EARLIER THAT DAY:

NATH'S POV:

I was  sitting at my desk  drawing some new characters for my comic book when my mom called for me downstairs. I walked down to see Chat Noir our beloved  *sarcastically* hero. 

"Hey Chat. What are you doing here? Wanting to make sure I don't get akumatized again?" Bitterness drenched my voice.

"Actually. I'm here kinda on Marinette's behalf, though she doesn't know I am doing this....like at all."

"Now what could cause you to be worried about Marinette?" Nathaniel blushes slightly at her name.

"Well, I was out and about, getting some fresh air, when I heard someone crying. I went over to see what was wrong. She was worried about you not wanting to be her friend anymore because of her tricking the Evilistrator ."

"Wait......really?" Nathaniel couldn't believe she was that worried about him.

"Yeah. Might I suggest you call her and talk to her?"

"Not a bad idea. Thanks Chat. Sorry about earlier." Nathaniel apologized.

"It's cool man." With that, Chat left, his duties to his friend accomplished.

After Chat left, I decided to give Marinette a call, unsure of what to say. I hear her answer the phone.  I hear myself mention meeting for food. Before long, I realize I had asked Marinette to meet at a small cafe after school for some food and to talk. We say goodbye and I toss my phone onto my bed.

"What did I just do......What DID I JUST DO?!?!" I pace back and forth, fidgeting with my hands. I head to my closet and pick out my nicest shirt and lay it out for tomorrow. "Let's hope this goes well, or I'll be even more of a laughing stock at school." 

~~~~~~~~Next Day at the Cafe~~~

Nathaniel's POV:

I sit outside the cafe Marinette chose, waiting. I check my phone. 5 minutes till the time we agreed to meet, so, knowing her, I have about 20 minutes till she arrives. I put my phone away and pull out my sketch book. I start sketching her familiar face. Once I have a rough sketch for her face and figure, I start drawing  another next to her. Slightly taller, slim, but muscular build.  I then start with the details. Blue bangs and pigtails on the girl along with bluest of blue eyes, blonde fluffy hair with two black ears on her partner. I had just finished penciling in the mask when a shadow was cast over me.

"Wow, that really good Nathaniel! oh and sorry I'm late." 

I look up to see her blue hair tied up in a bun, her bluest of blue eyes peering down at my sketchbook. I look at her face, the shape seeming oddly similar, the shape of her eyes, the shade of her hair. I glance down at my drawing. 

"Thanks, and your good. You're actually only.." I glance at my phone  "10 minutes late versus your usual 15. I'd say your making progress!" I stand up and lightly side bump her, making her let out a small chuckle. I walk around her, putting myself between her and the road. We walk down the street past a couple of shops and cafes. 

"Umm....Marinette? The cafe's back there." I point back towards where I had been sitting.

"I know. I was thinking, maybe we would walk around for a bit first. Unless your hungry then it's totally cool to go back and eat."

I shrug and watch as she  continues mumbling. All of a sudden she trips, landing in the arms of someone who had been walking towards us. 

~~~~~~~~~Marinette's POV~~~~~

"Marinette!! Time to wake up!" I feel Tikki's small self trying to shake me awake.

I groan and roll over in  my bed not wanting to get up.

"Five more minutes?"

"Your gonna be late! It's already 11:30! Weren't you suppose to meet Nathaniel at 12?"

"Crap!!" I roll over off the bed onto the floor

I throw on some black jeans and a pink sweatshirt with some white high tops and run out the door.  As I run down the street, I throw my hair into a bun, Tikki helping tuck in loose strands as I run. As a near the corner of the cafe, I slow to a walk to try and catch my breathe.

"Oh Tikki, why didn't I wake up my alarm! I'm late again!!"

"I honestly tried Mari, but you wouldn't wake up!! No matter what I did! Your running yourself to hard. Maybe you should take a day to yourself while your parents are gone. No staying up till the wee hours of the morning with Alya, or tearful conversations with Chat about if you should have help defeat Evilistrator that way or not."

"Yeah, maybe. Hide Tikki, we're almost there."

I walk up to see Nathaniel sitting on a bench sketching. I look down to see him sketching what seems to be Ladybug and Chat Noir side by side. 

"Wow, that really good Nathaniel! oh and sorry I'm late." I smile sheepishly 

"Thanks, and your good. You're actually only.." He glanced at his phone "10 minutes late versus your usual 15. I'd say your making progress!" he stands up, lightly side bumping me. I let out a small chuckle remembering all the times when we were small that we would see who could side bump the other one hardest, usually ending up laughing in the grass. I see him walk around me, putting himself between me and the road. We walk down the street past a couple of shops and cafes. 

"Umm....Marinette? The cafe's back there." He pointed back towards where he had been sitting.

"I know. I was thinking, maybe we would walk around for a bit first. Unless your hungry then it's totally cool to go back and eat." My face warms from embarrassment. 

"Sorry...I just..." I start mumbling to myself. As I walk, I feel myself trip over a crack in the sidewalk. As I struggle against the air and gravity, I feel myself land in the arms of another. I look up to see a guy looking down on me, his turquoise eyes light with laughter, but concern.

"You okay there miss?"

"Um...yeah. Thanks for catching me..." I quickly stand back up. I look at his face trying to place it. His hair black, ombréing into a blue that matched his eyes. He seemed framiliar, but I couldn't tell where from. 

"Hey Marinette, I see you have now met my brother Luka!"

I glance to Luka's side to see Juleka. 

"Umm, yeah guess so!" I give a small shrug and blush when I hear both Nathaniel and Luka chuckle. "so what are you doing out and about Juleka?"

"Oh nothing much. just shopping." She shows a small brown bag in her hand.

" that's cool. Well it was nice seeing you, and thanks for catching me Luka, but we will let you get on your way."

" Yeah, see you Marinette." Juleka waved as she passed

"Nice meeting you Marinette."

"You too Luka." 

And with that, we parted ways. At lunch I was able to resolve with Nathaniel what had happened and relieved my fears of and end to a long established friendship.

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Sorry it has taken so long guys!!! I've been busy with school but I will try to update when possible! Thx for reading!!