Marinette woke up the next morning before her alarm even began ringing. Tikki yawned and beamed happy that Marinette was awake early for once.
"Come on Tikki! I want to get to class early! I never even asked Adrien what we were going to tell people about our new-found friendship!" Marinette rushed out the door after saying goodbye to her parents. "Just last week I was stumbling over my words trying to say hello! There's no way anyone is going to believe that I just suddenly got super brave."
It seemed that Adrien had a similar idea for the morning as he fell into step as they entered the school.
"Hello Princess, both of us are early for once." Adrien shot Marinette his signature Chat grin and chuckled when she rolled her eyes. "So how are we going to explain how close we've gotten? Nino is already hounding me for details no doubt because of Alya." He chuckled at their friends.
"I was hoping you'd have an idea. I doubt Alya will believe anything I tell her. You witnessed how bad of a liar I am!"
Adrien guided them to a bench against the wall and tapped his chin in thought, "Honestly why not tell them the truth?"
Marinette opened her mouth to protest when Adrien cut her off, "I don't mean the full truth. Omit the parts we need to but just tell them I spent the day over at your house. We found that we had more in common than we thought and that you finally got comfortable around me."
Marinette was a bit skeptical, "But what are we gonna tell them is your reason for being over?" Overall it was a sound plan. If they kept the details vague it would be easy to keep the story straight.
"Why not because of the Akuma attack? We can say I was out and got caught up in it, and so did you. It wasn't late enough for anyone to question while we were out. Your house was the closest and so we rushed there. You parent's we're really concerned about how late it was after the akuma was finally stopped and decided it would just be best for me to stay there for the night. The next morning, we ate and I left."
Marinette thought for a moment, trying to find any plot holes in the story. Finding none she agreed. The closer to the truth they stuck the easier it would be for them. They sat there for a bit talking about nonsense.
Alya was the first to show up and stared at them in shock. Nino rushed in behind her no doubt trying to calm whatever rampage he assumed Alya to be on.
"Marinette!" Alya shrieked, and ran over to her best friend, causing a few people to focus on Adrien and Marinette. Even Nino was a bit surprised to see them not only early for once but sitting together laughing as though they'd be friends forever.
Alya rushed over with Nino right behind her, "If you boys will excuse us we'll see you in class!" Marinette didn't even get a chance to respond or say goodbye as she was dragged away.
Adrien chuckled at the shocked look on Marinette's face as he relaxed against the bench.
Nino plopped down next to him, "So… you and Marinette huh?" Adrien flushed red as Nino continued, "About time too. I think Alya's next idea was to lock you in a closet together."
Adrien's mouth went dry at what his best friend was implying. Marinette was Ladybug! The same Ladybug that he was in love with! He hadn't even considered it with everything that had been happening. "No, no, it's not like that!"
Nino's smile dropped just a little, "But that is what you want right? Cause you shouldn't lead her on if that's not the case. You know I'm here for you man but that's just cruel. Marinette's had a huge crush on you since day one."
Finally, all the teasing remarks Marinette's mother had made, along with the way Marinette used to stumble over her words around him, even the reason she never accepted Chat's affection all made sense.
"Oh crap… Nino, I've got it bad dude. You gotta help me." Adrien brought a hand up to his face and groaned.
Nino laughed at his buddie's revelation, "You mean you hadn't noticed?"
"No! I thought she disliked me and that why she didn't like to talk around me!" Adrien look horrified that he'd missed such obvious signs, "Dude I need to ask Marinette out like yesterday! Do you know where Alya took her?" Adrien jumped up from the bench impatiently.
Nino shrugged and watched as Adrien ran off to find the girls. After a second Nino pulled out his phone and told Alya about where Adrien was headed.
Alya smirked at her phone, "So Marinette, what the heck was that girl?! You guys were sitting there chatting like old friends! When'd you get so bold?"
Marinette blushed, "Well he was over the other night," Marinette rushed out the next part before Alya could make any assumptions, "We ran into each other before the akuma attack the other night and headed back to my place to get out of the way. Papa and Mama decided that he should stay since it had gotten so late. He ate lunch with us then went home after that. We just hit it off I guess. I realized he was more of a dork than I originally thought but it just adds to his charm."
Alya stared at her friend in shock, "Wow… I'm so proud of you Marinette!" Alya hugged her friend tightly.
Adrien rushed around the corner a second later, "Hey Alya, I need to-"
"Say no more lover boy! I'll catch y'all in class!" Alya walked past Adrien and threw a wink at Marinette over her shoulder.
Adrien paused and felt at a loss for what to say. "Um, well, I was, What I mean is, Nino told me you had a crush on me."
Marinette froze, "Oh. Oh. Yeah, I– you don't need to worry about that, I don't want to make our lives any weirder. We can just forget about that." Marinette was silently cursing Alya for telling Nino. No doubt they both had good intentions but their lives were already complicated enough. Marinette tried to walk past Adrien and hopefully avoid him for a bit until she collected her thoughts.
"No wait! I mean, you like me and I like you, both sides of you, which I hope you like both sides of me, so I was hoping that maybe we could try this out?" Adrien stumbled a bit over his words but was proud he managed to get that all out. It was a bit rushed and not as eloquent as he would've liked, but at least he'd managed to say it.
Marinette paused to process the words, "Wait… what?"
Adrien's face fell that wasn't the response he had been expecting. He opened his mouth to try and salvage the situation when Marinette's mind caught up with her mouth.
"Wait! I mean yes! Yes, I'd like to give us a try." Marinette couldn't help but laugh at the hilarity of the entire situation. First, they barely spoke as civilians only to playfully flirt as heroes. Then they discover that they're partners, and finally they figure out their feelings for each other.
Adrien was having a similar thought process and joined in her laughter, they were certainly a strange duo. Adrien wrapped his arms around Marinette and drew her close. "I don't think I ever said it but I'm glad it's you. There's no one else I'd rather have as my partner."
Marinette stopped laughing as Adrien spoke. It took a moment to really let those words sink in but when they did she felt like crying. They made her immensely happy. Someone liked both sides of her; Ladybug and Marinette, and best of all she didn't need to hide anything from them. They wouldn't be mad at missed dates or her lateness because he was going to be doing just the same. "Adrien I'm glad it's you too. I never said it but I care for both sides of you. As Chat and Adrien, you're one of the most important people to me."
They hugged for a bit longer before separating at the first bell. "Well then M'lady." Adrien bowed deeply and brought her hand up for a kiss, "Shall we head to class and surprise everyone?"
Normally Marinette would have pulled her hand away and rolled her eyes but this time she entwined their fingers and beamed brightly at him. "Come on kitty or we won't get to say that we were on time for once."
They walked hand in hand into the classroom. It was a ton of mixed reactions; Alya and Nino let out big whoops at their friend's new relationship status. Chloe threw a large hissy fit. And most the class started congratulating them, and even told them it was about time.
Adrien and Marinette both flushed heavily as they sat in their seats, a secret smile passing between them. They'd be okay; with the support of their family, friends and each other they would figure everything out in time.
Author's Note: So the title of this work comes from "Time to Say Goodbye" from the TV show RWBY.
Specifically these lines:
"We can't just wait with lives at stake
Until they think we're ready
Our enemies are gathering
The storm is growing deadly
Now it's time to say goodbye
To the things we loved
And the innocence of youth
How the time seemed to fly
From our carefree lives
And the solitude and peace we always knew"
I think for Adrien and Marinette they entered into this not knowing the real risks but they've come to realize they're actually putting everything on the line to protect the people and city they love. There was no waiting until they were ready they were thrown into a single battle that's turned into a war. I think Sabine and Tom are the perfect characters to care for them, and give them what they need when they time comes. They're parents but they know that the two teens are more capable than any others who could take up the job.
"We can't just cling to childish things
As evil just grows closer
Humanity's in jeopardy
This fight is far from over"
Again, I just wanted to show the lines that made me choose this song to entitle the work as well. It'd not about saying goodbye to each other but to the past, the things they not longer have. They're bodies, minds, and souls are scared from all these experiences. They know that this isn't the end this is only the beginning of the war that they were chosen to fight in.
TLDR; songs really good listen to it. I'll add a link. Adrien and Marinette are badass. Tom and Sabine are the best parents.
watch?v=RQXe22auYOw