A/N I wanted to finally post a chapter of clumsy Adrien. I love the idea of the roles being swapped, and I threw a few details in that I hope someone will find. I do want to say that my writing schedule may be more erratic due to me having medical issues. I am going to get more tests done and so that is going to take up a large chunk of my free time. Anyway, enjoy :3
Marinette hung up the phone. "Date?" Tikki asked.
"It isn't like that Tikki, he's just a friend," Marinette said, placing her phone down. "I have been friend-zoned for nearly a year, and I think I am fine with that. The breakup is still fresh, and I am just glad that he wants to stay friends."
Tikki eyed Marinette but didn't say anything further. Marinette started to clean up a few things out of place in her room and then headed downstairs to meet her parents. "Papa, is it okay if I go out and hang with Adrien tonight?"
Tom eyed his daughter, "be home by 11, we have a party to cater tomorrow, remember? We need you to help in the morning." Marinette hugged him and dashed out of the bakery.
Marinette dialed Adrien, and he picked up almost immediately, "I am on my way, you ready?"
"Yes, I should be out back before you get here unless you have superpowers or something..."
I do have superpowers... but you don't need to know that. Marinette arrived a few minutes later at Adrien's house and went around back to find him waiting for her. "So, where do you want to go," Marinette said, a little bit out of breath. Why did I run here... Adrien shrugged. "Well, where do kids do when they defy their father and sneak out?"
"Hmmm," Adrien was deep in thought. He had his hand on his chin in an 'L' shape, Marinette noticed that his hair was not nearly as well kept as usual. He also wasn't sporting his usual outfit, and instead was wearing a hoodie and dark jeans, with black sneakers. They're all Gabriel brand. I wonder if he has any clothes that aren't his father's brand... well besides my hat and scarf. "Let's go to the ice rink. We haven't been there in a while..." Marinette nodded and held onto Adrien's arm.
Adrien felt Marinette's arm brush against his side as her hand looped around his harm. His face warmed with a red tint, and he was unsure if he could compose himself. She is so casual about everything... I practically squealed when she said date... I know she meant it as a friend but... Adrien looked over at Marinette who was talking about some event the bakery is catering tomorrow. He couldn't help but stare at her. Her eyes shone in the light, and her voice was a soft harmony to the sounds of Paris.
"Look!" Marinette exclaimed, pulling Adrien out of his trance as her hand unwrapped from his. He couldn't help but feel disappointed that he was no longer interlocked with her. He watched as she ran to Andre and his ice cream cart. "Want to grab some ice cream now before we're freezing at the ice rink?"
"Y-yeah," Adrien nodded as he walked towards her, pulling out his wallet, "this outing was my idea, so let me pay... it's my father's money anyway... and I say he owes me one." Adrien placed the money in front of Andre and watched the ice cream matchmaker do his magic.
"Blackberry and peppermint, an explosive mix that's a fact, but often time it is the opposites that attract," Andre scooped the ice cream into a cone for the two and handed it to them, winking at Adrien, a blush flooded on the blonds face.
Adrien walked over to Marinette, who was sitting on a bench. "I think if we leave in 10 minutes we could catch the metro and we could have even more time at the icerink," Marinette was looking at what Adrien presumed to be the metro schedule, "ooh." Marinette grabbed a spoonful of the ice cream and a smile appeared on her face, creating one on Adrien's. The two sat and ate their ice cream until it was just the cone left. "Here, let's share," Marinette said, splitting it in two. They finished and went off to the metro.
They arrived at the metro and boarded. The car was full, so they had to stand. Marinette stood next to Adrien, their arms touching. The car moved occasionally but eventually got a little rough, and Marinette being the clutz she is, kept almost falling. Adrien slowly moved his fingers, testing how she would react, until his hands were entwined with hers. She didn't flinch. The two stood, hands entwined, for what felt like hours to Adrien when it really was only about 5 minutes. The metro stopped, and the two walked off the bus, hand in hand.
They ran to the ice rink, with Marinette being seemingly dragged by Adrien, who apparently was very excited to go ice skating with his friend. Once they got their skates on, Adrien grabbed Marinette's hand and lead her onto the ice. He was skating backward, leading her. His chest was buzzing with excitement, he had finally had a chance to be alone with Marinette, even if it was just as friends. Adrien was so distracted by Marinette and didn't notice that he was approaching a wall. Adrien smacked into the icerink's barrier, dragging Marinette along with him.
Ow, that hurt. Adrien opened his eyes to find that Marinette was sitting right in front of him, a confused look on her face. "I think that you're getting clumsy, Adrien. It was your fault we fell," Marinette laughed, causing Adrien to chuckle back nervously. Her face wasn't very far from his, I just want to kiss her, Adrien didn't act on his urge. Marinette struggled to get up but succeeded. She stretched out her hand to Adrien, and he took it, a blush crept across his face.
Marinette and Adrien barely made it to the metro, but this time their car was nearly empty so they were able to sit down. Marinette was looking at her phone, checking the time, and noticed that they still had a good 4 hours before she had to be home. She felt Adrien grab her hand. Why? I understand before because I kept falling, but we're sitting down? Marinette shrugged it off. "Hey, would you possibly want to come over? I am sure you're hungry... my parents would be fine with it." Adrien nodded in agreement, and so did his stomach with a growl. Marinette called her parents, who enthusiastically agreed to have Adrien over for dinner. Once they reached their stop Marinette was pulled by Adrien out of the car. He just doesn't want us to get separated, that is why he is holding my hand.
Time stopped for Marinette as she spotted a familiar blue-haired boy. Her heart ached, and she wished that she had not gotten on the metro. I was not ready to see Luka yet... Adrien also stopped in his tracks, and let go of Marinette's hand, and was headed towards Luka. Adrien... no. Adrien reached Luka, and the two started talking. Marinette couldn't hear much, but it seemed like a civil conversation. I don't know if I should, or can, approach Luka. Marinette pushed down her feelings and approached the two boys, who didn't seem to be mad at one another, but as she got closer she heard an aggressive tone grow between the two.
"Look I was just trying to apologize, I never meant for this to happen. I want to stay friends," Adrien said, raising his hands.
"I know, Adrien. I was rude to you unfairly, I get it. What I don't get is why you proceed to get together with her after only a few days after our breakup? I was starting to realize that I was at fault, but then here you are..." Luka pointed at the two. He is angry... really angry.
"Luka, there is nothing between Adrien and me, it is completely platonic," Marinette defended, only to be silenced by Luka.
"Holding hands? That is platonic to you Marinette?" Luka huffed, "I would rather you stop denying it Marinette. You guys being so blind to your own feelings makes me feel even worse," Luka pinched his temple, "I just want you to be happy Marinette, but I am tired of you denying what is obvious." He walked away, still visibly angry, and entered the metro car.
"I am sorry Marinette. I shouldn't have approached Luka. I just wanted to possibly smooth things out with him," Adrien looked down and fiddled with his ring, "I think that I only made things work."
Marinette placed her hand on his shoulder and grabbed his chin to turn his face towards her, "stop trying to blame yourself for this. The breakup was completely between Luka and me... You just were the scapegoat." Is his face getting red?
"I know... but," Adrien paused, his eyes still locked on hers, "if I did smooth things out with Luka, my father would unground me... I don't think that is happening now."
"Give him time, he is a kind and sweet person, and the person I fell in love with will come out again, I just think that I hurt him too much. He will forgive you, that is the Luka I know."
Marinette noticed that Adrien's facial expression fell as he said, "so.. you're still in love with him?"
"I- I don't know," Marinette let go of Adrien's chin, "I was in love with him, but now..." she looked at him, and a familiar flutter returned to her chest, "I think the love is fading."
The two walked to Marinette's home in silence until Adrien interrupted it, "I think that love for someone always remains," this caught Marinette off guard, "I don't think you can ever fall completely out of love for someone. Especially when it is filled with such devotion..." Marinette never took Adrien to be someone so philosophical, but here they were, walking together alone, with their thoughts. "I think you only can finally 'lose' love for someone when you find..." he looked at her and their eyes locked "... someone else to love." He looked away from Marinette, and she felt her heart beating rapidly.
"Hi Mrs. Cheng, Mr. Dupain," Adrien said, extending his hand.
"Oh, call me Sabine," she said, shaking the young boys hand. She has a strong grip for such a tiny lady.
"Call me Tom, Son," Adrien's hand disappeared in Tom's. His hand is huge...
Adrien walked into the house that felt distantly familiar. The few times he had been at Marinette's he had been in her room, so sitting in her living room made it feel like it was a brand new house. Their table was small compared to the one at his mansion, but somehow it felt nicer. They could all sit together as a family and not have to shout at one end to hear the other. They were closely sat, instead of far apart. When the four of them sat at the table Adrien finally felt what he thought a family was supposed to feel.
After dinner was finished Adrien and Marinette helped Tom and Sabine do the dishes, and then went upstairs to her room. "So, has your father tried to contact you?" Marinette asked, grabbing some controllers.
"Nope, Nathalie has. She has called me," Adrien looked at his phone, "27 times, and has texted me so many times that I am not trying to count. I just texted her 'be home sometime tonight, will text gorilla when I want to be picked up.'" Adrien grabbed a controller from Marinette and loaded up the game, "it isn't like she can't track my location. She knows I am safe. I will face my father's rath later, but for now," Adrien looked at Marinette with a look of deviance, "I am going to crush you!"
A few games later, the time had turned to 9pm, but Adrien still didn't want to go home, so they decided to watch a movie. Marinette moved and positioned her chaise so that it was facing her computer screen. Adrien and Marinette fit, barely, on the chair, but made it work. Adrien wasn't complaining though. The movie progressed, and eventually he felt Marinette go limp as she fell asleep. Her head slowly migrated from his shoulder to his lap. Adrien's chest was full of butterflies, but didn't dare move.
