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A Step at a Time	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 4022 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Adrien was fidgeting through his last lesson of the day. Tomorrow was Saturday, and as much as he longed to relax, he had homework to catch up on. He also needed a break from everyone. Lila's constant glowering was fraying his nerves, Marinette was still resolutely avoiding him, and Caline had an air of blissfulness about her that made Adrien cringe. There were still rumours of Caline and Gabriel dating, but no one said anything to Adrien directly, and the only reason he was aware of the ongoing rumours was because Nino kept him informed.
Finally, the bell rang and everyone packed up and left. Adrien took his time, waving Nino on as he stalled by the door. He thought he was alone, until a quiet voice called his name. He turned to see Marinette standing awkwardly beside her desk, shifting uncomfortably and staring at her feet.
Adrien smiled expectantly, hoping to encourage her to continue. 'Yes, Marinette?' he prompted.
'Just, I. I just,' she stammered. Marinette drew in a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks and squeezing her eyes shut. 'To just your want friend really I be,' she blurted.
Adrien stared for a moment, trying to sort out her rushed and hopelessly garbled sentence.
'What?' he asked, conceding defeat.
Marinette emitted a high-pitched whine and covered her face with her schoolbag. Heaving a breath, she lowered her bag and tried again. 'I meant to say that I just really want to be your friend,' she stated slowly.
'What?' he reiterated, taken aback.
'You can say no, of course. I don't expect you to want to be friends, especially after what happened,' Marinette rushed to assure him. 'No expectations. You probably don't want anything to do with me, I won't blame you. If Lila had said those things about someone else to me, I'd be running for the hills-'
'Marinette,' Adrien interrupted. 'I thought we were friends,' he admitted.
He didn't know why she was surprised and felt hurt she hadn't thought the same of him. When she continued to look at him with a perplexed expression, he explained, 'we get along. We've always acted friendly with each other. Last year I helped you with your Uncle, and we trained for the Mecha Strike competition together. I know we don't hang out, but I've always thought of you as my friend.'
Marinette blinked rapidly for a moment, then turned away, rubbing her face. She then looked at him with a too-wide smile. 'I've always thought so, too,' she assured him. 'But we never do much outside of school. I know you're busy, much too busy to play around. I just didn't want to presume,' she finished weakly.
Adrien heaved an inward sigh of relief. He was well acquainted with Marinette's awkwardness, so it shouldn't surprise him that she'd been acting the way she had.
'You don't have to worry. I think we're friends,' he replied, though he still couldn't understand why she had to avoid him for weeks when the matter was so simply rectified.
'Friends. Great. I, um. I have to get going, lots of work to do. Homework. Bakery work. You know how it is. So, I guess I'll see you next week. Bye,' she called as she edged around him and ran out the door.
Adrien felt lighter. It was good, being back on track with Marinette. She was one of the first friends he'd made since coming to school, after Nino of course, and Ladybug, and maybe Plagg. She was in his top five. Adrien smiled as he left.

Caline cancelled a date with Gabriel on Saturday, saying she had a school project to plan, tests to grade, and a savage headache. Gabriel retreated to his office and refused anyone entry.
Adrien thought it was all for the best when an akuma struck the Champs de Elysee, toy soldiers firing real projectiles. The corrupted item was broken, and the butterfly purified quickly, to Adrien's mixed feelings of relief and disappointment. It had been so long since he'd seen Ladybug in action, but those tiny bullets had stung.
'Patrol tonight?' Chat Noir asked as she made to leave.
'You bet,' she replied as she tugged on her string.
Adrien rushed home and busied himself with schoolwork for the rest of the day, telling himself that seeing Ladybug later would be his reward. He paid little attention to what was going on outside his room, but he was dimly aware that Gabriel hadn't left his office all day.

'Good evening, Milady,' Chat Noir drawled as he bowed and moved to kiss Ladybug's hand.
Ladybug, however, removed her hand from his grip and pushed him back by the nose.
'Hello, Kitty,' she replied with a grin.
With a nod, a wink, and a smile they began their patrol.
They were quiet that night. While this was not unheard of, it was unusual, and the quality of the silence was off. Normally, their patrols were filled with puns and pithy quips until they were too breathless to talk. As he looked at her, Chat Noir saw Ladybug was deep in her own thoughts. She wasn't grinning as she enjoyed the rush, she hadn't laughed at his attempts at jokes. Well, she never laughed, but she always gave a reaction. Ladybug had never felt so distant before, and Chat Noir was worried.
Their patrol finished atop the Louvre. Winded, Ladybug sat and stretched her legs out in front of her, still silent. She stared at a spot between her knees and absently picked at her fingertips.
Warily, Chat Noir asked, 'Ladybug, are you doing alright?'
Without looking up, she merely hummed an affirmative note.
'Come on, Bug,' he pressed as he sat beside her. 'Tell me what's wrong.'
Immediately, her eyes welled and her knees drew up to her chest as she hugged her legs. Ladybug buried her face in her knees and sniffled as quiet sobs shook her body.
Chat Noir pulled her into an awkward hug. 'Ladybug? Talk to me, please. Tell me what's wrong,' he begged as he rubbed her back.
She shook her head before Chat Noir gently nudged her until she was sitting across his lap. She rested her head against his shoulder and wound her arms around him, resting her clenched fists against his shoulder blades.
'Please tell me what happened,' he pleaded again.
She sniffled again and murmured hoarsely, 'he rejected me.'
He didn't want to ask. 'Who rejected you?'
'The guy I like. He only sees me as a friend,' she said as she gulped in a breath.
'Oh, Bug. I'm so sorry,' he replied.
Hugging her tight, Chat Noir rested his cheek against her hair. He had first-hand experience with this particular brand of pain and really was sorry she had been hurt. But, no matter how she felt about him, he still loved her and it was painful to see her crying over a boy.
'It's not like I didn't see it coming,' she said. 'He's always been out of my league, and if the rumours are true, there's already someone he likes. I never even stood a chance.'
'What kind of idiot rejects Ladybug?' Chat Noir asked, aghast. 'who is this other woman? There's no way she's better than you.'
Ladybug snorted. 'That's the irony of it all,' she replied bitterly. 'He loves Ladybug.'
'But you are Ladybug.'
'He doesn't know that.'
Chat Noir could have wept for her. 'Why don't you approach him as Ladybug? Then you could both have what you want,' he asked. He didn't want to play wingman for this fool, but Ladybug was suffering and her needs trumped his.
Ladybug shook her head. 'That would be like cheating. I can't just go up to him in costume and ask him out, it'd feel like I was tricking him into liking me. No, I can't do that. It's underhanded and dirty.'
'I guess I see what you mean,' he replied. Rubbing her back, he asked, 'what will you do?'
She huffed, 'what can I do? He's firmly put me in the friendzone, so I guess I just have to be happy with that. I will learn to be happy with that. I'd rather be in his life as his friend for ever than risk losing him completely.'
'You must think a great deal of him.'
'He's one of the best people I've ever met,' she admitted. 'Still stings like a bitch, though.'
'He's an idiot for not seeing you,' Chat Noir insisted with a small smile.
Ladybug gave a weak laugh. 'Thanks, Kitty. I'll see you next time,' she said as she pulled away and ran home.
Chat Noir watched her leave. He felt awful for her, and seeing her cry made his heart hurt. However, deep down, a small and selfish part of him cheered.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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A Step at a Time