Alya was losing her shit, and that was putting it lightly.
"It's been 3 months!" The redhead ranted, pacing back and forth in Marinette's apartment, "3 fucking months! What the hell is going on?"
Marinette shrugged a little more occupied with the empty boxes she was currently shoving things into. Taking the permanent marker from behind her ear she labeled said box "Sewing things #3" before pushing it to the side with the other full boxes.
Alya continued to mutter dark things, but eventually started to help pack the boxes, if only because she knew Marinette wasn't listening.
"At first I thought it was just a fluke, like the counter was broken." Alya continued, pausing in her packing and angrily slumping over the still empty box. "But no matter what I do the numbers won't change! This is the end! It's the end of the Ladyblog!"
"I think you may be over reacting." Marinette said patting her friends back gently.
"Overreacting?! My life is over! The world means nothing now!" Alya lamented flopping to the floor, rather ungracefully, and making a series of dramatic poses.
"Alya, so what if the blog is having a dry spell?"
"A dry spell?! Marinette no one has visited the site at all this week! The visitors have been dwindling for the past 3 months! 3 months girl!" Alya shouted from her spot on the floor.
Marinette cringed, "I'm sure it'll be alright. There just hasn't been any Ladybug activity for a while. That's all."
It had been 4 months since the last akuma attack, and the eerie silence was worrisome. Not only had they heard nothing from Hawk Moth for the past 4 months, but they also had no idea what the quiet meant. Some Parisians saw it as a victory, that Hawk moth was finally gone and they could return to their normal peaceful lives before all the attacks that had started almost 5 years ago.
Marinette on the other hand, didn't feel as optimistic about it.
Her and Chat Noir still hadn't found Hawk Moth, and were still a long ways away from putting an end to him. It seemed that even after their years of protecting Paris, they were only ever on the defensive, never making any headway in finding out who the elusive Hawk Moth was, or even what he planned to do if he ever captured their miraculous.
Still.. This was a nice break.
She knew it wouldn't last forever, and that she still had to keep her guard up, but not having to miss class because of akuma attacks sure was nice, and getting a full night's sleep without running all over the city felt good too.
"Stop moping and help me pack." Marinette sighed poking her best friend with her foot, "You're the one that wanted to get it all done today."
Alya made a muffled noise of protest, and Marinette held in a laugh. With a groan, Alya finally resigned herself to the horror which was standing and packing.
"I still don't see why you can't just come and live with me." Alya pointed out.
Because you're a nosy reporter and I'm Ladybug! Marinette thought. She merely shrugged in response, "You already have a roommate. Besides best friends shouldn't live together, we'd just end up getting on each others nerves."
"I think we'd be fine." Alya said putting some of Marinette's handmade quilt into a box. "I'm a delight you know?"
"Yeah yeah!" Marinette said with a roll of her eyes. "But do you really want to be kept up all night by my sewing? Or live in a pigstyle, also known as my studio?"
"Fine! Point taken."
Marinette laughed.
Both her and Alya fell into a light chatter as Alya started to talk about her roommate, and how Marinette was so lucky she'd be living alone. The banter ended when there was a knock on the trap door that led into Marinette's room. Alya was opening the door before Marinette had even registered what the noise was.
"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up." Alya chided, arms crossed and looking down at the figure standing underneath the opening of the door.
"I know, sorry!" Nino said climbing up into the room, his hands raised defensively, "But I brought reinforcements. Oh, and drinks!" He said moving out of the way and placing a bag filled with sugary pops on Marinette's desk.
"Well, if it isn't boy wonder." Alya said with a laugh as a familiar blonde entered the room, messenger bag slung across his shoulder and a friendly smile on his face.
Marinette blinked a couple time in shock. "A-Adrien? What are you doing here?" She asked a little confused, then turning to Nino, if only because her cheeks were starting to light up, "What are both of you doing here?"
"We came to help!" Nino said dropping his stuff in the corner where it wouldn't get in the way, "Alya called and said you were moving out, thought you might need an extra hand."
"Or two." Added in Adrien, entering the room and closing the trap door behind him.
Marinette turned to her best friend, Alya shrugged, "What? You think I was going to do all of this just the two of us? It was gonna take forever!"
With a roll of her eyes Marinette went back to work, pointedly ignoring the look Alya gave her while gesturing her head to Adrien.
It wasn't like Adrien had never been in her room before. They had trained together for the mecha strike tournament when they were 15, and since then he had been to her room exactly 6 times.
Not that Marinette had counted.
Once had been to copy notes from a class he had missed. Another three times were because of group projects with Nino and Alya, and the last two times were due to birthday parties his dad mysteriously allowed him to go to.
Since his visits in highschool her many posters of him had left her walls and been replaced with her own work, or snippets from magazines. Apart from the odd picture of him modeling an inspiring piece, his shrine in her room had seemed to disappear. Not that it did her any good now. Adrien had already seen the wall of posters by accident one time. It really had been the worst day of her life.
But despite the fact that he had already seen the inside of her room, and her debilitating crush on him was "long gone", which was what she had told Alya, she couldn't actually bring herself to look or speak to him, mostly afraid she'd become an incoherent mess within a matter of seconds.
Luckily (or unluckily) for her, Alya didn't seem to sense any discomfort from her best friend.
"So what's new with you Rapunzel?" Alya questioned going back to helping her friend pack.
Adrien blushed a little at the nickname scratching the back of his neck, "Huh- Oh nothing much. Just taking jobs here and there, paying the rent."
"Rent? You're living on your own?" Alya questioned again, leaning in a little as if she were interrogating the model.
"Yeah! He's living with me now!" Nino said proudly.
"Really?" Alya asked raising an eyebrow, "Well, you know what they say best friends living together is just a recipe for disaster." She said giving Marinette a grin.
Nino and Adrien shared a look before shrugging, "Seems to be working out alright so far." Adrien commented.
"Yeah. I mean unless you have some deep dark secret you're hiding or something." Nino said with a laugh.
Adrien blinked a couple times before he seemed to register Nino was kidding. He laughed nervously, "Yeah! No secrets here."
Marinette, who had been contentedly listening to the conversation as she packed handed the two boys empty boxes, "Let's get a move on people. We can chat once we're at my new apartment." She said with a huff. She was about to turn away when she heard snickering. She looked back up at Adrien to see him grinning madly and trying to stifle his laughter.
"What?"
He laughed again biting his lip, "Move on."
Marinette raised an eyebrow confused as Nino groaned. "Dude, not everything is a pun."
"I-.. It wasn't supposed to be a pun!" Marinette protested.
Adrien was still smirking, trying to stop from full on laughing.
"It wasn't that funny." Marinette said slightly annoyed. She did not make puns, Chat made puns, and there was no way she was stooping to Chat's level.
"You're right." Adrien said seaming to gain control over himself again. "Next time you should think more out of the box."
And then Adrien really did start laughing. Marinette had no idea what to do other then just stand there and stare at him as her two other friends amused themselves with his ridiculous reaction.
That sealed the deal. She definitely didn't have a crush on Adrien Agreste. No way. He was a big pun loving dork and she really wasn't into that. She definitely didn't have feelings, not even if his smile made her want to melt inside. Not even if his laugh was like the singing of angels.
Fuck.
Alya had somehow managed to get them all back on track, although she did start a war for the bubble wrap by throwing packing peanuts at Nino. Despite a very long day filled with reminiscing over old mementos and embarrassing Marinette, they had packed up her whole room.
"Ah! Success! And you said we couldn't get it all done in one day." Alya shot a smirk at Marinette.
"In my defense I thought it would just be me and you." She said picking up one of the boxes and handing it to Nino as he came up the stairs. The boys had offered to start packing up the car as the girls finished up.
"Not that you minded a certain someone coming over." Alya grinned.
"Oh are we talking about you know who?" Nino asked, looking a little excited.
"Nino! There's nothing to talk about-"
"Nothing to talk about! Girl you got through a whole conversation without stuttering!"
"Alya, I'm not 15, I'm legally an adult now, I'm not going to turn into a puddle because of some pretty blonde boy-"
"What pretty blonde boy?" Adrien asked popping his head through the trapdoor next to Nino's.
Marinette froze like a deer caught in headlights. She opened her mouth and willed an explanation to come out, but all she could think of were a string of particularly nasty curses, so she promptly shut it again.
Alya, on the other hand, was much better on her feet, "Chat Noir."
"I mean I'd understand being nervous around him. He's pretty cool you know?" Adrien said with a grin.
"Yeah? Didn't know you were such a fan." Alya said with a smile. She was always happy to talk about Paris's superhero duo. "Too bad there hasn't been any action lately. I haven't seen Chat Noir or Ladybug for like, 2 weeks. The last thing they did was save those people from that fire."
Adrien scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "I'm sure they're enjoying the break though."
"Definitely." Marinette agreed, "They're probably so tired all the time. Besides," she said looking pointedly at her best friend, "Akuma's aren't a good thing."
"Yeah, yeah I know." Alya said with a shrug of her shoulders. She picked up a couple of the boxes and started towards the trap door. "Either take a box or move boys." She said with a smirk. Adrien took a box and Nino headed down the steps, a box of his own already in his arms. It was 3 in the afternoon by the time all the collective vehicles were packed and Marinette kissed her parents goodbye, promising she'd be by for dinner tomorrow night.
...
Alya had suggested the place. It was pretty close to Marinette's new apartment and it seemed like the perfect spot for everyone to go and have a few drinks after spending all day working.
As expected Alya was the first person there. No doubt Marinette wanted to shower and maybe even take a nap after Alya had left the apartment. After waiting for about 15 minutes Alya decided there was no other course of action than to entertain herself until her tardy friends showed up. It started with her ordering herself a drink and choosing the best table, the one in the corner where she could see the door. With a huff of annoyance she pulled out her phone and opened up the Ladyblog.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
She held back the urge to throw her phone across the room. What the hell was Hawk Moth doing? Suddenly her phone buzzed and she looked down half expecting to see an update on the blog.
It was a text from Marinette,
Mari: Sorry about the delay! Ran into Adrien and Nino! We should be there soon!
Alya sent back the lyrics to All by Myself and then resigned herself to wait.
Still no new comments on the blog. Maybe she would have to start posting some theories on identities or on Hawk Moth's new plan of attack. That might attract some viewers and from there some discussions. The silence was killing her.
Her mind started to drift off to the friends she was currently waiting for. Despite what Marinette kept insisting, Alya knew that her best friend still had it bad for Adrien. Not that she could really blame her, the boy had grown up quite nicely. He was taller now, and his shoulders had broadened, not to mention the muscles he had somehow gotten over the past 5 years. Dude was ripped. He was still a complete and utter dork though, something Nino insisted on when they were in school and no one believed him when he said the Adrien Agreste had watched every episode of Pokemon. Same blonde hair, same green eyes, same stupid oblivious grin. Alya could almost laugh. He was the most clueless boy in the world.
She was glad he had moved out of his Dad's place, sure living in a mansion wouldn't be something Alya would ever turn down, but he seemed a lot happier since the last time she saw him. She knew Mari respected him, but she had no doubt that Gabriel Agreste was a shit of a Dad.
Besides he was living with Nino now! They were best friends, how could Adrien not be happy? They probably stayed up talking all night, and played video games and ordered pizza all the time.
Or stayed up all night editing video's for the Ladyblog while Marinette sewed.
Ok so maybe that was what her friend and her did when they stayed over at Marinette's, but it just felt so strange. Why hadn't Marinette wanted to come live with her? She was fun right? Her and Marinette enjoyed each other's company!
Marinette had said something about how they would just grow to hate each other if they had to spend that much time together and live with each other's habits. But Nino and Adrien seemed to be doing fine. Did Marinette really just not want to live with her?
Maybe, part of her thought, Maybe she doesn't want to be your friend anymore.
The room faded out slightly, the lights dimmed and the background noise of the other patrons simmered down to a distant mumble.
Don't you want to know the truth? The real reason Marinette doesn't want you for a roommate.
Her thoughts had a point. Marinette was her best friend, there had to be some other reason for Marinette not wanting to live with her.
If you need help I'm always here.
Alya froze for a second. That wasn't her thoughts. She knew that voice. She had heard it before, she just couldn't place it.
We could make a deal.
Alya couldn't breathe. She dug through her memory desperately trying to recall the name of the voice. It was on the tip of her tongue. She knew who it was-
"Alya?" Nino's voice cut through to her and she snapped out of her trance, the bar coming back into the foreground of her mind.
"Sorry," She apologized giving a smile, "Must have zoned out there for a second. What took you guys so long?" Alya asked as Marinette sat next to her in the both.
Marinette and Adrien both flushed and looked away.
Nino offered and explanation frowning slightly, "We were walking together when we suddenly heard screams and those two," He said gesturing to their friends, "Just took off."
"I told you.. I saw my favorite chips inside a corner store and wanted some." Adrien muttered out weakly.
"Yeah and I thought it was an akuma so I went to go take pictures," Marinette added looking at Alya, "For the blog!"
Alya raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Yeah? Where the chips then Adrien? And let me see these photos then Marinette."
Both of them looked at the table, Marinette fiddled with her fingers, Adrien groaned and threw himself onto the table dramatically, his face hitting the cool surface. "Fine! I thought it was an akuma and my first instinct was to run away! It's not my fault! We had a lot of bad experiences with Akuma in high school!"
Alya smiled hopefully, "So there was an Akuma?"
Marinette shook her head, "Just a bank robbery, that's why I didn't get any pictures."
Nino sighed, "well we're late because they both took off at the sound of screams and then I was left standing in the snow for 15 minutes waiting for them to get back."
Alya, who had visibly deflated after being told there was no akuma, poked Adrien's head until he sat up, "You guys really are dorks." She said then smiled, "Order up already, we're supposed to be celebrating Marinette finally moving out of her parents house!"
They laughed as Marinette puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
"I'd like to Alya, but I've got a shoot tomorrow, I'll just be your designated driver." Adrien said with a grin.
"Fine be that way!" Alya said sticking out her tongue before grinning, "Mari will drink with me! Right Mari?"
"Alya, do you really think that's a good idea." Marinette said with a sigh as her best friend wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Adrien asked, raising an eyebrow, "Have you got an early morning too Marinette?"
Marinette shook her head as Alya cackled.
"Nette's a light weight. Like, impossibly lightweight." Nino said leaning over towards Adrien slightly, he put his hand in front of his mouth and whispered, "And dude, she's scary when she's drunk."
"I am not!" Marinette frowned brushing away Alya's arm, "I'm just more.."
"Loud and sassy?" Alya offered.
"You guys are the worst." She muttered, "I am not getting drunk."
About 40 minutes later Marinette was drunk.
"Having fun Nette?" Nino laughed as the dark haired girl collapsed in a laughing fit in her spot on the bench.
"I'm having a blast four eyes." She said with a snicker.
Nino fake pouted, taking another sip of his drink, "See I told you she was mean when she was drunk!" He told Adrien before breaking into a smile.
"I'm not drunk!" Marinette said leaning over the table and pushing her fingers against the boy's mouth, "Shhh! You don't know what you're talking about."
"You're being so loud." Adrien couldn't help but laugh as Nino tried to bite her finger in response. He turned to Alya, "I had no idea she got like this."
Alya snickered, "She's something. Like an alter ego."
Marinette turned completely red, "What? No! I'm just me! No alter ego!" Her drunken mind not really sure if Alya was catching on to her secret identity or if she was just joking. She stood up abruptly and grabbed Adrien by the hand dragging him out of his seat to follow her across the bar, "C'mon hot stuff let's see if you can beat me at Mecha Strike yet, or if I need to have another drink for you to stand a chance."
Adrien turned back to Nino and Alya with a laugh, "Wow her smack talks better too!"
"Wipe that grin off your lips Agreste before I kiss it off."
Adrien turned bright red and did what she said following her over to the arcade version of mecha strike set up in one of the empty corners.
Alya laughed as she watched the two of them across the bar, "Damn, if only she could be that forward sober." She looked up at Nino as he scooted into Marinette's spot on the booth. "What are you doing?"
"Getting a better view of our idiots." He responded taking another long sip.
Nino barely even looked tipsy, even though he had moved past beer and now back to it again. He smiled at Alya, his face red and his body swaying slightly.
"You're not driving." She said pushing on his nose with her finger, watching him lean away and then back with a laugh.
"Pssshh, says the woman who literally chugged her last drink."Alya laughed in response, Nino just smiled more, "I mean it! I was chanting 'chug!chug!chug!' I was there Alya."
Alya laughed again hitting her shoulder against his lightly, "Well what can I say? Booze is cheaper than therapy."
He frowned a little, "Everything ok?"
She looked at him with a grin, "Peachy."
He tried to make his face more serious but it only made Alya laugh at his scrunched up features, "I'm alright. Just work and stuff." She said.
"So there is something bothering you." He said taking another long sip.
She hated that Nino was so composed when he was drunk. It was completely unfair that he could be so rational all the time. "Well Yeah. I mean work's always bothering me though." She said taking a sip of her own drink so that she wouldn't have to talk for a while.
"Al-"
"How's living with Adrien?" She interrupted, "At each other's throats yet?"
He laughed, looking back at Adrien and Marinette who were hunched over the arcade game intensely. A couple of people had even bothered to show up and watch. "With that guy? He's like a human kitten." Then he leaned a little closer, "Although he's pretty weird sometimes."
"Whad'ya mean?" She asked, a little slurred.
"Well.. Sometimes he's all about watching movies together, or he wants to play video games until midnight, not that I blame him, dudes starved for human interaction, but then some days he just goes into his room.. doesn't say anything, doesn't answer when I knock on the door, he just makes a beeline for his room." He shrugged leaning away again, "Also the dudes got some weird obsession with cheese. I swear it's all he eats."
Alya frowned processing the new information, "But it doesn't bother you does it? Living with all his weird habits?"
Nino frowned and shook his head, "No. He's my best friend."
Alya slumped over the table. She felt like shit, "Why doesn't Mari want to live with me?" She mumbled her face in her arms.
Nino looked confused for a second and then patted her back comfortingly. "That's what this is about."
"Yeah.." She mumbled again, then she turned her head up so that she could meet his gaze, "It's stupid.. She just.. She was so against it you know? Would it really be so bad to have me for a roomate? Does she not really like me all that much?"
Nino gave her a smile leaning down a little as he wrapped his arm around her, "Alya Cesaire. You are one of the smartest, bravest, and best people I know."
She gave him a weak smile, and his smile grew softer in return, "I'm sure Nette just wants to live by herself for a while. She just moved out her parents place, I'm sure she just wants a little privacy for a change. You know how her parents are."
Alya nodded, then made a funny face at him, "When did you get so smart?"
"I've always been smart." He said grinning proudly.
Alya just raised her eyebrows with a knowing smile.
He gave her an incredulous look, "I am smart!"
"What about the time you bluetoothed Adrien so you could figure out how to ask out a girl?" Alya smirked sitting up.
"Ok.. well in my defense-"
"Or the time you tried to listen to music in class and forgot to plug in your headphones."
"Honest mistake."
"Ooh I think that I found myself a cheerleader~" Alya started to sing and she laughed.
"It was a popular song.." Nino said trying to pout, but when Alya laughed he just smiled. "Ok so maybe I'm not that smart. But I am a wise old guru." He pretended to stroke a beard he didn't have.
Alya almost snorted, "Nino you look ridiculous doing that."
"I can't hear you I'm thinking." He said closing his eyes to twirl his imaginary mustache.
Alya laughed again, and he peeked open an eye at her. "You're such a dork."
Nino smiled, "Whatever, you laughed. It was worth it."
Alya smiled at the gift that was Nino Lahiffe as he drank his beer. How on earth was he such a good person, and why the hell was he wasting that on cheering her up?
"Thanks." She said leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Anytime Al," He said chuckling a little, "As long as I have an excuse to be dorky."
"Pshhh." She said hitting him lightly on the arm, "Like you'd ever need an excuse."
From across the bar Marinette was doing her victory dance. Adrien growled and headed back to the table, dragging back their victorious dark haired friend back with him.
"You gonna cry model boy?" Marinette gloated taking the seat next to him.
"No." He pouted childishly crossing his arms.
"She beat you?" Asked Nino, clearly amused.
"She plays dirty when she's drunk.." Adrien muttered giving the girl beside him the evil eye, "She kept yelling trash talk and some.. inappropriate things." He mumbled turning a little red.
"Not my fault you blush easily." Marinette said with a smirk, "And I am not drunk."
Alya laughed her head still comfortably on Nino's shoulder. "Sure Mari, sure."
"I am not!" She said defiantly, "You're just as drunk as I am."
Alya just threw her head back and laughed. Nino chuckled under his breath as she fell from his shoulder and almost face planted on the table. He looked up at the blonde model who was frowning as Marinette sat on her chair cross legged and gave him a lecture on gaming strategy.
"You're drunk Mari, I don't think there was much strategy involved while you were playing."
She just pouted at him and he rolled his eyes. She turned to Alya, "Adrien's being mean to me Alya!"
"What?! No I wasn't!"
"Alya look at the bullying that's happening right now!"
Alya just laughed, "Yeah you tell 'em Mari!"
"Bullying? You literally threw something at me while we were playing."
"I was showing tough love."
Nino, somehow still reasonable, chuckled lightly before interrupting Marinette and Adrien's bickering, "Maybe it's time we all left and got some rest?"
Adrien checked the time on his phone. "Yeah, it's almost 11."
"11? Where's your sense of adventure Rapunzel?" Alya said with a snicker.
"Early photoshoot remember?" He laughed gathering up his things, "Mari I'll give you a ride home if you want. I've got the feeling you shouldn't be left to your own devices."
She pouted at him, "Fine Mom!" She stuck out her tongue and started gathering her things.
"I can leave you here if you want." He crossed his arms annoyed.
"Mari go with the nice man." Alya said waving her hand as if dismissing any arguments from either of them.
"I can swing back if you need, Nino." Adrien said turning to his roommate.
Nino waved him off just as Alya had done, "I can just walk, It's a nice night and I'm not in any rush."
With that Adrien dragged Marinette out the door.
"How much do you think she'll regret from tonight?" Alya asked with a snicker.
"How much do you think she'll remember from tonight?" Nino countered. He looked down at Alya who had her side against his shoulder. "You're not going to let her live this down are you?"
"Nope!" She grinned, "I'm going to tell it at their wedding."
Nino laughed wrapping an arm around her shoulders and adjusting a little so he was more comfortable. "Think they'll ever get together before their 60?"
"If they stop being so oblivious."
"They'd be good together. He deserves someone as kind and as patient as Marinette. She won't let him get away with anything either." Alya looked up at him, "I think he's pretty lonely Al. He keeps telling me about this girl he loves and he just looks so sad."
"You care about everyone don't you." She looked forward again, "You're the one who deserves a nice girl like Mari."
He laughed, "I'm over that. She's a great girl, but she's not what I want." He glanced down at Alya with a smile, "I'm sure whoever I end up with will be good for me."
She smirked, "Better get a move on it then. You're not getting any younger." She poked him in the cheek.
"Well then what's your excuse Ms. One-Night-Stand."
"Please. I'll look drop dead gorgeous when I'm 100. No rush for me."
Nino laughed and removed his arm from around her. He started gathering his things, "Better get going, or a certain blonde might start to get the wrong idea."
Alya laughed and started to put on her jacket. "Would that really be so bad? I mean girls might launch themselves at you if they think I did."
Nino gave her an unamused look, "Thanks but I'll pass. I don't need help to get girls Alya."
"Really? What about that time Adrien had to talk you through a date with a wireless head-"
"Fine! Ok, so I'm not smooth! But that was in grade 10!" He hit her lightly on the arm, "Does not mean I want your help picking up girls."
"Why not? I'm better at it then you and Adrien. You and Adrien put together."
Nino let out an annoyed huff, and held the door open for her, "Remind me why we're friends?"
"Because we ship our oblivious best friends."
That got a laugh out of Nino. It was a warm night, although summer was over and they were heading into fall. Alya swayed slightly and grinned as they walked. It really was unfair that Nino never looked drunk. He just looked happy and dazed when he drank, but he was never wobbly or loud. Part of her even wondered if he was even drunk, but the slight flush on his face and the catchy tune he was humming to himself told her he was at least a little debilitated.
It was strange, even though her brain ran at a million miles a minute, she was more than perfectly content to just walk with her friend, listening to him humming absentmindedly. She was so content she didn't even think about the Ladyblog, or the work she had to get done for her internship, or even what happened as Adrien drove Marinette home. Her mind was still, and although it normally made her uncomfortable to not have a task at hand, this was, admittedly, nice.
"Hey Al." Nino looked down at her with a frown, "Isn't your place in that direction?" He pointed back to where they had just turned.
Alya blinked for a second, before groaning. She had just been blindly following wherever Nino was going, but they had managed to walk in the exact opposite direction of her apartment.
"Whatever. Just let me stay on your couch. I don't want to walk all the way back by myself."
Nino laughed but nodded. "Sure."
...
Adrien had not been expecting the car ride to Marinette's to be filled with snarky banter. To be honest he had no idea Marinette was capable of snarky banter. She also hated puns, which were his main weapon in the conversation.
"Your pun game is as weak as your Mecha Strike game." She snapped back before grinning.
"Ouch." He said with a laugh, "you've virtually killed me with these insults."
"Terrible. The worst. You're the worst." She said back laughing.
"You're laughing! I win! Game Over!"
She groaned at his puns but still smiled.
"I have to say, drunk Marinette is a lot more out there then sober Marinette."
"I'm not drunk." She said crossing her arms, "And how would you know? Have you tried talking to sober Marinette before?"
He glanced over at her for a second before putting his eyes back on the road. "Well I've tried. Sober Marinette just doesn't respond."
Marinette just mumbled something under her breath.
"It's alright Marinette. I know you don't like me all that much. It was just nice that we could be.. more relaxed with each other tonight."
Marinette looked up at him confused, "What do you mean? I like you!" As soon as the words left her mouth she turned pink and slumped further down into her seat as if it could swallow her up.
"Yeah.. but you never really want to have a conversation with me, and you're always avoiding me when we hang out as a group." He laughed a little, although it was a sad laugh, "It's ok. I guess I really haven't made a good impression over the years either."
She looked at her hands, "You made a good impression Adrien..."
He looked back at her for a second, shocked, before he had to look back at the road.
"I think you're a wonderful person." She said quietly, "And I do want to have conversations with you... I'm just a little shy... at least around you."
There was a silent pause in the conversation as Adrien resisted the urge to look back at her.
"You know sober Marinette is probably just as cool. If she ever wanted to hang out sometime... to play video games..." He trailed off.
"I think she would like that." Marinette said, smiling a little, and ignoring the blush that dusted her cheeks.
After a moment she smirked again, "I wonder what drunk Adrien is like."
He laughed a little nervously, "You'll never know~" He responded in a sing song voice.
She leaned a little closer, "Oh really? I bet you're a sad drunk."
"I am not."
"You totally are."
"I am perfectly content when I'm drunk." He said, "And I'm sure I'm more composed than you."
Marinette made a noise that was dismissing and fell back into her seat, a smile still on her face.
...
Nino unlocked the apartment door and let Alya in, "Adrien? You back yet?" They were met with silence. "Guess he's on his way back from Nette's"
Ayla took off her coat and hung it up on the rack. "Can we tease him when he get's back? You know, ask him what him and Marinette were doing to make him take so long."
Nino sighed and shook his head, "Let them be Al."
"I've been waiting almost 5 years for this ship to sail Nino, do not take this away from me."
Nino snorted, heading to the linen closet and taking out an extra blanket and a pillow.
"Who knows Nino, maybe he'll just stay at her place." She gave her friend a wink.
Nino laughed, "Yeah right. Adrien is the kind of guy to ask a girl on 10 dates before kissing her."
Alya shrugged, "Nothing can be disproven until he gets back."
"Can we not talk about our friends doing it?" Nino grimaced, "It feels like an invasion of privacy."
"Fine! You're such a prude!"
"Not a prude," He corrected throwing the pillow at Alya, "Just not into my friend's sex lives."
Alya caught the pillow and jumped onto the couch, "Fine then, tell me about your sex life."
Nino's face scrunched up as he took a step back, "What? No!"
Alya laughed, "C'mon! Just between friends?"
"No Alya! What the hell do you even want to know?" He shook off the idea and tossed her the blanket. He blanched at the sight of her thinking face, "Do not take that as a serious question."
"C'mon! Twenty Questions! I don't want to go to sleep till I can tease Adrien!"
"Well, keep yourself entertained I'm going to bed." He turned and headed for his room. Alya followed with a pout.
"Ok, first question. Last girl you dated?"
Nino gave her a withered look but just moved to his dresser and pulled out his pajamas, "Helen Mathews."
Alya made a face, "Ugh."
Nino raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"
"No. Her name is awful. No one named Helen Mathews could be fun to be around."
Nino sighed, "Well she had her moments." He grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt before looking back at Alya, "Really? Aren't you going to at least look away?"
"No." She said with a grin, "You act as if I haven't seen you shirtless before Nino." She rolled her eyes, sitting down on his bed trying to think of more questions. Honestly it was just fun to annoy him. "Ok are you a top or a bottom?" She asked trying to hide her laughter as Nino's entire face turned red.
"Alya!" He was halfway through taking his shirt off, and his flush on grew when her eyes scanned him up and down. "I regret letting you stay here tonight." He groaned, throwing off the shirt and picking up his other one.
Before he could put his new shirt on Alya bounced forward and grabbed it out of his hands. "Wha-"
"You want it? Come and get it." She laughed, jumping back on to the bed and out of his reach. He lunged forward trying to grab it out of her hands, but she just rolled of the bed and ran to the opposite edge of the room.
"Alya!" He chased after her, surprised at how she managed to escape him despite being intoxicated. Soon after that thought he saw her trip over his abandoned shirt. Instinctively his arms shot out and grabbed hold of her before she could fall.
There was a long silence in the room as Alya looked up at Nino as he held on to her arm and her waist. She repositioned herself and stood on her own feet. His hands never left her and she kept looking up into his golden eyes. They were wide with surprise, as if he was still worried that he might drop her after suddenly catching her.
The way Alya saw it she had options. She could merely laugh everything off, say "Oh Nino you really do care", tap his nose and hand him the shirt. She could make some joke about what Adrien would think if he saw them, or she could thank him for catching her and leave him be. Go and sleep on the couch and in the morning continue to tease him. Act like she normally would any other time.
But there was a part of her that kept pulling her closer, drawn into the concern in his eyes, how he worried about her safety even when she had fully deserved to land flat on her ass. Part of her didn't want him to let go of her waist or her hand. She really didn't like this part of her. The part of her that kept screaming to grab Nino's stupid worried face and kiss it.
Fuck.
Nino seemed to notice the long silence and let go of Alya's hand, "Ha. Saved your life-"
And before Alya could process anything she had pulled Nino's face towards hers. Before he could finish his sentence their lips had met and their eyes had closed and suddenly anything Nino was about to say didn't really matter.
Somewhere along the way Alya had lost her shirt as well, and they had fallen down on to the bed. Alya wasn't really sure why neither of them were stopping this, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Alya was kissing Nino like she needed him to breathe, and their clothes were lost somewhere on the floor.