Marinette may have lived in Paris, but the metaphorical bubble she lived in, solidified by school and her life at the bakery, meant she lived like a small town girl. Sometimes, she felt like she knew about .01% of Paris- although 100% of it knew her as Ladybug. There were her classmates, Alya, of course, Manon and her mother, and regulars at the bakery who would trickle in every once and a while to grab a macaroon, but beyond that, Marinette didn't know or particularly need to know anyone else. The number of people she knew was small, but the number of people important to her was even smaller. 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 who Marinette could always count on, no matter what.
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 another person she could count on.
Chat Noir was next. 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: not quite a best friend like Alya was, but always dependable and forever by her side.
Adrien was the fourth. Every time Marinette looked into his striking green eyes her brain melted into mush and her tongue became putty. She was in love with him, no questions asked. It didn't help that he was quite literally the kindest person she had ever met. His reserved nature and respect for others made her swoon.
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, (aweIbetwhenhewakesuphe'llBESOCUTEWITHHISBEDHEADANDBLEARYEYES) and nearly fainted (WE'LLBETOGETHERALLNIGHTANDHE'LLFALLINLOVEWITHMEANDI'MGONNAFINALL...
"Marinette!" Alya's voice broke Marinette's frazzled train of Adrien-ridden thoughts. She jumped. "Girl, you've gotta get yourself together! You got this. You can handle one night with Adrien, right?"
"O-of course!" Marinette squeaked, excitement clear on her face.
"C'mon, Marinette, you can't act like this all night. This is for Nino, remember!" Marinette nodded. She felt guilty and knew she was going for Nino, not for her silly crush on Adrien. Besides, if she ever wanted to have a chance with Adrien, she'd have to get over her stutter and clumsiness. She felt like such a cliche - the lovesick, clumsy girl who was secretly a badass, confident, superhero - but she really couldn't help it. Her act got better and better as she and Adrien got closer and closer, and thank goodness for that.
"Yeah, I know. I'll try my best to act normal."
"What present are you getting Nino?" Alya asked,
"I made him a new headphone case! It's not like he's ever gonna use it, those things never leave his neck, but he was complaining about needing one last week!"
"That's awesome, Marinette! I got him Ultimate Mecha Strike 4. Do you think he'll like it?"
"Alya, Nino's gonna like anything you give to him." Alya went red.
"Marinette!" 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.
"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. After they got 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.
"Wow, Marinette, that's so cool! You're really talented." 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 at him, her crush forgotten, and for a brief moment, he was just Adrien. 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. It was a little past midnight.
"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. Alya and Nino looked at him quizzically.
"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 said, and to Marinette's confusion, he said it almost dreamily. Alya got frustrated with him.
"You're supposed to guess the lie, not ask it."
"You don't know what school Ladybug goes to" Marinette said immedietely, grateful she faintly remembered a conversation about how Alya has a small birthmark on her knee.
"That's right! That means it's your turn, Marinette." Marinette sighed in relief that she was right, Alya was as far from finding her identity as ever. 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, I'm not the best at this game."
"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. Marinette spoke up quickly. Adrien bit his lip, realizing his haste to answer might have put him in some serious Alya-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."
"Adrien, you know Ladybug and you haven't even told me? I can't believe you! You could help so much with my blog!" Alya cried indignantly.
"You don't have a dog, man. Your old man would have a heart attack if there was a pet in the house." Adrien nodded, smiling.
"You got me. And Alya, I'm sorry, I just 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?