Video inspiration~
airsoftoasis2/video/7041628026223791406?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
Clumsiness was nothing new to Marinette, she was always tripping on something or even nothing. She had become unusually skillful at falling at least somewhat gracefully, managing not to get seriously hurt on her falls. Sometimes someone would be there to catch her before she crashed to the ground, and somehow, Adrien found himself being the one to catch her most of the time.
The class had officially dubbed him the "Marinette catcher" after he caught her for the third time in one day. Adrien didn't mind this title since he was always up for helping a friend but he noticed every time someone would bring it up Marinette's face would become very red. Maybe she was embarrassed to be tripping all the time. He told himself he was going to help her, maybe invite her to some kind of balancing class, if those even existed.
Some of the catches were awkward, sometimes it had Adrien dropping whatever he was holding to catch her, but it had become a normal thing. Marinette always stumbled out a "thank you" before quickly scampering away.
Although Adrien stepped up as the Marinette catcher, people were still worried about her falls, particularly when stairs were involved. But even without stairs Marinette always had something to trip over.
It came as a surprise to the class when the gym teacher announced that they would be going paintballing the next day as a surprise fun day. Everyone sent worried glances towards Marinette, paintball was not known to be clumsy friendly. It helped calm everyone's nerves for the girl when the coach announced they would all be wearing protective equipment.
The next day came and the bus was all loaded up and taking the kids to the paintball field. When they arrived they were instructed how to put all the pads on and how to work the guns. Next, the rules and teams were announced.
"At least you're on Adrien's team so he can catch you when you inevitably trip," Alya teased Marinette, who in return stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"I can't be that clumsy…" Marinette grumbled but it went to deaf ears as Alya had already gone to join her team in strategy making.
"Come on Marinette, we need you in this plan," Max called from her group's side.
The plan was to spread out and push forward on the field in a V shape, the edges would push farther ahead than the center to trick the other team. The fast people would be in charge of message carrying and drawing fire so the others could move forward in the line. Marinette was placed somewhat close to Adrien, which was planned by the group.
The match started and was pretty even on both teams. Marinette stumbled a little but was determined to help her team, her Ladybug instincts kicking in. Soon she found herself launching over the blockers and sniping the other team skillfully. Even pulled off some quick dodges which surprised everyone.
She was eventually hit and had to go back to her line and wait for her respawn timer to end so she could join back out on the field. Once she was 'alive' again she ran back out, ducking and sliding behind barriers to avoid getting hit. She saw her center group behind one of the larger barriers.
She stood and ran towards them, dropping down to her knees a little later than she should have to slide over to them. Adrien saw this and stuck his hand out to help slow her down so she didn't slam into the wall, accidentally his hand placement was on her chest.
"Sorry, I had to touch your chest, sorry I had to!" Adrien quickly said, hoping she wouldn't be mad at him for this hand placement.
Marinette's mind was more on the game than who had been talking to her but yet somehow her mind still knew it was Adrien. "You're allowed to," was all she said before taking aim over the barrier.
This statement left everyone in the small group stunned, completely forgetting the war-like game going on around them. Adrien stared blankly at her, his mouth hung open just a bit.
Marinette realized no one was moving around her and what she had just said finally caught up to her, causing her to abruptly sit up out of cover. The second her head peaked over the barrier someone on the other team sniped her right in the facemask, the impact sending her head sideways.
The ref instantly blew the whistle and Alya was by her side in a few seconds.
"OMG girl are you ok? Kim, did you really have to go for the headshot? I'm going to kill you!" Alya yelled.
Marinette was dazed and had some paint spots covering her face from where there were breathing holes in the mask but was otherwise ok.
"Ok that's all the time you guys have for the day, Max's team wins with Marinette making up a majority of the points!" The instructor said.
Everyone quickly dispersed to return the equipment and pack up.
When Marinette got home she quickly made it up to her room and dramatically dropped herself face-first onto her bed. "Tikki, why did I say that to him?" She groaned, "He probably thinks I'm crazy now!"
"Well you are a bit crazy," Tikki laughed.
"TIKKI!" The girl yelled.
After a while of being upset over what she said, it was time for patrol with Chat.
When Ladybug arrived at their usual meeting point, she found Chat sitting on the edge, deep in thought.
"Hey Kitty," She said sitting next to him.
"Hey Bugaboo, absolutely paw-some to see you here," Chat punned, earring an eye roll and a nudge to the gut.
Ladybug didn't feel like running around Paris quite yet so she decided to make small conversation, "what were you thinking about when I got here?"
"Seeing you M'lady," Chat replied smoothly.
Ladybug snorted, "seriously Chat, you were lost in thought."
Chat sighed, turning serious, "One of my close friends is really clumsy, she is really nice and so kind and amazing but she always trips on everything or nothing at all."
"Sounds like kitty has a crush," Ladybug teased.
"I only have eyes for you M'lady… but anyway, she gets really flustered around me and I'm worried she feels imitated by me," This earned another snort from Ladybug.
Chat rolled his eyes at her, "I'm serious, sometimes she says some funny things around me but I just play it off but today she said something I can't stop thinking about." Chat frowned.
"Well, what did she say?" Ladybug couldn't say she wasn't curious now, even though she knew he couldn't give too much detail.
"Well we were playing a game and she went to slide in next to me but slid too late so I put my arm out to slow her down so she did not crash into the wall and my hand happened to land on her chest…" Chat said sheepishly.
This sent Ladybug into a fit of laughter, "YOU'VE BEEN THINKING OF TOUCHING THIS GIRLS CHEST ALL DAY?" Ladybug had to wipe away tears she was laughing so hard.
"NO, I HAVE NOT!" Chat defended.
"Ok, ok, you said she said something though, what did she say?" Ladybug finally stopped laughing at her partner.
"Well, I uh- said sorry for uh- touching her chest," Chat sheepishly said, rubbing the back of his neck. "And she said 'you're allowed to'."
If this story wasn't so familiar to her she would have probably been rolling around laughing so hard but instead all she could do was gape and stare at her partner. All the pieces suddenly clicked into her head, Adrien was Chat Noir. That was the only logical possibility, no way had this happened to someone else today, the chances were just too narrow.
"A-Adrien?" Ladybug whispered.
"WHAT? H-How did… MARINETTE?" Chat screamed when the pieces clicked together.
Ladybug shoved her face into her hands while Chat sat there staring at her. It was a bit comforting that he was actually thinking about his lady's chest part of the day but at the same time it was Marinette's chest.
Chat suddenly started laughing, causing Ladybug to peak up from her hands and start laughing too. The pure coincidence this happened to them was hilarious. They laughed throughout the rest of patrol time, one occasionally able to tell how close they were to finding out before only to set off another bout of laughter. They had some serious talking they needed to do but for now, they would laugh at their blindness.
The End.