Author's Note: Time for some post-reveal, pre-relationship love square shenanigans! This is going to be a summer fic with all the cliches you can think of: awkward growth spurts, roadtrips, beach trips, bed sharing, midnight kisses, karaoke, and all that fun stuff. :) I've always been interested in exploring that middle ground post-reveal to actually developing a romantic relationship, so it's gonna happen here! Expect lots of adorable awkwardness, fluff, and internal conflict.
Adrien has always had freakishly large hands. It's one of the first things that Alya points out to Marinette after she confesses that she has a huge crush on him, along with his oversized feet.
Marinette points out at the time that it's probably because he's going to end up being tall as his parents; both of who are over six feet fall. She doesn't point out that she also finds his large, bony hands weirdly attractive, because even though Alya knows pretty much everything about her crush, there are a few things that are best kept private, even from the best of friends.
At any rate, she's pretty sure that Alya has already figured out that particular detail. Marinette has never been very good at hiding her emotions, especially when it comes to her feelings for Adrien Agreste. The entire class knows about her crush on him.
Except, that is, Adrien himself. At least, that's what Marinette thinks. She's not sure anymore. In the two weeks that have passed since they revealed their superhero identities to each other, Marinette's not sure what to call her relationship with him anymore.
It's a friendship, to be sure, but one that exists in an awkward space between being something more than platonic friendship and less than something romantic.
They still flirt like crazy when they're in uniform—old habits die hard, after all—but when they're just Adrien and Marinette, well, things are a little bit more complicated.
When almost every inch of their bodies is covered by the magical equivalent of spandex and leather, it's nothing for Ladybug and Chat Noir to roll around on the ground and fly through the air with their bodies pressed together and their lips mere centimeters from touching.
Even something as simple as passing a pencil to Adrien in class and brushing her fingertips against his sets Marinette's senses on high alert and feels a thousand times more intimate and nerve-wracking than anything she's ever done with him as Ladybug, and judging from the looks on Adrien's face, he feels the same way.
And yet—he hasn't said anything either. Maybe he's still processing his own emotions about the whole situation, but that doesn't do much to ease Marinette's own confusion.
All of this is driving Marinette a little crazy, and she's hoping for a bit of a break, now that they've graduated from Francoise-Dupont and their summer holidays have finally begun. Adrien's going on a two week trip out of town to do a photoshoot by the sea for one of Gabriel's summer collections, and she's finally going to have a chance to process everything on her own.
Alas, she doesn't get the break she's hoping for, because not 24 hours after Adrien leaves, her phone buzzes. It's him.
Adrien: Hey, are you busy? I know it's late, but I was hoping to talk to you…if you're okay with that
Marinette checks the time. It's almost 9pm, patrol time. Maybe he wants to talk duty. Although her gut instinct is telling her that's not the case.
Marinette: Of course, anytime. You know I'm always all ears to hear what you have to say
She considers adding chaton to the end of her text before deciding against it. Over the past two weeks, both of them have pointedly avoided using their nicknames for each other.
She sends the text as is. A few minutes later, to her surprise, instead of another text, Adrien sends her a Facetime request. He's sitting in the dark, and his face looks much paler than usual.
"Adrien—are you feeling okay? You look ill!"
"It's just the lighting, I promise. I'm fine!"
Marinette shakes her head. "I don't buy it."
Adrien sighs. "You know me too well, bugi—Marinette."
"So tell me what's wrong."
Adrien hesitates for a few moments, flushing in the darkness.
Finally, he whispers, "I'm having a growth spurt. A big one."
"Everyone has growth spurts, Adrien!" says Marinette, laughing. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about!"
Adrien shakes his head. "It's just…everything hurts, Marinette. I haven't been able to sleep for the past three nights. My legs are aching like hell and I can't seem to control any of my limbs, and the photographers keep yelling at me for having bags under my eyes. And I mean, they have Photoshop for all of that, but what if all of this affects my abilities as Chat Noir? What if I can't help you the way I'm supposed to?"
Adrien looks so forlorn that there's nothing more that Marinette wants to do than to reach through the screen and give him a big hug. Of course he's worried about helping Paris while she's focused on their relationship and where it goes from here. He's always been selfless that way.
"Adrien, don't worry about being able to fulfill your duties. I'm sure everything will be just fine! It's all part of growing up, and anyway, you'll grow into it all eventually!"
Finally, Adrien smiles. "You're right. Thanks Marinette, that really helps. It's easy to lose perspective when I'm so far away from you."
"Plagg might just need a little extra camembert to keep up," she adds with a wink, trying to hide the pink flush creeping up her cheeks with a joke.
Adrien laughs. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
He looks at the clock in his room and his eyes widen. "Oh! It's getting late—I should probably let you get to sleep. I'll catch you later?"
Marinette nods. "Okay. Good night!"
"Good night, Marinette."
The screen goes dark and Marinette sits in the darkness for a few minutes, thinking about their conversation, before sliding under the covers and falling asleep.
The next morning, Marinette's chest feels achy and sore, and when she tries to put on her favorite tanktop, it won't fit.
She pulls it off and stares at it in confusion. "Why won't it fit? I haven't grown any taller since last summer."
Tikki giggles. "Marinette, I think you're having a little growth spurt of your own!"
She hides as Sabine enters the room, having heard Marinette's loud complaining.
"Is something wrong, honey?"
"Maman, my shirt won't fit!"
Sabine smiles. "Ah, mon petit chou, it looks like you're finally becoming a woman!"
"Mamaaaaaaaan, no! I'll have to alter all my clothes!"
"It's nothing to be worried about, Marinette. Everyone has to grow up eventually!"
Marinette frowns at the mirror. She's always been aware on some level that her curves would begin to show up eventually, but now that they finally are, she's not ready. She's always been a beanpole, and she likes it that way.
She's finally beginning to understand how Adrien is feeling. And she doesn't like it.
The next afternoon, Adrien sends Marinette another series of texts. It appears that his father also shot up in height at the age of 15, and he anticipated his son's sudden growth spurt, and has even had special clothes tailored to fit Adrien's new physique.
That night, they laugh together over another Facetime conversation at how ridiculous it all is, and Marinette shares a tip from her father on how Adrien can manage the leg pain, which he takes gratefully—because even though Gabriel seems to be acutely aware of his son's physical attributes, Adrien hesitates to ask him for any sort of advice on anything.
The rest of the two weeks fly by at the speed of light, following the same pattern: texting constantly during the day, followed by a long Facetime conversation at night, even falling asleep over the phone together several times. Each time, Tikki and Plagg smile at each other and shake their heads over the screen before hanging up and placing their charges' phones on their bedside tables.
The time flies by so quickly that Marinette doesn't even have time to really think about what it means. She's just having fun living in the moment. So when Adrien finally texts to tell her that he's back in town, she's surprised that two weeks have gone by already.
Adrien: I'm back! Wanna get lunch at the Jardin du Luxembourg?
Marinette: Yes! Meet at 12? I'll bring a basket with goodies from the bakery!
Adrien: Sounds great, see you there. Can't wait for some delicious croissants :)
Marinette: I'll make sure to pack some!
Marinette puts on a sunhat and the light blue halter-neck sundress she's just finished making, runs downstairs to the kitchen and packs a picnic basket with brownies and quiche and croissants, and rushes out the door.
She gets to the gardens a little bit earlier than planned, and she scans the crowds walking by, searching for her sandy-haired and green-eyed chaton.
Finally, Marinette sees him. And she's speechless as he approaches, waving his arms and looking at her with that impossibly bright smile that looks just like sunshine personified.
She knew Adrien would be taller. But she didn't realize just how much taller he would be, and even though she knows it's him, her sweet minou, her partner-in-crime and the person she's been talking to nonstop all day and night for the past two weeks…seeing him in person again, looking so different—well, it makes Marinette feel breathless all over again.
"S-s-salut, Adrien! D-did you have a nice trip home?" she says, craning her neck upward to meet his gaze as she stumbles over the words and curses herself for doing so. In his plain but impossibly stylish striped navy blue and white shirt and dark wash jeans, Adrien practically looks like a Greek god, and he doesn't even know it. It's really not fair.
"Yes, I did!" Adrien responds cheerfully, before reaching his arms out and wrapping Marinette in a tight hug. He stiffens almost immediately and looks down, turning beet red as he does so.
Marinette is confused by this turn of events until she realizes what the problem is.
It's her damn chest. It's in the way.
She immediately steps back, embarrassed and flushing pink.
"Uh, so yeah…you're not the only one who had a growth spurt over the past two weeks!"
Adrien coughs and somehow manages to turn even redder than before, and Plagg's irritated but droll voice meanders out of his bag.
"Get over yourself, kid. I know she's gorgeous, but stop drooling."