Chapter Text
Besides her parents and Tikki, Marinette had four people who she truly cared about.
Alya was one. Marinette's best friend had a heart of gold and always put her first. She was someone Marinette could always count on.
Nino was another. Marinette had known him forever, since they were kids, and while she wasn't as close to him as she was to Alya, he was one of her closest friends.
Chat Noir was the third. Marinette couldn't tell anyone about her silly kitty, and she couldn't tell him anything, but she trusted him with her life. He was her partner: her best friend in a different way than Alya was. Always dependable, always there for her... that was her Chat.
Adrien was the fourth. Adrien... beautiful, kind, perfect Adrien... his striking green eyes melted her brain into mush and turned her tongue to putty. She was in love with him, no questions asked. She knew for sure that someday, they'd be together, and they'd have three beautiful children and a hamster (or maybe two hamsters!) and they'd live in a house together in the suburbs of Paris and take the kids to the city once and a while for a fun day out (when he wasn't worrying about modelling duties and she had a day off from her designing) and she'd be able to kiss him anytime she wanted and... no, no, one step at a time! He didn't know her feelings for him, and even if he did, Marinette was pretty sure it'd result in a rejection.
When three out of four of the most important people in her life were going to be at a sleepover, Marinette wasn't going to say no. It was for Nino's sixteenth birthday, and god, it was going to be the best night of Marinette's life. A sleepover. With Adrien!! Every time that thought came to her mind (ohmygodAdrienAgreste) she squealed, (atasleepoverWITHME) swooned, (whenhewakesuphe'llBESOCUTEWITHHISBEDHEAD) and nearly fainted (WE'LLBETOGETHERALLNIGHTANDHE'LLFALLINLOVEWITHMEANDI'MGONNAFINALL...
"Marinette!" Alya's voice crashed Marinette's frazzled train of Adrien-ridden thoughts. "Girl, you've gotta get yourself together! You got this. You can handle one night with Adrien, right?"
"O-of course!" Marinette squeaked.
"C'mon, Marinette, you can't act like this all night. This is for Nino, remember!"
Marinette nodded, feeling a bit guilty at the reminder. Nino was one of her best friends, after all--she wouldn't let being in love with Adrien get in the way of his birthday. Besides, if she ever wanted to have a chance with Adrien, she'd have to stop being such a loser first; stuttering and tripping over her own feet wasn't exactly attractive.
She felt like such a cliche - the lovesick, clumsy girl who was secretly a badass, confident, superhero - but she really couldn't help it. Even as Ladybug, it was hard to hold it together around the love of her life. Besides, there was hope! As she got closer to Adrien, she'd gotten more comfortable with him, so it was only a matter of time before he'd return her feelings. Hopefully.
"What present are you getting Nino?" Alya asked,
"I made him a new headphone case! He was complaining about losing his last week."
"That's awesome, Marinette!" The usually confident Alya twiddled her thumbs. "I got him Ultimate Mecha Strike 4. Do you think he'll like it?"
"Nino's gonna like anything you give to him."
"Marinette!" Alya went red.
Marinette smiled slyly.
Alya reached in her pocket and peeked at her phone. "It's 6:00, Marinette. We should head out."
Marinette's small smile turned into an excited grin. She grabbed her duffel bag. On the way out, she grabbed a handful of cookies and stuffed them in her purse for Tikki, ignoring a questioning look from her inquisitive best friend.
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"Hey dudes! What's up!" Nino greeted them with a wave and welcomed them in. Adrien was already sitting in front of the couch, criss-cross applesauce, on a blanket. He turned towards Alya and Marinette and gave a reserved but genuine smile.
"Hey Marinette! Alya!" Marinette smiled, resisting the urge to jump up and down with joy.
"Hey Adrien!" she responded.
"So, uh, why don't you sit down! There's some popcorn and stuff over there, and you can set your sleeping bags on the floor right there" Nino gave them an introduction while pointing at various spots on the floor. Once they were settled in, Marinette and Alya plopped down across from Adrien and Nino on the blanket. Everyone exchanged gifts, and Nino opened them with glee.
"Marinette, this is awesome!" Nino held up the black-and-blue headphone case, smiling from ear to ear. "Did you make it yourself??"
Marinette smiled meekly and nodded.
Adrien took the case from his friend's hand, rubbing his thumb over the intricate design decorating the front. "Wow, Marinette, this is amazing! I didn't know you could embroider!"
The tips of Marinette's ears went red at her crush's compliment. "Th-thanks Adrien! It wasn't that hard, you know, just a couple stitches here and there and a zipper and it turned out just fine!"
Adrien smiled. "Well, it's incredible."
Marinette smiled back. Nino gave Alya a big hug after opening her gift, and Marinette couldn't help but notice that Alya was in a really good mood for the next few minutes. After opening the presents, having cupcakes, and watching a short horror film, the quartet were ready to start playing some late-night games.
"What should we play?" Alya asked.
"Mafia?" Marinette suggested, and Adrien was ready to agree, but Alya and Nino scrunched their noses and Alya shook her head.
"How about Musical Chairs?" said Adrien.
"What are we, five?" Alya asked. Adrien shrugged.
"Simon says?" suggested Nino.
Marinette and Adrien both sat up a little straighter, the memory of a certain akumatized hypnotist coming to their mind. "NO!" they yelled, simultaneously and a bit too adamantly. They looked at each other for a moment, then looked away, thinking nothing of it.
"Geez, okay" Nino said.
"How about two truths and a lie?" Alya asked. The three nodded in agreement. "Okay, it's settled. I'll go first." Marinette, Adrien, and Nino listened intently to Alya as she began.
"I have a birthmark on my left leg, I want to be a journalist, and I know what school Ladybug goes to." Marinette tensed and Adrien perked up.
"D-do you really know which school Ladybug goes to?" Adrien asked, and to Marinette's confusion, he looked awestruck.
Alya crossed her arms, fire in her eyes. "You're supposed to guess the lie, not ask it."
"You don't know what school Ladybug goes to" Marinette said, grateful she knew her friend well enough to rule that one out.
"That's right!" Phew. "That means it's your turn, Marinette."
She thought for a moment then spoke: "My favorite fruit is raspberry, I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower more times than I can count, and I take a nap every day."
Alya guessed in a snap. "You don't nap, girl. If you did, you wouldn't be so goddamn tired all the time."
Marinette smiled and nodded. "Yeah, sorry those were kinda stupid."
"Hey Alya, how about you let my boy Adrien go next since you already had a turn?" Nino asked.
"Yeah, sure!" Alya said.
All eyes turned to Adrien. He sat in silence for at least a minute.
"Dude? You good?" Nino asked. Adrien smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, sorry. I got it now."
"And?" Alya said impatiently.
"I play the piano, I have a dog, and I know Ladybug really well." Alya gasped. Adrien bit his lip, realizing his haste to answer might have put him in some serious Ladyblog-brand danger.
"You don't know Ladybug, you two have barely met!" Marinette almost shouted.
Adrien shook his head. "Nope, that wasn't the lie."
What?! What did he mean, that wasn't a lie?!
"Adrien, you know Ladybug and you haven't even told me? I can't believe you!" Alya cried indignantly, stepping closer. "Tell me everything." She narrowed her eyes, meeting Adrien's trembling green ones. "Right. Now."
"Maybe later," he chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his neck.
"You don't have a dog, man. Your old man would have a heart attack if there was a pet in the house."
"You got me. And Alya, I'm sorry, but I want to respect her privacy. I'll talk to you about her later, okay?" Alya nodded, a bit less ticked off. Marinette, however, was confused. Was Adrien counting the one time she had met him as Ladybug, back when Simon Says attacked? That hardly counted as knowing her well. And if he didn't mean that, what did he mean?