Chapter Text
"You're gonna ask him out" Aliyah declared
"I'm gonna ask him out" Marinette repeated as if it was a drill. She repeated this again in the back of her mind as if she didn't, she would chicken out of this endeavor.
Marinette didn't think this was where it would land her in this endearing mess when her eyes met Adrien's. He joined the band as a guitarist. He did all the strings and drums for the records. Then he joined her on the tour as the permanent guitarist. That was when she knew there was no other way out of this.
It was slow and capturing to fall for him, boy did she fall deep. His long bony fingers when he played the guitar when they were alone. His dimples when they kill a rock song. His lost eyes when they play a song so deep.
When she realized that she was falling for him, it was too late to get back up and she fell even harder. Now she had decided this night she would night find out if she will the face floor headfirst or Adrien will catch her
This was their last show of this tour. The cherry on the top was that they were playing in their hometown tonight, Paris. Marinette had chosen it herself, a place where her feelings of Adrien begin and the place they would possibly end or maybe carry on to form something entirely enchanting and alluring. Also if there's anywhere she would have nerves to ask Adrien out would be where their home was.
She was sitting in the prep room with Aliyah. The evening's glow of sun sparkled from the window, peeking from the drapes. They had finished their last rehearsal.
"You will do this" Alayah yelled at her, she was the only friend that had accompanied her throughout the entirety of the tour, some of her friends had come between the show's to meet her, get together. She had relied on them for some time of relief and it was also nice to be grounded.
"I will do this." She yelled even louder than her.
"Yay girl" They fist bumped
The original plan is to ask him at the end of the concert ,after ‘company’, a song she wrote about Adrien when she didn’t know she loved him. To be honest, it was edging on her nerves to say ask him out in front of a crowd
Time to get dressed for the show. Mostly Marinette could choose her dresses for shows until it passed by her picky designer which it mostly did. Tonight she had chosen his colors, Sea green pants paired with a blonde black top consisting of slits on the shoulders with sleeves coming up her wrist. The hair stylist had let her hair down with just a clip on one side.
She was ready, let the show begin.
She loved the energy, the adrenaline the crowd gave her. Hearing the lyrics made in her bedroom sung back at her by hundreds was a feeling she could get drunk another thousand times. It was wild, enthralling, surprising her every time. She knew these people chose her, chose to be here. It comforted her. She returned her feelings in those songs.
During one musical ,she saw a sign written “I’m here for Adrien” She giggled, getting the mic far behind her back and shouted the words “me too” The area surrounding the girl holding the sign erupted in other screams. With that Marinette got back to songs.
Later she also found a sign saying ‘ I challenge you to a staring contest”. And so she accepted the challenge and lost.
When they played their song paper crown, an actual paper crown was thrown on stage and she couldn’t be more delighted. She wore it like a diva through the chorus after which it dangled off the mic stand.
It would be a lie to day Marinette hadn’t written songs about him. Hell 1/4th of the album was about him. It really was a mystery how Adrien managed to be unaware about it. The song closest to her would be the one where she wished she had courage to confess, despite his answers- “company”. Tonight it was the last song they were playing.
“Thankk youuuu Pariss, for all of your wild energy.” She shouted into the mic. The crowd screamed back “We have had the time of our life playing this tour and I couldn’t think of a much better way to close this than with all of you. This last song uhh” She stopped to gaze down at her feet and she smiles her brightest “is my favorite from all of it. It is originally about how I love the company of a certain person and how he makes me feel and hopes that I make him feel the same. So sing along if you know”
She took a Guitar from the back, it was an acoustic one. She wrote company on it in her bedroom. When in production it got coupled with a lot of other instruments. Originally it was just her fingers on strings. She reminisced on the feeling of strings under her fingers once again.
“Company” She declared
It seemed a platonic song on surface, but if someone would dive deep into the company they would know it was love built with walls of friendship, a love that is yet to be realized by both of them, love for the incredibly oblivious friends.
Marinette breathed in all of it, the crowd, the shiny lights, her favorite people behind her, the fans who brought her here to this stage, her first guitar in her hand. She couldn’t be more grateful for all of this. She wouldn’t exchange this for anything. Anything. Anything. It was then crippling fear got hold of her.
She took a glance at Adrien. For once he looked magical, he held the electric guitar. He seemed so consumed in it and just perfect. He was a star, untouchable and unreachable. Your world revolves around him but you never get close. Never close enough to hold him. To ever see the tears shed. A perfect thing, too perfect looking to survive in this world.
She messed up the breathes in song, she try to get hold it only to mess it more.
She sang the last of the lyrics sofly in contrast to how upbeat the whole song was.
“If nothing I only need your company// if you like it too //we could keep each other forever.//
She smiled in tears. She threw the crown dangling from the mic stand back to the crowd. She smiled knowing it was the end of this tour and she messed up the last song. She wouldn’t see Adrien again, at least not officially. His contract ended tonight. She had to ask now or never. She wouldn’t exchange this for anything. And tears made the world all blurry.
Shaking, ragged breath, holding the mic with an aching grip. She lowered her head, and a tear fell down. Never exchange this for anything. She got a grip on herself, forcing a smile to the crowd.
“Thank you everyone, people backstage, the crew, the vendors and lastly everyone who chose to be here, spend this time with us. Thank you. Goodbyeee” She there flying kisses towards the crowd. The sinking back into the ground, the floor beneath them was lowering them down. She could hear crowd drowning her fears.
She ran backstage
This was it, the last of this tour, all the memories she made here, all her dreams came true here.
She jumped at Alyah, hugging her, latching onto her for support.
She screamed adrenaline still running through her and also due to love that didn’t find it’s way out today.
“I’m gonna get a shower” Marinate declared before Alayah could ask anything, running to get another pair of clothes. As she closed the door, silent tears flowed. She held herself through it letting hot showers wash away the love. She focused on her breaths.
She got out with a black pants and a honey colored sweatshirt.
After their team high five. After 30 minutes they were out for the after party.
She drank for the glory of what had been rather than to drink to bury the ruins that love caused. Her largest tour yet had come to an end.
She cheered with the rest of the team, those who helped come here, Adrien included.
Lila was there at the party obviously, she catches up to the tour sometimes. Who hell even invited her?
She took a sip of alcohol, and another and another and another and another. Avoiding Alayah the whole night
Adrien's glass was full. He was chatting up with Lila.
She giggled with her sorrows, red on her cheeks.
It was still drizzling outside. She led herself to the car, the engine roared.
She drove around with tears until she reached her old empty apartment. She left it when fame knocked at her door, but she never sold it away.
She put the keys in. The dust, smell of jasmine candles she always used to burn here, cheap guitar strings, the small keyboard and the xylophones. The place reeked of music. The place where she first saw him, saw Adrien.
She walked over to the washroom, water ran to hug the empty bathtub. She poured the wine she brought with herself. Stripped on and dipped in the cold water until it was up her lips. If she could drown here, she would.