Chapter Text
The plan was simple enough. What better place for a first date than Andres ice cream?
But now, 3 hours later, and still without a single clue on his whereabouts, they had to temporarily admit defeat.
Kagami found a nice bench in a park, perfectly in the shade, and they sat down to enjoy the weather.
“Well damn, I cant believe we couldn’t find him” Marinette had lounged on the bench, arms round the back, trying to cool down from their failed crusade. “I don’t think ive ever failed at finding Andre before, you know? He’s usually just….there”
“me neither. But I for one cannot agree with his business practice of changing locations every hour. Seems awfully inconsiderate” Kagami scowled, in a similar state of disarray but infinitely more put together for it. “I think he should just get a shop, like every other ice cream shop in Paris.”
“Kagami! you cant mean that! Andre’s a staple. A national treasure”
“I’ll say, He’s a national pain in the-”
“Kagami!” Marinette spluttered out between laughs “that’s blasphemy you know”
“Marinette?” she waited until she had her attention, “I don’t think you understand what the word means-”
“What?” she looked confused, “Blasphemy? No like-”
“-If anything, claiming that its blasphemy to insult Andre is actual blasphemy-”
“- its a figure of speech, you’re messing with me right?-”
“-and here you are accusing me of it” Kagami rolled her eyes, making sure Marinette could see, as she fought to keep a straight face, nailing the delivery.
“tut tut Marinette.”
Marinette lost it that, nearly falling off the bench laughing as Kagami joined in.
A good minute later, they finally settled back down on the bench, enjoying the a small breeze that graced them as they tried to get the last of the joke out of their system.
Marinette watched Kagami out of the corner of her eye, while Kagami watched the people walking by. Occasionally she’d call Marinette to join her, spotting a particularly interesting person and Marinette would make up a ridiculous story, while Kagami listened, chiming in to give freakishly accurate details, until finally the crowds became sparse, and their conversation quieted comfortably.
Marinette loved that about Kagami. That there was never a pressure to fill the silence. That they could exist beside each other, doing their own thing, basking in shared company. Marinette loved their silence.
But that didn’t mean she’d always keep it though. Something about the mood spurred her to speak.
“You know, you’re one of the coolest people I know” Marinette started, smiling to herself, “Remember when you swooped in from nowhere, impressing Adrien with your fancy fencing skills, and your super important family name, and your ho- posh accent” she couldn’t bring herself to meet her eyes yet, but it felt natural to say.
“how could I forget. That was how I met you”
“Hey, you cant say things like that, you know? you’re going to make me blush”
“What if that was my intention all along”
Marinette thought it wasn’t fair she could say things like that so earnestly. That she was so weak to her charms.
“but maybe I did feel a bit intimidated by you…the first time we met”,Marinette continued, ”I'm sorry again about the whole Chloe thing. You just wanted a friend and I saw a rival.”
“Marinette.” Kagami started, waiting for Marinette to raise her eyes to meet hers. “I forgave you right there and then. And considering I did try to kill you the first time we met, I think we can call it even.” she paused for a beat, fidgeting with her fingers. “You’re one of my closest friends Marinette. I don’t have many people that I can open up to. Or that I know. And you mean a lot to me. You, too, are one of the coolest people I know” Marinette felt her face heat up slightly, and promptly turned away, “And if you still feel bad, then you can let me win at mecha strike next time”
“Ha, in your dreams”. Marinette jumped up from the bench cackling, “If you want to beat the master, you’ll just have to train harder”
Kagami followed suit, stretching out her back for a second and enjoying the cool air.
“Well should we go back to looking for Andre?”
“Hell no”
[ - x - ]
Kagami and Marinette sat shoulder to shoulder on one of the benches beside the Seine, watching the water flow. The sun had lowered by now, an orange hue starting to tinge the sky.
“I never realised before,” Kagami started, prompting Marinette to look at her. At her eyes.“that you felt anything towards me”
Marinette averted her gaze, but Kagami continued.
“That all the while I was with Adrien, you were also harbouring feelings for me. I'm sorry for not having noticed.”
“Kagami….I-”
“but ultimately I think I'm glad it happened. I like you too Marinette.”,Marinette let out a gasp, “I like being around you. I like how you make me feel. I like that you chase your dreams with laser focus. And I like who I am when I’m with you. You make me feel real.”
The sun was setting now, the sky clear, and the moment seemed perfect. Kagami leaned in slowly, making sure Marinette saw her, that Marinette was also leaning in to meet her. She closed her eyes, and kissed Marinette. Her first thought was how soft her lips were. Her second thought was that she was kissing Marinette. And so was her third. And her fourth. And her-
Marinette pulled away, abruptly, too abruptly.
“Kagami I-”
“oh my god I'm sorry Marinette, I thought-”
“Kagami.” Kagami stopped, and looked at Marinette. Her eyes were pleading, almost….guilty? She waited.
“Kagami...I- We- I’m sorry”
“No don’t be, I'm sorry if I was too forward, I can-”
“No Kagami. I'm sorry. The letter wasn’t meant for you.”
Her brain stopped.
“what?”
“The letter. It wasn’t for you…. It was for Adrien.”
Every thought that moments before had yearned for Marinette paused. The letter hadn’t been for her.
Marinette didn’t like her.
Kagami was vaguely aware of Marinette, looking at her with guilt on her face, waiting for her reaction. She wouldn’t get it.
Kagami stood up from her place on the bench, her body complaining at having to separate from Marinette’s, and faced her.
“I”, Kagami had to get out now. Protect herself. “...I’m sorry- sorry for misunderstanding. I shouldn’t have assumed.”her voice cracked slightly. She hoped Marinette hadn’t noticed.”Please ignore everything I said today. Thank you for the day out.”
“Wait Kagami, let me explai-”
“No Marinette! You don’t just get to-”, she took a moment. Breathe in. Breathe out. “sorry. I can’t. I’ll see you-….I’ll see you later”
Kagami walked away.