Chapter Text
Another day is over in the city of Paris. Another supervillian defeated. Another hour he spent thinking about her. Wait! Was it only one hour, or two? Plagg says he ate 3 kilos of Camembert, but that doesn't help at all, because Plagg doesn't have a steady eating speed. There are times when he can make all the cheese in the house to disappear in half an hour and other times when he is too lazy to eat so fast. Anyway, Adrien noticed that he has been thinking about his very good friend; Marinette the last few days...Months... He caught himself starring at his classmate during the breaks thinking so much about her. Maybe even too much actually. He couldn't concentrate to do anything. He felt almost like he did for Ladybug but this.... this is stronger. He felt like he would not survive a day without talking her and he couldn't imagine not seeing her. "Isn’t she adorable? "he said to Plagg sometimes. "She is amazing!" or "So talented! I love it when she blushes!" , "did you see how brave she was standing up to that bully!". He found himself leaking such thoughts not only to Plagg but to Nino and Chloe as well. All answered the same: "I think SommOooNneeee iss in LLlooOVvveeE..." with a naughty look painted on their faces. They knew what was going on in his mind. But he denied it.
How could he be in love with two girls at once??? But the past few days he had started thinking: ladybug rejected me so many times. She made it clear that nothing is ever going to happen between us! What if it works out with Marinette? I can try at least. That was what his conscious was filling his head with, but deep inside he knew that there was a boy crying: " I NEED SOMEONE TO LOVE ME!!!! WHY DOESNT ANYBODY CARE???" But he chose to ignore it as always. Adrien knew that there were people who loved him, Nino Alya and Chloe of course. Kagami cared for him to, despite her crush on him, she was always there when he needed her –and Adrien wanted to do the same but he hadn’t had the chance yet-. So did Marinette, but she had stolen a different place in his heart. Before he attended school he could not sleep at night easily, thinking about his father not caring about him and his rejection towards his son. Those nights he used to find comfort in his mothers hug but then... She left him to. After that Adrien would cry himself to sleep almost every night. Due to his state and his feelings he now fought harder than ever to attend public schooling. A choice proven to be the right one after all.
Adrien wanted to ask Marinette out and talk about it with her in private but he couldn't ask her just like that out of the blue. He needed a reason an he totally didn't want to weird her out when he asked her. And the opportunity he was looking for came a few days later when Alya decided to have a pool party for her birthday. The whole class was invited even Chloe. The latter has been hanging around the gang for a while now. Mostly because Sabrina moved to an other city. Adrien insisted on giving her a chance and he was right. Chloe could actually be a very good person when she wasn't bossing them around. Bad thing is that Alya had also invited Lila. It wasn't enough for her to follow him everywhere on the school grounds, she had to distract him and outside of it. He did not hate her, Adrien knew that there was a reason for her lies but he is sure that she could have chosen something other than lies to cope with it. Everyone knew that she would do literally anything to drag Adrien away from Marinette.
And because this hot mess could not get on with girls very well he had to confess everything he felt to Nino and ask him for advice. He thought that he could also ask his dad but there was no point waiting 15 days after the party for advice. Adrien said all of it with one breath: "Nino save me! I really like Marinette and I don't know if she likes me back, she is just so amazing, wanna ask her out without being a total creep and I don't know the first thing about girls and I don't want to mess this up!" he sighed "Alright dude! Chill!" Nino said with a grin. "Don't laugh! I m serious!" he complained blushing. Nino tried to stop laughing but the puppy look on Adrien's pretty face and the way he just spilled out everything so quickly wouldn't let him for a moment. "I knew it Bro! I knew IT!" Nino exclaimed excited. Adrien managed to get permission from Gabriel to the party.
The party was held at a pool bar with no roof in the outskirts of Paris. The pool was long and to the entire expanse of its bottom was covered with tiles forming flowers similar to the ones decorating the bar's roof and the light pillars. When Adrien walked in he froze seeing Marinette in her bikini swimsuit and thanks to a bro punch from Nino he didn't stare awkwardly too much. It was in a bright blue shade making her look like a mermaid with her messy hair dancing slightly in the evening breeze. Chloe was sitting next to her with her hair in a stylish bun and a black 'one piece' swimsuit with laces forming the most complex thing Adrien had ever seen. Alya was talking with some people a few meters away in a classic white two pieced swimsuit and her hair braided.
Marinette was chatting with Chloe about fashion stuff while Alya was greeting the guests. Chloe waved to the boys with excitement while Marinette became almost instantly red like a tomato after noticing Adrien wearing a swimsuit -which she had never seen before, green shorts with black vertical lines,- and realising that she was wearing a bikini in front of him. Nino walking next to him with a simple red swim shorts. For a moment she thought that the Adrien Agreste was starring at her, but of course it was just her imagining stuff. When they came over they greeted each other without any clumsy incidents thanks to the whole year Mari had spent training not to act stupid around her crush. Alya also came back grinning at Marinette's "Help Me" expression.
After a few moments they were all in the water with Kim joining their company. They decided they would play a game (I don't know how it's called in English). Before they even realized, Alya on Nino's shoulders was pushing Marinette to fall of Adrien's, while Chloe on Kim's shoulders jumped out in the middle and threw them both splashing in the pool making everyone burst into laughter. Everyone had a great time. Except when Lila tried to get Adrien away from Mari and his other friends. Adrien tried about 5 times to take Marinette away for a few minutes to tell her how he felt about her. All of the attempts failed miserably, because even though it is not obvious, Marinette is quite famous at school. She was the class president, let’s not forget about that.
It was now sunset many had gone home, left leaving the secret superheroes and few others in the pool bar. Nino nodded to Adrien and then found an excuse to leave them alone in the pool. They were standing in the water at the edge of the pool where they had clear view of the sunset and nobody was around. They were silently gazing into the sun diving into the mountains, while spreading to the clear sky millions of shades of red orange purple and blue. Then Adrien broke their romantic silence. It was finally time for him to get it out of his. Chest he couldn't wait any longer. Adrien tried to get in the subject but he couldn't find the right words and ended up stammering. Marinette was getting more anxious by the second blushing and playing with her fingers. "Look Marinette… I uh... um... I don't... know uh... how..." he sighed looking down. "You know what? Come here" he told her a bit angry with himself and quickly pulled her waist towards his and collided their lips. He felt his heart beating faster than ever. Marinette forgot all of her stress and awkwardness. They just kept kissing and kissing each other. They were becoming one again and again. They both felt it. Their minds didn't know exactly what they were doing but it just felt right. They felt that they were meant to be there. Their hands just went on their own. Marinette wouldn't let go of Adrien's nape at the same time his hands were slowly moving from her shoulders to her waist and when they reached... the one was split in two again. They slowly pulled away from each other.
They both blushed and quicker than before, they took a step back and moved their hands to themselves. "I'm so sorry... I j-just didn't know h-how to tell y-you so I um..." he started apologising but then looked at the petrified girl standing opposite to him and he went on "You can hit me, curse me don't ever talk to me again but I-I just had to let you know" Marinette starred a little longer in this awkward silence dived into the water and a few seconds later she was running to the bathrooms. Adrien rolled his fingers through his (fabulous) hair sighed and hid himself underwater for about two minutes thinking I fucked up again!!!
Marinette was sitting in a corner of her room with her beach dress covering her swimsuit. "This is a disaster a DISASTER A DISASTER!!!". "What is so disastrous Marinette?" Tikki asked with her high pitched voice. "Adrien jut KISSED ME!!!!" she answered trying not to scream. "I don't see what the disaster is here" Tikki replied confused. "He kissed me and I run away like a terrified squeal! it is a disaster A DisasTERR!" Then her mobile rang. It was Alya. "Oh my God I totally forgot about Alya!' she monloged as she picked up the phone. "Hey girl! What happened? Where are you?" Alya asked from the other end of the line. Marinette wanted to lie but she just couldn't. "Adrien kissed me and I kissed him back and then run away and now he probably doesn't want to see me ever again and he will be right because now he thinks that I'm an utter idiot and why would a hot mess like him want to date an idiot and a weirdo who can’t even walk properly around him 'cause she has been falling for him more and more every day!" Marinette explained but then was shocked from the voice replying to her. "Because this hot mess cant spend half an hour without thinking about you" Adrien confessed smiling. "I've been on speaker the whole time haven't I?" "YEP!” Alya admitted with triumph printed on her face "Nino and I have also been listening!" Chloe informed Marinette who hanged up the phone and went back to her corner to drawn herself in embarrassment.
Next day at school Marinette tried to be invisible. She hardly managed till she reached her locker, forgetting that Adrien is an expert at finding people when they don't want to be found. Especially in locker rooms. When she took the books she needed for that period and closed her locker almost immediately two hands pushed her against the metal so she couldn't escape. She dropped her books. He was almost ready to cry. He obviously hadn't slept that night. That’s how one could understand how deep his love was for her you could see in his eyes that he would love her whatever she decided. He didn't want to force her or anything but he had to know. He deserved to know. Marinette had just left everyone confused yesterday. But he had to know whether she hated or loved him or if she just didn't care. He was anxious and confused and that left some aggression escape "Please! Mari Please just give me a clear answer! I can’t keep hiding any longer I.." his lips were shut by hers for a moment. "That's a yes" she said and shyly escaped the room. Adrien was left here blushing with his hand behind his neck. He just had a girlfriend!
Adrien and Marinette had a few dates and little by little they started revealing their true selves to each other with no fear of judgment. They both knew that they were meant to be walking the streets of Paris beside each other, holding hands, being one. They were still awkward around each other btw, but not as much as before. Their kwamis had a secret meeting laughing all the way with what had just happened, but they also argued. Plagg did not see the point of their owners' identities remaining a secret between them, now that the two were a couple. Tikki on the other hand believed that they should keep the secret until the story with Hawkmoth was over, because one can never be sure what will happen next day in this crazy story of magic. Tikki won the argument mostly because Plagg didn’t want to upset her, but also because he loved her since the dawn of time.
After one more akuma defeated, Ladybug and Cat Noir sat for a few moments watching the city from their favourite spot: the top of the Eifel tower. They were leaning on the bars when Ladybug noticed an unusual expression on her partner’s face “Wow Cat! You’re glowing today! What happened?” Ladybug asked curiously. “Nothing much” he replied smiling at her “A girl just happens to find me a clawsome boyfriend”. Ladybug sighed at another pun “You got yourself a girlfriend! Why didn’t you tell me?”. “My apologies milady.” he bowed “It seems we didn’t have the chance to talk like that for about a month.” Cat replied. “Well…” Ladybug started slightly blushing “I seem to have found someone to.” Cat was surprised a bit by that answer. “What are the odds!” he said “we both get in a relationship at the same time, after being single for so long”. “Yeah right? I mean who could have guessed?” she wondered laughing. “I believe you were right. We are both better off as friends” they both smiled. “But please tell me this: is he the guy you were in love with?” he asked curiously. “Yeah! He finally gave in!” Ladybug smiled. A few seconds of silence passed but cat said “I’m happy for you guys. That was kinda your dream, wasn’t it?” “Kinda yeah... It's still a little awkward but we're working on it” she replied “Hey, do you know a small band called < kitty section> ? I think you would be interested”. She changed the subject. “Oh yeah, I know them. They do a pretty good work Of course they’re not as purrfect as moi!” Cat answered smiling in a narcissistic posture. They joked around a little more, but then they had to go, it was late.
They were both a little jealous. They both had feelings for each other. One of those times when Marinette was sitting alone in her bedroom she realized how loving and kind Cat Noir was and actually considered giving in his bright green eyes, his complex personality and his puns. And Adrien could just stay awake for hours imagining every possible scenario and just falling for her.
It was now a month since Arienette –as Alya called them- was realized. It was now April and Marinette’s birthday was close. She was out with her boyfriend when the conversation went to Ladybug and Cat Noir. It was awkward but it got hilarious and cringy enough, when Plagg decided to activate his plan. When Adrien said “I guess we’ll never know who they really are” he jumped behind his shoulder and almost shouted he announcing “I don’t know about YOU TIKKI but CAT NOIR is THIS GUY right heRe!”. Adrien was shocked and just stared at his kwami. “Plagg???????????????” Marinette said right before an annoyed Tikki showed herself flying to Plagg. “PLAGG!!!We talked about this!” “No, U talked. I heard you and just ignored your disapproval.” He explained. “PLAGG!”
Adrien and Marinette were just starring at each other trying to process that new information and how it just altered everything they thought they knew. Plagg and Tikki started arguing again, while their owners were just staring at each other until Marinette awkwardly asked: “how can we be so OBLIVIOUS??? I mean I have my wall full of your pictures and I never noticed? ”. Adrien was ready to make a similar question when Tikki stopped in the middle of the fight and answered “It’s magic don’t bother. We were supposed to tell you after the defeat of Hawkmoth, but this personalization of utter mischief over here decided to bent all the rules again” she said angrily in the end. “Come on! It was getting TOO ridiculous for me to tolerate it!”.
A while later the couple was still trying to wrap their heads around it.
“So you only pushed me away because you were too in love with… me?” Adrien raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s what kinda happened.” Marinette was already blushing awkwardly “That doesn’t make sense!” Adrien exclaimed indignantly “Wait, what about Kagami?” Marinette asked “Oh, I was never in love with her! I was just confused, after you rejected me… for me… again!” he explained. “But you asked me for dating advice!” “here comes the worse part… I uh… I indented to ask your help for Ladybug, but I thought you’d laugh so….. yah…”. “Alright imma out!”. “Plagg’s right this was getting ridiculous!” Adrien noticed. “You know what’s worse? Alya and Nino are Rena Rouge and Carapace…”Marinette informed him “What? Okay… okay … … WHAT???”
Later they transformed, sat on the highest roof they could find and just joked about how they fell in love with each other twice, while watching the stars. It was about midnight when they heard a loud crash and sirens going crazy. That was their queue. Kissed in front of the lights of the city and then they left their romantic spot and run to save Paris. It was no super villian, only a dude breaking in a jewel store. They dealt with him quickly with the aid of the policemen. Then they had to return to their homes.
It was Marinette’s birthday. It was a school day but that was fine. Before Ms Bustier walked into class Adrien had prepared a very special gift for her. When everyone was on their seats, Adrien stepped on his desk so he could be seen better by the ones in the back. “Can I have your attention for a moment please? Thank you. So, today it’s the Birthday of a very dear person to us all; Marinette!” He turned to face her, and then back to his class “She has helped us all more than once and continues to do so every day. I believe we are very lucky to be considered her friends. We should start repaying it to her somehow. And I just wanted to share this. I consider myself the luckiest person alive for having the privilege to call Marinette my girlfriend. I hope I never lose it” He smiled once again at Mari. Everyone started cheering “And I wanted her to know that I will do anything to make sure she is happy! And that’s a promise!” Adrien higher the tone of his voice so he wound be heard above the crowd. Alya and Nino who were like <> And Lila who was just burning in her jealousy. When he finished he jumped to the step next to his girl, giving her a sweet kiss on the cheek and sitting back down to his seat properly right in time before Ms Bustier came in “That was very nice Adrien” she said. Adrien blushed realizing that Ms Bustier watched his whole speech standing to the door. Marinette was blushing to and everyone started clapping excited with a nod of approval. Now there were two tomato faces one behind the other for the beginning of the lesson.
Around 7 in the evening Marinette went on a walk with Alya, while Adrien, Nino and Nathaniel were running to Marinette’s house with boxes full of party decoration stuff, vinyls, confetti etc. straight from the manor were they had been prepared by Chloe the previous day, while Kagami was sending texts to all of the class to inform them about the time and place and making sure everyone would come. Luka decided to help Marinette’s parents cooking, since the kitty section needed some extra space but they also wanted to enjoy themselves. Homemade cake of course. By the time Marinette was back with Alya, the furniture were pushed aside making way for the people. Everyone was there. Nobody was akumatised that day, because that day was perfect. Adrien had one more gift for the love of his life in a folder. “What is that?” she asked examining the folder before opening it. It was signed by Gabriel Agreste! “Well… One of your sketchbooks somehow slipped in my bag and it just so happened that my father found it open on his desk…” Adrien explained shyly looking down grinning and playing with his fingers behind his back. Marinette was reading aloud the letter inside the folder.
Dear Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng,
Mister Gabriel Agreste was quite impressed by your fashion designs and your talent despite your age. We are pleased to inform you that Mr. Agreste has accepted you to work in his company starting as common designer Level Beta when you reach your 18th years and have completed all necessary schooling.
For now you and your family are invited to dinner in the Agreste Manor. You will be sent an e mail specifying the date and time of the meeting,
Yours Faithfully
Nathalie Sancoeur, on behalf
of Gabriel Agreste