Demigods: In Paris (a Miraculous Ladybug and Percy Jackson crossover)

Marinette has a realisation

Adrien hadn't meant to be so late to Marinette's party. After he'd sorted out the fight, he'd been on his way when he'd noticed a cat stuck in a tree, then some kids wanted selfies with him, and one thing led to the next until he was running late.

But being late didn't explain the shock on Marinette's face when she opened the door, though. It was like she'd seen a ghost.

"Hi, Marinette. I'm really sorry I'm late," he offered the pale girl a smile. She just kept staring, jaw slack. "Um, can I come in? If you want, I can go?..."

Something appeared to click behind Marinette's eyes, and they widened in either shock, realisation or both. Adrien gripped the strap of his bag, confused.

"No," she said, quietly. "No, come in. Sorry."

"Oh, okay. Um, I've got a present for you," he held out a wrapped gift.

"Thank you. The others are around the back," she took the gift and turned to lead the way, pigtails bobbing. Adrien noticed that she didn't stutter once. In fact, this was the most confident he'd seen her act around him since the day she accused him of putting gum on her bench. And the way she'd looked at him... It was like he was a completely different person.

"Adrien!"

"Nino! How's it going?" Adrien let himself be absorbed into the group, any worries about his dad and Ladybug fading into the back of his mind. This was the first real birthday party he'd ever been to, and he was determined to enjoy himself.

The party was great - they played some games, then watched a film, ate some amazing pastries, and moved onto party games.

"Truth or Dare, Adrien?" Alya asked him when it was her turn.

"Uh, truth?" Adrien guessed. This was the most fun he'd had in ages.

"Okay... Celebrity crush."

"Ladybug," Adrien said without hesitation. Marinette's gaze shot towards him, startled. He frowned. Why was she so surprised? Lots of boys had celebrity crushes on the spotted heroine. His just went a bit deeper than most... not that she'd know.

"Cool," Alya nodded. "Marinette, how about you? Celebrity crush, present company not excluded." She wiggled her eyebrows.

Marinette was still staring at him when she quietly but decisively said, "Chat Noir."

Adrien was shocked. That was not what he'd expected her to say. And why was she still staring at him, the ghost of that realisation still lingering in her bluebell eyes? Her gaze was so intense that he had to look away.

"Chat Noir?!" Alya exclaimed, outraged. "Since when? I thought it would be-"

Marinette seemed to remember where she was, and leaped onto her best friend, covering Alya's mouth with her hand.

"Alya," Marinette challenged, "Truth or dare?"

The evening continued in this manner. Adrien enjoyed every second, but he couldn't help but notice how weird Marinette was being, especially around him. But not in the normal flustered way. No, it was more like some kind of detached curiosity. Also, she kept glancing at the clock.

Alya seemed to notice her strange behaviour too, because just before they started the second film at a quarter to nine, she pulled her friend aside. Adrien pretended not to listen into the ensuing furious whispers exchanged between the two, but he didn't hear much of it anyway, just snippets of "-feeling okay? -stutter- Staring?" "Fine, Alya, I just-" "Why didn't yo- -or dare- -fect opportunity!"

They'd just started the film when Marinette looked at the clock again, and stood up. Nino paused the film.

"Oh, it's okay guys. I just need some air, don't wait for me - I've seen this film before." She smiled awkwardly and headed for the stairs, vanishing through a trapdoor. Several minutes later, her mother came through with more snacks, including some cheesy pastries. Remembering his kwami, Adrien took one and slipped it into his bag. He waited a second for the usual munching sounds, and when he didn't hear them, he peered through the flap.

"Plagg?" There was nobody in there. "Oh, no."

"Adrien, what's wrong?" Rose whispered.

"Nothing. I'm just going to, uh, check on Marinette. She's been gone a while?"

Rose nodded in understanding as Adrien quietly stood up from his beanbag and climbed the stairs to the upper floor. Marinette's room was pink and comfortable-looking. There were lots of clothes designs on the walls, as well as photos of... him? She probably liked the clothes he was modelling, he told himself.

"Marinette?" He called softly. "Plagg?" There was no reply. He noticed that the door to her balcony was open, so he headed outside. There was nobody there. "Marinette?" He asked again, worried.

"Adrien!" Said an all-too-familiar voice.

"Plagg! Where did you go!" Adrien hissed, ushering his kwami into his bag.

"Exploring," the kwami said vaguely.

"Where's Marinette? Did you see her come up here?"

"Mmmm, cheese," Plagg mumbled, munching his pastry much more loudly than necessary.

"Plagg!"

"Marinette's fine, I'm sure she just went for a walk or something. I didn't see anything at all," Plagg mumbled, a tad sarcastically.

Adrien looked at the view from the balcony. He hadn't heard Marinette leave the shop, and if she was in danger...

"Plagg, claws out!"

"No, wait, she's fine! You're supposed to be-" Plagg screamed as the transformation took hold, and Chat Noir leapt off Marinette's balcony.