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It's warm outside. The evening air wraps around the group of friends like a blanket of safety. For once, it's peaceful in Paris. It's the first time in what seemed like years that Adrien Agreste got to sit down with his friends and really enjoy himself. No photo shoots, no strict scheduling or school in the morning and most importantly, no akumatized villains to be seen. Adrien smiles. Really, he smiles; a loose lipped pull of his lips that settles his friends nerves. He's happy to see them happy.
Marinette exaggerates with her hands as she talks with Alya and a few other girls, they're giggling and whispering about something. Marinette's showing them a collage of photos she took of designs she's making, Adrien thinks she has a really good shot at becoming a famous designer. He knows she will.
Adrien stares fondly at the girl. That's his best friend. Well, one of them, but definitely a best friend. Right behind Ladybug, and beyond Marinette he would say Nino is his best friend. It's not that Nino isn't someone he doesn't trust, it's just that he can't openly talk to Nino like he can with the other two girls.
With Ladybug, he's himself. Chat Noir is loud and flirty, free to be as mischievous and troublesome as he pleases. He wonders if Ladybug is the same, if she upholds the same duties he does; the same chains of responsibility. His heart aches at the thought. The only catch is having to keep his identity hidden with her, so there's tons of things he can't tell her about himself.
But with Marinette? Their friendship is the full package, honestly. He can let more loose, let go of his fears for a while. Talk about his day, what's bothering him. Sometimes they'll sneak into her room and play games, watch movies, do each other's hair. He talks about his father, not by name, but the sentiment means everything to him. Marinette listens, doodles in journals as he rants, hums every now and then to let him know she's listening. Honestly, Adrien wouldn't mind revealing himself to Marinette. He trusts her with his life. Maybe..
Maybe Marinette is his best friend...
Someone whose as equally his best friend as they are his soulmate. Not all soulmates kiss and hold hands, after all. He sees that with Plagg and Tikki, whom he's met briefly, but they're so obviously soulmates. Two immortals beings bound to each other til the ends of the Earth, despite lacking romantic attraction. Yeah.. He wouldn't mind having to spend the rest of his time of Earth with someone who smells like blueberries and freshly baked pies. Someone whose smile isn't like the sun, but more so the moon. Ethereal and breathtaking, otherworldly. Her company is soothing, too, when she isn't stuttering and tripping over herself.
He wouldn't mind if Marinette were his soulmate.
Nino knocks him in the shoulder. The illusion shatters. "Dude, Adrien, you're totally staring at Marinette." His friend says. Adrien snaps out of his stupor, shaking his head with a laugh. "Yeah. Sorry, man, I spaced out!" He offers back. "While looking at Marinette?" The brunet teases. Adrien rolls his eyes in good nature. Could Nino blame Adrien? The girl isn't bad on the eyes, and she's a great person! "Nino, stop, you know Marinette and I are just-"
"Just friends. I know, dude." Nino concedes ruefully. Adrien senses some annoyance from his friend for whatever reason.
Hours pass that like. The entire class sitting in the park, spread across a huge picnic blanket Rose brought, eating food everyone else brought. The best were the muffins and cookies Marinette brought, but Adrien won't tell anyone in fear of hurting people's feelings. Kim and Alix bicker back and forth, stopped by Max and Mylene, Max distracting the sporty boy with a new game he made and Mylene gently coercing the rollerblading girl to sit with her and the rest of the girls.
Alya and Alix tease Marinette about something on her phone, to which the bluenette flusters and slams her phone back into her pocket purse. The sun begins to set, it hits Marinette in a halo of pinks and golds. Her eyes shine, despite her embarrassment. Her timid smile makes his heart wobble. Woah...
Marinette is beautiful.
Eventually, it's so late that everyone begins to get tired. Yawns fill the air, people wave and say their reluctant goodbyes. Groups of people leave. Juleka, Rose and Luka leave in a group. Followed by Kim, Alix, Max, Mylene and Ivan. Eventually, it's down to just the four of them. Adrien, Nino, Alya and Marinette. Marinette rubs her eyes as Alya walks over to Nino, offering her hand to help him stand. Nino grins and presses a kiss to her cheek. Adrien gets up and in turn, offers his hand to Marinette, who blinks owlishly up at him.
"Are you... okay?" He asks. Her face flushes red down to her neck as she nods. Her hand slides into his. Gentle, soft. Warm. His fingers close around her hand, pulling her up. Familiar. He smiles as she stumbles.
Wait, familiar?
Cold, red material against his hand, pulling him closer. "You can always count on me, Adrien," a sweet voice promises. "I'll keep you safe. And.. and all of Paris. But.. especially you." Her voice is like honey, trapping him in place, but he doesn't want to move. "Especially.. me?" Adrien mumbles, bashful. His green eyes stare into her wide blue ones, the energy between them is like lightning. "Bec-because the akuma is after you!" Ladybug stammers to correct herself. Oh. Right.
Marinette's hand is small in his own. He swallows, looking into those wide, shimmering blue eyes. The polkadots lining the inside of her collar, the black studs accompanying her ears. Red ribbons. Commanding presence, faithful sense of justice. So obvious! "Mari," Adrien mumbles. His world suddenly changes; his world is standing in front of him, eyes tired and shy. What a beautiful world he has.
Marinette blinks once, twice, three times. She's shaking. Her eyes blink quickly again, as if she's having trouble seeing. Her chest rises rapidly, lungs inflating with cotton candy. "Adrien?" She whispers back. Clockwork. Teamwork. Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Ladybug. Partners. Soulmates. Somewhere along the line Nino and Alya sneak off, giggling to themselves, leaving the two alone. In their own little world. Blue. Red. Suddenly, everything shifts into place and Adrien finally knows the mysterious girl before him.
She's perfect.
"I can't describe it, but right now.. it feels like me and you. Me and you, against the world." Adrien dares to say. Those words are second nature to him, a phrase meant only for him and one other person. Personal. Warning signs flash behind Marinette's eyes. Eyes flutter, lips tremble and part on a shuttered breath. "Me and you?" She says quietly, "Against the world?" Fire ignites under his skin. It drags up his spine and curls around his limbs like a familiar embrace. Ice cold. Burning. "Adrien, I..." He senses her unease. He knows that look in her eyes. Abashed, confused, scared. Her hand slips out of his. Adrien offers her a small smile, cheeks warm and eyes welcoming.
"NOW YOU'RE BREAKING MORE THAN MY HEART, MARINETTE!"
Marinette flinches.
"Would you like to hang out sometime, Mari? Just me and you." Voice like velvet. Threatening to spill out, careless, words reserved for two clad in costumes. This is dangerous. His words shoot through Marinette, an arrow of liquid poison. A slow nod answers him. "Yes." It's small. Unsure. Her eyes search his, back and forth, liquid lines her lashes. She knows. Neither of them say it. One heart yearns for the words to be said, one begs for it to not be true. Not yet. Too soon. She isn't ready. This isn't happening. Don't do this to her.
Please, stop.
"Do you understand? Is this okay?" Concise, straightforward. Double meaning. If his heart beats any faster, he'll surely die. If he doesn't breathe soon, his lungs may collapse. "Are you.. asking me.." Her voice breaks, a tear rolling down her face. Heat gathers in her face. She feels nauseous. Is this what she wants? Is she scared? What is he asking? Is he asking if she knows the truth behind those words, what he's really wanting her to admit? Why is he doing this to her? Marinette sniffles, eyes filled with hurt and love and wonder and, this is too dangerous—Adrien studies her carefully. She almost looks... betrayed?
"I'm asking you on a date, Mari." He says softly in response. Her heart collapses. A small hand grips at his shirt when she falls forward. She praises her knees in a whisper for lasting as long as they had. Loving hands hold her by the waist, patient. He's held her like this before. Hard and promising, confident but gentle.
"We've been pinned in, literally!" Chat shouts, jamming his baton at the glass box. Marinette racks her mind for solutions, heart throbbing in her chest. "Chat Noir," She says, taking his baton from him. He follows her movements cautiously, sweat gathering on his hairline. "Your stick, like this! Then extend it!" She smiles reassuringly, pressing the baton to the ground vertically. "Great thinking!" He shouts, grabbing her waist to pull her in. Safe. Protective. "Yeah, uh, I'm a genius." She mutters awkwardly, pushing him away by his cheek to wrap her arms around his neck instead.
Tears continue falling down her face. Landslide. Terror. Marinette wracks her brain for answers, her heart seeking solace; why? Why now? Why is Adrien acting like this? Why had he said that to her? Those words will haunt her when she sits in her bed, alone. Me and you against the world! It's not a coincidence, but maybe if she ignores the plain obvious then it'll go away. She's shaking with happiness, her voice is shot. Adrien wraps his arms around her again, abandoning her hips. His embrace grounds her. She's scared, this is too much. He figured it out, he knows who she is.
She.. she knows who he is.
"I'd... love to. I'd love to go on a.. on a date with you." Marinette finally manages to mumble. It's the truth. It hurts. Saccharine happiness, pitifully wrong. Adrien only holds her as his cheeks begin to redden. He stares up at the sky. Marinette can't tell him no, how could she? He loves her, doesn't he? The air is no longer warm. Chills break out on both their bodies. Is this what they wanted? Marinette hangs her head. She can't look at him. "That makes me so happy to hear, Marinette." Adrien presses his lips to her hair, green eyes sliding shut in peace. Finally, he found His Lady. This is all wrong. Marinette can't see straight, can't think straight. Is she doing the right thing?
Her heart says yes.
"It was our love that did this to the world, My Lady!"
Her head says no.
Bunnix sighs as she looks through the wavering blue portal. Paris is a hideous mess of bodies and collateral damage—atop it all sits a purring kitten in white and a blue eyed girl whose outfit is inverted. Her eyes are clouded over.
Kitty hums a tune, his smile reaching his eyes. Blood stains his face, his hair, his hands. Blood. The girl looks... sad, despondent. She doesn't smile as the boy holds her hand, dominant and commanding. No where to run.
"Oh, Minibug... I'm so sorry..."