Chapter Text
“This is literally not a life-changing decision,” Marinette sighed, trying not to look over her shoulder at the slowly-growing line of people at the ice cream parlor whom they were inconveniencing by taking almost ten minutes to decide on flavors.
“Just pick something—whatever sounds good,” she prompted, trying not to let her impatience show.
“But…” Chat Noir whimpered, sounding genuinely devastated. “What if I never get ice cream again?”
She turned to look at him, intending to roll her eyes and assure him that he would have plenty of opportunities, but then she saw the stricken expression on her partner’s face and stopped like a movie that had been paused.
“I’m not allowed to have ice cream at home,” he explained bashfully, “and my father doesn’t let me go out much, so I might not get ice cream again for a long time…if ever.”
Marinette bit her lip, trying to keep it together even as her heart melted.
“Pick out four flavors to try,” she instructed patiently. “We’ll split them between the two of us.”
He blinked at her, caught off guard. “But what if I pick something you don’t like?”
She shrugged. “It won’t be the end of the world. I can have ice cream whenever to make up for it, so it’s not a big deal. Let’s make today about you.”
The wide, beaming grin that quickly spread across his face more than made up for the strange flavor combinations he had them try, and she jotted down a mental note to take him out for ice cream both as Ladybug and Marinette more often.