Minutes passed in silence, with only the sounds of the light wind passing through the leaves. Marinette looked anywhere but him. She took in the warmth of the sun on her skin, knowing she didn't get even close to enough, as she tried to memorize the patterns of the surroundings. Maybe she could get out a pen and try to draw it later in her room. If she didn't go out to see Chat Noir, of course. Marinette then saw, through some of the trees, a part of the wall that protected the castle. Maybe she'd check that out tonight. 

"So," said Adrien quietly, leaning forward and resting his chin on one fist when enough of an awkward silence passed. His green eyes were bright and too-focused on her. "This weather is nice."

Marinette avoided rolling her eyes. "Yes, it is," she responded politely. "Um, how has your day been so far?"

Adrien shrugged. "I mean, I'm here."

"Do you not want to be here?" Marinette frowned, feeling stung. She didn't want him here, either, but she didn't tell him that. 

Adrien backed up quickly, waving his hands in the air quickly and speaking just as fast. "No, no, no it's not that at all."

"Can I help you feel more welcome somehow?" 

"No, it's not you. It's me. I'm used to, like, super fancy people, and I don't know what to say right now."

Marinette felt looked down upon. "I'm sorry?"

"I don't mean it like that." He chuckled, then blushed. "I mean, you seem great. I just have other options."

The princess forced herself to not jerk back. "What do you mean other options?"

"Okay, maybe not other options. I mean, I do, but I'm here because my father told me to. I mean, it's not like I had anything better to do. But usually I'm doing a lot of activities right now. That's what I mean by options."

"Uh-huh," said Marinette flatly. "I'm sorry it's such an inconvenience."

"I, er, being here isn't an inconvenience. It's a bit too convenient, if you ask me. I just don't want you to feel like you have to be here with me, if you don't want to, and that I can leave any time. And that I was forced to be here, and you were forced to be here. I'm trying to relate. So, like, I get the struggle. You know?"

Marinette felt herself go stiff as she sat back, with a straight back, as far away from him as could possibly be. She thought back to when she woke up without a mother and a completely different life, one she never truly asked for. The fear of having to change things up completely, where she didn't have the control of her time anymore. She couldn't hang out with her friends anymore. She lost everything. Adrien already had everything. He went to college, he had friends, he knew people, had money and fame, and could essentially date anyone he wanted.

Her voice was ice when she spoke. "I don't know if you do get the struggle."

Adrien's eyebrows skirted together. "That's not-"

Marinette waited for him to continue his sentence. But she couldn't help the tears come to her eyes, and Adrien closed his lips just as quickly as he opened them. She hated how weepy she'd become.  He slumped in his chair, his ears red. Just then, Tikki's heels clopped towards the two of them, and stated, "Is everything alright?"

Marinette's folded her arms, but Adrien smiled cheerfully. "Yes, Tikki. I think I just have a disease: foot-in-mouth disease."

Tikki turned quickly to Marinette with her hands on her hips. "Did you say something rude?"

"No!" Marinette contested at the same time Adrien stated, "Of course not."

Tikki looked in between the two of them, frowning deeply. She motioned for Plagg to come over, who ignored her flaring hands until she whisper-screamed, "Plagg, come here now!"

"What?" he said with a nasty tone as he slowly walked towards them, not looking up from his book.

"I think we need to set up a GTKY."

Plagg looked up, bags already forming under his eyes. Marinette raised her eyebrows when Adrien covered his face with his hands. 

"What's that?" Marinette asked, tensing. 

Tikki let out an excited squeal, but the anger in her eyes did nothing to help calm Marinette's shoulders. She looked down at the princess with a tight smile. "GTKY. Get to know you meeting. An event where you and the person you're courted are asked questions and have to answer them. There's a test at the end." 

A test?! What kind of stupid bulls-

"Yes, ma'am," said Adrien, smiling confidently. He looked joyfully at Marinette. "It sounds like a great idea."

Marinette felt a wall building between them, and she didn't think she really wanted to overcome it. Especially not with, what, multiple choice answers?

"Let's set it up for tomorrow." Tikki and Plagg set up the time.

__

Sorry it's been a second since my last update and that it's short. I moved across the state, am getting settled into my new place, have been really focused on work, sending out Master's applications, and have been a wasting a liiiiitle too much time on Tumblr (yeah, I'm still on Tumblr... where else am I going to read Buggachat's Bakery AU?). 

Thank you so much for reading. Please like/comment.