Concealment

Chapter Eight

Blind a.k.a. Not a Clue to be Found

POV: Marinette

"Now you're just making my brain hurt," Alya laughed, shaking her head.

The discussion ended there as the teacher called the room to attention. When she started taking roll call Marinette's brain drifted to her conversation with Tikki about Chat Noir, and the fact that he now knew she was Ladybug.

"He seemed to instantly recognize the room." Had he come to the house as a civilian? To her room? "He's been in there before," but Tikki meant as Chat Noir, was that all it took? He hadn't recognized her as Marinette at the underground station… she'd thought, but… maybe he was faking that? "He knew who you would be before he even turned around." How well would he need to know her home and room to know that…? Acquaintances? Friend? Did he only recognize the room from his brief moments there when Alya had been turned back into LadyWiFi? Surely he hadn't examined the room very much at that moment?

So… say that his time as Chat Noir was his only time in her room. He must have known her as Marinette better or just remembered her address from the two times he'd been to her place before…so maybe he knew her better as a civilian?

Could he be a regular customer at the bakery? Or did she go to school with him? Maybe he just knew her from common hangouts?

And if he knew her so well, surely she knew him too… so what did she know about Chat?

Well my hair doesn't change when I transform so his probably doesn't either, his eyes must at least change a little, but the rest should be roughly the same. So that means Chat's civilian form has longish blond hair, green eyes, and is slightly taller than me with a slim built figure. He's goofy enough to be my age so perhaps he is a classmate?

Outside of her thoughts the teacher had started the history lesson and everyone was pulling out their books. Marinette took this time to glance around at her classmates. Not a single boy in her class had Chat's hair color so maybe he was in a different class. There was Phil in Class 1B with blond hair….it was a bit too long though. Derik? No, too tall. Racking her brain she tried to think of other boys in school with blond hair. I should check last years' yearbook when I get home – good thing they sprung for color pictures.

Clouds drifted away from the sun at that moment, casting light into the room. Marinette gazed in wonder and adoration as Adrien's hair lit up like the sun. So bright, so gorgeous; no other boy had sunshine hair like Adrien. She signed. Which earned her a poke in the ribs from Alya.

Stifling a moan of pain Marinette rushed to begin taking notes – already missing the topic of today's class. But her mind didn't stay focused on whatever old civilization the teacher was talking about. It drifted back to Chat almost at once. Her pencil stilled on the page as she continued her thought process.

So green eyes, she knew she didn't know any guy in school well enough to know his eye color so that would have to be another yearbook check.

Now Adrien was fiddling with his pen. When it slipped from his grip and rolled to the floor he bent down to grab it, turning sidewise in his seat. That's when his eyes meet Marinette's. Emerald met Bluebell as Marinette felt her cheeks heat up. Adrien smiled at her and turned back to the front. Marinette sighed again as Alya facepalmed.

Right! Of course! Class! Marinette hurried to copy what was written on the board, something about the 1400's in France but it only held her attention until she had completed her task. Her mind drifted right back to Chat.

So maybe if Chat Noir is so in love with Ladybug he will approach me more then he normally does when we are civilians. Maybe he is in school now, waiting for a break or for lunch to come see me and talk to me. He probably wants to know how I am feeling after a night's rest.

But no new boys had approached her today. Nothing had seemed off about anyone she knew or didn't know from her school.

Suddenly a ball of paper rolled across the desk in front of Adrien. It caught the attention of both Marinette's and Adrien's tables occupants and made four pairs of eyes turn to see Chloe winking at Adrien.

Marinette saw his shoulders slump as he reached for the note. After opening it his shoulders slumped even farther, but Marinette would bet only she could tell that. He scribbled something rather quickly and balled up the paper again. The four of them waited, Ms. Bustier had just returned focus to the class rather than the board. So the class continued to scribble down dates and names of people long dead as she continued her lector. Finally, she returned to the board and Adrien could pass the note back to Chloe without getting caught.

Chloe ripped it open greedily to read his reply. Then a gasp of horror filled the room. Clearly she had not expected whatever he had written, or just not liked it, or both… Marinette guessed it was both.

"Chloe, please keep it down," Ms. Bustier said turning to the class. Chloe glared at her then at Adrien and Marinette's tables before thoroughly ignoring both. Which all in all was not a bad thing.

(Baby Quinn Lee is born! I'm an Auntie!) Mrs. Bustier went back to the board to continue writing when Marinette found a note being slid her way by Alya.

Don't gasp like Chloe did.

Chloe: Want to join me for a private lunch Adrikins?

Adrien: I'm eating with Nino and the girls.

Marinette's eyes bugged out. Adrien! Eating with them! But he always went home for lunch!

Me: he's got a thing for you, girl! Alya had written at the bottom. Marinette blushed red and gave her BFF a giddy smile.

Her friend proceeded to shake her head in mild disbelief, however she couldn't keep the smile from creeping onto her face at Marinette's reaction.

Adrien. Eating lunch with her! It was like a dream come true! This could lead to her wedding, children and that cute hamster she's always loved!

Alya watched in mild enjoyment as Marinette's eyes went out of focus. She slid Marinette another note, successfully wiping the silly grin from the girl's face.

Don't get too far ahead of yourself. It's only lunch (for now). What do you think changed? He's never stayed, even when Nino asks him to.

Which was true… Nino had been inviting Adrien to lunch at least four times a week since school began and each time Adrien turned him down.

Don't know, he was pretty keen to talk about the video you posted. Marinette replied after her embarrassment subsided and Ms. Bustier had turned her back.

Doesn't he have a little crush on Ladybug? Alya replied the next time Ms. Bustier wasn't watching the class.

Adrien! A crush on Ladybug! On me!

I don't know…maybe? Marinette wrote in awe.

Or it was just a way to talk to YOU. Alya sent back.

The note did it's job. Marinette was blushing a brilliant tomato red.

Adrien wanting to talk with her? Maybe get to know her better… Maybe learn if she liked him? She could faint! But still… she couldn't come up with a single guy she could think of that might be Chat Noir…

A/N: This was one of my more favorite chapters, more of a 'how many different ways can Marinette not figure out Adrien is Chat' chapter.

AAAAANNND! I was typing this chapter up while waiting for my first niece to be born. I was able to type up about half this story while waiting at the hospital. Said niece is now two months old! (I wrote this story on paper and had to then type it all up) I started typing about five in the evening, she was born 13 minutes before midnight! Healthy and happy Quinny!

Next chapter is lunch with the boys! See you soon!

And please feel free to leave a review! They keep me smiling!

8/7/17