#maxinette

“Hey Marinette!” Max called out from somewhere behind her.

She turned and smiled, “Hey Max, what’s up?”

“Nothing, just saw you outside and thought there was a good chance you might want some company.” Max said with a grin. Long gone were the days when he would rattle off the exact percentage of such a statement.

Marinette smiled in return, thinking about how Max was still probably reciting those percentages in his head. “You’re right, I’d love some company. How’s your interface going?”

Max brightened at the question and began to explain how much he was enjoying the new equipment the camp had gotten this year. Marinette listened with enthusiasm.

“…And you?” Max asked, “Are you enjoying your project?”

“Yeah,” Marinette replied, “It’s been a lot of fun trying to recreate a video game controller. I’m maybe halfway through the circuit board – but it’s huge. Have any tips on how to shrink it a little?”

A wind whisked through the campus and ruffled Marinette’s hair as Marinette turned to face him.

“…Max? You alright?” Marinette combed her fingers through her hair, before pulling the errant locks into a ponytail.

“Yeah…” Max said dazedly before shaking himself slightly, “Ahem, I mean, yeah, I’m fine. The best way to shrink your controller is to finish your first one and improve upon it later.”

“Pft, you’re no fun,” Marinette playfully nudged him, “Here I thought I’d get advice from the best robotics fabricator around.”

“Only get to be the best when you put in the time to get there,” Max quipped at her, “In fact… if you lend me some paper and a calculator I can map out exactly how expertise is obtained.”

Marinette laughed when he waggled his eyebrows at her and threw an arm to jokingly ward him off, “No please! Spare me the mathematics!”

Max arched an eyebrow and sighed dramatically. “Alas, no one ever wants to see the proof of concept,” he lamented.

At the door to the cafeteria Marinette turned to face him, “So are you joining me for a snack or do you have to get back to your project?”

“Oh,” Max waved a hand, “Afraid I have to get back, Markov doesn’t like not being able to fly for too long.”

“Gotcha, gotcha,” Marinette nodded, “In that case, I could always bring something back for you?”

“No thank you. Actually,” Max hesitated briefly, “Actually, if you don’t mind – would you review this?” He placed a micro thumb-drive in her palm, “And tell me what you think?”

Marinette’s hand closed around the USB, “Sure, no problem.”

“Thanks, Marinette – it means a lot to me,” Max said before heading back to his building.

After retrieving her snacks and a drink, Marinette took the thumb drive out and inserted it into her phone. Bursts of brilliant colour filled the screen like a mini fireworks display. As the sparks rained down, they resolved into

[Marinette, I’ve liked you for some time. I don’t need to do the math to know that this is a long-shot, but would you like to go on a date?]

~

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