Work Text:
“Hey Adrien. A-are you free tomorrow?”
Adrien Agreste was busy checking over some notes for school when he heard a sweet voice he would recognize anywhere. His attention was pulled towards the speaker instantly.
It was none other than Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Bluebell eyes, rosy-tinted cheeks and cute pigtails.
His heart began to race.
Marinette.
Marinette.
Marinette.
Her name occupied his thoughts for weeks now. Adrien didn’t think it possible that he’d fall for a girl so hard and fast after Ladybug, but here he was… giving it another shot.
He was so glad he did. Marinette was special.
“Oh! Y-yeah, I’m free. What’s up, Marinette?”
He watched as Marinette twirled one of her pigtails with one of her fingers. Her cheeks still rosy pink. She seemed nervous with what she wanted to say.
“Well… I was wondering if you wanted to join me tomorrow for some baking? I… I was planning to make some cookies for our friends and I remember you wanted to try, sooo… would you be interested?”
Would he be interested? An entire day baking cookies with the girl who was making his heart go wild? Of course he would!
“I’d love to! What time?”
“Just a bit after lunch. Is that alright?”
“Sounds perfect.” The excitement in his voice evident.
Marinette nodded her head a little too excitedly. She stepped back while not looking, which caused her to accidentally bump into the teacher’s table.
“Ooops. Oh sorry. Uhh. Yeah. Perfect! Perfecto! Just peachy! Alright! See you there!” Marinette then waved goodbye as she exited the classroom, leaving Adrien alone with his thoughts. He sighed out loud in content. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow.
“Dude… you’ve got it bad.”
Adrien’s happy thoughts were scattered by his seat mate who apparently watched the whole interaction.
“Ahh. Got what bad, Nino?”
Nino rolled his eyes at him.
“For Marinette. You’re totally head over heels for her.”
Adrien blushed before turning his head away. It was definitely obvious his heart was on his sleeve with her. But he couldn’t help it. He was with Marinette all the time during school, and he couldn’t contain himself any longer.
“Yeah… was it that obvious?”
Nino chuckled before putting a hand on Adrien’s shoulder.
“I’m happy for you buddy, really. I think you and Marinette would be great together… in fact all of us think so.”
“All of us?”
Nino then pointed to behind them. Adrien looked behind his seat and was completely mortified.
Half of the class was apparently still there, with amused faces and holding in giggles. Alya had her phone out, recording the entire thing.
“Finally! You two finally are doing something about your feelings!” Alya said.
“I can’t believe it! It’s happened! It’s been so worth the wait!” Rose squealed out.
“Way to go, Adrien! Well… Marinette was the one who asked but finally!” Kim followed up.
“You guys were all watching?!” Adrien asked but he already knew the answer even before they all nodded.
“Have fun on your ‘date’, Adrien.” Alix teased.
A chorus of giggles soon followed. That was his cue to leave.
“I uhh… see you guys on Monday.” Adrien quickly left his seat, his mind screaming in embarrassment.
But as he took a few more steps away from the classroom, his excitement returned. He was going to spend tomorrow baking with Marinette. It was going to be perfect.
*****
The Next Day.
“Okay. So I think that’s everything we need for this batch of cookies. I think we’re all set!”
“This is awesome! Thanks so much for inviting me, Marinette.” Adrien said.
“You’re welcome.”
Adrien watched as Marinette walked around her home kitchen. The bakery’s main kitchen downstairs was off limits for today due to the influx of customers but their private kitchen was more than adequate to make a batch of cookies for their friends.
Marinette was once again in her element. Whether it was baking or with fashion, Marinette was a wizard. She moved flawlessly through as she prepared everything for that afternoon. He was at awe.
“What is it?” She asked, catching him staring at her.
Adrien chuckled a little before shaking his head.
“Sorry. It’s just so nice to see you in your element, Marinette. You’re amazing.”
Marinette turned a shade redder.
“O-oh. I’m not… well… I… Thank you. Come on, don’t just stand there. Join me.” Marinette reached out with her hand and pulled him towards her. They were now working side by side as they made the preparations for the cookies.
“Oh! I just remembered.” Adrien said. “You did tell me I didn’t need to bring anything for baking, but I did bring something else.” Adrien then went to his messenger bag and brought out a small bluetooth speaker. He looked for a spot to place it just right and then got out his phone to connect and play some music.
“Oh great idea, Adrien! Always nice to have music to listen to.”
Adrien wanted to begin their time together with something more upbeat and silly. So he got a classic song to start their cooking.
The kitchen was soon filled with music, a song from the 60’s.
“Come on, Marinette. Dance with me! Let’s do the twist.” Adrien began doing a cheesy old dance movie as he twisted his whole body on the balls of his feet. His arms swinging from side to side. Marinette stared for a moment before she snorted and covered her mouth before she continued to laugh any further.
“Adrien? What the heck are you doing? Do you know how silly you look?” She teased.
“Oh come on, it’s fun! Join me!” Adrien continued to dance in tune with the music. He watched as Marinette rolled her eyes at him as she continued fixing a few things for the cookies.
And just as he hoped, Marinette started to sway her body in tune with the music. Her body started to twist just like his. It was the cutest thing he’s ever seen.
“Come on, join me!” Adrien reached out again with his hand. Marinette hesitated for just a moment before she took hold. Adrien pulled her closer and soon the both of them were dancing in the middle of the kitchen. Twisting to the music.
“We look so corny.” Marinette said in the middle of the dance.
Adrien then took her by surprise as he took her hand again and then spun her in place. That caused her to laugh out more with glee. Adrien had never seen her look so cheerful. The mood was infectious. Everything was perfect.
“I have to disagree with you. We both look amazing.” The two of them continued to dance to the tune of the song until it ended.
The both of them managed to break a sweat.
“Wow. That was fun but okay, but let’s get back to baking. We haven’t even started yet.” Marinette said.
Adrien fake pouted at her. It had no effect as Marinette playfully stuck her tongue out back at him.
“We we were just getting in the mood though.” He pointed out.
“We can dance a bit later. Let’s finish some preparations first and while the cookies are baking… maybe we can dance some more?” Marinette suggested.
“I’d love that.” And so Adrien once again stared happily at the brilliant girl in the kitchen. She looked back at him with fondness as well. Everything was going perfectly. He felt a certain connection to Marinette and their bond has slowly strengthened these last few weeks. He’s never felt closer.
But there was something he had to ask about what was happening this afternoon. He’s had false assumptions before. He didn’t want to make the same mistake again.
“So… Marinette. When you asked me here today. Is this… a date?”
Adrien waited for her answer. It was blunt and straight to the point. But he had to know. He needed to know.
“Please say yes. Please say yes.”
Marinette looked nervous but after taking a breath, she told him what he hoped it was.
“Yeah. I mean. I wanted it to be a date. I mean… we could just count it as hanging as friends if you want cause I mean… Well.. I didn’t want to assume and—“
Adrien immediately approached the girl and held her hand before she rambled any further.
“I hoped you were asking me out on a date too.”
And that was it. Things just seemed so much clearer now.
“O-Oh. That’s… wonderful.” She replied.
“I’m really happy I get to spend time with you today. And maybe next time, I’d like to take you out to dancing, if that would be alright with you?”
Adrien watched as Marinette looked momentarily shocked, but turned quickly confident. Adrien loved seeing this other side of her which he saw more and more recently.
“Dancing sounds perfect. Next Friday night?” She asked.
“Next Friday it is.”
******
A Few Minutes Later
“Okay. And I think that’s everyone!” Marinette happily announced.
Adrien looked over their work. Marinette wanted to make hero-shaped cookies based on all the heroes of Paris. Ranging from Ladybug all the way to newer heroes like Purple Tigress. They all looked fun and it was honestly a brilliant idea.
But there was something bothering him. Like something was missing.
“Are you sure you got everyone, Marinette?” He asked.
Marinette took another look over at their work and nodded back at him.
“I think so. Here. Why not you do the honors and place this batch of cookies into the oven? I’ll be right back with the frosting. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Marinette soon left him alone in the kitchen as she went downstairs to get the remaining ingredients. That left him to ponder once more with the cookies. He knew someone was missing. He just knew it wasn’t complete.
And then it hit him.
“Multimouse!”
Marinette as a superhero wasn’t included and it left an awful feeling in his chest. Marinette had to be represented in this batch of cookies. He wasn’t going to leave her princess out.
“You deserve to be recognized too, Marinette.” He said out loud to no one in particular.
He checked a bit if anyone was watching, and started shaping one more cookie. A Multimouse shaped one.
“Perfect.”
He added it quickly to the batch and placed them in the oven. It was just in time, because Marinette came back with the frosting.
“Is everything in the oven?” She asked.
He nodded.
“Yup. You know what that means?”
“What?”
Adrien grabbed hold of the items Marinette was holding, set them aside on the table and then pulled her close.
“It’s time for some more dancing.”
****
Several Minutes Later.
Marinette couldn’t believe how perfect that afternoon was. She was having one of her dream dates with Adrien Agreste. She didn’t know what exactly changed these past few weeks, but she and Adrien got closer a lot faster than what she even thought possible.
Now here she was, slow dancing to romantic music to Adrien in her kitchen. It was perfect. She was slotted perfect in his arms. Her own arms wrapped around his neck. His head neatly on top of hers. It was just like all those other dances they had previously but this time…
“I… really like you, Marinette.” Adrien whispered.
“I like you too, Adrien.” She looked up to see his gorgeous green eyes gazing at her.
“Damn his stupid handsome face.” The way he was looking at her right now made her feel like she was the only thing mattered in the entire world. Her expression probably matched his.
Because that’s what she felt too at that moment. Nothing else mattered. Just the two of them slow dancing in her kitchen.
The moment shifted as Adrien’s expression changed to mild concern.
“Marinette… I just noticed. There’s something on your face.”
“What? Where?” Marinette quickly tried using her hands to remove any unwanted smudges.
“It’s right there.” He pointed out to a part of her face.
Marinette tried her best to take it out but Adrien kept telling her she hadn’t gotten it yet.
“Here… let me.”
Adrien then did something totally unexpected. Adrien reached with his pointer finger towards the icing on the table and then placed a smidge of it right on her cheek.
“A-Adrien?!”
“Right there.” A huge swat of icing now stuck to her face.
“I can’t believe you just did that!” She pouted at him.
“Did what?” Adrien feigned ignorance.
Adrien looked downright naughty. He never looked so smug.
“He’s so going to pay.”
“This means war, you know that?” Marinette was about to reach for more icing until Adrien grabbed her hand from doing so.
“Don’t worry. I’ll remove it for you. Here.”
Adrien blew her expectations once again as he leaned in closer to her face… and kissed the icing right off.
“WHHHU?!? Uhh... Did you just…?!”
She checked her cheek and felt the residual feeling of his lips on her face. She realized it was more of a lick than a kiss… but the fact that he did something so intimate made her brain short circuit. Her heart was ricocheting in her chest.
“Was that too much?” He looked a bit smug but at the same time worried with what he did.
Marinette then asked herself. Did she hate what he just did? The answer was… No.
She quickly reached for the icing again on the table and then boldly placed someone on Adrien’s face… right on the edge of his lips.
“Oh noo…” she dramatically said. “There’s icing on your face too! Lemme just… clean that up for you.”
Adrien was stunned, unable to move as Marinette moved in close and licked the icing off his face. The feeling of the edge of his lips grazed hers. The desire in her heart was cheering from the boldness of her action. She felt pretty satisfied with herself. Adrien looked completely paralyzed.
“U-uh?” Adrien looked like a fish out of water as he opened and closed his mouth multiple times. Unable to speak.
“What? You can dish it out but you can’t handle it? What would the ladies of Paris think? Adrien Agreste. Playboy? As if!” Marinette teased.
And with that… the both of them began to laugh together. It was a good belly aching laughter that also made her tear up. They were acting so childish and they loved every moment of it together.
Seeing as the opportunity was still there, Marinette reached out for the icing once again. Adrien took a scoop on one of his fingers as well. The both of them waited for them to see where they were going to place the icing this time.
A kind of calm before the storm.
As if they could read each other’s thoughts, their eyes both looked at each other’s lips for just a moment at the same time.
Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. They reached for each other… and placed icing right on each other’s lips.
Adrien slowly placed a smidge of it right on her top lip. Her body was aflame as he set a good coat of the icing over it. She herself carefully placed some of the icing on his bottom lip. She was ready to devour it at any moment.
Adrien leaned in first this time, and Marinette followed suit. They moved slower and savored the moment. Marinette would finally know the taste of Adrien’s lips.
They were getting closer…
Closer…
Les than an inch apart…
“Hey kids! Is everything alright?”
And just like that, it was like a cold bucket of water splashed the two of them. They immediately separated. Tom Dupain was coming into the kitchen with his face covered by the stacked boxes of pastries he was carrying.
“Dad?!”
“Hope you don’t mind if I place a couple of these orders for the customers here for later! It was getting rather crowded down below.” Tom then placed the boxes to the side and stretched his back a little from the heavy load. He looked at the both of them with a nice smile. He seemed oblivious of what he just ruined.
“Did I miss something?” He asked. “By the way, sweetie. The both of you have icing on your lips. Can’t help but taste a bit of it the icing before the cookies are finished too? Haha!”
“Oh. Y-yeah. Definitely, Mr. Dupain.” Adrien said.
“Well… I’ll get back downstairs and I won’t disturb you any further. Talk to you two later!” He then headed out of the room.
Marinette waited till she couldn’t hear the heavy footsteps of her father anymore. Finally, it was quiet.
“That was… so close.” She whined. She nearly died of embarrassment.
Her dad ruined such a perfect moment. All of her confidence built up for nothing.
“Adrien, about what almost happened… I —-Mmmpph!!”
Marinette turned to speak to the boy but before she could finish, her lips became occupied as Adrien leaned in and finally… FINALLY kissed her.
It was everything she imagined and more. Marinette then slotted herself perfectly. She adjusted her lips to his, wrapped her arms around his neck, and played slightly with the hairs at the back of his head.
Adrien pulled her closer by the waist, and she in turn made the effort to tip toe to get a better angle at kissing him.
It was like she died and went to heaven.
The taste of the frosting combined with Adrien’s own indescribable taste mixed together. She wanted more.
“Marinette.” He whispered in between kisses. The way he said her name made her feel weak in the knees.
She held on tight. She didn’t want to let go. There was something about the kiss that just spoke volumes.
It felt just right. Like they were always meant to be.
After a good minute of nothing but kissing, they let go. The both of them had equally satisfied looks on their faces.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now…” Adrien whispered to her.
She planted a quick kiss on his nose, which made Adrien giggle a little.
“You’re not the only one.”
*****
Adrien was having the best day he’s had in a long time. All thanks to Marinette. The two of them were now placing the icing for the cookies. He watched as Marinette hummed to the music in the background. She was swaying to the music as she carefully added icing unto the cookies.
“God, she’s so cute.”
“You know… you said that out loud.” Marinette looked up from her work and raised her brow at him.
Adrien stammered.
“O-oh. I…uhh?”
Marinette giggled, clearly amused at his own rambling. “Don’t worry, I think you’re cute too.” She said. “Come on, let’s finish this.”
She was right. He kept getting distracted. And so, he continued finishing the icing on his set of cookies.
He was assigned a few heroes. Carapace, Ryuko, King Monkey, Cat Noir, and Purple Tigress. He was given a bit less than Marinette because she can work faster with the icing. It took a while but he finished them all.
Finally… it was down to the last one he prepared last minute. Multimouse. Adrien looked with the corner of his eye to check if Marinette noticed what he was doing.
She seemed unaware, and now was his chance.
Adrien began meticulously designing the cookie shaped like the girl he was in love with. He missed those cute buns. That gray and pink suit. He apologized to Mylene in his heart, because he already had a favorite mouse user.
He was just about done when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Gyah!” Adrien stepped back.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you. You were just so engrossed in your work, and I wondered what cookie design you were working on?”
Adrien panicked and tried covering that last cookie.
“I-It’s nothing! I mean… It’s something! But it’s not done!”
Marinette didn’t look convinced.
“Come on, don’t be shy. Let’s see your work. It seemed like you were giving a lot of effort on that last one. Can you show it to me?”
Her sweet voice was compelling him to allow her to do so. But should he? Would she suspect? Adrien looked at her blue eyes that continued to break through his barriers. Maybe it would be fine?
He slowly stepped back to show her his work.
“Oh what a cute Polymouse shaped—…wait… That’s not Polymouse.” Marinette looked at the cookie for a few seconds longer.
The silence was deafening as she checked on the cookie.
“Crap.”
She then gasped. Marinette covered her mouth and stepped away from the cookie. Her eyes went wide as she looked back and forth between the cookie and him a few times.
“It’s… a cookie shaped like my favorite hero. Multimouse.” He tried explaining it to her.
“F-favorite hero?! That’s Multimouse! But why did you make one?! How do you know her?” She uttered out.
Adrien really wasn’t prepared to explain. Not at all. He had to think of something quick.
“Chat Noir told me!” That was the only thing he could think of. “He said she was the best temporary hero he’s ever seen. The cutest one too.”
“C-cute?!” Marinette momentarily blushed before she slapped her cheeks. She turned serious as she questioned him again.
“Why would Chat Noir tell you about this hero?”
“Uhh… because I asked?”
“You randomly asked about a hero no one’s ever seen before?” Marinette seemed a lot bigger as she interrogated him further.
“Uhhh…” He stepped back a bit from her. She had a point.
“In fact… do you even talk to Chat Noir that often?!”
“Well… he drops by my window sometimes and…”
“Adrien… what are you hiding?”
Adrien took in a breath before he stepped forward, trying his best to accuse something back.
“And how about you?! Why do you know who Multimouse is? You recognized her instantly!”
“Because I’m her!!!”
That completely caught him off guard. He didn’t expect her to expose herself to him.
“Ladybug gave me the miraculous as a one time thing. And that’s it! I-It’s fine that I tell you. I’m… I’m never going to be a hero again!”
Suddenly, that made him get frustrated as she uttered those words.
“Well, I think Ladybug is totally wrong! You’d be a great hero! You’re kind, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and brave. You’d be an excellent hero!”
“It doesn’t matter! I was exposed! The fact that you’re not even surprised that I’m Multimouse… YOU ALREADY KNEW DIDN’T YOU?!”
Marinette was always brilliant. She deduced that so quickly.
“Uhh. Well… yeah. Kinda.”
“Did Chat Noir really tell you?! I find it hard to believe he’d say something and even tell you my identity. The only other explanation you’d know would be that you’re—-“
Marinette paused once more as she looked intensely at him.
“Y-you’re him… aren’t you?”
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck from the discomfort. Should he just tell her?
“Uhh… meow?”
Marinette slowly approached him and placed a hand on his cheek. She looked at his eyes. His facial features. She then looked at his hand where he wore his ring.
“Kitty.” She whispered.
He could see it in her eyes. She was so sure of it. She figured it out. Adrien didn’t have it in his heart to hide who he was from Marinette in the first place. He decided to roll with it.
“Hi princess.”
Marinette squeaked once more as she stepped back.
“All this time… you were him.”
He nodded at her. He caught her hand and pulled her back closer to him.
“When we were baking a while ago, I noticed you were missing among the assortment of hero-shaped cookies. It left an awful taste in my mouth. I had to make one of you. If there was one thing I disagree completely with Ladybug, it’s that you were never given a second chance. Like I said, you’re brilliant Marinette. And you’ve always been a hero in my book. With or without a costume.”
Marinette was speechless as she gazed at him. Her cheeks were tinted once more.
“Say something. Please?” He asked.
Adrien waited patiently. Every second though felt like agony as she kept quiet. Finally… Marinette looked up at him with a frightened expression.
“Can I… Can I share a secret with you too?”
“Anything, Marinette. You know you can trust me.”
Marinette took in a deep breath before she uttered out the words Adrien only imagined she would in his happiest dreams and wishes.
“Spots on.”
****
Epilogue
That Monday during lunch, the class was having a great time as they enjoyed the cookies Adrien and Marinette baked for them.
Everyone loved all the different hero-shaped cookies on display. In truth, everyone in class had a cookie based on their hero persona. Even Queen Bee had some which amused Chloe, but she didn’t show it.
The only one missing was Lila, but it was a good thing she was out of town.
Everyone was sharing their thoughts about which cookie was the best designed… however there was a constant question being brought up among their classmates.
Aside from all the public heroes, there were two “new” heroes no one has ever heard about included in this list.
They decided to ask the ‘bakers’ themselves who they were.
“Adrien and Marinette, who are these two cookies based on? I don’t recognize these heroes.” Max asked.
Marinette who was currently sitting on Adrien’s lap turned to look at Max and the cookies he was pointing out too.
“Ohh. Those are Aspik and Multimouse.”
“Aspik and Multimouse? Wait. Was Multimouse someone like Polymouse?” Mylene asked.
Adrien answered for Marinette this time.
“That’s right. Before Polymouse, Multimouse did a one time thing. So was Aspik. He used the snake miraculous before Viperion.”
“Oh. No wonder he seemed familiar.” Juleka said.
“Interesting. But how do you two know them?” Max asked.
Adrien and Marinette looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Max with smug grins.
“What do you think? Why do you think we know them?” Adrien question back.
Max’s eyes went wide for a moment before he understood what they were trying to imply. He looked at the cookies’ details and compared it to his friends’ features before him. He just gave them a nod and left them.
Max was a hero himself and he knew the importance of keeping secret identities. One by one, everyone began to understand what they were trying to say. No words were said but the message was clear.
The rest of the class left the lovebirds alone, as they chatted in their little corner of the room.
“So… those two are—?”
“Don’t finish that sentence, Kim. I think we all know what they’re trying to say.” Alix said.
“So… our class really is special somehow, huh? Almost everyone has gotten a miraculous.” Rose said.
“That’s right. Although it continues the trend of our class being special in the sense of chosen miraculous wielders, their reveal breaks my theory on who Ladybug and Cat Noir were.” Max said.
“Wait… you thought that they were… you know?” Alix asked.
“Ladybug and Cat Noir. They were the only possible candidates.” Max said. “But apparently, my theory is off. They were already chosen before. Back to theorizing. I still have to figure out what makes our class special?”
“Definitely.” Kim nodded at him.
The small group broke their huddle and joined the rest of the class. Max was fixing his notes on his class’s miraculous connection one last time. He looked to see everyone’s happy faces. He glanced one more time at Adrien and Marinette who were sitting in front. Apparently they snuck in another kiss which caused some more cheers.
“They just seemed so perfect for Ladybug and Cat Noir. I was so sure of it.”
He’ll figure out who they are one day and thank them for everything they’ve done.