Chapter Text
Marinette had just turned off the lights and snuggled in, Tikki in her own spot above her head, when she heard the thump above. She waited, not being able to see much in the dim light, to see what other sounds she might hear. It could have been nothing after all. Eventually though, there was more sounds above her, a pacing of sorts. Marinette saw a shadow cast over her ceiling window, and then it was gone, only to appear a moment later.
Finally, Marinette couldn't take it anymore. Ripping the covers off herself, Marinette stood atop her bed and opened the window. Outside, on her roof balcony, was Cat Noir, who looked surprised to see her. "Do you want to come inside?"
The black clad hero of Paris nodded, and soon she had him dropping down on her bed. "Sorry," he started to say. "Today was sort of awful and..."
He stopped only because Marinette had put her fingers in his hair, her nails lightly scraping across his scalp. Cat Noir didn't even realize he'd started to purr as he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch.
Marinette for her part started to giggle lightly, only muffling her glee when he opened his greener than green eyes to glare at her for a moment before closing his eyes again. Marinette didn't mind how her boyfriend leaned on her shoulder, emitting happiness like a domestic cat might. "You should detrans-... Wait, how much product was put in your hair?"
"Uh," Cat Noir tried to collect his thoughts, but it didn't really happen until Marinette paused her head scratching. He shook his head, then immediately regretted it as he lost her hand in his hair. "The stylist did a lot. I should have showered before I came here. I'm sorry, by the way. It was an impulsive idea and then when I got here I realized you might be asleep and I knew I should just go home, but..."
Marinette interrupted him. "You had a rough day, didn't you?" When he nodded, she continued. "Any time you need to come over that's fine."
"Thanks Marinette," he said as he wrapped his arms around her.
Marinette didn't know how long Adrien stayed, but in the morning when she woke up he was gone, and Marinette wondered when she even fell asleep.
Adrien was at his computer finishing up his homework assignments, which he could have gotten done sooner if he hadn't spent a good hour after dinner playing on his computer. He didn't regret it too much. At least the numbers were not swimming on the page he was looking at.
There was then a delicate tapping on his window and he turned around, grinning when he saw a red and spotted hero hanging in front of the panes of glass. He quickly jogged over and opened the window, offering his hand to help her inside. "Greetings Ladybug, what do I owe this visit?"
"I smell like a smokestack," she complained. Adrien blinked and looked down at her in confusion. It wasn't strong, but he did notice a certain odor. "Sorry, that was rude. I meant to come over to visit after my patrol but I just feel gross right now!"
"Oh, swung through the wrong street or over the wrong chimney?" It had happened to both of them before. "Well, I mean if you want to wash up," Adrien offered, walking in the direction of his bathroom with her following him.
"Oh, what a wonderful idea," Ladybug said with a grin, holding her hands up to her chest, and if they were not walking Adrien was sure there would be a little but wiggle also. Adrien thought she might be wanting a washcloth, and was heading in the direction of the linen closet when Ladybug boldly stepped into his shower. "Wow, there's a lot of knobs. How do I get this to work?"
Ladybug was in his shower! All other thoughts just stopped. He looked over to her in awe even as she gestured to the shower knobs. He walked over, because that's where Ladybug was.
"Which one, Adrien?" she asked again.
"Oh, right, um, so this is for the main shower head..." and he somehow was able to make something of a sensible explanation to her inquiry. That was until she turned on the water. "Do... do you want me to... I can go... I mean..."
"I just want to wash the suit off so Tikki doesn't have to suffer," she told him. Ladybug was smiling happily to herself with her eyes closed as the water fell on her. "Oh," and she looked over at Adrien, who hadn't moved from his spot just outside the shower. "Do you mind if I use your shampoo?"
Adrien was pretty sure he would have thrown all his bath products at her if she'd asked, but it seemed to be enough that he was fine with her using the shampoo. In a superhero feat, he was a superhero after all even if Plagg was laughing at him at the moment, Adrien did go to the linen closet and get Ladybug a couple of towels to dry off with.
Ladybug was in his shower!
Ladybug was in his shower while still suited up!
The ridiculousness of it all finally dawned on him. He snickered as he walked over to hand her the towels. "You know, I wasn't in the shower."
Ladybug blinked as she whipped her head back after wrapping her hair in the towel. "What?"
"When you were trying to protect me, as Adrien, and I would claim to be in the shower, because, you know, we didn't know each other yet?" It was hard to talk while chuckling.
Realization took a moment, but when it did, it was like the rising of the sun. Ladybug's laughter was just so cute.
After she dried off, Marinette joined Adrien at his desk, her hair still drying while their kwamis flew off together. Adrien helped her with their assignments from school and it was only when they both started talking about old video games instead of their homework that they realized it was probably time for Marinette to swing back home. Adrien missed her presence almost as soon as she left, but he smiled in the memory of her smelling of his shampoo.
There was a knock on the apartment door, and Marinette paused mid bite. Her mother had only gone downstairs to the bakery a moment ago, and she wouldn't knock besides. Sadly, she set down her spoon and walked over to the door to get a most delightful surprise. "Adrien! What are you doing here?"
"I convinced the Gorilla your place was close enough to the school that he could park out here and let me walk you to school," Adrien explained with a grin.
"Oh!" Marinette wiggled in happiness, then realized she'd left Adrien on the landing and pulled him into the apartment. "Let me finish eating and then we can go!"
With Adrien in the apartment, Marinette double timed getting ready for school, which meant she nearly forgot her backpack and completely forgot about her hair.
"Don't worry about it so much," Adrien said, playing with a loose strand as they walked together.
"But it's a mess," Marinette complained with a pout.
"Would it make you happier if I brushed it out and styled it for you when we got to class?" Adrien asked, humor in his voice.
His girlfriend paused and looked at him. "Do you want to? Like really?"
And Adrien had no defense to the blue eyes that looked up at him with such a question. So it was, Alya found someone in her spot before class. She wasn't going to begrudge Adrien there as long as he moved his twinkie ass by the time class started. She was smirking big as Adrien, with the utmost care, brushed out Marinette's hair, a couple of hair ties on his wrist. Marinette for her part looked to be in heaven.
"Dude, was this in the new betting pool?" Kim whispered on the other side of the aisle.
Max sighed. "Honestly, it should have been. Guess everyone needs to ante up again."