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“Wine and Camembert?”
Marinette hadn’t even known that they were having a fancy patrol. Now Chat was there with what certainly didn’t look like their usual fair of cookies and hot chocolate.
“Only the best for m’lady,” he bowed. At her questioning look, he shrugged. “Can you blame me? Because of Plagg, I have tonnes of cheese around.@
“But I thought you hated it,” she noted, remembering the times he’d had to eat the cheese to power up.
“Hate is a strong word. Plagg loves the smelliest types. But there is Camembert with softer tones and I know for a fact that it goes well with this type of wine.”
“What are you now? A sommelier?” She snorted.
“Look, we’re French. Wine knowledge is in our blood.”
“I would totally fail that test,” she muttered. “But you can educate me.”
“Chardonnay is an off-dry, acidic wine which offsets the fatty cheese,” he said, brandishing the bottle right in front of her face. All she saw was a blur of letters in a fancy font.
“Ok, consider me impressed,” she whistled. “You’re not worried about underage drinking?”
“Again - French,” he gestured between them. “Tell me you’ve never had wine at home. You’re 16!”
“Well, yes,” she admitted. ”Just a sip or two.” With her being a superhero, she’d never been tempted to try more.
“We’re not drinking the whole bottle, don’t worry,” Chat said as he opened the wine.
“I won’t be able to get home if I drink too much anyway.”
“We’re not drinking to get drunk, definitely. Just a taste.”
“How did you get it anyway?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you have a fake ID!” She gasped.
“No, no. It's my father’s.”
“Your father makes wine?” Well, this would explain his knowledge.
“No, but he has some bottles lying around.” So casually. So his father could be just a connoisseur and wine lover or a collector.
“You won’t get in trouble for this?”
“He won’t notice.” Even more suspicious. But she had to trust him on that.
“Wine glasses? How fancy,” she chuckled, as he poured the wine. This was why he’d needed a whole picnic basket.
“M’lady, I would never fall so low as to force you to drink fine wine from a plastic cup,” he said, sounding offended by the mere suggestion.
“It’s fine wine now?”
“Just drink it,” he said, handing her the glass. “It’s no supermarket brand but it’s also not that special.”
“Mm,” She hummed as she swirled the wine inside the glass, just like he did, and sniffed it. “Ok. I like the smell.”
“Cheers,” he brought his glass to hers with a clink and she smiled back.
He was right. The wine worked well with the cheese. Surprisingly well. So a sip was followed by another, it between bites.
Was it the wine that went to her head or was it Chat? Maybe it was both. Because she felt nicely warm and too giggly. But she was having fun. And she was in no hurry to get back home.
“I’ll fall asleep if I don’t move soon,” she said eventually, stretching.
“You’re not good with alcohol, m’lady. That’s the new information I got on you,” he smirked. She didn’t even have the energy to reprimand him.
“Ha-ha. Better to feel sleepy than to start belting out songs and wake up the neighbourhood, right?” She nudged him.
“I agree.”
“Thank you. For the wine and cheese and the company,’ she said. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a great time.
“Aw, bug, are you getting all sentimental on me now?” She made a face and he laughed. “Get up.”
He pulled her up and she lost her balance. No, she wasn’t tipsy! It was just because she’d tripped. But she fell against him and he caught her. Like always.
‘Are you ok?”
“Yes.” She looked up and realised how close he was. And well, it was probably the wine talking, there couldn’t be any other reason. But she suddenly felt the desire to kiss him. “I b-better go,” she mumbled, forcing her hands to push back, not to pull him closer.
“Good night, m’lady.” His voice was so soft and the way he was looking at her even softer and she didn’t have it in her to resist this now.
And then he was leaning in. Oh God, he was. And she didn’t want to move away. She stood frozen and then his lips brushed her cheek. Before she could sigh in relief, she hiccupped.
“Oops,“ she giggled.
“Sweet dreams,” he chuckled. “But try not to fall asleep on the way home.”
Jokester.
*
“Adrien, did you mix the adults’ party and the kids’ party?” The way Nino greeted Adrien made Marinette look at them from the kitchen. Adrien tried to wave at her but his hands were full.
“Why?” He asked.
“Wine and cheese,” Nino pointed to the treats he had brought them. Marinette laughed to herself as memories from patrol a week ago filled her mind. Maybe it was the new vogue in Paris.
“Look, I have good taste. Also this is what I have lying around. And no, we’re no longer kids. We deserve some quality time,” Adrien winked.
“And quality time for you means a bottle of expensive wine and a wheel of fancy cheese? It figures.”
“Har-har,” Adrien laughed dryly as he joined Marinette in the kitchen. She looked at the bottle in his hand and did a double take. It looked familiar. Which was strange, since she hadn’t seen many wine bottles lately.
“What is it?” She asked.
“Chardonnay. My father didn’t like this particular vintage so I have free rein with it,” Adrien explained. “I tried it once and well, it was well received,” he added.
“Half a bottle, dude,” Nino teased him and this was when Marinette noted that one of the bottles was half full. “Did you have a date or what?”
“Um, not exactly,” Adrien muttered. Was she imagining it or did he look a little red in the face? Did Adrien have a secret love interest, Marinette wondered? Or a certain someone he could share wine with. Just like her. Huh.
“Camembert?” She laughed as she unwrapped the cheese.
“I know it can be a bit smelly but it goes surprisingly well with this wine,” he smiled.
“I know.” Too late she wanted to bite her tongue.
“You’ve tried it?” He looked at her.
“Yes.”
She poured some into a glass and sniffed it. She wasn’t wrong. It smelled the same. And tasted the same, she declared after a sip.
“Still good.”
“Still?”
“You should have brought your glasses,” she giggled. She hadn’t expected to feel this giddy after accidentally figuring out her partner’s identity!
“Huh?” He looked more and more confused.
“Doesn’t Plagg mind that you’re depleting his stocks?” She was looking him straight in the eye and it didn’t take long this time.
“M’lady!” He gasped.
“Shh,” she motioned to their companions.
“It is you!” He grinned and made her heart beat even faster. He was there. It was Adrien, but also Chat. After the last time when she’d almost kissed him, this absolutely made sense. Of course she’d fall for the damn cat twice.
“What’s taking so long?” Alya said.
“We’re coming!” Marinette said, grabbing the plate of cheese and Adrien followed with the wine. With the others there, they had to act normal.
They all drank and ate and laughed. So acting as if nothing had changed was easy. And then Nino decided to put some music on. Marinette looked at Adrien and found him already looking at her. She could read so clearly what he was asking her, it sent shivers down her spine. How she’d missed their connection before was beyond her.
They didn’t break eye contact as they got up and moved closer to each other. And just like that they were dancing.
“Hey, you two!” Nino protested. “This is no slow dance!”
“Shhh, let them do what they want!” Alya hissed.
Marinette bit her lip to stop the laughter from spilling. Of course Alya would be all for them doing this. She had no idea what a monumental shift in their relationship had taken place. But she still encouraged them, giving a thumbs up to Marinette over Adrien’s shoulder.
When Marinette’s eyes returned to Adrien, she found that he was looking at her lips and she felt warmth spread all over her face. He’d be the death of her.
Or the opposite. Because she saw him gulp when she went ahead and licked her lips. His eyes met hers and this time she nodded even before he could ask.
The music felt muted, everything fell away, she didn’t care that they weren’t alone. All that mattered was that they were kissing and it was sublime.
But it didn’t take long for Alya’s cheers to reach her. They broke apart, flushed and smiling. And then Marinette surprised even herself when she took Adrien’s hand and dragged him through the door and outside on the landing. Where Alya and Nino’s laughter could still be heard. But it didn’t matter because they weren’t there.
“Hey,” she smiled, leaning against the wall. His arms were around her and he smirked in a way that was painfully familiar.
“What do we have here?” He asked, resting his forehead against hers. “Is this the wine talking?”
“No, it’s all me,” she promised, but she really appreciated the fact that he was asking.
This was all the confirmation he needed because then her hands were in his hair and he was kissing her again and she felt drunk in a way the wine could never affect her. Drunk on love and happiness.