Work Text:
Adrien had probably seen Marinette without makeup before. He’d never noticed her freckles, though. They were barely there, a faint smattering across her nose. She’d been getting ready for bed when Chat Noir had dropped onto her balcony, and after letting him in, said she just needed two minutes before they could talk.
So now Adrien was standing behind her awkwardly, watching as she took off the last of her makeup. She leaned in closer to the vanity mirror, rubbing off the last stubborn smudge of mascara.
She closed her makeup remover and turned around. Adrien tried his best to look like he hadn’t been thinking about how cute she was. He was sure he was failing.
Marinette’s eyes flitted across her room, finally landing on the chaise.
“Can you hand me that brush?” she asked, pointing behind Chat.
He turned, spotting a hairbrush on her chaise. In the time it took him to grab it, Marinette had pulled her hair ties out, leaving her hair loose around her shoulders.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the brush. “Just one more minute, Chat, I promise.”
Adrien nodded, trying not to stare as she turned back to her mirror and ran the brush through her hair. It was hard to look away. He hadn’t seen her hair down for a few months, and it’s gotten longer since then. At least, he thinks. He doesn’t remember her hair looking quite like that before. It brushed her collar bone, dancing across her shoulders--and then she looked up at him and he blushed and glanced away.
Marinette put the hairbrush on the vanity and sat down, pulling her legs under herself. Adrien followed suit.
She grabbed her sketchbook and opened it, beginning to explain her latest ideas to Chat. After he'd shown interest once, it'd been added to their routine.
Adrien couldn't focus on what she was saying, but he was sure the design was good. Marinette's hair moved every time she did and in the dim light, the freckles seemed to dance along her skin. Surely she hadn't always had that many freckles, he would've noticed. It was the beginning of summer; the sun must've spent the past weeks giving her more. He never wanted summer to end.
“And then I need to add the sleeves. I haven’t decided what kind of sleeves yet. I kind of want ruffles but that might be a bit much. On the other hand, capped sleeves are just boring.” Marinette tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
Adrien couldn’t look away from her, from the bright eyes, soft hair, scattered freckles. Had this always been Marinette? Had she always had that glint in her eye? Had she always made his heart flutter like this? How long had he been in love with her?
“What?” she asked.
He blinked and wondered how long he’d been staring. “You’re really pretty,” he blurted.
“Um, thanks.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m gonna go get some snacks.”
They only made it through one round of Ultimate Mecha Strike before deciding they were too tired to play any longer. Marinette put on a show—Adrien didn’t know the title—and tossed a blanket at him.
And he could’ve been imagining it, but wrapped up in her own blanket, Marinette seemed to be looking at him more than the screen.