(( So, this would have been out sooner. Like, HOURS sooner, but the HUGE update that my computer was supposed to do ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT failed without me knowing and decided that it would do it tonight. So yeah. But here it is as promised! I hope you enjoy. (3 ))
Huh. Well, that's cool.
Wait…what!?
Adrien could only blink. Nino chuckled and shook his head before patting his friend on the shoulder and walking away. Adrien reached a hand out for support as he leaned against the stairway above him.
Thoughts warred inside Adrien's head. While Marinette's crush on him had always been a suspicion of his, Adrien had given up trying to pursue anything with his classmate when Ladybug had started to reciprocate his feelings. The fact that Marinette still had a crush on his civilian self, even after three years of knowing him and two years of having a super-hot, superhero secret boyfriend (he honestly had wondered why a girl like that always refused to go on dates), left Adrien in a state of mental and emotional limbo. He wasn't sure whether he should be angry or extremely flattered. On the one hand, Ladybug liked both sides of him. That fact alone was enough to force spontaneous heart bubbles to pop out of his eyeballs. But on the other hand…Marinette seemed to still harbor feelings for someone else while she was already dating him. The fact that that person was also him was, in this case, quite irrelevant.
The pictures of Adrien Agreste plastered all over her wall for "inspiration purposes" suddenly made Adrien a little more embarrassed thinking about them now than when he had first teased her about the photos while Chat Noir.
"Inspiration purposes" my butt, Adrien inwardly grumbled to himself.
While there were a lot of serious decisions to be made that Adrien couldn't come to a conclusion on, the warning bell urged him from his rooted spot. His feet marched the familiar path of their own volition, cutting their way through the crowds to a classroom he did not want to go to, where he still sat in front of a certain blue-haired class mate who, he just now realized, had continuous staring access to the back of his head for the next two and a half hours.
He was, admittedly, quite jealous of this predicament.
What he wouldn't give to be able to stare at Marinette for the next two hours.
Goodness knows he sure enjoyed doing it when she was Ladybug. Now, having the girl of his dreams wrapped in the nice, cute package that was the essence of Marinette Dupain-Cheng gave Ladybug a realness quality to her. She already had been attainable to Chat – though he still felt like he didn't deserve her – but now she was literally in reach of Adrien as well. It didn't help the combatting feelings already warring in his mind.
Sighing heavily, Adrien turned around the doorframe of the classroom just as the tardy bell rang. As usual, Mlle Bustier merely scowled lightly to show her disapproval before turning her back on the class to give the students one more minute to settle in. Instinct and routine led Adrien through the motions. A fist bump as he past Nino, a sheepish grin to Alya, a friendly wave to Chloé and Sabrina, and a kiss on the cheek for Ladybug.
Completely normal.
Which was why he didn't understand why there was sudden giggling behind him, accompanied by a cat-call whistle from the back.
Adrien leaned his head on one hand, sighing again, before Nino punched him hard in the arm. Sparing a harsh look to the DJ, he spotted something else on the table: a small piece of ripped-off notebook paper with Nino's untidy scrawl.
You do realize you just kissed Marinette, right?
Ah, GEEZ.
The day did not improve from there. Adrien's impromptu kiss had made it difficult for the entire class to pay attention to anything Mlle Bustier was saying, but this was especially more difficult for Adrien himself. Everyone else may just be enjoying a real-life soap opera, but Adrien was trying not to die of self-induced heat exhaustion. He didn't know it was possible for someone to be able to harbor so much blush in their cheeks, ears, and, for the last fifteen minutes, the back of his neck.
Because of course they had to be discussing Shakespeare for the duration of class today. And of course they had to have an in-depth discussion on The Comedy of Errors.
Please, Adrien mused to himself. Please, go on about how Adriana is married to Antipholus of Syracuse and mistakes his long-lost twin Antipholus of Ephesus for her husband and how he falls for her sister Luciana who thinks he is her brother-in-law. Because I am living this mess.
"…'How many fond fools serve mad jealousy'…"
"How many indeed," Adrien scoffed to himself.
It was too late to rescind his second faux pas of the day. The only sign he had that something had even happened was Nino's snort. Adrien looked toward his friend, but Nino only shook his head and covered his face with his hat in embarrassment through association.
….He had said that out loud, hadn't he?
qpqpqpqpqp
Lunch couldn't come soon enough.
Except, when it did come, Adrien spent the first half of it just trying to cool off.
The classroom he had picked was small, but it was empty and large enough to pace in. And pace he did, much to Plagg's annoyance, though the Kwami said nothing (the fourth cheese wedge in his mouth may have helped with this).
After trying so hard to block out his memories of the morning, and not look at Marinette's face (or any other part of her, for that matter), and hurry out of the classroom before anyone could razz him about his multiple flubs, Adrien had only succeeded in further losing his grip. Literally. In a mix of nerves and rushing, Adrien had tried to grab his tablet's stylus to shove it into his bag. The pen did not cooperate. Instead, it was sent flying through the air. Cat-like reflexes made way for a cat-like spaz attack; arms flailing, Adrien missed catching the stylus altogether, but did manage to somehow slip out of his bench and onto the ground in a way that was anything but model-worthy. Grumbling, his own eyes were suddenly met by a familiar pair of big blue ones staring at him passed blushing cheeks.
"Uh, h-here you go, Adrien," Marinette said with a wavering, glowing smile as she reached a hand out to help him to his feet.
"Curgonewheya," Adrien muttered in a sad attempt at a response. There was no reason for this. He didn't know what he was even saying anymore. Unfortunately, because of this, neither did anyone else. The class started to laugh heartily at the so, so awkward exchange. Marinette tried to keep her calm smile, but Adrien noticed the mirth-filled twitch at the corners of her mouth.
Mumbling a legitimate thanks to Marinette, Adrien grabbed her hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. The touch of her skin did something to him that caused a serious lack of equilibrium. When he hurriedly turned away from her without another glance, he promptly tripped over the last stair.
Which eventually brought him here, silently suffering in an empty classroom. And of course, his thoughts could only focus on Marinette.
There was…skin. This fact swam through Adrien's mind in dousing waves. Ladybug really did have lovely, tangible skin that he could see and actually touch. This wasn't really a revelation, and it definitely wasn't a hormonal thought process. It was a realization that there might actually exist a close future where he could hold Ladybug's hand without the inhibitions of suits between them. And sure, maybe Adrien didn't exactly know how he felt about Marinette having a crush on Adrien while still dating him as Chat Noir, but the fact that this woman actually existed in a world where she was covered in pink skin and soft fabrics rather than a tough-shelled supersuit definitely was a swaying factor in the "I forgive you" category.
This is what spurred Adrien on to find Marinette after he had finished pacing in the abandoned classroom. He would find her, he would confess, and maybe, just maybe, he would be able to touch those delicate-looking, skin-covered fingers once more. And while the thought made him want to start planning a wedding while simultaneously making him sick enough to almost blow chunks, Adrien pushed on.
Now or never.
qpqpqpqpqp
It was cliché. It was so cliché that it hurt.
Although that could just be because Marinette had full-on ran into him. But Adrien had caught the bluenette in his arms. Self-control was faltering. This was his girlfriend! He'd kissed her a thousand times! And she was here! He was holding her! She needed to know…she needed to know who he was; he needed to be able to really date this wonderful woman!
I see you're falling for me again, M'Lady.
That's what he had planned to say.
Instead, what came out was, "I want to date you."
A heartbeat passed where the two teens could only stare at each other.
Then the shy, puce-faced girl replied.
"Okay."
(( I'm failing to see where any of this is going to go wrong?
Oh, what's that?
It already has?
Oh. Ok. Carry on. (8 ))
(( Dare I say it? I don't think this chapter was very good. And I'm sorry. It was better in my head? Oh well. Let's just keep going, right!? Heh… ._.;; ))
(( THANK YOU FOR READING THIS. *hearts* ))
