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“Home?” she asked, raising her eyebrows and letting her pursed lips curl up in an uneven smile.
The engine purred to life.
“Let’s go home.”
***
Despite them experiencing the weirdest set of emotions a person could ever experience, they were doing better. Way better than when they left five days ago, that was a given.
But now, every single one of those emotions was pushing them towards Paris. They were a bit tired after quite a lot of driving in such a short period of time. They were nervous to know whether Alya did indeed find something to wake up Emilie. But the one emotion they couldn’t shake off no matter what was their eagerness to see Alya and Nino’s reactions to finally becoming a couple.
However, none of them forgot that their safety was above any desire to get home, so they took some breaks on the way. From time to time, Adrien let Marinette drive and went to sleep on her seat. Marinette definitely didn’t enjoy seeing him sleep peacefully and giggling, while Adrien definitely wasn’t awake and slightly opening his left eye to see her reaction when she wasn’t looking.
Fortunately, the kittens didn’t protest too much, perhaps they could feel their new owners’ emotions. The aforementioned breaks helped, as Adrien and Marinette gave them water and food often and let them run around the car parks they were stopping (of course, they kept their eyes on them at all times). One time, a family, perhaps coming back from a roadtrip too, parked near them. The little girl that jumped from the car as instantly spotted the kittens and asked Marinette for permission. Of course, she couldn’t say no to her, so she watched her play with the kittens, waiting for Adrien to come back with a bottle of water from the gas station nearby. When he got back, the parents of the little girl, whose name they discovered was Emma, came to them and thanked for letting her play.
But the day was coming to a close. They were entering Paris with a little bit of daylight left.
“If only we could see the sunset in all its glory…” Adrien said from the kitty area as they called it when he was there (Plagg was not happy about it).
“You’re right, I wish we could. I can’t even stop for a few more kilometers and by that time the sun will barely be visible…” Adrien could see her little frown in the rear view mirror, but that soon turned into the characteristic Marinette expression that only meant she had an idea.
She looked in mirror as well for a split second. “Yeah, you can tell a wave of inspiration hit me, can’t you?”.
“I’m honestly curious what the idea is about, m’lady. You know how cats are.”
“I’ve just discovered how to break the news to Alya and Nino.” Her smug expression told Adrien enough to see what she was thinking.
“And something tells me it’s the best way possible.”
“Right on the money, chaton.”
***
Soon, they arrived home. Properly tired after a full day of driving, they decided to crash at Marinette’s place, but not without messing with Alya and Nino first. They both texted them with an ominous “meet us tomorrow at the day’s end where the sun shines last ”. They turned off their phones after that. As to Marinette’s parents, they were obviously happy to see them, but let them get some good rest.
***
They woke up the next morning (morning is a relative term) at 2 pm. They cuddled the whole night and through pretty much another hour after opening their eyes. Adrien was the first to get up.
“I don't think I've slept this well since I was 5.”
“Hmmm… I wonder why." Marinette replied, but refusing to get up. “I don't suppose it was because you slept cuddled up with your girlfriend.”
“Nah, that couldn’t have been it. However, I think it did help that your parents took care of Garfield and Nini…”
“ For just this night! ” She imitated her mother's voice from last night.
“I hope they managed to get some sleep though…” Adrien sat back on the edge of the bed, near Marinette.
“I have a sneaking suspicion that my dad loved them, seeing as he already adopted a stray”, she said as she playfully booped his nose.
“Awww, m’lady, you're making me blush… but have you adopted me yet?”
Miraculously, she got up halfway, gave him a quick peck on the lips and let herself fall down on the bed again.
“Eh, still thinking about it.”
After some time of Adrien playing “get-Marinette-out-of-bed” and Marinette parrying every one of his tries, they did manage to dress up and go to her parents’ floor, only to discover Tom with both of the cats, each sleeping on one of his arms.
Marinette turned her head towards Adrien with an expression on her face that needed no translation: see, what did I tell you?
***
After eating well (they didn’t really have a choice with Sabine around), they went back up and played Ultimate Mecha Strike for pretty much the rest of the day, until it was almost sunset.
“Should we turn on our phones now?”
“Nah, I think it’s worth it to see Alya's face before she inevitably kills me.”
“Does that means I’m safe?”
“No way, sunshine. After she’s done with me, you’re next. Let’s go to the place we’ve told them, though. I’ll bring in Kaalki just in case they didn’t get our clue.”
“After you, m’lady.”
***
They were careful not to be seen by people, but they did reach the top of the Eiffel Tower. Alya and Nino were waiting at its base, looking around. They took pity on the two and brought them up, but being careful not to answer any of their (to be read: Alya) questions.
They detransformed and told them to sit down on a picnic blanket brought by Marinette in her yo-yo. Alya grumbled but did what they said.
“Ok, what is going on? You send us a cryptic message, throw your phones off a cliff and then disappear from the face of the Earth. Do you even know-”
She kept going, with Nino nodding from time to time, but they were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
At one point while rambling, Alya crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
Bingo.
Adrien and Marinette intertwined their fingers and, with their empty hand, they were holding each other’s sides. All while looking at Alya, waiting for her to stop and open her eyes.
Nino, seeing this, looked at Adrien and mouthed “is this real? ”. Adrien nodded, of course.
“-worried to hell and back-”
Nino tapped Alya’s shoulder. “Hey, babe-”
“-and even more than that-”
“Alya-”
But then she slowly started to open her eyes. “-I thought by sending you away, you’d… be….more…”
Her jaw dropped. She was speechless.
“Grateful…”
Another few seconds of silence.
“MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG, IF YOU DON’T TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED IN GREAT DETAIL I PROMISE I WILL MURDER YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS-”
“Woah, slow down babe, just look at them-” Marinette and Adrien, fully satisfied, haven’t said anything or moved at all, but were internally laughing at their friend’s outburst.
“I WILL BE STOPPED BY NOBODY-”
***
Eventually, they managed to calm Alya down by telling stories of their trip. Of course, she was fuming, ready to strike just in case they didn't get to the juicy part in time. They took turns telling everything they’ve been up to, completing each other's sentences with details the other forgot.
Long after the sun has set, they’ve finished.
“One question: why didn't you just tell me earlier?”
Adrien and Marinette looked each other in the eyes and turned back to her. “Because we thought it would be more fun. And to get back to you after all the teasing.”
Alya considered how to respond for a second. “Ok, fair enough…”
Everybody else tensed up for a second, waiting for her to continue.
“...but that doesn't mean I forgive you.”
Marinette and Adrien breathed a sigh of relief. “Fair enough.”
They all laughed, and laughed, until the day had no more hours left.