Already
"What if…", Chat turned towards the heroine by his side, both breathless, as they leaned against the cool brick wall behind them. To hide. To make sure, that they both were not seen by that slimy, slippery thing, that brought havoc to this city. "…we both just went home afterwards? And don't go to that stupid trip?"
"Stupid?", she asked, raising one eyebrow underneath her mask, felt how the heart in her chest still tried to plunge out of her rib cage. It felt, as if they had been running miles across Paris. But it was merely adrenalin, that pumped through her veins, making her ears buzz, her stomach light. "Usually you enjoy school trips, Chaton!"
He huffed.
"Usually it's something interesting! And I find a lot of things interesting! I like going to museums!"
"…and you just don't like to go to art galleries? I mean - this is the freakin Louvre we are talking about! You were there before! Also - you know, that there are all sorts of art works - definitely more than just modern art, or ancient pieces, or-"
A loud crash erupted from behind them, making both their ears ring, cutting her short. Debris flew around, as that green ball of glob has thrown itself through the wall behind them - just beside Ladybug.
Chat Noir - hearing the crash from the moment on it happened - grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him and turned away from the destruction, caused by the new foe. Holding her close, as he yielded her from the chaos and the pain and injuries it might bring. Of course - their suits would keep them unharmed. But still he felt the urge to protect her.
And… who was she to complain? It had always been like that, and the reveal hadn't changed that one bit.
The next moment Ladybug blinked, she found herself pressed against him, face planted against his chest, as he protected her whole body with his. One hand laying on the back of her head, the other around her shoulders to keep her close, as he turned away from the monster, that broke through the solid brick wall. She let him - marveled in a brief moment in the closeness they shared in those few seconds.
It was everything she allowed herself. Allowed them…
The blush, that had dared to creep on her cheeks, turned even more crimson at the moment she remembered his visit a few weeks ago. They have shared the popcorn she had brought for him in the cinema, when his father had forbidden him to go with them. Just sitting on her chaise, opposite of each other. Talking. Talking for hours and until 3 in the morning about little, unimportant things, and yet everything they enjoyed and loved so dearly. They have laughed and joked around, as if there wasn't any burden on their shoulders. It had felt so simple, and it had been just like their much-missed friendship, that had made them this perfectly functioning team in the very beginning. This time without the masks as well.
… before she had started to look for other people, so they could be aided in particular difficult fights.
… and way before she had pushed him away, afraid to hurt him even more, which could have been the reason for his Akumasation in that frightening reality she tried to forget.
Ladybug - and the girl within the magical suit - wouldn't mind, if they found each other more often in these kinds of conversations. If they spend time alone - even without their kwamis or friends. And perhaps one day she would be able to talk with him about Chat Blanc and the void and nightmares it had created, when she had fought him. Surely it would bring them even closer, and he would be eventually be able to understand, why she had pushed him away in the first place…
But…
…then again, she feared the consequences, if she gave in to her feelings, that devoured her heart daily. Though - this love and affection she felt for Adrien and Chat Noir almost drove her crazy - but she chose to swallow them down and tried to be happy with the friendship, that was getting stronger with each passing day.
And now definitely wasn't the time to give in to her feelings - or dream about that moment, all these days ago.
Therefore, Ladybug quickly pushed herself out of Chat's strong arms to face that thing that they needed to face - shuddering once more, as she saw the ginormous pile of slime behind them, that slowly creeped along, devouring everything in its way.
Her partner cringed as well.
"It's just slime and just I don't want to be close to it in any way!"
Ladybug smiled, and she reached for her yo-yo, while he extended his baton, too.
"Are you worried, you might get stuck?"
He smirked in return and pointed towards his hair.
"Don't want it to get stuck in my fur, Milady! And I am pawsitive, that you don't want to be trapped as well!"
True - for this thing's outer coating was especially sticky. People clung to it, tried to get free, while they shouted and pleaded for help. Debris - even whole cars and traffic signs adorned it's flexible, green skins as well. And the trail - similar to that of a snail - seemed to be like super clue as well.
It wasn't all too dangerous, but the concept of this Akuma definitely annoyed them.
Something like an arm emerged from that gooey pile of slime and it reached out for them. Trying to hit them, or make them stick to it as well. Ladybug backflipped easily and Chat shot in the air with a jump.
"How pawful of you to disturb our conversation!" He shouted and mindlessly threw his staff in that thing's direction. It merely groaned lowly by the impact and his weapon went right through his limp, got stuck somewhere in its chest.
Or… Whatever that place within the Akuma might be.
Landing next to his lady on a far away rooftop, he frowned at the loss of his handy baton.
"…well, what a cat-tastrophe…"
But it was Ladybug, who gazed towards him, as her eyebrows climbed underneath her mask. Just in time with a painful sting in her heart.
"A lot of puns today…", she whispered - by now she was very able to add one and one together - knowing why there were puns than usual.
"Huh?"
But her partner did not seem to be aware of that. Could only blink at her sudden remark.
Thankfully, both acted as one and jumped away, again, when the Akuma dared to attack anew.
Knowing, that now wasn't definitely not the time to talk - especially not about something as important as this, she chose this moment to call a Lucky Charm, instead.
"A salt shaker…?", Chat mumbled, tilting his head to the side, as he glanced at the dotted, small object in her hands. "What might be up with that? You can't just sprinkle it on our slime ball and expect it to react like a snail!"
Ladybug blinked, grasping onto the shaker in her hand tightly to not lose it, while both dodged an impact for the third time.
But this time the Akuma has hit the building - badly - and the ground underneath their legs started to crumple. Huge pieces were falling down too easily in the abyss that was created, both heroes running and jumping to get away. Another crash and by now the floor was shaking.
They wouldn't be fast enough - even with jumping away.
Therefore, Ladybug hurriedly started to swing her yo-yo around - eyes searching for something to launch her own weapon into - a nearby lamppost, down in the streets it was.
"Chat?"
"Yes?", he called back, stumbling, launching himself in the air, as a crack opened up before him, but catching himself, before he could have fallen down as well.
"Catch!" She threw the salt shaker in his direction - knowing, she needed her hands free for her next move - and the Lucky Charm wouldn't be anywhere safer, than with him. And of course - with his cat-like reflexes, he caught the dotted object easily.
Good…
Then she extended her own, free hand in his direction, just as her yo-yo anchored itself in said lamppost. "Now hold on tight!"
She didn't need to ask him a second time. He threw his body in her direction, arm outstretched, left hand landing her right one far too easily. Both held tight, as she swung them down into the streets with ease, and the two heroes easily landed on their feet.
"What happens, if you put salt on a snail?", she yet asked, breathless from the Adrenalin, that surged through her veins. This time she did not dare to look in her partner's direction - worried, he might read too much into the blush, that spread on her cheeks far too easily, as she noticed the slight warm tingling in her hand, once she let go of him.
…it definitely settled far too easily in her stomach, making it flutter lightly - letting her know, that she needed to train on keeping her feelings in check - like desperately.
"The snail dehydrates", Chat simply answered, and he shrugged. "It's a pretty cruel death for it, but… wait… Really? You want to salt the Akuma! That must be tasting pawfully!"
Another pun - by now she lost count of all of them - just for today. Perhaps… she was imagining things - or there really was something going on in his mind. But… would he answer her truthfully, if she asked him about it?
And… maybe he would kindly and in his unique Adrien way tell her, that this wasn't her business…
Yet for now, Ladybug had better things to do, narrowed her eyes at the foe in front of her, instead.
"Sounds like a plan for me!"
And - indeed - it worked.
Chat Noir found his part as the perfect distraction once more. The slimy thing had only eyes - if it even had eyes - for the unarmed leather-wearing hero. Ladybug on the other hand swung over it with her yo-yo once more, letting the salt rain down on it. Making it react, hiss and shrink in a matter of seconds. It was getting smaller and smaller, until the people and objects, that were previously stuck to it were freed and nothing more, but a human sized puddle on the gray asphalt remained. In its middle, the two heroes found the object of their desire - a mere palm sized box. The akumatized object.
It was Chat, who reached out for it, merely broke it with his hands.
Indeed - the black butterfly started to soar towards the skies, trying to escape at last.
She purified it without further hesitation and this time it was Chat, who watched it fly away as a pure, white insect after that. Ladybug on the other hand noticed his tensed shoulders and the heavy frown on his lips - the dullness in his bright eyes as well. And she knew, that something must have happened earlier, for him to let his guard down this openly.
But before she would ask him, she needed to sort her thoughts about it as well. For - sure - he might trust her, but then again, he rarely let her in his mind and heart…
…especially when she could hit some scares on the way…
"Thank you…", a small, cowering man said, once he returned to his true, human form, again. "You really don't want to know why Monarch chose to transform me!"
"You may take over from here!", Ladybug lightly said and patted her partner's shoulder. "For I need to hide! Take care!"
Before Chat could have complained, she was gone - leaving him to listen to the man's story. She really didn't want to hear to that - but knowing him, he might want to share it in the future. Just to tease her.
But… If she was correct with her assumption, then she wouldn't mind in the very end.
"Tikki… Spots off…", she quietly murmured, once she had reached a well hidden alleyway, pressing her back against the cool brick wall, when the pink light ran across her body. The red Kwami soared from her earrings and landed in her palm with a tiny sigh, smiling up in her direction - but pouting, when she noticed that thoughtful glance on the face of her Chosen.
"Marinette?", Tikki most quietly asked and the girl shook her head, to clear her mind, again. Hurriedly, she let her free hand wander inside her purse, instead, to retrieve a cookie for her small friend.
"I am sorry. I am just… it's been a long week and-"
"What has happened?"
Finally, Marinette's blue eyes darted towards her kwami and she bit her lip and furrowed her eyebrows. The small entity still hasn't taken a bite from her sugary treat, instead she waited patiently, until her human continued:
"It's about him… He… I can tell, that things between Adrien and his father are currently not the best. They weren't for quite some time now. I… noticed, that he makes more puns, than usual… Like an excessive amount of puns! And… I see it in his eyes - when he wears the mask, and when he is without it. But… I am scared to ask him about it… I don't want to give him the impression, that I am snooping around in his private life. Which I won't! It's just…"
"It's just, that you care so much about him, Marinette. About Adrien and Chat and every other facet of him as well. And that's normal - the way you feel. And I think, that's wonderful! For it shows the strength of that special bond you two share…"
Marinette slowly nodded her head - knowing of this bond they share, cherishing in all of its forms, curious and yet a little afraid of they way it might develop in the future. Then she sighed and smiled sadly down to the small friend in her hand.
"What would you do?"
"I wouldn't stay quiet, Marinette…", Tikki wisely whispered. "Perhaps he is just waiting for the right opportunity to speak out about it - or waiting for the right person, who is willing to lend him an ear. Somebody who would not judge. Somebody he finds comfort in…"
"Somebody who he trusts blindly…"
Tikki nodded, her bright blue eyes gleaming happily at the insight her little pep talk has gifted her Chosen.
"Talk to him, when the time is right. And listen carefully, when he opens up. I can only guess how much he needs it." That smile on Tikki's lips got even wider and the gleam in her eyes was even brighter. "I know, that it will bring you two closer. In more ways, than you might expect…"
"We will see about that…"
Marinette would have loved to say more. Would have loved to remind the small goddess, that there was still no time to think about a relationship with Adrien - though she doubted, that he was even interested in her that way at all. But there was no time for that - she heard noises from above, glancing up to the sky she made out Chat, who jumped away. Apparently to hide and transform as well - though he stopped running, once he has a brief glance from her down in that alleyway.
Instead, he turned around, jumping down, instead.
He smirked.
"You haven't come far, as I see~"
With a slight bow, he greeted Tikki as well, who giggled lightly at that sight, before her partner detransformed as well.
Marinette swallowed, as she watched that green light illuminating him and as it peeled away the leather from his body.
…she definitely wouldn't get tired watching him like that.
"Believe me - you really don't want to know, what got him akumatized! And- Marinette?"
She was still staring at him, enjoyed the way he had stretched his brought shoulders when the transformation was done and before Plagg has found a seat there. How he brushed a hand through his hair, mirth in his eyes and face flushed with laughter.
He was so handsome and his spell has worked on her once more, making her blush and hastily avert her eyes from him.
"It has been a long week…", she merely mumbled to no one in particular and shrugged. "I am just tired. That's all…"
Yeah… perhaps she was tired and maybe Adrien has noticed, how she had admired him, as if he was the impersonation of some ancient God to her. And still she had noticed that wary look in his beautiful green eyes, that made her throat tighten and that made her heart pound twice as fast as it should.
But this wasn't any happy, warm feeling, that took over an that moment.
For she noticed - knew - that something dark was harboring in his mind and was trying to take control over the sunshine boy in front of her.
And the reason for this darkness was his own father. She just knew it - even though he had not said a word about it…
And surely he never would.
"Urgh - you don't say! Four Akumas in three days was really pawful…"
Yet another pun - and right now he wasn't even his hero self.
A careful glance in Plagg's direction was proof enough - the black Kwami knew what his Chosen was currently going through. His green eyes rested on Adrien's face for a silent, long moment, before he returned to eat the precious cheese in his hands. It was so very unlike the kwami of destruction. So very unlike his sarcastic, carefree self.
Though - so much Marinette knew - Plagg cared deeply for his human. Just as much as Tikki did care for her. Just in another way and maybe just the same. They merely voiced it in very different ways.
"At least we have Wayzz and Longg back! How are they doing, by the way?"
Marinette blinked. Multiple times and until those pesky tears, that tried to leak from her eyes, started to disappear again. A desperate smile was planted on her lips and she finally nodded - hating to be a coward for not finding the courage in herself to speak out about her thoughts that regarded him and the famous designer.
"Yeah. With Bunnyx around and those two back home where they belong, we still have twelve kwamis we need to save - including Nooroo and Duusu. But that's a start…" She nervously fidgeded with the strap of her purse, but at least it helped her to bravely gaze in Adrien's eyes, as she continued: "And they are doing just fine. They are still bound to some magical spell, so they won't be able to tell me, who Monarch truly is. But… They are back and that is, what counts."
"True…"
"You two are welcomed to see them, you know?" It was Tikki, who spoke this invitation and at first Marinette found herself quite surprised at that. But then again - and after only a second of consideration - she knew, that Tikki was right. Adrien and Plagg were always welcomed in her place - to see the other kwamis, to talk, or…
…to just find a happy little place. A refuge, when both needed and wanted it.
"Tonight would be okay… I think, they would gladly meet you. You haven't seen them in a long time. Like… centuries, right, Plagg?"
Plagg's eyes immediately lit up at the invitation, soaring up high and right in front of Adrien's eyes the next moment. She must have struck a good nerve there - and she definitely didn't mind having Adrien and Plagg over. Just for a few hours - they needed to go to school in the morning anyway. But still, she could prepare some snacks - including some cheese for the tiny god - and they could talk.
…just talk for a few precious minutes, before they both could go out to patrol together. Yeah… perhaps then he would be able to speak up…
"Can we go? Please? Just five minutes before your boring patrol!", apparently Plagg was thinking just the same.
Adrien chuckled at his small friend's plea and this sign definitely warmed Marinette's heart. For this - this bright gleam, that returned to the depths of his eyes - that was him. Her Adrien and - just as important to her - her Chat Noir.
"Fine!"
The blond boy turned towards her, smiling even more brightly, and he even laid a hand on her upper arm. Her skin immediately tingled underneath his touch, and a pleasant warmth spread from his hand in her limbs and into ever fibre of her being. She didn't know if it was a blessing, or a curse, that she had opted to go with a top on this particularly hot day, so she could feel his skin directly on hers - but she knew, that his touch definitely made her cheeks go red once more.
"Dinner will be at seven, and I am expected to go to bed by eight. Nobody will check afterwards on me anyway - so I will be at your place shortly after!"
Plagg cleared his throat, and Adrien snickered once more.
"Of course - we will be there shortly after eight. Do you want us to bring something? Do the kwamis need something, or-"
A sudden ring tore them apart and Marinette cringed at the sound of her phone, that echoed through the fabric of her purse.
"Sorry…", she mumbled, reaching inside to retrieve it, and immediately sighed when she saw the name on the display.
"Alya?", Adrien curiously asked.
Marinette nodded and tilted her head to the side, still not taking the impatient call.
"Did Nino contact you by now?"
Adrien blinked, before he nonchalantly shrugged.
"My phone is in my bag. And said bag is already stuffed inside a locker in the museum. I am pretty sure, that poor Nino is going crazy by now - with an attack going on and then I am suddenly missing. But… He will understand~"
Understand - of course - when they both present yet another lie to their friends. Of course. Alya would know the truth - at least some truth, with her best friend being away to fight. But for Adrien…
They would come up with something. Together - just like they have done ever since their identity reveal.
Yet, for now, she merely took the call.
"Yes?"
"Oh thanks God! Are you alright?" Alya's words were a quiet mumble, not much more, than a whisper. "The fight is over, right? So… where are you?"
Marinette's blue eyes wandered towards Adrien and he nodded - ready to remember every detail she would give the other girl to reproduce this story as well.
"I ran into Adrien after the fight. He… was trying to get Ladybug's and Chat Noir's attention, but had to hide in the end from this slime ball as well. Correct, Adrien?"
"Correct!", Adrien called, loud enough for Alya to hear. "And I swear - I would have protected Marinette, too, if I had found her - but she must be hidden pretty dawn well!"
"You won't get an Oscar with that terrible acting… And I thought acting ran in your blood…", Plagg mumbled, and Tikki immediately hushed him with a little nudge.
Thankfully though, Kwamis could not be heard through the phone.
Yet Alya hesitated for a brief moment - probably readjusting in her mind all her questions, before she could have asked something about Ladybug, that Adrien shouldn't be aware off.
…but thankfully that obliviousness was long gone now.
"We will come back to the Louvre. We will be there in a few minutes…", Marinette yet added, and both unmasked heroes shared a knowing smile.
"Okay. I will wait with Nino by the entrance… But - Adrien - I can already tell you, that he was worried to death, because you didn't answer your phone! So you should better prepare a compensation for his sorrows!"
She hung up, before Adrien could have said something about that, or way before Alya could have teased him even more. And - true - they needed to be on their way towards the museum by now.
"Nino does worry so much…", Adrien mumbled and shook his head, before he opened the chest pocket of his dress shirt for Plagg, so the kwami could hide inside. "No wonder, he used to be the holder of the turtle Miraculous. He is the concept of protection in person! You chose well with that. Though… to be honest - you always match the Miraculous and their holders well…"
"Thank you…", she shyly responded, opening her purse as well, so both her phone and Tikki found a place inside. "Even though I have made a few mistakes in the past with some of them…"
They started to walk. Side by side, they made it past a few trash containers and out of this well hidden alley way. The Louvre wasn't too far away and Marinette would certainly savor every damn minute. Especially since they were walking so close together - the hands almost brushing against the other, speaking in hushed voices, so nobody would pay them any attention - especially since they spoke about something that important…
…if it wasn't for the sudden guilt, that tried to pull her down with its incredible weight.
"Chloé just wasn't made to be a Miraculous holder. And then there was that incident, when I gave you the Snake Miraculous. And-" "But giving me the Cat Miraculous had been a wise idea, remember?" She sighed and crossed the arms in front of her chest - an brief image of Cat Walker made it too suddenly into her mind - though there was a darker thought, that immediately crossed it out, again. "…and then there was Fèlix…"
She heard Adrien snort contemptuously by her side, when she mentioned his cousin's name, but she did not dare to look up and towards him. Kept on walking, mindlessly, contemplating this huge mistake she had made a few months ago. Straight forward - unlike the road she had taken as the worst Guardian in human histor-
"Marinette!"
She was pulled back, a warm hand on hers. A car was honking at her, a driver cursing, making a rude gesture, when he drove by.
Shocked she stared after it. Heart beating so madly, pale and eyes wide - suddenly so very aware, that she had almost stepped on the street and into the traffic.
Just now she noticed, that Adrien's hand still was on hers, still holding on tight, while his left one had landed on her upper arm to comfort her.
"Are you alright?", he gently asked, leaning in a little closer, to not speak too loudly, while other pedestrians walked past them, now that the traffic light has turned green.
"Yeah…", she breathed back - deep down knowing, that nothing was alright, as she once more found herself amazed by his far too beautiful eyes and the sheer sorrow she found in him. Remembering, what has brought them to this mess, she created in the first place. Recalling the fact, that she tried so desperately to fall out of love with him, to avoid something like that to happen, again.
Therefore, she stepped out of his reach and straightened her back once more - ignoring, how the light in his eyes dimmed briefly, as she crossed the street in hurry, before the light could have turned to red.
"Apart from the fact, that we still do not know where we can find your cousin - yeah. Everything is good."
He hurried after her, reaching the other side of the street in time. Thankfully, this time he tried not to reach out for her, again. Her kept on walking, even though she missed his touch already. Dearly.
Apart from that - he had saved her. Once more - this time even without a mask and the thought made her gulp heavily.
"We will find him", he carefully said in a whisper, and yet so gently. "And once we have him, he will help us, to bring all the Miraculous back. Perhaps he even does know about-"
"How can you be so sure?"
Once more, she stopped walking. Standing right in front of him to look up towards him. Gosh - why was he getting taller, when she seemed to stay almost at the same height?
And still, underneath her gaze and despite her small frame he had to swallow.
"Because we always win…", he yet faithfully mumbled. "This time it won't be different…"
"It will be hard…"
"I know…"
"And ugly…"
"Have you seen that ugly blob thing? It is ugly already…"
She sighed, then hugged herself.
"You know, what I mean, Adrien…"
"And you know what I mean, Marinette…"
Of course she did - deep down knowing, that he will fight, until there was nothing left to fight. Until every soul was saved, until every Kwami back by her side. He would sacrifice himself and everything he believed in on that way, just to bring Monarch down - and every ally their foe would ever create for this.
Marinette already opened her mouth. She wanted- needed - to tell him, that she didn't want to lose him for their course - if it wasn't for Alya, who called out for them:
"There you are!"
Adrien merely cast the black-haired girl in front of him a sad smile, before he reached up, to brush a stand of her raven locks behind her ear. It was just such a tiny gesture, and yet she felt, how she butterfly fluttered in her stomach already. Thankfully, he had turned towards her best friend - and as she noticed just a moment later - and Nino already.
"Sorry guys! Busy traffic~"
Before Marinette could have stopped him, he already wrapped his hand around her smaller one, to lead her towards the entrance of the Louvre. And - of course - her cheeks turned the darkest shade of crimson because of that - especially when she noticed that knowing smirk on their two friends lips.
"But we made it here as fast as possible. Did we miss anything, yet?"
"Nothing! Just a lecture about how we are not to touch any picture, or statues, how we should be respectful with everything we see, and how we should be quiet and don't use our phones, because it's a museum and there is already enough going on in there - with the tourists and all. No food, no drinks - you know the drill?"
Adrien nodded, as Nino handed him his ticket, while Alya kept on holding hers - still smirking wickedly, as she gazed between the two - now unmasked - heroes.
Marinette tried her very best to ignore it, yet swallowed, when Adrien finally let go of her hand and instead held onto the strap of her purse, to keep her hands from shaking, when she asked:
"What about the assignment? What do we need to do?"
Nino groaned and threw his hand up in exasperation.
"For you it will be easy! But the untalented, uncreative people will just get bad grades because of it!"
Marinette frowned.
"And? What is it?"
They needed to find a piece of art they find inspiring and translate it into modern times. They will be given 3 hours at the museum. At home, they needed to write an essay about the artist and the piece they chose - of course writing about the reason they have decided to chose that certain piece.
Marinette- really - enjoyed that task, she couldn't lie. Alya on the other hand just hoped to find out something more about former Ladybug's in the process - something, Marinette couldn't deny, she would be looking forward to as well. Nino was more into music anyway, but wanted to try with the Mona Lisa. And Adrien…
He had stayed silent ever since, but too sadly she hadn't seen him for some while now.
Perhaps… she should look after him…
Marientte chewed her lip, as she wandered around these halls, past hundreds- thousands - of tourists and gorgeous paintings, statues and portraits, holding onto her sketchbook and a pencil. She had waved a few classmates and nodded as a sign of greeting, as she walked past Kim and Max, then past Rose and Juleka sitting together on a bench in front of Jaques-Louis David's famous portrait of "Madame Récamaire". She cast them a little smile, which they returned. For a brief moment, she considered taking this particular painting as well, but then kept on walking. Feeling not yet that spark of inspiration, she was looking for.
Apart from that - she wanted to make sure, that Adrien was alright.
In another room she found Sabrina, drawing busily in that golden-lined sketchbook on her lap - Chloé was sitting not too far way, rather checking her phone, her nails, looking extremely bored and annoyed. Gosh - how dearly Marinette wanted to say something about it - honestly wanting to spare Sabrina from the cumbersome task of doing this assignment twice - once for herself, then another drawing for the blonde girl. But Marinette knew better - she definitely did not want to interfere in that strange and co-depending relationship these two girl share - she had learned her lesson a long time ago.
Therefore, she merely shook her head at them, and kept on walking.
Stopping eventually, only a few feet away, huffing this time.
Lila was there, standing next to Adrien - too close for her taste. And for his as well. But dutifully he kept standing next to her, holding the sketchbook in one hand, his pencil in the other, while the brunette kept on talking and talking and - probably - lying.
She knew that Adrien was merely accepting her close proximity for his father's company and the image they had once played. And - really - Marinette did not want to image, what Gabriel would say, when one bad word was spoken about the supposed relationship of his son and his other, favorite model.
Urgh… Marinette really did not want to think about it.
And still, she felt that spark in her chest - remembered every damn word Adrien had told her about his non-existing feelings for the brunette liar and how this girl was the final push out of his father's clutches - at least regarding his modeling career.
She needed to help him - somehow - without giving anybody (especially their classmates, who still believed in Lila's sweet innocence) the reason to see in her a jealous, over-bearing hen, that was still in love with the blond boy.
Which she wasn't… or at least so she tried!
Carefully she stepped closer, just beside Adrien, without paying Lila or him any attention. Then she merely opened the sketchbook in her hand, gazing up once more towards the painting in front of her - "The Lock" by Jean Honoré Fragonard. She rolled her eyes - obviously Lila would want to corner Adrien in front of a painting that shows a loving couple. Yet - and to play her part - she started to sketch it as well.
When she heard a little huff from Lila, she knew, that the brunette has noticed her and Adrien - by now - as well.
Nonetheless, she kept on sketching and eventually listening to whatever garbage Lila would present them today:
"…anyway, as I have just told you, my great-great-grand uncle was the artist's cousin and-"
"Didn't you just say, that he was his nephew?", Adrien countered and Marinette had to find every piece of willpower in herself to not smirk, when the blond boy beside her called the obvious lies out. "Or am I understanding something wrong?"
"We shouldn't care about the little details there! For most importantly - it's my great-great-grand uncle on the painting - with the love of his life! Isn't that romantic, Adrien? I think that I am going to draw this - it will be easy, since I am similarly talented like Monsieur Fragonard~"
Marinette made it - she did not roll her eyes and cringe at Lila's words. For Adrien she couldn't say the same - and Plagg and Tikki, if they still were around inside their pockets - would surely cringe because of the mere mortal's words. Though - Plagg probably gagged at those flirtous words and Tikkie surely shook her head. And that thought at last made her lips twitch.
"Ah, Marinette!", finally Adrien pretended, that he had noticed her just now. But she knew better. Still, she let him lean close, let him see the sketches in her book - little drawings she just made as a distraction and part of her act to get him away from Lila. "I see, you are here as well! You have already found something for your assignment?"
His eyes spoke volumes - he was glad, that she had found her. Happy, that she would save him from Lila's clutches.
"I am still so indecisive~", she yet mumbled and shrugged. "There are so many gorgeous paintings and statues here - I could be stuck in the Louvre all day. But perhaps I should keep on going. I am not feeling this one! It does not give me any inspiration! Well - I'll leave you two to it!"
She turned away, walking past Adrien, then past Lila, who was watching her resentfully. Then the black-haired girl counted down from three in her head - knowing, that Adrien only needed to take the bait she had offered for him.
Three…
Two…
One-
"You are still looking for inspiration? Can we look together? I haven't found something to draw, either!"
"Well, of course. If that is okay with Lila~ But you said, that drawing this would be easy because you are so talented, right?"
She had Lila right there, where she wanted her - trapped because of her own lies. And thankfully enough, right now Lila wasn't able to find a way out of the hole she had dug for herself.
Instead, she merely smiled far too sweetly at them, before she opened her own sketchbook with a spirited move, before she answered with a honeyed voice:
"Don't worry - my drawing will surely give me the best grade in class! See you two later!"
Adrien silently nodded - a little move to voice his thankfulness, before both left the room in unknown hurry and before Lila could have changed her mind, to follow them instead.
"Thank you for saving me…", Adrien finally whispered, exhaling in relief, as he walked by her side. "She followed me for about half an hour and I just couldn't get rid of her…"
Marinette merely shrugged and pushed a strand of her raven hair behind her ear.
"You save me and I save you. It will always be that way."
"Yeah…", he hummed and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Though I wish you could save me from this assignment as well…"
She heard him sigh. It was a heavy sound and it made her clutch her own sketchbook a little more tightly. Otherwise, she would have reached out for him - just to comfort him with her mere touch.
If… He even wanted that…
"You haven't found anything, that you sparked your interest, yet.?"
She remembered their brief conversation from earlier - about how Adrien had wished to go home right after the fight. How he had not wanted to go to the Louvre at all, and with raised eyebrows she gazed in his direction.
He merely held his booklet up, for her to take it in her hands. To take a look inside.
She opened it up in the middle at first, merely finding perfectly white pages. Then she turned them back to the very beginning, finding the first page a moment later. Expecting to find some doodle - some little drawings, that kept him busy, while he had to listen to Lila's outrageous lies. But… She only found this endless whiteness. There was no mark, no stroke, no line. Nothing. Unlike her, he hadn't even tried to draw something.
…just anything…
"I just don't get it…"
He mumbled, while they stopped walking. Just standing next to each other, the presence of a painting looming right in front of them. But she had not yet found the time and reason to look at it, when she felt, that her friend was - somehow - suffering in a way, she was not yet able to understand.
"What is it, that you don't get?"
Adrien looked down to his feet, exhaling heavily once more. Then he shook his head, closing his eyes for a brief moment to think and to consider, what he wanted to tell her.
She let him, yet found herself forlornly turning the pages of his sketchbook once more. Back and forth and back, again, as if she desperately tried to find something. Just a tiny sketch - just a small proof, that he would not fail this task.
…just a little hint, that he would not get a bad grade for it - and that his father wouldn't face him with rage and disappointment afterwards.
"If you need help… you know, that you can always ask me, right?"
He smirked upon hearing her words, finally found the strength to look back up and towards her, again.
"You are too good at drawing, Marinette! Everybody will know, that you helped me…" He looked over his shoulder and she followed his gaze as well - finding Mylene and Ivan walking by - whispering to each other and giggling, as they were obviously watching them standing so close together. "…especially when everybody knows, that we spent our time here together…"
His words made her blush - goddammit, why was it so easy to do it, after all this time?
Still, she cleared her throat, when he turned back towards her.
"Then let somebody else help you… Nino isn't very keen about this task, either! Perhaps he can-"
"No… I don't want to get him into trouble, when the teacher - or my father - find out, that I cheated on this one. And it won't help me in the long run…"
"Let me draw for you, Kiddo. Noone will suspect a thing…", there was a low murmur between them, as Plagg dared to raise his voice. Still so quiet, and yet loud enough for both of them to hear it. "I am not good at drawing, either~"
"Hush, Plagg!", Tikki already chided. "You know, that we shouldn't interfere with our humans tasks and lives. Anything school related counts as well…"
"Spoilsport…"
"Hush!", both humans hissed, aware, that they were surrounded by too many people, that could hear the two voices as well - even though nobody was paying them any attention.
For now the two kwamis stayed quiet, but it was Adrien, who raised his voice yet again:
"It isn't about this assignment as well. It's just…" He pointed towards the painting in front of him. "I don't understand art!"
Marinette finally faced the massive painting in front of her as well. It was big and she knew it from a few textbooks.
"La Liberté guidant le peuple" by Eugène Delacroix read the brass sign next to it, along with a few important notes about the subjects on this piece of art and its artist. A fairly detailed painting about the barricades and fallen people of the French July revolution. The personification of Liberty leading her people to freedom, gazing stern and so full of determination ahead.
Marinette found it stunning, felt like her breath was taken away by this painting and the context, while at the same time something clutched at her own heart.
Hope… to one day lead Paris out of Monarch's clutches as well - hopefully without any fallen people on her way and with way more coverage.
And yet, Adrien's words sparked her interest - standing in front of such a monumental piece must be connecting with him in some way - especially since it regarded the country they both lived in - and somehow - was a symbol for all their fights and battles they had found each other in the past.
And yet, he gazed up towards it with a frown and a small furrow between his brows. As if he wanted to decipher its meaning. As if he was searching for answers - and emotions within himself, that would be connected with it.
His eyes scanned every centimeter in front of him, his lips did not move, his Adam's apple merely bobbed in his throat, when he swallowed.
…and now she understood, what he meant, when he told her, that he didn't get it.
…For he couldn't understand this painting.
…any painting…
"I can't explain it…", Adrien mumbled and slightly shook his head. "I see all the details. I know, that the artist put so much effort into it. I realize, why people might find it stunning, or why our fellow countrymen find a connection with this particular piece and yet… yet I can't understand, why people would pay so much money to have some drawing in their possession. Why people deem a picture stunning, beautiful, mesmerizing, or outstanding… For me… they are all the same - just some pricey, cultural important pieces made by old, white men, that are long dead…"
"There are paintings by women as well…", she countered lightly, hoping to raise his mood a little bit.
At least he smiled at her, even though it was a sad, tired one.
"You know, what I mean…"
She did - at least, she hoped, that she did.
"But you like music…", she stated with a little shrug. "That is a form of art as well…"
"Because for me, it follows a certain logic…", Adrien answered nonchalantly. "Art on the other hand~ I mean - look at this: Why does the personification of Freedom need to be a woman? A white woman, that is top less? Couldn't the artist at least put some more clothes on… or… make her a cat, or an… don't know… ostrich, or something?"
There was a low chuckle from inside his chest pocket.
"You must be the first teenage boy, who is not interested in the depiction of a bare, human chest!"
"Plagg, you pig!", Tikki chided from her purse.
"You know, what I mean, sugar cube~ My human is just ridiculous!"
Adrien sighed at those words, carefully patted his chest pocket - or rather the small entity inside.
"I know, that I am ridiculous…" The boy cast her a sad, little smile, before her shortly brushed his hand over hers, as he pried his sketchbook from her hand. "I am sorry, I didn't want to be a burden for you. Just… keep on going - you will surely create something outstanding. Don't stick to me. I will just… go…"
Adrien turned away from her, before she could have stopped him. He walked away, hands hanging by his side, eyes cast to the floor.
She swallowed hard - but knew, already, that she wouldn't let him go so easily.
…knowing, that they would together come up with a solution - a plan - for this problem. They just needed to bend the rules of this assignment a little bit. Then he wouldn't get a bad grade, his father would be proud and everything would be fine…
…at least a little bit…
Therefore, she pushed past a few other people, to catch up with him once more.
"We just need to find the right piece of art for you. Something, that - well- inspires you as well. Something, that you can connect with. In one way, or the other. How about… something historic?" She grabbed his hand - very determined to help her friend out. He would do the same - as Chat, and as Adrien. And right now, she would not let her feelings come in her way and thankfully her determination was right now stronger, than the rising anxiety, as she noticed, that he kept on holding onto her hand tightly. "I think the gallery for the Egyptian art collection is down that way. Surely you will find something there! I mean - you like history! And the Egyptian pieces are-"
"Connected with an ancient Ladybug?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and gazed over her shoulder, pouting at him with narrowed eyes.
"Really? You want to do something Ladybug related?"
"I just need to create something, that will help me pass this assignment. But… you know me…" He tilted his head and there was that little, mischievous gleam in his emerald eyes, that gave her shivers down her back.
A gleam, she knew too well…
"… I have rather a disastrous connection with destruction…"
They were standing there - in the middle of this staircase, as people rushed past them, up and down. Holding onto sketchbooks, their pencils and - between them - holding onto each other's hand.
Adrien's thumb almost mindlessly brushed over her knuckles and his mere gaze took her breath away.
"There… Are a few destroyed pieces of art as well. You know… the Nike of Samothrace, or the Venus of Milo, or-"
"And yet I wouldn't understand their appeal as well…"
"And yet you can also find beauty in destruction…"
"Wise words, Mil-"
She pushed forward. Eyes wide. Ready to press one hand on his lips. Both pale, as they realized, what almost made it past her partner's lips.
"We should focus on the assignment, again!"
Adrien nodded, even with her delicate hand over his mouth.
"We should… Definitely~"
And they definitely should stop bantering like that - like they were wearing their masks. Like they were alone and unbothered.
Perhaps… this reveal might make a few things harder, than expected…
Especially when that flirtous side emerged from within his deepest self. Though… no… Adrien would never flirt with her, right?
She swallowed hard, as she still kept on watching him. Most closely.
… Remembering his words. Then their task. Finally a bright smile reached her lips, as she lowered her hands from his.
"You are right. You need to create something. We were just told to translate something old into a modern context. Nobody said, that it needed to be a drawing…"
He narrowed his eyes, but kept on listening. And then, when she - in a very Ladybug-like way told him about her plan, he finally smirked as well:
"You might not understand art. But you have a pretty amazing understanding for music. Then use this understanding and write a song. On the piano, any other instrument- it does not matter. Then you have it - your assignment. We just need to find the right piece for you!"
"How about the statue of Amor and Psyche? It's a beautiful piece and surely will spark your interest!", Tikki whispered from her purse.
"Mhm… are very romantic piece - you will love it!", Plagg answered to that. "In fact - you two sentimental humans will surely find some inspiration in-"
But for now, the kwamis were hushed, again.
…even though Marinette enjoyed the thought, that Adrien might indeed write a love song and-
Nope - she should definitely stop thinking about that!
"Come on… We will need to find something inspiring…", she yet said and this time it was him, who reached for her hand, as they kept on walking.
A/N:A sweeter chapter. But very slowly both will notice, that something is not right with Adrien...
Sure - his Maman created him to easily understand music - but art on the other hand is something else for him... We will see more of that later ?
Next chapter: Happy Birthdays...