Chapter Text
"Point."
With a sigh, Marinette tugged off the sweaty and stifling fencing cage, Ladybug-red because Kagami insisted that it was "her colour." For some reason, that had seemed to matter to the otherwise aesthetically-challenged girl.
“Nice try, Marinette!” Came the expected cheer, Adrien all sunshine and smiles as he closed the distance between them. Why, God, did that sheen of sweat on his forehead only conjure the thought of making out with him?
Probably because after their shower-
Separate showers! Separate showers!
...sad-
No, brain!
Possible post fencing, post-shower make-outs were clothed.
Almost as disappointing as her...
"I can't be as good practice for you as Kagami, though." She accepted a kindly-offered water bottle as Adrien tucked his epee under his arm.
"I suppose.” A nonchalant shrug as he picked up a towel from a nearby bench, but by now she knew how to read that little downward stutter of his lips. “She's a master. Probably going to win Olympic gold one day."
"See," Marinette quasi-whimpered, her fears confirmed – that both Adrien and Kagami alike were just humouring her. "You two really are perfectly matched."
Loosing a scoff that, from Adrien, only buoyed her spirit rather than deflating them, Adrien toweled sweat from his brow. "Well, it's no fun losing all the time."
"It's not all the time. I know. I've seen you when you're both serious, unlike with me." When they fought, or played, or trained, Adrien and Kagami were a symphony.
"That's why I love fencing with you, though," he offered, voice Adrien-tender and genuine.
"What?"
"You and I?” Adrien shrugged, looking out at the piste they had departed. “We... banter, and laugh, and make mistakes. When I'm with Kagami, I have to be at my best, or I'll lose. I have to be perfect. She makes me better, and I like that." His gauntlet scraped over the fabric of his forearm. "But you- you make fencing ... fun, again. That really matters to me, Marinette."
"Oh." Worrying her lip, she cast her eyes around the room, avoiding his face as if, like an ostrich, if she couldn't see him, he couldn't see her blush. "A-another round, then?"
"Sure, but first." Like the romantic dork that her boyfriend was, Adrien pressed forward, completely ducking under her guard, and took her sweaty, dirty, rough fencing... mitt in hand to angle it under his cage and press a kiss to her hidden fingertips.
Even through the thick gauntlet, that kiss burned, playfully slanted candy-apple eyes bursting butterflies in her gut.
"Prête?" he asked, withdrawing while offering an exaggerated wink that left her flushing even worse because she was a spastic mess.
Was she?
Her eyes narrowed.
Nope.
She set her shoulders, channeled her inner Ladybug, because that's who she was, and cocky-flirty-winked right back, blowing him a kiss, before setting her cage in place, confidence and fire flooding her veins at the sight of Adrien flushing for once.
He lost that match.
After all, she set him on the backfoot from the very start.