#tpimtts

“Oh, no,” Marinette groaned as she raced along the streets of Paris.

“Marinette, slow down!” Tikki zoomed alongside her. “You’re going to fall!”

“Hide, Tikki! Can’t slow down, late for school!” Marinette panted. She couldn’t be late again. Between saving Paris and sewing new pieces for her latest design competition, Marinette hadn’t had much time to sleep, and it showed in the school attendance record.

Tikki zoomed into Marinette’s purse just as someone stepped onto the sidewalk in front of her. Her shoulder glanced them and she fell, sending her books flying across the pavement.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Marinette scolded, frowning up at the—

“Marinette! I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Man, I’m such a klutz.” Adrien Agreste flashed an apologetic smile and bent down to pick up Marinette’s books.

“Adrien!” Marinette sputtered, “No, I’m the klutz. I mean, I just— I ran into you, you shouldn’t— you don’t need to apologize.”

“Nah, I should’ve been more careful.” Adrien offered Marinette a hand. She accepted it, cheeks burning. “Come on, let’s get to class.”

By the time Marinette and Adrien reached the school, it was twenty minutes after first bell. Adrien had insisted they walk and enjoy the weather, but Marinette was sure he was just worried she’d fall again.

Ms. Bustier looked up from her desk. “Adrien, Marinette. Nice of you to join us,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

The class stared as the pair stood frozen in the doorway. The smug look on Alya’s face only worsened Marinette’s embarrassment.

“Sorry, Ms. Bustier.”

“Would you care to tell the class why you’ve both missed half the lesson?”

Marinette hesitated. She’d spent most of the night battling an akuma, but she couldn’t tell that to Ms. Bustier. She felt Adrien shift uncomfortably next to her.

“I stayed up too late,” they said in unison. Marinette immediately wished she could melt into the floor. Adrien laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.

Ms. Bustier sighed. “You can’t keep being late like this, Marinette. You both have detention. See me after class.”

Marinette nodded and quickly followed Adrien to their desks, eager to have the class’s attention turned away from her. Ms. Bustier continued the lesson as Adrien turned around and mouthed, “Sorry.” Marinette shook her head and gave a small smile, ignoring Alya’s teasing nudge.

Despite Alya’s optimism that detention would be a great way for Marinette to spend time with Adrien, they’d spent the entire time so far sitting in silence. Marinette had decided to use the time to work on her latest piece, a formal skater dress that she planned to enter into one of the biggest design contests of the year - Gabriel Agreste’s youth fashion ball. The top ten contestants were invited to attend an exclusive gala with some of the most famous designers in the world, but with the entry deadline only a few weeks away, Marinette doubted she’d ever get to see it. She’d been trying to perfect the embroidery on the skirt for weeks, but nothing looked right. She was erasing her latest attempt, a row of sparrows flying along the hem, when Adrien appeared at her shoulder.

“Wow, that design is incredible,” he said, making Marinette jump. Her hand slipped and she smudged the design, making the sparrows look more like sad, little ghosts.

“Uh, thanks! I mean, I’ve designed better before, but— I’m glad you like it!” Marinette managed.

“Can I see your other designs?” he asked, already reaching for the notebook.

“Sure,” Marinette automatically replied as Adrien flipped through the book. He paused, looking closely at one of the larger sketches.

“Is that… me?”

Marinette’s eyes widened. She snatched the book back and stared at the drawing on the page. Sure enough, a boy in fencing gear was lunging across the paper, sabre in hand.

“Well,” Marinette stammered, “I was just trying to practice drawing different poses, and I was walking past the gym one day while you were training, and— I mean, I’m not stalking you. I promise. But—“

“My form is awful,” Adrien stared at the page, eyebrows drawn in. “I totally get what Monsieur D’Argencourt was saying.”

Marinette blinked. “What? No, your form is amazing! I just messed up the pose, it’s— it’s really my fault.“

“Thanks, Marinette.” Adrien smiled and shrugged. “But this one’s on me. I’ve been losing tournaments all month. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Well, my drawings aren’t doing so great either.” Marinette sighed. “All my favorite designers are holding competitions this month, and I haven’t won a single one. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever get over this slump.”

“Look at us. What a sight,” Adrien joked.

Marinette giggled, then paused, an idea slowly forming in her mind.

“Maybe we can help each other,” she ventured.

“Help each other how?”

“Let’s make a deal,” Marinette started, but before she could continue, Ms. Bustier looked up from the papers she was grading and shot the two a stern look. Adrien returned to his seat, and Marinette once again trained her eyes on her paper. She heard a soft scratching sound coming from Adrien’s desk, and then a small slip of paper appeared at her elbow.

What kind of deal?

Marinette glanced up at Adrien, who put a finger to his lips and winked. She wrote back.

If you win five tournaments by the end of the month, you get free croissants for a year.

Adrien smiled and wrote back. And if you win five design contests, I’ll convince my father to feature you on his website.

Marinette couldn’t believe it. Her designs, featured on Gabriel Agreste’s website? It was a dream come true. She slipped the paper back to him. These stakes seem pretty unfair.

You’re right, he wrote back, I’m getting a way better deal. If you win five design contests, I’ll get him to give you a spread in the next magazine. Shake on it?

Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. She smiled as Adrien held out his hand. She reached across her desk and shook it. As she turned her attention back to her design, he slipped one last note onto her desk.

Come with me.