Chapter Text
After the Antibug akuma Adrien had a realization when looking into Ladybug's eyes, he had seen those eyes before many times in class. Those eyes belonged to Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Suddenly it all made so much more sense. Ladybug's lack of patience with Chloe was spurred by Marinette's disdain of the girl. The confidence, the hairstyle Ladybug wore, all Marinette. Then in class he watched as Marinette fist bumped Alya just like Ladybug had always fist bumped Chat Noir after each defeated akuma. He was positive that Marinette was Ladybug and the more he thought it the more he noticed how similar the two girls were until one day he finally caught himself falling for the the dark haired girl. Adrien felt a burning desire to talk to Marinette every time he saw her but every attempt he made was either greeted by stuttering or silence. Adrien didn't understand what Marinette's deal with him was. She acted so strange around him it was starting to freak him out. Plagg had once suggested that maybe Marinette had a crush on him but Adrien wasn't sure he wanted that either afterall Marinette only knew him as Adrien Agreste the Model instead of just Adrien. He wanted her to like him but he wanted her to like him as himself and the best way to do that was to actually talk to the girl so he worked up his courage and one afternoon in the courtyard after school he decided to approach Marinette. Alya wasn't with her which was a rarity. He decided to seize the opportunity while he had it.
"Marinette!" He called after her. Marinette turned around slowly but when she saw who it was that called her name her skin seemed to pale. An expression of fear, nervousness, and surprise crossed her face all in an instant.
"Hey I've been meaning to talk to you," Adrien smiled at her as he caught up to where she stood. The girl stood her body completely rigid. Shoulders nearly hitting her ears the girl couldn't have looked more uncomfortable.
"Why? I mean- You have?" She squeaked.
"Yeah I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later," Adrien asked much to both their surprise.
"Yeah um that would be wonderful- I mean not that I think you're wonderful or anything I mean- yes I mean wait! No! Actually no I really can't not today anyways I have um- a thing I have to do- well not a thing its I uh- have this family thing and I can't today. Sorry," Her words tumbled out in a rush. Adrien could barely process her words. It almost sounded like Marinette was avoiding him.
"Okay well maybe another time then," Adrien said looking down his cheeks growing warm with embarrassment.
"No! I mean yes we should some other time," Marinette gave him and uncomfortable smile before darting off towards home. Adrien sighed. Well that could have gone better. Adrien made his way to his car feeling defeated. Plagg zipped up out of his pocket.
"What's your damage kid?" Plagg asked with a yawn.
"I just can't figure out why Marinette won't talk to me and when she does I barely understand what she is trying to say," Adrien said the bitterness of rejection creeping into his voice.
"She turned down your offer, what's not to get?" Plagg complained.
"Geez Plagg thanks for the reminder," Adrien grumbled.
"The girl said she was busy," Plagg said exasperated.
"Why are my charges always such lovesick drama queens?" He muttered to himself.
"Maybe you're right," Adrien sighed. "I just don't know how to get her to talk to me," Adrien complained for the millionth time that week. Plagg rolled his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time that week in response.
"Well it's not like you can be someone else and talk to her," Plagg said absentmindedly. Adrien smiled at his words in a very Chat like grin. "No! No way kid! That's a dumb idea and I won't be apart of it!" Plagg put his hands up in defense a defiant look in his bright green eyes. Adrien sighed.
"Okay okay forget it," Adrien sighed regretfully looking out the window. Plagg smiled in triumph.
"Good! Now where is that camembert?" Plagg began to rifle through Adrien's bag until he found the smelly cheese.
But Plagg had planted a seed in Adrien's mind one he couldn't shake. The whole ride home he kept thinking about how much easier it would be to talk to Marinette as Chat Noir. He wanted to transform that very second and rush to her house as Chat but he knew that was a stupid idea. He couldn't very well rush over to Marinette's house as Chat without reason for being there. For now it seemed as though he would never get to talk to Marinette. Maybe if he got Nino and Alya to hang out with the both of them as well as a sort of social buffer. Even than there would still be the problem of getting Marinette to actually talk to him. He didn't understand how she could stand up to Chloe and talk to everyone in their class with such confidence but was unable to have a conversation with Adrien. What did that say about him?
***
"No way girl! Please tell me you said yes!" Alya screamed into Marinette's ear through the phone.
"I-I couldn't!" Marinette wailed in disappointment.
"What!? Girl how could you, you've been waiting for him to ask you out forever now!" Alya was blown away by her friend's behavior. It just didn't make any sense.
"I know! I wanted to say yes but I couldn't. I'm supposed to be working in the bakery tonight and I actually should be doing my homework right now but I'm too depressed to think about physics! I can't believe I had to turn Adrien down. He's going to hate me," Marinette moaned.
"No way girl! If he asked you out this totally means he likes you!" Alya said excitement in her voice. Marinette lifted her head from wear she had smashed it into a pillow.
"You think?" She asked, hope in her voice.
"Totally! You should definitely ask him to hang out with you at school on Monday," Alya suggested.
"What!? No way! Alya I can barely talk to him! I can't do that!" Marinette was raking one had through her hair the thought of talking to Adrien giving her crazy anxiety.
"You're going to have to learn to talk to him sooner or later Marinette. Besides you already know he's going to say yes," Alya encouraged.
"But what if I ask him and he does say no because he had only asked me as some kind of joke Chloe convinced him to play on me. I'd be humiliated," Marinette hung her head.
"Girl do you seriously think Adrien's the type of guy that would do something like that?" Alya smirked humored by her friends outrageous concerns.
"No, he's not," Marinette sighed happy her friend was talking sense into her.
"Exactly! I have to go. We'll talk more about this tomorrow but I swear Marinette I'm going to get you to ask that boy out if it's the last thing I do! Later!" Alya hung up.
Marinette flopped onto her back unsure of what to do. She smiled when she thought of Adrien asking her out. She was practically giddy with the thought. I mean technically he had only asked to hang out with her but that was at least a step in the right direction. Finally Marinette pulled herself out of her Adrien trance to get started on her physics homework. Then she remembered how physics was Adrien's favorite subject and she caught herself daydreaming about him once again. She wasn't going to be able to focus at all today was she? The sound of a nearby explosion pulled her away from her thoughts. She looked out her window and saw a small mushroom cloud forming a few blocks away. Looks like another akuma attack. Seriously couldn't she have a minute to herself?
"Tikki? Spots on!" Marinette shouted as she stood from her desk.