Chapter Text
Marinette gets no sleep. She feels incredibly, wildly uncomfortable, and she wonders how difficult it would be to run away from home and become a yak herder.
She must look as horrible as she feels, because when she walks into class, Alya smiles sympathetically and pats her on the back.
"Period?" She asks. Marinette doesn't have the energy to explain or correct her, so she just groans in response.
Nino, who usually pokes fun, winces and offers a concoction of multiple different caffeinated drinks that Marinette is pretty sure might kill her. She politely declines. Even Adrien looks weirdly guilty for some reason, and he waves at her as she moves to put her bag down.
Marinette sleeps through most of her classes, and at some point, she's even sent to the nurse. She just sleeps even more in the nurse's office. After she has a bite to eat, she feels slightly better, so she gets back to class.
Everyone stops by her seat to ask her if she's okay. Chloe makes a bratty comment about how Marinette's just a slacker, but even she has a look of confused concern on her face.
By the end of the day, Marinette feels like she's been run over by a truck. She wonders if it's too late to get that caffeine explosion from Nino. She's so caught up in her own thoughts that she doesn't notice when she bumps into Adrien, who again looks very jumpy and guilty.
"Marinette, are you alright?"
"No," she responds truthfully. "Something... happened with Chat Noir."
Adrien winces like he's been burned. Marinette furrows her brow in confusion and starts to head on home.
"Wait, Marinette! I was actually wondering if you needed some company? Because, you know. You've looked so tired and sad all day."
The girl in question stares at him doubtfully. "You're not going to try to get me to talk about what happened, are you?"
"No, of course not."
Marinette sighs in relief and tugs at his hand. "Alright, let's go then. I've got plenty of time to be kicking your ass at video games."
-
"I won," Marinette states. "Wow, Adrien, I'm feeling shitty today and still beating you."
"I'm good, I promise," Adrien insists. "You're just that much better than me."
Marinette smirks confidently and announces that she's going to get snacks. She's starting to feel okay again when she realizes that she's getting snacks for a pretty blond boy that she likes, and it's food she's made herself, and there's a tiny ounce of hope somewhere inside of her, just like the first time Chat Noir came by. Marinette's mood drops again, and she carries the plates of pastries up to her room with a heavy sigh.
"Finally, you were taking forever-- Marinette? What's wrong?"
She doesn't even realize she's been crying until Adrien steps forward with a worried look on his face and wipes a tear from her cheek. When he pulls her into a tight, comforting hug, Marinette practically breaks down.
"I'm not going to ask what happened," he whispers into Marinette's hair. "But I'm going to be here for you no matter what. And I'm definitely going to kick Chat Noir's ass."
Marinette snorts through her tears.
"I'm serious! If he broke your heart, I swear to god I'm going to rip his hair out."
"Thanks, Adrien," she mumbles into his shirt. "You're the best."
Adrien waddles over to her chaise, still hugging Marinette, and plops down. "You need cuddles," he declares. "No objections. It's happening."
Marinette lands on top of Adrien, and he catches her sides. Suddenly, she remembers that she's ticklish, and she giggles a little as she falls into Adrien's lap. And then she freezes.
"Are you ticklish?" Adrien asks incredulously. Marinette immediately tries to get up and sprint, unable to find any way to answer smoothly. But Adrien has an iron grip, and he uses one hand to hold her and the other to wiggle his fingers in her direction. Marinette shrieks.
After about five minutes of being chased around her room, almost kicking Adrien multiple times in the face, and falling over the croissants, Marinette stops in the corner, a good distance away from Adrien. "Truce," she says, gasping for air. Adrien nods, unable to speak as well.
Marinette randomly glances out the window. It's starting to get dark. "You should start heading home," she tells Adrien. He pouts, but gathers his stuff and makes to leave.
"Oh, yeah, before I forget," he says. Adrien kisses her on the cheek. "I just want you to know that you're one of my best friends. We should hang out more, so feel free to call or text me anytime you feel shitty. Or just anytime."
Marinette watches him leave in a daze. She smiles dreamily, and finally, her day starts to feel a little better than before.
-
Marinette still goes on patrol, but she takes precautions and makes calculated decisions to make sure she doesn't run into Chat Noir. In return, Chat Noir does not make any attempts to visit Marinette. It makes her heart ache a little, but she shakes her head and makes to get over it.
Adrien begins to hang out with Marinette more and more, until he's basically walking to her house every day. Most of the time, he can't stay for long because of Chinese, or fencing, or some kind of afterschool thing, but he always at least walks her home.
At some point, Marinette starts to become very comfortable when she's with Adrien. She still likes him romantically, but she's so full of love for him as a friend, too. Adrien grasps her hand when they cross the street, and one day, he just never lets go.
There's something incredible warm that begins to blossom in Marinette's chest. The idea that this is a relationship that might actually work makes Marinette feel so incredibly happy. She's perfectly content with taking things slow, okay with communicating first and having healthy, emotional connections, because that was something she feels like she never quite had with Chat Noir.
Today, Marinette turns to face Adrien once they reach the bakery. He looks like he's about to say something, but Marinette leans up on her tiptoes and kisses him very softly and quickly on the lips. It's just something small, something that she's fine with keeping at an innocent, surface level. Adrien blinks.
"I can stay over today," he says. "That's what I was going to tell you."
Marinette flushes pink. How embarrassing.
"Let's go in, then," she practically shouts. Marinette mentally slaps herself for getting loud when she's flustered.
As soon as they've both greeted her parents and gotten to her room, Adrien showers her with kisses all over her cheeks. "You're so cute," he says happily.
"You're so embarrassing, Adrien," Marinette whines.
"I can't help it, princess, not when I'm blessed by someone as amazing as you."
"Ugh, Chaton--- wait, Chaton?!"
Adrien squeaks and jerks away from Marinette with a panicked look on his face. Everything makes sense and doesn't at the same time. Marinette takes a deep, tired breath.
"Adrien," Marinette sighs.
"It's about time we talk about this."