Chapter Text
Alya is curious. It doesn’t take much to make Alya wonder at how something works, how taking out a single piece might change things. Sometimes her curiosity turns into something else, something sharp and old that cleaves itself through her mind, but today there is simple curiosity settling into her shoulders and making her heavier than usual.
Adrien and her were confidants. They were friends, friends with a secret, and watching Adrien change his behavior to be more and more himself was maddening to watch. How much did they know about the real Adrien?
Alya was curious as to who Adrien was. Was it the sweetest, quietest boy? Or was it this smirk throwing, smile flashing debonair that was definitely trying to make Marinette pass out from oxygen loss.
“What’s gotten into you?” Alya feels her tongue move before she can stop it and Adrien pauses his flirtations with Marinette to look at her directly. “You’re acting different.”
Marinette nods, agreeing because she’s currently trying to get her brain to work again. Nino sidles up and glances between the girls. “I’m sorta with Alya here, did something happen? You’re more…”
“Loud? Unafraid?” Adrien stands straighter, brushing off invisible dust specks. “I’m tired of not being myself. Lila showed me what happens when I try to please everyone. I care about my friends, you guys, and I… I’m tired of not being myself.”
Marinette asks him out on the spot. It happens in a way that reminds Alya of all those times she’s tried before, because it’s as ungraceful as any other attempt, but it’s wholly Marinette and that’s what matters.
The air is frozen, watching as the gears turn in Adrien’s head as his mouth drops open. Alya wants to squeal, wants to grab Marinette and spin her around to tell her she’s proud, but instead she waits. She waits because Marinette had developed a spine around Adrien as of late and Alya doesn’t want to break the tender thing that Marinette has cultivated.
Adrien is looking at Marinette like he’s seen the world. “Yes, let’s have dinner together. As a date.”
It’s not enough to sate Alya’s curiosity. Marinette has always liked the sweet, quiet Adrien who offered her small things to help her with her day. It didn’t sit right that Marinette would be more confident around this Special Adrien to the point that she would ask Adrien out. No one quite knew him yet (but they did, he was himself as he always was… he just said more puns). There was something there, something that made Marinette smile softly.
It was interesting to see Marinette’s spine directed at Adrien and Alya is quite happy.
Alya may be curious but she can let this one slide. Just for a little bit.