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"Oh, girl, this scarf is amazing. I can't believe you made each of us one," Alya said. Her hands rubbed over the soft wool that wrapped around her neck. An excited smile beamed as she continued to admire the hard work Marinette had put into the winter accessory.
Marinette's own smile glowed with pleasure at her friend's enthusiastic response to the simple gift.
Around them, several others entered the classroom and took in the box sitting on top of their desks. Some glanced at Marinette with surprise while others simply dove into unwrapping the box and revealing the scarf she'd made them.
In a soft tone, she answered the unasked question within Alya's words, taking care not to let others overhear her. "It's the least I could do for everyone in our class. We all have worked so hard this year to make it the best one possible. I made each one to compliment either the person's favorite color or their personality."
She glanced at the scarf Alya's hands hadn't stopped touching and added, "I hope you like the color. I thought the burnt orange would pair well with your skin tone."
"Girl, it's perfect," Alya pulled her into a hug, "Thank you for this. I can't wait to show it off to everyone."
"Hey, dudettes, how are you this fine day?" Nino asked, taking his seat in the row ahead of them. He spied the box Marinette had left but ignored it as he took in the scarf wrapped around Alya's neck and her appreciation of it. "Cool scarf, Al. That color is perfect for you. Reminds me of your favorite superhero besides Ladybug."
Alya's smile grew wider at his words though her eyes had taken on a speculative gleam.
Marinette quickly turned away before potentially probing questions could be asked. She glanced at the door in the hopes another classmate would walk in and save her from those darn questions.
Her luck held out as Adrien strolled through the door with a rare smile tilting his lips upward.
"Hi, Adrien," she called out, fighting the faint blush working its way into her cheeks. "How was your evening?"
"Not too terrible actually." He settled in his seat, spotting the gift a moment later. His fingers brushed over the bow with a reverence she'd forgotten since her gift she'd given him. He didn't bother to read the tag as he removed the wrapping, taking care not to destroy it.
When he pulled out the scarf, his entire body lit up. Without waiting a moment longer, he slid it over his shoulders and wrapped it snug around his neck. Like Alya's, his fingers traced the pattern of the stitches while he admired the grey-blue color she'd chosen for him.
Twisting in his seat, he turned toward her and whispered, "Thank you, Marinette. It's the best gift I've ever gotten."
Her blush broke through, not caring how hard she fought or resisted its appearance across her cheeks or the tips of her ears.
She managed not to stammer as she said, "You're welcome, Adrien."
Ms. Bustier's appearance had everyone hurrying to put their handmade scarves away, so that class could begin. Though, their teacher offered them a few extra moments as she opened the box on her desk and fingered the fine craftsmanship of her scarf. The chevron pattern of blue and white had been a pain, but seeing Ms. Bustier's pleasure made it all worth it in Marinette's mind.
Ms. Bustier slipped the scarf into her briefcase, and class officially began for the day.
Marinette tried to pay attention, but her gaze kept getting pulled in all directions as she witnessed everyone's pleasure at her simple gift for them. She'd have to try and top it again the following year, their final year before everyone left for university and life beyond Francois Dupont.
Unknown to her, a pair of green eyes couldn't quite keep themselves focused on the lesson, either. Their gaze kept darting behind them to her and enjoying the way she beamed at seeing her hard work in the hands of others. If they enjoyed the view a little too much, they couldn't be faulted. After all, Marinette was their everyday Ladybug, and she was an amazing person.
00000
Later that evening, she touched down on the rooftop she'd discovered in a previous year as Ladybug. It hadn't taken her or Chat Noir long to claim the spot as their own after their nightly patrols.
A smile spilled onto her lips, catching sight of her partner. His attention was drawn to the skyline and the few stars they could make out beyond the clouds. Tiptoeing closer, she managed to surprise him with the wrapped box she'd brought, whispering, "Happy Christmas, Kitty."
"Aw, Bugaboo, I didn't bring you anything." He tossed her a pout though it didn't last long. His attention had been diverted by the bright wrapping paper and the silky ribbon she'd tied around it. "So, I guess I ranked as a good Chat this Christmas, huh?"
She laughed. "You're always a good Chat, you know that. Now, open your gift. I want to see what you think."
His claws made quick work of the wrapping, the paper shredding under them until the plain box came into view.
She thought she caught sight of him cringing at the way his claws ruined the paper, but she couldn't be sure. Something about it sparked a sense of deja vu, but she shook off the sensation.
He slowed down as he reached the box's top flap. Taking a quick breath, he popped it open and stared inside. His eyes bulged while his mouth dropped open.
Concerned, she leaned forward. "Do you like it?"
His gaze moved toward her, his shocked expression intact. No words left him. He continued to stare at her.
Her concerning ratcheting further, she rested her hand on his shoulder and brought her face close to his. She feared her gift had upset him, but his expression didn't jive with that emotion in her mind. Confused, she asked, "What's going on, Kitty? Do you not like it? It's okay if you don't. I can make you another if it's not to your liking. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you as my partner and my friend. Because, you are amazing and I can't imagine doing this without you."
His mouth closed, and he swallowed several times. His shock had waned enough that his gaze had taken on a searching expression, almost like he could dive deep into her soul and find whatever answers he needed.
"You gotta talk, Kitty," she whispered.
He broke out laughing. His arms came around his middle and held tight as the laughter poured out of him, mirthful tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. When he could finally manage a few words, he said, "I'm such an unbelievable idiot. I should've seen it sooner."
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, her arms crossing over her chest. She huffed at his total reversal in behavior. "Actually, never mind. I don't want to know. I should get home before it gets any later."
"My lady, wait," his hand shot and clasped her wrist, "please, don't go. I love the scarf. Really, it's wonderful, and I can't wait to show it off on our next patrol."
"You're sure? You're not trying to placate me?" She paused as a thought occurred to her, spurring her to ask, "How did you know it was a scarf? You never took it out of the box."
His familiar smile crept into place, sending her nerves jangling. Her Kitty could be extremely intelligent and quite crafty when he wanted to be.
"Can I show you how?" He waited for her nod before adding, "It'll mean doing something you've never wanted to do with me before, but I think it'll answer your question best."
That brought her up short. "What do you mean? What are you up to, Chat?"
"On my honor, I'm only wanting to show you the truth that's been staring at us since the beginning." He set the box next to him and moved into a crouch beside her. He released her wrist and place both his hands on her cheeks, his thumbs grazing against the lower edge of her mask. "One kiss, my lady. That's all I ask."
She shoved down her initial response, sensing to deny his request would mean letting something fundamental go unanswered. It took her several moments, but she finally managed to nod, unaware she'd leaned into his touch and closed the space between them.
"Trust me," he whispered before he brushed his lips over hers.
When they settled over hers in the first kiss they'd both remember, she gasped against him though she didn't dare pull away.
Images flooded her mind, broken yet searing in their intensity.
Chat Noir dropping onto a beautiful balcony full of flowers and transforming into Adrien Agreste as he reached for her. Adrien holding her close as she accepts his marriage proposal. Her walking toward him in a beautiful wedding dress. The birth of their first child and Adrien holding the baby for hours, entranced by the tiny one's beauty. The downfall of Hawk Moth and Paris experiencing peace at last while giving the heroes a chance to enjoy their lives as normal civilians once more. Birthdays, Christmases, and so much more spent as a family, welcoming two more children as she'd always envisioned for them.
Each one filled her heart full, threatening to overflow.
Channeling that love, she poured it into the kiss, hoping Chat could feel her love. Her hands crept up and settled against his chest, his heart pounding beneath her fingertips as he experienced the same images.
The need for air pulled them apart.
She gasped, her head resting against his chest. "I'm going to freak out about this later, but oh, that was all I could imagine and more. Oh, so much more, Kitty. I've been so blind, and I'm so sorry. I pushed you away because I was in love with you."
"We were both fools, my lady," he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, "but now we know. We can both do better. Just so you know, I love both scarfs you made me for Christmas. They are the best gifts I could've ever asked for."
She smiled. "I'm glad. You deserve the best, Kitty."
"So do you," he dropped his voice to a whisper, "Marinette, and I aim to make sure you never regret trusting me and allowing me our first kiss without knowing why."
"I will always trust you, Adrien," she whispered back. "You are my partner and soulmate. You're all I could've asked for in both."
They settled closer together on their rooftop, her head moving to his shoulder as they watched the Paris skyline. The evening couldn't have been more perfect if either had tried. Their hearts full of love and certainty, they continued holding each other long after they should've gone home, not quite ready to say goodbye, but they eventually did, knowing they'd see the other soon enough.
After all, they'd seen what the future held for them.