A/N: this is a short chapter, particularly because i tried my best to make it ~special~. while writing it i was listening to yves tumor - limerence (instrumental ver). i recommend listening to it as you read. gives a much bigger depth to marin's feelings i feel like. enjoy!

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chapter four: limerence

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The rain was spattering Marin's clothes as he briskly walked under store awning to store awning, each one bringing him closer to the convenience store. He pressed his lips tight, the uncomfortable sounds of thunder curling his toes, to which Marin threw a quick look- yep. His shoes were definitely getting soaked. He grimaced, cheeks pink from annoyance.

This could've been avoided.

He could've taken Alya's advice and stayed inside, be in his new bed right now or unpacking- but, no. Here he was, in the middle of a thunderstorm and in stupid, confusing Paris (so the rain made him get a little lost, what of it?). This had to be some form of karma for lying to his best friend.

Marin's body gave an involuntary jerk at the bright lightning that bathed him for a moment. A violent crack of thunder resounded and he drew into himself, blue eyes suddenly small as his body pressed closer to the entrance of a storefront.

He hated thunderstorms, he hated the rain, he hated everything about this.

"Excuse me," a voice said behind him. Marin turned and saw an employee trying to open the door he was leaning on. "I'm sorry, but you cannot block the store entrance."

Marin apologized profusely, walking back into the rain without a second thought, and the downpour re-drenched him in seconds. He squinted as the rain streamed from his flattened navy locks and into his eyes- he just had to make a speedrun to the convenience store...he could do it. And he could see it, right at the end of the street by the bistro, the fuzzy glow of the neon sign.

Marin didn't hesitate a second longer, his feet moving faster than he could think.

He shut his eyes for just one moment, feeling puddles soak his shoes, the rain pelting his skin as he ran, the feel of something warm-

And the feel of knocking into someone, hard.

Marin felt the skin of his elbow skid on the pavement before he could register anything else. The burning sensation made him cry out, his blue eyes wincing as he sat up quickly to inspect the wound.

"I'm really sorry!" a voice said, the person kneeling beside him. Marin squinted at them, feeling his lashes stick together. It was just so hard to keep his eyes fully open with this rain.

"It's fine," Marin said, quick to hide his arm, "I was running in the rain like an idiot."

He made a move to get up, wincing at the sharp pain that spiked through him. The guy shook his head, taking his hand from his uninjured arm and pulled him up with surprise ease. Marin didn't think he was that light.

"Guessing you were going inside like I was?" the guy asked. "C'mon."

Marin blinked, feeling his hand in a warm, firm one. "Okay."

The guy led him briskly inside, the store's automatic doors sliding open and welcoming them with an air conditioned whoosh. Marin sneezed right away, body involuntary giving a tremble and absently, he felt the guy give his hand a squeeze.

Okay.

Marin sniffed, eyes droopy and cheeks rising to a lightheaded flush.

"Gazuntite." He heard him laugh nervously. "Suppose you want your hand back. Sorry, kind of a bad habit of mine."

"Is okay." Marin muttered. He felt his something trickling down his wrist and he had a distinct feeling it wasn't only water. He hid his arm, raising his eyes to meet his, "I'm really sorry for bumping into you-"

He had jade eyes. They were soft, warm even, and they crinkled as Marin spoke. He had a smile that dug a faint dimple, and it deepened as he grew sheepish, the smile growing sweet.

Marin stared at him for a moment, feeling something he couldn't quite place land heavily on his heart.

"No way," The guy was saying with a light laugh, "I was running too, trying to get away from the storm. Guess we both didn't stand a chance." His voice grew timid. "I'm Adrien."

Maybe it was because he was standing there, still staring at him with far-off eyes— it made Marin feel like he wasn't mentally present. He felt outside of his body, watching himself dripping a puddle on the floor.

And then he really looked at himself.

His soggy, cut up pants made him feel like he looked bereft, and so did his jacket, which was lopsided and hanging off of one shoulder— so did his vneck, which was a white shirt that decided right now to be see-through (in a very air conditioned room)-Marin felt the back of his neck burn, realizing his fringe was spilling over his eyes-making him look like- like -

He didn't even know. What did he really look like?

I look terrible, his mind whispered.

He was so hyperaware, so self-conscious...about everything all the sudden.

Adrien blinked at him as Marin shot his eyes down to his sneakers.

His heart was beating really fast. When'd that happen? Why?

"Hey," Adrien said, stepping close, "you're bleeding pretty bad."

Marin shifted his arm to look at his elbow, the blood was running rivulets down his arm. "I didn't even think it was that bad," he mumbled, more to himself, and Adrien unhesitantly took his wrist, wanting to inspect it. Marin's face went up several degrees.

He panicked.

"You have to know, it's your faul— my fault," He wasn't making any sense, why— "I'm just all the time clumsy. I mean, what I meant to say is—don't worry, I'm clumsy all the time-" And since when did he ramble?

Marin clamped his mouth shut and threw a tentative look at Adrien.

Adrien had been watching him with a curious smile, his hand still encircling his wrist. Marin's face flashed hotly as he jerked his eyes away.

Gently, Adrien chuckled, letting him go. "Stay here. I'm going to check if they have first aid."

Marin could only nod.

His eyes trailed after him, watching him walk to the cashier who had been staring at them concernedly. The cashier scurried to the backroom after a moment and Adrien looked after her, patient. He leaned against the counter, looking down to check a item curiously—

Marin felt all the noise surrounding him suddenly lull to white static- his eyes just wouldn't move away. He didn't know why, or understand it.

Get it together, another whisper came.

Marin looked away, his body facing the automatic doors.

He just didn't feel like himself, at all. But somehow, that did it.

A windy, gray Paris re-greeted him and he drew in his shoulders as another flash of lightning bathed the streets. The thunder then came and boomed, and his blue eyes grew glassy, the sound again welcoming an unwelcome fear to his heart.

"You're not thinking of going back out there are you?" Adrien was behind him.

Marin stilled. "No. Just. The scenery." He said with trying coherency. His voice sounded different.

"Oh," Adrien now stood by his side, watching the outside too, "do you like the rain?"

He hated the rain.

"Sure thing," Marin pulled a smile, "I love rain. Rain's good."

Adrien looked embarrassed. "I had kinda guessed you wanted to come in here and I dragged you in. I'm sorry."

Marin didn't want to hear him apologize and he wanted to tell him that. But he didn't. His body stood still and his lips stayed pressed.

Adrien raised the first aid in his hand. "Is it okay if I can bandage you up? It's the least I can do."

Marin jerked a nod. He should at least say thank you or smile.

Adrien didn't appear to be waiting for it. He signaled him towards a corner of the convenience store where it was less crowded with items and away from the entrance. Marin could only stare down at his wet sneakers as he followed him, passing the hot drink fountains and magazine stands.

And really, it was still all he could do.

Adrien stood behind Marin without prompt, applying what he needed to on the wound. His warm fingers brushed Marin's skin softly as he was expert and quick about administering it. Marin felt the heat surge from the back of his neck to his cheeks, and his eyes determinedly stayed on his shoes, stubborn on wanting whatever he was feeling to go away. Maybe if he stared hard enough.

At least he tried.

With every flutter of Adrien's fingers on his arm, Marin would feel his heart thud like a hammer and his stomach flip and turn like he was on a rollercoaster. He couldn't ignore it or make it go away.

Thankfully, it was all over fast.

He knew Adrien was done when he saw his shoes come up in front of his. And so Marin peered up, tentatively, to see Adrien reaching to touch his hair. His lips parted in muted shock as Adrien retracted his hand to show a leaf.

"I don't think you put that there on purpose." Adrien tucked the leaf in his pocket and Marin rushed a little nervous laugh, a laugh that was unrecognizable to himself.

"Th—thank you." He ended up saying. Adrien simply smiled at him.

"So, can you move your arm alright?"

Marin winced as he was quick to flex it. "It's perfect, th—thanks."

"It was my fault, no need to thank me." Adrien was looking at him more warmly. "What's your name?"

"Marinette," Marin rushed, and then he realized what he said as Adrien shot up his brows, "I mean, Marin- my name, it's Marin."

What is wrong with you?

"Okay, hello Marin." Adrien smiled, warm. "Sorry that we met like this, but it's nice to still meet you."

Marin was pretty sure his brain went poof. He said his name.

"Yeah, meeting still you was nice." He rushed a response.

His brain. Poof.

Adrien paused before letting out a laugh, the tone of it feeling intimate and close to Marin's ears.

He shyly ducked his head, feeling weird for reveling in it.

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The rain didn't let up.

They stayed in the convenience store for a bit longer, deciding to wait for it to pass. Adrien had walked off to get the beer for him and Nino, from whom he got a concerned call. Adrien told him the obvious, though he saved the bumping-into-someone detail for later.

He headed to the cashier with the four-pack, stifling a grin as he felt Plagg wiggling in his pocket. Plagg was throwing a tantrum because he walked by some refrigerated cheese, not picking it up. It was payback for only blocking himself against the rain.

It was again that he was by Marin, having absently walked up beside him. Adrien saw through the plexiglass as the rain slowed down, a soft silence between him and his rain-loving friend.

It was too quiet.

Adrien slid a look to him. Marin had his own bag of groceries by his sneakers and in his hands were two cups of hot drinks.

He wasn't expecting Marin to stretch his uninjured arm right then. Adrien blinked as Marin, not meeting his eyes, offered him a drink.

"For bandaging me up." He heard him mumble softly. "Hot cocoa."

"Oh...thank you."

Adrien accepted it after staring at Marin for a moment. His hair was loose, some of it spilling over either side of his neck.

Pretty.

"Your hair." Adrien said before he could stop himself, "It—"

It reminded him of Ladybug.

But how could he say that? Adrien bit his cheek, knowing fully well he couldn't. Marin was looking at him now, a weird concentrated expression on his face.

"What? Is there another leaf on it?"

Adrien drew his brows. "Oh uh, no, it just surprised me. Looked kinda short before."

"Oh. R—Right."

"It's really pretty." Adrien immediately felt stupid, cringing at himself for his choice of words. "I mean, it looks nice...erm, dude."

Marin only blinked, a tiny smile lifting his cheeks. "Thanks..."

"Uh, yeah, no problem."

Adrien regarded him for a moment, watching him shift his eyes away. He was pretty sure his rain-loving friend was coming down quick with a fever— this whole time his face had been on a constant shade of pink. It was only getting worse now. Should he go and buy him some medicine at the counter?

Adrien watched Marin take a sip of his cocoa gingerly. His lidded blue eyes were red-rimmed and looked weary, like it'd been a long day. Over them, a drop of rainwater hung precariously from his fringe.

Adrien looked away, raising his drink to his lips as a weird feeling flitted through him for a moment.

In front of them, a peak of sunlight landed a strip on the wet streets and it took a second for him to realize the downpour had stopped. Adrien drew a step close, seeing some people already walking out, no umbrellas in sight. He smiled, turning to Marin.

"The sun's out. Gonna take advantage before it pours again."

Marin was watching the streets, nodding jerkily. "Be— be safe."

Adrien glanced at his bandaged arm, seeing a little blood seeping through the wrap. He frowned. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" And Marin threw a frenzied look at it before reflexively hiding it behind his back.

"I'll be fine, thank you."

Adrien just wanted to be sure. "Do you have a first aid at home? I can get-" But Marin didn't appear to be reciprocating the attention; he was worrying his lip and looking down at the magazine rack, clearly avoiding his eyes.

As he'd been this entire time.

Ah , Adrien felt sheepish for a moment, scratching the back of his head. He was probably bothering him, remembering when Nino told him there was such a thing as being too helpful.

He should get going.

"Hey," he side glanced, "thanks again, for the hot cocoa."

He turned, taking a step to leave and Marin reached out, tugging his shirt. Adrien blinked.

"You're welcome." Marin was still avoiding his eyes, a full blush ridden on his face. "Get home safe, A—Adrien."

Adrien blinked again, more on disbelief. But then Marin raised his eyes, their blue bright with gratitude. Adrien's surprised expression fell, melting into a warm gaze.

"You too, Marin."

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He left the store, the automatic doors sliding shut behind him. A pleasantness was light over his heart and Adrien realized it was because he didn't leave on a bad note like he thought he would.

"I hope he'll be alright though..." He muttered as he began walking away. "He's already bleeding through the gauze."

"Puhlease!" Plagg muffled in his pocket, his head then poking through. "He's the last person you need to worry—" Plagg cut himself off suddenly, whining, "Oh man, my stomach is rumbling. Cheese, cheese, please?

Adrien threw him down a morose look. "And you call me insufferable, Plagg?"

"Ladybug said it, kid," The kwami resunk in the pocket, "Not me."

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When he was sure Adrien's retreating back was now far enough, Marin shot his eyes back down to the magazine rack, his mouth parting open with every frenzied, searching look he gave it.

Adrien. He was on some of the magazines.

Marin picked one up out of random, the cover page holding a bashful Adrien Agreste in a winter jacket and wool pants.

"Fall and Winter fashion, tips you need to know this year…" Marin mumbled as he read, his eyes widening with every tremor of disbelief.

This couldn't be real. It couldn't be.

He lowered the magazine, his bluebell eyes back to Adrien's figure down the street.

And tenderly, he raised a hand to his chest, his cheekbones dusting once again with a blush.

This too, he thought, feeling the thumping of his heart, couldn't be real.

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A/N: leave a comment or some feedback.