And so the crack continues

Adrien ran, hard and fast, thanking his one lucky star that he had the added secret benefit of being Chat Noir so he could be just a little bit fast than oh, say- for instance- your average rabid fan. Still. He couldn't keep running forever and new members were joining the crowd to replace the ones who'd run out of steam. His eyes darted around desperately, looking for something- anything- that could help get him out of his current situation.

A splotch of blue and pink caught his eye and he went for it. "Marinette!"

She jumped and turned, her mouth dropping open into an "O" of surprise as she took in him and the approaching horde.

"Help! Hide me!"

Her eyes switched from shocked to determined, and she snatched his hand up as he approached. He took a moment to admire that she was actually able to keep up with him before she yanked him off his course with a sharp right turn before making a beeline for the staircase. Her free hand grabbed a trash can near the handrail and threw it across the steps as they passed, upending the contents. They took another sharp turn before she darted for a nondescript door next to some lockers and threw both of themselves inside before any of his chasers could get up to their floor.

She slammed the door shut hard enough to rattle it and then leaned against it while Adrien slumped to the floor and placed his head between his knees as he took gasping breaths.

"Thanks for that," Adrien said once he'd managed to calm his breathing. He looked around, seeing that she'd dragged him into a small storage closet with a small window about seven feet up.

"Anytime," Marinette panted back, finally sliding down the door to join him on the floor.

They went quiet then, hearing his pursuers reach the top of the stairs and shout at each other about which way he must have gone. They waited until all the footsteps had stopped running past before Adrien released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Why this cupboard?" Adrien asked.

Marinette gave a small start. "What?"

"You ran like you knew where you were going."

"Oh, um, I come here during Akuma attacks sometimes, no one's ever joined me in here, so I figured it would be safe."

Adrien grinned. "So you're sharing your secret club house with me then?"

"More like a panic room," Marinette said with a chuckle before pulling out her phone.

"Well I'm honored you would share your panic room with me."

She gave a hum of acknowledgement before slipping her phone back into her pocket. "I texted Alya to let me know when it's all clear so we'll know when we can get out. Don't want to risk opening the door to check and playing round two when you get spotted."

"Smart," Adrien said. She panic-planned like Ladybug- foreseeing the possible negative outcomes and preparing ahead of time. He was more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of guy, but he figured that's what made him such a perfect match since he was always so willing to go with her barely explained plans. Like how he'd just trusted that Marinette had a plan when she took his hand. It had felt very similar to him.

"So, why were you walking to school this morning? Normally your bodyguard drops you off in front. I thought everyone would be extra careful after all the hype your latest photoshoot had been getting."

He winced. "My limo got a flat tire. I stepped out of the car to suggest I just walk to school since we were only a block away when someone screamed my name and then an insta-mob formed. My bodyguard tried to hold them back, but he got tackled by a couple people. So I ran. Then I ran into you and you know the rest."

He expected her to laugh at the ridiculousness of it, but was surprised when she frowned instead. "I'm sorry, Adrien. That's really rough."

"I'd say overall the pros outweigh the cons." He sighed and let his head drop back, staring up at the ceiling. "At least that's what I have to keep telling myself on days like today."

There was a shuffling noise and he brought his head forward to see Marinette kneeling in front of him with her arms out stretched.

"Um, c-can hug I you?"

He smiled, it'd been a couple days since he'd last heard her stutter. He was surprised to find that he had kind of missed it. "Actually, yeah. A hug would be great right about now."

He leaned in and felt her wrap her arms around him. They fit together nicely and he soaked up the much-needed affection and warmth. Like a cat that had found the perfect sun spot, he just wanted to curl up in her lap and purr. The thought shocked him and he pulled back.

"Uh, so has Alya said anything yet?"

Marinette pulled out her phone. "Apparently Chloe is shriek- sorry, telling- everyone that she'll have her daddy send the French foreign legion if they don't leave now and Nino somehow got hold of a water hose and is shooting them with it. The rest of the class is rallying behind them and they're all shouting at them to get out.

He felt his eyes pinprick as tears started to well. To think that so many people cared. "I never thought I'd see the day where Nino and Chloe were working together."

Marinette laughed. "Me neither, but you're a pretty great guy, Adrien. I'm not surprised that you're what brought them together."

Well now he went from almost crying to certified hot mess. Marinette didn't seem to realize just how much he was struggling to keep it together though as she was looking at her phone again. Alya says the people are leaving. We should be safe to leave now."

He wanted to tell her to wait and that he wanted to hide a little longer, but then he'd have to explain why and he wasn't sure if he even could.

Marinette grabbed the handle and turned it. And turned and turned and turned. The doorknob went in a full circle three times but still didn't open. She gave it a shake, but the door remained closed. Finally, she stepped back and delivered a kick strong enough strong enough to make the doorframe shake.

She turned back to Adrien, eyes now wide with panic. "I think I broke the doorknob when I slammed the door."

Instead of panicking with her, Adrien threw back his head and laughed. Marinette was now calling Alya to let her know where they were and what had happened, but Adrien just kept laughing, tears finally falling freely as he did.

Guess he got his wish to hide a little longer after all.