#ninelle

[ao3 link] @miraculousfluffmonth

“This is not what I expected when you said you got us a batcave.”

“But it’s a batcave!” Nino insisted. He pulled the white drop cloth off one of the pews in the church and checked the wood underneath for any flaws. He looked up, seeing Danielle still sitting on the top step of the stage. “Look, I know it’s not much, but it’s an historical site and no one’s doing anything with it. So are you gonna help or what?”

Danielle sighed and got up, walking over to Nino and grabbing one end of the drop cloth to help him fold it. “Thanks for not telling anyone about me. Especially Alya or Chloé.”

Nino nodded mutely and took the now-manageable-sized drop cloth and finished the last couple folds. “Of course,” he replied. “You’re Adrien’s cousin. That means I’ve got your back.”

Danielle let out a short, tired breath through her nose as she pulled at another drop cloth. “Yeah,” she sighed. “Thanks.”

“Look, I’m not gonna say you’re my friend because you’re not,” Nino said bluntly. “When we first met, you were callous and brushed everyone off, including Adrien. When Marinette, an absolute angel I’ve known since I was four, tried to be your friend, you rolled your eyes at her. Knowing you’re Leda, I get why you did it, but no one else does, and that still doesn’t excuse it. You’re a good person, but you’re intentionally shit at interacting with people because you think it’ll protect you from getting hurt again. I want to be friends with you one day, but you’ve got to let me in.”

Danielle pursed her lips and looked away, but it didn’t prevent Nino from seeing her rub at her eyes. “You wanna be friends?” she asked skeptically.