A/N: HELLO GORGEOUS PEOPLE! I need to thank all of you for reviewing, favoriting, and following this story! I love the supporting feedback I have received! Thank you so much! I'm doing my best to update when I can. Also, DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO UPDATE FROM YOUR PHONE BECAUSE I DO NOT RECCOMEND IT. Anyways. So yeah, we actually have a bit of action in this chapter. It's angsty ;) you were forewarned. One another note, this fanfic is going to probably end up being much longer than I anticipated originally. Keep being your awesome selves, guys! All the support is very motivating. Side note- I am working on a miraculous ladybug cosplay. When it's finished I will upload it to my tumblr so if you want to see that when it comes out be sure to follow me! It's just princessfreakincastiel. ANYWAY, LET'S GET TO THE GOOD STUFF.
Chapter 4: You Swing My Head Right Round (Right Round)
"Hi, A-Adrien!" Marinette beamed, looking slightly flustered. Adrien wondered if she'd been running.
He smiled to himself. This girl was a mess, but a cute one.
As soon as he thought it he could just hear Plagg's whiny voice singing "I told you so," so he decided to drop that train of thought.
"Do you want to sit down?" Adrien asked politely, gesturing towards the other swing. Inwardly he cursed this whole idea.
We're literally sitting in the same exact swings… this is just asking for trouble.
He coughed slightly, trying to shake the nerves from his voice. Marinette looked a bit like a smiling tomato. Poor girl. This wasn't easy for either of them.
Trying to break the ice, he sniffed the air a bit.
"You smell really nice. Like cookies."
FUCK. That was creepy. God, that is not what I meant to say… why did I sniff her?
Marinette beamed and looked a bit dazed as she pulled a bag of cookies out of her backpack.
"Snickerdoodles. I knew they were your f-favorite, you s-said so in the March edition of-" She froze, and quickly backpedaled. "I mean… Nino told me…"
Adrien was trying very, very hard not to laugh. He wasn't surprised she had read all of his magazine articles. Instead he smiled and opened the bag.
Instantly the delicious aroma of cookies filled his nose and he actually felt himself sighing, "You're the best," right before shoving a cookie unceremoniously into his mouth. Vaguely he wondered if he was being rude and blushed, slightly embarrassed.
"Sawhreh," he attempted through a mouthful of snickerdoodle.
Marinette's sweet laughter soon filled the air. She giggled and clutched the chains of her swing, curling over in laughter.
"Y- your face!" She gasped, laughing harder. "You look like a guilty cat or something."
Suddenly Adrien choked on his cookie, crumbs flying out of his mouth (some of them landing in Marinette's hair). He gasped and tried to cover it up with his nervous laughter.
"Oh my g-god, Marinette, I am so- sorry," he coughed out, embarrassed. He put down the bag of cookies and looked in despair at the crumbs in her dark pigtails.
She sat there looking stunned and red, and slightly concerned.
"You okay?" She said with a small smile, daring to pat him on the back.
"Here, let me help you," he muttered, brushing his hands over her hair shyly. It was really really… soft.
"Uh… thanks," Marinette said quietly, still looking dazed.
Adrien got the last of the crumbs out and awkwardly pulled back his hands, returning them to the swing chains.
"So… uh… Marinette…"
Adrien felt his heartbeat pick up a little bit. Why was he getting flustered? Inwardly he felt a pang of guilt about Ladybug, but he brushed it aside. They did need to talk. He just didn't know what to tell her without crushing her feelings… He did like her, but Ladybug… Ladybug was his everything. What if he never got the chance to be with her because of Marinette? The thought was enough to give him a little resolve.
"Y-yeah, Adrien?"
"About earlier…"
Marinette could feel the panic starting to set in.
He's going to say it, oh no, oh no! Can't we just sit here and eat cookies?
"Oh," she looked away, anxious. "I-I'm really s-sorry for worrying you, I just- you see- well I- um... "
Fuck. This isn't going well at all.
"Yes?" Adrien prompted gently. He looked a little uncomfortable but she could tell he was trying to make this easier for her.
"Iwasn'tsickIwasjustnervous!" She blurted, looking away. "Y-you um… it was very nice of you to t-take me to the nurse's office… b-but I was fine…"
She dared to glance at him and he didn't look too alarmed so she hesitantly continued, "I-um-the hallway… And the… Oh god I'm so sorry!"
She covered her face in despair, and felt Adrien's hand lay on her shoulder comfortingly.
"Um… Marinette, it's okay. Actually I have to tell you s-something."
Slowly she looked up, wide-eyed, to stare at him nervously. He had something to tell her? Her heart started beating even faster and she shivered even though it was quite warm out. He hesitated, and the anticipation was frankly killing her. Finally he spoke, in a hushed tone, not looking at her.
"I… I know you like me. It's… Not hard to see, really." He paused, thinking. "I don't mind it. In fact, I… I think it's cute."
I'm dead or dreaming. This can't be happening! CUTE?! Adrien Agreste thinks something I do is cute?
Marinette's brain was practically whirring with thoughts. Everything was happening so fast. She almost couldn't breathe, and she definitely couldn't speak.
Adrien glanced up to see her in shock and he slightly smiled.
"I'm sorry I tried to kiss you back."
Marinette finally found a tiny bit of her voice. "No p-problem!" She choked out in a high pitch.
And then those gorgeous green eyes that shone like summer grass in the dew of the morning glanced away sadly.
"I'm really sorry, Marinette. I do like you, but… There's.. Ah…" He cleared his throat. "S-someone I've liked for a long time, and… I'm so sorry," he broke off in a small voice.
Someone he's liked for a long time. Someone… Else. Someone… That's not… Me. Oh…
Marinette felt her heart breaking. Of course it wasn't her. Why would Adrien Agreste choose her when he could have any girl in Paris? She was an idiot for even trying.
"Marinette," Adrien prompted, "Are- are you okay? I'm sorry… Maybe if things were different…" His voice faltered and she finally looked at him again.
She was strangely composed.
"It's fine." Marinette replied calmly. "I understand." For once she wasn't stuttering.
She hardly registered the wetness on her cheeks.
"Marinette," he sad in sad alarm, "you're crying."
She felt his fingers brushing the tears from her cheeks and she pushed them away, slightly irritated.
"I said it was fine."
She pretended she wasn't feeling the hole in her chest crack open wider, sucking her dreams down into its shadowy abyss.
She didn't dare to look at him. Marinette knew he would look hurt. He would feel guilty. He was so damn nice. He was too perfect, and that was the problem. She wasn't. How could she ever have dared to think things could work out? He brought her here to friend zone her. To try and let her down easy. He knew she wouldn't want to do that at school. He was trying to spare her the embarrassment of getting rejected in front of their classmates…
Damn you, Adrien Agreste.
Why was she so angry?
"Marinette!" Adrien cried, jumping out of his swing. "Move!"
Alarmed, she looked up, just in time to see a sparkling little black butterfly heading straight towards her. Suddenly she felt Adrien's arms around her stomach as he picked her up and carried her backwards away from the akuma.
"Marinette!" Came a slight squeak from her shirt, where Tikki had been hiding instead of in her purse so she could listen better to her conversation with Adrien.
Marinette panicked and pushed Adrien's arms off of her, backing up even further.
"Tikki!" She cried, not even thinking, "Run!"
"Adrien is still looking!" Came the squeak from her pocket. "I don't have to leave, just run, we can transform!-"
"Marinette, I know it hard but you need to think happy thoughts, and run!" Yelled Adrien, ignoring her senseless outburst and grabbing her hand.
They took off in a sprint, the akuma keeping steady pace behind them. Marinette didn't even have time to think about him holding her hand.
I need to get away and transform!
"Marinette!" Came an alarmed voice from beside her. Alya had joined their running. "Don't give in, you can't let Hawkmoth use you!"
"Alya?" Adrien asked in surprise, " when did you get here?"
"I came to get Marinette," she lied quickly, "her parents want her home."
The three of them were still running, and distantly Marinette realized they were running the direction of home.
"You two need to get out of here," she snapped. "You're only putting yourself in danger-"
"Nonsense!" Snapped Adrien, who firmly tightened his grip on her hand.
"Are you kidding me?" Alya retorted, "We're taking you home and you're going to stay inside until that damn butterfly goes and finds someone else to pick on!"
They were almost to the bakery. Marinette glanced behind them and gasped. She didn't know akumas could be so fast.
Just as they reached the street corner she tripped on the curb. Without missing a beat, Adrien scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the bakery, with her protesting the whole time that she could run by herself, but God, her ankle really hurt.
Alya wrenched open the door, scaring a few customers, and they dashed inside. She slammed the door behind them just in time to trap the little akuma outside the glass. With a cry she locked the door triumphantly.
"Ha! Go find someone else to make your puppet, Hawk Sloth! You're too slow!"
Carefully, Adrien set Marinette down and she apologized to the customers next to her.
"Marinette!" Her mother cried. "What is the meaning of this!?"
"I'm sorry, Maman, I-" she began, tears starting to fall once more.
Adrien interrupted her. "It was Hawkmoth!and it's… Kind of my fault…" He glanced away from Marinette guiltily, and continued, "it's a long story. I'm sorry for scaring your customers.
"Well," Mrs. Dupain-Cheng said, alarmed. "I'm glad my daughter is alright, regardless. Thank you both."
Marinette felt like she was on the outside looking in. None of this felt real.
"I don't.. Feel so good…" She whispered.
And then there was black.
A/N: PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME, I SWEAR THIS IS A NECESSARY EVIL FOR FUTURE PLOT STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPIER (no spoilers though ;))
Thank you for everything! Please review? I love them and love you all! Until next time, mon petits papillons! A tout à l'heure! (And to the person who asked why I am calling you all my little butterflies, the answer is that like the butterflies, you poor readers are subject to the whims of my plot and creative license just as Hawkmoth's butterflies have no choice but to do what he says. In essence, I hold your literary experience's fate in my hands, but I still think you're pretty cute. Lol in actuality though I came up with this on a whim and decided to stick with it.)
