Chapter Three: Always

A/N: Shameless Harry Potter reference

Well, here we are, Chapter Three. I've made a couple of changes to the overall format of this story. This will be a four part story. We are currently in the first part, Rejection. (Or Solace, whichever name you'd like to choose). The next three parts will go on as Reconcilitation, Rise, and finally Rebirth. There should be at least 10 chapters per part, and once one concludes, I shall be taking a small hiatus in order to get ahead. I've already got the outline written, now that I'm more dedicated than I've ever been...

Oh well, Bug Out!

Always: (adv.) At all times; on all occasions

"Girl, are you okay?"

Marinette grunted tiredly in response, eyes bloodshot from insomnia.

"Lemme guess, boy troubles?" the reporter asked, referring to the oblivious boy who sat in front of the two.

The bluenette nodded. Every thought crossing her mind had something to do with her partner. She couldn't be falling for him. There was no way she could be falling for such an obnoxious, pun-loving flirt. There was no way she could be falling for such a brave, kind-hearted, selfless goofball. Who was also head over heels for your alter-ego, Marinette reminded herself. Since when did love get so complicated?

"Marinette, are you alright?" Adrien asked, concerned for his friend's health and general well-being.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Lack of sleep, I guess." Marinette responded, avoiding the pools of green that surrounded the blond's eyes.

Speaking of kind-hearted boys…

Adrien's rejection was a wake-up call. His rejection finally reminded her that it was nothing more than a silly high school crush. But the more her mind raced, the more she wondered who he could be in love with.

Despite popular opinion, Marinette could see right through the ruse and that Adrien was not in love with Chloe. The awkwardness between her advances suggested she was nothing more than a sisterly figure to him. Lila. Last time the two had interacted, the brunette had pretty much spit in her face and walked away. It was clear Adrien had no romantic intentions for her, so Marinette mentally crossed that one off the list. Kagami. Adrien might as well have cartoon hearts in his eyes, as it was clear he had some sort of crush on the female fencer. Unfortunately, Marinette had been there when he had returned the saber to Kagami. Call it a double rejection if you may, but Marinette knew Kagami only thought of Adrien as an opponent and friend. That left one more person: Ladybug.

It was silly, boastful even, to think Adrien of all people would be in love with the spotted heroine. While it was clear he held a soft spot for Ladybug, who doesn't? Ladybug is a beloved public figure and shaming her would demonetize the Agreste name itself. But the more she thought about it, the more Marinette realized how tender Adrien had always been to Ladybug. There is no way Marinette could be up against herself, right? And if so, what kind of mess has she gotten herself into?

"Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, would you like to answer the question on page 343?"

Marinette snapped back into reality as a cross Mme. Mendeleiev awaited an answer to a question Marinette did not know.

"I, uh... think the, uh, answer would be…" Marinette stalled. Glancing down, she noticed Adrien mouthing the answer.

"It was a uh… Vahh Van der Waals Bond!" The bluenette exclaimed, going off on a limb.

"While your pronunciation needs some fine tuning, that is the correct answer, for someone who was daydreaming in class. I suggest you keep your answers to yourself, M. Agreste. " she glared, returning to the board.

"Thank you," Marinette quietly whispered, before paying attention to class.

As the classroom emptied out a few minutes later, Adrien slung his gray bag over his shoulder as he tried to catch up with Marinette.

"Hey, Marinette! Can I talk to you for a sec-" Adrien was interrupted by the bustling crowd, and by the time he escaped, his pigtailed peer was already out the door.

"What's wrong with Marinette? Did I do anything to scare her or something?" he asked, bewildered.

"Dude.." Nino trailed off, shaking his head.


"Hey Tikki, do you think it would be totally crazy and self-centered for me to think that Adrien was in love with Ladybug?"

The red kwami almost dropped her cookie as she stared bug-eyed at her chosen.

"Why would you say that?"

"You may scold me for this, but I was wondering who Adrien loved, and as I narrowed down the options, I got thinking at how much of a chance Adrien could have rejected me, for well, me!" she exclaimed, tapping her chest. "Am I crazy?"

"Well you do have a point, but how do you know Adrien likes someone you haven't even met?" Tikki asked. As much as she hated torturing her holder like this, she had to protect their identities, at any cost.

Marinette, frozen in place, flopped onto her bed seconds later. "Oh, you're right Tikki! It's probably some sort of supermodel who saves puppies and stuff. Aw man, I'd be so lame compared to her. I can't believe I even thought of Adrien having a crush on me!"

Thump!

"What does that cat want now?" Marinette muttered.

As she climbed up to her bronze balcony, the bluenette met the eyes of her feline friend.

"Can I help you?" Marinette asked.

"Marinette, there's something wrong." Chat began, concerned. "Ever since I asked about why you were crying, you've been cold and shut me out-"

Chat Noir turned to the circular window of Marinette's window, noticing her barren walls.

"Why'd you take down those pictures of that model kid?" Although he had never noticed them before, the events of the In My Shoes TV show led to him learning about the multitude of pictures on her wall. While he originally brushed them off as mere inspiration, the thought of her ever loving him was stuck at the back of his head.

"I had a change of inspiration, that's all." Marinette said vaguely.

"Did he do something to you?" The blond asked.

"Yes, well no, he didn't do anything. It was my fault." The bluenette sighed.

"Care to explain to your closest confidant and furr-iend?" Chat raised his eyebrows.

"Puns? I thought I was in the clear!" Marinette joked.

"Glad to see you smiling again, purr-incess. But seriously, if that joke of a model ever hurts you, I've got your back."

"Joke of a model? Heh, I'll let that one slide. But I'm fine, Chat, thank you." Marinette chuckled.

"So we're just going to forget about your empty pink walls, right?"

"Yes we are, or you're going to be a stray once again." the designer smirked.

"Oh, how you wound me! To ever think my very own princess would abandon her own knight in shining armor!" Chat Noir exclaimed dramatically.

"Now that's debatable," Marinette snickered, referring to his self-proclaimed title. "But you're right, I'd never abandon a friend."

A Friend.

Chat Noir felt his heart clench, but he didn't know why. Marinette's friendship, in and out of costume, was more than he could ever want. So, why did that last sentence make his heart churn. She was content with their current status, so why isn't he?

"Heh yeah, friends." The superhero mumbled distractedly. "Yeah…"

"Hey minou, you alright?" Marinette asked, searching his eyes confusedly.

"Yeah yeah, I'm good. Hey, I uh just realized I'm gonna be late for dinner." Chat said, knowing fully well he'll have to sort out his feelings eventually. "But we're good, right?"

"Always."

A/N: WOO! Looks like Marichat is back on track! And also, I have no idea what ninth grade science is like, so don't at me... I just pretty much chose bonds because that's what I'm doing for Science Olympiad.

Anywayzz, review and Bug Out!