Chapter Text
The school bell acted like an alarm clock, waking Nathanael from his dreamlike state of bliss. After years of admiring her from afar, he was finally able to manage to carry a conversation with his crush. They talked about what plans they had for summer vacation which was just two weeks around the corner.
She told him about a fashion show that was coming up in August, hosted by Paris' most prestige designer, Gabriel Agreste. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she explained the layout of the event to him and Nathanael wished he could go with her, just to see that same sparkle again.
He told her about all of his unfinished paintings he was planning to get around to. She insisted that he explained each of them in detail to her. However, they were cut short when class ended and they had to move on to their next subject.
Before they separated, Marinette made him promise to finish the conversation the next time they saw each other.
The rest of his classes flew by in a foggy haze clouded by blue eyes and soft laughter that refused to leave Nathanael's thoughts. All he could concentrate on was how amazing it would be if the new development in the dynamic of his relationship with his crush became a regular thing.
He thought about talking to her in class before the teacher barks at them to sit down. He thought about sitting next to her during lunch and make small talk about the disgusting excuses for food that the cafeteria conjured up for the students each day. Or, even better, they could become close enough to spend time together outside of school.
He knew he was getting his hopes up way too high, but he couldn't help himself. For years he thought he would never have the nerve to say more than two whole sentences to his crush. And just today, he spent ten minutes talking with her about their interests and creative ideas. He was in seventh heaven.
Once the school day ended, Nathanael along with his classmates rushed to the locker rooms and gathered his books in time just before the hallways became crowded with students. After stepping out of the school doors, he instantly felt the heat of the sun against his thick hair. It travelled down his back and warmed him from head to toe. He loved the sun. Admittedly, he didn't spend much time outside to make the most of it, but he was always grateful for the times when he could enjoy it while walking home.
He stayed near the school entrance as students passed him by, wishing to drench himself in the sun's warm rays when all of a sudden- a voice calling his name startles him from his serene half awake trance.
He turned around in response to the voice and was surprised to see a figure with blue hair and pink skinny jeans running towards him.
"Don't go yet." She said when she finally caught up to him. Nathanael stared incredulously as Marinette took a moment to catch her breath. Did she really sprint all the way to the front school doors just to talk to him?
"Do you want to walk home together?" She happily beamed after fully composing herself. Nathanael was caught off guard, "What?" was all he could think to say.
He must have been imagining things, but Nathanael could have sworn he saw her face turning pink, "Well..." she began in what could be considered a sheepish tone. "I often see you walking home in the same direction that I do, and since I hadn't talked to you much before today, I figured it might have been weird if I had tried to start a conversation just like that." This couldn't be real.
"I-uhm..." He didn't know what to say in response. This was too good to be true, but here she was looking at him with wide, hopeful eyes waiting for his reply. It left him at a loss for words, so he just nodded in response.
The continued where they left off in art class. Nathanael explained in detail all of the different paintings in his room he had yet to finish. He told him the themes and inspiration that went into every piece. She listened, nodding every few seconds for him to continue.
They both walked at a slow pace in a kind of hidden agreement that they both wanted this conversation to last as long as possible. When they came into view of Marinette's parent's bakery, they continued to walk slowly, wanting to take every second they could to continue the conversation.
It wasn't until Nathanael felt a drop of water hit his cheek that their little bubble popped and pulled them back down to earth. He looked up and realised that as they were talking, clouds began to fill the previously spotless blue sky.
Ignoring the sinking feeling of disappointment settling in his chest, Nathanael warned Marinette that they needed to move faster. They made it to the bakery just before the rain started to give its worsed.
Marinette asked him to wait inside the door until she found him an umbrella before she disappeared upstairs. He did his best not to be a bother and stay out of the way of the line of customers coming in and out. He saw an Asian lady with black hair working the till and figured she must have been Marinette's mother.
She made eye contact with him once and smiled but he didn't react quick enough to smile back. After that, he did his best not to look at her in case she thought he was rude.
He was relieved when he saw Marinette finally return down the stairs. She carried in her hand a black umbrella and stopped to look outside before addressing him.
"How far do you have to go?"
"Just two more miles."
He saw concern gloss over her eyes, "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Oh, definitely," He smiled reassuringly, "I've walked for longer in way worse weather before." This didn't seem to make her any happier but she nodded all the same.
They stood in awkward silence for a few moments, both unsure of what to say next. Nathanael stepped towards the door, "I guess I'd better get going now."
"Okay."
He only made it a few steps out the door when Marinette's voice called him once again.
"Hey, Nathanael?"
He turned around to face her. "I-uhm..." she seemed suddenly sheepish when facing him.
"Yes?" he encouraged. Marinette bit her lip, "Are you doing anything Saturday?"
Nathanael felt his breath hitch in his throat, "No."
"Do you wanna hang out or something?"
He must be dreaming. "I-uh..."
"I mean you don't have to if you don't want to!" she quickly added.
"No!" he replied just as fast, "I-I'd love to!"
Marinette's face lit up, "Really?"
The walk home for Nathanael was spent in utter bliss. He couldn't hear the rain hitting against the top of his umbrella, or feel the cold wind blowing against his cheeks. He was too excited to think of much else besides his potential 'date' with Marinette.
They could go to the movies, walk around town, maybe get something to eat. He knew it was probably meant to be just a friendly meet up but he couldn't stop himself from thinking that the way she asked him kind of implied a romantic intention.
When he finally came to face his bedroom door, he walked in and lazily threw his bag to the corner on his left side. He allowed his body to fall unceremoniously backwards onto his bed. He left out a long sigh, reveling in his happiness.
Since when had he ever been so lucky before?
Most of his school life up until now has consisted of a series of tragic mishaps, ruthless bullying, and unrequited love. Did the universe just decide that maybe after all of his misery he deserved a little reward for sticking out such an unfair existence for so long? Because if so, he hoped it would continue being so charitable for at least a little while longer.
He rolled over onto his side to find a comfier position. As he did this he saw, leaning against one of his red walls, one of his many unfinished works.
This one was of a masked superhero with a cape, standing at the very top of the Eifel Tower, watching over Paris.
He remembered telling Marinette that he would show some of his pieces to her once they were finished. This one was practically finished, all he had to do wad put some shading on the metal bars supporting the Tower and it's mysterious vigilante.
After a few more seconds of soaking in the soft feeling of his bed sheets beneath him, Nathanael decided to get up and start working on the piece again. He picked it up, placed it on his desk and sat down only to realise that his sketching pencils weren't in their regular place. Confused, he turned in his chair to scan his room for any trace of them.
He spotted them laying on the ground near the radiator that was wedged between his bed and wardrobe. He wouldn't who put them there and stood up to walk towards them. When kneeling down to pick the case of pencils up, he noticed a small, black container - shapped like a hexagon- sitting on top of it.
Out of curiosity, he picked it up and realised it was made of wood. When taking a look closer he saw some Chinese writing engraved on top of it.
If Nathanael wasn't confused enough before, he certainly was now. What would a box like this be doing in his room? He certainly didn't remember it being in here before.
Nathanael then realised he had yet to open the box and maybe in doing so he would find some answers. But when he flipped it open, he was left with more questions if anything.
Inside the box was a black ring with a tiny paw print in the centre and two tiny triangles that looked like cat ears on top.
He nearly got up to ask his mom if she happened to drop it in his room while tidying and know what it was for. But, for some strange reason, Nathanael felt he shouldn't. Something -though he had no clue what- was telling him that this ring was special. The idea of showing it to others felt wrong and made him slightly anxious as if the world would crumble around him if he were to share this weird little piece of jewelry with anyone.
Even more curious now, Nathanael decided to try it on. He took it out of the box and put it on the third finger of his right hand. What happened next caught Nathanael off guard.
A bright light emitted from the ring, forcing Nathanael to shut his eyes. He didn't dare open them, too scared of being blinded, until he saw the light dim slightly from behind his eyelids and a strange voice talking to him.
"About time! That box was getting too stuffy. Say, kid, do you got any cheese?"