To Fall

A Snake In The Garden

Marinette groaned next to Alya as she looked across the table of the Waffle House, green eyes staring back at her from next to Nino. Adrien freaking Agreste. Nino had apparently met him during their shared physics class, the two boys quickly becoming friends over a love for Jagged Stone and video games. Nino had introduced him to Alya who, like the social butterfly she was, happily added him to her friend group. A group she forgot included one Marinette. Alya sheepishly looked between the two as they locked eyes, neither looking away. Nino shrugged and gave a small smile, hands fidgeting with his headphones.

"Look dudes, its Saturday! Lighten up a little! Let's have some waffles, chit chat and head back to play some games. You have to play against Mari, she's a damn beast!"

Adrien huffed and broke the eye contact, turning a small smile to Nino in thanks. "You're right man. So, Alya, what did you do before leaving Paris?" Alya lit up, hands instantly grabbing her phone and pulling up her still active blog.

"I ran the Ladyblog up until Ladybug vanished. I've got everything! Interviews, pics and even front row footage of the best Akuma attacks!"

Adrien smirked as she talked. So, she was close to the bug? Marinette stuttered on her words before flicking her finger over the phone, turning the content away from Ladybug and to the other heroes of Paris. "She isn't the only hero you know Alya. Rena and Carapace are just as important as she is." The two girls went back in forth, each trying to prove who was the better hero. Adrien looked to Nino who shrugged, used to the girls trying to secretly hype each other up.

Adrien felt his heart skip as he watched the spark ignite in Marinette's eyes, her voice spiking as she was locked in a verbal battle with Alya. She talked with her hands, each word punctuated by a sharp movement in any direction. Her hair bounced as she tore her eyes to him, her lips moving yet he heard no words, the fire in her eyes to intoxicating.

"Adrien!"

He jumped slightly and turned to Nino, a sheepish smile on his face. "Sorry, I must have zoned out. What were you guys saying?" Nino chuckled and pointed a finger at Marinette as she looked at him expectantly. He raised a brow and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit picked up over the years.

"I'm sorry Marinette. What did you ask?"

She gave him a blinding smile as though their first interaction was forgotten and she turned the phone to him, a photo of the Paris heroes on display. "I asked who your favorite hero was. You were in Paris during the time they were active so surely you had a favorite!" His mind shot to that night, skin tight spandex lining the hip under his touch. The way his fingers traced the black spots. Those blue eyes that promised defiance. The sound of her breath sucking into her lungs.

"Ladybug."

He whispered, stuck in the past thoughts. Marinette squeaked slightly and he snapped back to her, a teasing grin on his face. "What about you pixie? What hero gets you going?" Marinette blushed and zoomed in on the photo. Teal hair hung over yellow masked eyes, two fangs hanging off the ends of the mask. Black melded with teal as the spandex lined the man's body, abs lined in armor mimicking snake scales.

Adrien's grip tightened on his water glass as he stared at the picture. It was the snake hero, Viperion. His power of second chance had ruined his master's plans on more than one occasion, failed missions that led to more punishment for him. The waitress pulled him from his anger as she placed a hot waffle in front of him.

They all ate in silence, savoring the waffles drenched in syrup. Marinette clapped happily as bacon was placed in front of her, edges dark and strips stiff. Adrien crinkled his nose as she bit into the crispy bacon, little crumbles falling back onto her plate.