Chapter Text
Marinette Dupain-Cheng lived for cliches.
Nerdy girls getting the makeovers of their lives, the prince giving up everything to marry a peasant, straight romances in general, anything and everything that was overused and unnecessary was her lifeblood. Posters of blockbuster teen movies were scattered across her room, and dozens of romance novels were stacked on her dresser. She knew that the superhero life shut down all of the stereotypical superhero-normal person romances she enjoyed the most(for a very specific reason), but she adored them nonetheless. I mean, the Twilight series was the highlight of her preteen years. Cliches were worth their weight in gold, no matter how cheesy, no matter how predictable. Marinette just never expected that her love life would become one.
Her heart thumped, words stumbled out of her mouth, and she broke into a nervous sweat as she tried to apologize to Adrien Agreste, who was helping her pick up her designs after she ran into him head on. Adrien was the prized student of her school, a celebrity model and son of a millionaire. Despite his lavish background, however, he really came off as a really sweet guy. He just gave off the vibe of a knight in shining armor. So of course, Marinette couldn't help falling for him-and falling hard. So that's how it was, year after year of high school, switching back from confident crime-fighting Ladybug to creative, self conscious Marinette. But fate could not allow Marinette a smooth love life to help ease the chaos in every other aspect of her life, so as she was trying to draw and walk as to finish her latest design, she smacked right into Adrien and knocked them both onto the floor. The embarrassment was just too much for her too handle all at once, but Adrien didn't seem to notice. He was as sweetly oblivious as he was sweet to look at.
"It's okay, Marinette, really!" Adrien said, trying to coax the anxious Marinette. He chuckled lightly, which did not help Marinette's already fast-beating heart as his voice made it flutter.
He shook his head and picked up the last few papers on the floor.
"Here, these are the last designs- Oh, wow."
"W-what?" Marinette said, a new kind of anxiety setting in as Adrien stared at the design she was so eager to finish. It was a redesign of her Ladybug outfit, fitted with a new and improved belt that had a simple pattern of gemstones going through the middle, a smooth metallic ladybug brooch to be added, and some practical sleek black boots. Adrien scanned the design in absolute awe, but was interrupted as Marinette snatched the paper out of his hands.
"Wh-Hey, what's wrong? That Ladybug design is amazing! Are you a big fan of hers?" Adrien said, seeming genuinely interested. Marinette mentally cursed. She should have put that design in her sketchbook as soon as possible, to avoid something like this. Marinette took a deep breath and laughed nervously.
"Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that! I was just messing around, though. It's really just a rough sketch of all the ideas I'm trying to get out." Marinette said, finally calming down.
"Well, it's a really good rough sketch. Honestly, you're so talented, it's insane." Adrien said as he stood back up. He held his hand out to her and gave her a friendly smile, which made Marinette's cheeks glow with warmth. A compliment AND a helping hand?
She should really draw and walk more often.
Marinette cleared her throat and took his hand gratefully, and he helped her back on her feet.
"Thanks, Adrien. But it all comes with practice." She said, and Adrien gave a soft "hmm" in agreement. Adrien kept smiling at Marinette, never breaking eye contact, which was beginning to make Marinette squirm. Adrien saw her discomfort and snapped out of it, laughing nervously and clearing his throat.
"Uh, sorry! I'm kind of out of it today, really worked myself out last night what with uh, modeling and all." He said, and turned to give himself a "what?" face. Who would even believe that? And how do you even workout by just modeling? But to Adrien's surprise, Marinette just nodded slowly.
"Uh, yeah, I get that! I'm pretty tired too, since I was out-"
Marinette froze and searched her mind frantically for an excuse that would make sense, and definitely would not suggest that she was on patrol last night as Ladybug.
"Uh, with Alya! Looking for materials for my new designs."
"Like the Ladybug design?" He asked, and Marinette tensed, her forgotten anxiety making an encore back in her thoughts. Should she say yes? What was the harm in admitting she was creating a new outfit for Ladybug? It's not like that would immediately give her away as Ladybug. She was just Marinette, innocent fashion designer-to-be who was spitballing ideas and who was also a fan of the Miraculous Ladybug, along with what, the rest of Paris? Marinette was okay. No identity revealing at stake here.
"Yeah, like the Ladybug design. I've been thinking about it for a while now and I, of course, appreciate her current design, but I just think these new additions would give her outfit a cute personalization, you know?" She said, and Adrien nodded, gesturing for her to walk to the classroom. The two continued their conversation at a bubbly pace, Marinette explaining her ideas and Adrien praising her for them. Adrien had always known Marinette was a talented designer, but she had such a complex yet understandable thought process to her designs that he just couldn't get enough of it.
"I almost designed a gem-encrusted belt, but that would just make it too gaudy. Oh, and do you think a ladybug barrette would be better than a brooch? It'd probably interfere with m-her to have something on your chest like that." Marinette caught herself, and mentally applauded her smooth recovery. She was becoming more and more comfortable with talking to Adrien, and about Ladybug, no less. Well, fashion for Ladybug. But still, she was keeping her cool, and didn't feel the least bit nervous.
Marinette took her seat, and Adrien sat in Alya's, looking pensively at the Ladybug design.
"I think a barrette would be better, actually. I think it'd feel strange to have something hanging as you moved around as much as she'd have to." He finally said. Marinette nodded and took the paper from his hands, erasing and wiping away the excess. Adrien watched Marinette as her hands fluttered back and forth, creating light, smooth strokes to fix the part where she had erased. Once she was satisfied with it, she then went to start sketching out the design for a barrette. The two sat in peaceful silence, subconsciously taking comfort in each other's presence. Adrien's thoughts drifted elsewhere, and he began to assess the unfamiliar situation he was in.
He'd never taken any particular interest in Marinette before. Sure, he knew she was basically a fashion prodigy, especially after winning that hat designing contest with such a spectacular and original piece. Adrien just considered her one of those fair-weather friends, one that he could say hi to, maybe even chat with for a bit, and then catch up with Nino if he saw him. Well, maybe "chatting" was a bit of a stretch. Maybe trying to chat with was more accurate. Marinette was a very shy girl, only ever hanging around her best friend, Alya. Adrien noticed Alya's efforts in trying to get Marinette to socialize more by pushing her to speak with him, but it never really worked. He never got to bond with Marinette in a meaningful way. But here he was, helping her out with a design, and sitting next to her as she worked with expert precision and professional expertise. Marinette really was an amazing person. He should really talk to Marinette more.
"Sorry to interrupt whatever's going on here, but isn't your seat in the front, Adrien?"
Adrien and Marinette jolted and whipped their heads around to see a smiling Alya, who was standing with her hands on her hips.
"I don't really mind, just asking." She said, a playful smile laced on her lips.
"Oh, sorry! I was just helping Marinette with this amazing design she had, and I guess I forgot you sat here."
"Amazing design? Wow, I knew she was good, but if the great Adrien Agreste thinks your work is good...." Alya said, and winked at Marinette, who was holding her face in her hands and avoiding the looks from her best friend.
Adrien laughed nervously. "Uh, here, I'll move."
Adrien rushed to gather his things, a foreign rush of heat flooding into his cheeks from embarrassment. He nodded a goodbye at Marinette and muttered an embarrassed goodbye to Alya as he walked to his seat, but stopped in his tracks.
Marinette's new Ladybug outfit was amazing. So amazing that Ladybug herself should see it.
Adrien turned to face Marinette, who was engaged in a frustrated, silent staring contest with her sketch.
"Hey, Marinette, we should show your design to Ladybug herself!" He said. Marinette's eyes went wide and the desk suddenly launched an inch in the air.
"Ow!" Marinette pulled up her knee and rubbed it. She snapped her eyes back to Adrien and plastered on a nervous smile.
"T-to Ladybug?" She said, her voice tense. Well, guess Adrien didn't suspect her as Ladybug after all.
"Well, yeah! I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to, but your design is too good to just keep an idea."
Adrien flashed her a smile, which Marinette couldn't help but return graciously. He really did believe her designs were amazing. How could Marinette say no?
"Well, I don't know how that's going to work, but I'll try and show her, then!"
"Awesome! Ladybug will love it, I guarantee!" Adrien exclaimed, filled with childlike excitement. He walked back to his seat, still wearing a giddy grin. Maybe he could show Ladybug himself who Marinette was in the crowd, and Marinette would be able to meet Ladybug-
Adrien faltered in his steps, sitting down slowly as confusion set in his mind. He......wasn't sure he really wanted them to meet. I mean, sure, he wanted Marinette to have her design praised, but he didn't want to complicate things. Somehow. Adrien frowned as he tried to find an explanation for his hesitation. Marinette was his friend. Ladybug was his partner. Ladybug didn't come across as the jealous type, if she just so happened to turn out to just be tsundere for him, and Ladybug would always be his lady, no doubt about it. He just found Marinette sweet, and talented, and kind, and adorable.......
Oh.
Meanwhile, Marinette was covering her face in embarrassment while Alya squealed about what had just happened.
"He said your design should be seen by Ladybug herself! He really likes you, Marinette, you know he does!" Alya said, poking her friend's ribs in a fit of excitement. Marinette yelped, causing Alya to laugh.
"You'd think you'd be happier about this "sudden development" between you and Adrien. Something wrong?" Alya asked, her voice shifting from playful to concerned. Marinette sighed and groaned in frustration, thinking of the situation she had just put herself in. How was she going to "show" Ladybug the design without Adrien finding out she was Ladybug? Maybe she could avoid the whole thing by pretending Ladybug rescued her during an akuma attack and just handed the drawing off to her as she swung away.
"No, nothing's wrong. Just thinking about the design, that's all."
"Oh, you know Ladybug will like it. She's so cool, she'd recognize greatness when she sees it. Plus, you'll have Adrien there to give you a confidence boost! So that's a plus." Alya said, and flipped open her notebook as the bell rang for the school day to start. Marinette nodded slowly and opened her own notebook, muttering under her breath,
"More like a problem."