Friends and Dumpsters
It was finally Friday. Nino had gotten used to liking school since the beginning of the school year. Usually he had sat in the back and ignored what was going on without him. While he happily jammed out to his latest DJ track, but with his change of seat and meeting Adrien, school had begun to be a bit more fun and less like a mandatory affair. This left Nino aching for the weekend. He couldn't sit by his former best friend the same way anymore. He kept reliving those moments of the bubbler. Trapping his friends and attempting to rid Paris of all Adults. He could still see some of the horrified expressions that his classmates had worn as he let them float away into the sky.
He shivered at the thought. Then came the revelation that Hawkmoth is Adrien's Father. Nino knew the guy was scary, but he didn't think 'supervillain scary'. Nino sighed as he walked up the steps to school. Adrien was again outside waiting for someone. Alya had filled him in on their conversation the other day and he couldn't help but smile at Adriens determination. But the smile didn't last long. There were rumors going around that Adrien had been the reason their school had been targeted specifically. Coincidentally Nino had been Akumatized after a small amount of time knowing Adrien and for Adrien's birthday no less.
Nino looked at the blonde again. He missed his friend. He had felt too awkward to talk to him after the revelation. Then the rumors had started and he couldn't help but see the reasons that they gave. Adrien was a common denominator. He had to stay away from him. He was about to head inside when he saw said blonde turn and notice him on the stairs. He had his kicked puppy look on his face. His resolved crumbled
Nino took a deep breath and walked over to him. Adrien looked shocked at his approach. Nino was too, but he needed some clarity and answers.
"Hey… Adrien." Nino said awkwardly, looking to the side of Adrien.
"..." Nino didn't hear anything in reply and looked over to see Adrien quickly shake his frozen gaze from Nino and turn to look away.
"Hey… Nino." He finally said. They fell into a silence that seemed to echo with how deep it was.
"Ummm… so whatcha doin?" Nino asked, already knowing the answer, but not knowing how to start the conversation.
"Ah, waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
Adrien closed his mouth tightly and looked over at Nino catching his eye. "Look if you're here for Alya you can tell her that I won't back down. Marinette is my friend too. Well, I hope she still is. So, you can leave now. I know I make you uncomfortable." Adrien's demeanor slumped as he spoke those last words and looked away.
Nino looked at his 'friend' sadly. He really couldn't call himself one of Adrien's friends if he had run away so quickly when his friend had needed him the most. Everything was just so confusing and he needed some time to come to terms with the new information. Not that that was an excuse for his behavior, but standing next to Adrien in that moment felt right. Nino made his decision. No more running away, he was going to make up these past two weeks to Adrien.
"Look, Adrien. I am sorry for being… well distant these past few weeks. I was scared and haunted with my memories of being the bubbler. Hawkmoth reached into my heart into my emotions and made me hurt my friends." Adrien looked up at Nino, frowning at his friend. "And I know it's not an excuse for the way that I have treated you. And you can say 'no' if you want to, but would you give me the chance to win your friendship back?" Nino looked at the ground with his cap in his hands. He didn't remember taking it off.
Adrien didn't say anything for a minute and Nino was about to apologize for bothering him. When he felt his friend's arms wrap around him. He instantly hugged his friend back. He didn't deserve a friend like Adrien; he was always so forgiving. Nino vowed to be a better friend to Adrien in the future and he wouldn't let himself be forgiven that easily.
They broke apart and Adrien had to wipe tears from his eyes. Nino wasn't much better.
"So! You're waiting for Marinette. Do you want any help?" Adrien smiled at his friend's offer.
"Please, I could use a word of advice."
"That's what I'm here for." From now on Nino's mind added. I will be here for you, Adrien.
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"Chat, I know what you said about revealing our Identities last time we spoke, but some more news has come to light and we really need to talk to come up with our next step. Please, call me back as soon as you get this. Ladybug out." Marinette transformed back and continued getting ready for the school day. She bit her lip in worry.
"Tikki, what happens if I can't tell Chat in time for us to return the miraculous?" Marinette had been worried about Chat since her meeting with Master Fu. This really changed their plans.
"It's better if you do tell him. We don't know if Plagg has explained these things to him and I suspect that he hasn't; lazy ball of furry cheese." Tikki muttered under her breath. "Plagg will be sucked into the ring and Chat will be unable to transform. This leaves the user really dazed and confused and can be really daunting at times. So, we try to tell miraculous holders what is going to happen." Tikki looked up at Marinette's increasingly worried face.
"Don't worry Marinette. You'll be able to tell him. There is still time." Tikki flew and hugged her Chosen. "You might have time to tell Chat, but you are running out of time to get to school on time." Tikki giggled as Marinette unleashed her hurricane mode and got ready in record time.
She quickly said her goodbye to her parents and was halfway across the street to the school when she spotted Adrien sitting on the front steps with Nino at his side. Her embarrassment from yesterday came rushing back to her. She had been so worried for Chat that she had completely forgotten about yesterday. She tried to turn back, but the cars started to honk at her as the light turned green. She shot across the street and ducked behind some garbage cans. Luckily no one noticed her. She sighed in relief.
"Girl!" A whisper yell came to her off to her left. She turned to see Alya gesturing for her to run and hide with her behind a group of trees. Marinette peeked out from behind the dumpsters and saw Adrien and Nino talking like usual. She took her chance and made it to Alya's hiding spot.
"Girl, what are you hiding behind a bunch of dumpsters for?" Alya asked
"I could ask you the same thing." Marinette replied, gesturing her head towards the two boys. "Is that your doing?"
"No. I just saw them a moment before I saw you almost get run over by those cars. What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't, I just don't want to be seen by Adrien." Alya perked up an eyebrow at that, but she didn't complain it fell right alongside her plans.
"Okay. Well, I think we can make a break for the school now that they seem to be bro chatting." Alya remarked. Marinette nodded "Okay, 3…2…1…go." They broke into a fast walk together towards the front doors. Once they had made it in, they both stopped and started waking normally.
"Do you think that they saw us?" Marinette asked
"No, they were catching up too much to pay attention." Alya replied.
They couldn't have seen the tiny smile that Adrien had worn disappear from his face when he had spotted Marinette. Or the sadness in his eyes as he continued talking with Nino.
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Marinette managed to avoid Adrien for the whole day. It helped her mind to work on something and not be worried about her partner who had yet to open her messages from her yo-yo. Still the times that she was safe from being cornered by Adrien her thoughts wandered back to her partner in black leather.
She was thinking about him now as she drew on her sketch pad on the bench that she had taken Adrien a few days before. She found the sound of the rushing water to be soothing. She looked down at her sketch and was not surprised to find a portrait of Chat waiting for her to finish it. She couldn't get his smile right. She was trying to draw one of his rare smiles. The genuine one that she got to see on very rare occasions. She was thinking of all the times that she had been able to see it and sadly it didn't appear often. Especially after they had defeated Hawkmoth.
She looked at the crooked smirk smile that she had drawn and she erased it to try again.
"It's so cool how much talent you have at drawing Marinette." A voice said behind her. She looked behind her and found the exact soft genuine smile that she had been trying to draw earlier. However it was on the wrong face.
"A-adrien. I- I sorry hear am no. I mean. I didn't hear you." She said as she gathered her things and stuffed them into her bag. She didn't want to be questioned again. She really couldn't afford to be distracted by Adrien's perfect face as she tried to explain her absence.
"Marinette! You don't have to leave. I just wanted to talk to you about yesterday." Adrien eyed her as she placed all of her drawing materials back into her bag.
"Look Adrien. I don't have time right now. Maybe try and catch me at a different time." She found that if she didn't look at any part of him she could avoid stumbling over her words. She turned to leave, but felt Adrien's firm hand catch her wrist.
"Marinette, all I wanted to say was sorry. I didn't mean to push you and I realize now that that was crossing a line. I am sorry, Marinette." His heartfelt apology knocked on her heart, but not as strongly as it used to. She had been feeling her feelings for Adrien fade away for a while now. She still had a crush on him, but it wasn't as severe. Her attention seemed to be dividing. All she could think about was her Partner and the idea of him at her side no matter what.
She pulled her hand from Adrien's now softening grasp and she readjusted her backpack on her back. "It's okay, Adrien, I forgive you. I really need to go though. Have a good weekend." Marinette said rapidly and disappeared around the corner. Adrien couldn't help, but feel a burning sensation in his hand that had held Marinette's wrist.
He stared after her contemplatively. He never noticed her before now. And now that he wanted to get to know her more she pulled away. 'It was his own fault,' he said in his mind. 'You crossed a line.' Adrien sighed sadly, but he was still determined as he walked back to the school and found his driver waiting to take him home.
Author's Note:
Thank you to all who are following this story. I am excited to share it with you.
Nino redemption! Was it realistic? Do you think that Nino would react like that under those circumstances? What do you think Alya's doing hiding behind some trees?
Leave a review with your Guesses and/or Suggestions. It all helps me to improve my writing. Thanks for reading!