Sneak a Peek
Sometimes you have to break the rules
*Author's note*
Oh em gee! Another chapter?!
I have so many ideas, I just had to keep writing! I really made myself sit down and focus so I could get my ideas out in one sitting. I was worried that if I spaced out my writing sessions during this chapter that I would lose the amazing chemistry I was getting between Plagg and Adrien.
Again, thank you SO much for all of the love! You guys are the best! You really give me the drive to keep writing and creating and I love it so much. I really need the mental escape and you guys are helping me get there!
Reviews I couldn't respond to:
marinette, (1) Guest, & Readallday1243 - I saw your reviews, but I couldn't respond! Thank you so much! I hope you're still reading!
Xoxo,
Bunnie
Chapter 3
Adrien's head popped up from his notes as the door to the classroom slowly opened and Marinette side-stepped in, clearly trying to avoid detection. Adrien felt his neck grow hot and his hands went clammy as his eyes flew to her pink shoes of their own accord. His attention flew back to her face and then their instructor, who had inevitably noticed Marinette's return, when she giggled shyly and gave a small wave to Miss Bustier.
"I'm so sorry about before, Miss Bustier," Marinette said, her small giggle and quiet voice making it apparent she was embarrassed.
"Well," Miss Bustier sighed with a smile. "It wouldn't be the first time. Please take your seat, Marinette."
Adrien stiffened, but tried to look nonchalant as Marinette breezed past him and into her seat. He urged his muscles to relax as he returned to his note taking. He couldn't help but hear Alya quietly ask Marinette if she were okay and Marinette's affirmative response, followed by a quick apology for worrying her friend.
He tried to focus on his notes, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess. He spent the rest of the day - through his classes, through lunch with Nino (thankfully Marinette and Alya were nowhere to be found), through his fencing class, the drive home and dinner with his father - arguing with himself through internal monologue. Declaring to himself, 'She can't be her!' and 'What about her shoes?' then 'What about her shoes?!' ending with 'I should have looked at more than just her stupid shoes!' before the cycle restarted.
Once his obligations for the day were through, Adrien gratefully flopped onto his bed with a loud sigh. He hadn't hit the duvet for more than two seconds, before Plagg was perched beside him eating a wedge of camembert.
"So…" Plagg drawled conspiratorially around a mouthful of cheese. "Marinette, huh?"
"Not you too!" Adrien groaned as he squeezed his eyes shut and massaged his temples.
"Too?" the black Kwami asked, perplexed. "You weren't arguing with yourself again, were you?" he added, teasing.
"Shut up, Plagg," he sounded annoyed, but he rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Or I'll hide all your precious cheese!"
Plagg just waved him off, "Yeah right," he scoffed. "My well-tuned nose would find it in a second."
Adrien raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so you're a dog now?"
If looks could kill.
"How very dare you…" Plagg said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Adrien chuckled lightly. Even though he often teased the little Kwami, he really loved and appreciated Plagg. Everyone in Adrien's life treated him like he was made of glass or was above them, just because he was a minor celebrity. He hated how nobody was real with him, not even Nino. They always talked to him so kindly, their words and attitudes toward him were coated in sugar. And even though he knew they meant well and his friends genuinely liked being around him, he was admittedly pretty sensitive to the fact that no one opened up to him or talked to him about real problems.
Or occasionally roasted him, like Plagg did.
Plagg didn't care who Adrien was as a status symbol, but who Adrien the person was. He was real with him and honest. He told it like it was instead of trying to let him down gently. Plagg knew about his crush on Ladybug, but didn't make fun of him for it. In fact, the Kwami had opened up to him in return, explaining that he and Tikki - who Adrien now knew was the Ladybug Kwami - were destined to always be together, but always apart. They were lovers, but their duties forced them to live without the other, until the day came that the Miraculous users were united. That was why the Black Cat Miraculous user and the Ladybug Miraculous user were always drawn together, like a magnet.
'In fact,' the little cat had said long ago, 'it's not unusual for the two Miraculous users to know each other outside of crime fighting.'
Adrien had, at the time, interpreted this to mean that past users had been aware of each other's identities. He begged Plagg to tell him who Ladybug was, but he had stubbornly refused. He did, however, acquiesce and confirmed that he has sensed the ladybug Kwami - and by extension the user - near to Adrien on multiple occasions. Implying that Adrien most likely knows who Ladybug is, without the mask.
Because his Kwami was so forthright about this information, the two of them often talked about love and destiny. They had bonded over it. It was hard not to bond with the little black Kwami when every night they literally became one. He would always think of Plagg as the reason he was able to escape his prison-like home while Plagg always thought of Adrien as his means to be near his soul mate. The two of them always looked forward to the darkening sky, no matter the weather, as it was a chance to see their Ladies.
Despite his frustration and anxiety about his Lady's true identity - and whether or not it was actually one of his friends - Adrien was becoming revitalized as the sun set and the city's lights began to glow.
"I know The Code prevents you from telling me anything, Plagg," Adrien said quietly, "but this is driving me crazy."
Plagg floated over and flopped heavily on top of Adrien's head, holding onto a few strands of hair for balance. "I know, Lover Boy. But someday, you'll find out. They always find out."
This wasn't the first time he had said this and it had always given Adrien hope and a light fluttery feeling in his chest, but his patience - and longing - were growing thin.
"So tell me why you think it's Marinette," Plagg said conversationally.
"Well," Adrien started, resisting the urge to run his hands through his hair as he did not want to dislodge the little Kwami. "Like I said, all I saw were her shoes. I recognized them because they're my father's brand, so I didn't really have much to go on, you know?"
He felt the Kwami nod and continued.
"But then I saw Marinette today in school."
"Mmhmm," hummed Plagg.
"And she had the exact same shoes that Ladybug was wearing," Adrien said. "Exactly the same."
"But you said so yourself," answered the Kwami. "Those shoes are the Gabriel brand. Doesn't everyone have those?"
Adrien groaned, he knew he was going to say that. He'd been saying the same thing to himself all day. "I know, Plagg. But, I just feel like it was her." Plagg remained silent and Adrien sighed again in defeat. "I don't know… I can't explain it."
They were silent for a few moments, before Plagg said quietly, "I think you got your hopes up."
Adrien's mouth twitched to the side in thought. He had gotten his hopes up. He thought he had finally found the answer to the Miraculous mystery woman. Sure, he was kind of surprised it was Marinette.
Just plain Marinette.
He liked Marinette, sure, but as much as he hated to admit it, she was one of the worst offenders when it came to treating him differently. She would laugh and have fun with Alya and the girls, but when he came by she would immediately shut down and go into what he called, Star Struck Mania. He'd experienced it his whole life as a model.
Ladybug on the other hand; she treated him like a normal human being. Well, she treated Chat Noir like a normal human being. She told him her thoughts and feelings and called him out when he had bad ideas. She trusted him with her life and protected him with hers. She cared for him, worried about him, laughed with him, teased him, and fought for him.
Of course he got his hopes up when he thought he had finally found the girl behind the mask.
"Maybe you're right, Plagg." He said dismally.
"Hey kid," Plagg said gently, as he floated down to Adrien's face. "It's alright. You thought you knew and you just jumped the gun a little. It happens."
Adrien nodded with a small side smile. "I'll find her someday, Plagg."
The black Kwami smiled a huge toothy grin, his small fangs catching the light. "That's the right attitude! Now, are we gonna get going or what?!"
Adrien let loose a laugh as his stress from the day began to melt away from his neck and shoulders. "Alright alright! Don't get your tail in a twist."
He hopped off the bed and, careful to not be too loud, said, "Alright, let's go find our Ladies. Plagg, Claws Out!"
To be continued...
*End note*
I love Plagg so muuuuuuuch! ( ͒˃̩̩⌂˂̩̩ ͒)
Ahem! Just plain Marinette, Adrien?! How insulting.
Next up:
Marinette seems satisfied that Adrien isn't Chat Noir (although that doesn't stop her from fantasizing about it). Although Adrien seemed to accept that Marinette isn't Ladybug, he can't help but notice a trail of breadcrumbs that leads back to his school friend.
Bunnie's Note:
I can't thank you guys enough for reviewing, giving me kudos, and following me and my fic!
I'm just about done with Sneak a Peek (it's going to be short) BUT I have a sequel already in mind in which Adrien and Marinette are adults. I really want to write something romantic for them, but keeping them teenaged (i.e. 14) makes it really difficult for me to write their emotions accurately. Of course I remember what it was like to be a teenager, but at the same time I'm married and with a baby now, so my ideas on romance, flirting, and sexiness is not the same as a 14 year old character. Lol
Let me know what you think!
Please, don't forget to review! I'd love to hear what you think; the good, bad, and ugly!
°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
Xoxo,
Bunnie
P.S. I'm on Ao3 & Tumblr! (same username: BunniElyse)