Chapter Text
Paris was buzzing with a flurry of holiday activity. Children were cheerful, adults were merry, and everyone was working hard to spread Christmas joy; including two of Paris’s greatest heroes.
Ladybug and Cat Noir worked hard alongside many civilians to set up the annual holiday festival in the park. It was tradition that started about six or so years ago, one of Andre Bourgeois’s last social projects for the city of Paris before retiring. The festival stimulated local businesses, and it gave an opportunity for the citizens to feel closer to one another and to Ladybug and Cat Noir, as the two heroes jointly played the role of “Santa Claus” and passed out presents to the underprivileged children of the city. Hawkmoth may be long silent, but Ladybug and Cat Noir remained a beacon of hope for Parisians. In lieu of fighting bad guys, regular public appearances and charity work had become part of their heroic routine. Along with, of course, the occasional bout of vigilante justice.
Ladybug took a step back from her partner, her chin grasped between her thumb and her forefinger as she assessed the Santa jacket hanging off of her partner’s shoulders. “Are you sure you gave me the proper measurements, Cat?”
Cat Noir spun around, looking over the jacket and not seeing what was causing her so much concern. “Positive. Why?”
Ladybug shook her head. “Something seems off. Have you bulked up lately?”
A sly grin slid across her partner’s face. “Admiring my body, Bugaboo?”
She rolled her eyes. “The jacket is bunching around the shoulders. This is strictly a technical observation. You’ve gained some muscle.”
“I have been working out a little more lately,” he admitted. “But is the fit really that bad?”
“It should work for today. If you keep this up, though, I’ll have to do some alterations for next year.”
Cat Noir flexed under the jacket. “Aw, you don’t want to see me Hulk my way through it?”
Ladybug shook her head. “Not when it’s my work, I don’t. You can use your own clothes for that.”
The winter festival was nearly ready to begin, so Ladybug put on her own Santa jacket and hat and stepped up next to her ridiculous partner. Before long, there was a line of children a mile long awaiting gifts, and Paris’s heroes were happy to oblige. They passed out packages and boxes to the children with genuine smiles on their faces, hearts warmed at the connections they made with the citizens of their city.
Ladybug and Cat Noir were at the center of the park, in front of the statue of themselves. On either side, they were flanked by stands of craft and food vendors from across the city, offering special holiday treats and deals. Ladybug was proud to see her parents operating a stand selling miniature bûche de Noë l. The only thing that would make this festival any more perfect would be a light dusting of snow.
“So, any plans for Christmas Eve, My Lady?” Cat asked between children.
Ladybug laughed. “Asking me on a date, chaton? How scandalous. Does your girlfriend know?”
“You know that no matter how many girls are in my life, you always have a special place in my heart, Bugaboo.”
Ladybug grinned and passed a gift to the next child in line. Their relationship had changed a lot over the years. The days of Cat Noir declaring his undying love for her were long gone. Both of them had ended up dating other people, and after Hawkmoth’s disappearance, they had almost grown distant from one another. However, nothing could keep Ladybug and Cat Noir apart for long. They always remained good friends, no matter what happened.
“Actually,” Cat continued, a little more quietly this time. “I wanted your advice on a little something I have planned for my girlfriend.”
“Ooooh, do you have one of your big, romantic schemes in the works?” Ladybug nudged him with her elbow.
Cat Noir grinned conspiratorially. “Something like that.” There was a small break in the crowd in that moment, giving Cat a chance to reach into the pocket of his Santa coat and fish out a small, green box. He tossed it to Ladybug. “I need a second opinion on that.”
Ladybug opened the little box, and barely held in an excited squeal. Inside of the box was a vintage silver ring, a simple white pearl fixed at the center and flanked with a couple of tiny, pear shaped diamonds on either side. It was the perfect mix of simple, elegant, and unique. “You’re proposing?!”
Cat Noir nodded, quickly shushing her and taking back the ring box to shove into his pocket. “I’m going to do it on Christmas eve.”
“I’m so happy for you!” Ladybug gushed. From what she could piece together, Cat Noir had been dating this girl for several years now, nearly as long as she had been with her boyfriend. “It’s about time you settled down, you mangy stray!”
“But, the ring,” he redirected. “Do you think the ring is alright?”
Ladybug couldn’t contain her joy. She placed a hand on her partner’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful, Cat. Your girlfriend will absolutely love it. It’s perfect.”
He sighed in relief. “Thank goodness. It was my grandmother’s ring. Not her engagement ring, but one my grandfather gave to her. My mother inherited the engagement ring, but it got lost a while back. I wanted to use something special, but I know pearls aren’t exactly traditional…”
“Breaking from tradition is all the rage lately,” Ladybug said, flicking a long ponytail over her shoulder. “And, honestly, the ring isn’t the important thing. It’s the love behind it.”
A soft, almost sentimental smile crossed her partner’s face. It was an expression he didn’t show Ladybug often, but it always tugged at her heartstrings. “Loving her is as natural as breathing. We’ve been friends for years, and before I knew it, she had my heart, too. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
Ladybug felt her throat closing up a little bit. “Oh, now you’ve got me all choked up! She has to say yes. If she doesn’t, you can marry my boyfriend and me instead. I’m sure he’ll be okay with it.”
Cat Noir chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They passed the rest of the afternoon fairly quickly between gifting and making jokes. Children laughed, parents bought gifts from the vendors, and everyone seemed to be soaking in the holiday cheer. Ladybug and Cat Noir even posed for some pictures for Alya Cesaire to post on the Ladyblog .
It really was the perfect day.
It was well past dark when Adrien stepped foot into the Agreste mansion. He was exhausted and half frozen from his day working the festival with Ladybug, but he wasn’t going to return to his apartment until he took care of one last errand.
“Adrien, this is a surprise,” Nathalie said, rounding the corner into the foyer, her voice holding little more emotion than her standard emotionless tone.
Adrien grinned, “I came to speak with Father. Is he around? It’s important.”
“I’ll see if he’s available.”
Adrien rolled his eyes once she turned her back. He probably should have made an appointment, especially when it was about something this important, but he had gotten to be so much more relaxed in his everyday life that he had very nearly forgotten how stiff his father could be.
Fortunately, his father seemed to have a bit of free time in his schedule that evening. Nathalie led Adrien into the office--not that Adrien didn’t already know the way-- and left the two men to speak.
Adrien greeting his father formally, as he always did lately, and took in his appearance. His father’s hair had always been light, but now it seemed to be more on the grey side than platinum blonde. His face bore a few more fine lines lately, too. It made Adrien pause and wonder when his father had gotten to be so much older.
“What is it, Adrien?” Gabriel asked. The question should have been grating, but his voice lacked its usual impatient, annoyed tone that Adrien had come to expect growing up with the man. It was like Gabriel had become softer in the past few years, and Adrien still wasn’t sure how to handle it. “Nathalie said you came to discuss something important.”
“Ah,” Adrien said, rubbing the back of his neck, “yeah. I’ve decided I want to ask Marinette to marry me, and I wanted you to be the first to know.”
Gabriel was quiet for a moment, which made Adrien’s chest tighten a bit. Did his father disapprove? Not that it would change his mind, but it would still hurt.
His father folded his arms behind his back and circled around the computer stand. He came to stand before Adrien, only a few steps away, eyes boring into his son. Just as Adrien braced himself for criticism, the corners of Gabriel’s mouth turned up just slightly. “I’m proud of you, Adrien.”
Adrien swore he was going to absolutely keel over. His father had never said that he was proud of him. Not even after graduating from university with honors. He had begun to suspect that it was impossible to impress that man.
“I like that Dupain-Cheng girl. She is sensible and has a good future as a designer. I would be happy to welcome her to the Agreste family.”
“Well, I’m not sure if she’ll take my last name,” Adrien hedged, having a feeling that she would want to keep her own.
Gabriel waved him off. “She’ll still be a part of this family, last name or not.”
Adrien felt his heart swell with unexpected joy. He hadn’t expected Gabriel to reject Marinette. They had an amicable relationship, after all. And he knew that he respected her as a designer, he just hadn’t expected such a warm, enthusiastic response.
Gabriel turned to return to his computer, probably finalizing some designs, when Adrien was overcome with an urge that he hadn’t felt in many years.
Without taking the time to think about it, he reached out and embraced his father from behind. “Thank you, Father.”
Gabriel stiffed for a moment, but his stance eventually softened. He gave Adrien’s arms a gentle pat. “Just be sure to bring her for dinner once the engagement is official.”
Adrien nodded. “I will.”