Chapter Text
‘Dammit.’ Adrien muttered to himself, his fingers going to his lips where he had just felt a crack. Stupid cold weather and he had left his lip balm at home. His father liked him to stay moisturised, it minimised the need for airbrushing after photoshoots, but today it had slipped his mind. Now he had sore, chapped lips and would no doubt later get a lecture to go with it.
‘What’s up, my dude?’ Nino asked, leaning in where they were eating lunch at a table in the cafeteria.
‘Split lip.’ Adrien was relieved not to see blood. ‘My father will kill me.’
‘Over a split lip?’ Nino looked at him doubtfully.
‘Okay, maybe not kill me, but he’ll start trying to tell me that school is a bad idea as it makes me ignore my personal care routine.’
‘Just see if one of the girls has some lip stuff.’ Nino glanced around, spotting Alya and Marinette heading their way. ‘Hey, ladies, either of you have any lip stuff?’
‘If you want a kiss you only have to ask.’ Alya grinned, leaning towards Nino as she put her tray down and planting a soft kiss on his lips.
‘Hey.’ Adrien greeted Marinette as she took the seat between him and Alya at the circular table.
‘Hi.’ She flashed him a shy smile.
‘So, what Nino actually wanted,’ he waved a hand at the lip locked couple, ‘was to see if you have any lip balm or salve? I split my lip.’ He showed her the little cut, and she frowned at it.
‘That looks sore.’ She said quietly, popping open her purse. ‘I do have some, but, uh, it’s scented.’
‘I don’t mind, as long as it helps.’ He smiled his gratitude. ‘If you don’t mind?’
‘Oh, I don’t mind.’ She found what she was looking for, or more accurately Tikki shoved it into her hand. ‘It’s one my family sent me from China.’ She explained, offering the pot that was covered in chibi animals.
‘Wow, it’s…cute.’ He replied, their fingers brushing as he took the pot from her, not noticing the blush that scored her cheeks. ‘Thanks.’ He popped the top and applied it, noting the good quality of the product and how his lip felt better already. ‘So much better.’ He offered her the pot back. ‘And the scent is amazing.’
‘It’s kiwi and passionfruit.’ She told him. ‘If you need it, give it back to me at the end of the day.’ She offered. ‘It’s okay.’
‘If you’re certain?’
‘Uh huh.’ She nodded.
‘Thanks.’ He rested it beside his lunch, and they continued, Alya and Nino finally parting again, and they spoke about their morning classes and the homework assigned. At the end of the day Adrien returned the lip balm to Marinette, grateful and fully intent on buying her something to thank her. The scent of the balm was probably the nicest he had ever come across, and it lingered in his senses for some time afterwards. He wondered if he could find the product online, but decided to look later, for now he had to meet his lady for patrol.
Marinette sighed as she looked at the lip balm she had placed on her desk. Adrien had used it. Adrien had used it a lot. She could still picture him rubbing the scented balm over his lips, smiling gratefully at her, and she sighed again.
‘Marinette?’
‘Hmm?’ She looked up, finding Tikki floating in her eye line, giggling softly.
‘You have patrol.’ Her kwami reminded her.
‘Oh, of course! Tikki, spots on!’ She said, getting to her feet. Her transformation spread over her and she turned towards her hatch, but first paused and applied some lip balm, before carrying on to her patrol.
Twenty minutes later she met Chat atop Notre Dame. He was already there, looking out over the city, when she arrived.
‘Evening, Chaton.’ She greeted him.
‘My lady.’ He glanced at her with a smile, before going back to watching the streets.
‘Quiet tonight.’
‘The cold puts off even the most hardened criminal.’
She chuckled. ‘Apparently so. Shall we do one more circuit and call it a night?’
‘It’s still early.’ He tilted his head and regarded her curiously.
‘Like you said, it’s cold.’ She shrugged, walking behind him to get a look from the other side of the building.
‘We could always go for a hot drink, what do you say?’ He grinned.
‘I think I’d just as soon get an early night.’
‘As you wish, Bugaboo.’ He gave a brief bow.
‘See you soon, minou.’ She smiled, before swinging her yo-yo and stepping off the building, her departure rustling Chat’s hair, which was when he caught a scent on the breeze, his eyes going wide in shock.
Kiwi and passionfruit.