Archive of Our Own ^beta

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　Nathaniel was exhilarated, ecstatic even. He was going to finally meet ladybug and get to finally talk to her face to face! He truly never had a massive interest in what she does or her as a person ladybug or not but her personality is nothing short of enticing. A type of personality that you can only imagine in the most heroic comic books and the best selling novels. Being able to finally have a one on one conversation on how she balances the job of saving Paris daily is something Nathaniel can only dream of.

…..

Dream of, exactly. How did an opportunity like this even fall into his hands? Especially from Marinette? She was the only one who had ladybugs diary, and was the one who set him up with this opportunity in the first place. Does she know ladybug personally? Thinking of it all, Nathaniel couldn’t shake the idea that perhaps this was one big joke on him because Marinette was the one who knew most about him..and his adoration for ladybugs work.

Though, it seems out of character, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, shes so kind and friendly to everyone she meets and even took place as class rep with her best friend at her side. Would such a sweet girl really pull a prank like this on one of her friends?

Thoughts like these swarmed Nathaniels mind on his walk home prior to this told meeting arrangement. It was no use though, if this opportunity was true and ladybug was in the park waiting for him, Nathaniel had no choice but to take his shot in the dark and meet at the given time.

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- 10:24 AM, the given meeting time -

20 minutes prior to the specified arranged time, Nathaniel had made sure to pack what he knew was necessary for his meeting with ladybug, her diary given to him by Marinette (which he still has yet to know how she got her hands on it), a couple pencils and erasers, a notepad for an interview, and a personalized sketch of ladybug and her partner cat noir as a special gift for her appearance. Sure it was a bit much especially for just a chat, but it might be the only chat he gets from Ladybug. So, Nathaniel had made his way on foot to the park fountain to meet the savior of Paris face to face, in a not-akumatized situation.

When walking through the gates of the park, he felt shaken up and slightly nervous but knew that he was ready. He immeadietly spotted her signature red disguised as a hoodie sitting at the foutain edge waiting for him. He quickly walked over to where she was sitting and spoke..

“Ladybug..?” He said, ready to see her face turn to him

“Wha- no its me…Marc” The supposedly-lqdybug spoke.

Nathaniel felt a twinge in his chest and questions filling his head. Marc? The guy Marinette brought into the art room? Is he standing in for ladybug or something? What is going on?
…Though, Marc didnt seem like he was trying to scare him or anything nor was his face twisted in evil intent. So with a heavy body and a silghtly heavier bag, nathaniel took a couple glances around the park trees to spot for any cameras and sat next to this, Marc. He cant lie, Marc seemed fragile and somewhat small but in his special way, if that makes sense. His hair was pushed up and down and layed as a nest in the back and his hands and clothes were scattered with accessories along with his painted nails. Marc was so different from Nathaniel in an appearence sense but he seemed contempt just like himself.

“So im going to guess you were looking for Ladybug?” Marc started
“Yeah, i suppose you havent seen her around here?” Nathaniel chuckled under his breath

Marc looked him directly into his eyes and knitted his eyes together in this sorrowful frown. It was a littly heartbreaking especially with all his small freckles that are barely there disappearing with the puff of his cheeks. Though it was clear Marc felt sorry for something both of them weren’t aware of.

“Your hair is really, pretty…Marc. Nathaniel sputtered.

…Shit. That was completely involuntary and was just Nathaniel saying whatever he was thinking. All he wanted to do was erase that sad face off him but It all just came out like wildfire. Though, he couldnt really keep it in. His hair does have a pretty color and his eyes are a perfect green that match everything about him. His lips also had this natural color that Nathaniel hasnt seen pretty often on others, Marc had this special appearance AND personality, so cool..

Marc’s quiver stare at Nathaniel broke into a mix of expressions and pink fanning on his cheeks. Nathaniel also flared at the moment especially at what he said and tried to look in every other direction to feel just slightly less guilty for embarrassing Marc (and himself). Thats when he saw it.
…

It was Marinette, with her phone, recording. Nathaniel was confused and shocked at the most. What is she doing? Is she filming me? Was this actually a cruel prank? What is going on???

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Marc glanced at Nathaniels twisted expression and looked at what he was so intrigued by. Fuck. How can he explain all this and still have Nathaniel let him write for his comic? Worried, Marc latched his hand onto Nathaniels arm to bring him back down from the scene of Marinette as the girl quickly ran down back into her room in a hurry.

“Hey-Look Nathaniel its not what it looks like i promise, its the-you got the thing..the Ladybug diary right? Just let me say-explain…everything.” He rambled but Nath still understood his mixed words.
“Yeah I got the diary, is it really hers? Wait just-how do you know about that?” Nathaniel didnt change expressions as he looked at Marc with confused eyes.
“Thats the thing, it was me. I wrote the diary. Its not ladybugs, I dont know what marinette told you but I swear this isnt some joke..Nathaniel, ive seen you draw and everything and just.. I” Marc paused and took his hand off Nathaniels arm to cover his face in defeat, “This is so stupid..im sorry”.

Nathaniel sighed, “Dont sweat it Marc, to be completely honest, I didnt really think that the diary was ladybugs since Marinette had her hands on it..but why didnt you come to me about this instead of Marinette?”
Marc peeked up from his defeated slouch, “Its just, I wasnt ready? I dont know Nathaniel, your work is so cool and if you didnt like my writing after building up courage to confront you about it, I think id just dig myself into a hole and never come out” he laughed under his breath.
“Well, wouldnt want that to happen. So i guess your in the right..but it wouldve been nice to hear your admoration from your own words.” Nathaniel answered.

He didn’t really know what he was saying, but it was true, if Marc really liked his work, it wouldve been nice to hear it in person. And thinking of it now, working with Marc to finish the comic seemed nice, Nathaniel really wouldve taken anyone to help him write out his story but Marc seemed like an even better partner.
“Partner”
Having thought of those words or word specifically, Nathaniel couldnt help but look away from Marc as he also sat there in mild surprisment. Both of them were growing red and seemed fidgety in their respective ways. Each of them sat in silence, processing what one thought, and the other said.

“From my own words..?” Marc said, his fingers pressed over his lips in confusion
“Uh yeah, well I mean you dont have to but like if you-if you can-want to..” Nathaniel stammered. But before he could further explain himself and stutter in the process, Marc looked him in his eyes in a sort of determined sense (again).
“Nathaniel…I really like your work and your drawings and your clothes and your hair and the way you talk and the way your art-style just brings the story to fruition and Im like a disgustingly big fan of your work and…I want to be your partner.” Marc spilled out his words like a waterfall and only seconds later, caught himself on his last “and”. “Partner as in drawing and writing partners! Yeah like um illustrator and author! Not like yknow, those partners! Not to say i could never be your partner but like not..now?” He hesitated to speak again in worry of saying something wrong.

Though, all Nathaniel could think about is the word..partner. Thinking of it now, well he really isnt thinking. All those words Marc spit out have completely filled his head and its still taking a while for him to process it all. He can see Marcs eye contact fall short and his body trying to escape this exact moment. He just needs to say something, anything to make him stay, not like last time, he wanted Marc to stay, not to run away and maybe slam into a tree or lamppost like before, during class. Just say something, dont let him go.

“I have something for you.” Nathaniel said, he knew it was completely off topic and maybe that was the wrong move but any more thinking time and Marc would be gone.
“For me..? But werent you expecting ladybug, wouldnt it be for her?” Marc asked, still slightly sad by no response to his pretty-much-confession.
Nathaniel sighed, “Yeah it was..” His lips perked up into a smile as he reached into his bag for the drawing he made but also to find the right words to say, “But, I think this interaction, this moment..was better than some interview with ladybug”.

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But before Nathaniel could give the drawing, Marinette rushed up heaving for air and with her phone in hand. Both boys turned to her in slight surprise and in even more confusion.

“Nathaniel its not what you think I promise! Its all my fault I erased Marcs name on the diary and thought you knew what I was thinking! It didnt even process to me that you though you were meeting with her-ladybug!” She exclaimed. Marinette was still gasping for air and had this same sorrowful face Marc made when he was upset.

Nathaniel used to love Marinette, she was pretty and nice and still is, this isn’t to say he doesnt like her now. It all just fell short with the evillustrator days so he let it go. But, its not like he only finds girls attractive, he has a type that anyone can fit and thinking of it now…Marc kind of fits the image. Dark blue hair, bright eyes, expressive clothes and nature, thats what Nathaniel found the prettiest.

He couldnt help but glance back and fourth from the both in his thoughts, how similar they looked appearance wise but also their blaring differences.

Marc was the first to respond at Marionette’s long-winded apology. “Its fine Marinette, you did make this a little mixed up but..i think it worked out in the end.”
All nathaniel could do was nod as if he understood a word between the two. All on Nathaniels mind was the comparison chart of the both artists currently peddaling ideas in his head.

“Oh thank god! So um..will you two work together on the comic? Its true, you guys make great partners!” Marinette said in relief.

That word again, it just keeps popping up today like its the top song on charts. About three or four times Nathaniel has either said, heard, or thought about that mixed word. Contemplation was useless now, it was likely to be said again and if Nathaniel hears the word in any other sentence, he might just go crazy.

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He could hear the distant chatter of Marc and Marinette, they had been throwing “thank you’s” and “Im sorry’s”. It was clear both were so uncontrollably sweet and just that fact alone made Nathaniels heart melt. Both so caring and willing to own up to their mistakes, an attitude like that is nothing short of lovable.

Marc had broke their passing comments and spoke, “Sorry Nathaniel, you ok? I know your probably the most crazed with all of this mess”

The words caught him off guard in the moment. All Nate needed right now was to go on his own and think about his clouded thoughts and the weird liking he has to Marcs “Dark Side of the Moon” album shirt. “Oh yeah everything’s fine, uh-i think im going to get going now i just need to be home at this hour yknow? So..yeah” As Nathan spoke, he hesitantly got up and stashed all his things in his bag, including his interrupted gift. He just needed to be on his own and clear his head so he can think properly.

Marcs faced washed over with slight worry and disappointment . “Oh thats fine..do you think I can get your number Nath? To keep in touch!” He paused before speaking again “That is if you want to..keep in touch that is!!” He threw his hands up in worry trying to make his words clear. Nath totally forgot about all this because of his new fascination with the artist so the words caught him by surprise. “Oh yeah sure-sorry-i forgot to do that you know-my number-give it to you.” Nath stretched his sentence in attempt to form actual words.

All Marinette could do was watch the two fumble over themselves. Each word sounding like a string in a sentence pasta, they all just combined in a confusing mess. The obvious blush streaking over both their faces was unsurprising. Shes never seen them act so frazzled so its clear they have some fondness for each other. Then it hits her, is this what she looks AND sounds like with Adrien?..

Nath stumbles with his phone trying to figure out his password like its some foreign language but succeeds nonetheless. He passes it over to Marc as the raspberry boy is looking upwards in attempt to remember his phone number. He can see that Marc knows his number but his fingers are shaking with each press. While Nath observes his overly shaky fingers, Marc finishes up the contact and double checks the number. When he hears his phone ping after shooting a text, he looks back at Nathaniel with a smile and gently hands back the boys phone.

Nathaniel looks down at what Marc texted himself and it reads, “I hope we can be good partners Marc :)” and after looking back up from the text, he sees Marc try to stifle a laugh. Though, all Nath can think about is that word again..”partner”. He tries to give a coherent “thank you” to Marc and a nod to Marinette so he can start rushing back home

“Well ill see you later Marc, you and Nath will make a team..yeah” Marinette says as she covers he mouth a little to hide an obvious smile. All Marc can do is blush in confused shock, he did and didn’t know what she was hinting at but it surprised him either way. Marinette waves back to him as she walks back to her house not to far away with distant giggles.

Marc puts his blush-burned face in both his hands and rests his elbows on his legs feeling nothing but smitten.