Seven months earlier.
—
—
Halloween isn't a popular holiday in France, but this year, coverage of the American tradition makes it onto the local news thanks to a certain crime fighting duo.
"Paris' favorite heroes are becoming popular overseas. Reports from several large cities in the United States show a staggering number of children dressed as our Ladybug and Chat Noir as they enjoy trick-or-treating this October 31st."
The station cuts to footage of dozens of tiny Ladybugs and a smaller number of Chat Noirs roaming suburban neighborhoods. The costumes range from faithful renditions to more creative interpretations, but the majority of the Ladybugs have their hair pulled into the heroine's signature pigtails. Marinette has to clench her fists to keep herself from self-consciously touching her own hair.
"Aren't they adorable?" Alya coos, and hits the pause button on the video. Marinette quickly agrees, letting out a silent sigh of relief as Adrien and Nino pull back from where they'd been previously huddled close to the two girls.
"It sure seems Ladybug's way more popular than Chat Noir, though," Nino remarks as he settles back into his chair.
"Well, Ladybug's just way cooler," Adrien says offhandedly.
Marinette immediately bristles without thinking, "Chat's plenty cool. Ladybug would never be able to do it alone. They're a team, and they're best friends. You can't be a fan of one but not the other."
Her outburst is met with stunned stares, and then Marinette feels the fierce blush beginning to stain her cheeks. Adrien is looking at her like she's just declared up is down, and Marinette has never wished that she could sink into her seat, through the floor, and disappear quite so badly.
Alya breaks the silence, "Damn girl, I didn't know you were such a huge Chat Noir fan."
Adrien is still staring at her, but now he's smiling like he's finally figured something out. "No. You're right, Marinette—they're best friends. Thank you."
Every time Marinette thinks it's impossible to turn any redder, she proves herself wrong. "Um, y-you're welcome!"
Mme. Bustier walks in then, and the subject is dropped as class begins.
—
—
Later, she would think about the truth of what she'd told Adrien. Because she and Chat are best friends. Even if they don't know each other's names, Marinette know sher cat in a way that she's sure that nobody else in his life does. Just as he knows her.
And even later than that, Marinette would wonder why Adrien had thanked her at all.
note: Anytime there's a flashback, it's xx months from the present (the present part of the entire fic takes place over about the entirety of a week). Prompt was "Halloween".