A/N: Quick explanation, what would happen if they'd never met out-of-costume. Fun fluff.
Marinette looked up at the stranger with the forest in his eyes and barely dared to blink. Her heart fluttered as the leather-clad hero handed her an umbrella and ran off to parts unknown, his eyes giving her one last loving look before he dashed off.
"Oh," she murmured, barely audible at all considering the heavy rain that fogged up the beautiful city of Paris and fuzzed the lights that made it so beautiful at night.
So that's what love feels like.
This was the day Hawkmoth was defeated. This was the day she would decide to find her Chat Noir in real life, and fast.
"So you finally found the man of your dreams?!" Alya cried, grabbing Marinette's hand. "Spill the deets, girl!"
"Not until it's official," Marinette smiled teasingly. "I don't even know how serious he is yet, but I'm confident."
"That's my girl!" Alya cheered. "Now, let's hurry, you just have to meet Adrien. He's one of the sweetest people I know, and while I know you've found your dream guy, I at least want you to give him a look-see, Mkay?"
"Sure," Marinette agreed as they trotted out of College Francoise-Dupont.
Yes. It was worth checking every boy Alya took interest in, for any reason. He might be Chat Noir.
Her heart filled with butterflies as they sat down to wait.
"I know you've never met him before but trust me on this one," Alya urged as they waited for famous model Adrien Agreste to show up. Multiple times he couldn't make it, and when it wasn't that it was Akuma attacks. It seemed like today would be the days she finally met him, and she had to admit that she was excited, too.
Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up at Nino, and a mop of blond hair approaching behind him.
This is it, Marinette, don't ruin meeting Adrien Agreste-
oh.
She could tell right away. The inquisitive green eyes, the messy blond hair, the slight downturn on his nose. It was his voice that told her for sure, though.
"It's nice to finally meet you," he said honestly.
She smiled back brightly. "Same."
There was a moment of silence, and then he pulled up a chair to sit next to her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, she immediately grabbed his other hand and pushed his off her shoulder.
He moved away sheepishly. "Sorry."
Alya stared at Marinette for a solid three seconds. Then, in classic Alya fashion, she said, "Spill."
"Yeah," Nino agreed for once. "You just... clicked."
They looked at each other, smiled, and burst into laughter.
"Another time," she managed between giggles. "We'll tell you when the time is right."
The time is right apparently happened to be around a dinner table that same day.
Alya, of course, flipped. She eventually just crawled under the table and refused to speak.
Nino, after sending Adrien an apologetic look, went underneath it with her, and Marinette went away before the room started steaming up from their antics.
She and Adrien automatically situated themselves on the sofa and leaned on each other comfortably, just enjoying each other's company for once.
"Hey, can we be like them?" He asked suddenly.
"What, dating and being gross?" she inquired.
"Uh, the first one. Not the second," he admitted.
"Of course."
