AN: I AM ALIVE! AND I HAVE REVIVED THIS FIC ONCE MORE! :D
Welp, so I know I kind of just disappeared for over a month, but I have some semi-valid reasons! I had planned to take two weeks off writing due to my school's approaching exam block and consequential need of focus for my studies, but after the term finished I still hadn't returned to writing… the reason for which being a little less excusable…
I got roped into another fandom. What a surprise.
I was just innocently browsing through Netflix, celebrating passing all my exams, then the next thing I know it's 3am and I've binge watched two seasons of Voltron: Legendary Defenders. I was doomed from the start. After that I was obsessing over Klance (my newest OTP. Welcome to the family, boys), and then I got major writer's block, and for that I can't really defend myself for my absence. So I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm here now with this fluffy chapter which is only as good as it is because my beta's a magic worker. Sorry guys, I swear I'll try and reassemble some semblance of a routine and do my best to stick with it.
But thanks to everyone who's stuck with this fic, or those who just found it and have actually made it this far and weren't somehow turned off at some point! The fact that you're here makes me super happy :)
Now, on with the story!
Marinette couldn't help the dread she felt at the sight of the school gates looming above her. She had woken early this morning full of jittery energy, nervous as to how her peers would react to her return now that the news of her supposed relationship with Chat Noir had gone viral. She had yet to properly return to school since the announcement was made, and she hadn't a clue as to how her classmates would react when she showed up for class. Regardless, she knew was still expected to go to school, and she couldn't hide in her room forever. So, despite her apprehension on the matter, she had prepared herself that morning as best she could, and set off towards the campus before she could convince herself to do otherwise.
Yet despite her firm resolve, Marinette still walked through the college gates cautiously, head low and fingers clutching her bag straps nervously as her eyes scanned the inner courtyard with a careful gaze. Due to the ungodly hour at which she had awoken, most of Paris' people were still tucked away in bed – the recently risen sun only further accentuated the fact that Marinette was at school far earlier than necessary. This left the school blissfully empty save for the teachers preparing for the day's lessons inside, and Marinette gave a quiet sigh of relief at the small mercy. She was alone for the moment, and she was going to make the most of her solitude while she was still able.
Collapsing on one of the large stone steps leading up to the main building, Marinette took a moment to calm her nerves before turning her focus towards conducting a convincing story for her and Chat's supposed romance, as well as for their escaping disappearance the day before.
Could she get away with the excuse of a sudden, devastating cold? A dramatic case of cameras-shyness? Alien abduction? The possibilities were endless.
After roughly twenty minutes of continuous pondering in the slight morning chill, Marinette was just about ready to give up on her quest for an excuse, when the sound of a car door closing with a light slam caught her attention.
Lifting her gaze from her shoes, Marinette peered around the wall to catch sight of the new arrival, realising with no small amount of panic and fluster that the person exiting the slim black limousine was, in fact, Adrien Agreste. Straightening her posture, she whipped her head around in search of a conversation to blend into to avoid any potential awkward (on her part) conversation with the blonde, only to remember that she had been the first person to arrive at school and no one who valued a solid sleep schedule had appeared yet. Fortunately, in spite of her far-from-subtle pink jeans and the emptiness of the campus, Adrien had yet to notice her.
Upon further inspection, Marinette noticed that the boy's usually immaculate posture was slumped, feet dragging and body tilted slightly to the left, as if put off balance by the slight weight of the book bag slung over his shoulder. His gaze was unfocused and lidded with fatigue, shadows ghosting beneath his dulled emerald eyes as he struggled to keep them open and watch where he was going.
Marinette frowned at the drastic difference in Adrien's character, brows furrowing with concern as her eyes tracked his slow, stumbling trek towards a low step on the side of the stairwell adjacent to her. He dropped onto it heavily, elbows resting on his knees as he let his head fall into his hands, bag slipping off his shoulder and tumbling to the stone beside him.
It was silent for a few beats while Marinette's mind fought to catch up with the situation and decide what to do, but her concern for the boy grew too strong to ignore when he suddenly seemed to slip unconscious, teetering forward and almost face-planting into the stone before he jerked awake suddenly. The pitiful display was all she needed to solidify her resolve.
Marinette crossed the steps and descended wordlessly to his level, not entirely sure what to do or how to approach the situation. After a moment of further consideration, she simply decided to announce her presence so he wouldn't look up and think she was luring silently behind him like a creep.
"Hey…" Marinette greeted softly, wincing slightly as Adrien jumped at the sudden sound of her voice before his eyes snapped up to meet hers. His shocked and guarded expression softened considerably at the sight of her, though a strange sort of distress quickly clouded his eyes soon after. If a light blush dusted his cheeks when he met her eyes, Marinette didn't notice.
"Oh, hey Marinette, I, uh, I didn't see you there…" he greeted somewhat bashfully, averting his gaze in slight embarrassment of not noticing her earlier and being caught almost falling asleep in public. He cleared his throat. "I didn't expect anyone to be at school for a little while longer; figured that I'd be alone."
Marinette's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry, I can leave if you want to be alone or – "
"Wha – no!" Adrien's cheeks warmed slightly at his sudden outburst and he ducked his head again to avoid her eyes. "No, no stay, it's ok I'm just… I didn't get too much sleep last night, that's all. But I wouldn't mind the company, if that's ok."
Marinette paused a moment, contemplating the blonde's almost vulnerable expression and quiet invitation, before sitting down beside him. Deciding to take a gamble, she reached out a tentative hand and grasped his, watching the boy for any sign of discomfort from the action. Adrien tensed at the contact for a moment, but before Marinette could begin to panic, the stiffness of his shoulders eased and he almost seemed to lean into the touch, lacing his fingers with hers and holding her hand gently. Breathing a soft sigh of relief at his acceptance of the action, Marinette relaxed her posture and joined Adrien in his silence, content to sit with him for as long as he wanted company.
She wasn't really sure what she was doing, or why holding Adrien's hand was her immediate response to his disquietude, but he seemed to appreciate the gesture and the silent offer of quiet comfort that came with it. Marinette could tell that something was bothering him – the sense of underlying distress hung heavily in the air around Adrien – and the cause of his troubles was likely what had kept him up all night. She was worried for her friend, but she knew that Adrien was never one to open up about his problems, and that pushing him would probably only drive him away. So, she resigned herself to simply sitting there, letting Adrien draw whatever comfort he could from her presence.
After some time had passed, in which Marinette had begun to zone out and bask in the warm sunlight, a sudden weight dropped atop her head. Marinette immediately stiffened at the contact, snapping back to reality with a slight squeak. Careful not to move least she disturb Adrien's head resting against her own, Marinette peeked over at the boy beside her. His body leaned against hers comfortably, head resting atop hers as a pleasant warmth radiated off him and softened the bite of the cool breeze. His breathing was steady and even, and Marinette's heart gave a sudden flutter as she realised she was close enough to smell Adrien's natural, subtle scent of mint (and was that a hint of… cheese?).
Slowly averting her eyes from Adrien's sleeping form, Marinette took in a deep breath before releasing it calmly. Right. No big deal, your big-time crush is just taking a nap pressed up beside you. Using you as a pillow. Still holding your hand. With probably the most adorable sleeping face known to man.
Nope, not a big deal. Not at all.
Keeping her eyes firmly directed straight ahead, Marinette continued to breath in and out slowly. You're in a (fake) public relationship with Chat Noir, stop making this more difficult for yourself, Marinette scolded herself, trying her hardest to calm the butterflies fluttering madly in her stomach and will the blush from her cheeks.
A part of Marinette wanted desperately to run away, her daily amount of direct-Adrien-contact-tolerance being more than spent, but at the same time she hated the thought of waking the exhausted boy, knowing how little sleep he'd received. After all, what kind of friend would she be if she stopped him from getting some rest when he so obviously needed it? No, she couldn't do that to him; it wouldn't be fair, especially after he'd felt comfortable enough to fall asleep in her presence.
So, with those thoughts in mind and just a hint of self-indulgent contentment, Marinette curled closer against Adrien's side, shifting until her head laid comfortably against his shoulder with his head still resting against hers, and allowed herself to enjoy the moment of comfortable silence and fulfilled fantasies.
AN: No Marichat in this one, but Adrienette really needed to make a comeback, and I just couldn't help myself! I'm thinking of writing an Adrien-centric chapter next, as per my beta's recommendation, to see how he reacts to everything that's happened so far… would you guys like that? Do you want to see some more Adrienette as well? Let me know in the reviews! Ideas and prompts are the ultimate cure for writer's block, so any and all ideas are also greatly appreciated :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug