"Teach me how to play?"
Marinette had said it as a joke; she'd been talking to Alya about wanting to learn the piano before class started, and Nino had turned to the pair, grinning mischievously.
"You know who's great at the piano?" Nino nodded to the boy sitting next to him before wither of the girls could answer. "Adrien! He's been learning since he was a kid!" Adrien looked round to Nino at the mention of his name. His arm draped around the back of his seat as he turned to face Marinette, smiling warmly as he entered the conversation.
"Really, Adrien?" Alya asked, propping her head in her palm as she leaned on the table.
"I mean, I wouldn't say I was great," Adrien replied with a laugh, "but I've been learning for about eight years, so I know what I'm doing."
Nino snorted. ″Not great my ass!" He rolled his eyes at the two girls, pointing to Adrien with his thumb. "I've heard him play - he's amazing."
Marinette smiled, arms folded on the desk as she leaned forward slightly. She was starting to get more comfortable around Adrien, when she was with Alya and Nino at least, and she'd said the words with a laugh in her voice.
"Teach me how to play?"
She hadn't expected him to say yes.
Which is how she found herself at one of the most prestigious music schools in Paris sharing a piano seat with Adrien Agreste, who was earnestly explaining the basics of piano playing.
Marinette was trying to pay attention, she really was. But he was sitting so close, and now and again his arm would brush against hers as he stretched along the piano keys, and it took everything she had not to start hyperventilating at each accidental touch.
Breathe, Marinette,she thought. Just keep breathing, and you'll be fi- why is he staring at me? Oh god. What did he just say? Damn it Marinette, why weren't you listening?
Adrien was looking at her, eyebrows raised in concern as she blinked at him, trying to figure out what he had just told her.
"Marinette? Are you okay?" he asked when she didn't respond after a moment.
She let out an awkward laugh, a hand instinctively tugging at one of the locks of hair which fell in front of her ear.
"Yes! I'm fine! Sorry, I got a bit… lost with the explanation. It's - it's a lot to take in," she replied, gesturing to the instrument in front of her. Adrien nodded, and Marinette let out an inaudible sigh of relief that he'd bought the excuse.
"That's understandable. I've been going through everything pretty fast - where did you get lost? I can go over it again, if you want." Adrien smiled kindly at her, one hand leaning on the small section of seat next to him, and Marinette waved her hands in response, flapping them wildly as she shook her head.
"No, no, it's okay! I just, uh, need a minute to let it all sink in!" Her eyes darted around the room before landing on Adrien's face, watching her with a smile. She laughed nervously, and an idea popped into her head.
"Would - would you play something?" Marinette asked, looking at the piano in front of them. She turned back to face Adrien, enthusiasm lighting up her eyes. "I'd love to hear what you can do!" She paused for a second. "Please?"
Adrien blinked at the abrupt change in topic. "I guess - I mean, I can if you really want," he replied, pushing himself forward slightly and straightening up as he faced the piano. "But are you sure you don't want to keep-"
"Nope! It's all yours!" Marinette said cheerily. She shot out of the seat to the other end of the piano, putting some distance between her and Adrien. She leaned forward to rest on the lid of the piano, smiling at him encouragingly. Adrien blinked back at her, a mixture of confusion and surprise on his face at the sudden movement. He shrugged, shaking off his confusion and letting a small smile grow on his face at Marinette's enthusiasm.
Adrien moved to the center of the bench and straightened his posture, relaxing his arms from the shoulder as his fingers arched above the piano keys. His gaze darted quickly to Marinette, who'd linked her fingers together and placed her chin on them, leaning on the piano and watching him in anticipation. He took a deep breath, looked back at the piano, and began to play.
Nino had been right; Adrien was great. Marinette watched as he fell into the music, the notes filling the room like sunshine filtering through a window, surrounding the pair of them and calming the chaotic world outside.
Marinette couldn't look away as Adrien played, his hair falling so that his eyes were hidden from her as he looked down at the ivory keys, his concentration never faltering as the melody's difficulty increased as he gracefully caressed the keys. She shut her eyes, and let the slowly crescendoing notes wash over her, the melody a wave building in intensity before it finally crested.
The last note echoed through the room sooner than Marinette expected; she opened her eyes, and saw Adrien look up at her, smiling shyly. Marinette lifted her head from her hands and shook it softly, mouth open in a smile filled with admiration.
"That was amazing," she said, her voice quiet with reverence as she gazed at him, eyes wide. Adrien shrugged, one hand reaching to scratch the back of his head as he looked down at his knees.
"Thanks. I've had a lot of practice," he replied, a smile growing at the honesty in Marinette's voice as she complimented him. "Now come on. Your go." Adrien shuffled back to the side, patting the spot next to him. Marinette shook her head fiercely.
"Uh-uh. No way I'm following that!" Marinette said, raising her hands and backing away from the piano. Adrien chuckled before pushing the bench back, scraping it along the wooden floor, and standing up. He walked towards Marinette and took her hands, still raised in the air, gently pulling her back to the piano. She followed his lead, and Adrien grinning at her as he walked backwards towards the seat, twisting away from her only to sit back down. He let go of one of Marinette's hands, keeping hold of the other as she placed herself next to him.
Adrien squeezed Marinette's hand reassuringly before releasing it, turning to face her with a reassuring smile.
"So where exactly did you get lost in the explanation?" He asked, raising his chin towards the piano. Marinette scrunched her nose as she thought back to Adrien's explanation, raising a finger when the last thing she recalled came to her.
"You were showing me chords!" she exclaimed. Adrien nodded, straightening his posture once more.
"Okay, great! We'll start with C - you need to place your fingers here, and here," he said, demonstrating with his own hands. Marinette copied the pose, arching her fingers and imitating Adrien's posture, a gesture which didn't go unnoticed by him.
"That's perfect, Marinette!" Adrien said, genuine enthusiasm in his voice. "We'll make a pianist of you yet! Now come on," he grinned, nudging Marinette gently with his elbow. "Let's make some music."