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"𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍

𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎

𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞"

-𝚛.𝚑. 𝚂𝚒𝚗

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With how fast they scurried to catch up to Marinette, Adrien is surprised she hadn't noticed them almost trip over each other when they realized they were closing in far too quickly. She had seemed to end her in the time it had taken for them to come to an agreement and quickly follow after. 

They trailed in after her in the classroom, where many of their classmates were already lingering and chatting with one another before classes were to begin. Marinette had headed straight for Juleka, who stood behind Rose she as spoke excitedly with Alix and Nathaniel.

"Juleka," Marinette called, and it goes to show how much their friends seem to value her words as they all stop speaking to swivel their heads toward her as she nears. He and Nino slide into their seats casually, leaning over Nino's tablet to pretend they were looking at something so that they could focus on their conversation as well. "I just got off the phone with Luka-" Adrien's heart stutters, "-he and your mom are heading back this way."

"Of course he'd call you first," Juleka shakes her head but wears an amused smile. 

"I told him off for that," she drawled.

"Wait, wait, wait," Alix waved her hands as she butted in, "who's Luka?"

Now that's what Adrien wanted to know. The name was...oddly familiar, but not in a way he knew. He didn't know anyone by the name, but it was one that he- he felt like he knew who it belonged to.

("I don't want you to be friends with- with Luka!"

"Now, now Adrien, Marinette can have as many friends as she wants. Just like you have so many."

"She can have friends! Just- just not with Luka!"

"Adrien...are you jealous?"

"Yes!")

"Luka is my brother," Juleka twiddled her thumbs, "we used to play together when we were little, but he left with mom to travel and I stayed here."

Alix wiggled her eyebrows, "That doesn't explain why he called Marinette before he thought to call his own sister, hm?" she nudged Marinette, who shot her an unimpressed look, with her elbow, "Don't tell me you've had a secret boyfriend all these years, Mari. Holy- is that why you turn everyone down?"

The silence that permeates the classroom is nearly tangible with how thick it was as everyone waited with bated breath for Marinette's answer. 

Adrien's hands clenched in his lap as he waited. 

Marinette tilted her head, "He's never confessed to me, and I don't recall agreeing to date him. So, no, he is not my boyfriend."

Juleka leaned forward, "But would you?" Adrien held his breath.

"What?"

"Date Luka- would you?"

"I'm not sure why that's any of your guys' business," Marinette's tone was flat, "but I am of the firm belief that anyone would be lucky to have him as a partner or significant other."

He released the breath he had been holding shakily. It wasn't a direct answer. She had admitted that it wasn't anything she'd speak about with them- or perhaps not in such a public setting. Marinette seemed like the type of person to value privacy and respecting one's privacy as well. 

(He made it a point to ignore the relief he felt.)

Alix hummed, squinting her eyes at Marinette before shrugging, "It's just I've never seen you interested in anyone before. I'm starting to think you're incapable of being attracted to someone."

"Don't be ridiculous," Marinette scoffed as she made her way to her seat, "I'm attracted to people as much as the next person. Just because I don't show it or voice it doesn't mean I can't or don't."

Adrien blushed, dropping his head to hide his face.

He really, really hoped that he was Marinette's type.

"Always so rational," Alix blew a raspberry at Marinette's direction before turning back to Juleka to ask more about her brother. 

Marinette slipped into her seat and pulled out the items she would need for her first lesson while taking a gently wrapped croissant from her pocket and beginning to nibble on it as she skimmed her notes.

Adrien breathed in and squared his shoulders. 

He was going to be brave today.

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"M-Marinette!" Adrien called up, rushing to catch up with the girl as she walked. It was recess and he had gone to the restroom to gather himself when he had spotted Marinette walking around the corner squinting at her phone. "Hey, uh," he took a deep breath in, "could I maybe- w-walk you home? After school?"

Adrien held his breath.

Marinette blinked.

She had been caught off guard.

"You..." she began, "I- sure- yeah."

Adrien smiled brightly at her response, "Really? Perfect! I'll wait for you at the stairs, then!"

Marinette watched him rush off before glancing down at her phone where she had been messaging Luka. She pursed her lips as she deleted the message she had originally been typing out.

Adrien just asked to walk
me home.

What should I do?

I hope you have already given him
an answer before telling me this.
You aren't asking me toactually
decide your answer for you, right?

Of course I already gave him an answer!
Who do you take me for

Just checking

So what did you say? 

I-

I agreed...

Well then that's that.
Let him walk you home

I should probably warn mom and dad.

I think they would appreciate that, yeah

Don't get sassy with me. I'm the one
who's dealing with this shit

I suppose once I'm back it will actually hit

I don't look forward to it.

Marinette grimaced. 

As you shouldn't

"You're so much sneakier than I thought," Nino bemoaned, "I can't believe she said yes! You're her type? No way!"

"Hey!" Adrien shoved his shoulder, "I'll have you know, I'm quite the catch."

"Oh, sure; millionaire father, famous model, good looks-"

"As my best friend, I sincerely hope that's not what you see me for."

"-your fantastic personality, your kindness and your incredible sense of humor."

"Much appreciated, Nino."

"I think the only negative points you have going for you is that you sometimes smell like Camembert." Adrien groans, out of all the things Plagg had to adore- it had to be Camembert cheese, didn't it?

"Oh! I see her coming- alright dude, good luck! Don't say anything dumb!"

"Thanks Nino," he shook his head in amusement as his friend saluted him and ran off. "Okay, Adrien: you can do this. You've got this-"

"Adrien."

The air left him as quickly as he turned to watch Marinette walk down the steps to meet him. She stopped in front of him, meeting his eyes head-on and tilted her head when she didn't receive a response.

"Adrien," she tried again, "...are we going then?"

"Uh, y-yes- yeah, let's go. Lead the way, M'Lady!"

Oh, he fucked up. 

She turned her head away, "Pfft..." 

He possibly didn't fuck up. 

Adrien was surprised to get such an amused reaction. Usually, someone would probably be flattered and maybe flirt in return. Marinette seemed to find it amusing- enough to startle a laugh out of her, apparently.

"Well," she held out her hand-

No. Way.

The corner of her mouth was quirked up, not quite a smile but fighting to become one. It was a smirk- she was smirking at him- she was playing along. 

"Escort me then, good sir."

He wasn't entirely sure if he'd survive the walk. 

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