Adrien
He wondered when it had changed. Had he done something that made her act like that? She never had before. Had it been when he saved her? Or when he yelled at her? Or was it because he apologized? None of it made sense. It was like he had unlocked a new level of friendship with Marinette. He had no idea what to call it, but it was fun. Her face was priceless when he stepped in with Chloe. He was really looking forward to her retaliation. He was back in math class, staring at his phone. As much fun as that was, he was distracted. She still hadn't texted Chat. He didn't regret interrupting her earlier, because it had opened up this whole new side of her he had never seen. But, it almost felt like she had forgotten about Chat. He sighed, sending her a text.
"Hey princess, how's your day going?"
He felt weird about it. He had been upset when he left last night, and he kind of wanted to forget about it. Her last rule had bothered him. No, he wasn't in love with her. But he was really starting to like her. She occupied his thoughts more than Ladybug ever had, and that worried him. If she strictly wanted to keep their arrangement 'professional' he needed to get ahold of himself. But what was he supposed to do? Her plan was working, and he didn't want to stop. Maybe it was making him like her, but that wasn't so bad, right? It would be better than Ladybug. He wouldn't have to worry about who Marinette really was, because she would tell him.
"I'm at war."
His phone lit up, and he grinned.
"At war?"
"A war of wits if you will. I need some advice. How do you embarrass a guy?"
He almost laughed out loud, but he didn't. No way in hell was he giving her any freebies. She'd have to win fair and square.
"Oh no. You're not dragging me into this."
"You're on his side aren't you?"
Her response was immediate, and he tried to wipe the smile off of his face.
"I'm on the winning side."
"So mine?"
He loved that confidence. It really suited her. He paused for a moment, trying to think of something to say, when she sent another text.
"Are we okay kitty?"
He looked up, he had finished his work, so he knew the teacher wouldn't get onto him for having his phone out. What was he supposed to say? No, because I can't promise I won't fall in love? Or should he just lie? Little white lies were okay. But he didn't want to lie to her.
"If it's about the rules, we can talk about it."
He sighed, typing back a reply.
"It's about the rules."
"What don't you like about them?"
"The last one obviously. How the hell do you expect me to just shut my feelings off? You should know how hard-"
He shook his head, deleting all of it. He didn't want to snap. Marinette's rules had logic to them, so they probably made sense to her.
"I already like you, or I wouldn't be in the arrangement to begin with. How am I supposed to promise not to fall in love with you? It's not a choice."
He sent it, hoping it didn't sound harsh, as well as hoping she didn't decide to activate rule one, and terminate.
"I like you too Chat. And I don't know. I just don't want us to end up in the same boat we were in before."
"Love isn't always like that Marinette. Sometimes you get lucky, and the person you love, ends up loving you back."
Who the hell had screwed her up so much, that she expected it to always happen like that?
"Okay. Let's take off that rule then, since it bothers you so. And if one of us does end up falling in love, we'll terminate the agreement. Okay?"
He stared at the phone, or more so glared at it. Then they would be in the exact same boat they were in before. Fine. If she wanted a non romantic fuck, he could do that. But she should know, there's one rule no one should forget. Be careful what you wish for.
He must have looked as pissed as he felt, because on the way to the locker room, the crowds parted. Marinette had essentially said, that the only one at risk of falling in love was him. Because if he fell in love, he wouldn't terminate. But she would. Because she was too afraid to fall in love again. What was that saying? It was better to have had love and lost it, than not to have loved at all? Whatever. He slipped through the crowd into the locker room, opening his locker. He was already ready to leave and go... somewhere. Maybe not home.
"Adrien! Looking at dirty pictures at school? Have you no shame?"
He heard her squeal behind him, and he looked up into his locker. You know what? She really did have perfect timing. He needed to blow off some steam. He turned, and looked her up and down.
"You know I can't resist when you send me such sexy pictures."
Her face turned red, and he smirked. She should have seen how that could have backfired.
"Honestly Marinette. I didn't realize how kinky you were."
Whispers broke out around them, and he leaned back against the locker.
"I'd quit while you're ahead sweetheart. I can do this all day."
Her eyes seemed to widen, and he raised an eyebrow. There was no way sweet, innocent little Marinette had a comeback for that.
"Where was that attitude last night? What did it take you, like three minutes?"
Wow. Suddenly this war was starting to lose it's charm. But he wouldn't back down. He stepped closer, leaning his face down towards her neck. She seemed to tense, and he smiled. He noticed the way she danced around it, the actual words. And that was how he was going to end her. He pretended to lower his voice, but anyone listening could hear.
"I didn't hear any complaints, considering you came within the first two."
He heard her breath hitch when his lips grazed against her neck, and he pulled back, looking at her. Her face was bright red, and she looked positively annoyed. But there was definitely something else. She had liked that. Which part though? Laughter broke out around them, and he looked away, forcing a grin at one of the students who had patted him on the back.
"This isn't over Agreste."
She snapped, and he looked back at her. She wasn't annoyed anymore. No, she looked pissed. Maybe he had taken it too far.
"All is fair in love and war."
He hadn't meant to say it out loud, but he did. And it was too late to take it back. Whoops and hollers echoed in the locker room, and she turned on her heel, walking out. Shit. He had taken it too far. He grabbed his bag from his locker, and dashed out to catch up to her. Sure, he was upset about the arrangement. But he had only agreed to it, because it wouldn't affect Adrien's friendship with her, and he had just screwed that up. He stopped at the courtyard, Queen Wasp was standing directly in the center of it, her glare focused on Marinette. How the hell did Chloe get her miraculous?
"Nothing but lies spew from your lips, and my wasps are going to prove it! They're going to make you tell the truth!"
She shouted, and with a wave of her hand, the wasps flew forward, directly towards Marinette. If she got hit, game over. Hawkmoth would know about her and Chat, and she would be a new target. He dropped his bag, staring at the wasps. They could make you tell the truth? That was a whole new obstacle for Ladybug and Chat Noir. Marinette turned, racing back towards the locker rooms. How was he supposed to help her? He looked around, and grabbed his school bag. He dumped it out, and grabbed every book he had, throwing them over her head towards the wasps. He actually hit a couple, but it didn't slow down the others any. He dropped the rest of his books when she was passing him, turning and following her. They made it back into the locker rooms, slamming the door shut.
"What's going on?"
Alya asked, and he looked around. There were way too many people here to transform.
"Queen wasp is back, and unless you want to start spilling your secrets, I'd hide."
Marinette snapped, and people started clambering into their lockers.
"I'll draw their attention away from here."
Marinette grabbed the door handle, and he pushed his weight against it.
"Seriously? Again? This counts as risking your life too."
He snapped, and she looked up at him.
"I'm not risking my life. Just my secrets. I won't get stung, and even if I do, Ladybug and Chat Noir will save me."
He frowned at her, but she wasn't wrong. If she did get stung, maybe they'd save her before she started spilling secrets. Chat wouldn't be saving anyone though, unless he got out of the damn locker room.
"Fine. I'll come with you."
"No. Stay here."
He crossed his arms, looking down at her. Ladybug could handle Chloe by herself.
"Either we both leave, or none of us do. Your choice."
"Fine. Whatever. I'll run into one of the classrooms, you go into another. Stay on ground level."
She snapped, yanking open the door. That was actually kind of hot. They both ran out at the same time, splitting up once their feet hit the courtyard. He went left and she went right, and he dove into one of the classrooms, slamming the door behind him. Maybe she made it. He quickly transformed, jumping out the window so no one would realize he came out of the same room as Adrien. He pole vaulted over the building, landing right next to Ladybug.
"Perfect timing my lady."
"Do you know where the acuma is?"
"Well, aren't you in a rush?"
He asked, using his baton to hit away a wasp. She glared at him, and he frowned.
"No. I don't know where it is. How did she get her miraculous back?"
"She didn't. Let's get higher."
They both got to the top of the building, and looked down at Chloe.
"I think her wasps make people tell the truth."
Ladybug barely glanced at him, before throwing up her yo-yo.
"Lucky charm!"
"Already?"
A cell phone fell from the sky, and she stared at it. It looked exactly like Marinette's phone. He grabbed it, flipping it over. The lockscreen wallpaper was even the same.
"Marinette! Come out! You filthy lying witch!"
All of this just because he and Marinette had been joking around? Jesus.
"See anything?"
She sighed, looking around. He watched her, trying to tell if he still loved her. She seemed to be in an extra sour mood today, but that had never affected his feelings for her before.
"She's wearing a bee hair pin. That's probably the acuma, since she's queen wasp. Do you think you can get to that hose, over by the wall?"
She pointed, and he followed her finger. There was a hose rolled up under one of the awnings, someone must have been using it before the acuma.
"Without being seen?"
"Yes."
She sounded annoyed he had even asked and he closed his eyes.
"Fine yeah. I can. What's your plan?"
"When I hand her the phone, you turn on the hose and spray it into the air just above us. Keep yourself under the spray too, to keep off the wasps."
He nodded, handing her the phone and walking along the roof, walking all the way around until he was above the hose. Ladybug had been so off lately. The acumas seemed to be pissing her off more than usual. He watched her get down, calling a truce with queen wasp. Did he still love her? He couldn't tell either way. He still cared about her, she was his best friend. But she didn't talk to him anymore. She just completely shut him out. He watched her say something to Chloe, who was suspicious. Obviously. Ladybug isn't going to make a deal with you. He held his baton over the edge, extending it to the ground. All he would have to do is slide down it. He watched her hand it over, and he immediately jumped to the ground, picking up the hose and spraying it. Water rained down on the two, and Ladybug lunged forward to grab the pin. Chloe dodged, and the two began fighting. At least it was a fair fight. Ladybug didn't have Chat, and Chloe didn't have her wasps. He felt like a gardener. This was a joke. He could have just gotten someone else to hold the water hose, and he could have joined the fight. His gaze drifted to the classroom Marinette was supposed to be in, and he wondered if she was okay, or if she had been hit. If she had, what would she tell him? Did she have any romantic feelings for him at all? He felt a sharp pain in his back, and he panicked, trying to hit at the wasp. His tounge suddenly tasted sour, and he tried to focus on keeping the water on Ladybug. As long as no one asked him anything, he wouldn't say anything, right? That's how most truth syrums in the movies worked. He kept his mouth shut, and the sour taste seemed to get worse and worse. He opened his mouth, and whispered.
"I'm falling in love with Marinette Dupen Cheng."
The sour taste was dulled by the taste of honey, and he shook his head. He was not falling in love with her. He just liked her. They had a business arrangement. That sour taste multiplied, and he gagged. God that was awful. He couldn't even think without being judged? Maybe that was a good thing. So he started thinking of little things that were true. Nothing damning, in case he accidentally said it out loud. His favorite food, his eye color, the color of the sky. Stupid little truths, that felt like drops of honey on his tongue.
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
He heard her shout, and the sour taste was instantly gone, thank god. He dropped the hose, and walked over to Ladybug. She seemed exhausted. And soaked.
"Thanks for the help kitty."
"I literally just watered you."
She smiled, and he almost frowned. Everytime she had ever smiled at him, he had gotten butterflies. Where the fuck were the butterflies?