Adrien awoke the next morning with a full heart and dreamy smile - probably the happiest he's ever been to wake up to his blaring alarm, at least since his first day of public school.
It was eight AM.
The flower shop opened at ten.
Only two more hours until he could see her again.
"Kid, you're killing me." Plagg whined as he rolled over in bed, sinking deeper into his tiny pillow.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Adrien said. "Aren't you like, thousands of years old? Wouldn't you stop noticing a few hours lost?"
"You'd think so…" Plagg grumbled.
Adrien sighed and got up, starting his day with a shower and requesting breakfast be prepared by the chefs in the meantime. It wouldn't do to eat all of Marinette's food again, but he might not be able to resist a croissant if offered. At least if he was full, he'd be a little less tempted, right?
Showering, dressing and eating all came and went too quickly. Pursuing his lips, Adrien wondered if he had been a little too eager today; it was only nine AM and he was ready to be out the door.
Chuckling to himself, Adrien would have bet one of his nine lives that Marinette wasn't even awake yet. For as impressive as she was, nothing was more predictable than her awesome power of tardiness.
Adrien returned to his room and considered browsing the web to pass the time, perhaps check up on the Ladyblog, but ended up fiddling with his phone. Nino had texted him, which was definitely odd this early on a Wednesday in the middle of summer.
Nino (8:55 AM):
Hey! You busy today?
Adrien hesitated. Technically he didn't have "plans" with Marinette, at least, none that she knew about… but he had kind of structured his day around seeing her, going so far as to lie to Nathalie and say he was going to hang out with the very same friend who just texted him.
Adrien (9:08 AM):
Not really - was going to go out in a bit but nothing set in stone. What's up?
Deciding not to lie, Adrien sent the text and almost immediately regretted it. His phone was now ringing.
"Hey, Nino," he greeted, earning him an annoyed grunt from Plagg who was still trying to sleep.
The familiar brightness of his friend's voice was a sound that Adrien would never tire of.
"'Sup, bro! Sorry if you were sleeping."
"Nope, I've been awake for an hour. I'm actually surprised you're not sleeping," Adrien said pointedly.
Nino paused. "Yeah, you got me there. I had to leave Ayla's house really early today."
"W-wait," Adrien caught his friend's insinuation, mortified. "You spent the night at Alya's?!"
"Pff," Nino chuckled. "Get your mind out of the gutter. We just got caught up watching a movie, and her parents didn't want me walking home that late. I slept on the couch, like a gentleman, thank you very much."
Adrien stood and moved to his window, glad he was having this conversation by phone. It was embarrassing enough to talk about, but for Nino to see him blushing on top of it? That would be social suicide.
He coughed. "Well, then, what are you up to now?"
"That's why I was calling, actually," Nino sighed. "I'm beyond bored and I'm already too awake to go back to bed. Alya is going to see Marinette in a little while, and she said it was a 'girl time,'" Nino emphasized the words, and Adrien could practically the air quotes. "So I thought we could hang. It's been too long, dude."
Adrien snorted in good-humor. "I did see you, like, five days ago, right?"
"I know, but I've been with Alya almost everyday since. I need a little less romance and a little more bromance in my life right now."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Adrien was laughing, and he noted Plagg drag himself into the air, floating into reluctant consciousness.
"That's what Alya calls it," Nino snickered. "So, are you busy? I'm dying for breakfast."
"Mmm," Adrien tapped his chin, thinking.
He was anxious to see Marinette again, though his recent conversations with Plagg were feeling borderline accusatory. His motivation to hang out with her was strictly because she made him feel better and happy, no matter how much his kwami teased. Certainly Nino put him in a good mood, too, though; it wouldn't really make sense to pass up the chance to hang out with his best friend to stop in on Marinette again - besides, she's working. His company was probably distracting.
And conveniently, he had already told Nathalie that he was going to see Nino today. The lie had been simply been opportune, but it wouldn't be a huge deal to own up to it. Nino was his best friend after all, so it was sort of the default excuse if he was going out, and he was basically the only person who ever came over to the mansion for a significant amount of time. If he had to guess, Nino was the only one of his friends Nathalie even knew by name. Adrien might even go so far as to guess Nathalie was glad that he had Nino is his life; he occasionally caught her smiling when he would say goodbye to Nino after school and never seemed to ask too many questions if Adrien wanted to rearrange his schedule to accommodate him.
"I had plans, but nothing that I can't do later. I actually just ate, but we could still go out? I kind of want to give coffee another shot."
Nino groaned. "I remember the last time you got coffee… maybe go for decaf this time, for my sake?"
Grinning, Adrien moved around his room and collected his wallet and a jacket. "We'll see."
The boys agreed on a time and a spot near Nino's house and quickly wrapped up their conversation.
Now it was Plagg's turn to bother him.
"So, you're not going to the flower shop today?" The kwami was clearly trying to goad him, but was Adrien imagining it, or did he detect the tiniest hint of disappointment?
Adrien rolled his eyes and began to pull on his shoes. "What, are you upset that you're not going to get to ditch me again?"
Plagg scoffed and turned away. "Tsk. I told you, I'm not apologizing for yesterday. I can't stand to listen to your terrible attempts at flirting. It drives me crazy."
"I wasn't flirting with her," Adrien huffed.
"Mmm, yeah, sure. Whatever you say, kid." His kwami retreated to his camembert sanctuary momentarily, and the room turned quiet save for Adrien's tapping foot.
"Just bring some with you," Adrien said eventually. "I told Nino I'd meet him in 20 minutes."
Plagg appeared after another thirty seconds, paused to stick his tongue out at his chosen, and zoomed into the front pocket of Adrien's jacket. Appropriately, he reeked of aged cheese. The blonde made a face but chose not to comment, lest he be made to suffer more of Plagg's crude attempts at humor.
He had not been flirting with Marinette. They were just friends, enjoying each others company.
Thankfully, Nathalie had been easy enough to convince of the small change in plans. Adrien explained they changed their mind and wanted to go to a coffee shop on Nino's side of town, so she arranged to have his driver at the front waiting in five minutes.
He leaned against one of the twin marble pillars outside the front door, watching the street. It was another beautiful, even picturesque, day in Paris. The morning heat was intense, but it felt a little less humid today - only the warming rays of the sun and endlessly blue skies above, juxtaposed by the subtle buzz of metropolitan life punctured by the occasional burst of a car engine shorting or the stacco thump of shoes on pavement.
Marinette should be getting to work soon, Adrien noted as he studied his watch. A tiny part of him still wished he had declined Nino's offer, but he needn't be greedy. He saw her twice yesterday and once the day before as Chat, and the day was still young.
We must take advantages of our few opportunities of good luck, mustn't we, minou?
He watched the car pull up as he recalled their conversation yesterday, turning over the possibility that the "special visitor" she had referred to could have been him. It would have been weird to ask for the person's name as Chat, but the curiosity was indeed killing this cat. What if it was him? Would she have been surprised if he had showed up this morning?
"Good morning," Adrien said as he settled into the backseat. "To Nino's, please."
There was no reply - not that he expected one - and the car began moving. Adrien mindlessly pulled out his cellphone and stared at the screen, not really sure what he thought he might find there.
I could text her and that wouldn't be weird, right?
He pursed his lips, but eventually tried for something friendly-yet-not-creepy.
Adrien (9:40 AM):
It was nice "running into you" yesterday Mari :P
Adrien had Marinette's number for at least a year, probably longer, and while they did text occasionally, it was usually reserved for academic contexts, or for fencing practice. Marinette had become scary good since joining a few years ago, and -
Ayla (9:41 AM):
I'm sure it was "nice," Agreste.
...
Oh.
Looking down, Adrien's eyes went wide. He blinked a few times, as if it would help.
Oh, no.
He had texted all of them.
He and Marinette spoke more regularly over text if it was by way of their group chat with Alya and Nino; sometime last semester, they had all managed to be partnered for a project and the chat still thrived to this day, even months later. Someone, usually himself or Ayla, would spur life back into their devices by sharing some sort of stupid picture or funny story… and his overly anxious brain just reacted to seeing Marinette's name is his list of messages and didn't even think to check if it was their private chat or not.
Well… that wasn't a huge deal, right? Maybe it would have been even worse to text her individually, his rational side tried to reason, pretending to offer some comfort to disturbed palpitations that had begun to thump in his chest.
Nino (9:41 AM):
Is "running into you" slang for something we should know?
Adrien stared at the screen like it had just accused him of being Hawk Moth.
Now what was he supposed to do? Leave it to Nino and Ayla to make things totally inappropriate. So much for not creeping Marinette out.
Chewing at his lip, Adrien tried to think of some kind of low-key response, because saying nothing would only reaffirm whatever horrible innuendos they were trying to instill in his totally innocent comment, or, invite them to make even more explicit jokes at his expense.
Adrien (9:43 AM):
Well…. that digressed quickly.
He would be arriving Nino's house in only another few minutes, so Adrien buried the desire to text his friend separately and berate him. Still, he watched the chat, hoping someone would say something else that would make him feel less like a total moron.
Marinette's name popped up a few seconds later.
Adrien bit his tongue, trying and failing not to smile like an idiot.
Marinette (9:44 AM):
You could almost say it… "Agressted" quickly.
A pun. From Marinette. And it even used his name?
It was like fireworks went off in his throat and he released a very uncool sounding giggle, his heart suddenly much lighter. His sudden flash of happiness was dispelled by a distinctive twitch in his pocket; he could just feel the smug look on Plagg's face. The kwami shifted, and it was a knowing kind of movement, dripping with "I told you so's." Adrien had to resist the urge to smack the tremble in his pocket out of spite.
Ayla (9:45 AM):
Welp I'm dead. Bye everyone.
Adrien shook his head in amusement, all worries forgotten. He could see Nino standing outside his house, smiling at his own phone - presumably enjoying his girlfriend's joke in the same chat. He put his phone away and waited for the car to roll to a stop, and he quickly got out.
Leaning in before he closed the door, Adrien smiled politely at his bodyguard.
"Nino and I are going to the cafe around the corner. If you don't mind waiting in the car?"
The man pursed his lips, and Adrien blinked a few times in surprise. It almost looked like he was going to say something. The thought was more troubling than it should have been, because Adrien was utterly unable to imagine what his voice sounded like.
But the moment passed. The man merely shut his eyes and nodded once, turning his attention back to the road and shifted gears to find a place to park.
"There's my dude!" Nino beamed once the car was gone, offering Adrien an open hand. The blonde smiled and grasped it in his own, meeting shoulder-to-shoulder in a half-hug. It was a greeting that was as special to Adrien as it was routine. Socialites from fashion world shook hands, exclusively, and they were always way too firm or completely void of enthusiasm. With Nino, he need not even think about it; they always just hugged or bumped fists, depending on the moment, and it was only made more warming by the fact that it was second nature.
"'Sup, Nino?" Adrien asked as they pulled apart.
"Just dying to break this fast, let's goooo," he pointed in the general direction of the cafe and jerked his head. Adrien fell into step beside him, exchanging a few normal pleasantries while they found their conversational rhythm.
Once they did, Nino showed no mercy.
"Soooo, what is this about you and Marinette 'running into each other' yesterday?"
Adrien shrugged. "It's what it sounds like, what do you mean? She was on her way to work and we bumped into each other."
That earned him a skeptical look from his bespeckled friend. "And should I expect a sweet text tomorrow from you in thanks for my company this morning?"
Adrien rolled his eyes. "Maybe it's comments like that that caused Alya to start calling this a bromance."
Nino placed a hand against his chest and jut out his chin. "Hey, I am a dude who is proud of his dude friends. No shame!"
A grin made its way to Adrien's face.
"No shame," he agreed.
The pair paused their banter momentarily as Nino directed them to the cafe entrance. Adrien had never been here before, so he encouraged Nino to order first.
The front of the store was relatively small, but had a connecting room to the right with extra tables. Most of the surfaces were rustic, marbles of gray and brown wood paneling the floor and mismatched tables and chairs cluttered the space between both rooms. There was a long book shelf and a decent collection of comic books, along with a few classic board games piled on a small shelf beside the counter. Some antique paintings lined the walls, and what he could only guess were curated old-timey lights dangled from the ceiling. It was quiet, only one table of three chattering above a light playlist in the background. Two other tables were occupied by individuals on their laptops, only adding to the din with light clicks against their keyboards.
Adrien followed Nino to the counter and quickly picked over the chalkboard menu - he had only just eaten, and yet, here he was, hungry again. Resigned not to overindulge this time, he ordered a small coffee and a cookie, though he could already tell they were going to pale in comparison to the superior Dupain-Cheng product he had grown to crave.
Nino, having ordered a proper meal, took a number and found a table in the neighboring room while the barista handed Adrien his coffee and cookie.
Settling in across from his friend, Adrien opted to hold off eating just yet, figuring it more polite for Nino's food to be brought out and then to eat together. Unfortunately, his manners left him with no conversational defense against Nino's questioning gaze.
"Soooo... you wanna tell me about it?"
"About what?" Adrien scratched his neck, trying to look nonchalant.
"Dude, you and Marinette almost never hang out alone. And all the sudden you're sneaking around without me and Alya?" Nino crossed his arms and sat back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself.
Adrien bit his tongue. "Actually, Marinette and I hang out plenty without you guys. You know, considering, someone constantly 'sneaks off' all the time with his girlfriend when we're hanging out."
That made Nino grin, and he at least had the decency to look sheepish.
"That's fair, that's fair. Alya and Marinette talked on the phone last night, and I just wanted to make sure everything was cool. 'Nette seemed upset, but Alya didn't say about what."
Adrien chose not to comment - it's not like he could really say he showed up on Marinette's balcony late last night and tried to comfort her not long after Alya. Assuming Nino was being honest, Marinette hadn't shared what was bothering her with Alya, either.
I'm just stupid.
Why would she say that? It couldn't be further than the truth, and it frustrated him that she felt that way about herself.
His reflections were interrupted when a server appeared at their table, delivering Nino's breakfast. He ordered some sort of egg sandwich and a bowl of fruit, so Adrien used this chance to test his coffee.
"Ick," Adrien said with a grimace. Nino snorted.
"Did you remember to get decaf?"
"Nope," Adrien stated, manning through another sip.
"Ugh... So bitter." He glared at the coffee, wondering why caffeine had to come at such a horrible, flavorless price.
"Anyways," the blonde sighed and set down his cup, breaking off a corner of his cookie. "To answer your question, there's really nothing to talk about. I was out walking, and Marinette was on her way to work. You know the shop is just around the corner from my house, and we bumped into each other. Literally, Mari almost fell." Nino nodded at Marinette's typical lack of coordination, but did not interrupt. "Hence the whole, 'running into you' thing from the text. It was just a coincidence."
Adrien felt Plagg claw him from within his pocket, and he flinched slightly. Thankfully, Nino didn't notice, but the message was received.
That's a lie and you know it.
Adrien wrinkled his nose at the acknowledgment. Plagg's unspoken words were louder than they should have been, bouncing around his brain. Why did he lie to Nino? It's not like his best friend would judge him poorly for wanting to spend time with Marinette. Nino had known Marinette for way longer anyways. Heck, if he could tell Plagg the truth and withstand his constant complaining and criticism, then surely Nino's reaction couldn't be worse.
Releasing a tiny breath that he didn't even realize he was holding, Adrien scowled down at his coffee but did not amend his earlier statement.
Nino took a bite of his sandwich and chewed slowly, a puzzled look spreading across his own face. He almost appeared angry, or seriously focused on solving a math problem, neither of which really made sense in this context.
"Uhh, you good?" Adrien raised a brow in his direction.
"What?" He blinked a few times and shook his head. "Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry just, uh, remembered something. So was it nice?"
"Oh, yeah, it was really nice. The shop is really peaceful - it feels out of place in the middle of Paris, you know?"
"Definitely," Nino agreed. "And what about Marinette?"
"Umm," Adrien felt his heart rate pick-up. "What do you mean?"
Nino popped a piece of pineapple into his mouth. "I haven't seen her since last week. Did she mention what was bothering her?"
"Ohh," he paused to take another bite from his cookie. "No, she really seemed her normal self in the morning. She did mention that her parents bought the place from the previous owner. She's working there alone now, basically running the place herself, so it explains why she's been M.I.A. lately... I think the work and hours are just catching up with her, maybe."
Nino nodded solemnly before taking another large bite from his sandwich; Adrien seized the opportunity to move the conversation away from himself and Marinette.
"So what's been new with you?"
His friend rubbed his chin and finished chewing. "Hmm. Been hanging out with Alya, obviously, but other than that? Not much. I got a gig next weekend for some friend-of-a-friend's party that I'm starting to get ready for. Same old otherwise."
Adrien nodded, smiling at the good news. Nino's popularity as a DJ was still modest, but it increased everyday. This would be his second or third "gig" in the past month.
"I forgot it was 'party' season. Marinette mentioned it's wedding season for her and her parents, too."
"Man," Nino paused to wipe his mouth. "It would be sweet if she could get me in on one of her parent's wedding shindigs. Those pay handsomely." He made a show of making his voice sound about as pretentious as possible. It was suspiciously close to the way people spoke around Adrien's father, and the notion made them both laugh.
"Have you asked her about it?" Adrien wondered aloud. "I mean, I don't know how that stuff works, but all of their clients seem to love Marinette."
He tried not to sound too annoyed, the memories of Mounseir Declair from yesterday still fresh in his mind.
"I mean, honestly, doesn't everyone love Marinette?" Nino winked at him.
Why did he wink at him? And why did it suddenly feel really hot in here?
Must be the coffee. He sipped it anyways.
Adrien made a noncommittal "mmm" sound into his drink, and Nino just chuckled.
"No, I haven't asked her. I thought that might seem, I don't know, rude? Presumptive?" He finished his sandwich and moved to his fruit, skewering a strawberry. Adrien looked down at his coffee, starting to grow used to the strong acidity once it was paired with a sweet treat. The balance was nice, and it took him having the parts separately to appreciate them together.
"That's a big word for you, Nino," he said eventually, raising his brows as if inviting him to challenge the claim.
Nino scoffed. "Hey, an expansive vocabulary is just one of the many perks of dating an aspiring journalist. Ass."
Adrien covered his mouth so as not to dribble coffee down his chin, trying not to laugh.
"Hmm," Nino looked at the ceiling. "I guess I could see if they'd let me set out some business cards…"
"It never hurts to ask." Adrien agreed, which Nino seemed to appreciate. He nodded before switching to another topic.
"We need to all get together again soon, you, me, Alya and Marinette," said Nino, finishing his last piece of fruit. He pushed the bowl away, but Adrien watched that same calculating scowl appeared from earlier.
"I can see if Alya's got some free time this week, maybe we could…"
Nino paused mid-sentence and his scowl only deepened. His pocket had began to buzz, so he retrieved his cell phone after a moment of digging.
"Ah," he said with a smile. "Speak of the devil."
He began typing a message to the Devil Herself.
Adrien watched as Nino's fingers made a mad dash to respond to whatever exchange had just occurred between him and Alya, feeling a tiny pang of jealousy in his stomach. It must be nice to be able to communicate so easily with the people you care about. Always open. Available. Why was it so hard for him?
Scratching his cheek, Nino slipped his phone back into his pocket and asked a question so casually, Adrien might have been mistaking it as just a check of the time.
"So what are you going to do about Marinette?"
Adrien nearly spit out the dredges of his drink. "W-what?"
His friend blinked back at him, surprised by his reaction. "What? You like her, don't you?"
The sound that came from his mouth could not be described as human - it couldn't even pass as cat. It was like a cross between a cough and a gurgle, some disturbed creature writhing in his windpipe.
Adrien could feel himself blushing, which only him blush harder, the pink hue to his cheeks intensifying in waves.
Be embarrassed about what Nino said, then be even more embarrassed that you're embarrassed about it! Great work, Agreste.
"W-why - no, no, I mean, why would you say that?"
"C'mon, man," Nino said with a few final chuckles. "I'm your friend. If you really don't want to talk about it, I'll shut up. But I know when something is up with you."
"I…" he opened his mouth, trying for some sort of reasonable response. Plagg twitched knowingly in his pocket again, and Adrien was feeling conversationally cornered.
"No," he frowned. "I don't think - I mean, I don't like Marinette. Not like that. Besides, I like someone else, remember?"
"Oh," his friend grimaced. "Right. Mystery Girl."
Thankfully, Nino had stopped pressing him for details about Ladybug. They were resigned to referring to her as just Mystery Girl.
"You can like more than one person at the same time, you know."
Adrien chewed his cookie slowly and shook his head. "That feels wrong. Scummy."
Lips pursed, Nino looked ready to say something else but Adrien didn't want to give him the chance.
"Besides," Adrien bit his lip. "I mean, I don't like her in any sort of romantic way, but, why, what would make you even think that?"
Nino narrowed his eyes at him. "Uhh, I mean, you are suddenly really nervous talking about her? Seems sort of sudden after knowing her for years. And, granted, you and Marinette spend time together when Alya and I need some privacy," he paused to grin at the insinuation, but Adrien chose to ignore it. "But I'm guessing you don't usually send her a 'cute text' the next day when Alya and I do that, do you? So something's different."
Adrien simply stared, wide-eyed. He attempted to open his mouth to counter, but firmly closed it again.
Sighing, Nino shook his head and sat back in his chair. "And, honestly dude, you're blushing really hard right now."
Adrien was desperately trying to think of something to say, but Nino was too fast for him.
"Listen, if you like her, you like her, and if you don't, you don't. But there's something off about you."
"Umm..." Adrien murmured, suddenly feeling like a child caught cheating on a test. Nino could read him too easily, and his guilty conscious raised a very good question once again, although it sounded an awful lot like Plagg in his mind. Why was he lying about it? He had no trouble explaining his feelings to Plagg, so why did it feel so difficult to express to Nino?
"Okay… you're right," he gulped. "I'm sorry. I guess I just got embarrassed 'cause, I didn't mean to text all of you, I just meant to text Marinette. And I didn't 'bump into her' by accident. I knew she would be out around that time, and I wanted to see her."
Nino raised a brow and waited for him to continue, which, to be honest, surprised him. Adrien didn't really have anything else to say. The silence created a pressure of absence though, so he kept talking after a pause.
"I just, you know, I hate being home all the time by myself. My father wants me to join a business program early, attend introductory university classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons when school starts. So I really want to make this summer count, and… um, you know, you're busy with Alya now. Don't misunderstand, I'm super happy for you, man." Adrien smiled, but it didn't feel like it belonged on his face at that moment.
"So I thought, Marinette might feel similarly, since she might be in the same boat - you know, Alya is with you all the time. Before she worked at the store, we all spent time together and it was totally fine, but now it's sort of… third-wheely if just I tag along. And, I mean, Marinette is nice and fun to be around, and since she works so close to my house now, I just thought we could spend more time together."
Now his friend was frowning, and Adrien wished he wouldn't. It wasn't pity, not exactly, but it felt an awful lot like it, and it just made the whole thing that much frustrating.
"Sorry about your old man, dude, I didn't know." Nino eventually released a long exhale. "I'll drop it, but let me just say one final thing, and I promise I won't bring it up again. Fair?"
Tight-lipped, Adrien nodded. Surely he could stand for one more comment.
"Okay. Hear me out, then. There's this study I heard about that an American psychologist did. It's just a coin-toss, heads or tails. Right?"
Adrien notched a brow, which Nino took as an invitation to continue.
"The idea is, you pick a side and flip the coin. Like, for me, it could be - do I want this sandwich, or do I want this bowl of fruit?" He gestured towards the foods he had finished several minutes ago, empty plate and bowl before him. "If I get heads, I get the sandwich. If I get tails, I get the fruit. With me so far?"
"Uh, sure," Adrien ran a hair through his hair. "I'm not sure what this has to do with Marinette and I hanging out, but…"
"Patience, young Padawan."
Adrien shook his head, but Nino didn't break his narrative stride.
"So, if I flipped the coin and got heads for the sandwich, and I felt a... like, how did the guy say it? Like, a pain in my stomach, like I was disappointed? Then that just meant I made the wrong choice. Even though I flipped and got heads, all it was really telling me was I wanted the fruit."
Adrien just stared, comically clueless.
Nino sat back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "So, Alya won't tell me up-from-down when it comes to this stuff with 'Nette, which is fair. I wouldn't tell her about this," he pointed at Adrien and back to himself, gesturing their conversation. "Either. So take this with a grain of salt, but I am Marinette's friend too. And, I'm someone who's known her for a long time and, if I say so myself, knows her fairly well. If you don't like her like that, it's not a big deal. Be better friends. I'm super in support of that, Marinette's pretty awesome." He shrugged and started to stand, Adrien just staring, utterly dumbstruck.
Looking at him over his glasses, Nino leaned forward and put his hands on the back of his chair. "But all this? It sounds like to me, honestly, that you are sort of missing out on what summer could be. What if, for example, Marinette liked you? Are you just dismissing everything because of Mystery Girl? It's been years, man, and I hate seeing you like this. It's frustrating from my perspective, because it doesn't have to be this way. You're basically choosing to make yourself miserable."
A tense pause followed, Adrien not even moving to blink as the words crashed into him like angry pellets of rain at the top of the Eiffel Tower (a comparison, he acknowledged, that probably only a handful of people could ever make). The rain didn't hurt, at least, not on purpose, but the intensity and biting chill against his skin was somehow refreshing and unpleasant all at the same time. Like a cup of black coffee, almost.
Eventually, with difficulty, Adrien found some words. They weren't really adequate against the proverbial bomb Nino just dropped oh-so-casually onto his lap, but it was something.
"...Well, how… how am I even supposed to respond to that?"
"You don't, dude. That's the point. It's a coin flip. You should already know."
Could it really be that simple?
It couldn't.
No.
Not possible.
Sure, Marinette was a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. Her hair looked soft, her skin softer, and he loved to hear her giggle at one of his objectively funny jokes. There was the latent irritation that he had come to see Nino today instead of her, and there was the piecemeal of his spirit that he felt deposited by her ballet flats everytime they parted. She was a special person to him; passionate, fiercely loyal and a pair of eyes that made him feel like she was really seeing him, even as Chat. Ironic.
But…
What about Ladybug?
He gulped hard at the thought of her. There haven't been any akumas in a week, so maybe he was just biased from spending so much time with Marinette and so little with his Lady.
As partners, their trust and the balance she provided to him was of immeasurable value to him. It had been nearly three years, and he wasn't any closer to knowing who she was, who the other guy in her life was, and if those things might ever change. Ladybug was a mysterious, strong presence that kept him hopeful and motivated. She was special to him, too.
Nino roused him from his overwhelming thoughts by smacking his shoulder. "Welp, as promised, I'll shut up now. And, I've still got plenty of time to kill today. It's weird being up this early. Want to hang for awhile longer?"
Adrien looked up and he must have agreed, because after a few moments his legs were guiding him out the door behind his friend. How he could just go back to normal, hanging out after this? His mind was wound up in dizzying knots.
There was no way it was that simple, he concluded. Nino was wrong. The bubbly feeling in his chest when he thought of Marinette and the creeping worries when he thought of Ladybug couldn't just be read as plain emotion; love was supposed to be complicated, right?
He was going to stick to the plan. Spend time with Marinette because she made him happy.
It's not like the next time he sees her, everything would suddenly feel different.
Marinette sighed and hugged her phone to her chest while Tikki watched, amused.
"Can you believe he said that, Tikki?"
Honestly, Marinette probably wouldn't have believed it herself if she hadn't already re-read it five-hundred times.
"What do you think it means?" The girl breathed, twirling in the desk chair in the back of the flower shop.
The kwami giggled and floated in front of Marinette, forcing her to focus. "I think it means you might not get anything done at all today!"
"I can't help it," Marinette said, ironically as she stood to make herself get to work. "Now it's all I can think about! Do you think he sent it to Nino and Alya on purpose? Or maybe he didn't want to seem weird? But now Alya is going to ask me a bazillion questions!"
The dark-haired girl had put her apron on almost thirty minutes ago, but had yet to do much else besides turn on the lights and unlock the door. She had been dreading going to work, exhausted from staying up last night with Chat and feeling unsure of her standing with Adrien - no matter how much she tried to tell herself not to hope that he might be there, standing outside the shop this morning, little seeds of hope were planted and sprouted anyways.
Now, they were basking in the sunny warmth of a Wednesday morning, not quite in bloom yet, but feeling nurtured and healthy after his reassuring text message.
Adrien was a busy person. He couldn't come see her everyday, like it seemed Chat was starting to do, but he still felt it important to share with her that he appreciated spending time with her the day before.
Don't hope, Marinette tried to remind herself as she took a deep breath and started on the day's orders. The delivery guy would be coming around three for tonight and tomorrow's deliveries, and she hadn't even started to prepare them.
Don't hope, she said again, but I can at least cherish the moment for what it was. That had been Chat's advice, and it was helping to keep her head on straight. Ayla had told her not to overthink everything, which was just about impossible, but the knowledge that her friend was coming in another hour and a half was grounding. Marinette could do anything for 90 minutes, including try not to drive herself crazy.
Business picked up by eleven, so Marinette had no choice but to kick her butt into third gear and forget about Adrien and Alya, and Chat and late night chats for a little while.
Two women came in, and there were several more window shoppers. Almost one after another, a teenager entered (probably a little younger than herself) and was followed shortly thereafter by an older woman. Marinette recognized her as an event planner for Le Grand Paris. The staff was strictly forbidden from making any hotel purchases (of the sweet or floral variety) from the Dupain-Cheng's, and she imagined that had something to do with the influence of a certain Bourgeois daughter. That being the case, this visit struck Marinette as odd. It could have been personal, as the middle-aged woman with dark hair and horn-rimmed glasses lingered mostly around individual prepotted plants, a favorite for quick gifts. Something for a family member, perhaps.
Once the teen settled on a pair of flower crowns, texting all the while, she came to the register and Marinette gathered her attention. She had begun to work on some of the arrangements for tonight's delivery, absentminded in her duties.
Focusing, Marinette smiled at the girl's selection. They were twin pink and white dahlias, affixed with eucalyptus leaves and an accent of berzillia greens. Sturdy and soft, simultaneously.
"For someone special?" Marinette asked as she swiped the girl's debit card and prepared some paperwrap to help with transport.
"My best friend." The customer smiled, a cheery blonde with a green streak in her hair. The sunlight filtering through the glass ceilings made her freckles stand-out, and Marinette had to wonder if the light ever had the same effect on her own. She had never noticed before.
Nodding, Marinette and handed her back the card and her purchases. "Well, I hope you both enjoy."
The girl struggled with her wallet and tried to make conversation to help alleviate her awkward moment. Marinette could relate.
"We were gonna go to the beach, but apparently it's going to rain. Again." Her voice turned sour.
"Ugh," Marinette echoed the sentiment and shook her head. That was summer for you, she supposed; by morning, breathtaking, crisp clouds of cotton framed against the ethereal stretching blue sky, only to be washed away by dark storms and claps of thunder come afternoon.
"Thank you," the girl nodded twice and was out the door a moment later. The tinkling of the bell made Marinette's heart swell proudly, in an oddly familiar way to her satisfaction after successfully protecting Paris and returning an akumatized victim to the sanctum of everyday life. It was much less poignant, mind you, but the perk in her spirit was reminiscent of the moment she and Chat Noir would fist bump. She did a good job, and no matter how small, that was something to be proud of.
A short silence passed before the older woman eventually left, ultimately not making any purchase. Marinette didn't mind, as most of the profits didn't come from individual sales anyways. It was weddings or funerals, the highs and lows of life, that brought the most money to the store. Honestly, it was sort of morbid to think on.
Marinette had left her phone on the desk in the back office with Tikki, so she didn't see Alya's warning text for what was coming. Instead, she busied herself with her own reflection, etched transparently into the paneled glass walls. At some point (probably during the almost-pulling-her-hair-out-in-surprise post-Adrien text period), her bun became undone. She had been wearing it up to keep the oppressive heat from making her even sweatier, but with nothing but time to pass until Alya arrived, she decided to opt for something a little cuter.
Smiling, Marinette returned to the back of the store and found her kwami splayed out on her stomach, head resting against her tiny paws. Marinette's phone was propped up against a random stack of paperwork, and Tikki was humming along to some music video on the small screen.
Marinette grabbed her desk chair and scooted it close to back wall so she could better appraise herself, glass providing a sort of defunct mirror. With this morning's excitement came a welcome brush of confidence. She was feeling more herself; inspired, creative, and self-assured. She wanted to produce and project that feeling, and never was Marinette happier than with her hair in pigtails, so she compromised on creating twin fishtail braids that hung just beneath each shoulder.
The project was a decent use of time before Alya arrived, but she still had some time to spare. She decided to urge Tikki to hide early, just in case Alya opted to come around the back - she usually didn't, but with a nose like a bloodhound when it came to all things Ladybug, Marinette had learned it better to be safe than sorry when it came to the reporter.
She interrupted Tikki's soft humming with a light pat on the top of her kwami's head, eliciting a bubbly little laugh.
"Alya will be here soon," Marinette said with a smile as Tikki floated up to eye-level. The little red presence had a knowing look on her face and gave Marinette's cheek a light squeeze.
"Have fun, and don't give all your food away this time!"
"Hey!" Marinette pouted in pseudo-offense, but both wore only smiles.
After a pause, Marinette looked around and her eyes fell on the collection of deliveries for this afternoon she had started earlier.
"Roses today?" She suggested.
Tikki nodded her agreement, and Marinette watched the kwami zoom past her in a flash of red, tucking herself into a bouquet of roses of the same color at the far end of her desk. She couldn't help but snicker lightly as Tikki had to adjust her antenna one-by-one into the bouquet, crowded by a dozen half-finished other orders that had been set aside for delivery.
Just above the prepared consortium of buds and blossoms, Mo's old tradescantia pallida caught Marinette's eye. It hung lazily, spilling from the planter with as much apathy as a plant could have. Wild and and wandering, the vines and gaggle of purple leaves cast a strange darkness upon her deliveries, a composition of creeping shadows that turned Tikki's hiding spot from the typical romantic gesture into something bleak and almost sinister in appearance. Still, it was a strategic spot for the kwami to hide - her coloration blended in perfectly, and it was out of the way of lingering eyes.
Marinette sighed as she appraised the irritating plant overhead, grabbing her forgotten phone on the desk and slipping it into her pocket. She strode around front to grab her small watering can.
Tradescantia pallida were generally houseplants, and apparently this one had started as such, but it quickly outgrew the Yuehula's kitchen windowsill. Mo opted to try a few places around his house before bringing it to the store, eventually resigned to hanging the darned thing for as wild as it grew. It twisted and crept from the base and yet, somehow, appeared utterly innocent of it's totally invasive vines. It had first occupied a space beside tray of succulents, but Marinette had to trim it away from snaking around the vulnerable little plants for as aggressively it sprouted.
Still, for some reason, she rather liked the mangy bush. It was pretty, producing flowers on occasion but mostly yielding rich purple leaves that sagged under the sunlight. They were comically fickle things, in her opinion, because just a bit of water would spring them right back up to their regular creepy crawling vines, but when dried, like now, they looked rather debauched.
Now, in retrospect, Marinette should have known this was a bad idea. She doubled as one of Paris' most esteemed superheroes, so perhaps the imminent danger did not seem as threatening as it should have. So, utterly unphased, the girl dragged her stool around the back with the watering can in her other hand, standing on the seat so she could reach the hanging plant.
Marinette lifted the watering can above her head, using both hands to support the weight and slight turn of the metal. An abrupt bell interrupted her contemplative work.
Enter Alya, with a very loud, very in-character greeting.
"Hey, girl! Lunch's here, and uh…"
Marinette practically jumped, rocking the stool beneath her heels with a fright. Her heart all but leapt into her throat, the adrenaline of almost falling making her freeze in place, half-tilting the watering can and trying to steady her thundering pulse.
"Marinette?" Alya called again, this time with concern when she didn't respond.
Squeakier than normal, Marinette managed a weak reassurance. "H-hey! I'm back here, just a sec. I have…"
Then there was a third voice, and a fourth, and Marinette felt her knees buckle.
"You sure we can't stay? That pizza smells mighty fine."
That... sounded an awful lot like Nino.
"We really shouldn't. Um, you know - give the girls some privacy. And we just ate."
Now that voice she would know anywhere.
And for the second time in her life, she fell head over heels because of that head of blond hair. Just… more literally this time.
A cacophony erupted in the shop as she came crashing down onto the solid floor, landing hard on her left side and spilling water all around. The tinkle of reverberating metal, the muted slap of skin on concrete, the dripping of water from the surprise shower all rattled in her brain for a moment, but the sounds were subdued by the ringing in her ears. Marinette whined out of reflex, and she was pretty sure there were other voices around her, too.
The first coherent thought she had was a question. Why did her shoulder hurt so bad? She rolled over, answering her own query as the semi-crushed face of her watering can appeared beneath her weight.
"Oh, god, Marinette are you okay?" Alya shoved the warped tool aside, her voice sharp as a whip with authority over the scene.
Oh yeah. Alya was here, with food.
Marinette blinked as her friend's face came into focus. "Pizza?"
Alya scoffed and shook her head, gesturing behind her. Marinette spotted a visibly concerned Nino and Adrien, the former holding the object of her stomach's desire, the latter being the literal object of her desire. She sighed idly, food and Adrien together in the same place, feeling rather aloof from the headrush.
Alya was scowling, but her voice was colored by relief. "She's worried about the food. Yep, she'll be alright."
Marinette began to pull herself forward, but she hissed and gripped her left arm. "Ahhh…" There was a ripple of pain, extending from her shoulder down to her elbow.
Now Adrien was in front of her, kneeling and probably getting his shoes and socks wet.
Wait.
Adrien was… in front of her.
Adrien was in front of her.
Marinette's eyes went wide - he was talking to her, too, and she wasn't even paying attention.
"Huh?" She blurted, shaking her head from side to side as he leaned in closer.
His voice was low and urgent. "Did you hit your head at all? Do you want us to take you to the hospital?"
Marinette took a few deep breaths, blinking and focusing on the sensations across her body. Her head did not hurt, so she would be okay, just her shoulder felt a little sore. Probably a bruise, but she would survive.
With a silly grin, Marinette allowed herself a brief pep-talk, refusing to let all of her earlier self-confidence be blown away by her blunder, and forced an even voice.
"I'm okay. Thank you, Adrien."
She could see his eyes searching her face, clearly unconvinced, but neither said anything.
For as airy and illuminate the shop was, sparkling with sunshine and painted with a rainbow of pastels from ceiling to floor, it only took one set of emerald eyes to make everything pale into disinterest. Marinette had become someone who surrounded herself with lush leaves and brilliant blooms every hour of the day, but yet, it only took one glimpse to make it all fade to gray. There was a sudden emptiness in her private universe, the greenhouse overwhelmed by eyes of the same color, more vibrant than any vine or laurel she had ever grown.
In that quiet moment, Marinette was sure she could have stared at him for forever. It was like magic.
Her heart pined for answers, and to her amazement, they came wordlessly but entirely.
Adrien smiled at her.
It wasn't like his typical smile. Marinette knew that smile; it was plastered up against her bedroom walls and greeted her every morning, after all. She would see it sitting in front of her class, or could spot it after any satisfying fencing practice. She would swear for the rest of time that this time, it was different – it was sincere, passionate, and engaged. Honestly, she felt like Chat was the only one who had ever smiled at her like that, and only as Ladybug.
He was happy to see her, and the evidence was written all over his face.
Unfortunately, time doesn't stop for anyone, not even superheroes. It moved, and showing no mercy to her heart, he moved with it. Away from Alya and Nino. Closer. He offered her a hand.
Maybe she was just caught up in the moment, or maybe she was just that hopelessly in love with him, but she felt something unusual. Whatever it was, she wondered if he felt it too.
Adrien doesn't want her like that, the grounded part of her brain tried to chide her.
Right.
Still, Marinette smiled as kindly as she could and accepted his offer, feeling electricity where his hand touched hers.
"Honestly," Alya spoke suddenly, and they both flinched apart. She had all but forgotten about Nino and her best friend.
"Marinette's made of pretty sturdy stuff. But you would think, with her luck, she'd have enough sense not to use a stool as a step ladder." Alya's friend's voice was accusatory, and Marinette could only scratch her cheek bashfully.
There was still a throbbing pain against the cusp of her collarbone, but she didn't want to make them worry.
"It's the Wandering Jew's fault." She said definitively, crossing her arms. All three of the others exchanged concerned glances, and Alya moved closer to her.
"Okay, um, you're sure you didn't hit your head?"
"Noooo," Marinette groaned, smacking her forehead. "It's the tradescantia pallida. This stupid plant. They're called Wandering Jews colloquially; it's only hung up high because it'll infest anything else."
She pointed above them, and in turn they all looked up to spot the dripping planter, its dark purple outline twinged translucent under the sun.
Nino frowned. "That name seems a little racist."
The girl sighed and shook her head, retrieving her dented watering can from the corner. "I mean, you're not wrong. It's just the name that stuck from biblical lore - there's a million different stories about different Israelites and Jewish people wandering the desert, and others about a person cursed to wait and 'wander the earth' until the second coming of Christ. These things will expand relentlessly, no matter where you plant 'em."
Marinette frowned as she completed her explanation, not really blaming the plant for her fall. It was entirely her own fault, as Alya said, she should have had better sense not to climb on such unsteady footing. Mo never bought into the stories, and for the exact reason Nino pointed out, he preferred the botanical name to the colloquial one. It invited too much negativity by association, but Marinette had thought it more likely her friends had heard the common name to the technical one.
"That's interesting," Adrien murmured as he squinted at the ceiling, and Marinette felt a little swell of pride. That's two days in a row she was able to impress him with her knowledge of all things taxonomical - not the most useful skill, but if he thought it was interesting, she could talk about it all day.
"Yes, they need to be tended to constantly… But I sort of like it, too. Not the extra work, mind you, especially since it's not for sale. But it's encouraging in a weird way. This thing can grow anywhere. It's just up here cause it's convenient… ironic, I know." She paused to push the knocked over stool with her foot, and they all laughed.
"They're rampant, though. It could be winter, indoor, outdoor, shade or sun. They'll grow strong and hearty. They never, ever, ever give up."
"If you put it that way, it's actually more empowering a name than it is denigrating," Alya pointed out, raising on her tiptoes to poke at one of the dangling vines.
"Mmm… that's true, too. And I mean, they're not like Bankssss roses," she paused, shooting a sly grin at Adrien, who beamed at their little secret joke. "But they're still pretty in their own way. Weirdly green-and-purple at the same time."
Following her tangent, the teens lulled into a contemplative quiet for a time. Marinette rubbed her shoulder absently and eventually turned her attention back to the more animate company in the room.
Her nose picked up on the scene of tomatoes and toasted crust - how had she almost forgotten about the pizza?
"Anyways… Thanks for the help, guys. Sorry I'm always such a mess… it's, um, a nice surprise to see you both. Did you come to join us for lunch?"
Marinette was vaguely aware at that moment how entirely she sounded like her mother, popping her head out of the bakery to greet her and her friends. She always sounded utterly unsurprised, and right now, Marinette did too.
Alya grimaced and went to snatch the pizza box away from Nino. "That's a good question, Marinette. Why are you two still here?"
The girl held the box out-and-away from Nino's probing eyes, the pair getting caught in a rather incriminating game of cat-and-mouse with gratuitous handiwork from both parties. It became difficult to tell who was the cat and who the mouse, dark skin brushing against each other, paired with giggles and bright smiles. Nino threatened his girlfriend with a tickle or by nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck as she twirled and twisted away.
Across from them, looking plenty uncomfortable, Adrien and Marinette watched. Blushing, Marinette cleared her throat, and the blond sighed and shook his head, shooting her a good-natured scowl at their shared predicament: the curse of having best friends in love.
"Sorry, 'Nette," Nino said with a breathy laugh, sounding not at all sorry. "We didn't mean to crash your girl time, Adrien and I were just driving by and spotted a certain someone," he snaked an arm around Alya, who sighed. "Walking around Paris. What kinda gentleman would I be if I didn't offer her a ride?"
Marinette let out a mirthful sigh, tucking a stray strand of hair that she failed to capture in her braid behind her ear, feeling abundantly thankful that she had taken the time to make herself appear more presentable earlier. She might now be wet and a little ragged, but it could have been worse.
Adrien pursed his lips, slow to look away from her. "Uh, let's be clear - it was my car that you offered her a ride in – happy to oblige, of course," he paused to nod at Alya, and used the moment to shoot Marinette a playful smirk.
"But I think most gentlemen don't invite themselves to join their girlfriend's lunch plans, especially after just eating. Seems a little less gentleman-like, and little bit more Nino-like, if you ask me."
Nino rolled his eyes and punched his friend on the arm. "Well it's a good thing I didn't ask you, then."
The brunette shook her head. "Alright boys, that's enough from both of you. You about scared Marinette to death," she paused, looking upon the wet floor and incriminating watering can. "Literally."
Adrien seemed tempted to say something else, but thought better of it. Nino, however, couldn't resist.
"Ahh, right. I really am sorry, Marinette. You're not hurt, right?"
She gave him her most reassuring smile. "Thank you, Nino. I'm really okay. Shoulder's a little sore, but I've definitely had worse."
The bespeckled boy nodded solemnly, turning to Adrien and stage-whispered.
"See? That was pretty gentleman-like, wasn't it?"
Adrien bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Hardly."
Nino rolled his eyes. "Right, I forgot I was speaking to the perfect gentleman, Monsieur Agreste."
Marinette and Alya laughed and shared a look as the boys quickly slipped into their bickering again.
Alya sauntered the length of the small office, dragging Marinette with her, and threw the girl into a masterful one-armed hug, still balancing the pizza like France's most accomplished waitress. Marinette winced at the pressure on her shoulder as Alya murmured into her pigtails.
"Sorry, girl. Are you sure you're okay? This really wasn't my idea. If you want them to go, tell me and I'll kick 'em out."
Marinette just laughed and gave her friend a squeeze.
"Nah." She breathed, stepping back as Alya released her. "But it's gonna have to be 'standing room only.' I only have the chair and the stool." She grimaced at the stupid piece of furniture, still toppled over on the ground with the remaining shreds of Marinette's dignity.
"Ah," Alya held up a finger and began digging through her purse. "Way ahead of you."
She pulled out a folded piece of paper and in large, black strokes of ink a few words read:
SHOP CLOSED FOR LUNCH.
BE BACK IN 20 MINS.
She pointed knowingly out the glass windows that opened to the courtyard, gesturing towards a small café table. As far as Marinette knew, only the women from the salon next-door would use it occasionally to rest while they smoked, but it didn't belong to any of the businesses independently.
Marinette opened her mouth with words of worry springing to her tongue, but when she felt a hand on her uninjured shoulder, she instead prayed for a steadier set of legs.
"I'm really sorry if we you fell because of us, Marinette. I'm glad you're okay." Adrien grinned at her as she turned around.
It must have been the trick of some light filtering through the glass ceiling, because if she didn't know better, Adrien almost looked pink around his perfect cheekbones.
He pulled his hand back, and Marinette felt a shiver run across her from the absence. "Nino and I did just eat, though," he paused and turned, narrowing his eyes at his defeated friend, standing dejected in the corner. "We'll leave you and Alya to your lunch, okay?"
Marinette felt the kickstart of some sort of engine in her chest, and you know what? She decided to let it ride. A warmth flooded her cheeks, she ignored the soreness along her clavicle, and felt strangely empowered by the trembling of her fingers.
"N-no! That's okay, why don't you stay? Both of you. We can…" Her eyes scanned the space, and Alya mercifully jerked her head towards the courtyard once again.
"Uhh… sit outside! There's a communal table, and, it's no trouble. Besides," she leaned closer to him, nerves be damned. Marinette caught his eye with a playful smirk. "I can't, in good-conscious, be the one to split these two up. If I do, you'll be stuck with that."
She pointed over his shoulder, and they both turned their attention to Nino; the boy was throwing himself one hell of a pity party. Adrien laughed and faced her again, and Marinette was overjoyed to see enthusiasm light up his features.
Apparently, he didn't need much convincing. "Well, okay, if you're sure."
"I'm positive," she beamed.
Over his shoulder, Adrien called, "Looks like you'll get your brunch after all, Nino." They watched the so-named DJ visibly brighten and all but leap forward. He situated himself between the blonde and bluenette, wrapping Marinette into a hug and she grimaced.
"Marinette, you da' boss. Literally."
Alya slipped past them all and slammed her crinkly sign onto the front door. A loud click followed, and she spun around.
"Welp, let's go kiddos. Pizza's hot and I'm hungry."
Nino zipped back towards the front, meeting her at the counter and wrapping.
"Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure you're hot, and I'm hungry."
Marinette and Adrien shared a look as Alya elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up, Hungry. I'm going to be Seriously Annoyed soon if my pizza is cold, so can we please eat already?"
Shaking her head, Marinette met eyes with blonde across from her once again, still standing just a foot away. He turned his attention to her and grinned, his unbridled enthusiasm giving her the boost she needed to spin on her heel and lead them all through the back. Adrien followed immediately, opening the door before she could get there and earned himself Marinette's wrinkled nose of disapproval, but she allowed the courteous gesture.
They both missed the sly wink exchanged by Nino and Alya as the teens settled down for lunch.