A/N: Why hello there. I hope everything is going well. The story is done, so I'll probably be posting by the hour today as I finish final edits. It's not a pressure thing, it's a "I'm actually two days behind schedule and nothing is finished until its published" thing lol So yeah, happy times!

Thank you, Saccha and TOG84~~!

I always write to improve, so comments and critiques are welcome! Please rip this to bits! Thank you!


The backdoor to Marinette's home just clicked closed when she turned to leave, only to find a looming figure hovering two feet away. Not many knew of her home's back entrance. The bakery faced the main street and, since it also led upstairs to the house, catching a cookie was a preferable precursor to entering their home. So it was no surprise she jerked back, gripping the strap of her backpack to propel at the surprise guest, until the familiar shine of yellow locks on the morning sun caused her to relax.

She heaved a relieved sigh. "I should call you Mort Noir seeing how often you startle me in the morning."

"I always imagined my pet name being 'petit chou minou'. Or Chou Chat for when you're being playful," Adrien leered, his board tipped up against his thigh as he leaned against it.

Marinette silently sucked in a breath, honey and a spicy masculine cologne hitting her nose. Their close proximity procured new thoughts— an incessant buzzing ran underneath her skin. "You've thought about that, have you?" She sidestepped him, adding some distance, and began her trek to school.

"I've had some time." Adrien didn't hop on his board and instead lifted it to carry at his hip. His longer legs made his strides faster and he clearly had to take measured steps to keep Marinette's pace.

"Why are you here so early? And how did you know where to wait?"

Adrien always met her farther down the street, and, due to her destroyed method of transportation, she had to leave earlier than usual. Adrien turned his head to look across the street where there was a park across the way, but nothing of interest: some couples out walking dogs, individuals on morning jogs, and an old man who flew interesting kites on occasion. Today's was a dragon.

"Well, I actually came by yesterday. Your mom showed me the back entrance."

Marinette blinked. "Was it...before you gave me a ride?"

Adrien gave an affirmative hum. "You didn't answer my texts. I was worried." The morning light shone at a perfect angle, revealing the red on his ears even though his voice was confident and blasé.

"Oh." Marinette's heart stuttered in her chest and she forced her gaze forward.

After Adrien dropped her off last night, Marinette had the disconcerting thought that she might actually, possibly, in the smallest manner, have a crush on Adrien. It was rather cliche, taking an interest in her defender against a group of bullies— who was in fact the best friend of the head bully, so really it should all cancel out, and yet— but she wrote it off as a fleeting thought.

Adrien was amazing for many things: academics, skateboarding, and popularity without being pompous. Well, not too pompous, she amended. Many girls would fall for that— are falling for that— but she suspected those weren't the reasons that incited her feelings. Adrien asked questions about her life, helped her in classes, escorted her to school, and defended her against his peers. He was kind and considerate and she swooned over it. She didn't know why Adrien liked her but it obviously wasn't for her kindness or consideration— she rejected him after all.

It was clear crushing on Adrien Agreste was a phase she would overcome with time. She bet half the student body went through the same phase and why he held such a great reputation. He was just too nice. She was happy to be his friend, honored, and she owed him too much to consider anything more.

They approached the school gates, more students milling around in the early hours, and Marinette touched Adrien's arm. "Wait, um, I made something for you last night." She rotated her backpack in front of her and dug inside to grab a long box. "I had a lot of energy, actually, so I made a few of them, nothing special, but I— uh, you were on my mind, I guess, when I first started and— just, here."

Adrien stared, brows raised, at the black box with green polka dots. He hardly moved, fixed on the gift as if it was alien, and Marinette was half prepared to toss it at him and run.

Eventually he reached forward to take it from her hand. He unfolded the top, chest still as he held his breath, then his eyes widened and a baffled huff passed his lips. "You made these… for me?"

"I mean— I have a few more boxes but… you can… say that." Marinette clenched and unclenched the straps of her bag, eyeing the long path to the school building. Giving friends gifts from the bakery was nothing, she did it all the time. There was no reason to be so nervous to give it to Adrien, who was well beyond deserving of it. It was just a box of macarons.

Adrien's resulting smile was soft and radiant— it made Marinette squint. He stepped closer, his scent hitting her nostrils again, and Marinette leaned away, her shoulders raised and stiff.

"I'll cherish them," Adrien said.

"Don't cherish them. Eat them," Marinette mumbled back, not sure where to look when a personified sun ate up her eyesight. She poked at his chest to tip him away and he moved obligingly. "I'll— see you in class." She nodded before jogging toward the building doors, vehemently trying to not re-play his joyful expression again and again in her mind.

—-

Whispers accompanied Marinette everywhere in school and she had no doubt it was over the incident at her lockers last week. She assumed the gossip traveled around like a headline: Group of girls destroy skates of ex-rival skater— Zag's skateboarding team captain defends in the aftermath. What a soap opera.

On the bright side, she wasn't pestered all day. Rather, the day was uneventful— except Adrien's constant smug cheer each time he popped a macaroon into his mouth. He mostly did it in class when he sat in front of her, wiggling in his chair like Augustus Gloop on chocolate bars. She had half a mind to kick him in his seat. Usually such a familiar attitude would earn her a few evil glares or notes in her locker, but neither occurred. In fact she would say people were avoiding her.

Marinette asked Alya about it after school.

"Did Nino happen to say anything about Adrien on Friday?"

"Like what?" Alya asked, popping a piece of gum into her mouth. Then her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth so quickly she almost dropped the piece. "Oh! Yeah, I asked Nino the day after you called me. Adrien went full Batman— "

Marinette had a short coughing fit.

"— and used interrogation threats to get them to talk. I don't know what he said, but he did report Chloe to the Dean. Not that he said Chloe to Nino, probably trying to cover for her, but we both know it's her. The other girls off, something about "providing recompense". Whatever that's going to be— or if they're even going to do it! Adrien's got real guts to put faith in them like that."

"Yeah, sounds like him," Marinette mused.

"Side note, how's your room?" Alya asked before blowing a big pink bubble.

"Oh." Marinette shook her head and gave a nervous chuckle. "Cleaned. Only a few bags of chips and cake crumbs just about everywhere, but I learned how to get ice cream out between keys on the keyboard." She remembered the last time she was miserable, she learned how to get chocolate out of white sheets— by buying new sheets.

Alya nodded. "Good, because I'm coming over today. I don't trust you alone anymore. I get a boyfriend and you're recreating Mean Girls. You're trouble, gurl."

"Hey! I didn't start anything," Marinette argued. "If anything I should blame you for telling me to get friendly with Adrien in the first place."

"You mean the good guy that defended you? You wanna throw down in a logic battle, cause I'll wreck you Dupain-Cheng." Alya raised her brows and smirked.

And Marinette knew she would and said no more.

Wednesday gave Monday and Tuesday a miss, and it was the first competition of the semester. It was an hour before and Marinette was hovering at her parent's bakery stand, staring forlornly as everyone did their laps.

"Why didn't you buy skates this weekend sweetie? It's weird to see you without wheels outside the house," Mama asked.

"Too much studying to do, I guess," Marinette dodged.

"Studying the inside of ice cream cartons?" Papa quipped.

Marinette pouted. "Still not as familiar as you." She patted her Papa's belly and he gave a hearty laugh. He threw her into a bear hug which slightly raised her spirits.

"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien called her from the other side of the park.

She kissed her parents on the cheek before jogging over. Next to Adrien was an elderly man with kind eyes and a bent form, holding a medium sized box. Something about his facial features seemed familiar but she was positive they never met.

"I wanted you to meet a good friend. Master Fu," Adrien said.

"It's good to finally speak to you, Miss Ladybug," Master Fu greeted.

"Oh, you know me?" Marinette asked.

"My daughter never stops talking about you. Passionate, courageous, encouraging. You're practically part of the family," he said affectionately.

Marinette gave him a puzzled stare, so the man gestured towards a ramp on the far end of the park where the Astruc team was practicing. Tikki stood among them, clapping and smiling, and it clicked.

"Master Fu. You're Tikki's father! Oh, it's wonderful to meet you sir."

Adrien chimed in. "And Plagg's father-in-law."

"Yes, my eccentric son-in-law. Great skater. When he feels up to it." He made a tired expression which Adrien solemnly mimicked. "Anyway, I'm here to give you this. It's a gift from some generous friends and they were adamant about getting it to you by today."

He passed the box to Marinette. The weight was greater than anything her friends should be buying her. Marinette glanced at Adrien, hoping this wasn't from him or it would pile with all his other generous actions. She flicked the lid up and shuffled the crumpled gift wrap paper inside before almost dropping the box a second later.

The new skates were urban style and already designed to her preference. The usual red with black dots covered the base and the wheels were translucent to show a red to black fade. Large wheels on a short frame, black buckles straps, an inline setup, and no heel brakes; everything she could possibly want.

"I can't— this is too much, " she stammered.

"It's paid for and I was very honored to make it. Now the ladies did have some difficulties guessing boot size and had no idea above wheels or brakes, but I asked Tikki for advice and I hope it's to your liking."

"To my liking?" Marinette was so touched her eyes stung. "This is a work of art. I can't thank you enough."

"It's not necessary. I believe your friends are waiting for you over there." Master Fu pointed to the crowd a few feet away and Marinette was surprised to see the familiar faces of many of her ex-harassers. An instinctual roll of contempt hit her at the sight of them bunched together, but one of them caught her eye and elbowed another to look towards her until all the girls were sheepishly smiling or waving.

Marinette blinked, and glanced at Adrien to confirm the sight. He wasn't looking at them, but rather gauging her reaction. She looked down at the box again and admired one of the wheels. She didn't know exactly what to feel. Touched, hopeful, or perhaps a little bitter to think they could buy her— but she knew she would hear them out. The gift was thoughtful; and Marinette could relate to reacting badly after taking inaccurate information at face value. Perhaps people could do better given the opportunity.

"You don't have to compete today," Adrien interjected on her thoughts. "But a certain Chat misses seeing you in action and I know you're dying to play around in those."

A slow smile built on her lips. "Do I charm you with my skating, Chat Noir?"

"You do much more than that, princess." He winked. "Now hurry up before I have to carry the team alone."

Marinette shook her head at him as excitement flared in her. She could talk to the girls after the meet. Adrien was right, she did miss skating. It was more than the tricks or the accomplishment— it was an extension of her. She didn't want to think about point values or challenging herself, she just wanted to feel the fast air and move to the rhythm of some music as the week bled off of her in strides.

So she did.

Frustration, gratefulness, and relief were ground into the concrete. Her thoughts turned into fervent impulsive actions that transformed her clumsy walking form into a gliding grace of rhythm and emotion. She did toe loops, Deckchairs, Olivers, 360s on the ramp, grinding on the rails and playful dance movements that probably had names but she was just having fun and getting her body to burn.

She saw Adrien beaming at her when she stopped at the lip of the bowl before the end of her first run. In a moment of whimsy, she blew a kiss before dropping in backwards. The bulging eyes on his face made it worth it when she wobbled on her skill and almost didn't make her backwards combo. It was a good laugh.

She came in first, though it wasn't her best performance, and Adrien barely came in second which made her tease him for holding back.

"As if I could hold back when my Lady is watching," he said.

"Nino almost beat you. You almost lost to a skateboard attached to a stick."

"Scooters are just as valid and difficult as any other."

"I think you were distracted by all your cute fans," she teased.

"Nope, just one."

She went up to the girls after competition, the air awkward at first. Then they were all talking at once, blubbering tears falling at their mistake and gesticulating their own anger at being misinformed. It was weird wanting to console them but refreshing to hear their sincerity. They didn't think the skates were a good enough apology but it was the least they could do. Marinette agreed but she was tired of holding grudges. Chloe's effect was enough for a lifetime.

Adrien was waiting a few feet away, milling with Nino and making some gestures at the ramp. They were probably regaling each other with stories of their runs. He turned and caught Marinette's gaze. His grin was bright and soft around the edges.

It was familiar and yet she lost her breathe when an unknowing ache hit her so hard she's surprised she didn't fall.