"Okay. This won't be so hard." Marinette repeated quietly as she approached the school. "I'll just apologize. No excuses, but I'll explain how important it is and she'll definitely understand." It had been a few days since Nino talked to her, and she wasn't feeling much for conversation that weekend, so all attempts to contact her (from Adrien and Nino, mostly, though she did get one sweet text from Nathanael) were ignored. She knew that probably worried them, and she felt bad about it, but she was too distracted to dwell on it.
Tikki talked things through with her a lot, and Marinette was determined to set things right. With everyone.
Easier said than done. For the first time in a long while, the large doors seemed imposing and intimidating. Marinette hesitated only long enough to acknowledge that fact before she pressed on, unperturbed by how small everything made her feel.
Because she was Ladybug, and she was Marinette. As if she'd let something like that stop her when she needed to fix something.
And her first and foremost concern was Alya.
She felt the tension in her chest, the coiling of her gut, and smiled, choosing intentionally to ignore the instinct to run and instead comparing the feeling to when she fought akuma alongside Chat Noir. All I need is an adrenaline rush. It feels bad now, but it's nothing new, nothing I haven't gone past before. Or that's what I'm going with anyway, 'til it's over.
Alya was relaxing near her locker, furiously swiping at her phone. "Hey Alya."
"Hey girl." Alya responded, immediately putting the phone away in her bag. "I wanted to talk to you."
Marinette smiled, taking note on how nearly all traces of anger had disappeared from her best friend. Alya was smiling amiably, perhaps a bit nervously, and she gripped her bag's strap tightly, and her voice was calm, almost like she was conducting an interview. "So did I."
"We have some time, let's go to the courtyard, we should be able to find a quiet place there."
"Yeah." Marinette followed Alya, and finding a place alone didn't prove to be very difficult. They were both quiet for the entire walk, with a thick sense of tension in the air.
Alya turned totally to Marinette, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She sighed audibly. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that. But you really pissed me off, girl."
"I know. I'm sorry too." Marinette shook her head. "I handled that whole situation terribly. I was just really scared because…" She tried to find the words, but despite all her practicing with Tikki, she couldn't quite get them.
"Because it's so important to you?" Alya guessed. "Because the idea that something so important being rejected is terrifying?"
Marinette looked at her in surprise. "Y-yeah. How did-"
"Adrien talked to me." She rubbed her eyes under her glasses and rand her hand down her face. "I think I understand now. I'm not mad anymore, at least."
Adrien talked to her? Gosh, even when I'm avoiding him he knows exactly what to do to help me. I really owe that cat. But I'll make it up to him later. After this. She thought. Somehow.
"I know why you were mad too. I should have been able to trust you. You're by best friend; of course you're not going to hate me. It was stupid to even think you could."
"It's okay. It'd be hard not to have any doubts."
Marinette looked Alya in the eyes and grinned as big as she could. "I love you, Alya."
"I love you too, Marinette. Forgive me?"
She rushed forward and hugged Alya tight, "Of course, silly. Forgive me?"
"I could never stay mad at you." The two sat for a few seconds before Alya said, "I expect full disclosure, by the way. I'm going to be like your assistant."
"Alya…"
"Not like that! I won't put myself in danger, don't worry. I learned my lesson from the Pharaoh incident. I'm talking media, information. I'm going to start putting together all my assets."
"Assets?"
"You'd be surprised what a large group of fans can do, girl."
Marinette laughed. "Okay Ms. Assistant, what exactly is your big plan?"
"I'm glad you asked." Alya grinned, reaching into her bag to take out a notebook. "The first thing we're going to need to do, assemble a comprehensive, itemized list of a year of akuma." Alya chatted on and on about her plans (including an official Ladybug presence on many social media outlets, and some exclusive interviews with convoluted purposes that Alya spent so much time talking about in such detail that Marinette totally lost track of what the actual purpose was) until they had to go to class.
Together, they made their way to the classroom, and Marinette didn't miss Nino and Adrien's grins when they saw her with Alya.
Marinette was ecstatic. That went smoother than expected. She thought. Now I need to fix things with Adrien and apologize to Nathanael. As excited as she was to try and amend her behavior with Adrien, she really needed to talk to Nathanael. Both because she had been acting rather rude for reasons that he shouldn't even understand, and because she had a long time to think about things.
And something occurred to her. They only started dating not even two weeks ago. Even if I grant him that Chat likes to visit his civilian friends pretty often, he did me anyway, and that he did find out that Chat had a boyfriend that way, that doesn't explain why he would feel at all guilty about kissing Chat. If anything that should make him feel better, since Chat found someone else so it wasn't his fault Chat isn't dating me. I don't buy, "it's just a feeling". And the whole thing about liking more than one person at once? It would have been simpler to say "no, Chat has a boyfriend now obviously he's not bothered". It's like he knew I was thinking about Adrien and him.
Too shady. She sighed, going over all the hints again. Plus, I know people liked to think that but I doubt Nathanael would be so positive that I like Chat unless he knew. "You like him", he didn't even ask. And he noticed we were being weird… I was being weird. If they jump to the love conclusion most people would guess that I rejected Chat, not the other way around, and we were being weird before Chat would have had an opportunity to tell Nathanael about his boyfriend.
Okay maybe that last one wasn't too solid. There wasn't much time between. Chat's a good-looking guy but I don't think anyone would think he'd get a boyfriend right after I reject him. Not that quickly, even if he did say he liked someone.
Still! Nathanael answered questions I didn't even ask. He talked like he knew what was really going on, which he shouldn't. I guess Adrien could have told him but I seriously doubt he would risk it. As long as there's still drama and the one he's telling knows us both it's just too obvious and he'd never do that. Even if I did give him permission, that was before we knew each other, so our drama couldn't cross identities. That's why I didn't question that Nino knew who I was, but I know for a fact that Adrien didn't tell Nathanael before we told each other, and he's too smart to go around revealing himself to our friends after that.
I'll ask to be sure, but I think Nathanael figured it out. Marinette frowned at her paper, thinking, How, though? And does anyone else know?
Well, he didn't even tell me so I doubt he'll go around telling other people if he does know. Plus, it's Nathanael. I don't have to worry much about him, so first things first, tackle one obstacle at a time. I need to talk to Adrien. She gazed absently at the golden hair in front of her. Maybe not today though. Later. I'm kind of exhausted. Even though things went smoothly with Alya, Marinette still felt drained. She wasn't sure she could handle another heart-to-heart apology session that day. And I still need to figure out what to say. I spent all weekend focusing on Alya. I don't even know how to start making it up to him.
"I'm thinking…" Adrien said, scratching his chin. Is there such thing as a cat pun I haven't used before? Hmm, what part of a cat isn't used much in puns… "Tail-ented?"
Nathanael laughed loudly. "Only if you want to sound like you have an accent."
"Eh, I can accept that." He joined in on the laughter and tried to look over at Nathanael's sketchbook.
"Hey, no peeking!" Nathanael pulled the book to his chest and poked Adrien gently with the eraser end of his pencil.
"Come on, please?"
Nathanael frowned playfully. "Alright. You give me one quality art pun and I'll let you see."
"That's what I like to hear." Adrien clapped his hands together eagerly. "Alright, well I'd definitely like to get a new perspective on that sketchbook of yours."
"Three out of ten, too obtuse. You can better than that."
"Well I'll just try harder if it doesn't please a masterpiece like you."
"That's not even a pun, that's just a compliment."
Adrien grinned and leaned on Nathanael, bringing his face close to the other boy's. "It can be both."
Nathanael rolled his eyes, though Adrien noticed his cheeks flush red. "Fine." Adrien felt Nathanael push him away. "Give me some space, and I'll let you see."
Adrien chuckled, "Was that supposed to be a pun?"
"It's one of the fundamentals."
He resisted just a little to say, "Three out of ten, too obtuse." Before relenting to Nathanael's soft push and backing away to a more reasonable distance.
"Well I never claimed to be a pun master-piece like you did."
Adrien narrowed his eyes, though he was sure the effect was lost by his dumb grin. Same pun, different application, I like it. "You're the best boyfriend a man could ever ask for."
"Eh, don't sell yourself short." Nathanael moved his sketchbook so that Adrien could see what he was drawing. "Anyway I was just practicing landscapes." Adrien looked down at a rough sketch of a view he had seen too many times to not recognize, the rooftops of Paris.
"It's beautiful."
"I only just started." Nathanael retorted. "And you're biased."
"Am I? Well, you're beautiful."
Putting his pencil to paper again, he hummed softly and said, "Still biased."
"Still beautiful."
Nathanael looked up suspiciously, his face red but his expression a calculated annoyed. He sighed and closed his sketchbook, moving it aside. "You just want attention." He said, reaching up to ruffle Adrien's hair.
Adrien let him, enjoying the feeling. "Maybe I do. I have a cute boyfriend to give it to me, so why wouldn't I?"
Nathanael didn't respond before his eyes moved to something past Adrien. Adrien would have turned to look, but Nathanael was still absently playing with his hair because of whatever distracted him so Adrien just let it happen. "Hi Marinette." Nathanael said, making Adrien snap immediately back to focus and turn to face her.
"Hey Marinette!" Adrien said, grinning.
Marinette sounded subdued and tired when she said, "Hi guys." She yawned. "How have you been?"
Will be better if this means you aren't avoiding me anymore. "We're okay. What about you? You look tired." Nathanael said.
"A little. I was up late last night."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I was thinking about what to say." She looked away at the grass, and put her hands behind her back. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you guys."
"That's okay." Adrien said immediately. He glanced over to Nathanael, who just smiled and raised his eyebrows. Adrien hesitated with his next words. "You had reason." He said finally, wondering how much of her reason Nathanael really knew. Well, if we just strip down the excess shenanigans, saying she had a crush on me would probably be good enough until we tell him about our identities. He probably assumed that much anyway.
"I'm glad you're feeling better." Nathanael said simply.
Marinette gave Nathanael an odd look. For just a second, she furrowed her brow and her apologetic smile wavered. But it passed as quickly as it came and Adrien wondered whether it really even happened.
"I am. And I'm sorry Nathanael. I was jealous, so talking to you was a bit hard. I'm sorry I didn't even tell you why."
Nathanael glanced toward Adrien before saying, "Don't worry about it, I understand."
After a few moments of silence, Marinette sighed and folded her arms over her chest. "Well, sorry again, thank you for understanding. I won't do anything like that again."
She started to turn away, and Adrien swallowed the lump in his throat watching her do so. He could tell she still felt awkward, and he didn't like thinking that she was just trying to get away from him, even if it's just in that situation and not in an avoiding kind of way again.
"Hey, wait." Nathanael said. Adrien looked over, but Nathanael had his eyes trained on Marinette. "If you're not busy, why don't you hang out with us?"
She frowned. "Aren't you two… uh, busy?"
"With what?" He laughed. "Preparing bad puns? We've just been relaxing, and I don't think either of us mind you joining us."
"Not at all!" Adrien agreed enthusiastically. "I'd love it." He thought that maybe if she did stay, they'd all be able to get more comfortable around each other again. Like when we were protecting Nathanael after that kiss, haha. All of us got along so well then.
"There you go." Nathanael said. "I, for one, would love the chance to be better friends with you." When Adrien saw the way Nathanael smiled at Marinette, all genuine and happy cheer, he wondered briefly whether Nathanael still harbored the old crush on Marinette he had when he was akumatized. Well I know I still have a crush on her so honestly I think that'd be great.
She hesitated, but agreed.
Adrien was freaking out a little. I can't believe we're all here just the three of us. He knew his face was red, but then so was Nathanael's and Marinette's, so he wasn't really worried.
He spent most of that time just enjoying it.
Until Ladybug and Chat Noir came up.
It was, surprisingly, Marinette who brought up the topic. They had been talking for a long time and eventually their conversation had lulled and they all sat in amiable silence before Marinette asked Nathanael what he thought of Chat Noir. Adrien was trying so hard to figure out what she was trying to do that he almost missed Nathanael's answer.
Almost.
"Obviously, Chat is the coolest cat in Paris," He said. "I'm happy for him."
"And his boyfriend, right?" Marinette elaborated.
"Yeah, I wish them the best."
Adrien couldn't keep the confusion off his face. I didn't tell Nathanael that Chat had a boyfriend. I thought it would have been a big hint if Chat got one right after we started dating. How did he know? He's not just rolling with it; he's not surprised at all.
"They're both pretty lucky, don't you think? To have found each other?"
"Definitely. Especially the boyfriend."
When Nathanael gave Adrien a grin and a wink, he knew that somewhere along the line, he had messed up. Oh god, how did he figure it out? Marinette must be pissed. Oh my god what do I do?
"What do you guys think?" Marinette said, looking positively devious. "Does Chat's boyfriend know his identity?"
Both of them looked at Adrien, which only exacerbated the feeling in his gut that, Nathanael knows, and Marinette knows that he knows, oh god why am I the last to find out about this?
"U-um, I… don't know. Nathanael?"
"I think he probably figured it out." Shit. "And I think he was intending to wait until Chat told him face to face, but apparently he was a bit too obvious and Ladybug figured out that he knew." What? "I thought I was being subtle." He pouted a little, but still smiled.
"What?!" Adrien exclaimed.
"Nathanael and I talked last weekend, when I was being Ladybug." Marinette explained. "I didn't realize it right away, but afterwards I was pretty sure. I was kind of trying to lead it in so you knew I was okay with you telling him but… haha, oops. I got carried away, sorry."
"You're not… mad?" Adrien asked timidly.
"I don't know yet." She turned dramatically to Nathanael. "How exactly did you figure it out?"
"Well my first hint was when I drew that thing after Adrien joked about making out with Chat." Nathanael said, his face turning a shade red. "I noticed they were similar before but drawing them together like that was just… striking I guess. Same face structure, same build, and then I started thinking about it." He looked at Adrien. "You fight with your baton more like a fencing foil than like a staff. So I started connecting the dots. Really it was only after I kissed him and Adrien turned into a blushing mess around me that I knew for sure. Alix was teasing that you had a crush on me, but you were never that bad about it before." He punched Adrien's arm lightly, as Adrien muttered protests. "And then you two got weird the same day Chat and Ladybug did, and I couldn't really miss it. I've drawn you and Ladybug a lot before too, so I just looked more closely and it was the same thing. Same face structure, same build, and it made sense to me that it would be you two."
Marinette frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. "And…"
Nathanael rolled his eyes. "Alix suspects Adrien, but no, I haven't told anyone."
"Good boy." She smiled, cleared her throat, and looked sideways at Adrien, who was nervously awaiting her sentence. "Don't give me that look." But the kitten eyes protect me. "I'm not mad." She sighed. "It's not your fault. Besides, Nathanael deserved to know at some point, right? Don't worry, Kitty."
Adrien let out an audible sigh of relief as Marinette and Nathanael laughed at him. He smiled, looked at the two with him, and beamed. I can't believe how lucky I am. He thought. Everything turned out okay, and now we're all together like this.
Plagg burst out of his hiding place in Adrien's shirt then, complaining loudly about a disturbing lack of cheese.
Adrien decided his punishment was that he had to sit and wait while they explained to Nathanael why there was a tiny floating cat with a bad attitude haunting them.