Day 3. Music

'Good afternoon, Mademoiselle,' Nino bowed as soon as Marinette's unkempt bangs showed in the door.

'Afternoon?' she yawned, eyeing the windows. 'Oh, you're right. I haven't noticed.'

'Have you noticed your breakfast?' he inquired. He knew perfectly well that Marinette "in the zone" was a starving Marinette.

She shook her head, and a few strands fell loose from her bun. Without really thinking about it he reached out and brushed them behind her ear.

Marinette sobered up at the gesture and Nino withdrew his hand, suddenly extremely self-conscious.

'Lunch?' he asked, scratching his head to cover up his embarrassment.

Marinette pursed her lips. 'Just coffee and yoghurt,' she mumbled.

'Well, then, I see I have arrived at the right moment,' Nino opened his backpack and started unloading the lunch boxes he'd brought.

'You shouldn't have,' she watched astonished as the stack of food on her kitchen table rose to the ceiling. Tikki flew from her place and started going through the boxes, with Wayzz at her heels.

'I should,' Nino countered. 'And I have.' He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a heartly squeeze. 'You took care of me, when I needed it. Now you're in need so here I am.'

'I'm not in need,' she assured him. 'It's just deadline, nothing unusual.'

Was it his imagination or did she blush? Her freckles were more pronounced than usual. Nino adored those freckles and he definitely wouldn't mind seeing them more often.

He sighed dramatically. 'Nettie, how long have we known each other?'

'Dunno? 15 years?'

'And you really think I don't recognize when you've pulled more than one all-nighter? When you're not getting enough food and rest?'

He heard Tikki snorting, the sound amplified because of the box she stuck her head in.

'Can you?' Marinette's eyes were blown wide.

Nino clasped his hands in front of his face, 'Nettie, Nettie, Nettie,' he tsked and shook his head. 'As your friend, and superior-'

'Since when you're my superior?' she scoffed.

'Since I am the guardian, thank you very much,' he supplied without missing a beat. 'So as your superior I am ordering you to take some rest now.'

'Fine,' the girl rolled her eyes. 'I'll take a break. Happy?'

'I will be, once I stay and make sure you do,' he grinned at her, hoping she couldn't hear his heart speeding up. He had in fact invited himself over without asking for her permission, but she wasn't complaining.

'Oh really?' she cocked a brow.

'Really,' he nodded eagerly.

His friend shot him a cheeky smile and crossed her arms in front of her chest. 'And how exactly should I rest according to my superior guardian, pray?'

'Easy,' he shrugged, 'like this.' He pulled out his phone and chose the playlist he had prepared earlier. Marinette looked over his shoulder.

'You named a playlist "Marinette?" she exclaimed in surprise.

'Sure, I've made this set with you in mind,' Nino browsed through the songs until he found the one he was looking for. He connected the phone to her loudspeakers and in an instant gentle swing with saxophone lead reached their ears. 'Now you can start with eating or with dancing,' he offered her a hand. 'Which one would you like?'

The blush on her cheeks intensified, when she ducked her head shyly and said, 'I'd love to dance now.'

Nino couldn't help it. As soon as she started swaying gently to the music, he reached for her hand and twirled her playfully, earning a giggle as she bumped into his chest. She snaked her arms around his middle and put her head on his shoulder. Now he felt the telltale stinging on his own face. The room suddenly became much warmer than when he arrived.

'This is nice. Thank you,' Marinette murmured into his collarbone and he had to suppress a shudder. He was sure she could hear the enthusiastic polka of his heartbeat, but she mercifully didn't comment on that.

Nino reluctantly closed his arms around her shoulders feeling her melting into his embrace. This was more than nice. Not for the first time he thought he wouldn't mind hugging Marinette more often. She was warm, soft and smelled just right. He pressed his cheek to her hair and took a lungful of that sweet scent. He decided to pretend he didn't see Tikki and Wayzz high-fiving among the discarded lunch boxes.