The Way We Are

Marinette couldn't believe that she was holding Adriens hand. Well, she was the one who had taken it in the first place, but he wasn't letting go. She didn't want him to let go, but she thought he would have dropped it by now. They had made it all the way to the classroom without dropping their conjoined hands. Adrien didn't seem to notice any of the stares that they were receiving as they had walked into the building. She looked up at him as they walked into the classroom. She saw the sadness from earlier increase in his eyes as he took in the room. All of their classmates had stopped talking the moment they had entered.

Adrien walked her to her seat and let go of her hand then walked to his seat. All without a word from anyone in the room. Marinette turned to her left and saw the blogger's question on her face. What were you doing holding Adriens hand? The bell rang to stop the blogger's question and to save Marinette from answering a question really couldn't answer. She turned forward as the teacher started to talk and her eyes immediately turned to the blonde head of hair in front of her. Her mind however had shifted to the blonde who had plagued her mind since yesterday.

Throughout the rest of the school day she tried to make sense of the conversation she had with chat the night prior. She couldn't make up her mind if she was relieved that they were not going to reveal themselves or disappointed. She was still at this crossroads when the final bell rang for the end of the school day. She saw Adrien turn around in his seat. He was about to say something, but Alya beat him to the punch.

"MARINETTE! You're coming with me NOW!" Alya said with more force than was necessary. Marinette felt her left wrist being clamped down by Alyas Iron grip.Then with more force then was necessary, was forced out of her seat and out the classroom before she could see Adriens sadly resigned face.

"Alya!" Marinette said, trying to stop from being dragged around. Alya ignored her and continued towards Marinette's house. "Alya!!!" She said a bit louder. "What are you doing?" She asked. Alya stopped at the intersection across from the bakery and turned on Marinette.

"What were you doing with Adrien 'Hawkmoth' Agreste! Marinette?" Alya asked her as the crosswalk turned green allowing them to cross, or for Alya to resume her dragging of Marinette.

"What? Adrien wasn't Hawkmoth, Alya." Marinette had to yell a tiny bit for her friend to hear over the foot traffic around them.

"No, he wasn't, but he was his son." Alya pulled Marinette up to her family's apartment and then up into her room. After Marinette was finally situated in her computer chair did Alya start her questioning of the Blunette.

"Honestly, Marinette! I know that you had a huge crush on Adrien, but you can't start anything with him right now, it's dangerous!" Alya said, looking into Marinette's eyes.

"What? Alya! I am not starting anything with Adrien. I was being his friend. We spent the lunch period together. I couldn't even say anything right. I was so awkward." Marinette tried to explain.

"That's not what I saw when you came in holding his hand. He walked you to your seat like you were dating. And I won't even mention the evil smile he wore as if he had accomplished his devilish scheme." Alya said dramatically.

"Devilish Scheme? Alya, come on! Are we seriously talking about the same person? Adrien is the sweetest person you could ever meet. He loves everyone around him with a childlike nature. Adrien isn't capable of an evil smile." Marinette defended.

Alya looked her deep in the eye searching for something that Marinette wouldn't be able to see. Alya seemed to come to a conclusion in her head because her stance relaxed and her questioning look disappeared. "Well, okay then. What was it that you were designing in class?" Marinette didn't like the look in Alya's eye as she changed the subject, but she wasn't going to question it if Alya wasn't going to pester her about it anymore.

oo o0oo 000 ooo0 o 0o00 000 oo0

Marinette sat in her bed looking up through her skylight to the stars above the black sky reminded her of her partner. I am fine with the way we are. Those were his words and they kept repeating in her mind. Ever since the beginning of their partnership Chat Noir had wanted to know who she was under the mask. Now, when they could safely remove the masks and be real friends to each other in the real world. Now, he doesn't. There's no need to reveal our identities.

She shook her head and looked down at the drawing pad in her lap. It was another drawing of Chat Noir. She had been drawing him more than she had been drawing actual designs in her sketchbook. She sighed lightly and closed the book.

Tikki came floating up to her. "Marinette? Someone is here to see you." Tikki said in her regular twinkling as Wayzz came up behind her.

"Wayzz! It's good to see you. Is everything alright?" Marinette asked. She rarely got visits from other Kwami, but she knew Wayzz the best, after Tikki of course.

"Everything is perfectly fine, Marinette. Thank you. I am just on business for Master Fu. He would like you to visit his shop tomorrow in the morning. Is that adequate for you young miraculous wielder?" Wayzz asked in his formal manner.

"Yeah, Wayzz. I can come by before school." Marinette replied

"Perfect, my master will be waiting. It has been a pleasure." Wayzz bowed and phased out of her skylight to head back to his masters shop.

"Tikki… What was that about?" Marinette turned to her Kwami. Tikki seemed sad, but she flew up to Marinette and gave her a huge hug on her cheek.

"Don't worry about it, Marinette. Everything will be explained tomorrow." Tikki flew away again and left Marinette to her thoughts. She hoped everything was okay. Wayzz was usually formal, but this seemed different and Tikki looked like she was hiding something from Marinette.

She brought her hands up to her face and allowed herself not to think about that now. Lately her mind has been occupied by too many things. She would have thought that her mind would be less stressed with the defeat of Hawkmoth, but that didn't seem to be the case. Master Fu's visit, Adrien's sadness, Chat Noirs change of mind, and biggest of all the reveal.

"Tikki?" Marinette called to her kwami. Tikki zoomed up to her bed.

"Yeah, Marinette?"

"Should I… Should I ask Chat for a reveal?" Tikki looked at Marinette for an intense second before replying.

"Do you want a reveal?"She asked.

"I… I'm not sure. I mean for the past two weeks I've been kind of nervous for when Chat was going to bring it up. But, he never did and now that I think about it I was kind of excited to know my partner outside of the mask. He has saved my life more times than I can count. And now I want him to be a part of my civilian life." Marinette expressed.

"Maybe you should talk to him, Marinette? Maybe he's nervous too and talking to him will help him gain the confidence to open up to you." Tikki advised

"You're right Tikki. There's no way that Chat doesn't want a reveal. He might just be scared of what's going to happen." Marinette, feeling a bit better about the entire situation, rubbed tikkis head with a smile. "Thank you, Tikki. I don't know what I would do without you." Marinette thought she saw a shadow of sadness pass though the ancient gods eyes, but it was gone before marinette could get a good look.

"You would be just fine, Marinette. You are a strong Ladybug and you always will be. Now, you better get to bed. If we are going to Master Fu's shop before school tomorrow you need to be rested enough to get up early." Tikki laughed. Marinette playfully smirked at her kwami, but followed her instructions.

"Good Night, Tikki!" Marinette called as Tikki turned off the lights. She felt a lot better than yesterday night when she had been freaking out over Chat Noir's change of mind, but everything was going to be fine. She had no need to worry. I am fine with the way we are…

Authors Note

Okay, here is day 3/30. How did you like it? Is Alyas reaction to the reveal a bit too dramatic? I mean Nino and Alya wouldn't ever abandon Adrien this way right? Tell me what you think.

Next time Master Fu's visit and Adriens reaction to having a friend despite his fathers identity.