The Game That Started it All (Adrienette Sin)

He couldn't have predicted

Alya was ecstatic! Her plan was coming into fruition. Now she just needed to set a timer and grab Nino to watch from a corner in the room so that they could make sure everything was right.

"Well you two! Get cracking and start already! I'll set a timer on my phone for the first 5 minutes. Adrien you can stand behind Marinette now."

Alya grabbed Nino's hand and went to the corner of the room like she intended.

"Closer dude." Said Nino this time, now catching on to what his girlfriend wanted.

Adrien inched closer.

The girl in front was blushing.

Marinette was completely overthinking the situation and was trying with every ounce of her will to breathe normally and remain calm without hyperventilating.

"Like this?" Asked the blonde, now close enough to her that he caught a waft of a sweet smell. It was coming off of the girl in front of him.

Adrien contemplated whether it was the perfume or the shampoo? He actually kind of enjoyed the scent and not in a creepy manner. It was one of those scents that everyone could enjoy and crave.

It was weird he was sure this scent was kind of familiar to him from... someone?

"Perfect. The timer starts... now!" Alya called out.

•••

'Come on Marinette! Focus and breathe! You still have way more of this "torture" to go!' she had to tell herself.

Because she wasn't directly facing the model she had to directly stare at nothing. So her thoughts kept her busy.

'Oh geez. I'm staring at a wall with Adrien behind me! What was I thinking! Being all brave is Ladybug's forte... I agreed to this why?  Just like Alya mentioned I can feel his breathing on my neck. It's driving me insane!!! I mean maybe this is something I have to get used if Adrien and me are gonna get married someday, have three kids and a hamster and-'

"Eek!" squeaked out Marinette. She felt that hot breath of his exhale on her once more and it shocked her system.

Adrien had heard her alarm.

"Sorry did I scare you?"

She jumped again. His voice was loud when he was so close to her ear.
So close to her-

She thought about giving a strong and cool response, but it backfired.

"Me scared? Pshhhh not at all! Never! It takes a lot to scare me. We could even watch a scary movie and I won't be scared haHa! I'll protect you!"

'Stupid! Stupid Mari!!! Protect him? What are you thinking. Well I do already do that since I'm Ladybug but that doesn't mean I don't get scared sometimes. I need to relax.'

Adrien spoke softly this time. Not quite a whisper but Nino and Alya couldn't hear the rest of their conversation from across the room.

Being careful not to touch her all the while in compliance to the rules, Adrien chuckled. Closer to her ear this time to make sure she heard him almost in a seductive manner.

"Alright. I'll keep that in mind Marinette. I guess you are really brave... But if you ever do get scared, it's okay to show it... I've got your back."

"Th-thank you." Was all that squeaked out.

She blushed. She shivered and felt the butterflies already forming in her stomach. He always did this to her, gave her this feeling. She was so glad he couldn't see her face right now since she was smiling so hard. The boy she liked called her brave, even when she made that stupid comment about her never being scared. She was lucky Adrien wasn't one of those guys with fragile egos that would flip out over a girl protecting him.