Chapter Text
Adrien had just wanted to go to school. He’d planned his escape for so long. But it had ended up completely different than what he'd imagined.
For one, he hadn’t even crossed the school gates. He'd stopped to help an old man and then he had been brought back home and reprimanded by his father.
Now it was all back to the usual boring day. Except that when he put the TV on to seek distraction, he saw that the news showed anything but an ordinary day. A monster was at large in Paris and no one knew what to do.
And it still didn’t end there. Because this was when he’d found something strange in his room. A ring, which appeared to be magical because a strange creature shot out of it when he put it on.
He had to admit that he’d been too excited by the possibility of becoming a superhero to listen to Plagg’s explanations. He'd transformed too soon but he was going to wing it.
He was doing pretty well getting the hang of walking on his staff when his expected partner showed up.
It was a rather spectacular entrance. She literally fell on top of him, dragging him down towards the street. Thankfully, they stopped before they could hit the ground thanks to the yo-yo they were tangled in.
“Well, nice of you to show up,” he grinned at her.
“Sorry I’m late,” she mumbled as she tugged on the string and they both tumbled down. Adrien dusted himself just in time to get a yo-yo on the head as she retracted it.
“Sorry!” she shot him a look.
The poor thing looked too scared to function properly so Adrien decided to lighten up the mood.
“Let me guess, is your superhero name Madly Clumsy or something?”
This got a tentative smile out of her.
“Doesn’t Ladybug sound better?” She said quietly.
“It does,” he nodded.
“But my name is actually Marinette,” she offered. Her friendliness instantly won him over. He hadn’t ended up at school but he was still making friends! It was so easy to get his guard down in such circumstances.
“Mine is Adrien,” he replied. “But it doesn’t sound so cool. How about Chat Noir?”
He struck a pose and this time she laughed, her shoulders no longer stiff with tension.
“It suits you.”
“Ready to save the world, m’lady?”
“Hey! Presuming much, kitty?” she poked him in the ribs. Yes, she was definitely doing much better.
“Just making small talk,” he chuckled. He liked her. He had no doubt that superheroing wouldn’t be boring with her by his side.
“I actually have no idea what to do,” she said in a small voice, some of her fear back as they headed to the villain.
“We’ll learn together,” he said readily and she gave him a thankful look.
Of course, it wasn’t as easy as expected. For one, Adrien really had no idea what he was doing and it showed when he used his power too early and came up empty handed against the villain.
Thankfully, Marinette was pretty good with coming up with a plan on the spot, which was funny to him and he said so. She didn’t seem to appreciate it, lost in coming up wiht tactical steps. Which helped, because they got the akuma out and Stoneheart was revealed as an ordinary boy.
“He’s a guy from my class,” Marinette said as they looked at him. “Ivan.”
“Wow.” Adrien couldn’t imagine this happening to someone he knew. “I hope that he’s better now.”
“Well, he’s free. Thanks to us. But I have to go,” she said, pointing to her flashing earrings. “See you soon.”
Adrien waved at her with a smile. This was definitely a better day than he’d expected after the earlier fiasco.
*
Adrien made it to school the next day. At least, Nathalie let him get inside. Maybe Ladybug’s luck was rubbing off him.
Chloe accosted him as soon as he got to the classroom so he didn’t have time to meet the rest of his classmates before the teacher arrived. While Ms. Bustier called name after name, he tried to pay attention and put them to faces.
When she said Marinette, his heart leapt in his chest. He might have wondered who his partner was and if he could possibly meet her without the mask. He only got her name. But he also knew that Ivan was in her class. And he’d already noticed the guy they had saved the previous day.
When Adrien looked at the girl sitting behind him, he was amazed to find a pair of familiar blue eyes looking intensely at him. She’d also heard the teacher say his name, in case she didn’t know who he was already. So if she suspected the same thing as him… Yep, it sure seemed like that.
They couldn’t talk in the middle of class but they also didn’t have an opportunity to do so after it because it wasn’t much later when the peace was broken as Stoneheart appeared again because they had apparently forgotten a crucial detail the previous day.
They didn't have time for chit-chat but at least they could act together. Adrien shot Marinette a look and she followed him outside.
“It’s you, right?” She asked, a tad uncertain. He could understand her not being able to imagine her new classmate as her superhero partner. But he was going to show her that he was as good as his alter ego.
“Yes. What a coincidence, right? Out of all the schools in Paris, I chose this,” he grinned. Her lips twitched, on the verge of a smile, but then she shook her head and went into superhero mode.
“We don’t have time for this. Let’s go!”
“I was afraid that you might have changed your mind.”
He could tell that she wasn't completely over her fear even after their victory so it wouldn't have been so surprising if she didn't show up. Which made the fact that he already knew who she was all the better. She paused, a hint of guilt in her eyes.
“I almost did. But I couldn’t imagine leaving you in the lurch.”
Warmth bloomed in his heart.
“Why, thank you, m’lady!”
She shook her head with a grin.
They did better this time, but when the time came for them to catch Stoneheart, Marinette hesitated. She was thrown off by the police’s comments that this was their job. She let doubt overwhelm her.
Adrien stepped in quickly, reassuring her that they were the ones who were going to stop Stoneheart and ultimately Hawk Moth. And she believed him. Again.
When she proceeded to tell off Hawk Moth, who had chosen this moment to scare them off, Adrien realised that he was in deeper than he’d suspected.
He felt that he didn’t want to be just her superhero partner. But maybe feeling this way about his new partner wasn’t the best idea.
When she offered her fist to him as they watched Ivan and Mylene reunite, Adrien felt a little unsure.
“Now what?”
After all, they hadn’t expected to find each other like that. To be so close in their everyday life.
“Maybe it wouldn’t be the best idea for us to show that we know each other, you know,” she said slowly. “After all, we’re superheroes.”
He nodded. She was right. And this made things a lot more complicated.
They got back to school together but didn’t return to their classroom at the same time.
This time when he got back and Chloe ran to him, telling him how she had been saved by the heroes, he saw a look of suspicion in Marinette’s eyes.
He didn’t get the chance to ask her about this until later. They were leaving but she was waiting outside because it was raining.
“So you’re friends with Chloe,” Marinette asked when he stood next to her.
“Is this a bad thing?”
“She has been making my life torture for years,” she sighed. “I just wonder why you’re her friend.”
“Rich kids brought together by their parents,” he shrugged. “I know that she can be quite arrogant and well, rude, to people, but I didn’t know that she had singled you out. I’m sorry.”
“Maybe it would be better for you to stay away from me,: she said without looking at him. “It would hurt your image to be seen associating with someone below your stature, like me.”
As she said this, she took a step under the rain.
Somehow what he’d said hadn’t been enough. Adrien couldn’t have this. He didn’t want to lose his chance to be her friend over this. Not only because they were partners as well and would have to work together.
“Marinette.” He put his umbrella over her head and she turned back in surprise. “I’m not Chloe. I’d be happy to be your friend and I really don’t care what people think. If you want to.”
He smiled tentatively, wondering if she’d take the olive branch he was offering her. If he’d have the chance to prove what kind of person he was.
“It’s no wonder that you have an umbrella. Cats don’t like water,” she smiled eventually. And just like that he let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. If she was joking about this, maybe the fact that she knew him already as her partner had helped.
“That’s right.” Also, his father wouldn’t approve of his son getting drenched, but this was something they could talk about some other day. “Can I walk you home?”
“I live just across the street,” she giggled, “but sure.”
Adrien smiled. For her, he would risk getting wet. And a lot more.