Author's Notes: This is a simple fic for the show Ladybug, which I became obsessed with today! I've only seen up to episode 6 though, so please pardon any inaccuracies.
This story in particular is based off of tumblr user faith-xx-love, who made a post saying "What if that photoshopped photo in episode 6 was imprinted heavily in Marinette's mind that she let out a Freudian slip when she was paired up with Adrien in one of their science experiments?" Well, I had been itching to write something for the show already, so I couldn't let this opportunity pass me up! I hope you enjoy!
It had been a simple mistake, honestly. A slip of the tounge.
Marinette let out a yawn and she entered the science classroom, desperately wishing for time to make up her recent lack of sleep. As she took her seat, Marinette noticed the words "Science Lab" scrawled across the board. She looked around the class wildly, trying to find if Alya had come in yet, so she wouldn't wind up partnered with someone she didn't like.
Even so, she couldn't help but notice Adrien take his seat, and she sighed. What she wouldn't give to get up the guts to ask to be partners.
No, scratch that, she shook her head. Even with my good luck, it'd be a disaster, I'm so nervous around him!
Lost in her own thoughts, Marinette nearly fell out of her seat when the teacher cleared his throat, calling the class to attention.
"As is written on the board, we have a lab today. It will be fairly simple, a way to learn how to use our new temperature probe." The teacher droned on, reading over the instructions as the paper was passed out to each of the students. Marinette was quick to catch Alya's eye then, with a pleading 'please partner with me' look.
"Now, before you all get too excited," The teacher continued, looking at the students with an intensity in his eyes, "I will have you know you will not be able to pick your partners, I will be assigning you to groups of two."
The students around the room groaned loudly, protesting at the predicament the teacher had put them in. Marinette herself felt panicked at this announcement. She could only hope that she wasn't paired with someone like Chloe.
The teacher than begin to list off the pairs (Alya was stuck with Chloe. Marinette felt bad for her, but relieved that she had dodged that bullet). It was only when the teacher got to her name when the horror sunk in.
She was partnered with Adrien.
Not that she wasn't happy of course, she was delighted! But also nervous. Oh, Marinette didn't know what to feel.
As the student's reluctantly collected their papers, Marinette hesitantly approached Adrien.
"Um, hi! So, partners, huh?" Inwardly she cringed at how her words just poured out, the mind to mouth filter absolutely gone when she was around him.
"It seems like it." He smiled at her. "Why don't I start gathering the materials, and you could get the temperature probe?"
"Ah, yeah, that sounds like a plan! I'll do just that!" More stumbling. Oh, how would she ever be able to get through this class period?
The lab was simple, just as the teacher had said. The probe was lowered into a test tube of water, which in turn was lowered into icy salt water, in order to measure the freezing temperature of water, and get familiar with the equipment. As the lab progressed onwards, Marinette's stuttering fell away as she focused on the task at hand. The salt water was required to be stirred, and Adrien was holding the stirring rod.
"Chat, can you pass me that rod?"
Instantly Adrien froze, looking at her with something akin to horror. Marinette panicked, wondering what had happened, until she recalled her words. She just called her crush Chat Noir.
"Oh, shoot! I meant Adrien, I'm so sorry!" Curse Alya for showing her that photoshopped picture, for planting the idea in her mind. There's no way her graceful crush could be that flirt of a cat boy, right? "Alya had photoshopped you wearing his costume for some reason- I don't know- and it just stuck! Sorry!" She was rambling again.
By this time the horror on Adrien's face had melted, though he still seemed rather shaken.
Well, that was odd. Sure, it was out of the blue, but her slip of the tongue didn't really warrant that reaction, now did it?
"Uh, Adrien, are you alright? I really am sorry." She questioned, lowering her voice to not to draw the attention of the classmates. Adrien shook himself out of his state of shock, and handed her the glass stirring rod.
"Uh, yeah, fine. That was just unexpected is all." He laughed it off with a wave, and handed the equipment to her. Marinette couldn't help but feel the electricity in her skin as their hands touched for the briefest of moments.
She'd keep a closer eye on him from now on though, in case Ayla's wild theory had some sort of truth to it. Even if they did promise to keep their identities secret, she had to know if the wild cat boy who had a crush on her was the same as the one in front of her, the one who she couldn't keep her thoughts straight around.
It was too far fetched though, right?