Viscous Cycle

• No One Is Worthy •

Marinette yawned, sleepily sitting up and stretching her tense arms and neck muscles out. Her hair was in a disastrous array, quite comparable to a rat's nest. The soft fabric of her flannel pajamas rubbed against her skin, only adding to her tired coziness.

It was a Sunday. A slow, lazy, relaxing Sunday, one Mari hoped would last forever. Having no plan to leave the house, or her bedroom for that matter, she snuggled into the fluffiness of her comforter once again. She was absolutely relieved that she didn't have to see Creep again, at least until tomorrow rolled around. What was his deal last night anyhow? She was doing everything she normally did and he never relinquished from the shadows, choosing to watch from afar.

Now that she thought about it, his dreadful presence could have greatly hindered her dating life. Ever since they were four years old, Adrien would push any of her prospects away, verbally or even physically if the situation deemed it. This forced her to just promise casual dating and an easy make out, finding it to be the only way she could score a guy for the night. Dang that dumb blondie.

Never-mind him, she thought, erasing her brain. Instead, Mari vowed to focus on the chirping birds and the snuggly softness she was burritoed inside of.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!" Alta's voice boomed about her room, making Mari soar out her bed in surprise. She squinted her eyes at Alya, confused by her intrusion and rudeness of being awoken from her half slumber. "What do you want? I'm like, really trying to sleep here," Mari whined like a lost puppy, clearly upset at the loss of more sleeping hours.

"You. Agreste. Random guy you apparently made out with? Spill."

"Agreste? Who's that?"

"That sunshine-y blonde boy who's been tragically, and unfortunately, in love with you since time first began."

"Oh. That scoundrel."

"Dish the dirt on what happened last night! I'm dying here."

"How can you be so cheery? Did you not get drunk last night? Hangovers exist, you know."

"Not when you know how to handle them. Now, details!"

"I made out with a guy. Things got hot and heavy, as per usual. Creep caught us and gave me a ride home. End. Of. Story. I'm going back to bed. Night!"

"Oh, no. You will not short story me this time, Missy. IHOP in one hour. Be there and I may just buy you breakfast," Alya stated while giving off a wink, using her unfair authority, and slightly older age, to her full advantage. Mari sighed, knowing no amount of haggling would change her result. She was going to eat breakfast out. No exceptions.

••••••

"I'm just saying. Bacon is a less greasy alternative to pork sausage."

"In what universe? Bacon is clearly less healthy. Everyone knows that much," Mari retored, sticking up for her delicious order of breakfast sausage. Alya rolled her eyes, not looking to pick a petty fight.

Once their breakfast selections arrived, the two dug in, eager to fill their starving stomachs. So consumed with their love affair with food, both girls failed to notice a certain blonde sitting next to them. That is, until he accidentally spilled his coffee all on the carpeted flooring, while playing a viscous game of Temple Run. It appeared as though the spillage ha d no affect on his game, as he continued until he died. Adrien cursed himself for gaining Marinette and Alya's attention.

"Dear Lord. What in the heck are you doing here, Creep?"

"Grabbing a quick bite to eat before work. Problem, Princesse?"

"Don't you have any friends? Why are you always alone?"

"I'm a firm believer of quality over quantity. No one is worthy of my time besides you, Mari."

She scoffed, hating how smooth he could be in her presence. Weren't lovesick teenagers supposed to be awkward and fumbling when near their crush? Well, that was not the case for Adrien, evidently.

Mari peeked a glance at Alya, taking her dear, sweet time to weigh her options. "Let's bounce, Als," she decided upon. Alya nodded, just wanting to help her best friend out, despite knowing the fact that Adrien would inevitably be hurt by their rude actions. Once they had exited the diner, they heard Adrien shout, "Wait a sec Mari!"

With a loud, audible grumble and rapid roll of her eyes, she actually paused, just waiting still and not facing him properly. "Can we talk for a minute, alone?" Adrien asked, standing close to her, her back almost touching his chest. "Yeah, yeah I can take a hint. Have fun, but not too much fun, ya love birds," Alya shouted, forcing Marinette to become embarrassed. After she took off in her car, the two were alone, neither having the guts to move.

Eventually, Adrien reached out, running his hands through her loose strands of midnight hair. "What the? Back off. I don't like you like that, Buster," she contested as she slunk of of Creep's reach. She finally gave him her full attention, as she moved to face him. Adrien smirked, knowing that they had abundant chemistry with each other and wondered how long it would take her to understand.

"Sure you don't. That's why it's my absolute mission in life to make sure that you do. All in time, Sweetie. All in time."

Walking backwards, maintaining eye contact, Adrien added ample distance between the two of them. He didn't want to make her nervous, only to insinuate his romantic feelings existentially. "Wait! Don't you dare leave yet! I'm not through with you," Mari hollered, trying with all her might to catch up.

"Really? I thought you stuck a fork in me a long time ago."

"Just who are you to blab to others about what happened last night?"

"Who said I did?"

"It couldn't have been that other guy, I didn't even know who he was. Let alone, the fact that he probably didn't know who Alya is either."

"So by process of elimination, the I'm the culprit you pick to pin your spilled secrets on? And you're telling me that you willingly made out with a guy and didn't even know his name first?"

"Just calling water wet. And how I operate is none of your concern."

"Interesting."

A car they were next to was attempting to back out of their space, forcing Mari to move close to Adrien. Either that, or allow herself to be run over into a pile of mush. On instinct, he grabbed hold of her perfectly curved hips, pushing Mari onto him and gracing her near. He could smell the vanilla bean of her shampoo and rested his nose into the crown of her soft hair. His nasal cavity was consumed with her, and Adrien was treasuring every second. Marinette, on the other hand, was holding her breath, dreading their sudden closeness.

Once the opportunity arose, she pushed him away by his chest, him hitting the side of the car nearby. "Okay, ow," Adrien whimpered, mourning the loss of his sunshine and joy.

"Do that again and you'll wish you lived a hundred miles east of here."

He slyly smiled, turning to go as they cleared slightly murky air. She let him, finally. The obnoxious sound of a motor engine starting emanated. Finding it a little peculiar that Creep didn't offer an exclusive ride home.

Marinette was left by her lonesome, with no ride and a severe lack of funds.