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“Oh, Manon,” Marinette said, sighing as she took in the mess scattered across her desk. She’d only left the young girl for a couple of minutes, but those minutes were all it took for Manon to empty all her drawers over her desktop and surrounding floor. “Come on. We better get this picked up if you want to go to the park.”
“Sorry, Mari.” Manon’s eyes filled with tears as she gazed around her, unbelieving she’d created the mess herself. “I didn’t mean to. I only wanted to find some markers to color the picture I made Mommy.”
Marinette glanced up the young girl then and smiled, her heart softening despite the mess and aggravation she usually got when watching over Nadja’s daughter. With some quick sweeps of her hands, she had the papers back in a relatively neat pile while Manon gathered up the pencils and other drawing/writing instruments Marinette kept in her top drawer.
“Next time, sweetie, ask. Okay?”
“Okay.”
The two finished up and soon headed down the stairs where they ran into Sabine. She wished them a fun time at the park as Marinette led Manon out of the house.
Across the street, Marinette chased Manon around the playground and enjoyed their time together when an unexpected yet pleasant intrusion came to them.
“Hey, ladies, what you are doing on this fine day?”
“Hi, Adrien. I could ask you the same thing.” Marinette turned toward the blond-haired young man as he walked closer to them. She felt her heart stir at his handsome features, but she shoved those feelings aside, focusing instead on the friendship they’ve developed in the few years of their acquaintance. She was happy he called her a friend, at least that’s what she told herself despite wanting more from him.
“I just finished up a photo shoot. I thought I’d see if I could treat you two to some ice cream.”
“Really? Can we, Marinette? Please,” Manon begged. She gripped Marinette’s hand tight, hoping to win her case as she looked at the two older people in front of her. She recognized the young man since his face used to paper the walls in Marinette’s room though she couldn’t remember his name.
“All right, Manon. We’ll go, but you can only have one scoop. Your maman won’t be happy if we ruin your dinner.”
Manon beamed at Marinette and led the way to the local shop where they served the best ice cream in Paris while Adrien fell in step with Marinette.
With Manon distracted by the prospect of ice cream, Adrien took the chance to ask, “Hey, Mari, are you available this weekend?”
“I think so. What’s going on?”
“I have a photo shoot all day, but Father says I can bring someone with me if I want. I thought you might like to come.”
Marinette stared at him, missing the small crack in front of her, and nearly crashed onto the sidewalk. The only thing to save her was Adrien’s quick reflexes as his hands gripped her waist and held her upright. She tried to stop the blush that rose to her cheeks but failed miserably.
To recover somewhat, she asked, “Don’t you want to bring Nino instead?”
“Nah. He doesn’t care for fashion or watching me change into endless outfits. I know you do. Like fashion, that is. Um, I just thought it’d be good for you to meet the designer is all.” His cheeks reddened, hoping she wouldn’t misinterpret his words. He never meant to imply she might like to watch him change though he had to admit he wouldn’t mind if she did. Whoa, where did that come from?
“Sure, Adrien, I’d love to come.”
He gave her the details and promised to pick her up that morning.
“Come on, you guys. I want my ice cream,” Manon yelled to gain their attention since they’ve long since reached the shop.
Marinette turned toward the young girl and smiled. She opened the door and held it for the young girl to pass through first. She would have held it open for Adrien as well, but he remained stubborn, taking the door from her and allowing to lead the way inside.
As Manon spent the next ten minutes debating which flavor to choose, Marinette glanced at Adrien from the corner of her eye and tried to read him though he remained elusive despite her best efforts. It had to be the years of modeling since his face remained void of any current emotions. In fact, she caught sight of his model smile, the fake one he used when people stared at him in surroundings like this, and hoped she could find some way to ease it from his face. She hated that smile.
“Mari, help me decide,” Manon whined as she narrowed her pick to three different flavors.
Before Marinette could interject her opinion, Adrien kneeled to Manon’s level and asked, “Sweet princess, may I offer a solution?” When Manon nodded, he continued, “You picked Mari’s favorite, which is strawberry, and mine is cookies and crème. Why not let us get those while you take the last? That way, you can try each and everyone wins.”
Manon grew excited at the prospect and turned to Marinette, baby doll eyes at the ready, since she knew they worked every time. Like magic, Marinette caved.
Adrien quickly ordered up the three scoops of ice cream before leading the two ladies to a corner table.
They spent the next half hour enjoying their ice cream together.
With his new audience, Adrien entertained Manon and Marinette with stories from his hours of binging anime. He smiled in genuine happiness as Manon giggled over his theatrics and Marinette blushed when he pulled her into his storytelling, playing the princess to his knight.
A glance at the clock had Marinette reluctantly calling an end to their ice cream journey, noting Nadja should be back to collect Manon any minute.
“I guess this is where I bid my princesses farewell then.”
“Don’t go. Mari, tell him he doesn’t have to go.”
Marinette looked at Adrien and saw the hope in his eyes before he hid it behind his model smile again. With her mind made up, she asked him to escort them home since a knight never leaves princesses to travel unprotected.
On their way to the bakery, Marinette whispered, “You’re good with kids, you know? Manon loves you. I doubt she’ll want me to babysit her without you again.”
“Really?” The awe in his eyes spoke of how much she’d shocked him.
She nodded.
“You’re the amazing one, Marinette. It’s clear she adores and admires you. I know how she feels, you know? I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t want to be you when she gets older.”
The blush came rushing back to her cheeks at this.
She spluttered, “Adore? Admire me? You?”
He paused, then nodded. “Well, yeah. Why not?”
She didn’t know how to respond to that. She never imagined Adrien, of all people, would admit to finding her adorable. She couldn’t wrap her head around this new information. Thankfully, she didn’t need to as they met Nadja at the bakery door.
Manon quickly ran to her mother and proceeded to tell her everything she did with Marinette and Marinette’s friend. Nadja thanked Marinette and paid her for her time before walking Manon to her car. The pair soon drove away with both waving at the pair of teenagers.
Alone with his cute friend, Adrien knew his time was closing since he was expected at home soon, but he wanted her to know how much she meant to him. Unsure how to start, he opened and closed his mouth several times.
Marinette beat him to the punch by saying, “I admire you, too.”
Before he could say anything, she stepped up close and planted a kiss on his cheek and dashed into the bakery, giving him a small wave before disappearing into the kitchen.
He didn’t know how long he stood there, but he knew he’d never forget the day Marinette tilted his world with only a few words.