Author's Note: I'm still not strong enough to stand up but thankfully, the pain is subsiding which means I'll probably be back at work tomorrow. Not that I'm complaining, I actually was looking forward to be there all this week but oh well. That's life. So since I was stuck at home again, what better way than to eat my Sunday update words again than through another update? Enjoy! (P.S. Sorry this is focusing so much on Marichat right now. I promise that it's going to switch to the another part of the love square soon).
Chapter 9
Plagg rolled his eyes as Adrien paced the floor in front of his window, hand over his mouth, face still scarlet. A date? Why had he called it a date? Was it creepy to call it that when Marinette had no idea that he knew she was Ladybug? A groan of frustration left his throat. He collapsed on his couch, staring up at the ceiling. All he saw in his mind were two brilliant blue eyes, framed ever so delicately by milky white skin, topped with dark, raven hair. Heat rushed through his body. Plagg gagged.
"Oh please. Your hormones smell worse than my cheese." Adrien shot him a glare. "Look, if you like the girl so much, why don't you just confess to knowing who she is and reveal yourself? Happily ever after."
"Sure, let me just waltz up to Marinette and go, 'Hey by the way, I happen to know you're Ladybug, who I have a massive crush on, and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind being my date to the Masquerade ball so I can at least say I danced with Ladybug at least once officially before dying.' I'm sure that'll go over well." The little black kwami shrugged.
"Sounds about right."
"You're absolutely no help when it comes to love."
"I'm the God of Destruction. Love's not my thing. Sue me. That's Tikki's job." Adrien tilted his head.
"Tikki?"
"Ladybug's kwami. What? You thought I was the only one?" Adrien looked a little abashed.
"I guess that makes sense." He stood from his couch, moving to his computer screens where he pulled up the Ladyblog. Alya had recently updated it with candid photos of Ladybug and Chat Noir leaping through the night sky of Paris, off to make sure all was right with the world. That was before they started dancing on the viewing platform the other night. That was before he was able to tell that two amazing and beautiful women were actually just one. His heart fluttered again. The picture stirred his emotions. He wanted nothing more than to fly back to her side and stay there. The words he'd said in parting came rushing back to him, turning his face red once more, and it made him so tense that he just dropped his head to the desk.
The pain didn't rid his mind of his thoughts.
Plagg eyed him, working on his third piece of cheese for the evening. "Alright, so revealing yourself isn't going to be that easy. What're you going to do?"
"Lose my mind," he mumbled from the table. Large, green eyes rolled at his human's over-dramatic nature. "Honestly, I have no idea. Telling her straight out won't go well. Flirting with her suddenly as Adrien will seem suspicious to everyone around her."
"Then why don't you make her fall in love with Chat Noir?" Adrien blinked, shooting his head up, to eye his friend.
"What?"
"I said: Make. Her. Fall. For. Chat. Noir," he enunciated before swallowing his fourth piece of cheese. Adrien grimaced. He would never understand how or why his partner enjoyed the smell or taste of camembert or how he managed to stay so small with the amount he ate. "Think about it. If she falls in love with you in that mask, there's no way she won't fall in love with the civilian."
"Yeah but she isn't particularly fond of me now is she?"
Plagg wanted to scream and throw his cheese at the idiot's head. Fond of you? Fond of you? The damn girl loses her mind every time she's around you. Of course she's fond of you you oblivious idiot! Instead, he shrugged, "I mean, it worked for you right?"
This caused Adrien to pause. Plagg was right. When he had first met Ladybug and seen how awesome she was, he promised himself and the sky and whatever else was listening, that he would love the girl behind the mask no matter who it turned out to be (yes, Chloé included). He had fallen in love with the hero first. Now he wanted to focus solely on the civilian. Why wouldn't it work on Marinette? He swallowed painfully. "What should I do?"
"For starters, not start losing your mind over it." Plagg flew up and landed on Adrien's head. This forced him to nearly go cross-eyed as he finished with, "Just be yourself. Don't try to force anything. Forced isn't real and a relationship built on unrealistic things won't last and will only break both of you."
"I won't," he breathed, "I won't hurt her. I'll hurt myself before I hurt her." Plagg took off again, this time heading for a dark nook somewhere to sleep.
"Whatever. Do what you will Romeo. I'm going to sleep. Night." He disappeared into his hiding place. Adrien grumbled but turned back to his computer. He stared at the screen for a minute more before deciding that sleep would do better for his worry rather than him stressing over it so he turned the computer off, stood, changed, and flopped onto his bed, where darkness came to him almost instantly.
Monday came rather quickly. Alya noticed that Marinette was fidgeting in her seat more than usual, doodling more than usual, and essentially being more nervous than usual. She narrowed her eyes at the half-Chinese girl. Ms. Mendeleiev eyed the room suspiciously herself, watching for any talkers or anyone not paying a bit of attention, and only quick foot taps from Alya, managed to save the girl from a fate worse than death at the hands of their sharp-featured teacher. When they finally were dismissed for the day, Alya wasted no time in grabbing her hand. Marinette looked up shocked but before she could protest, Alya dragged her from the room and outside to a secluded bench in the nearby park. In total, Mari almost tripped about three times.
Alya pushed her down onto the bench. She crossed her arms, cocked her hip, and finally said, "Alright girl. Spill. What's got you so edgy today?"
The dark haired girl blinked. "W-wh-what…."
"Cut. Wrong answer." Marinette flinched and immediately looked abashed. "I know something's going on so you either tell me willingly here or I find out for myself and make your life very difficult afterwards. Spill." The newswoman tapped her foot waiting. Mari looked down at her hands tucked between her legs and breathed deep before saying, "I… um… well, I have a … a date… tonight…." Alya squealed. She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around her neck which sent them sideways onto the bench. It didn't last long. Alya sat up excitedly.
"O-m-gee Mari! A date! Why didn't you tell me? Who's the mystery boy? What are you wearing? What time is he coming to get you?"
Mari raised a hand to stop her friend. It worked because now Alya sat there, hands at her sides, eyes wide, and vibrating. It would only be a matter of time before she exploded again so she told her quickly, "He's a friend of mine I've known for a while. I've had a feeling he's liked me for some time but I only just started to develop feelings for him because of the whole Adrien thing. He's funny and witty and kind and really I can't do him justice in words alone." She paused long enough to take a breath. "Look, I didn't tell you because I don't actually know if this is going to work between us and I didn't want you to get your hopes up for me like you did with Adrien. I want to establish this relationship on my own terms. So, until I'm sure this is going to work, that's all you get to know." Alya pouted but she respected her friend's wish and kept her nosy questions to herself. Instead, she reached out and wrapped the girl in another hug.
"I'm so proud of you Mari." She held her out at arm's length, her eyes shining with mischief. "But you best believe come tomorrow, we're playing twenty questions again and I'm going to want every single detail." Mari smiled and nodded.
"Thanks Alya." She reached into her purse and pulled out a couple of macaroons her father had given her that morning and they ate them in celebration of Mari's wonderful night to come. As she chewed slowly, she finally said, "I really hope this works. He's a good guy."
"Well, don't be upset if it doesn't," Alya advised. "But what are you doing to make him fall for you?"
"I… okay, I haven't thought that far ahead," she sighed. "I guess that's part of why I'm nervous for tonight. What if I prove myself to be a total dorkasaurus and mess things up with him? I could lose not only his love but his friendship too and… well, I don't think I'm strong enough to lose both of them at the same time!"
Alya patted her hand. She smiled at Mari, before stating, "Take it easy girl. You're going to be alright. Let's start by thinking about what he likes."
"How is that going to help?"
"Girl, figure out what he likes, use it to your power, and it'll lead him straight into your palm." Marinette bit her bottom lip, contemplating what she just said.
"Well… I know he likes… cats… and the quiches my parents make…." And chin and ear scratches and cuddling and apparently teasing me.
"Great. That's a start. Do you have any clothing that is cat-esque?"
"Yeah, a black hoodie with some cat ears."
"Wear that when he shows up. Also, make sure you have some quiches around as a snack. Oh, and wear your matching bra and underwear set." Marinette's face turned red.
"W-what?!"
"Wear the matching bra and underwear." Alya leaned back on the bench, a smug smirk on the face, "Girl, you are in charge tonight. Even if you two don't do anything, just preparing for it means you'll be large and in charge the whole time. You'll have him eating out of your hands before your date ends."
"Really?"
"How do you think I hooked Nino?" Alya laughed as her friend looked disgusted and shot her a wink before standing up. "We better head back. Class is going to start back soon. I'll swing by your place after school today to help set everything up."
"Thanks Alya." She paused. "Um, there's just one thing. My parents don't know he's coming by. He won't be there until after they go to bed so…."
"Ooooh look at you," she elbowed the girl, "You really are trying to get with this guy. Alright. Mum's the word. I won't say a thing. Promise." Marinette relaxed and then hugged her tightly around the neck, both of them giggling suspiciously as they returned to class, earning a scared and confused look from both Nino and Adrien. They then refused to share anything they talked about with either boy. When they were finally released for the day, Alya grabbed Marinette's hand and they left with quick good-byes to them and again, the boys shared a concerned look. Adrien silently hope that whatever they were giggling about had nothing to do with him. Well, Chat Noir at least. He didn't know if Marinette would tell her best friend about their upcoming- uh- date but he also wouldn't put it past her to find out one way or another.
Maybe it would be best to be on his guard tonight.
