Work Text:
Nino’s headphones. It was what started it all. Because this was how Marinette heard her favourite song and commented on it. And it was because Adrien was on the other side of Nino that he heard this and found out that the song in question was the one they’d danced to. Not once, but two times. He’d danced with his lady two times without knowing it so maybe the third would be the charm!
Patience wasn’t Adrien’s strong point, but he still waited for the right opportunity to ask Nino to play the song at a little get-together. He looked at Marinette and didn’t even need to ask. They understood each other without words after all, he just had to pull her in and they swayed to the music.
Just like that, it was as if she belonged in his arms. It was so bittersweet. Because he knew he shouldn’t be thinking that but couldn’t help feeling it.
He remembered how she’d been before. Always a little scared, shy, unsure. But then readily relaxing in his arms. Now it wasn’t much different. No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out why this was so.
Or he didn’t dare hope that it was what he wanted it to be. She would have told him, right? Except, he knew how nervous she was around Adrien. Maybe it was just too hard for her.
When the song was over, he wasn’t ready to let her go. But she had other plans. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with sudden panic.
“Relax, m’lady, we’ve done this before,” he said softly, only for her ears. They had seamlessly moved into the next song and no one was paying any attention to them.
“But not… not after,” she mumbled, looking away.
He knew. He still wasn’t sure what had changed for her now that she knew who he was. For him, everything was the same. She was still the most amazing girl in the world, with and without the mask. And he loved her even more.
“So? We’re just dancing. It’s what friends do, right?” He tried to sound perfectly composed. To not let his nervousness show. He wanted her to refute the statement and yet he didn’t dare hope that she would.
“We have before, yes, you’re right. It doesn’t make it less….”
“Less?”
“Nerve-wracking.”
“Why would it be nerve-wracking?”
She was ready to run off, he could tell. She was practically vibrating with suppressed energy. But if she had something to tell him, he couldn’t let her go.
“I- “ She paused, biting her lip. She obviously needed a nudge.
“Please, Marinette, you can tell me. You know you can trust me, right?” A reminder that it was not just Adrien in front of her wouldn’t hurt, right?
“Of course, kitty. It’s just that… “
She turned around and walked away, but looked over her shoulder for a second. Asking him to follow her. When they stepped away from the dancing couples, she stood with her back to him.
“Well?” He said, to alert her of his presence.
“I.. I don’t know why this is so hard,” she groaned, her hands balled into fists. She was fighting herself and failing.
“What is hard?”
“Telling you how I really feel about you,” her voice was barely above a whisper but he heard her. In spite of the music, in spite of the hesitation. It was what he’d waited to hear for so long, he couldn’t miss it.
“Is it the same way I feel about you?” He asked softly.
A silent nod was his only answer. He thought his heart was going to burst. He walked around her and once he was in front of her he cupped her cheek and made her look at him.
“There is no need to be afraid.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s you and me. We can deal with everything together.” He really believed that and she apparently felt it because a smile lifted the corner of her lips. “Also, if I don’t kiss you right this second I might die,” he added even as his face heated up. He wasn’t exaggerating, he needed to do it so badly.
She laughed, the warmest sound in the world, and her cheeks bloomed with colour as well, making his heart ache with how much he loved her.
“Do it,” she murmured and he didn’t waste even a second.
He didn’t notice the music stopping or the whole room falling silent. He didn’t even remember that there were other people there.
His whole world was her, the girl in his arms, the warm touch of her lips, the way her heart was beating just as fast as his. It was perfect.
The deafening applause after they broke apart kind of put an end to the feeling that they were alone. They laughed shyly and he was sure that his face matched hers in colour. But he was still certain - they could deal with this.