Chapter Text
It was a typical Tuesday afternoon in Paris, for the most part. The sky was a solid blue speckled with the rare, barely visible cloud, which would typically constitute nice weather at this time of year. Though for some reason, the sun decided that today, of all Tuesdays, it was an excellent idea to shine just a little bit hotter. It was on this day that Ms. Bustier’s class at College Françoise DuPont were forced outdoors from the safety of air-conditioned classrooms to participate in the annual fitness review. Now, their class was by no means slobs. Most were of average size for their age and looked like they would be exhausted but not completely murdered by the test that was ahead of them. (Those who were expected to drop dead also happened to be the ones the others didn’t mind so much to have gone.) They also had a few particularly fit peers and these students were well known for their athletic prowess. They were also, notably, known for their increasing competitiveness, especially over this very occasion. (Somehow it was amplified every year, even when the class didn’t think it could possibly get any worse.) Such was expected. The class was prepared. What they were not prepared for was what one of the students new to the school that year would bring.
Nor what he would bring out of one of their particularly demure students.
But that will be seen later. For now, the class was sweating and panting profusely.
They hadn’t even started.
“Dude, I told you not to wear a sweater today!” Nino admonished. Adrien huffed loudly as if he had heard this before (which he had) and tugged at the collar of his hoodie.
“I didn’t think it would be this hot,” Adrien complained, suddenly feeling the need to bathe in ice water. Nino shook his head at his friend’s ridiculous antics. The boy wore a t-shirt and a light overshirt every day of his life. The last thing Nino had expected was for him to add layers when they changed into their gym clothes.
Nearby, two girls were experiencing similar issues. Alya tugged at the strap of her sports bra, which seemed to have inexplicably shrunk since she last wore it. No wonder Nino had been gawking at her (more than usual) for the past few days. If he wasn’t her boyfriend, she would have slapped him several times already. While the revelation wasn’t completely unwelcome, the small encased space did little for the heat.
“So… hot…” her friend gasped, leaning forward slightly with a tired expression.
“Talk about it,” Alya grumbled, until she noticed that the bluenette beside her was gazing at a particular blond boy as sweat trickled from his hairline. Marinette was not in fact bearing a tired expression, but a dreamy one. She chortled. “Seriously girl?” Marinette’s mouth fell open in awe. Instantly Alya was reminded of a million other similar situations. Some things never change.
“I think I’m gonna pass out.” Adrien let out a loud, rather unattractive groan. Marinette didn’t seem fazed and continued to shamelessly stare at him.
“Take it off,” Nino said. Adrien hesitated slightly. He had worn the cursed thing in the first place to hopefully hide his physique. He was sure that all it would take was looking at his now rather toned arms as he ran or did push ups for everyone to instantly realize he was hiding something. One typically didn’t gain such muscles from fencing or piano. Of course, everyone had already seen his arms on a day to day basis but it was completely different seeing them swaying by his side than to see them in action. Plus, he was already showing enough with the shorts he had resigned to wearing as to not completely die from heatstroke.
At that moment, though, his secret identity he damned, he needed to get out. He was prevented from coming to a full decision when the shouting match started. His head jerked up in worry that something serious was happening that could be or could lead to an akuma. (He loved his lady but he really didn’t want to run around in skintight black leather right now.) Instead, he saw Alix and Kim nose-to-nose with fiery expressions on both their faces.
“There’s no way you’re getting the fastest time!” Kim shouted. “I can outrun you in my sleep!”
“You’re forgetting that I beat you last year!” Alix shot back. Kim growled.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown! Your tiny little legs have no chance!”
“Who are you calling tiny!?” Alix demanded in all her petite glory, looking for all the world like a small firecracker. Kim didn’t flinch at her offended tone.
“Hate to break it to you Alix but you’ve probably reached your max height at this point,” Kim replied coolly.
“I’ll have you know that I’m gonna grow like a foot!” Alix shouted, pointing a finger at his chest. Kim laughed.
“Ok, believe that if you want to,” Kim said. “I won’t squash your dreams, no matter how pathetic they are- but I am gonna squash you.” Adrien and Marinette chuckled to themselves, both knowing that Alix would actually grow quite a bit by the time she was an adult. Alix shook her head, frizzy pink strands swishing in the air.
“It’s on, butthead,” she hissed.
“Oh this competition!” Monsieur D'Argencourt gushed, appearing behind the arguing pair. “It’s perfect!” The class gawked at the teacher, who was for some reason commending students for insulting each other. “In fact, it was this very class’ competitive spirit that inspired the changes in the fitness review this year!” The students blinked.
“Changes?” Rose questioned through wide blue eyes.
“Oh yes!” M. D'Argencourt said. “This year, it will be a competition! Only the top male and female students in each… level we’ll call it, will move on to the next test!”
“So- wait,” Alya said. “If we’re not the top students we don’t have to do the other exercises.”
“Not today, but all students will have to complete the review at a later date- all except the winners, one boy and one girl. They will win a personal field trip to the amusement park for the day! Then the winner between the two of them- there will be a final competition to decide the true winner- will win unlimited smoothies at the smoothie shack for the day!” M. D'Argencourt replied enthusiastically. “Which he can choose to share with his fellow winner if he wants.”
“He?” Alix asked, shooting up a dangerous eyebrow.
“Well the winner in all of the other classes has been the male winner-”
“Not this class,” Alix decided with a glare at Kim. “Those smoothies are mine.”
“Great, so we just get to watch She-boy and Mr. Clown Face win a field trip while my hair gets ruined by this ridiculous heat!” Chloé whined loudly. Despite her insults, the others couldn’t help but grumble in agreement. Adrien, however, didn’t hear anything past ‘amusement park.’ His mind was buzzing with the idea of actually getting to do something fun for a whole day- with a friend from school too! (Hopefully- he guessed like everyone else that it would be Alix, who was cool enough in Adrien’s mind.) He could do it. He was a superhero after all. Suddenly the entire idea of a secret identity seemed stupid and futile. I’m a model, he reasoned. Of course people expect me to be fit. And I’m an athlete, so winning shouldn’t be too surprising. (By athlete he meant fencer, but it still counted!) One thing was for certain-
He was winning that competition.
“Not so fast Kim,” he said daringly. “You can go on a date with Alix some other day, cause I’m winning that trip.” He found himself effortlessly channeling his inner Chat Noir, a wicked grin taking over his face. Everyone stared at him in surprise, mouths hanging open in shock. One classmate in particular looked like she was going to have a stroke. There was something oddly familiar about the cocky, competitive twinkle in Adrien’s eyes. Whatever it was seemed to draw Marinette in. She didn’t think she could be any more attracted to the blond than in that moment.
“A date!?” Kim sputtered, finally willing himself out of his own stupor. “It wouldn’t be a date!” Alix scoffed loudly.
“I don’t care who wins,” Alix said. “I’ll destroy either one of you.” Marinette could barely suppress her laughter. Who wins!? Obviously Adrien is going to! Marinette thought confidently. There was no doubt about it. Adrien was going to win. Adrien was going to beat everybody. Adrien was going to get to go on a much deserved trip. Adrien would get to go to the amusement park with a girl from their class. Adrien was going to win. Adrien is going to win! Marinette shouted to herself. A steely resolve came over her.
She had to win.
With that, both heroes decided to conveniently forget the fact that neither were supposed to have extensive parkour experience and an impressive athletic prowess (even as civilians.)
“We’ll see about that Alix,” Marinette quipped. The class turned their baffled expressions from Adrien to the petite bluenette. The witty remark Adrien had prepared to shoot back at Alix lodged in his throat when he saw Marinette’s confident posture and playful grin. A very familiar posture and grin, Adrien noted absentmindedly.
“PSHHH,” Kim said loudly, looking like he was about to double over in laughter. “Who’s gonna beat her? YOU?” His disbelieving tone made Adrien was to punch him for some reason. Of course Marinette could beat her! Then it hit Adrien that this thought was completely random and mildly ridiculous. After all, when had he ever seen Marinette do anything athletic? Mostly, she just tripped over thin air and stumbled her way through the school. Adrien still couldn’t shake the feeling that she could effortlessly outdo Alix on a bad day. Marinette seemed to think the same.
“Yes,” she said, an odd amount of confidence flowing off of her as she straightened herself and looked him directly in the eyes. This seemed to break Kim. He burst out into loud, obnoxious laughter.
“You- you-” he wheezed out. “You can’t even walk to class without face planting!” He seemed to find himself hilarious as he broke out into another round of laughter. Marinette glared at him, anger pouring out of her, but she remained calm and stood even taller. Her eyes burned into Kim’s as if daring him to keep laughing. Kim didn’t seem to notice but Adrien, for one, was terrified and pleased by Marinette’s righteous fury. He dreaded the thought of that fiery gaze ever being directed at him. Adrien felt the urge to stand by her side. He couldn’t quite understand it but he knew it’s where he belonged. He would always be on Marinette’s side. Adrien dismissed the feelings building in his Ladybug-filled heart and wrapped an arm around Marinette’s waist.
“Marinette and I are taking you two down, ” he said with a wide smile. Marinette stiffened beside him and looked up at him slowly. For a brief moment the flames in her eyes flickered off and she gave him the most adorable, embarrassed expression he’d seen yet on the girl (and that’s saying something.) He gazed back into her wide, bluebell eyes and felt his own confidence oozing out of him before she suddenly seemed to regain herself and darted her eyes back to Kim, who was still snickering slightly. Adrien felt the loss of her eye contact immediately and tried not to be disappointed. Her posture (which had wilted slightly) returned to its former glory and she glared at the other pair vying to win the competition. She timidly lifted her own arm across his back to grasp his shoulder, not daring to look at him as she did so.
Adrien’s competitive grin widened.
Kim and Alix seemed to only be amused by the sight. After a moment of judgmental staring and a bit of a knowing gleam in Alix’s eyes, the two looked at each other. They smirked and wordlessly shook hands.
“You’re on,” Alix said as they turned their attention back to Adrien and Marinette.
Meanwhile Alya was grinning madly and squeezing her boyfriend’s arms just a bit too hard as she frantically gestured at their friends’ embrace (“ For goodness sake babe. YES, I see it too.”)
“Wonderful!” M. D'Argencourt practically squealed, reminding everyone that they were indeed still in Gym class. “First is the one mile run- in this case 4 laps around the school.” They stared at him blankly.
“That’s first!?” Alya shrieked.
“Makes me glad I wore a t-shirt,” Nino said. “Unlike some people .”
Without another word, Adrien separated himself from Marinette and ripped off his sweater, revealing the pale green tank top he was wearing underneath. Now, Adrien was a superhero, sure. He was a model, sure. He had a father with very strict expectations, sure. He was well-built, he knew this. But he wasn’t ripped or anything. At least he thought so. His class's reactions said otherwise.
For a moment there was silence.
“Dammmmmn Sunshine!” Alya shouted shamelessly.
“BRO!” Nino shouted. “You have got to teach me this model diet and exercise routine sometime!”
Kim’s eye twitched as he looked down at his own (admittedly muscular yet clearly inferior) body, questioning where he went wrong. Alix snickered beside him.
“Technically speaking, when calculating his age with his approximate percent of body fact, based purely on Markov’s scanning and estimation features, also taking in the fact that he is a professional model,” Max explained as he pushed up his glasses. (This kid is constantly pushing up his glasses. Really, he should get a better fitting pair or something.) “The appropriate reaction to Adrien’s removal of his hoodie should be ‘hot damn’.”
Drool was threatening to spill out of Marinette’s mouth. Adrien’s tank top showed off so much beautiful muscle. Marinette had never seen this much of Adrien- from his calves to his shoulders to that glint in his eyes. Oh those eyes. They sparkled with mirth and cockiness- something so far from the Adrien she knew. While Marinette had thought he had reached pique attractiveness earlier, it was nothing compared to this. It was all she could do not to plant one on him right then and there. The thought brought a mad blush to her cheeks and suddenly she wanted to run in the other direction rather than into his arms. (His arms!) Marinette couldn’t decide if this was heaven or hell.
Kim shook his head violently. “Ok, so he’s weirdly toned,” he admitted. “Doesn’t mean he can beat me.” Alix gave him an unimpressed look. “Well, ok- but he teamed himself up with the klutz! It’s not like she’s hiding a 6-pack under there!” Marinette blinked, finally able to look anywhere but at Adrien. What a jerk, she thought.
Marinette silently mimicked Adrien’s actions from just moments earlier and tore off her long- sleeve exercise shirt. She was glad she had decided on an extra layer underneath just in case she decided the weather warranted a change into something lighter (which, honestly, it did.)
“WHAT THE HELL!?” Alya shrieked.
“Wa-hoah!” Alix cat-called.
“Dude! You’re hot - OW!” Nino grabbed his foot, hopping slightly. “I mean, you must be hot- er, you know! Since you had to take off your shirt! Cause the sun!” Alya narrowed her eyes and muttered something beside him. He just gave her a sheepish smile.
“Wow Marinette!” Rose squealed in her iconically high-pitched voice. “Do you work out a lot?”
Adrien sucked in a breath, taking a moment for himself. Marinette was now wearing a tank top and shorts . Why this shook him to his core, he didn’t know. She was wearing the shorts the entire time, after all. And it’s not like he’d never seen her arms before. Unfortunately, the sudden removal of a layer of clothing seemed to draw his attention to everything her outfit now showed. Her top was a typical Marinette pink made of free-flowing and breathable fabric that still managed to cling to her just enough. Her shorts, on the other hand, were completely form-fitting and while they were no mean booty shorts, they showed much more than usual, coming down to mid-thigh. (Adrien didn’t think he’d ever seen Marinette’s knees before. Suddenly, this seemed like a dreadful oversight on his part.)
However, what was truly shocking wasn’t her curves or absolutely adorable knees. No, it was the tight, toned muscles of Marinette’s arms and legs that brought the loud gasps out of her peers. Adrien couldn’t see it but he wouldn’t be surprised if there were abs under that pale, breezy shirt.
Adrien now had no doubts they would win.
“This feels like a hustle,” Alix said suspiciously.
“We can still beat them!” Kim insisted.
The class (who had been just moments earlier certain that the newly challenging pair, although cute, had absolutely no chance at outdoing the long-running champs) were now far less enthusiastic to agree with the boy.
In the time that her classmates gawked at her surprisingly fit physique, Marinette’s eyes had eventually come back to land on Adrien and she now found herself completely frozen in place once more. Damn, she whispered internally. So many new fantasies. Adrien, meanwhile, had yet to break from his trance. He had only heard the occasional tidbit of conversation following Marinette wrapping an arm across his back earlier and at this point was a complete goner as his eyes remained transfixed at the gorgeous girl before him. Seriously, was she always this beautiful? Why hadn’t he noticed before? Something in the back of his mind quietly whispered ‘Ladybug’ which he could only assume was the part of him reminding his body who he truly loved. I mean, why else would staring at Marinette lead to him thinking of Ladybug?
“Yo, we’re starting dudes!” Nino shouted.
“Stop checking each other out and come lose already!” Kim shot as he hurried out to the front of the school.
Marinette and Adrien blinked, simultaneously taking on blushes. They forced themselves to look away from each other and followed their class out.