a robotic arm open for repairs and gleaming under the bright lights. “You know I don’t mind.”
“You say that but its all tech speak.” Adrien rubbed at the back of his neck briefly with embarrassment. “Can you grab me a large flathead?” his eyes still trained on the new wires. Everything looked like it should work fine. Another zip with the soldering iron to be sure the new piece was secure.
Marinette found the correct tool but she held onto it, waving it about for emphasis. “Just because its tech speak doesn’t mean I don’t like it. I might not understand everything you say,” the girl being honest about that because it was fairly clear Adrien was a rising genius in the science department, “but talking about your tech makes you happy, and seeing you be happy makes me happy.” A blush threatened to spread over her face but it was the truth.
The blond paused in his build to glance at her, a blush of his own forming under the goggles. “Thank you, Marinette,” Adrien glancing away shyly and adjusting his goggles. Calm down, Agreste. It wasn’t fair how simple compliments like that could fluster him. “I am happy.”
She closed the space between them to give him a one armed hug. “Good,” Marinette’s voice a perfect blend of warmth and fierceness. Letting go, the girl finally passed him the screwdriver.
“I’m happy you’re happy I’m happy,” a wry smile taking hold as he thought to be silly.
“Ugh,” Marinette rolling her eyes playfully as she nudged his shoulder. “You’re ridiculous,” but she couldn’t help smiling.
“But really, thanks. It means a lot.” Ladybug was his superhero partner but he didn’t get to talk to her about science stuff like this really. It was imperative that they kept identities secret so he didn’t sit and talk with her while he worked like this. Workshop Talk was reserved for Marinette.
Adrien accepted the tool as he gave one more glance over the device to be sure all of the wires were in order and properly secured. The faceplate fit neatly over the top and he set to closing up the robotic arm, tightening each screw in turn while being painfully aware of how close Marinette was standing. He didn’t mind it – quite the opposite – but it was distracting. Thankfully, the serious work was done and he was on the last step before running a performance test.
“What did you say this arm does, again?” blue eyes peering at the strange articulated claw at the other end.
“It’s to make small prototype electromagnetic panels.”
“I thought you were making a skeleton of sorts?”
“I am. If I can pull it off, the panels will activate if I get to the point of not being able to move, like, if I’m too tired or unable to coordinate enough to get to safety. Muscles work on electrical impulses so I figure if I’m in a tight spot, I have a chance with an automated suit coordinating my muscles. It’ll be kind of like a backup nervous system I can voice activate if I’m compromised.”
She took to leaning against the workbench with arms crossed loosely over her chest. “So your suit will be like a copilot if you can’t move?”
“That’s a good way of putting it.”
“How will it see?”
“Cameras in my hood.”
“And how will it know how to aim your webs and swing?”
Adrien set down the screwdriver and turned around in his chair, hands behind his head as he leaned back. “It won’t. Not for a while, at least. Going to start with asking it to do basic tasks like walking.”
Blue eyes glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. “You’re going to walk into walls, aren’t you.”
“Probably!” He grinned. “That’s science.”
“Maybe it’s because I don’t know the science like you do,” Marinette offering, “but this sounds like it could hurt you.” She could protect him from a lot of things as Ladybug, but protecting him from his own suit didn’t sound appealing at all.
“I’ll be doing a lot of testing. A lot,” Adrien leaning forward to give her what he’d hoped was a reassuring touch. “Starting with really low voltage to find what works without going over. Lowest effective voltage.”
“I don’t know. This seems closer to science fiction than science.”
“It’s only science fiction until we try.”
She turned to look at him, mouth skewed and brows angled to show just how much she didn’t like this. “I still don’t like it. If you’re compromised, how will the suit know where to take you?”
“If I’m unable to move or coordinate my movements, then clearly wherever I am is risky. Anywhere the suit can take me is better.” Rolling himself closer with the chair, Adrien’s hands sought hers from the safety of folded arms. “I’m super human, Marinette, but I’m still human. What happened that night, when I managed to get to your balcony…I can’t risk something like that again. Whoever this octopus guy is, he has tricks up his sleeve and I need to have some up mine.”
His eyes were incredibly earnest, Marinette finding it increasingly more difficult to argue with him. That night had been a prime source for nightmare fuel for her; it was an incredible stroke of luck that whatever this guy had done to Adrien wasn’t permanent. “Maybe you should wait for Ladybug before you fight him again. He’s a tech genius like you and probably out to prove it, but Ladybug has magic. His tools won’t work on her.”
“We don’t know that.” Adrien dropped his gaze to look at their hands together. “I’d rather not find out, honestly, but I get it. If I meet him one on one again, I’ll stall until I’ve got backup or the advantage.”
“Good.” She had magic as Ladybug but magic had limitations on what it could fix. If Adrien was seriously injured by anything other than an akuma… She couldn’t not worry about this new enemy. “So, the suit’s nervous system will voice activate if you’re exhausted, ataxic, or paralyzed?” the last option terrifying her the most.
“That’s the plan.”
“Can you have it call me, or Ladybug, to say where you are?”
He gave a solid nod. “I can do that.”
The pressure in her heart started to let up. “Thank you.”
They were still holding hands, which he really didn’t want to stop, but Adrien knew she was probably going to get suspicious if he kept holding on. With one final squeeze on both of her hands, he let them fall away. “Plagg, can you begin the function test?”
I was wondering when you’d ask, Plagg’s voice coming through Adrien’s earpiece. Beginning Mobility Test.
The arm began to move, the joints working in tandem to see the range of motion from the swivel base to the delicate claw at the end. So far, so good. “I know you’re still going to worry even if I tell you not to worry. Just know I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m safe.”
There was a soft sigh from her because damn if Adrien didn’t know her that well. “I know that. I just… hope you never need to use this back up skeleton thing.”
“That’s the goal of any backup plan.”
“You’re my best friend, Adrien,” Marinette leveling him with a look even as a blush started over her nose. “I don’t know what I’d do if you got hurt.”
She was rewarded with Adrien’s trademark lopsided smile. “And you’re mine. I’ll make this work, promise.”