Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

March 28th

Mr Unknown (10:23pm): I know you’ll be on my side with this. A pub crawl… but just to bakeries #croissantkegs 🥐

Miss Dial (10:26pm): You carb be serious!

Mr Unknown (10:27pm): Oh, but I am! Imagine it now… face down in a barrel of croissants! Amazing! (Also, 1000/10 for the pun! Nice work!)

Miss Dial (10:30pm): Why stop at croissants? Why don’t you have a second barrel of scolding hot cocoa too? #livingontheedge #borntobebrave

Mr Unknown (10:40pm): I feel like you’re making fun of me. The only reason I’m going to ignore it is your Born to Be Brave reference. Did you just hashtag High School Musical: The Musical: The Series at me?

Miss Dial (10:42pm): Hell yeah! It’s a right of passage.

Mr Unknown (10:57pm): Sometimes I question the reason why I keep texting you?

Miss Dial (10:58pm): Simple really. It’s for my charm and my wit! Just admit it, I’m the funniest person you know.

Mr Unknown (11pm): Watch that your head doesn’t get stuck in the doorframe.

March 29th

Mr Unknown (11:43pm): So my friend told me that when you’re messaging someone you don’t know, you automatically give them a face and body. So I was thinking, what face and body have you given me?

Miss Dial (11:47pm): Are you drunk?

Mr Unknown (00:03am) I may or may not have had 6 glasses of wine, but that is beside the point.

Miss Dial (00:11am): Go to sleep, Mr Unknown. I’m quite sure you need it.

Mr Unknown (00:12am): In my head you’re the most beautiful woman in the world and I’m lucky to have you messaging me.

Miss Dial (00:16am): Thanks, now go to sleep.

March 30th

Mr Unknown (01:23am): FYI, I’m totally a slow to be blocked kind of guy. You’ll want to see it all before finally closing the conversation down.

Mr Unknown (10:59am): I want to beg for forgiveness! I’m on my hands and knees here… please ignore my drunk texts.

Miss Dial (10:59am): I hope your head hurts! Now, don’t mind me, I’m going back to sleep.

Mr Unknown (11:03am): Back to sleep? It’s almost lunchtime and I’m bored. Please entertain me!

Miss Dial (11:05am): 😴 😴 😴

Mr Unknown (11:10am): Fine! I’ll be bored by myself then and just bombard you with messages until you entertain me.

Mr Unknown (11:12am): So what do you think about the weather? (Not that I know where you are?)

Mr Unknown (11:14am): I just ordered a croissant and a hot cocoa. Is it barbaric of me to dunk the croissant into the drink? There’s no one around to stop me, so I’m just going to do it.

Mr Unknown (11:24am): Note to us both — never do that again. I’ve now got pastry floating in my drink like little survivors of the Titanic. I’ll save you, Jack.

Mr Unknown (11:33am): What’s your theory on the Jack and Rose debate? He definitely… 100%... could have fit on the door too. Have you seen the meme about it? There are about six ways they could have both survived.

Mr Unknown (11:48am): Hey, Miss Dial! Did you know squirrels land like superheroes when they fall or jump?

Miss Dial (11:49am): Fine! I’m awake! Happy now?

Mr Unknown (11:51am): Ecstatic!

March 31st

Miss Dial (10:27am): GHSHHGSLJLIFIUIODSTYTYTSY

Mr Unknown (10:29am): Wow! Miss Dial, I never took you for an early morning drinker.

Miss Dial (11:02am): Ok, this is embarrassing. I may have accidentally butt dialled you. I was just out for a jog and had my phone in my back pocket.

Mr Unknown (11:04am): Hello Butt! I’m sure it’s a nice one 😉

Miss Dial (11:07am): Do you ever stop? 😂

Mr Unknown (11:10am): Not when I’m talking to interesting and charismatic ladies like yourself.

Miss Dial (11:11am): Dear Lord...

Mr Unknown (11:17am): Do you want me to stop?

Miss Dial (11:19am): *sigh* I’m sure I can cope a little longer.

Mr Unknown (11:24am): Fabulous! Unfortunately I need to go and entertain people with my marvellous mind and body, so yorjkajhjhgyucbwxoixpoi

April 1st

Miss Dial (4:32pm): So today consisted of me tripping over my own feet and colliding with one of my friends, resulting in him being pushed off a boat.

Mr Unknown (4:44pm): Ouch!

Miss Dial (4:48pm): To make things worse, instead of saying ‘sorry’, I said ‘Ha! April Fools.’

Mr Unknown (4:56pm): Did he buy it?

Miss Dial (5:02pm): Of course not! Would you?

April 2nd

Mr Unknown (8:55pm): Song to sum up the day… Johnny Cash — Ring of Fire! If someone recommends a Vindaloo, always say no!

Miss Dial (9:02pm): Awwww, what’s wrong? Can’t handle your spices?

Mr Unknown (9:05pm): This is not a normal spice! I can’t feel my tongue!

Miss Dial (9:07pm): 🥛

Mr Unknown (9:08pm): Thank you 🙏🏻

Miss Dial (9:09pm): That’s what friends are for 😁

April 3rd

Miss Dial (1:43am): Hi, are you okay?

Mr Unknown (1:58am): Yeah, I’m good. Unusual to hear from you at this time of night.

Miss Dial (2:04am): Unusual for you to be awake. I'm glad though because now you’ve responded to me I can contently go back to sleep. Goodnight.

Mr Unknown (8:04am): Soooooo, about last night. Are you going to explain it to me?

Miss Dial (9:25am): I’m not sure. I don’t want to make you think I’m weird.

Mr Unknown (10:00am): What makes you think that I don’t already?

Miss Dial (10:01am): Harsh!

Mr Unknown (10:01am): Come on, Miss Miss Dial, tell me…

Miss Dial (10:06am): Fine, but one snicker out of you and I’ll ghost you.

Mr Unknown (10:08am): Boy Scout Promise!

Miss Dial (10:10am): Yeah right, like you were ever a Boy Scout.

Mr Unknown (10:11am): Ouch! The claws are out this morning.

Miss Dial (10:12am): It was a rough night. So basically, I dreamt you were lost or hurt. I know this sounds crazy but it felt so real. We’re literally just text buddies and I can’t bear the thought of not having you here.

Mr Unknown (10:15am): I’m touched.

Miss Dial (10:16am): I knew I shouldn’t have told you. Now you’re just going to think I’m a crazy catfish on the other side of the phone.

Mr Unknown (10:47am): I’ve never had anyone, in my life, who I can speak to like you. I grow more and more grateful each day that you’re in it… (without sounding too weird) you mean a lot to me.

Miss Dial (10:49am): 😌 You mean a lot to me too.

April 4th

Mr Unknown (6:34pm): I’m lost! Send the chopper 🚁

Miss Dial (6:35pm): I hate you so much right now!

April 5th

Mr Unknown (9:02am): I’m sorry. Please come back.

April 6th

Mr Unknown (10:34am): Fine, if you’re going to ignore me I will just continue talking to myself.

Mr Unknown (1:56pm): This guy beside me in Starbucks is singing ‘Let’s Get It On’. The enthusiasm he’s singing with deserves 9/10 for effort and 10/10 for creepiness.

Mr Unknown (2:04pm): Turns out it’s on repeat.

Mr Unknown (2:06pm): Oh damn! He just eyed me! I couldn’t turn my head away quick enough…

Mr Unknown (2:08pm): Oh, no! He’s moving closer. I actually need your help now! SOS! 🆘 🚁

Mr Unknown (2:12pm): I made a swift exit and now on my way home.

April 7th

Mr Unknown (7:48pm): I’m having a pretty Amy Winehouse kind of day… 😔

Miss Dial (8:03pm): Better than a Taylor Swift one, I suppose.

Mr Unknown (8:06pm): Oh my god!!! She lives!!! Please let me take this moment to fall to my knees and grovel for forgiveness.

Miss Dial (8:17pm): Apology accepted. I missed you too much.

Mr Unknown (8:17pm): I missed you too.

Chapter Text

March 25th

It all started the night she’d arrived at Kagami and Félix’s house. Marinette sat on the expensive granite worktop as she inhaled nachos and considered whether to: try out one of their many high quality beers, be civilised with a glass of fine wine or stick with plain old, boring water. Okay, so the question wasn’t actually that hard. When living like a top class business person you just had to embrace their delicacies, right? She swung her legs forward and hopped off the worktop heading straight for the wine cooler in the pantry of the kitchen.

Kagami had given her free reign whilst she was staying here, and with the business tycoon’s expensive taste she was quite sure she could discover something rather delicious hidden deep within the cupboard.

“Alexa, play night out songs.”

The opening bars of Blinding Lights began to kick in and Marinette sauntered her way around the kitchen counter and out to the back of the house. Beside the utility room stood her destination. Pulling open the door with a quick side cha cha cha, she couldn't help but lick her lips. Oh yes, once again they had filled the wine cooler, and the different colours and labels were making her mouth water.

Thank you, Kagami.

Using her index finger, Marinette trailed along the tops of the bottles; moving it backwards and forwards in a slow and steady consideration. She had a big day tomorrow so a little wine to calm her nerves would most certainly be welcomed.

With so many options to consider, she looked between the reds, the whites and the couple of rose’s, weighing up the pros and cons of each pleasant-tasting liquid. She was rather fond of a rosé but the red they had just sitting there looked rather exquisite – and expensive. Shifting between the two, she closed her eyes and grabbed the closest one — the rosé.

Making her way over to the sink, she looked for the corkscrew, finally locating it in the second drawer down. Pulling it out, Marinette looked at it curiously. How the hell did you use this ‘rich person’ corkscrew? The design just seemed ridiculously over complicated for something so simple.

Aggressively messing around with it, Marinette stabbed, twisted and turned the corkscrew in an attempt to de-cork the bottle, only for it not to even loosen a little. Finally, with another overexaggerated pull, the corkscrew popped out with pzazz; resulting in her dropping the bottle into the sink, unable to do much more than watch the sparkling pink liquid begin to make its way out of the bottle and down the plug hole.

“Shit!!”

Grabbing hold of the bottle, she stood it the correct way up and allowed the remaining liquid to resettle at the bottom. How much had just gone down the drain? Even more, how much money had she just wasted?

Marinette lifted it up and held it at her eye line, she winced as she realised she’d wasted at least a third of the liquid and from the golden decoration on the bottle neck, she guessed that quarter was at least a month’s worth of her salary. The only way to get over this was to enjoy and savour the remaining droplets now it was opened. She poured a rather significant measure into a glass and prepared to worship this the way it was intended.

Making her way back to the nachos, she strangled the bottle by the neck in one hand and the wine glass in the other placing them both down so she could hop onto the worksurface.

Happy with her adventure, she took the bowl of nachos once more. If Kagami or Felix questioned why she’d drank and entire bottle to herself the next day, she would just tell them she was settling her nerves and that her interview tomorrow called for her to be calm and collected; she would just ignore the fact almost half the Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Rose had been wasted.

Lifting the glass to her nose, she gave it a small sniff, attempting to at least be cordial about drinking this ridiculously expensive glass of wine. Marinette placed the edge of the glass to her lips and savoured the sweet taste of the squashed berries, most certain it would have quite the disco in her stomach. She had been ran off her feet from the moment she’d woken up (only 5 minutes later than planned) and unfortunately food had been put on the back burner for the majority of the day.

Nerves, plus the pain of travelling, had Marinette’s stomach truly lacking in the food department and if the way it was attempting to sing Taylor Swift was any indication, then the wine was about to hit her full throttle. She grabbed the remainder of the nachos and began to devour them again, hoping they could at least soak up a little of the alcohol. She needed to be relaxed tomorrow — not sporting a rather aggressive hangover.

When she’d arrived earlier in the day, Kagami had been waiting for her at King’s Cross station, taking her straight to the house and showing her where she would be staying for the next couple of days. Her friend had then abandoned her for the rest of the evening, heading off to the gala with her husband, Félix and giving Marinette free reign of the house for the evening — and what a house it was!

As she grabbed her next handful of nachos, ready to shove them, un-lady like, into her mouth, her phone vibrated against the counter. The loud, heavy buzz pulled her attention down to the small object.

Continuing her escapade with the nachos, Marinette pushed them all in her mouth, to free both hands and reach for her phone. 1 new message from an unknown number.

Unknown number: I’ve got a picture of my cock. Want to see?

A spray of nacho cheese came out of her mouth and she almost choked on the tiny crumbs bouncing around her in her throat and spluttering unceremoniously from her nose.

What the hell? Was she getting sexted?

Considering her options, Marinette thought about how to advance with this. She could just ignore the message and carry on with her lonely, boring evening, or she could text this unknown person back. Looking around the kitchen she decided to go with option number two, after all she had nothing better to do.

To Unknown Number: Curiosity killed the cat, you know…

Sending the message, she placed her phone on her thigh and waited for the next reply. With another reach for her nachos, she thrust another handful into her mouth; complete with too many jalapeños. Grabbing the wine glass beside her, she downed the liquid and eased the fire in her throat; just in time for Mr Unknowns' response.

Unknown Number: Did you not hear? Satisfaction brought it back. Didn’t you want to see it?

An eyebrow lifted as she read the reply, a glimmer in her eyes as her thumbs began to tap away again. Only to freeze as a picture appeared on the screen. She didn’t know whether to look, close her eyes or discard her phone across the room.

Unknown Number:

Marinette couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her mouth. No way! He actually meant a cock. She felt stupid. Completely and utterly stupid.

To Unknown Number: Ohhhh, you meant an actual cock. Why would you send someone a picture of a bird?

Lifting the wine bottle she swirled it around, giggling to herself again as she poured herself another decent amount. Her phone buzzed against her lap again and she lifted it up to look.

Unknown Number: Wait? Did you think I was going to send you a picture of my… ? Why would I do that?

Rolling her eyes she replied.

To Unknown: I don’t know! I thought you were into some weird fetish or something? Why else would you message me about pictures of your cock?

A couple of seconds later, there was another response.

Unknown Number: Because it’s a beautiful bird! If I was sexting I would have asked something like: What are you wearing right now?

To Unknown Number: Well, now you’ve asked… your mother’s dressing gown and a red liquorice thong.

Giggling to herself, Marinette placed her phone down beside her and moved her full concentration back to her wine glass and nachos. There was no way Mr Unknown would message back now.

Finally finishing the nachos, Marinette began to lick the remnants off her fingers, the buzzing on the counter indicating her new acquaintance wasn’t finished with her just yet.

Unknown Number.

Yup, there he was.

Tapping the message icon, once more she was taken to the text conversation with this unknown person and a fresh message sitting on the screen.

Unknown Number: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately my mother is no longer with us.

Marinette almost dropped the phone. Well… if that wasn’t a conversation killer, who knows what was? She felt awful. In the matter of minutes she managed to insult whoever this random guy was.

To Unknown Number: I am so sorry.

Unknown Number: I’m guessing… I’ve messaged the wrong person.

Hopping off the counter, she headed towards the comfort of the lounge, collapsing into a sofa and considering what to write next. Before her thumbs could hit the keypad, her phone buzzed with another new message. Eager.

Unknown Number: But from what I heard through the grapevine, liquorice underwear can be a little… sticky. Just thought I’d let you know.

A slight nose flare and a twitch to her lips had her thumbs frantically typing back to Mr Unknown.

To Unknown Number: Are you speaking from personal experience?

Curiosity was getting the better of her and she couldn’t ignore how much she wanted to know the answer to that question.

Unknown Number: What? Me? No! I’m an Angel 👼🏼

She snorted.

To Unknown Number: Is that why you text unknowns asking what they’re wearing? And whether they want to see your cock?

Unknown Number: The cock thing was innocent. And how do you know I wasn’t just curious about your clothing? I could be into fashion.

To Unknown Number: Ok then, Mr Unknown, what are you wearing right now?

Taking the finished bowl of nachos over to the sink, she placed the phone beside her, face up, and began to wash up; her eyes flickered to the screen of her phone every couple of seconds.

No response.

With a sigh she continued to wash up the wine glass and discard the bottle, doing whatever she could to help her resist tapping the screen and checking to see if Mr Unknown had texted her back.

Her resolve was weak, as she made her way over to her phone — one, two, three times; she groaned.

Eventually, she picked it up and stormed back to her room, closing the door behind her and sticking the phone on the charger beside the bed.

Never in her life had a message off someone she didn’t know cause this much of an effect on her? She must be drunk.

Ignoring the object that was so easily teasing her, she headed to the ensuite bathroom and started up her pre bed ritual. She needed to concentrate on what she was doing but her head just could stop gravitating to look at the charging stand. Rolling her eyes, she berated herself for being so stupid. She had an important day tomorrow, sleep should be her priority. Not a random conversation with someone she didn’t know.

Finishing brushing her teeth, Marinette almost launched the toothbrush to the moon as her phone buzzed against the stand.

Moving full speed into the bedroom, she dived forward, toothbrush in mouth, and grabbed a tight hold of the phone, scanning the name and message.

Unknown Number

Absorbing the message on the screen, Marinette once again found herself snorting. Who was this guy?

To Unknown Number: Yeah, you’re definitely not in fashion.

Marinette looked at the picture again and tried to work out if it was real or a googled image. She scoured the picture, zooming in and out, trying to see if she could find a watermark of any kind. Nope. It seemed Mr Unknown had actually taken the picture himself. ‘A’ for effort.

Unknown Number: I am offended.

Climbing into the bed, Marinette looked at the clock on the bedside table, only to see it was way past midnight. Shit! This had gone on long enough. It was time to say goodnight to Mr Unknown and get some sleep. The wine had given her a little too much of a confidence boost and she could already feel the way the room was gently swaying too and fro.

To Unknown Number: As much as I love discussing fashion with random men in socks and sandals, I have a very important day tomorrow and need to get my beauty sleep. I hope the person who wants to see your cock understands its true beauty. Goodnight.

Just as she was about to place the phone back on the wireless charger, it buzzed once again. Maybe she could just read one more. Lifting the phone back in front of her, she read the final message before pulling up her contact list, adding in Mr Unknown.

Unknown Number: Thank you for the support. Goodnight to you as well.

When the ear piercing shriek of her alarm sounded at 6 in the morning, Marinette shut it off with the idea of having an extra 2 hours sleep, that was until she realised today was the big day – her interview.

Everything had come down to this moment, to finally having a shot at designing for a world famous company. She had worked from the bottom back in Paris, but it was through those small contacts that she was here today.

Swinging her legs out of bed, she grabbed her phone and checked for any more wrong number messages, a slight disappointment only to have a message from Alya to let her know Tikki was okay and well fed with cookies.

Wandering out of the bedroom and in the direction of the kitchen, Marinette wanted nothing more than to grab a glass of water and maybe a piece of toast before transforming herself into a world class designer.

She wouldn’t say she was in the midst of a hangover, but it wasn’t too fair off the mark. She should have stopped after the first two glasses.

The house was quiet, almost too quiet, and huge! She had no idea if Kagami had wanted to start a family anytime soon – or at all – but she could easily house 6 children and 3 nannies. This old fashioned townhouse was a maze.

Marinette knew Kagami was well off, she had inherited a million dollar corporation a year ago from her mother, and Félix wasn’t exactly on the breadline either – but knowing the cost of townhouses in central London, this house was definitely worth a pretty penny or two — or maybe a million.

The levels, the bedrooms, the perfect white and black kitchen; it was something Marinette could only ever dream of. She was proud of her friend. Kagami had overcome a lot to get to this point; from the overprotective mother, to the fight to stay with her boyfriend… sorry… husband Félix, she had been through a lot and Marinette was happy for her friends happily ever after – even if there was always a tiny pang of jealousy kicking her hard in the gut.

Slowly and unsteadily, Marinette turned into the kitchen and noticed the husband in question cooking something over the stove. Luckily, Félix had seen Marinette in both worst and best situations, so the fact she was currently wearing a crop top, hot pants and plaid shirt didn’t even phase her. Even the messy bun and unbrushed teeth.

As always, Marinette saw the opportunity to get one over on Félix, heading towards him and ready to give him a quick fright. She tiptoed, holding a snicker behind her lips as she creeped closer and closer to her target. Two hands set to jab him in the ribs and cause him to squeal. Félix always gave the best squeals.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Her hands came out, fingers ready to cause a crazy spiral of uncontrollable screams. She was the prank Queen and he needed to realise that. For years their back and forth had continued to grow in intensity; Kagami being the only reason they’d never caused severe damage to the other.

She grabbed his waist, digging her fingers in and moving them around… and the reaction was priceless.

Félix screamed, loud and hard, throwing the spatula behind him and narrowly missing her head. The frying pan which housed a pancake clattered to the floor, narrowly missing her bare feet.

Unhinged and completely startled…

It was different to all the other times she’d managed to catch him off guard. Actually, a lot seemed different. His hair didn’t quite seem right, or his smell… or his framing.

Marinette studied his hair where the strands seemed a little looser than she was used to, his smell seemed more delicious and his framing… were forearms meant to be that mouth watering?

She cursed herself. How dare she ogle at Kagami’s husband! What a crap friend!

But then… something even more unfortunate happened. Félix turned to face her, and her brain almost short circuited as it scrambled to hold onto reality.

“Marinette?” Looking over her shoulder at the doorway she saw the faces of two very well dressed individuals. One Kagami, the other…

Turning her head back slowly, Marinette looked into the twinkling, green hues of Félix’s cousin. Into the eyes of the biggest pain in her teenage ass — Adrien Agreste.

Chapter Text

March 26th

Brushing down her dress, Marinette strode down Regent Street dodging the throngs of tourists trying to find Hamley’s Toy Shop or one of the many London attractions. Ducking under a rather enthusiastic flower seller, she turned off the main shopping street and headed through the maze of back streets towards where her destination was located, every now and then checking google maps and the route she was following.

She was going to be early, for once in her life Marinette Dupain-Cheng was going to be early; she was very tempted to text Alya and rub it in the reporters face. See, she would say, Marinette Dupain-Cheng was not just a lazy, chaotic mess. Also, she could fill her friend in about the way she had attacked Adrien Agreste this morning. An Adrien Agreste she hadn’t seen since college.

The mortification was still running strong as she thought about the events that preceded this moment. After she had – for want of a better phrase – physically assaulted Adrien, she’d scrambled off to her room and hid away as she got ready for her interview. She didn’t know what to say or do, instead choosing to stay away from the guy who plagued her very existence in her teenage years. Chloé might have been mean, but Adrien was something else entirely.

It seemed her one time rival was actually staying with his cousin for the next few days, something about a water pipe bursting in his own home — and yet, even after their rather public drunken argument at their wedding, Kagami and Félix had failed to let Marinette know she would be in same space as Adrien for the next few days; part of her suspected them of planning this out on purpose. It was news to no one that the lovebirds wanted them to kiss and make up. But as far as she was concerned he could kiss her…

Finding the revolving door of the building, Marinette pushed through and landed at the back of a rather intimidating line of bodies. It seemed there were quite a few people here for the interview and suddenly the positive, excited demeanour she’d arrived in London with, disintegrated into a pile of mush.

She held her bags tighter into her chest; the bag which contained her handmade outfit, the one she’d spent the better part of two weeks creating being gripped the tightest — this bag literally held the key to her future. The added pigeon feathers lining the lapels of the jacket the ‘va va voom’ to make her stand out and the risk she’d taken to guarantee her success.

Unfortunately, she just needed to get through a group interview before she could present her design to the CEO and management.

Stepping forward, Marinette inched closer and closer to the welcome desk, her eyes browsing around the area and taking in the blue and silver accents around the lobby. Black and white pictures adorned the walls, pictures of bodies from the chin down, wrists with watches, and hands with rings…

Rings.

Marinette wanted to step closer and have a look at the wall in front of her. The ring seemed to twig a familiarity in her mind, but she couldn’t quite work out why?

It was thick, and from the grayscale tone, a silver or platinum in colour. As she continued to stare, her head tilting, she hadn’t realised the person in front of her had already vacated the desk.

“Name!”

An unimpressed British accent barked out the order, almost causing Marinette to jump out of her skin.

“M-M-Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” Her name came out wobbly and slightly unnerved, not exactly the first impression she wanted to create.

“Are you here for the interview?” The woman didn’t even crack a smile, instead her fingers continued to move across the keys at an unnerving speed, not even a frown line to be seen; yet her lips pursed as she typed. Marinette puzzled whether she was having a bad day, or poisoned up on botox.

“Yes, I have my paperwork here.” Bringing her bag around to her front, Marinette began to scramble — searching through the depths of her self proclaimed ‘Mary Poppins’ bag for the paperwork sent the previous week. She was pretty certain she had placed it in there this morning – post attacking Adrien, that was.

“No need. Your name is here.”

A red lanyard with ‘visitor’ written over it was thrust in her direction, a pen following and being slammed down on the counter in front of her.

“Sign.”

“Oh,” Marinette gasped, “um – merci. Thank you.” She attempted to smile at the woman seated behind the desk; however, a glare a headmistress would be proud of was turned and aimed in Marinette’s direction. She was quite sure the woman was channelling the vibes of ‘sign or die.’ Obviously it wasn’t time for pleasantries.

Picking up the pen, Marinette concentrated on finding her name and signing herself in, the slight tremble in her hand causing the M. Dupain-Cheng to look more like N. Oupon-Chany.

“Thank you.” She pushed the paper and pen back towards the assistant, watching as it was snatched up from the desk and slammed down onto a stack of other papers.

“Interviews are taking place on the 7th floor, the lift is over there.” She pointed somewhere off to the right, Marinette taking a quick glance in hope the signing was clear. “You need to read and sign this paperwork…” Another load of paper was slammed in front of her. “... and give it to Miss Sancoeur when she takes you into the interview suite –”

“Miss Sancoeur?” Marinette interrupted.

Miss Botox looked ready to throw the pen she was holding right at Marinette’s head, obviously you didn’t interrupt this woman. Decisively ignoring her outburst, the woman carried on.

“Once the first interviews have taken place,” she said in perfect Queen’s English, “Miss Sancoeur will announce those successfully through to the next round. They will then be allocated their models ready to present their design.” She looked Marinette up and down, completely unimpressed. “If you get to that stage, you’ll be asked to alter your outfit in front of the design panel. Do you have your outfit with you? If you don't, unfortunately you will not be allowed to interview today.”

Marinette pulled her bag to her chest with a smile, tappping it like a proud school child with their homework. What was she expecting? A sticker? She smiled once more at Miss Botox.

Waiting… waiting… waiting…

Finally, the woman spoke with pure exasperation. “Any questions?” she sighed.

“Oh,” Marinette said, grabbing the paper from the desk and heading towards the elevator. “No, that’s all great. Thank you.”

Stumbling a little in the heels Kagami had made her wear, Marinette headed to the elevator and pressed the button. As she waited she looked around the foyer once again. There was something so familiar about the male hands with the ring and the topless males pecks. Where had she seen something that defined before? And the name…

Miss Sancoeur.

Miss… Sancoeur.

It couldn’t be could it?

The signal of the elevator didn’t do a lot to pull her out of her Gabriel filled thoughts, a few others who were interviewing, brushing past her as they made their way inside; one hitting her hard enough to cause her to stagger in.

It just couldn’t be the same person could it? Gabriel had gone bankrupt just over a year ago. He couldn’t have already started a new company… she was sure she would have known about it. It’s not like Adrien would have taken it over, he was far too stuck up to consider helping other people. He had millions in the bank from his modelling, he wouldn’t need his father anymore. She never really spoke to him, except during chance encounters, and Kagami rarely mentioned him in conversation knowing how fired up his name made her.

The chatter in the elevator was interrupting her thoughts – breaking any chains that were beginning to link together. Everyone was talking about how they found out about the interview and when they’d decided to apply. Marinette, however, had been lucky. It was a new company. One just finding its feet and looking to build its story in the fashion world. Kagami had forwarded the information on to her from a close friend.

A… close… friend.

No! No! It can’t be? Could that close friend be…

The elevator slowed to a complete stop, the doors opening and revealing the answer to her question.

She couldn’t help but swallow past the lump in her throat; her nostrils flaring and hands gripping tighter around the bag of the outfit she’d made for round two; the ‘round two’ she was pretty certain she wouldn’t be making.

That red streak was one she would never forget and the face was one which had stared her down time and time again as she attempted to pass homework onto Adrien.

As Marinette braced herself for Nathalie to show an ounce of recognition and then throw her out, she was sorely disappointed that she didn’t even get a slight twinge of an eyebrow. Nothing.

“Please complete the forms before going into the interview room.”

Just as she remembered, Nathalie’s voice was harsh and to the point. She was quite sure this was where Miss Botox had learned her professional conduct from — Nathalie’s harsh exterior.

Marinette moved with the group into the boardroom, feeling like cattle being ushered into a barn. She found a seat around the rather profound meeting table and settled into the chair, digging once more into her bag for a pen.

Aha!

Pulling it out and raising it like the Holy Grail, Marinette rushed through the paperwork signing away and initialling where needed. A small part of her asking to slow down and read the damn thing, but this was her dream and she’d do whatever it took to make that dream become a reality.

“Now you’re all here, we will start round one of the interviews. Those who are successful will then be asked to present their designs. From there you will be judged on your design and creation skills, along with any alterations you will need to make. You are all group four. The other three groups are already going through their process and yours will begin shortly.”

Nathalie gave everyone one last look over, before leaving the room.

“She’s terrifying,” said the girl beside Marinette.

“You have no idea!” Marinette settled back in her chair, reaching down beside her into her bag and lifting out both her phone and the paperwork she’d received back in Paris.

‘A Designs.’

A? A Designs? Marinette could only come to one conclusion: the A stood for Agreste. Dammit!

Looking at her phone she debated whether she should do her homework quickly and research who owned the company, or message Kagami with a small, yet vocal, piece of her mind. A quick decision had Marinette swiping up with full intentions of googling the company, when her phone went off in her hand instead.

Mr Unknown (10:10am): So, what are you wearing right at this moment?

Marinette smiled and looked around the room. Everyone seemed completely absorbed in themselves and their own phones, therefore no one would notice her sudden obsession with her own.

To Mr Unknown (10:13am): Today I went with a fisherman’s hat and trench coat. I swapped the wellies out for stilettos though. Dialled the wrong number again?

Placing her thumb nail in her mouth, she nibbled down on it, her lips twitching as waited for the response from the anonymous face on the other side of the phone. It didn’t take too long for the reply to appear.

Mr Unknown (10:14am): Sexy! I love a waterproof hat! Our conversation yesterday was just so riveting I wanted to message you again. Plus, there’s a question which has been playing on my mind all day.

Marinette looked at her watch. How could he have thought about it all day? It was only 10:15am. She rolled her eyes and began to message back.

To Mr Unknown: All day? That’s a bit extreme isn’t it? How long have you been awake?

Mr Unknown (10:18am): Long enough. Do you want to hear my question?

To Mr Unknown: You’re going to ask me anyway, aren’t you?

A snort left her mouth, bringing unwanted attention to her from the other interviewees in the room.

“Sorry,” she announced to the room, slumping lower into the chair and turning her attention back to her messages.

Mr Unknown (10:22am): Of course. You know me so well already.

Mr Unknown(10:22am): Anyway, I want to know if you ate your liquorice underwear?

The scoff was neither flattering or a good idea. Once more, everyone turned their attention to her, her hand waving around in apology. “Sorry,” she whispered out to the room again, pushing herself back up into the chair and trying to hold herself together.

To Mr Unknown: You seem to know me well too... I’d run out of food and had great fun eating sweets which had been up my ass.

Mr Unknown (9:25am): What you do in your free time is completely up to you! I’m not here to judge. 

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” Miss Botox had now appeared in the room, clipboard in hand and face once again void of any expression. Marinette had always been able to read people, so to have someone so annulled terrified Marinette. She prayed this woman wouldn’t be on the panel.

“Here!” Marinette stood up and raised one hand, before scooping all her items together and throwing them in her bag. She scrambled towards the doorway, apologising to those her bag hit on the way.

Eventually, she was out of the room and following Miss Botox down the corridor, her handmade costume once again grasped tightly to her chest.

“In here.”

The door was flung open and Marinette was guided inside. Her feet stopped dead yet didn’t communicate this to her brain as  her body continued forward, causing her to stumble and collapse into a seat.

Trying to gain composure, Marinette sat down and looked into the three pairs of eyes opposite. Nathalie Sancoeur and the Agrestes.

Chapter Text

Mr Unknown (9:27am): Was it red or black liquorice?

Marinette was back in the boardroom – mortified, embarrassed and quite sure she’d just made a humongous ass out of herself. Could this day actually get any worse? Not only had she mistaken Adrien for Felix this morning, but now she was being interviewed by the same guy! It seemed ‘A Designs’ actually stood for Agreste Designs — Gabriel’s new brand in conjunction with his son.

Thank god the interviews were group interviews or she may have died from humiliation. After falling into her chair and having to contend with Adrien literally bursting out laughing, the other three hopefuls came into the interview room too. Why they couldn’t have all entered together was beyond her? Perhaps Adrien had asked for Marinette to come in first and make a complete tit out of herself before others joined too; giving him the laugh he craved and making sure she didn’t go any further in this process.

One thing was for certain though, there was zero shock on his face from her arrival. He knew she was going to be there, only adding to the chagrin from this morning – even more so when Adrien questioned the hopefuls on their professional conduct and desire to play ‘practical jokes’; his eyes firmly set on hers. Asshole.

To Mr Unknown: Would you like to expand on this?

She sat down at the large conference desk and buried her head in her arms against the table top. To be fair, it hadn’t gone badly, but with Adrien’s presence and snide remarks she had stumbled on a couple of questions which should have been child’s play to her. She had tried to keep her eyes on the senior leader at the table, giving Gabriel Agreste all she could in hopes he would see her as an asset to the brand and not just ‘the girl that fell into her chair’. Lifting her head from the table, she quickly grabbed her phone and dropped a message to Mr Unknown. She needed to speak to someone unbiased. Luckily, he was right there waiting.

Mr Unknown (10:53am): Everyone knows red is superior.

To Mr Unknown: Red is fake liquorice, any true sweet lover knows it’s all about the black. It just has that special thing.

Mr Unknown (10:56am): Are we still on about sweets or your preference for when it comes to the colour of your underwear? 🧐

To Mr Unknown: Wouldn’t you like to know? 😉

Mr Unknown (10:57am): That’s exactly why I asked!

Her heart skipped a beat as bubbles appeared informing her he was typing again. Marinette wasn’t sure she could handle this… she needed to divert the conversation and fast. She didn’t flirt… she didn’t know how too; even hiding behind her phone.

To Mr Unknown: Actually, can I ask you a question?

The bubbles stopped and disappeared, and she guessed he was either deleting the message or copy and pasting it to send to her later. The bubbles suddenly started up again and Marinette messed with the end of her ponytail, wrapping it around her finger in a nervous disposition.

Mr Unknown (11:01am): Sure. Just be careful you don’t go too personal. Anonymity remember. Oh, and FYI my liquorice underwear is a twisted red and black combo.

An uncontrolled snort left her nose, the other interviewees once again staring over at her.

I bet they never thought they’d be interviewing with Miss Piggy, she thought, turning her attention back to the phone once again.

To Mr Unknown: Oooo, sexy! I bet all the girls love a combo! And staying anonymous, are we? Why’s that? Are you a catfish?

Mr Unknown (11:03am): I’m as real as they get, Babe.

To Mr Unknown: Babe?

Mr Unknown (11:04am): What? Not a babe kind of girl?

To Mr Unknown: How do you know I’m a girl? Have you not watched my fake fiancée?

Marinette wasn’t entirely sure what it was about Mr Unknown, but there was something oddly comforting about messaging him. It relaxed her in a way she hadn't in years, the conversation free flowing and without expectations. It was oddly satisfying. Unsure whether it was the fact she was hiding behind the phone, or that she had no idea who this guy was, something just felt… good.

As her phone vibrated against the table in front of her, an excitement shot over Marinette in search of the latest reply.

Mr Unknown (11:07am): So you’re a dude and you're my fiancé? Cool!

She began to snicker as she messaged back, a sound she was sure Muttley would be proud of.

To Mr Unknown: I’ll sort the cake 😉 By the way, I’d gladly swap the babe for a sweetheart. It’s cuter, don’t you think?

Nathalie walked into the room, ceasing Marinette’s text-a-thon and causing her to place her phone down, turning her full attention to the front and her pending fate.

“As you all know, we are only taking 6 applicants through to the design stage. So, I am truly sorry to those who haven’t made it. Your character just doesn’t fit in with our brand.”

Marinette winced, a personal knock down…great – which 100% meant she was going home. She was not someone Adrien ever wanted to spend time with – their lack of communication over the years of ‘knowing’ each other was a determining factor to her possibility of getting this job.

Dropping her phone into her bag, she began to gather her things together ready to leave. She still had a couple of days before her train to return home was scheduled so if she spoke to Kagami and Félix, maybe they could give her a few pointers of where to go. She heard Madame Tussauds was an interesting day out, or maybe she could visit The London Eye.

“… and Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

As her name was called out, Marinette caused a ruckus in the room. Her knee collided hard with the underside of the table and sent the glass of water belonging to the person next to her on a journey to escape. She’d made it through to the next round. Whether it was through her skills or Adrien’s want to see her make a complete arse out of herself; she didn’t care. She was going to present her design to Gabriel Agreste – a dream come true.

Diving forward, Marinette attempted to stop the water from soaking everything in its path; however, using her hands to flick the water back to the middle of the table and mutter curse words under her breath probably wasn’t the best way to go about the situation. As Miss Botox came back in with paper towels, Marinette apologised before slumping back in her seat.

Reaching forward, she took her phone from the table and pulled up Kagami’s number.

To Kagami: We will be talking when I get back later.

Marinette apologised once more and watched as many other designers left the room; herself and only 5 others remaining. She couldn’t help but let out an excited wiggle in her seat. They all thought she was mental anyway so why not give them a little more to cling on to.

“Now, it’s down to just you 6. I hope your designs are ready to be broadcast to the panel. You will be marked on creativity, fit and style. We will now lead you to the changing area for you to meet your model and dress then ready for the next round. Please gather your belongings and follow me.”

Nathalie waited for them all to grab their bags and began to lead them down a corridor lined with doors on each side. A quick glance at her phone saw a new message from Mr Unknown.

Mr Unknown (11:18am): If I’m calling you sweetie, what nickname do I get?

The group slowed down to a stop outside a room and Marinette quickly fired off a message.

To Mr Unknown: Sorry, Mr Unknown. Gotta go.

Pocketing her phone, she focused on what was in front of her and the fact she was about to meet her model. Her head needed to firmly be in the moment, not discussing nicknames with a possible catfish.

Opening the door, Nathalie led them into the room, the area sectioned off into numerous dressing rooms; each with their own hair and makeup station and stylist. One by one they were sent forward, the model and designer greeting each other in an excited hug – similar to what she had seen before on Project Runway.

There were two of them left. Herself and a guy called Greg.

Stopping at the next station, Marinette looked at the handsome model leaning against the workstation, phone in hand and a smile on his face. He was attractive, and the hazel eyes and dark brown hair would make her outfit pop. Suddenly she was very excited about what she had designed, knowing full well this guy would make it look even better.

“Mark, these are two of our final applicants.”

“Hello.” Mark’s accent was very British, and similar to the dodgy show Félix had made her watch a couple of times. What was it called? Westenders?

Marinette smiled and waved awkwardly, Greg greeting the model a whole lot more confidently… as if he already knew him.

“Greg, I know you have already met with Mark for a fitting this morning so you will be presenting first.”

Oh, great! Marinette thought. Her perfect model wasn’t hers and looking around the room there was no one left. Perhaps this was a cruel joke?

Marinette watched as the two fell into natural conversation, Mark already fawning over Greg’s design and grabbing the clothing bag from him with a squeal. She sighed and turned back to Nathalie who seemed to be studying her for some reason.

“Follow me,” she eventually said, leading Marinette out of a doorway and into another corridor.

Walking silently behind, she wondered where Nathalie was taking her. Was she just going to throw her out of the building? Or had Adrien actually set her up? Was this pay back for attacking him this morning? Some sort of strange revenge? She knew Adrien was one for practical jokes, he’d played enough of them on her during collége, but would he actually go this far?

“Now, I know you haven’t had as much preparation time as the others considering you were in the last group of interviewees, and for that reason you’ll be last to present, along with your model being one of our best.”

Marinette nodded, even though Nathalie couldn’t see her, and continued following behind like a young penguin.

“He’s in a separate room as privacy is part of his contract. There will be a bodyguard outside of his doorway at all times and a makeup and hair stylist will be along shortly to perfect his look. He’s not to do anything by himself – we have the staff employed to do it for him.”

Wow! Great! She was working with the company's stuck up snob! A clear indication that whoever this dude was, was going to be a massive jackass. Shit!

“Sure,” Marinette said, faking a smile.

They continued to move down the corridor, Marinette wondering how far they were going into this building. Pulling out her phone she quickly dropped out one more message.

To Mr Unknown: If you hear about a girl that was thrown out of a window on the 12th floor of a building, that girl is me and I would like you to pass on this message to my Papa: As much as I enjoy his chocolate macaroons, the Moreau family makes them slightly better and all through collége I sneakily swapped the ones he gave me for ones from the Moreau’s Boulangerie.

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she almost crashed into the back of Nathalie as the woman stopped abruptly outside of a door.

“You have 30 minutes to get ready and someone will come and escort you down to the interview room when it’s your time.” She turned the handle and pushed the door open leaving Marinette standing in the threshold.

No! It couldn’t be.

From behind he looked exactly like her best friend's husband, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. She cleared her throat and stood tall; an attempt was exerting confidence.

“Good to see you again, Agreste.”

Chapter Text

Adrien

To Miss Dial: I’ll keep my eyes on the news sites then.

To Miss Dial: Hang on… Moreau's? Are you French? Why are we texting in English if you’re French?

To Miss Dial: Probably because you didn’t know I was French too. Surprise! I’m French.  

To Miss Dial: Moreau’s in Paris? It’s okay for the sweets but personally, I prefer croissants from a small boulangerie just around the corner. #themeaningoflifeisflakypastry

Pocketing his phone, he leaned against the dressing table in his room. He hated how he was sectioned off from the other models, his name once again giving him the treatment he didn’t want and definitely didn’t deserve. Completely isolated and bored out of his mind. He was so tempted to pull out a chunk of Camembert just to wake Plagg from his early morning nap. With the lack of any good action recently, his small kwami had taken to sleeping a lot more… almost as if he’d gone into hibernation. 

When Adrien had been asked to stand in as a model that morning, he was just about ready to scream. The promotion to the corporate role in his father’s ‘new and improved’ company was meant to end his modelling commitments, but of course he was always convinced to help out with one more shoot, and one more show, and now this. He was utterly fed up with being dressed up like a life sized Barbie doll. 

So when they’d asked, his first response was to say ‘no’, that was until his father very smugly told him that without him doing it ‘Ms. Dupain-Cheng’s interview ends there.’ Arrogant bastard! He’d agreed, not wanting to be the reason Marinette’s hard work was a waste of time. She was a very talented girl, often showing her skills although collége and into lycée, creating wonderful items for her friends and, if he was lucky, him. 

It had been a shock to see Marinette again that morning. They hadn’t been face to face since Félix and Kagami’s wedding — the whole argument was still one told as a historical moment between the two. It wasn’t that they didn’t get on… they just didn’t get on. He was too sarcastic for her, and she saw him as the arrogant asshole he certainly was not. 

He was still curious as to why she’d applied for this job knowing full well she’d have to work with him? Maybe she wanted to make amends — which he was completely onboard with. He liked Marinette, he found her entertaining and cute. Each of her little stumbles bringing a smile to his face and a chuckle to his heart… though every laugh just seemed to make her more pissed off with him. Today’s interview was no different.

His phone suddenly weighed heavy in his hand, an obsessive twitch had him tapping the screen one, two, three times. Where had his miss dial  gone? She couldn’t just leave him hanging like that? What if she was in trouble and she needed his help?

He turned and looked out the window; he was currently on the 8th floor and the drop was quite substantial; he hated the idea of his Miss Dial contemplating skydiving from somewhere higher. 

She must have been joking, right? 

Looking towards his bag, he contemplated waking the cheese gremlin and transforming to go and save her. Not that he knew who she was or where she was. 

“You have 30 minutes to get ready and someone will come and grab you when we’re ready to continue.” 

He heard Nathalie's voice outside of the door. 

Checking his phone one last time with a sigh, he threw it aggressively into his bag and made his way to the centre of the room. Time to look enthusiastic and present himself as professional and willing. He needed to channel his inner-teen heartthrob mode and win her this job; maybe then he could win her friendship. 

A small smile graced his lips as he thought back to Marinette’s interview. She really did know how to put a smile on his face. The easy to and fro as they bantered and the way she didn’t put up with any of his shit, always sent a jitter to his heart. She was hard hitting and blunt; the perfect combination for someone wanting to be part of this world, and a personality he’d missed battling with since their collége days.

A click sounded before the door slowly creeped open, Marinette’s cute face looking at him as though she wanted to pick up the closest object and hurl it full throttle at his head. 

“Good to see you again, Agreste.” Her jaw was so tight he thought it was about to snap. 

“The pleasure’s all mine, Dupain-Cheng.” Smiling brightly at her, he prayed she’d at least give him something back… a twitch of the lips… a glistening in her eyes… anything…

“30 minutes,” Nathalie reiterated before closing the door behind her. 

Silence encompassed the room. How had this suddenly become so awkward? What was he meant to do? Hug her and say no hard feelings about her attack on him this morning? Forget it had ever happened? Or do his usual thing of cracking a nervous joke?

“Shall I turn around? I know you like to greet people with a jab to the ribs.” Dammit! Why the hell did he say that? 

Once again she’d caught him off balance. Marinette in all her Marinette gloriousness; he’d never be able to vocalise the true affect this girl had on him. Even more so, when she was standing in the kitchen in those tiny shorts with her midriff on show; and the craziest bun he’d ever seen bouncing around on her head. No matter what, there was always something mesmerising about Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

“Har-har!” She rolled her eyes in the most adorable way and headed to the clothing rail, placing her garment bag delicately and lowering the zipper. “Put this on! I don’t know whose measurements they sent me, but I’m quite certain they’re not yours.” 

Unhooking two objects from the hanger, she threw the larger one in Adrien’s direction, his hands reaching out to catch it before it touched the floor. 

Securely in his hands, he held it out in front of him to study. 

Oh dear Lord, no! 

“I can’t wear this,” he said, looking up towards her and hoping he wasn’t about to make an absolute idiot of himself. 

Breathe slowly, Adrien! Control! Control !

“It’s not my fault the measurements were wrong. Just put it on, I’m sure I can work it out.” She wasn’t even looking at him. Could she not remember?

“I wasn’t your original model, it was –”

“Look, Adrien.” She finally looked up at him and gave him one of her famed eye rolls. “I know this morning didn’t go exactly as planned, but can you, for once in your life, not be a dipshit and just do what I’m asking you too.” 

She’d called him a dipshit, and as much as he would have loved to laugh out loud at that comment, the itch in his nose was telling him something different. He was going to sneeze.

“Marinette, I swear, I’m not being… I’m not…”

“Adrien, just please! This job means everything to me! If you didn’t want me here, you could have kicked me out after the interviews.” She turned back to do something else, his eyes blurring with the intense feeling building behind his eyes.

“Why would I …” He had to stop talking; the feeling in his nose was so painfully intense, he was sure that in the next couple of seconds he was about to explode in the most grotesque of  ways. He needed her to understand. 

“Can you remember —” He stopped again and closed his eyes. Calm. Calm. “Can you remember the school project where you designed the hat?” 

His eyes began to itch with such an intensity, he was considering trying to find something to claw them out. Maybe there was a fork somewhere he could use? Or maybe he could transform into Chat Noir and use his claws? Or maybe Plagg could just cataclysm his face? 

“Oh my god!” she muttered quietly, her eyes widening as she seemed to remember her rather epic fail back in their teens. “Oh my god!” 

Rushing towards him, he could tell her aim was to grab the jacket before it was covered in ‘Mucus a la Agreste’. However, it was too late. The itchy eyes and tingling nose won the battle. Adrien let out a monstrous sneeze and threw the delicate, handmade garment across the room in a cheap bid to protect it.

The feathers, which had been perfectly positioned on the lapel of the jacket, scattered over their heads, leaving a raven rainbow in its wake. The feathers were beautiful; a mix of pigeon and raven, the bluish/purple sheen a wonderful sight for his watering eyes — but now they were free roaming.

Adrien sneezed again. 

And again. 

And again. 

“I swear I didn’t do this on purpose!” she shrieked, hurrying around with her hands outstretched. 

Adrien attempted to keep track of her as she scrambled around the room like a little mouse after cheese. What the hell was she looking for? 

Another couple of sneezes had him closing his eyes. He couldn’t remember when he’d had a reaction this intense.

Suddenly, a tissue was shoved on his nose a little more forcefully than needed causing him to stumble back and take her with him. His hands absentmindedly grabbed a tight hold on her hips, in an attempt to keep them both stable.

Landing on the dresser, Marinette straddled his lap with one knee on the dresser; his arms wrapped tighter around her in a need to keep her from falling; her own hands still on his nose — complete with tissue. Time seemed to freeze as they remained eye to eye, Marinette’s hands moving down slowly and cupping together as they froze on his chest.

“I didn’t know it was for you,” she whispered. His heart was pounding in his chest as she made no attempt to escape. His whole body on high alert from the close proximity, his hands finding it hard to relax and let her go.

For some reason, having Marinette against him, their faces mere inches apart, felt like the most natural thing in the world. 

Adrien found himself looking at her soft pink lips as they glistened like a siren, begging for someone to come and acquaint themselves with them. The air around them crackled as he became fully absorbed in her eyes. The tiny flicker of grey accenting the alluring blue, something he’d never noticed before.

As he absorbed himself in her gaze, a pin pricked the bubble, popping the mood as a bang on the door signalled the arrival of the styling team. 

“I need to…” Marinette scrambled away, Adrien’s hand stretching to the back of his neck in embarrassment. 

“Yeah, yeah, of course.” 

He watched as she walked away, gathering the jacket from the floor and continuing to put her things together; her command’s short and direct, ordering the styling team around and demanding Adrien be ushering into his seat. 

Taking the jacket to the work table, she began to pluck it like a chicken; disembodying it one feather at a time. 

As the style team began to boss him around, directing him to look up, down, left and right, Adrien couldn’t help but wonder what she was going to do with the suit. A guilty feeling kicked him hard in the stomach as he realised his allergic reaction could have just cost her the job. 

He pulled his phone from his pocket and sent a message, trying to keep his mind off whether another sneezing fit was in the process of building up.

To Miss Dial: What would be worse: losing your ability to smell or losing your ability to taste?

It didn’t take long before his misdial messaged him back.

Miss Dial (12:00pm): Taste, of course! At least losing my ability to smell would make commuting on the Metro a lot more enjoyable #BOisnotfresh #thestinkyonesloveme

Smiling, he placed his phone back in his pocket; his eyes wandering over to Marinette as she moved frantically around the room. She was a chaotic mess, completely unhinged and frazzled, but right at this moment he couldn’t think of any better sight.

Chapter Text

Miss Dial (6:56pm): Hey, it’s me! Can you come out to play?

Mr Unknown (6:57pm): Hey, me! My mum said I have until 7:30pm but then I need to go to bed… no electronics after lights out, you know 😆

Miss Dial (6:56pm): Ugh! Please tell me that was a joke. I’m not in the mood to guess tonight...

Mr Unknown (7:01pm): What’s got your panties in a twist?

Miss Dial (7:03pm): Talking about my panties again? I’m starting to think you’re a pervert, Mr Unknown.

Mr Unknown (7:04pm): Don’t you push the blame onto me when you were the one who brought up your liquorice panties in the first place.

Miss Dial (7:05pm): *sigh* I’m trying to understand why you were my first port of call after such a crappy day.

Mr Unknown: Sent you an invitation to play ‘Hero Disguise’

Miss Dial (7:08pm): Hero Disguise? Really?

Mr Unknown (7:09pm): Why not? We can just chill and take your mind off the day for a little while. Or maybe we could play something like 20 questions? Get to know each other a little better.

Miss Dial: Accepted the invitation to play ‘Hero Disguise’

Miss Dial (7:11pm): Doesn’t that kind of kill the anonymity between us?

Mr Unknown (7:12pm): Not if we keep it just to vague questions. Ones that can’t pinpoint who we are. Not that you’d spot me in a crowd anyway. We could just ask each other random questions…

Mr Unknown (7:12pm): Like what’s your favourite food? Or how many times have you been kissed? No descriptive questions.

Mr Unknown has selected a hero.

Clue number one they wear glasses.

Miss Dial you have 3 tries to get it correct.

Off you go…

Miss Dial (7:13pm): Ok. How many?

Mr Unknown (7:14pm): How many what?

Miss Dial (7:15pm): How many times have you been kissed?

Miss Dial guessed Carapace. The answer was correct. Miss Dial has 1 point.

Mr Unknown (7:16pm): How was that answer correct? I demand a recount!

Miss Dial (7:16pm): What do you mean? Carapace does wear glasses!

Mr Unknown (7:17pm): I’m quite sure he doesn’t!

Miss Dial (7:18pm): Are you just trying to get out of the conversation? Is your number count that high 😱 Oooooo… Mr Unknown is a modern day slut! OMG, are you a player? Let me guess… treat them mean and keep them keen? The socks and sandals must really work for you.

Mr Unknown (7:18pm): I’m not trying to get out of anything! I’m just saying your answer was wrong. Carapace wears goggles, not glasses!

Mr Unknown (7:18pm): And no I’m not a ‘player’. I barely play the game at all.

Miss Dial (7:19pm): I’m 100% certain that Carapace wears glasses.

Mr Unknown (7:22pm): They’re goggles!!! The only one who wears glasses is Peagusus.

Miss Dial (7:23pm): I’ve seen Carapace up close! I think I know what he wears!

Mr Unknown (7:23pm): I have too and they are goggles! Why the hell would a turtle need glasses? He’s not going to go and read a book, he dives underwater.

Miss Dial (7:24pm): And a horse is??? I’m quite sure Black Beauty didn’t involve a horse reading War and Peace.

Mr Unknown (7:25pm): Proof!!!

Miss Dial (7:26pm): You can’t use a screenshot of Mister Ed as evidence in your case.

Mr Unknown (7:27pm): Mister Ed is the greatest horse show of all time! How dare you diss him! Meany!

Miss Dial (7:28pm): Are you drunk?

Mr Unknown (7:29pm): I may have had a glass or two of wine…

Miss Dial (7:31pm): Tough day?

Mr Unknown (7:32pm): It’s not been my favourite...

Miss Dial selected a hero.

Clue One: This hero has a necklace.

Mr Unknown you have 3 tries to get it correct.

Off you go…

Mr Unknown (7:33pm): Any additional clues?

Miss Dial (7:33pm): Depends on how many people you’ve kissed?

Mr Unknown (7:34pm): This seems ridiculously important to you, soooo… if you must know… 2.

Miss dial (7:36pm): 2? As in 2 people?

Mr Unknown guessed Rena Rouge.

The answer is incorrect… 2 tries remaining…

Mr Unknown (7:37pm): WHAT!!!!! How is that wrong? Who the hell created this game?

Miss Dial (7:38pm): Once again avoiding the subject! You must be a catfish.

Mr Unknown (7:39pm): I’m not avoiding the question… I’m angry because I know I’m right! This game is fixed!

Miss Dial (7:39pm): You chose it!

Mr Unknown (7:40pm): Yeah, well, now I’m unchoosing it.

Mr Unknown has ended the game.

Miss Dial (7:41pm): That’s not a word.

Mr Unknown (7:41pm): Don’t care… here…

Mr Unknown wants to play ‘Debatable’

Miss Dial (7:42pm): Ooooo… I like this game.

Miss Dial has accepted the invitation to play ‘Debatable’

The first question will be sent through immediately… text NEXT for a new question. Have fun 😃

Miss Dial (7:43pm): You still haven’t answered my question.

Debate 1:

Iron Man was the reason The Avengers beat Thanos. Debate.

Mr Unknown (7:44pm): Fine, if it makes you happy. The truth is… yes, I have been kissed. No, it’s literally 2 kisses from one person during akumas. Both were on different days and nothing came from them. Happy?

Miss Dial (7:45pm): If it makes you feel any better… My kiss count is the same and the story is very similar too.

Mr Unknown (7:46pm): It actually does. Thank you for that.

Miss Dial (7:47pm): You’re welcome. So… Iron Man… easy! Yes!

Mr Unknown (7:48pm): What? No!

Miss Dial (7:49pm): What do you mean ‘no’? If it wasn’t for Iron Man, Thanos would have won again!

Mr Unknown (7:49pm): Sit back, relax, and enjoy my story…

Mr Unknown (7:55pm): Yes, Iron Man was the reason they eventually won… however, if it wasn’t for Ant Man coming back from the Quantum zone, they wouldn’t have known how to go back for the tesseract, and all that bit in the lift where they tied it back to the first movie. So in my eyes, if it wasn’t for Ant Man then they couldn’t have won. *Mic drop*

Miss Dial (7:58pm): Pick that mic back up and dust it off. If you’re going to push it onto Ant Man, then may I raise you The Hulk. He was the one who filled them all in about Thanos in the first place.

Mr Unknown (8:00pm): Miss Miss Dial, you make a great point, and may I say – your in-depth knowledge of The Avengers is quite the turn on.

Miss Dial (8:02pm): Sooooooo… I win?

Mr Unknown (8:04pm): Nope. We’ll agree to disagree.

Mr Unknown (8:04pm): NEXT.

Debate 2:

Who has the most embarrassing story? Share your secret now.

Miss Dial (8:05pm): Ha! You don’t have a chance on this one. I have enough stories to take down the world.

Mr Unknown (8:06pm): Really? Why?! Did you walk into your hotel room to find your ex-girlfriend and cousin having ‘relations’?

Miss Dial (8:07pm): Firstly, call it what it is… sex, and secondly… I am so sorry. That must have been awful.

Mr Unknown (8:08pm): Ugh! I’m over it. Just glad I didn’t go through with a proposal.

Miss Dial (8:09pm): You were going to propose? 😢

Mr Unknown (8:11pm) Nope 😂😂

Miss Dial (8:12pm): I don’t feel sorry for you anymore.

Mr Unknown (8:14pm): Oh, come on!

Miss Dial (8:15pm): I bet it was all a lie!

Mr Unknown (8:17pm): I swear it’s the truth! I still have nightmares of my cousin’s naked tush… and… ugh! What about you?

Miss Dial (8:18pm): I see your cheating and raise you… being blown over whilst in a port-a-potty…

Mr Unknown (8:19pm): Is that it?

Miss Dial (8:21pm): I wish! It had blown over onto the door with me locked inside. I wasn’t clean for at least a week after that day. I still get nightmares about it now.

Mr Unknown (8:22pm): How long were you in there?

Miss Dial (8:22pm): An hour!

Mr Unknown (8:23pm): Take the crown. I can’t beat shit like that.

Miss Dial has left ‘Debatable’

Mr Unknown (8:24pm): I hope I haven’t done anything to offend you.

Mr Unknown (8:38pm): Goodnight then, Miss Dial.

Miss Dial (9:13pm): Sorry, I just had a really important call. Goodnight, sweet dreams 😴

Mr Unknown (9:35pm): Sleep well 💤

Chapter Text

Marinette

Placing her phone on charge, Marinette headed out of her bedroom and down into the main lounge; she hoped to grab Kagami before going to bed needing to vent about the day before sharing her amazing news. She’d got the job… for some unknown reason Marinette Dupain-Cheng was a new senior designer for ‘A Designs’ and she was ready to spontaneously combust.

The interview, and Adrien’s snickering, had only been a margin of the horror she’d faced whilst continuing her process. After almost sending Adrien to the emergency room for a rather severe allergic reaction, she had to present her altered design to the judges – a design not made for this model and one bare and boring compared to how it originally looked. Gabriel grilled her to the nth degree. What material? What stitching? Why the distressed look around the lapel? She’d answered them all the best she could but the interview was well and truly over when she told Gabriel that his son wasn’t the target audience because he didn’t have ‘the right look’.

She wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

Marinette had offended the lead model, the inspiration of the company and still managed to get the job. She didn’t know if she was lucky or they were stupid.

Making her way down the staircase, she could hear the sound of male laughter originating from the kitchen and a tv playing some sort of fencing match in the lounge; she guessed that would be where Kagami was relaxing.

Ignoring the chortles echoing out the kitchen, Marinette made her way to the lounge, correct in her judgement that that was where Kagami would be; the business entrepreneur lounging back on the sofa with a glass of red wine in hand.

Marinette leaned one shoulder into the doorframe as she eyed her friend. Her backstabbing, betraying friend. The ex-fencer hadn’t even looked up, instead she was enthralled by the tv, her focus remaining dead set in front of her.

“I got the job,” Marinette announced, her voice steering clear of any emotion. She was almost one hundred percent sure Kagami would already know this; that either Adrien had told her already or she had been one of the deciding factors of why she got the job, the Tsuragi company still a major shareholder of the older Agreste.

“Cheers!” Kagami said, raising her glass as her eyes remained firmly locked on the television; not a hint of anything in her voice.

Rolling her eyes, Marinette pushed from the wall and headed over to where Kagami was and took the seat beside her, making sure she bounced her friend and gathered her attention. Unable to grab Kagami’s attention from the television, Marinette went in for the kill.

“Did you not think to tell me anything about Adrien? Do you love to see me embarrass myself?”

Finally, Kagami turned towards Marinette and raised a questioning eye. Lifting the glass of wine to her lips, Kagami took a swig as her eyes remaining firmly on her friend. Marinette glared back, unwilling to show any weakness to her friend.

Kagami shrugged, then said. “It wasn’t my idea to tickle the guy as he was flipping pancakes.”

“I thought it was Felix,” responded Marinette, her teeth gnawing together as she spoke. The sudden outburst seemed comical to Kagami, as the tycoon burst out laughing.

“Which then begs me to ask why were you tickling my husband?” A glistening shone in her friends eyes and Marinette wanted to blow in her face to remove it. Why did she always end up in these situations? How did she keep doing this to herself?

Marinette’s hands shot to her face as she fell back into the sofa. “Just kill me now!”

“Where would the fun be if I did that?” Kagami laughed, reaching forwards and pouring a secondary glass of wine.

“Arrrggghhh,” she said, hands still tightly over her eyes. “I never ask you for much, but please could you drive over me with your car?”

Kagami burst out laughing once again, moving to place the glass down before reaching for Marinette’s hands and pulling them from her face.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you it was for Gabriel’s new company. Adrien was excited when he saw you’d applied, I didn’t have the heart to tell him you didn’t have a clue.”

“Why the hell did you do that? You know the history between me and Adrien?”

Kagami rolled her eyes and grabbed her wine glass again. After taking a rather impressive gulp she said, “Don’t you think it’s time to let bygones be bygones? It was 10 years ago, Marinette.”

“He was a pompous twat Kagami! Why would I want to be friends with someone who called me, and I quote, ‘a chaotic mess with major issues’.”

Marinette crossed her arms and glared at Kagami, looking for any indication she was going to defend the blond model once again. Kagami moved forwards on her seat. Bingo! There it was!

“Listen, Marinette, you know I love you, but you can’t hold a grudge for a conversation you eavesdropped on a decade ago. You need to either ask him about it or forget it! It could have been anything! It might not have even been about you!”

A snort left her nose. She knew what she had heard and it didn’t matter how many times Kagami attempted to play Adrien’s ‘twatiness’ down, there was no way this feud was ending anytime soon. His dig at her during his best man speech at Kagami and Félix’s wedding should have solidified their battle to their friends and she would not be the one to cave in first.

“So are you going to fill me in on the interview?” Kagami asked, filling a second glass with wine and handing it over to Marinette.

“I don’t know where to start?” Marinette groaned. “It went from bad, to worse, to dismal. But surprisingly Nathalie just called and gave me the job. I’m both thrilled and confused about how I got it.”

“But?” Kagami asked, moving herself forward to match Marinette’s position.

“I can’t help but think I didn’t get it on merit. Something doesn’t feel right.” Marinette’s eyes remained looking down into her wine glass. A slight spiral of the liquid, keeping her in a trance.

“You don’t seem happy about it,” Kagami stated, only to be met by Marinette’s shrug.

“I don’t know if I am. It’s just…”

“Hey girls.”

Looking up, Marinette watched as Félix and Adrien moved into the lounge and took up residence on another sofa. “What have we missed?” Félix asked, looking between the two girls with a devilish smile on his face.

One thing about Felix Fathom was his unpredictability, you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth next.

“Oh, I was just letting Kagami know how she can divorce you easily. I’ve given her the websites and everything.” Marinette smirked, taking a small swig of her wine, Adrien turning his laugh into a cough as he sat beside his cousin.

Félix turned his glare on his cousin, Adrien shrugging and continued swigging down his wine.

“At least it’s not how to murder me. Although, you seem to have had good practise today — with my cousin here.” Felix slammed a hand down on Adrien’s shoulder and chuckled, Marinette feeling her face heat as she stood and said her good nights.

As if her day hadn’t been mortifying enough, why oh why did Felix decide to bring it up again and this time with Adrien in earshot. She was struggling to look at him, everytime she did she either fantasised about being pressed up against his hard body, or him letting out a snot filled sneeze during the catwalk and presentation of the outfit. It seemed her feather removal wasn’t as efficient as she’d originally thought.

During the final interview, Adrien had been amazing; he modelled her design perfectly, seeming to understand the look she was going for… even after plucking the majority of the feathers from the lapel. At the end of the catwalk he’d slid it from his body and slung it over one shoulder, attempting to hold it in a way the remaining feathery bits were clear from making him sneeze. What was most annoying though, was he still looked hot even when moving his nose like a bunny.

They hadn’t spoken too much through the fitting, the question and answer session, or before she’d left, the accidental fall playing on her mind time and time again as she thought about the feel of his body as she was pressed up against him. God, she hated herself for being so weak to a man’s body.

Making her way into the kitchen, she managed to keep her cool right up until the wine glass was placed in the sink and her head was in the depths of the fridge attempting to cool down a fraction or two.

Don’t think of Adrien’s body.

Don’t think about the hot, solid feel and wooden, masculine scent.

“You know, no matter how deep you look, you’ll never end up in Narnia.” The sound of Adrien’s voice had her startled, her head shooting up and colliding with the shelving units within the object.

“Ouch!”

“Shit! Sorry! I didn’t mean… I didn’t… are you okay?” Scrambling forwards, Adrien placed a hand on her head as she attempted to pull herself out of the fridge.

Great, just another catastrophe to end the day with!

Moving from Adrien’s grasp, she stumbled to one of the bar stools, her hand resting on the bump slowly forming on her head.

“Here.” The sound of the freezer being opened and closed echoed through the sparse kitchen as Adrien found an ice pack and wrapped it in a towel. He stepped towards her and placed it on her head.

“I’ve got it.” She took it from him and held it, her expression asking him to move away and his body accepting.

Marinette watched as Adrien walked around to the other side of the counter. His wine glass was already waiting for him as he hopped on the stool opposite to her. Why couldn’t he just go to bed? Or stay with Felix and Kagami in the lounge? He liked fencing, didn’t he? Shouldn’t he be in there with them?

“So, have you heard from Nathalie?” He looked nervous. He was probably worried about her accepting the job and him having to work with her for the rest of his life. The whole notion of pissing off Adrien made her next words feel all the more sweeter.

“Yes, and I’ve got the job.” The smug smile she had earlier reappeared; however, it was swiftly wiped off when Adrien met her smile with his own 100 watt one.

What the hell?

“That’s amazing! I knew you could do it.” His smile didn’t falter as he took another sip of his wine. She watched the glass touch his lips and cursed herself for staring, her own tongue moving out to lick her own. There was no doubt Adrien Agreste was magnificent eye candy, however that didn’t stop him from being a pretentious ass.

“When do you start?” Adrien asked, her eyes taking on a fast blink as she tried to turn her focus elsewhere.

“Tomorrow,” Marinette replied. He probably already knew this and was going to ridicule her about what she was going to wear or the fact her nails weren’t painted. She looked down at her hands and cursed herself. Maybe she should have gone to a salon on the way back to the Fathom's house?

“Are you in the office or at the location?”

What the hell was this? Never, in the 10 years of knowing each other, had they sat down face-to-face for a ‘civilised’ conversation. The most civilised they’d been was when they were both in the wedding party for Felix and Kagami’s wedding. As Matron of honour and best man, a truce had been called for the majority of the day. They were cordial to each other; even managing a dance or two without one stamping (purposefully) on the other's foot.

If he’d just edited his speech, they would have almost been perfect friends.

“Office,” she said. “I need to fill some forms in with HR.”

Adrien nodded like they were having the most ordinary, normal conversation. Almost as if he considered them friends.

“Shame. We could have driven together if you were at the shoot.”

“Ha! Like I’d trust you to drive,” she snorted, knowing full well he probably had an ejector seat and would send her flying out the sunroof, then laugh wildly as she plummeted down towards the ground.

“I’m a good driver actually. Passed my test on the first try.”

“How much did you pay for that privilege?” Marinette raised an eyebrow, leaning forward on the worktop — one hand remaining with the ice pack on her head.

Downing the last of his wine, his eyes remained on her; her own eyes refusing to leave his — or even blink. A burning sensation began around her sockets but she would not lose.

“What do you drive?” she continued, knowing full well she was poking a hungry lion. “Audi? Mercedes? Beamer?”

Adrien's nose flared and jaw tightened, bingo.

“A Beamer? How typical!”

“Yep,” he said, standing and making his way around her and towards the bin, stopping and lowering his head down to her level. “I can’t help it that I like nice things.” His husky voice almost made her melt into a puddle of mushy Marinette on the floor. As her eyes rolled back, Adrien removed himself from her side, heading for the recycling bin instead.

“Well done on getting the job.” He didn’t look at her as he headed towards the doorway and ultimately out of the kitchen. She trailed him with her eyes only to startle as he stopped — one hand poised on the door handle.

Time seemed to slow down as he moved a hand to his back pocket and reached inside; he pulled out a red string covered with colourful beads.

“Oh.” He looked over his shoulder, and held the Lucky Charm in the air. The Lucky Charm she had given him years ago, on one of the rare occasions they hadn’t wanted to kill each other. “I took along a little extra help — just in case. Afterall, we all know how clumsy you can be.”

He threw the bracelet into the air, catching it on its descent and placing it back into the pocket of his jeans. Without another word, he turned and exited the room. Leaving her alone with confused thoughts and a rolling stomach.

Her nerves were already kicking in ready for the morning ahead… or at least she thought this new feeling was nerves.

Chapter Text

March 28th

Waking up was just as difficult in England as it had been in France, even if the time difference was only one measly hour. 

Marinette had been so tempted to snooze, but it was her first day on the job and she couldn’t jeopardise her punctuality score on the first day — even if it did mean a couple more hours in her warm, Magic Mike inspired dream. Though a pleasant dream in full, Marinette couldn’t ignore the way the lead dancer, who spent most of the night grinding up against her, was a spitting image to Adrien.

Finally prying herself out of bed, she moved around grabbing her hair brush, and combing through the sleep induced knots. She’d shower and then prepare herself for the day ahead; a day where she would finally become a designer at a world renowned fashion house. She still couldn’t believe this was happening. 

Glancing at her suitcase, she thought about starting to pack her items away — including the now infamous feather jacket. She still couldn’t believe Adrien had ended up being the one to wear it. How much bad luck could one person possess? Twice she’d managed to cause almost irreversible damage to him with a feather; a ranking she was rather reluctant to hold. She had a couple of days left in London before heading back ‘home’ to Paris and with the stress of the past few days, she couldn’t wait to go home and chill. 

During her call with Nathalie, she found out her work visa could possibly be completed in just over a week, and then she’d be upping from her roots and heading to London. It was both exciting, yet terrifying at the same time. How would Paris cope without her? It had been three years since the last akuma but she couldn’t help thinking as soon as her back was turned suddenly Paris would become a villain’s playground once again.

Lifting a hand absentmindedly to her ear, she stroked her bare lobes wishing for the added support of her small friend. The reason Tikki was not with her? Quite simple really, she wanted to make sure she got this job on her own, without the added influence of the Ladybug luck; although, according to Tikki, out of transformation that didn’t exist. But Marinette wasn’t taking any chances. Not this time. 

Traipsing into the bathroom, Marinette did what she needed to before heading out of the room she was staying in and straight to the kitchen – a silent prayer that Félix wouldn’t be there again, yesterday was enough embarrassment for the year. 

Slowly edging into the kitchen, Marinette looked straight ahead, coming face to face with thick, blond hair. She studied it carefully to make her assessment. There was a slight flick at the ends, the top almost super glued to his head. Oh, yes! She was 100% sure she knew which cousin was making delicious smelling eggs.

“Morning Félix,” Marinette yawned, moving to the fridge and selecting the carton of orange juice before moving to the cupboards and finding a glass. She’d been here a lot since Kagami had moved in with Félix, their house becoming almost a home away from home.

“Right cousin today, well done.” He placed the spatula down in the pan and gave her a slow clap. She was tempted to take the pan and tip its contents onto his head.

Rolling her eyes, she wandered over to the breakfast bar and hopped up onto the stool Adrien had occupied the previous night. An odd feeling unsettled her as she replayed their conversation in her head. She looked back up to tilted her own head to the side.

“It wasn’t hard,” she said. “Adrien doesn’t eat eggs.” She placed a hand over her mouth unsure where that information had come from; since when had she taken notice of Adrien's eating preferences. 

“Correct,” the blond responded, turning to his plates and depositing the scrambled eggs equally onto the two. “Guys a freak!” 

“I prefer the term unique .”

Marinette was a hot blooded female, and she knew an attractive male when she saw one — hence why she was suddenly drooling over said male who’d just entered the room. In normal clothing he was attractive, but in a suit he was nothing short of pure sin – and since when did he wear glasses?

He sauntered into the room like he owned the place and she wanted to be able to remove her arm just to have something to throw at him, she couldn’t deny the stomach flop as she looked at Adrien Agreste. And the smell! Talk about pheromones. Sometimes he made himself really hard to hate.

“Good morning, 007. How can we be of service?” Marinette snorted as Félix greeted Adrien with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you were going to a shoot. You don’t usually dress up in the full shebang for acting like a pompous jackass all day.” 

Shaking his head, Adrien grabbed a glass from the cupboard before heading back to the breakfast bar and sitting opposite Marinette. He stretched forwards, his aim to reach for the orange juice, when Marinette felt her own hand raising ready to smack him away and growl mine. 

“May I?” Adrien asked, pointing to the orange; obviously not catching the crazy protectiveness of the lioness already at the table. 

Coming to her senses and pushing the orange juice towards him; she said, “Sure.”

“Seriously cous, why are you looking so dapper? I haven’t seen you this suited and booted since mine and Gami’s wedding.” Félix walked towards the work surface and placed a plate beside Marinette and the other in front of himself. The eggs were obviously ready for his wife’s arrival.

“I’m surprised you noticed what he was wearing that day. Was that during the ceremony or whilst you were defiling his hotel room,” Marinette snickered, placing the glass to her lips and taking a small, satisfying sip. Nothing beat getting one up on the cousins; Adrien’s car last night, Félix this morning… Maybe her luck was improving?

“Marinette please,” Adrien said with a wince. “Three days I was washing my eyes out with soap, just because these two couldn’t wait a couple of hours to be together.”

“What can I say?” Félix shrugged, a grin taking over his lips. “My wife’s hot!”

Adrien shook his head, most likely to get the image out of his head and not against Kagami’s attractiveness because no one could deny the beauty of their friend.

“Anyway, if you must know, I’m in the office today. Something’s come up and I’m needed there.” Adrien continued drinking his orange juice, completely unaware of the bomb he’d just freely dropped in the middle of the breakfast table. 

“The office?” Marinette choked out, her eyes burning into Adrien. Had the idiot done this on purpose? 

“Yep. Part of my duties is to give new employees a warm welcome.”

So he had done it on purpose! Jackass!

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Marinette crossed her arms in front of her like a despondent teen, fully pouty lips and everything.

“The company hired two people yesterday, Miss Dupain-Cheng. It’s not all about you.”

“Oh!” Feeling her cheeks warm, she was glad for the arrival of her friend to take the attention away from her. Or so she thought…

“Why are you dressed in cosplay?” Kagami’s tone was as humourless as always.

All eyes suddenly found Marinette the most interesting thing in the room. Each set looking her up and down, her own eyes itching to do the same. What was wrong with her outfit?

“I - I - what?” she stuttered, arms crossing over her green top. 

“Ohhhhhh,” Félix exclaimed with a click. “I see it now.”

Adrien’s head tilted and eyebrows frowned… until… his eyes danced and mouth broke into that huge annoying grin which made her want to knock his perfectly white teeth out.

“I don’t know if they give work visas to fruit,” he said.

Marinette looked down at her red polka dot skirt before rolling her eyes and standing from the table. “You’re so funny, Agreste.” She fake laughed. “If the modelling doesn’t work out, you should become a comedian.”

She headed towards the doorway, set on getting out of the kitchen and away from Adrien Agreste. She knew fully what he was implying and no she did not agree that she looked like a watermelon!

“Marinette!” She heard her name called as she headed out into the marble laid hallway, knowing full well which blond had just followed her out with his expensive shoes clicking against the hallway.

Spinning on the balls of her feet, Marinette came face to face with Mr License to Kill. 

“What do you want, Adrien?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she examined her new boss from top to bottom; not a single fault popped to her mind as she studied from the top of his ridiculously perfect styled hair to the base of his shiny clown shoes. How big were his feet!

“To offer you a ride of course. Now grab your bags and let’s go.” 

Grabbing his keys from the side table he began to walk to the door. 

“Why do you think I want to go in the car with you?” 

Marinette looped her arm through her bag and checked everything was inside there. Her documents, passport, birth certificate; her whole life pretty much contained in this one bag. 

“You want to get to work on time right?”

“Yep, that’s why I’m leaving now.” She walked past him towards the doorway, set on making her point. 

I am a strong, confident woman and I can see myself around a new city and get to work early. I do not need to ride in Mr Sexy Pants Beamer and arrive at work with one of the CEO’s of the business. 

“You do realise the tubes are on strike?” 

Abruptly, she stopped in the doorway and turned slowly to face him. A look of disbelief crossing her eyes as she glared at him.

“This way, sweetheart.” 

Walking beside her, he placed a hand on her lower back and led her out of the house, whether she wanted to go with him or not — it seemed she had no choice.

Thank goodness once this was done and dusted she’d have a week at home to get her head around working with ‘pretentious ass’ Agreste. How was she ever going to survive?

Miss Dial (2:35pm): Hey Mr Unknown, are you around?

Mr Unknown (2:42pm): It's good to see you're still messaging me, Miss Dial.

Miss Dial (2:45pm): Don’t flatter yourself too much, I know all my friends are working so I took a chance. 

Mr Unknown (2:46pm): Ouch! At least sugar coat the ‘your my last resort’ comment. I thought I was quite the entertaining conversationalist. 

Miss Dial (2:48pm): I suppose, I’ve had worse. 

Mr Unknown (2:52pm): You’re either in a bad mood or something’s pissed you off? Or are you on your period?

Miss Dial (2:47pm): Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner…

Mr Unknown (2:48pm): The third one?

Miss Dial (2:49pm): The second!!! And lucky for you I’m not going to even be fazed talking about my period. It’s due in two weeks so you can wish me luck! Anyway, can I ask you something?

Mr Unknown (2:53pm): Sure. If you can’t ask the faceless guy on the other side of the phone, who can you ask?

Miss Dial (2:58pm): As funny as you can sometimes be, now is not the time. Okay, so I went to this place today, and I found out what I actually thought I would be doing there is… not what I’m actually doing.

Mr Unknown (3:00pm): Do you need me to come and save you? Are you in some sort of trouble? You may not believe it but I do have a certain set of skills.

Miss Dial (3:01pm): No… not at all! But nice quote. Taken?

Mr Unknown (3:01pm): Of course! I will certainly be a father like Liam Neeson, you don’t mess with my litter.

Miss Dial (3:02pm): As funny as that is, I really need to vent. I have just spent the last hour of my life hearing about what I can and can’t do. I don’t know about you, but when someone tells you not to do something I just want to do it to piss them off?

Mr Unknown (3:03pm): It depends on the situation… If someone told me not to eat croissants I would personally go out of my way to eat double the amount I usually do. If someone trusted me with the hard job of looking after their goldfish for a week and not killing it… I think I’d draw a line there and respect their request. 

Miss Dial (3:05pm): What about if it had to do with, oh I don’t know, dating?

Mr Unknown (3:08pm): I definitely wouldn’t kill a date… I’ve heard there’s this thing called murder and it can come with quite a hefty prison sentence.

Miss Dial (3:09pm): Should I be worried that your mind went straight to murder?

Mr Unknown (3:11pm): Just my feeling at the moment. I’ve been in the most pointless meetings all day; my brain is mush and my stomach’s begging to eat! 

Miss Dial (3:14pm):  If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Mr Unknown (3:17pm): Easy! Croissants! Come on Miss Dial, I thought you would have known me enough to answer that yourself by now. 

Miss Dial (3:22pm): I think I know just about enough 😆 so what do you think? 

Mr Unknown (3:30pm): About your question? Dating should only be with someone you like and someone you can see something with… the magic spark everyone talks about. It shouldn’t matter about the job if there’s something truly there.

Miss Dial (3:33pm): So you’re telling me I shouldn’t just date someone to piss off HR?

Mr Unknown (3:46pm): That is exactly what I’m saying. Now I’ve answered yours, can you answer mine?

Miss Dial (3:48pm): Sure 👌🏻 

Mr Unknown (3:51pm): How do you tell someone sitting opposite you in the boardroom that they’ve had lettuce (or something to that capacity) stuck in their teeth for the past two hours?

Miss Dial (3:54pm): Go for the jugular #ruthlessisasruthlessdoes

Chapter Text

April 1st

Marinette walked along the Seine, hands in her pockets and face lifting towards the sun. Spring had well and truly arrived in Paris. The blossoms on the trees lining the streets in a precious pink, making her wonder how she was going to cope living somewhere else. Did London have the wonderful colours of Paris in bloom? 

After a couple of days of gathering her belongings together, Marinette was taking a short break from packing her boxes and enjoying what time she had left in Paris. It felt so strange to finally be uprooting her life from the bakery and heading to a different city in a whole other country; something she wouldn’t have considered only a couple of years back. 

The sun reflected against the studs situated in her ears. The jewellery was placed firmly back in their home and her tiny best friend was back by her side. It seemed even in her apprehension  Tikki was excited about the move, enthusiastic about being in London and working for the Agreste’s. With the happy go lucky attitude of her small kwami, Marinette couldn’t help but feel it rubbing off on her. Maybe this would be okay?

The days of Hawkmoth’s reign were over and she was free to live . It was almost as crazy as it was true. She’d been holding back for years. Taking the easy way and the safe way, but it was time to move on, and this job was the most incredible change of circumstances. 

Her superhero partner agreed with her kwami as he moved on with his life too. Though, both had no reason to fight anymore, that didn’t stop them from being the best of friends, even if they didn’t see each other as often as they wanted. 

Continuing the steady walk down passed many houseboats, it didn’t take Marinette long to spot the one that she wanted. The one housing the Couffaine’s and, for the rest of the afternoon, all her friends too. Luka and Alya both pulled their resources together to give her a good send off from Paris and into the big, bad world.  

It was time to step aboard and enjoy these last few moments with her friends. 

As she crossed the plank, she could hear  everyone already there; laughing, drinking… being one. Regardless of time and distance, the gang remained close, something she was definitely going to miss. 

“Here she is! The woman of the hour!” 

Applause broke out and Marinette dropped them all a curtsey as she reached the main deck of the boat. 

“Thank you! Thank you!” she laughed, excited chatter lifting around her as she moved from friend to friend. Each offering her their congratulations and luck, a few tears spilling from her escape from Paris. 

The mood was one of joy and happiness, until someone else came to join the fun.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Marinette hissed to Luka as Adrien Agreste sauntered onto the boat like he owned the place. He lived in England now… not Paris! Why the hell was he here?

“You need to hide me,” Marinette begged Luka, as she grabbed his arm and pulled him over towards the back of the boat. 

“Marinette, you’re being a little unreasonable about —”

“Listen, Couffaine, you’re either with me or against me!” She poked him in the chest to add to the threat, which only added to the musician’s amusement.

“Seriously, Marinette, it’s just Adrien.” His chilled words made her want to scream. Out of everyone on this boat, Luka knew the issues she had with Adrien ‘better’ than everyone else, and yet here he was defending him. 

What the hell was wrong with her friends recently?

After Kagami’s deceit, now having Luka not backing her up was a heavy kick in the gut. Luka knew her dislike for Adrien more than anyone, so why did he want Marinette to be civil? He knew all about the practical jokes Adrien had played on her —- the sheer embarrassment of the statue trick being held strongly at number one.. 

“Luka, I swear to God –” Before Marinette could finish talking, she felt herself lose her footing. 

In her heist to get away from Adrien’s field of vision, her foot had become entwined with a rope on the side of the boat causing her to fall forwards and smack straight into Luka. The speed and strength of the collision, knocking her friend off balance and causing him to stumble towards the edge.

Marinette could only describe the next few moments as slow motion. Where she’d managed to gain her footing and straighten up, Luka had continued to move backwards and towards the lip of the boat. 

He wasn’t stopping — his eyes widening a little more millisecond by millisecond. 

Instead, his feet left the floor as his bottom collided with the wooden edge, sending him backwards, over the edge and into the water.

Shit!

“Oh my God, Luka!” She couldn’t see him. He’d disappeared completely underneath, submerged into the depths of the Seine. “Luka?” she harshly whispered. “Luka?” 

With a loud gasp, and a shampoo commercial worthy hair flip, Luka reappeared from under the water and she could feel herself breathing again. Thank god! 

“Luka?” she shouted down. “Are you okay? Oh – um – April fools.” 

Pursing his lips, he spat the water out of his mouth like a fountain, his eyes burning into her with clear indication he wanted to know what the hell that was all about. 

Meanwhile, everyone who’d heard the splash were making their way over — Adrien Agreste included. Marinette winced knowing full well Luka had every single right to drop her in it right now. To let one of her boss’ know what an idiot she was and therefore fire her there and then on the spot with no need for her to move to London anyway. 

She could just go home, unpack and allow Tikki to console her the way she had many times. Maybe she’d even go and see Chat Noir? He gave great hugs after all. 

“Luka, are you okay?” Nino and Adrien leaned over the side and shouted down to their aqua haired friend. 

She… was… going… to… die.

“Oh, um, I—” Marinette saw him look at her once more before shaking his head. “I just fancied a quick swim.” He began to move around the area in a half breast stroke, before heading towards the portal hole for his bedroom. “I’m all done now so I’ll just get changed. Marinette, could you come and help me with something please?” 

Wolf whistles and laughter sounded as she watched the main group holla down towards Luka and herself; obviously each thinking the two of them had rekindled their romance and Marinette was heading down to the bedroom for a little one on one time. 

Could today get more embarrassing?

Clearing the majority of the group and heading to Luka’s room, she breathed a sigh of relief as she glanced at Adrien looking in the opposite direction; his jaw taut and masculine as he looked out over the river. Hopefully she could make it past him without realising. Just a few more steps…

“Not dressed as a watermelon today then?” 

Damn!

Turning her head, she noticed Adrien was still looking out into the distance. Did he have a sixth sense for her or something?

“Said by the Daniel Craig wannabe.” Adrien was once again dressed in a suit. Today’s suit was grey and once again he was wearing the glasses which turned his face into a magnet. Why couldn’t she just look away? 

He turned and stepped towards her, his smell nothing less than incredible. Why did he have to affect her so much? It was interfering with her insults. 

His eyes twinkled as his head tilted to one side. “Don’t tell me you don’t like the look because the way you’re getting all defensive tells me something different.” 

“Seriously, Agreste, why are you here? You wouldn’t have flown all the way back from England just to spend some time on a houseboat, unless you’ve come here to celebrate my leaving? Which in any case would be stupid because unfortunately for me, I’ll be getting to see your pretty face everyday.”

“Pretty face, eh? That’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever given me,” Adrien teased.

“And the last, now excuse me, Luka needs my help.”

“I did come to see you, actually. We’ve got to go to New York.” He called after her, stopping her before she moved more than six steps away.

“Now?” she shrieked, her outburst turning everyone’s attention to her. She looked around waving her arms and attempting to smile. “Sorry,” she stated. “Everything’s fine, nothing to see here.” 

The eyes remained on her until everyone shrugged and carried on with their conversations; Marinette realigned with a rather amused Adrien. 

“Yeah, now, my choppers parked just over there,” he pointed off towards the Eiffel Tower. “I thought we’d ditch the party, hop onto my Harley and ride away into the sunset. Of course not now .” 

“No need to be an ass about it. It was a reasonable question.”

He shook his head, the movement irritating her in ways only Adrien Agreste was capable of. 

“We’re leaving in a week. There’ll be a couple of days in New York before you’ll be needed at the London office.”

“Why am I needed in New York?” She frowned at him. 

Marinette had heard whilst she was in the office for her interview there was a charity event on 5th Avenue at the end of the month, but as far as she was aware it was for the most prestige of staff and models.

“I needed a dresser and they were impressed with the fit alterations you made during your interview.” His eyes plagued her. The glistening daring her to question him further. 

“So they’re sending me — an absolute nobody — to fit their star models' clothing.”

“My last fitter quit. Apparently I’m a hard model to work for —”

“No shit, Sherlock.” 

“Sometimes I feel you’ve got the wrong impression of me. I’m not just some rich, arrogant arsehole.”

“How are we travelling to New York? Economy? Economy plus?” Adrien’s head turned away as she stretched on her tiptoes and whispered the last choice in his ear. “First class?” She pulled away, a smugness taking over face as she looked at the tense face of her boss and wiggled her eyebrows. “I thought so.” 

She tapped him on the chest before continuing down towards Luka’s room. 

“See you in a week, Adrien. Email me the details.” 

Because there was no chance in hell he was having her personal number, he could wait for her business phone to be connected before that connection was made. 

Feeling pleased with her one up on Adrien, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and found Mr Unknown’s number. 

Miss Dial (4:32pm): So today consisted of me tripping over my own feet and colliding with one of my friends, resulting in him being pushed off a boat.

Placing her phone back in her bag, she fisted her hand and knocked on Luka’s door. 

“That better be Marinette with the world’s greatest apology.” 

With a little push, she stuck her head around the doorway and smiled sheepishly at her friend; her feet still firmly planted outside in the hall just in case she needed to turn and run. 

“Please don’t kill me,” she said, edging into the room and closing the door behind her, before backing up against it. 

“That would only be fair considering you just tried to kill me.” 

She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know what’s going on with me. I haven’t been this frazzled since lycée.” 

Luka continued stripping off his wet clothing, not a care in the world that she was standing there, and he was growing more and more naked by the second. 

She turned to face the door, a buzz in her pocket indicating that her anonymous friend was messaging back. 

A scramble to her bag had her misjudging the strength she’d used to pull the phone out,  ending by throwing it across the room and watching it land at Luka’s feet. A Luka who was wearing nothing more than a curious smile and black boxer shorts?

“Mr Unknown? Oh, Marinette, what are you doing now?” 

Reaching down to pick up the phone, Marinette beat him to it, running and sliding between his legs, snatching it from the floor and opening up the messages. 

“Is that a new tattoo?” she asked, pointing the phone at his back. “Because the whole… snake thing really suits you.” 

Tucking the phone back in her pocket, she crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. Well, she attempted to smile. Luka turned around to face her, his own arms folded in front of him.

“Don’t change the subject,” he huffed, grabbing a new pair of jeans from his bed and pulling them on. “You’re texting some internet weirdo, aren’t you? Come on, Marinette, I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“It’s not what it seems okay? And put your top on.” 

Luka burst out laughing and Marinette headed back towards the doorway, itching to respond to her phone buddy.

“Three years ago you would have loved to have seen this,” Luka laughed, stretching his arms out and presenting himself to Marinette. She rolled her eyes and moved to the wardrobe, grabbing the top tee and launching it at his face. 

“Three years ago, you pulled yourself out of the running for my heart claiming your music had changed and you no longer saw us as a compatible love match. In other words you couldn’t cope with me having a male best friend.”

Luka burst out laughing again, pulling on the tee and moving towards where Marinette was standing. “Firstly, that is not how I talk, and secondly, damn right I pulled myself out of the race. I have more dignity than to chase after someone who is in a pretty strong relationship already. I’m not stupid, Marinette. There is no chance I, or anyone else, can compete with what you and Chat Noir have. It’s special and unique. Even if you claimed to like someone else you’d only be using them until you finally opened your heart.”

“ I don’t know who he is! And I never will,” she interrupted. “Listen, Luka, you have a heart of gold and I love you, as a friend, but me and Chat Noir are not going to happen. I rarely see him now and I have zero idea about who he might be.”

Luka studied her for a second before shaking his head. “Fine, whatever! But dating random men off the internet is not going to fulfil your dating needs.”

“I’m not dating random men. He accidentally texted me the other day and we had a good conversation. He’s funny!”

“He could also be a 52 year old serial killer,” Luka stated, Marinette rolling her eyes again and placing a hand on the handle.  

“I’m going back up,” she sighed, heading towards the staircase and back to the main deck. 

“If you’re going to date,” he said, chasing after her. “Why don’t you just date Adrien? Everyone can see the sexual tension there.”

“There is nothing between me and ‘model boy’,” she hissed, turning around on her heel and pointing her phone at her friend once again. 

She looked down at the object in her hand, pulling it back quickly and firing off her next message to Mr Unknown. 

“Plus,” she continued, tapping away on her screen. “My contract has a no date clause. Adrien is a complete no go zone.” 

She walked away from her ex-almost-boyfriend and headed towards Alya, not even giving Adrien a second glance as she walked past him. 

Chapter Text

April 8th

Miss Dial (4:55am): Hi early riser, look who’s joining the club?

Mr Unknown (4:59am): Do my eyes deceive me? Is she awake before dawn?

Miss Dial (5:01am): I am!!! Though it’s fair to say I’m not a morning person. My parents have already threatened to disown me twice. 

Mr Unknown (5:03am): Ouch! So did you decide instead of annoying them you were going to annoy me?

Miss Dial (5:05am): Exactly! You can’t disown me because you don’t know me #winning

Mr Unknown (5:07am): As heartbroken as I am for not being first choice (again), what can I do for you Miss Dial?

Miss Dial (5:09am): I just really needed someone to talk to.

Mr Unknown (5:10am): Anything specific? Maybe about that workplace romance you want to get fired for?

Miss Dial (5:11am): I don’t do romance. This is the closest thing I have to a relationship. 

Mr Unknown (5:12am): Then I must say, I am well and truly flattered and will take my duty seriously.

Miss Dial (5:13am): Why thank you, kind Sir! I hope I can compare to those two kisses you’ve had 💋 

Mr Unknown (5:14am): Wouldn’t take much… I can’t remember either of them thanks to the akuma’s influence. The girl who kissed me though is incredible. I’m either really lucky or tremendously cursed for not remembering it.

Marinette placed the phone down in her bag. No! No way! Her luck couldn’t be this good… or this bad? Picking up the phone again, she went back to Mr Unknown’s messages. Reading through the old messages she couldn’t deny the amount of puns being used was extreme and the way he’d used words like ‘his litter’ . She felt like this sudden realisation was screaming in her face.

Pulling up a fresh message, she text: 

Miss Dial (5:15am): And this girl… is she special to you?

Tapping the phone restlessly against her chin, she attempted to keep her eyes on the pavement and make her way steadily to the Metro station. This couldn’t be… it just couldn’t. The phone buzzed against her skin and she reopened the messages. 

Mr Unknown (5:19am) : She is… but don’t worry, there’s room for you too. We’re not together if that’s what you’re asking, but she will always be my best friend. We work together and I can tell her everything.

Oh God! There was no going back now! She was 100% sure this message was from her crime fighting partner, Chat Noir. It was just so natural. There was no one else she was ever this natural with… it suddenly made a whole lot of unnerving sense.

Tapping out one last message, she dropped her phone in her bag and headed down the steps at Gare Du Nord station, her phone losing signal as she made her way down.

Miss Dial (5:22am): So, Monsieur two kisses. What would be your perfect third? Or should I say first, as it’ll be the first one you remember?

The message had been sent and she was suddenly regretting her newly found braveness. What was she thinking? 

Whatever his response was would have to wait until she got to Charles De Gaulle and she’d deal with the sudden intense fluttering in her stomach then. Could she really continue this back and forth with Mr Unknown, if he was Chat Noir?

Part of her wanted to stop before this took them somewhere irreversible; however, the other part was in complete denial and told her that if she didn’t clarify him being Chat Noir, then why not carry on? After all, it was just innocent messaging. 

As soon as the train hit civilization again, her phone began to alert her to its presence, no doubt one of the messages was from Mr Unknown. She needed to chill. Just leave it for a few more minutes before checking on the response that she was quite sure would be flirty.

The train slowed to a stop, Marinette launching herself out the seat and grabbing her case from where it sat behind her chair. If she could just get through all this keeping her focus, she could panic when she reached the departure lounge. Another excuse to avoid any conversation with Adrien Agreste. 

But having her phone in her pocket was like having fleas. She itched to grab it and see what Chat Noir/not Chat Noir had to say. She knew her partner and she knew it would be all romance. That way it would 100% confirm that this guy was indeed her guy… Well, not her guy. But her guy. Oh, man this had just gotten complicated. 

Marinette had known there was something there with Chat Noir for years, but instead of embracing it she’d pushed it deep into the depths of her mind. A forbidden love. A crush. A chase after the guy that was accessible. But now, after so much wonderful conversation with Mr Known, the feelings were back with added intensity.

She liked him — like, really liked him. Mr Unknown had buried himself under her skin and she loved the relationship they had. The question was: could she cope if it was Chat Noir?

What she didn’t like was the nagging feeling in the back of her mind telling her to stop. That whatever this was would only end in heartache. Most likely hers. Sure, Chat Noir was clear about his attraction to Ladybug, but would Chat Noir be as impressed with the clumsy, fluffy girl underneath the armour. 

But she was once again getting ahead of herself. She didn’t know this was Chat Noir, she was just presuming… something she’d done 100 times in the past and been proved wrong. 

Pull yourself together, Marinette.

Passing through the X-ray machines, she couldn’t help but take a quick glance at her phone screen as she placed the object in the tray.

Mr Unknown.

His message was right there, just waiting for her to accept and answer. She was both intrigued and terrified at the same time. She’d become dependent on this guy, this guy she didn’t know; and now there was a possibility of placing a face to an unknown name and it terrified her. 

Her phone signalled a different chime. An email incoming. She quickly placed it into the plastic tray before moving through the metal detectors in preparation to grab her belongings on the other side. 

Clear from metal objects, Marinette moved forward to grab the phone from the tray, opening up the email first. 

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Departure Lounge.

Hi Marinette,

I’m in the first class lounge if you fancy coming to join me for an early morning breakfast? Don’t feel pressured.

Adrien

Hoisting her bag onto her back, she wandered over towards the main area of the departure lounge and looked for the signs to the first class lounge. It wasn’t that she wanted to see Adrien, it was more the fact that she wanted to experience something so fancy. It wasn’t very often you were able to take advantage of such freebies.

Spotting the airline's lounge on a sign above, she headed in that direction pulling up Chat/not Chat’s number and reading the message.

Mr Unknown (5:43am): If you must know, Miss Nosey, I’ve always wanted one of those kisses that absorb you in. Starting nice and slow, caressing the other person and giving them no room to doubt feelings. One that you would feel from the top of your head and curl the bottom of your toes.

Romantic. Just like… she took a deep breath and responded to him, ignoring the masked face of her partner as it tried to push through. 

Miss Dial (6:24am): Well, aren’t you just an old romantic. How did you get all that from only two kisses you can’t remember? Do I smell bullshit?

Mr Unknown (6:25am): No! I’m just adorable; a total softy at heart! How about you? I’ve spilt my tea, you now need to spill yours.

M’Lady… the added affectionate name blended seamlessly against the words, linking onto the end like it was made for it. 

Pushing open the doors to the lounge, Marinette presented her ticket to the receptionist before being led into the main area. 

After a quick tour of the seating area and the breakfast bar, Marinette scanned the room looking for her victim. Between the professional men in business suits and ladies of leisure with perfect hair and nails, she finally landed on a guy that looked as though he’d just freed himself from the latest cover of GQ.

Adrien looked so chilled and perfect that Marinette was tempted to grab the jug of orange juice and go and tip it over his head. Instead, she took her time deciding on a hot drink and took the moment to text her friend back.  

Miss Dial (6:48am): I’ve always been one for strong, passionate kisses. Just being grabbed and held tightly by someone… or being pushed up against a wall in a need to get closer? A main course of lip kisses before moving onto a side dish of neck bites.

Looking over towards where Adrien sat at the table, she continued to finish making her coffee before grabbing the mug and taking it over towards the table Adrien was sitting at, his attention firmly on his phone as his fingers moved around the keypad quickly, almost as if he was typing then deleting a message over and over again.

“Good morning, sunshine!” she announced cheerfully, ignoring the buzz in her pocket.

Slamming the phone face down onto the table, Adrien turned around to face Marinette, a smile placed firmly on his face before standing up and pulling out the chair beside him.

He was sitting on a bar stool looking out the window at the runaway, the view of every plane spotter’s dream. 

“Good morning, I was beginning to think you’d stood me up.” He leaned forward as though he was going to kiss her on the cheek, before moving back quickly. 

Right choice, buster! 

Pushing her in, Adrien climbed back onto his own seat, his eyes never leaving hers. 

“I considered it. Not going to lie.” She lifted the coffee cup to her lips only to wince and move it away. “Damn, forgot the sugar.” 

Leaving the mug where it was, Marinette hopped from the seat. Leaving her phone on the table. 

Moving away, she quickly found a couple of sugar packets, the faint sound of a buzz vibrating on top of wood and against porcelain brought her attention back to the table. She moved over quickly not wanting Adrien to see her correspondence with her special friend. But the first thing she noticed when she returned to her seat was that Adrien's face was as pale as a sheet. 

“Are you okay, Agreste?”

Chapter Text

Adrien

Once Marinette had cleared the area, Adrien pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the last message from Miss Dial. The messages were getting more and more flirtatious and he couldn’t help but fall into some sort of infatuation with this unknown person, everything about her just made him feel warm and fuzzy inside — a way he never had before. 

Miss Dial (6:48am): I’ve always been one for strong, passionate kisses. Just being grabbed and held tightly by someone… or being pushed up against a wall in a need to get closer? A main course of lip kisses before moving onto a side dish of neck bites.

A flutter broke out in his stomach as he read the words. How could a woman on the other side of this random number be causing him so many issues? He’d never seen her, or had any idea of her age or anything, but this phone friendship was slowly becoming more and more meaningful. What was said in You’ve Got Mail? ‘All of these nothings mean something.’

Placing a hand over his mouth, he attempted to hide the smile. She had said she’d only had two kisses yet she seemed so sure about what she wanted.

Mr Unknown (6:59am): Well, Miss Dial, I can promise that if I were with you in real life, I would totally pin you against the wall. I’d like to add a starter though, if you’re up for it? Soft, sweet kisses dotted all around your face before taking it to the hot and heavy main course. Perhaps once the neck bites have met your standard, we could move onto dessert? Something a little less clothed…

Pressing send, Adrien couldn’t help but think he’d gone too far. Was it too late now to take it back? He read the message back and cringed. Dear Lord, she was going to think he was a perverted psycho. They’d been messaging just over a week and now he was commenting about pinning her against the wall and striping off clothing. 

He felt sick. 

He was a total and utter moron. This woman he was falling for — hard — was going to ghost him, without a doubt! 

Shit!

Pulling up the message once more, Adrien went to send a quick ‘sorry, my fingers ran away from me’ apology, when Marinette’s phone rattled loudly against her coffee cup. She must have had it on vibrate. 

Unable to keep his eyes to himself, Adrien looked over towards her phone. It could be something important after all. However, what happened instead was every millilitre of the blood inside him turned to ice; a lurch pulled at his stomach and bile rose in his throat. 

What. The. Hell?

“Are you okay, Agreste?” 

He couldn’t move, he knew someone was talking but his body just wouldn’t respond. 

Look away, Agreste! Turn your head and look somewhere else.

Instead, he sat there staring at the phone like an absolute moron. Understanding where he was looking, Marinette snatched the phone from the table and held it against her chest. 

“Agreste?” she questioned, her voice slightly softer than what he was used to hearing. 

“Um, oh, yeah.” 

He gave her a small smile as she seated herself back on the stool beside him. She tapped the phone screen and he watched as a cute blush spread across her pale cheeks. She’d obviously read his message. His message where he said he wanted to wear less clothing with her. 

Would the mortification ever end? He was quite sure if he had said that to her face to face she would have punched him. 

“Get your sugar?” he asked, a thickness in his throat coating the words and making him sound like a classic gangster. He nodded his head towards the six sugar packets she was pouring into the brown liquid; his eyes set from looking anywhere apart from hers. “And a cavity apparently.”

Though he couldn’t see it, he was quite sure she rolled her eyes as she continued to empty the packets into the liquid, each being absorbed and disappearing into the bitter drink. She turned slightly away from him and tapped her phone screen again. He chanced a look up at her face only to feel the kick in the gut as he watched her smile widely.

She was reading his message.

It was his message. He was 100% sure he’d seen his message appear on her phone. 

Marinette’s phone.

Miss Dial was Marinette. 

He’d been messaging Marinette and flirting with her. 

He’d been falling stupidly in love with Marinette Dupain-Cheng. 

Marinette Dupain-Cheng who was also an employee at his office and completely out of bounds when it came to relationships. 

Not that he wanted a relationship anyway… but he did. With Miss Dial. His heart weighed heavily with the feeling of loss. He’d lost his Miss Dial. 

“God, you’re so funny, Adrien. Ever considered being a comedian?” Her sarcastic tone was punctuated with an eye roll and suddenly having her this close was stealing all the oxygen from the air around him. He couldn’t breathe. 

Marinette brought her mug to her lips as she pouted and blew over the beverage; his mind going haywire with how she’d want her lips attacked viciously with bites and kisses… as she was pushed up against the wall. He couldn’t look at her the same again. Instead, all he could imagine was pinned her… nope, he needed to stop! He couldn’t go there.

Crinkling together tightly, he was quite sure his eyebrows left little or nothing to the imagination as he watched her place the mug back down and pick up a spoon. After a quick stir around, she slid the spoon in her mouth and licked it, and he swore he’d never seen anything so sensual in his life.

Damn! 

He couldn’t take his eyes off her lips. Not only had he now found out Marinette was his Miss Dial crush, but also a forbidden love. To make matters worse, he'd never thought about the clumsy, chaotic girl who sat behind him in collége in that way, but now… he couldn’t think of anything else. Man, he was screwed! 

Needing to break this funk he’d put himself in, he leaned forward into her personal space; a smug smirk turning the corner of his lips.

“So you think I could be a comedian? Is that because you are my biggest fan?”

Placing a finger to his nose, she pushed him away, only to withdraw it quickly and place both her hands back on the coffee cup.

“You wish, Agreste!”

I do now! Stop it!

The sudden, sharp intake of breath that followed her action almost had him passing out. This was insane! He wasn’t meant to fall stupidly in love with Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He wasn’t meant to be completely smitten with the biggest mess he’d ever met… the biggest mess who was also talented, smart and funny. This couldn’t happen! Adrien Agreste 100% could not date an employee. She’d be fired.

“So does that mean there’s someone else with a bigger foam finger?” All he could do was joke his way out of this. Worst of all, the way his heart was beating he swore he was going to have a heart attack. 

Marinette rolled her eyes again and continued to drink, her eyes fluttering back to her phone before looking back out the window and treating him to a soft shrug of her shoulders.

“Honestly? Who knows?”

Guilt shot through him. Did she mean him? Not him as in Adrien , but him as Mr Unknown? He watched her attention fluctuate to the phone again, obviously desperate to respond to his latest message. His own cheeks heated as he remembered it exactly word for word.

He was so dead!

“Sure. Listen, I’ve got to make a call. So, if they start boarding, carry on without me.” He needed to get away and put a wide distance between the two of them. He needed to think and stop with this stupidity. He had no right in losing her, her job… her dream job.

“Like I’d wait for you anyway,” she snorted. “You’re not that important, Agreste.”

Picking up his messenger bag and throwing it over his shoulder, he moved his lips towards her ear. 

“You wouldn’t have a job without me, Dupain-Cheng.”

Making sure he didn’t look back, Adrien headed out into the main area of the lounge and found a seat as far away from Marinette as he could. What the hell was he going to do? 

Taking his phone from his pocket, he waited for her next response. Maybe she’d think he was a tight freak for texting her the latest message? She’d be so disgusted she’d never message back again.  

He could at least hope.

Adrien had always had a soft spot for Marinette, there was something about her that intrigued him and after the correspondence with Miss Dial he was beginning to think it was the hidden sass and banter they so easily fell into. He wasn’t sure whether he was thrilled by the Miss Dial revelation, or devastated?

A quick glance over his shoulder informed him that Marinette was texting on her phone, a shiver of hope pulsating through him that she was texting him. He shouldn’t want this. He needed to stop it right now, delete the number and forget it ever happened. He needed to forget that her messages had had him staying awake at night like a love sick teenager, or that he’d sit around in the morning thinking about when it would be a suitable time to text without seeming needy. This whole situation was messed up.

Only seconds passed between her placing her phone down and his buzzing. 

Shit!

As if she knew he was staring at her, she turned her head to look at him, causing him to slam the phone against his ear and pretend to be caught in the middle of a conversation. 

She waved towards him, causing him to wave awkwardly back and point to his phone. What in the name of all things Miraculous was he trying to accomplish? 

To add to his charade, he rolled his eyes and made a tutting noise, gathering attention from those sitting nearby. 

Smiling at him, she shrugged before turning back to her phone. Geez, he hoped she was texting someone else. The buzz in his ear was a solid answer that ‘no’, she was once again texting him.

Taking a deep breath, he turned around and took the phone down from his ear, looking at the evidence he had 2 new messages.

Miss Dial.

Attempting to calm the shake in his hands, he opened the message and read her response. 

Miss Dial (7:08am): Now, now Mr Unknown… this whole relationship is meant to be anonymous. 

Miss Dial (7:08am): Though, if you were wearing those socks with sandals, I would totally want you pushing me up against the wall. Dessert and all — but keep the sliders on.

Out of his control, a laugh escaped his lips. She was too funny. Too sweet. And if these conversations ever got out she would be fired. So, so fired! From her dream job. Which she was good at and deserved.

Shit! Shit! Double shit!  

He had to ghost her… there was no other option, and as much as it would pain him to do so it was the only way to save her job — and his heart. 

He rubbed his face with one hand, seriously how the hell had they got into this mess? 

Félix was meant to have sent him the number of his friend, someone who had an interest in buying Adrien’s cockerel (Adrien’s rebellious drunk purchase his first night free in London). 

He wasn’t meant to have sent a number that would have blown into a full on text affair with Marinette. 

Sighing, he left the conversation with Miss Dial and opened the one with Félix. There was no way his cousin was innocent in all this.

To Félix: Lucy, you got some splainin to do…

Chapter Text

April 9th - Marinette

“Once we’ve done all the fittings there will be a rehearsal to check the outfits move right. I’m only modelling a couple of outfits so there might be quite a lot of waiting around. In reality, one run through usually takes about 6 hours from start to finish, and this show is all professionals, so hopefully we’ll get it right on the first try. Then we’ll be free for the rest of the day.” 

Adrien shoved a coffee cup into Marinette’s hand, the designer looking at him before eyeing the coffee like he’d presented her with the Crown Jewels. Bringing it to her nose, she gave it a quick sniff. Damn, no added extras. A drop of whisky would have been great for calming her nerves right now. The more Adrien spoke about the show the more she realised she was ridiculously under qualified for this position. What the hell were they thinking?

Along with dressing Adrien, she had been asked to create an inspiration portfolio based on her time in New York; time it seemed she didn’t have. How the hell was she going to get through two days of rehearsals before the main event and design a portfolio to the standard Gabriel Agreste would expect?

“Agreste, it’s 5:30 in the morning! How the hell can you be so chipper? I’m not going to lie, I’m about to punch you in your perfectly veneered teeth.” She took a rather large, unladylike swig of the coffee, impressed that he got her order right — six perfectly added sugars — before wincing. 

Hot! Too hot!

“Are you okay?” His soft caring voice only added to the overall need to maul him. 

Since the flight Adrien had been… different! She’d headed to the plane without him, the call he was on seemed important and by the look on his face the answers coming from the person on the other end of the line were not exactly what he wanted. The frown on his face was comical and she’d regretted not getting a picture. 

“Yup! Randy — I mean — dandy.” She took another sip, scalding her mouth again in a need to cover up her stutter. What the hell was that? Why had she just stuttered? Because Adrien had brought her the correct coffee? Please! She was better than that. 

“How are you not more awake?” he laughed. “The jet lag goes in our favour, it’s technically 9:30 back home.” 

Watching him walk around like it was midday made her want to kick him hard in the shin. Not only did he look like a frigging supermodel, he was also wearing that smile she so despised. The one which always featured on the front cover of magazines, and the one he always displayed when she fell over or yawned unceremoniously during class. 

“Bite me!” 

Striding off, she never heard the last remark, instead she pulled out her phone and selected her messages to Mr Unknown.

Miss Dial (5:34am): Ever wondered why people wake up before sunrise? It’s insane, immoral and inhumane — they should all be sent to outer space.

She’d messaged Mr Unknown a couple of times since the kissing messages the previous day, yet she’d heard nothing. He seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth. 

Marinette had spent quite a while rereading the messages as she settled into bed that evening adding Chat Noir’s face and body to the unknown texter. It seemed it was quite easy to do when she looked more closely at the messages. How had she not realised the similarities beforehand? 

Her stomach knotted as she continued to daydream about her partner pinning her against the wall — out of costume and only partially clothed. This was wrong on so many levels. Maybe he’d figured out who she was too? That Ladybug was on the other side of the phone and as always he was the smart one and stopped it before it went too far… 

Or worse… What if he was in a coma and no one was with him? Or even worse, he was in a coma and his father or girlfriend — or wife — was in charge of his phone and reading their messages. 

Had Chat Noir ever mentioned a girlfriend or a wife?

Miss Dial (5:37am): Hey Mr Unknown, as you’ve gone radio silent on me, I just wanted to check you’re not in a coma or something? 

Miss Dial (5:37am): In case you are in a coma and your father is reading this… I send my wishes of health and I hope your son is okay soon.

Miss Dial (5:38am): And to your girlfriend… I am very sorry, Mr. Unknown's girlfriend. I can promise you nothing has happened between us, just texting an unknown person. We don’t know each other. 

Miss Dial (5:39am): And if you’re not in a coma, well…screw you.

Moving to the waiting car outside the hotel, Marinette slipped in before Adrien followed after her. She was quite sure he would have been a gentleman and let her through first; however, she didn’t want to give him the opportunity.

She looked out the window, tapping a thumb against the phone and pursed her lips. If this was her Chat Noir, and something had happened, she was sure Tikki would have told her. The small kwami must know if something bad had happened, but lo and behold her tiny companion had gone almost as silent as her unknown friend.

Quickly composing a note on her phone, she placed it in her bag, screen alight so Tikki could read it. 

‘Can you check if something happened to Chat Noir?’

She prayed the small kwami would respond quite swiftly. Hopefully with the answer that ‘yes, he was knocked down by a car and has been sent to the emergency room where he has no way of contacting you’ . 

Sighing, she looked out the window once more, not even bothering to take in the sights as she pictured her poor kitty all beaten and battered. His beautiful, friendly face covered in cuts, bruises and bandages.

“That’s a big sigh for a little lady.” 

Rolling her eyes, she plastered a smile on her face and turned to look at her ‘boss’. 

“What’s it to you, Agreste?” 

“Still using last names, I see? I thought at least working together you’d have a little more respect for me.”

She let out an airy laugh, one which came straight from her nose. Respect? For a pompous dingbat like him?

“That’s cheap coming from you, Agreste. Respect is a two way street. Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you have the right to demand such a thing, it’s something you earn, you know.”

Turning her head back to look out the window, Marinette was almost sent flying into the front console of the car. 

“Gorilla, stop the car.” The guy at the wheel (Adrien’s loyal bodyguard) slammed on the brakes — hard . 

“What do you think you’re doing?” Marinette hissed, watching as Adrien grabbed his phone from his jacket pocket and began tapping around on it. He held up one finger to her to stop her from talking.

“Nathalie, hi, it’s Adrien. Just to let you know something’s come up and we’re going to be a couple of hours late.”

“What?” Marinette gasped. What the hell was he doing?

He shook his head, continuing on with his phone call. 

“Yeah, no, everything is fine. I just spotted something and thought it could be inspiring for Marinette. It’s due to rain the rest of the week so it is now or never.”

Adrien was lying through his ass, only to continue the charade by climbing out the car and coming around to the other side and opening the door for her.

“Sure,” he continued down the phone line. “I’m certain she will. That was why you hired her after all.” Adrien let out a fake laugh as he saluted the Gorilla and grabbed her arm yanking her from the vehicle. 

Phone still to ear, he continued his own conversation ignoring the fact he was marching her down the street. All she’d have to do was shout ‘help’ and she was quite sure the police would come to save her. A small woman like her being manhandled towards the park must be some sort of cause for concern.  

Making it to the crosswalk, Adrien ended the call and placed the phone back into his pocket. She half expected him to let her go, however instead she found herself being pulled across the road and into the park. 

“What the hell are you doing?” she said, looking up at his strong jaw as light reflected perfectly on his face. She swore his chin could cut glass. “You’re going to get me fired and it’s only my first day!” she continued. 

Did he not realise she needed this job? That she wasn’t like him and couldn’t afford to just laze around all day on her ass. She didn’t have trust funds to fill a swimming pool and take laps in.

“It’s lovely here isn’t it,” he said in way of an answer. He continued to drag her down the pathways of the park, every now and then steadying her as she stumbled over fallen twigs and ill placed rocks. 

They headed deeper and deeper into the park. Was he going to kill her and throw her in the lake? She wouldn’t be surprised, his eyes were glistening with something and his face was hard with emotion. 

“Adrien, it's 5:50 in the morning. What the hell are we doing walking in a dark park?”

“It’s not that dark,” he scoffed, continuing to walk deeper down the tree lined pathway. He seemed to know exactly where he was heading — opposite to herself. He must already have a spot ready to hide her body. 

Designer missing — last person to see her was incredibly innocent and not at all a suspect, super hot, super rich model, Adrien Agreste. 

Marinette looked around and couldn’t help but think he’d gone insane. Apart from the few street lamps lighting the pathways, the area was almost pitch black and incredibly scary. She had visions now of a supervillain appearing and taking her down; she couldn’t just transform and reveal herself — at least not in front of him.

“Slow down,” she hollered, attempting to keep up with Adrien.

“Why? Are you scared?” 

Marinette could hear the humour in his voice and she wanted to pick up a fallen twig and launch it at the back of his head. If anything, he was the one who should be scared. She could beat the shit out of anyone who crossed their paths — including him.

“Don’t worry, Dupain-Cheng, I’ll protect you,” he continued.

She scoffed. “What are you going to do? Pretty them into submission.”

“My fencing skills are multi-use!” He finally let go of her and moved on ahead, her legs struggling to keep up with the blond model.

“Sure!” 

Without warning, he stopped and she almost crashed into the back of him, her hands grabbing onto his hips to steady herself. 

“You really seem to have a low opinion of me,” he said, stepping out of her grasp and placing a hand around her waist to keep her up right. 

“Well… it’s the only opinion you’ve shared with me.”

They continued to walk in silence, Marinette having no idea where they were going and instead following Adrien as he guided them somewhere within the park. 

Around them, the sounds of the dawn chorus broke out of the trees and kept them company. Every now and then a lone jogger crunched the gravel around them on their morning run, ignoring the two foreigners in business attire stumbling down the pathway and seeing them both as just another obstacle in their way.

She couldn’t help but find the thought of a morning run through the park appealing. It was calm and settled, and the way the trees hid the towering buildings of Manhattan, she could have been anywhere — if only it was a little lighter. 

“You know, when everything happened with my father last year I couldn’t help but feel… relieved.” Adrien started to talk, Marinette silently walking beside him, listening. “Since I was 14 it seemed everything had changed… since my mother left that was. My father had not only given up on holding a secure business, but also he’d given up on me.”

Marinette continued to listen. 

“It was lonely. So, so lonely at home. I only had Chloé to talk to, and Nathalie I suppose; so when the company had to liquidate from my father’s neglect, I was happy. It was one less thing for my father to worry about — to control. But then he fell off a cliff. He was drinking and keeping himself in solitude. But then something happened one day between him and Félix — maybe my cousin has a way with words I don’t — and he came up with this idea that moving to London and restarting the business would give him a new lease in life. Give us a new lease of life.”

“And has it?” Her voice was small, the words spoken out of reaction rather than consideration. Her throat was thick, the weight of what Adrien had been dealing with placed itself on her shoulders too as he absorbed her into the story.

Adrien’s laugh was mellow and lacking humour. “Not in the slightest. I even continued modelling just to spend time with him, and now, even though I have a deeper role in the company, I still don’t see him. Having money isn’t everything, Marinette. I like buying nice things, so sue me, but everything comes from money I’ve earned, that I’ve worked for. Yes, I’ve been given a helping hand, but this isn’t something I ever wanted to do. I do it to spend time with him.”

They had made their way to a fountain. One she’d seen numerous times in movies and on tv shows; her brain telling her to look out for practical jokes and the tell tale signs of a hidden camera.

Leading her forward, Adrien settled down on the edge of the fountain, tapping beside him for Marinette to join — the slight mist of water circling around them. She seated herself comfortably next to him and studied his face. His jaw was clenched and eyes missing the teasing gleem she was so used to seeing. Instead, she saw his usual sharp edges look softer, aged. Almost worn down through emotion and heartache.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, twisting her fingers together to stop from reaching out to touch him.

“Yeah.” 

His response was dry and a funny twist spiralled in her chest. What the hell was that? 

They continued to sit in silence, the sun rising over the trees and welcoming them into a new day in the Big Apple. As though the world had once more switched on, more and more people began to venture through the park and, what she guessed, into their packed out days in the city that never sleeps. She could never live here.

“A flower for the love lady?” A new voice broke the silence. A lady standing in front of them with a selection of roses in a basket. Marinette squinted against the sun as she looked up towards the lady, someone who reminded her of the witch from Beauty and the Beast. Uncanny considering what was in the basket. Maybe this whole thing was a weird dream. 

“Oh, no. It’s —”

“Sure,” Adrien cut in, leaning to the side and grabbing his wallet from his back pocket. He stood and looked into the lady’s basket, rummaging around and finally selecting a white rose, before handing over a $50 bill. Marinette was quite certain he’d just drastically over paid. 

“For you.” He presented the rose to her. A white beautifully formed rose, cut to perfection. “For new beginnings,” he continued. 

“How do you know that?” she questioned, her hands still joined together and neither reaching out. 

“I have this friend. She’s majorly into flowers and asked me one day to learn the meaning. I now know exactly which flower suits a situation. You could say I rose to the occasion.”

Marinette giggled, before placing a hand over her mouth and turning it into a cough. “You actually did it then?”

“Of course. She means a lot to me.”

“I’m sure Kagami would be happy to hear that.” Marinette wasn’t sure Kagami had this sort of knowledge, but if it wasn’t Kagami and it certainly wasn’t her… she wasn’t entirely sure who it would be. Maybe Rose?

“I'm sure she would be — if it was Kagami that had told me.” 

The conversation began to ignite something in the back of her mind, something that told her to listen and pay attention. That this detail was very important. Instead, her stubbornness had her facing away and staring out into the distance. 

“A-are you not going to accept it?” His voice wavered, making himself sound like a kicked puppy.

Pursing her lips, she turned back to look straight into the dancing, soft green eyes of Adrien Agreste and, once again, he looked different. 

“Are you trying to buy me out?” 

Sighing, Adrien lowered his head and twisted the rose between his fingers before placing it softly down next to her. 

“I was thinking more along the lines of a restart. I’m going to go and get us a drink, then we can head back to the car.” 

Swivelling on his heels, Adrien made his way under the bridge and up the stairs. He obviously knew where he was going and she was just glad the day had dawned and she was no longer sitting — alone — in the dark. 

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she was once again sorely disappointed from lack of messages.

Where are you, Mr Unknown?

Miss Dial (6:06am): So, I’m guessing you're not going to reply? That’s fine. I’ll just keep talking to myself. Feel free to jump in whenever you want. 

Miss Dial (6:07am): You know, it’s rude to just leave people on ‘read’, which I’m quite sure is what you’re doing!

Placing her phone in her lap, she wondered what she should message next, maybe something random? Pouting her lips, she looked around from something to ask that would get a response.

Miss Dial (6:10am): If you had to lose an arm or a leg? Which would you choose and why?

Random crap like that usually stirred a response and she prayed that would be the case this time. As she waited for a response she thought about what he might say. Maybe that he’d need his legs to hold her against the wall? Dammit!  Images of Chat Noir pinning her to a chimney once again assaulted her thoughts. It was starting to get a little unnerving how much she was willing to participate in such a thing.

Trying to keep her mind away from being manhandled by her partner in the form of kisses, Marinette looked around the area as workers moved swiftly, left and right, on the bridge. That was until one stopped and looked down at her. Her breath catching as she looked away, her hand absentmindedly reached for her ear and the other for her phone. 

Miss Dial (6:12am): There’s this guy looking at me. 

Miss Dial (6:13am): Question: If it looks like someone is making their way towards you should you run straight away or wait to see if they are just going to ask you for directions?

Miss Dial (6:15am): Okay, so he didn’t ask for directions and is instead questioning me about my clothes? Kind of wishing I had my pepper spray.

Miss Dial (6:18am): I’ve left the area where I was sitting and now he’s following me.

Marinette was hoping that if this was her partner, he’d have the decency to do something… maybe not Astrocat to her but at least send a message with some sort of helpful advice — to be honest she’d go for anything right now. 

Miss Dial (6:22am): Once again I have information I would like you to deliver for me on my untimely death. Can you please tell Chloé Bourgeois yellow has never been her colour. She should wear more turquoise, it would bring out her eyes. 

Chapter Text

Adrien

Adrien’s phone continued to buzz in his pocket as he waited in line at the little café on the edge of Central Park. Could she not just leave it for at least a couple of days? It was quite obvious Mr Unknown was ghosting her considering he hadn’t replied to any of the hundred messages she’d sent the day before. Most women by now would have given up and moved on. But nope! Not Miss Dial, Miss Mighty Dupain-Cheng.

The line began to move and he stepped forward, closer to the front of the counter; his phone continued to buzz against his thigh. What could she possibly have to say now? Was it just a text to let him know she’d seen a squirrel and basically state that ‘no, not all squirrels land like superheroes’.

Another minute passed and at least two more buzzes. 

Fine, he thought, you win.

Pulling the phone from his pocket, Adrien raised an eyebrow at the amount he’d received. She was either missing him that much, or writing more to his ‘girlfriend’ as she sat by his side — day in and day out — during his unfortunate coma. He snorted as he remembered the screw you message from the previous day.

“Can I help you?” 

Before he could tap the first of the messages, he was called up to the kiosk. His phone forgotten as he looked up at the menu. 

Placing it back in his jacket pocket, Adrien stepped up to the counter and placed their order. Two coffees to go — six sugars included. His main aim for the next hour or so was to speak to Marinette and sort out whatever this was between them. To try and get to the bottom of why her view of him was so different to everyone else’s.

The conversation with Félix the previous day had been eye opening to say the least. Apparently the relationship he thought he had with Marinette was not the same as she thought she had with him. Félix laughed and said he was glad he’d made the mistake with the numbers that maybe this mess could finally put to rest and the two could ‘get along’.

Though Adrien wasn’t entirely convinced the texting came from a mix up of numbers. Afterall the woman who was interested in taking the cockerel out of his hands wasn’t called Marina as Félix tried to sell to him, her name was actually Sophie. Suspicious? He thought so. His cousin really was a dipshit!

But Félix was something he’d need to deal with when he was back in London, right now, his priority was to sort out whatever animosity Marinette held towards him; along with making sure he doesn’t get her fired in the meantime. The only way to be clear about that would be to ignore the messages — no messages equaled no evidence. Simple. If only she’d get the hint and stop sending more through. 

“You’re Adrien Agreste,” the woman behind the counter stated. Adrien welcomed the comment with his usual model (fake) smile. She moved, around the unit, polystyrene cups in hands as she completed his order; every now and then looking back at him over her shoulder and doing that freaky eye fluttering some girls threw at him. 

“Yes, I am.” He smiled, tapped his card to the machine to pay for the drinks and prayed the conversation would end there. As much as he was friendly to fans or people who’d recognised him, his head was far too scrambled at the moment to be involved in polite conversation. 

Instead, he pulled his phone out and took the opportunity to look ‘busy’… and check the messages from Miss Dial. 

Miss Dial (6:12am): There’s this guy looking at me. 

Miss Dial (6:13am): Question: If it looks like someone is making their way towards you should you run straight away or wait to see if they are just going to ask you for directions?

Miss Dial (6:15am): Okay, so he didn’t ask for directions and is instead questioning me about my clothes? Kind of wishing I had my pepper spray.

Miss Dial (6:18am): I’ve left the area where I was sitting and now he’s following me.

A chill ran down Adrien’s spine. He knew he shouldn’t have left her there alone, he’d been an idiot to do it. Who brings someone into a dark park and then abandons them? What kind of gentleman was he? He went to put the phone away only and turn all ‘superhero’ when his phone buzzed again. Feet ready to turn and run.

Miss Dial (6:22am): Once again I have information I would like you to deliver for me on my untimely death. Can you please tell Chloé Bourgeois yellow has never been her colour. She should wear more turquoise, it would bring out her eyes. 

“Shit!” Putting his phone away, he looked towards the woman currently distributing the coffee into the cups. “Are they almost done?” he asked, bouncing from one foot to the other. He tried to keep the panic out of his voice; however the harsh bite that came out didn’t exactly suit the angelic, carefree attitude associated with him.

“Here you go.” 

Looking taken aback as Adrien snatched the cups from her hands and began to march back in the direction he’d just come from. The crowds parting like the Red Sea as they caught a man on a mission storming out. There were multiple directions she could have moved in, and not a lot of time to find her. 

“Plagg?” he whispered. “Plagg!” He tried again, the small black gremlin poking his head out of Adrien’s shirt pocket, eyes partially closed and a yawn parting his lips. 

“I need you to find Marinette,” Adrien stated, his feet continuing to take him on his way. 

“And I need you to stop shouting at me, I’m trying to sleep.” Plagg yawned again, unwilling to move from his restful place in Adrien’s suit pocket. 

“Because the 17 hours you’re having daily at the moment isn’t enough? Marinette just texted me and said she’s being followed by a stranger. We need to go and save her.” Adrien began to speed up, hoping that he’d catch her at some point. Maybe he could send some telepathic signals to her telling her to go right and head to the café?

“I’m sure she’s quite capable at looking after herself,” Plagg yawned, reversing back into the pocket he’d just came from and snuggling down. 

Checking the coast was clear, Adrien reached into his pocket and grabbed Plagg by the tail, pulling him out. Holding the kwami in front of his face, he narrowed his eyes onto him. 

“It’s still quite dark and we’re foreigners in a new place. Just go and tell me where she is. I’m not going to transform or anything. This is a job for Adrien Agreste.” 

Plagg rolled his eyes before slapping Adrien’s hand away from him and hovering in front of him, his little fin flapping in annoyance.

“God, sometimes you are so full of yourself.” 

Without another word, Plagg flew away ahead of Adrien, hiding himself deep in the trees and bushes around them. Thank goodness the kwami had the sense to at least hide as he moved. 

Continuing his quick pace, Adrien kept on the path back to the fountain, hoping that maybe he’d come face to face with her as he headed back to their spot. Scanning the path ahead, Adrien spotted someone hurriedly walking towards him, their head down and hands gripping tightly to their crossbody bag — every now and then an ankle would twist as she continued heading straight towards him. 

The sun rebounded from her hair causing the black strands to turn an anime shade of blue and in that moment he knew exactly who was barrelling at him at the speed of light. 

Catching him off guard, her head shot up, eyes blazing into his as she stood still, wobbling a little and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

As her hand remained trailing against her smooth cheek, she looked over her shoulder and turned back to him. Her bottom lip found comfort under her top teeth and with only one look he could see she was completely in planning mode. As though a light bulb lit above her head, she walked towards him with sheer purpose and determination glistening in her eyes. 

A quick glance behind her and he noticed a guy in jeans and a hoodie stopping not too far away; that must have been who she was messaging Mr Unknown about. He looked back to catch her eyes, hopefully to let her know he was here and nothing was going to happen to her. Instead, hers rendered him still, a need and determination spreading over her face as she stepped closer and closer breaking into a wide Cheshire Cat smile; until they were finally face to face.

“Hey honey,” she announced loudly.

Without warning, she wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him down towards her, their lips meeting as his eyes blew wide open. She was kissing him. She was kissing him . 

Suddenly realising he was standing there like a rather large buffoon, his brain kicked into gear and everything began to work in tandem. She wasn’t kissing him because she wanted to, but because she had to. A quick look to the side, validated his theory, as the guy that had been following her was glaring straight at them — his eyes locking on Adrien’s. 

You don’t have eyes open in a kiss… what was that song … oh, yes! Grenade… Oh! Come on, Adrien! Now is most certainly not the time to be thinking about Bruno Mars.

Suddenly, his protective urges came into play and he closed his eyes, pulling her closer and enjoying every breathtaking second of kissing Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He could feel the breath leaving his lungs as fireworks exploded behind his eyelids; every ounce of him wanting to walk Marinette backwards and pushing her tightly up against a tree — until he remembered he had drinks in his hands. 

“What—” he said, breaking away from her — breathless and slightly dazed. “— are we doing?” 

“I don’t know!” Her voice was husky, as she grabbed his tie and pulled him in again. 

His hands were useless, her own taking the opportunity to slip under his jacket and around his waist. He must be dreaming, because this being real would just be cruel and unfair. A taste of a delicious forbidden fruit — that was until a prick poked him in the side. The rose. 

“Shit!” he huffed, the curse breaking the moment and causing her to move away. Keeping the cups steady, he attempted to rotate himself to look at his side in search of blood. 

“I’m so sorry,” she said, looking over her shoulder and taking his attention with it. The guy had disappeared. He looked around the area, trying to track where he’d gone to, trying to make a mental note to pass onto Gorilla.

“Oh no!” Marinette suddenly cried out, a hand placed over her lips as she began to pant through laboured breaths, the white rose clutching tightly to her chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worry lacing his words as he spoke. Adrien looped an arm around her waist and moved her backwards towards a bench. He sat them down before placing the cups as a makeshift barrier between them. 

The tingle in his lips was making him lightheaded with a craving for more. Poking out his tongue, he licked his lower lip pulling in the taste of her strawberry lip gloss. Delicious. Sensual. Marinette. Fuck.

“I kissed you,” her words were whispered through her hand. “I’m going to get fired! The one thing I am not allowed to do is kiss you.”

“Hold up,” Adrien said, grabbing her wrist and lowering her hand from her lips. She’d gone pale. Really pale. “Why would you get fired?”

“HR they said… they said…”

A switch suddenly went off in his brain. The no interoffice relationship clause… and more specifically the no relationship with Adrien Agreste clause . Even at 23 his father still had issues with him dating — they had to be prepped and vetted before being allowed near him. 

“Hey, calm down Marinette. It’s okay, I promise.” He softened his voice as he took her hand, gently running a thumb over her knuckles focusing on calming her down and ignoring the bolts of lightning shooting up his arm. 

“What if someone had seen us? I’ve literally just thrown my career away.” The whimpered words from her mouth tugged at his heart. He couldn’t let her believe that.

“If it makes you feel any better, I kissed you too. I’m as much to blame. And I promise, there is no one else here Marinette.” Adrien looked around as if to prove his point. “It's okay, I won’t tell anyone. It’s not like you did it because you wanted to kiss me.”

Something in her eyes caught him off guard. They flickered in the brightening sunshine, a glistening taking over with each blink until she made the decision to close them and exhale. 

“Exactly. Phew , okay. Everything will be fine. We can just forget it happened and carry on with the day.” When her eyes opened again they were steely and decisive. This was the way it was going to be. Ignored. Forgotten.

“Exactly.” Except as the words left his mouth he knew it was a complete lie, how could he forget that kiss. A kiss which made his toes curl and heart beat wildly. 

He needed to distance himself now more than ever. He needed something to take his mind off Marinette for both of their sakes. She worked with him and more importantly she hated him. If only he knew why? He could fix it! But what would be the point? If she hated him she kept her job, anything else could jeopardise everything she’d worked so hard for. He wouldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t. 

That was it. Decision made. Once today was over he’d give her some space, maybe ring one of the models and invite them to drinks tomorrow and distract himself from Marinette and that kiss. Maybe it was time to increase his kiss quota? After all, Marinette didn’t want him. 

Simple.

Easy.

Except once again, as he looked into the eyes bluer than the sky he felt his insides melt. This was just getting too complicated, a statement proved as for the rest of the day his eyes searched her out at every opportunity. 

Adrien was well and truly screwed.

Chapter Text

Marinette

Marinette felt horrible! Well and truly horrible, and for once that wasn’t from being too close to Adrien. If anything she’d had a pleasant time with him the previous day, they got along surprisingly well after the incident at Central Park… one she knew she wouldn’t get over soon and one they’d agreed never to talk about again.

She’d kissed him.

Gave him a full on smackeroo in the middle of Central Park.

Panicking about the guy following her, she thought the ideal thing to do was pucker up and smooch with her boss. Her boss who she’d agreed to keep her paws off! Groaning, she slammed her hands over her face and fell back into the fancy hotel cushions. Goose feathers — if she wasn’t mistaken. The thought of the pillow directed her thoughts straight back to Adrien. She just couldn’t seem to shake him. He was everywhere she looked and entwined with everything she thought about.

Even something as mundane as a roll of toilet paper led back to Adrien Agreste. Mainly because she still saw him as a piece of… well, you get the point.

But back to the previous day, there was just something about his face as she’d approached him. A face which told her ‘I’m here, do what you want with me.’ So she did! She’d decided to call him ‘Honey’ and snog him. Seriously, what the hell was running through her head?

“You know, I’ll listen if you want to talk about it?” A sleepy Tikki floated over, her eyes half open and movements slow. The lack of akuma’s recently and not transforming seemed to have really affected her little kwami. The creature was barely able to stay awake for more than an hour.

Tikki dropped into Marinette’s waiting palms as the designer moved them towards her lips and pressed a kiss to the top of the kwami’s head.

“It’s ok, sweetness. You rest up! We never know when you might be needed again.”

Tikki snuggled into Marinette’s cheek, nuzzling gently before letting off a little yawn. “I know you don’t want to hear it, Marinette, but I think Kagami’s right. I think it’s time you let whatever this is with Adrien go. It’s annoying everyone around you.”

Shocked at the revelation, Marinette pulled the kwami away and studied her little face. Tikki had once again departed from consciousness and had begun to snooze in her hands. She placed the kwami on the cushion next to her and smiled. She loved this tiny goddess so much before moving her eyes to her phone charging on her desk and she couldn’t help but wonder if Chat had the same relationship with his kwami. Everyone knew Plagg was the hardest to get along with. He either loved you or hated you.

Absent-mindedly, Marinette’s hand reached for her lips. The kiss with Adrien had done things to her she didn’t know was possible. It was like paint bombs had exploded behind her eyelids making her see the world suddenly become more colourful and vibrant. She hadn’t meant to make it more than just a little peck, but as soon as he’d kissed her back she just couldn’t help but search for another. He was addictive… and she hated it. She’d never felt like this when she’d kissed someone before. The first kiss with Chat Noir had been quick and a means of survival, the following forgotten and almost imaginary. This kiss though had rocked her resolve and altered her brain chemistry. Suddenly, she didn’t seem to hate Adrien as much anymore.

After that kiss she just couldn’t stop searching him out, each tiny flicker of a look had her heart racing and a warmth spreading to her cheeks. His smile had suddenly become something she wanted to see, something she wanted to cause.

“No! No! No!” Attempting to busy herself, Marinette shook her head and grabbed her sketchbook again, opening it up to see…

The first design was on a male model. A male model with perfectly styled hair and high cheekbones. Dammit!

Slamming it closed, she sat up straight and rubbed her eyes hard, little black dots left in the wake of her fierce action; however, a sudden pain in her stomach had her almost doubling over.

The day had started really successfully, : she’d gotten up early, only replayed the kiss twice and then headed to the venue. She’d managed to sufficiently alter Adrien’s outfits without groping him too much (damn, his abs were tight) and everything was going swimmingly right up until the point that her body sent her, her monthly womanhood subscription gift. The only freebie she’d ever gladly refuse.

With the interview and then boxing up to move, she’d completely lost track of her weeks which ended with her doubled over and almost throwing up. She’d forgotten her pain killers, and if it wasn’t for modern day Hercules Agreste, she was quite sure she’d still be curled up in the pile of fabric in the corner of the dressing room.

Sometimes she really hated being a woman.

After Adrien had carried her from the building like Superman from a fire, he’d placed her in the car and sent her back to the hotel; orders to take the rest of the day off ‘sick’.

Well, not completely off.

It was seen as an opportunity to continue the designs for Gabriel, ready to present back in England.

After the outing to the park yesterday she had been incredibly inspired. Unsure whether it was from the kiss or the views, all she knew was her head was back on top form; idea after idea rolled out and inspiration came to her in droves. She’d even emailed a couple of snapshots over to Nathalie already.

Tapping out around the bedsheets, Marinette searched for any remaining chocolate laying on top of the covers, only to come up empty handed and extremely emotional about it. The bed was already full of wrappers. Chocolate being the choice of meal for the day.

Sighing she knew there was only one option; she had to venture out to the vending machines… more chocolate was a necessity to her survival! And maybe something fizzy and full of sugar.

Ripping the duvet from her body, the coolness of the air conditioner hit her and made her want to crawl straight back in. What was it with America and air conditioning? It was warm out but not enough to warrant the freezing temperatures in the rooms.

With a slight dither, Marinette grabbed the hoodie from the top of her unpacked suitcase, and slipped it over her head. Grabbing the keycard, she pulled the hood up and over her head to protect her ears. Too cold. Too cold.

Taking her phone from the nightstand, she unplugged the charger and slipped the phone into her pouch — not without a glance to check if Mr Unknown had resurfaced. She was so angry with him, and after a lot of internal debates, she’d decided once she was back in Europe she would be meeting with her superhero partner and questioning him to the nth degree. Arsehole!

Plodding through the hallway, in her socks and PJ bottoms, Marinette followed the signs to the vending machine. Removing her phone and setting up her next message. After the encounter with the guy in the park the previous day (not Adrien) she was fed up with guys shit! If Mr Unknown wasn’t going to bother messaging her back, she was going to light up his phone until she at least got some attention.

Miss Dial (6:42pm): Sooooo, I’m guessing you’re dead now but I’m going to need some confirmation.

Miss Dial (6:43pm): My horrendous period pains are making me wish I was dead.

Miss Dial (6:44pm): Who decided that women were the ones to go through this pain monthly? I feel like there was definite favouritism to men.

Miss Dial (6:44pm): Perhaps each month women should have the opportunity to kick a guy in the balls — hard! You know, equality and all that.

Miss Dial (6:45pm): Also, men don’t have to deal with pushing a basketball out of their ass if they want a baby. Think yourself lucky!

Miss Dial (6:46pm): Chocolate is my go to comfort food, BTW #crispym&msnotpeanuts #peanutbutterm&msareanexception

Miss Dial (6:47pm): Also FYI, I don’t care about the time difference and if this wakes you up. You deserve it for ghosting me.

Not feeling at all better from the messages she’d sent him, she continued her way down the hallway, pocketing her phone in the front pouch of the hoodie and praying nobody had taken all the crispy M&M’s. If she was feeling adventurous she might choose a pack of peanut butter ones too.

“Nice ears.”

The smooth, male voice had her freezing in her tracks; her eyes closing and quiet curses leaving her lips. Why, oh why, did Adrien have to appear now? Shouldn’t he be on the top floor or something away from the peasants? She glanced down at her outfit and sighed, of course he’d appear now.

Turning around slowly, she came face to face with the guy she’d kissed yesterday and all she could think about was his lips and how soft they were on hers? She licked her own unwillingly as Mr Delicious stepped forward all suited and booted for the gala being held at the Plaza.

Why were his lips shining so much? Stop staring, Marinette! Have some dignity girl!

“Nice suit,” she said instead. “Savile Row?”

Way to go Marinette, start an argument again.

Jaw clenching and nose flaring, Marinette could see she’d once again caught him off guard. There was always something so satisfying about winding him up.

“EBay?” he responded, nodding down to her own mismatched outfit and causing her to laugh.

“Touché, Agreste.” She turned to carry on walking, only for Adrien to stride alongside her; keeping up easily regardless of her speed. Damn his long legs.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. Her eyebrow raised as she tried to validate his reason for asking.

“Oh, I’m fine. Just going out for a walk actually, you know, see the sights and all that.” She carried on walking past the vending machine (heartbreaking) and towards the lifts, Adrien remaining beside her as they waited.

“You’re going out for a walk in a Chat Noir hoodie, Ryuko pyjama bottoms and Ladybug fluffy socks?” The amusement in his tone turned her cheeks pink, a soft confident laugh leaving his lips and making her cower into her hoodie, mentally imagining it was her partner’s arms. She reached for her phone subconsciously, holding it for support.

“Why do you always do that?” she asked quietly. “Why do you always make fun of me?”

Adrien stopped laughing and turned back to her. His eyes were serious and face, somewhat, distraught.

“What?”

Marinette shrugged. “It’s just, ever since we’ve known each other I always seem to be the butt of your jokes. I just…” she sighed and shook her head, she wasn’t sure why she was saying all this to him, it wasn’t like it was going to change anything.

‘I think it’s time you let this with Adrien go.’ Tikki’s words played through her mind, was she asking to finally end this feud between the two of them?

“Marinette, I just thought this was the way we were. I didn’t realise you didn’t like it. I’m so sorry.”

Frowning, she tried to make sense of what he’d just said. “You thought I liked it? Adrien, that isn’t how you banter with someone. You’ve made me really angry over the years.”

The elevator dinged and Adrien looked torn between whether to get in or not; Marinette’s feet were firmly planted to the ground making it obvious she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Are you coming down too?” he asked, a funny dance happening as he moved in and out of the elevator.

There was so much to uncover… so much she didn’t understand. After all this time, the digs he’d had at her and the way he’d always made her the joke was nothing more than banter. BANTER!!! He was even more of an idiot than she’d previously thought.

“Um - no,” she replied, her hands joining in front of her body.

“No?”

“Yeah, no! See you later, Adrien, have a good night.”

Still seemingly unsure what to do, he eventually nodded and made his way into the elevator, their eyes remaining locked as the doors slid to a close and she could finally breathe again.

Moving backwards, Marinette needed the vending machine now more than ever. Her mind was all in a tizz as she tried to understand what the hell had just happened. Had their whole relationship been just one huge misunderstanding? Confusion didn’t even begin to uncover how she felt — it was like suddenly coming out of the Twilight Zone and back into a distorted reality.

A buzzing in her pocket alerted her to her phone, but all she could think about was getting her chocolates, heading back to her room and reevaluating her life.

Pressing the buttons on the machine, she watched as three delicious packets of crispy M&M’s dropped down into the tray, followed by another two peanut butter packets. Shoving them into her pouch, she began to make her way back to her room, grabbing her phone and sighing. Who was it going to be this time?

Mr Unknown (7:07pm): Everyone knows plain chocolate ones are the best!

Though she was happy he wasn’t dead, she was still furious that he had gone awol for the past couple of days. How dare he make her worry like that!

Part of her was certain she'd be getting a message from Plagg giving her his funeral details and finally revealing his name. Grabbing the key card from her pocket, she went to open the door, only then realising she had completely forgotten to buy a drink.

A quick decision had her darting into the room to change her pyjama bottoms and socks for jeans and trainers. The ache in her stomach was still there and the thought of a peppermint tea was quite a treat at the moment. Once changed into jeans she grabbed her sketchbook and headed for the door again. A break from the room would do her good and she was sure the hotel bar would have a wonderful selection of herbal teas.

As she reached the elevator a second buzz came through.

Mr Unknown (7:11pm): Unfortunately, can’t talk right now. On a date.

On a date? Any other time she might have let this go, but nope she wanted to keep lighting up his phone until he was stuck in a full blown conversation with her. She’d missed their chats and she needed him to talk to her dammit.

Miss Dial (7:13pm): On a scale of 1-10 how attractive is your date?

Stepping into the elevator and selecting the ground floor, she ripped into a bag of peanut butter M&M’s and waited for a reply, and if one didn’t arrive she’d just keep texting him until it did.

Chapter Text

Adrien

Boredom didn’t come close to how Adrien was feeling at the moment! It had been less than 5 minutes in the car and he was already willing to open the door and throw himself out onto the street. The only problem being that with the speed (or lack of) of New York traffic the whole opening the door and dramatically diving wouldn’t quite have the effect he was going for. 

The road was at a standstill and unbelievably the horns blowing outside were not the most annoying noise he could hear.

“So then, your father said I would look perfect on your arm and I have to say I really agree.”

Unfortunately, I don’t! 

Somewhere, deep in his mind, he was already scrambling out the car and running back to Marinette arms wide open and begging for attention like a stray unloved cat. Unfortunately, instead he had to smile politely at his ‘date’ and act as though he was interested. He’d rather eat a chilli and rub his fingers in his eyes.

The mind numbing conversation had him doing the one thing he’d promised himself he wouldn’t… messaged Miss Dial back.  

His mind was spiralling out of control as he thought back to what had just happened between him and Marinette. Had he really got it all that wrong? When he thought they were having fun and teasing each other it was just him blatantly insulting her time and time again? No wonder she’d called him a pompous jackass — he well and truly proved it. 

He remembered back to Félix’s wedding where in his speeches he made a comment about the fact that Marinette had only made Kagami 20 minutes late which was a record all around. Man, he really was a dipshit! 

A quick glance to his phone and he just wanted to jump through it and reach her. To get onto his knees and grovel for forgiveness. 

A cough sounded next to him and he realised what’s-her-name was waiting for a reply. What had she said again? 

“Yeah, sure.” 

Lighting his phone up, Adrien looked at the last message he’d sent.

Mr Unknown (7:11pm): Unfortunately, can’t talk right now. On a date.

Why the hell had texted her that? It wasn’t like he was actually on a real date. Just another time his father had set something up to make Adrien look less of a useless romancer and more of a Lothario. 

Marinette was stubborn though and he hoped she would be pissed off to continue messaging him. The bait had been set, she just needed to take it.

Not a second later, his phone buzzed in his pocket. There she was. He had been right. Without any doubts who was on the other side of the phone he was smiling before he even read the message.

Miss Dial (7:13pm): On a scale of 1-10 how attractive is your date?

So, she wanted to be nosey? That was fine, he could play. He looked to the side and studied the profile of the woman sitting next to him. His father had chosen well again in the looks department. She was all long legs and long golden hair. He was quite sure as they left the car they’d look like Barbie and Ken; all perfectly bronzed and perfectly proportioned — unlike the petite woman who’d manhandled him in the park the previous day. 

He rubbed a thumb over his lower lip with a smile, she’d have been so easy to lift up and push against… he really needed to stop thinking about kissing her. 

Attention back on his phone, he thought about what would entice her into continuing the conversation. Only one answer would do the job.

Mr Unknown (7:14pm): A definite 11.

Smiling to himself, he couldn’t wait to see what she messaged back. Knowing her sass, and her added hormonal state at the moment, plus the fact he had been ghosting her could create quite the reply. 

A buzz in his hand had him letting out a small chuckle, she’d barely waited a minute before replying. The model sitting next to him reached and grabbed his hand, cupping his in both her tiny, perfectly manicured hands.

“I know, I can’t believe we’re here either, Adrien. But me and you, we’re built to last… together” Her sigh made him want to throw up, or throw her off him as she moved towards him and snuggled into his arm. Crap! What the hell had gone wrong?

“Oh, um, I was actually laughing at a meme my friend sent me.” 

Waving the phone at her, she recoiled back into her seat with a huff, letting go of his arm and crossing her own across her chest. The huffs and puffs she was making was a clear indication she wanted attention. Attention she wouldn’t be getting from him. 

As soon as she’d turned her attention out to the streets, he unlocked his phone again to read the most recent message.

Miss Dial (7:18pm): I knew you’d be attractive!!! No way would you get an 11 without being on the beautiful list.

A small chuckle left his mouth again as he imagined her bouncing around in her seat doing the little, happy wiggle dance she’d celebrate with in collége; every time she answered something right cue the wiggle.

Mr Unknown (7:19pm): You’ve thought about my looks then? Tell me more!

Geez, if he dug down any lower he’d be in the fiery pits of hell! How much of an egotistical move was this? What did he want from it? For her to say from his words she knew he’d be a hot God and want him to push her against the wall and…

Oh ffs! Stop thinking about the kiss and for the love of all things Miraculous stop flirting!!!

Miss Dial (7:21pm): When a guy is as confident as you seem, you know they’re nothing less than an 8.

Mr Unknown (7:22pm): And that puts me on the beautiful list?

Miss Dial (7:23pm): Pfft, no! Do you not know anything? It’s based on your date. Anything 9 and above is an automatic entry to one of two lists.

Mr Unknown (7:23pm): As messed up as this is, please continue…

From these messages and his time recently with Marinette, one thing was coming pretty clear to Adrien — he would never ever understand women. 

Miss Dial (7:24pm): List one — The Beautiful List. List two — The Rich List.

A warmth blossomed in his chest. He knew damn well he shouldn’t be doing this, but there was just something about talking to her in this way that was so alluring. She was open with him. She was so much fun. 

Mr Unknown (7:25pm): How do you know I don’t belong on the rich list?

Miss Dial (7:26pm): The socks from your photo were standard white cotton, posh pricks go for something with a higher thread count.

Mr Unknown (7:26pm): Any reason for knowing this?

Miss Dial (7:27pm): I have a couple of pompous twat friends.

A snort broke the silence, Adrien spluttering to turn it into a cough. It was so obvious she was on about him and Félix — at least she called him a friend.

Mr Unknown (7:30pm): And what would you rate yourself?

Miss Dial (7:33pm): I am a banging 7+, baby!

Adrien would 100% disagree with the 7+, if anything Marinette Dupain-Cheng broke the scale. Did she underestimate herself this much? 

Mr Unknown (7:34pm): I may not know where you sit on the beautiful list but personality list you’d take the number one spot.

What the hell was he doing? 

There was no way this wasn’t classed as flirting; it made his alter ego look like a prim and proper gentleman and Adrien look like an Angel. All he had to do to make things worse would be say…

I’d bang you in your dodgy mix and match hero pyjamas.

Closing his eyes, he tried to cool down a little. He was going to need extra therapy sessions at this rate — or a new job.

Miss Dial (7:36pm): Well thank you, Mr Compliments, good way to make up for the ghosting. 

Mr Unknown (7:37pm): Ooo, a new nickname. You must have forgiven me.

The car had barely moved more than a couple of feet; Adrien regretting even agreeing to going to this gala.

Miss Ohio 2023 was currently informing him about the missed opportunity she’d had to be the front cover of Vogue and making him want to claw his eyes out. Apparently, she wanted to sue the government for their COVID rules and restrictions and he wanted to crawl out the window.

He hummed and awwwed, nodding with fake enthusiasm as she continued filling him in on all her life achievements, when something caught his eye over her shoulder and out the window. 

Scrambling across the seat and almost climbing onto the female's lap, he wound the window down and stuck his head out. The guy that had just walked past. He recognised him.

As he hung out the window Adrien could glimpse the entrance to their hotel, the guy slowly moving inside. Moving back onto his side of the car, he grabbed his phone and pulled up Marinette’s contact.

Miss Ohio giggled and placed one hand to her chest.

“Oh, Adrien, you continue to surprise me!” 

Ignoring the female beside him, his attention scrambled to message the female on the other side of the phone. 

Mr Unknown (7:38pm): So, tell me Miss Dial, what does a lovely lady like yourself do on the evenings?

Please say you’re in your room! Please say you’re in your room!

A small tap through his jacket hit against his chest. Obviously, Plagg was attempting to calm him down; his heart beating at an intense speed he’d never felt before, Marinette’s fear from yesterday flashed in front of his eyes adding to his own. He needed to get out of the car and go back. Now.

“I’m sorry but I’m suddenly not feeling too well.” 

Unsure if she believed him or not, he really didn’t care, instead Adrien let himself out of the car, horns blazing from his open down as he shouted his apologies back towards his date, slamming the door shut before she could respond. 

There was no time to waste as he suddenly remembered why the guy he’d spotted had made him queasy. It was the same guy from the park. 

Running back, as fast as he could, Adrien pushed past the doorman and into the lobby, grabbing his phone from his pocket and looking to see if she’d messaged him back. 

No new messages. 

“Shit!” he whispered to nobody. 

Wandering around the lobby, he headed towards the elevator. Maybe he should head up to Marinette’s room and pray she’d just gone back to stuff her face with chocolate all night. Locked away safely from creepy men who stalk lone women in parks.

Too impatient to wait, Adrien slammed his finger rapidly against the button, his patience wearing thin as the numbers slowly decreased on the screen. 

12, 11, 10…

“Come on, come on!” 

Suddenly feeling like Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard, Adrien did a 360 of the area, his eyes studying the surrounding area and looking for the guy again. If he could keep him in his vision maybe he could keep him away from Marinette.

A laugh hit his ears and he turned sharply to the right. He knew that laugh. Heading into the bar, Adrien almost cried with relief as he spotted Marinette at a table still dressed in her Chat Noir hoodie, sketchbook open, phone to ear and emptying a packet of peanut butter M&M’s into her mouth. What a winner!

She turned her head, her eyes dancing as they found him, her hand gesturing to call him over. She concentrated back on the phone call, the quick gesturing of her hands meaning she was in quite the conversation and he could guess who it was. 

As he arrived at the table, Marinette gave him a soft smile; her words saying a soft goodbye to whoever was on the other side of the phone.

“Alya’s up late then?”

Marinette giggled. “She’s on a coffee high. She has some sort of report due tomorrow and needed to get it finished.” 

“Fair enough.” 

Marinette joined her fingers together on the table and cupped them under her chin. “Why are you here?” she asked. 

He suddenly felt like he was under some sort of scrutiny and he wasn’t quite sure of the answer.  Why was he here again? 

“I didn’t want to go to the gala.”

Marinette raised one eyebrow and he had to keep his heart from leapfrogging out his chest, she looked so cute it should be illegal. The Chat Noir hoodie only added to the overall look.

“And your father’s okay with that?” Shaking his head, Marinette rubbed her hand over her face. “You can’t just not turn up, Adrien.

“Actually, I can. I’ll deal with it.” He shrugged.

A waiter headed over and stood beside them. “Here’s your check.” He placed a silver disc down with a small strip of paper on it. 

$15 for herbal tea! 

“If it’s okay, I’ll pay on my —'' 

Before Marinette could stretch forward with her phone, Adrien had taken his wallet from his jacket pocket and removed his credit card, placing it on top of the receipt. 

“I’ve got it,” Adrien said, smiling over at his — friend? He wasn’t even sure what to call her anymore, obviously she’d never seen them as friends, whereas he had. What a mess!

The waiter tapped the card to his machine before thanking Adrien and wandering off in the opposite direction. Marinette folding her arms and leaning forward on the table. 

“You do realise you’ve just technically taken me on a date, Mr Agreste.”

“Least I could do after you kissed me earlier.” He watched the tips of her ears grow pink, a kettle-like squeal leaving her lips and his own metaphorical foot kicked himself up the ass. Why did he bring that up?

Instead, he stood abruptly from the table and held out a hand. “Come with me,” he said. Her arms remained exactly where they were.

“Why would I do that?” 

So the stalker who is somewhere in this hotel doesn’t come to get you.

“Please, I think we need to talk. I didn’t like how the conversation was left earlier and I would like to try and understand what happened, if that's okay with you?”

From the look on Marinette’s face, he could tell she was wavering, but if he knew her as well as he believed she'd want to find out what he had to say, her curiosity would always get the better of her.

Chest rising and falling, Marinette took a deep breath, exhaling through her nose. He stood his ground, determined to see this through and have her understand he wanted to be friends.

“Okay,” she said, packing her things together in a pile and standing up.

“Okay?” he asked, almost in complete shock. 

“Yeah,” she giggled. “Don’t look too shocked Agreste, I can be a lovely person sometimes.”

“I — um — I didn’t — I’ve never —”

Marinette burst out laughing and tapped his chest. “I know, Stud, just teasing you. Not fun is it.” 

She began to walk away, stopping to turn back and point at him. “Oh, and if we’re going out somewhere and I’m dressed like this, you need to change.” 

Lips twisting into a half smile, Adrien moved forwards and towards the elevator. She pressed the button, both standing side by side as the doors to the elevator opened. Marinette and Adrien stepped inside before a family of four barged in and trapped them at the back, kids screaming and having their hands pulled away from the buttons as they tried to set them all alight.

“Sorry,” the mother said, her face worried and exasperated. 

Marinette crouched beside one the struggling children and began to talk to him, Adrien staring down amazed at her confidence and caring attitude. She really was something else. 

The doors began to close, Adrien taking one quick glance out only to catch two pairs of eyes. 

One belonged to the Gorilla, the other the unknown man. 

Turning away he prayed that neither noticed him or Marinette as the doors finally closed and the elevator moved.

They’d have to sneak out, there was no other choice. 

Chapter Text

Marinette

“Are you insane?”

Marinette stood looking down at the fire escape, Adrien already scurrying down like a cheap imitation Spider-Man. 

“Oh, come on, Marinette! Live a little.” 

“I’ve seen the drop Agreste, and if I want to ‘live a little’ I need to stay on solid ground.”

The laughter coming from him carried itself through the night sky with only the angry sounds of car horns battling against it.

“Marinette, I swear it’s safe.”

“So is the elevator!” she stated, rolling her eyes before swinging a leg over the bar and making her way onto the steel frame. 

“That’s a girl!” Adrien cheered, continuing his descent down the scaffolded object. 

Tentatively edging down the ladder, Marinette was fully aware one look up and Adrien would be eye to eye with her ass. Every now and then she couldn’t help but clench, making sure it looked its finest. 

“So where are we sneaking off to?” Marinette whispered, walking across the metal grid and onto the next set of ladders. 

“Just trust me, okay? It’ll be worth it.”

That’s all he’d told her; that where they were going was amazing and would be worth it. He’d made her leave the sketch pad in his room, promising it would be safe before ushering her out of the window. 

She felt like a teenager sneaking out the house again, yet this time it had nothing to do with superhero business.

Finally reaching the last ladder, she noticed there was a drop to the ground; one high enough that she wasn’t entirely sure she’d come off unscathed. 

“I’ll catch you,” Adrien whispered-shouted up to her; until this moment she didn’t know such a sound could be made. She looked towards him and noticed his hands cupped around his mouth. 

“No you won’t!” she huffed back, looping an arm around the metal bar and twisting her body out, away from the ladder; each arm hooking backwards and keeping her secure. 

“Marinette, please, I’m not going to drop you.”

Every part of her wanted to scream at him, to tell him she’d trust a hungry lion more… However, that was before her life changing kiss and conversation with him. Pursing her lips, she wiggled her nose as she considered her options. She could either stay up here for the rest of her life, or take the plunge and jump, praying that Adrien’s muscles were actually from good old fashioned bicep curls, not just good genetics. 

The look on his face was adorable and Marinette was on the verge of combining this colossal fear of heights with full blown laughter, only for the feeling to increase as he motioned his hands towards her in the most adorable way. She was tethering on the verge of tears. 

“Okay, but on my count.”

Adrien nodded, looked out to the street and then motioned with his hands again. He wasn’t saying it but she could tell he thought they were about to be caught. Her own eyes scaling the area too.

When Adrien had told her about ditching the gala, it didn’t matter how much he thought he’d get away with it, she knew differently. Gabriel Agreste would not take this lightly. Instead, after 12 ignored calls and a banging on his hotel room door, the fire escape had been the only option, Adrien manhandling her out before starting his great escape. 

“Ready, steady, jump, or 1, 2, 3?” Adrien questioned, his arms still out ready to grab her.

“What?”

“Well you said on your count?”

“Counting is numbers you, dipshit! Why would it be ready, steady, jump? And FYI I’m not jumping, I’m dropping!!” 

“That’s still falling!”

“Yes, but it’s not a jump!”

“Marinette!” Adrien’s voice was spat out to her, her eyes rolling in response.

She examined the drop again, wondering if she could hang from the bottom bar and have a smaller drop. Then again it was her, and a smaller drop probably would injure her more than falling from the roof.

“Fine then, Miss Bossy Pants. 3 or 1, or are you going to say the number and then drop,” Adrien said.

“Oh my God, Adrien. Just hold your arms out and get ready.”

“But you haven’t —”

Before he could finish his sentence, she let go. Falling through the air and completely missing his arms — landing on his face instead and taking them both down to the ground. 

Her body suddenly started to volt violently up and down. First thoughts leading to the possibility she was murdering Adrien Agreste. Rolling off him, she noticed that she wasn’t in fact suffocating him to death; he was laughing — a lot! 

“10 out of 10 for the landing.” 

A quick slap to an incredibly toned and incredibly flat stomach had him wincing before continuing with his laughter. 

“Oh, come on Marinette, that was funny! You fell on my head! I cushioned your fall with my head!” 

Before she could control herself, she sat beside him and started giggling, the two of them changing from a small chuckle to a full laugh within seconds. 

“Come on,” Adrien said as he stood and offered out a hand. “Let’s get going before someone finds us and either arrests us or sends me back to that awful gala.” 

Marinette smiled. “I take it your father didn’t send you a dial-a-date this time?” 

A twitch pulled the corner of his lips, his hand coming straight to his mouth trying to hide the growing signs of a smile. 

“Actually,” Adrien began, “he did!”

“She must have been a brilliant conversationalist.” The sarcastic tones in her voice made him smile again. Her head tilted to the side as she examined it. “You look good when you smile. Like properly smile, that is.”

“Thanks.” His smile grew wider along with the fluttering in her chest. Oh no! No! No! No! 

Remember he’s pretentious, mean and most importantly YOUR BOSS!

“And FYI, these bad boys are all real,” he said, tapping his teeth. “No veneers here.” He began to make his way out of the alley, stopping at the end and peering out around the side of the wall.

“I was only joking, Adrien. You know… friendly banter and all that.” The sudden realisation hit her that she’d used his first name. Not Agreste, not Jackass… his real name. Well, wasn’t that a turn out for the books. 

“Shhhh!” Turning to face her, Adrien placed a finger to his lips and pointed around the corner.

“Don’t you shush me!” Hands placed on his shoulders, she poked her head around him and looked out onto the street. 

“Adrien Agreste!” she teased. “You've been a naughty boy.”

They both stood looking as a tall, grey haired, powerful man stepped out of a town car, assistant at side and bodyguard waiting by the door. 

“What’s your father doing here? I didn’t think he was in New York at the moment.” Marinette couldn’t take her eyes away from the scene in front. As far as she was aware, Gabriel wasn’t meant to be in the country at the moment. He should still be in London. 

Adrien shot an arm out and pushed them both back against the wall, turning his head down to look at her. Had she always only reached his shoulders?

“He wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t even know he was.”

“What the hell do we do now?” Could your heart burst out of your chest? Because she was quite certain hers was about to escape and start tap dancing to Broadway. If they got caught – together – she would be losing her job.

“Do you trust me?” Adrien asked.

“Who do you think you are? Aladdin?” 

A glare was aimed in his direction as he rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrist. “Come on, Princess .” 

Swiftly moving out of the alleyway, Adrien dragged Marinette in the opposite direction to the hotel and down through the crowds on 5th Avenue. This was the first time she’d been down this street and she was tempted to tell Adrien to stop so she could look in the window displays. They were stunning ! 

However, her teenage immaturity came back flooding back as suddenly she was yelping and giggling as Adrien dragged her around the streets and towards the Rockefeller Center, moving between the crowds like a pinball.

Finally, coming to a halt in front of the grand building, Adrien and Marinette stopped to try and gather their breath; the sounds of a brass orchestra filling the surrounding area. 

“Woah! This is beautiful!” Marinette’s eyes glimmered as she stood to her full height and looked around the courtyard. “I always knew it would be amazing, but this is just…”

As Marinette trailed off she felt a hand connect with hers; a hand pulling her around to face him. 

“Dance with me.”

Without waiting for an answer, Adrien had Marinette pulled tightly into his chest and began to sway them to the music circulating the area. His large, masculine hands were holding her like she was made of glass and she was tempted to tell him to stop treating her so delicately. 

The sudden stroke of his thumbs on her hips sent electric bolts up her spine, and when he placed his head on top of hers, a hum vibrated through her hair and down to her heart. He was so carefree and peaceful. You wouldn’t think his crazy father was chasing his ass around New York City. 

“Can you remember the last time we were here together? We danced like this in the moonlight.”

Could she remember? How could she ever forget? The moment had almost swayed her into the ‘I heart Adrien’ fan club. She’d been completely absorbed in him as they floated above the rooftops soaking up the rays of the moon, Adrien keeping her calm and holding her tight. 

That moment held a special place in her heart and suddenly an intense pressure behind her eyes came from nowhere making them prickle and her nose burn. 

“That’s because we were stuck together floating into space.”

Adrien didn’t respond. Instead he continued to move them in a gentle sway, and she swore she could feel the erratic beat of his heart. The song finished too quickly, Adrien letting go of her to join the gathered crowd as they clapped.

“Let’s carry on,” he said, taking her hand once more and leading them down a couple of streets and into the heart of Times Square.

The sight was beautiful; tall towers and glittering lights filled the area around them. Marinette was lost in ‘the moment’. The crowds shouting, horns blazing and flashes going off everywhere. It was so different from when she was punching villains down the street. 

Adrien continued to drag her along with him, her eyes every now and then glancing at different things she wanted to come back to. The sudden realisation that the change in scenery had taken her attention away from the previous aches and pains in her stomach. 

It seemed Adrien Agreste had been a period miracle cure.

Finally, they came to an abrupt stop outside a fantastic, modern looking apartment block. The skyscraper towered over the smaller buildings in the area; the large panels of glass shining lights out from the occupants of the vicinity. 

“In here,” Adrien said, pushing her in before him. The foyer was filled with people in top class suits and outfits. Long Gabriel dresses and Audrey Bourgeois suits, then there were the two of them.

Jeans, hoodies and, if Marinette wasn’t mistaken, she had a chocolate blob in the middle of her top from where an M&M had fallen out of her mouth. 

“We can’t be in here,” she hissed at him, “we look like hobos.”

Before Adrien could reply, a rather enthusiastic male in a crisp midnight blue suit appeared in front of them. 

“Adrien, darling, you made it. What do you think? It’s fabulous, isn’t it?” 

Marinette’s mouth opened and closed as she recognised the man from a reality real estate tv show. Adrien knew this guy. They knew each other. Even after being friends with Adrien for all these years, this here was insane. Sometimes she forgot exactly how popular and famous Adrien was.

“Good to see you again.” The two clasped hands in a friendly handshake, before Adrien placed a hand behind Marinette’s back and pushed her slightly forwards. “This is Marinette.”

The guy's thousand watt smile was turned on her as he greeted her with a hug and cheek kiss. “Oh, aren’t you just pocket sized! Nice catch here, Adrien.” 

Marinette couldn’t believe the genuine interest in this guy's face, chocolate smudge be damned, he looked at Marinette as though she was a crowned Princess. 

“Oh, I definitely did good.” Adrien beamed; the hand that had pushed her forward slowly slipped around her waist.

“Yep,” Marinette said. “I’m with him for his charming personality, not the massive bank account.” She tapped him on the chest causing the realtor to burst out laughing.

“I like her. She's feisty.”

Adrien’s eyes burned into hers as he said, “You have no idea!” He turned back and smiled. “I was telling Marinette about the rooftop garden. Any chance of getting up there this evening, she doesn’t believe me about the views?”

Beckoning to them, the man led them to an elevator and placed a keycard in Adrien’s hand.

“For you? Anything.” 

A quick thanks to the relator and they were once more left alone. Adrien held the card to the button, his eyes in front of him and a sudden tension in his shoulders. As the elevator arrived he ushered Marinette in before holding the keycard to the button once more and selecting the top floor. 

They rode in silence. The doors opening broke the thick tension as the sights of New York City came into view. 

“Oh, wow!” It was amazing. 

She wandered from left to right, looking at everything from the Empire State Building to the One World Tower; her eyes only stopping as she saw Adrien move to an edge and lean his arms on the brick ledge. 

For a moment, she studied him. Adrien was quite a sight, one she couldn’t help but warm to. He was beautiful. Strong masculine features but with an air of friendliness, one she’d always thought was a way to con people into doing his bidding. Her heart picked up speed as she thought about what might happen next. They were alone. They had to talk. And she had to stop herself from falling, because right now everything  about Adrien Agreste was calling to her and she couldn’t help but want to know more. 

Moving forwards, she rested herself beside him. Studying the chiselled jawline of a face which both plagued and satisfied her dreams. 

“Let’s start from the beginning.”

Chapter Text

Adrien

They both looked out onto the New York City skyline and Adrien knew exactly what he needed to do. Whatever this animosity was that Marinette held against him, he needed to sort it; he just had to figure out what it was first.

“Let’s start from the beginning.”

He turned his head, catching her reflection in the moonlight and almost dropping to his knees to rub his cheek against her leg. The sudden thought almost had him falling over the ledge. What did he think he was? A cat? Maybe too many years with Plagg, wrapping himself up in magic, had caused him some sort of underlying Miraculous-based issues.

“Adrien we don’t need to —“

“Marinette. Let me speak, please.”

Doing some sort of Queen’s wave, Marinette mimed for him to carry on. Adrien twisted to lean his hip into the wall and face her. Marvelling in the effect of the twinkling lights on her eyes.

“As I was saying… the beginning. On that first day at collége –”

“Where you and Chloe played a practical joke on me?”

Adrien wanted to place his fist into his mouth and scream. If she kept interrupting him, they weren’t going to get anywhere.

“For the love of God, Marinette, stop interrupting me.”

“I’m not interrupting!” she exclaimed.

“Then let me speak, woman.”

She huffed and turned to face away from him. A low growl emitted from his throat as he attempted to keep his patience and start the story once again. How could one tiny, little person be so annoying?

“As I was saying –” He studied her face, eyebrow raised, and waited for her to interrupt him again. She rolled her eyes and swung her hand around. Good, she was listening. “On that first day when you walked into the classroom, I wasn’t putting the gum on your chair, I was trying to take it —”

Sighing, Marinette shook her head. “I was there and I saw Chloé —”

“Okay, that’s it! From now on you can only use your hands to communicate. Right hand for yes, left for no. Do you understand?”

“Ye—“

Adrien glared at her and she pretended to zip up her mouth, lock it and throw away the key before sarcastically raising her right hand.

“Good.” He praised her like a small child before taking a deep breath and started again. “I didn’t put the gum on your seat. Chloé did. I was just trying to get it off. She made it out like you were some kind of big bang meany, not a little pocket rocket. I did realise what type of person Chloé was when she was around other people, and to be honest, I was embarrassed by her actions. Do you believe me?”

“Why would –”

Glaring at her, she stopped talking and held up her left hand. He sighed and rubbed his own over his eyes. Turning around, Adrien positioned his back against the ledge, arms crossed and face looking out across the rooftop.

“I just don’t know what to do to make you believe me, Marinette. That afternoon, when I gave you my umbrella, I thought we’d made amends, that you saw my olive branch and accepted it.”

“It closed on me, Adrien.”

“And you laughed, I thought we were sharing a moment.”

The memory played in his head. He had always seen it as a moment of their joint understanding. A moment where they agreed to move on from the morning’s events and the acceptance of the umbrella being an acceptance of his apology. It seemed every moment with her was not what he’d originally thought, and he couldn’t help feeling the brick fall in his stomach at the thought.

“If I ask you yes or no questions, please will you answer honestly?”

She raised her right hand in agreement, and his heart almost exploded out of his chest. At least she wanted to carry on and talk about this.

“Okay, okay.” He stalked up and down the rooftop, a hand rubbing over his mouth as he thought about where he should start.

“Did you see the umbrella as an apology?”

She raised her left hand, Adrien stopping and looking over to her.

“Okay, so I thought you’d… I – um – okay let’s move on.”

Adrien began his walk again; forwards and backwards over the rooftop. “Lila!” he announced. “I was the reason Lila retracted her statement. You know, the one that had you expelled. She’d completely made it all up, I know she had. So, I told her we would only be friends if she went to speak to Mr Damocles. Did you know that?”

Stopping in front of her, he noticed her eyes widened. She didn’t know this. Nobody knew this because he hadn’t told anyone. Damn it! He’d managed to keep this to himself for almost 10 years. It wasn’t an act to get her on his side, it was an act for justice – one he didn’t need the glory for. She slowly raised her left hand, her mouth agape as it made its ascent.

“You actually said that?” Her voice was timid, almost mouse-like.

Rubbing harshly at the back of his neck, Adrien looked towards her. “I - um - yeah! I just… it was unfair Marinette,” he said passionately. “How everyone else didn’t see the lies really made me angry! There was no reason why people should have believed what she was saying. They know you. Well, at least I thought they did.”

“I don’t know what to say?” Marinette replied, turning to face him properly, her eyebrows creasing as they looked at each other.

“You don’t need to say anything Marinette, it was years ago. Lila’s long gone, and…” He shrugged, there wasn’t really anything else to say but ‘that’s what you do for friends’. A comment he wouldn’t use with someone he now knew had never seen him as a friend.

“I didn’t know. I’m – thank you! When Lila was at school, it was one of the worst times of my life. To have you defend me like that, when even when my other friends didn’t believe me, it… it really means a lot Adrien. Thank you.” Her voice was the softest he’d ever heard her speak, a hidden emotion behind each word caused a lump to restrict his throat. This was genuine. This was finally an olive branch.

A smile took over his face. “You’re welcome, Marinette. But you shouldn’t have to thank anyone for doing the right thing.”

Her hands came to her face as she turned it down and began to shake it from side to side. “I can’t believe all this time you thought we were friends and I hated you. Like properly hated you, Adrien. I used to get posters of you and draw moustaches on them. You looked great with a goatee.”

Adrien couldn’t control the bark of laughter leaving his mouth. “A goatee? Really? I always saw myself with a moustache like Gomez Addams.”

Marinette scrunched her lips and tilted her head side to side, before raising her left hand. Adrien gasped, moving forwards and digging his fingers into her ribs, tickling her. She squealed and moved away, her body preparing to take flight and his own ready to chase after.

“Run, run as far as you can… you can’t catch me…” Marinette turned swiftly and began to run in the opposite direction, Adrien chasing after her letting out wild laughter. He watched as she ducked and dived around the different pieces of garden furniture, both laughing like young teens — not adults reaching their mid twenties.

“You’re as tiny as the Gingerbread Man!” Adrien said, stopping to survey the area.

“And as quick.” Before he knew what was happening, Marinette leaped behind him and started her own tickle attack. Digging her fingers into his ribs, he twisted and squirmed ending in a rather intricate tangle of legs. He began to fall over, grabbing hold of Marinette’s hands and taking her with him.

“Not forgetting — delicious!” She said, as they tumbled forward. Adrien pushed himself to take a couple of steps, ending up on the sofa — Marinette on his back.

The impact of the drop caused them both to create a rather loud ‘oomph’ as they hit the base of the sofa. Marinette clinging onto him like a baby koala.

“If you cared about our friendship so much. Why did you call me a chaotic mess with major issues?” The innocence of her voice hit his ear and caused everything in his body to freeze.

When the hell had he said that? Attempting to turn around and face her, he moved himself. Rotating around, he came eye to eye with Marinette as she sat straddling his lap. She looked lost. She looked as if his answer to this was everything. How could he not recall this at all?

Lifting onto his elbows, he tried to move them into a position which was more comfortable. Seeing the way she was hopelessly gazing down at him made him realise why she was asking now? He was one in the vulnerable position. He had no escape and she held all the power; a power he would gladly give to him.

“What?” he asked.

Pushing off him, Marinette began to move away. “Of course.” Her voice held indignation, his body quivering in response.

Before she could get too far away, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back down onto his lap, holding her tightly in position.

“No, you’re not leaving now. When did I say that Marinette? I have no recollection.”

“Pfft, of course you don’t. Why would you?” She wiggled around in his lap as she tried to break away.

“Marinette! I have no idea what you’re on about. I have never called you ‘a chaotic mess with major issues’. I don’t think I’ve ever called anyone a chaotic mess with major issues. I wouldn’t.”

A quick look into her eyes and he could tell maybe she was starting to waiver on whether her memory was right or not. “B-b-but you did! I heard you!”

The hurt shining in her eyes made him want to beg for her forgiveness, the only issue was, he didn’t know what he was begging for. He had zero idea what she was talking about.

“When, Marinette? When and where did you hear this?”

“At the Grevin Museum! I – the – when – you know?”

Completely stumped, Adrien shook his head in response. “I actually don’t. All I can remember from the Grévin Museum was when you came and insulted my statue calling me an obnoxious twat.”

Her hands covered her eyes as she squealed.

“Marinette, just tell me. What did you hear?”

Reaching up, Adrien gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist, moving her hands from her eyes and looking into the most beautiful blue he’d ever seen. One thing he always noticed about Marinette was the size of her eyes. They were large and perfect. He could look into them for hours, the only other pair to challenge them being Ladybug’s.

“You were walking with Nino in front of me, Alya and Manon and I heard you say… ‘she’s like a chaotic mess with major issues.’”

Adrien replayed the time at the museum. He remembered them all turning up there, he remembered that he’d attempted to play a ‘fun’ practical joke on Marinette only for it to backfire and kick him hard in the ass. There was an argument between the two of them when he moved and scared her, and the akuma. But calling her chaotic mess? He just couldn’t remember.

When they’d arrived there, Adrien had carried on inside with Nino but what were they talking about? Or even more, what was he talking about? The day replayed in his head completely blank of any of this. What the hell had he said?

“I - I took you home that day. I thought we were fine.”

“Just forget it, Adrien. It just proves that you didn’t even care what you were saying, I’m just a small fish in your big sea.” She pushed herself off his lap and stood up, the shock of the conversation adding to the strength in his arms. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to remember what this conversation was about. This had hurt her and she had no idea. There was just no recollection of talking about Marinette in that way, he wouldn’t!

Sifting through his memories, he remembered walking with Nino. They were talking about the girls and the fact they wanted to join the trip. They started up a backwards and forwards conversation about Marinette, the girl seemingly uncomfortable to be there and Nino attempting to defend her actions. Adrien quizzed Nino, and Nino’s answers just confused him even more, so much so that he laughed and said… “You’re making her sound like a chaotic mess with major issues.”

“See!” She wrapped her arms around herself unaware of the movement behind her as Adrien launched forward and spun her around.

“I didn’t say it in the way you think, Marinette. Nino said it was you who wanted to come, and then he said you didn’t want to spend time with me, then he changed the story again and I said, ‘You’re making her sound…’”

“Like a chaotic mess with major issues.” They finished together.

“Shit!” she said.

“Yeah,” Adrien laughed in response. “If you don’t believe me, please call or message Alya or Nino, they’ll tell you the truth. I didn’t say it to offend you, Marinette, I swear. It was a joke with Nino, not an attack on you. I am so sorry you’ve thought, for all these years, that’s how I see you because it most certainly is not.”

Shaking her head, he watched as one of her eyebrows raised and a huff left her nose. “No wonder everyone’s been telling me to talk to you.”

They both moved back to the sofa and sat down in perfect synchronisation, the cushions giving way to a puff of air as they collapsed. They both laughed, Marinette hitting her shoulder into Adrien’s and causing him to rock slightly sideways, before she shuffled in closer. Adrien couldn’t help the grin stretching his lips. This tiny act of a second chance had his body burning, and he knew, without a doubt, they were tethering on a slippery slope, and for once he didn’t care.

“I can’t believe you thought I was just teasing you when I called you an obnoxious twat,” Marinette laughed, her head coming to rest on his shoulder.

He tilted his head to look at her. “You’ve called me worse.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, humour lacing her words.

Batting it off with a hand, Adrien laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I grew up with Chloé Bourgeois, remember.”

“True.”

A bitter coldness hit his shoulder as she moved away from him, his body moving with her to try and keep connected with her warmth.

She smiled, offering a hand out. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

Taking hold of her petite hand in his, Adrien moved it up and down. “Hello, Marinette. I’m Adrien Agreste. I’m sure we’re going to get along great.”

Chapter Text

Marinette

As they strolled back to the hotel through the tourist filled streets of New York, Marinette couldn’t help but feel the power of the masculine man beside her, a man she now knew she’d completely misjudged. Nothing like holding a grudge for almost a decade over nothing. She supposed when she finally had her place in London she’d have to forgo the ‘I hate Adrien Agreste’ shrine, maybe altering it to a ‘I heart Adrien Agreste’ would be more suitable.

Stop it, Marinette!

The streets were wild and bustling, yet Marinette couldn’t help but feel Adrien was on edge. The carefree attitude he’d had as they re-introduced themselves on the rooftop — gone, along with the playfulness of their game of chase. She looked up to him, his jaw clenched tightly shut as his eyes surveyed the areas they were walking in. Marinette wasn’t entirely sure why? The only valuable thing on them was the half eaten pack of peanut butter M&M’s — not exactly a priceless heirloom — and her crappy phone which was about 6 years old. Though, if someone did come to take the M&M’s they would have to have their ass kicked. No exceptions.

Clenching to the packet in her hoodie pouch, she continued walking beside her friend. That was weird. Adrien Agreste was actually her friend. She made a mental note to fill both Kagami and Alya in as soon as she got back to the hotel. It was big, life altering news and they all deserved to know. Though she no longer hated him, there was still a little caution as she realised she didn’t actually know him. Everything was falsely categorised and wrongly judged.

“Are you okay?” Adrien’s voice made her jump, her feet tangling and sending her at lightning speed towards the ground. Closing her eyes, she braced for impact, only for a solid body to get in the way, holding her by her upper arms.

“I’ve got you.”

Opening her eyes, she came face to face with Adrien’s masculine pecs. And dear Lord, she could have died and gone to heaven with his smell. The masculine, spicy smell that could only be one fragrance… and it wasn’t his own.

“Chanel?” Marinette asked, smiling up to him from where she’d been buried in his chest. His face cracked for the first time since they’d left the rooftop.

“Yes,” he said with a slight hint of amusement in his voice.

“Not ‘Adrien’?”

“I smell like Adrien all the time, sometimes it’s nice to have a change.”

She giggled. “Not a fan of your own scent?”

“Eau d'Adrien. The award winning scent of model BO and cheese.”

A snort left sounded out of her nose; she couldn’t help it. Adrien was a pretty funny guy when you didn’t think he was just making fun of you, so funny, in fact, she was mentally remembering the jokes to recall to Chat Noir; via text or face to face.

“I take it you’re no longer carefree and radiant?” She smirked up at him. He steadied her on her feet and they carried on in the direction of the hotel.

“I’m not going to lie,” he said. Once again looking around the area. “I don’t think I ever have been. Photoshop was a wonderful creation. Though, I’ve seen the way you look at me sometimes. I think I’ve still got the dreamy aspect going.”

She squealed, her hand loosening and letting go of the M&M’s only to knock into her phone. All of a sudden it burned hard in her pocket. She hadn’t messaged Mr Unknown back, and to be honest, whilst she was with Adrien she’d never given him a second thought. Was Adrien taking over every orifice in her brain — one section at a time? There was just still so much to unpack.

“Your smell goes with your jokes.”

Adrien sprung in front of Marinette, stopping her in her tracks. “You’re calling my jokes cheesy now? So you have been listening.”

His smile could have overpowered and short circuited the area. It was wide, gleaming and enrapturing.

“You really are full of yourself, Agreste.” She rolled her eyes and moved around him, continuing to walk back to the hotel, hoping he did catch the small blush firing up her cheeks.

“It’s just self confidence, Marinette.”

Moving beside her, they laughed their way back to the hotel. As they grew closer, Marinette noticed Adrien stiffen a little. Stopping outside the revolving doorway of the hotel.

“You don’t need to worry Adrien, I don’t think this one will close on us.” Marinette laughed as she remembered their collége trip to New York. The one where they spent most of their time figuring out how American automatic doors worked. How could they be so different from Paris?

Adrien didn’t crack a smile. It seemed as though he wasn’t even listening to her.

“Are you okay?” she questioned, Adrien suddenly jumping back into motion and smiling down at her. But this smile wasn’t the same.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Good. Good-fine.”

She giggled. “I’m glad you’re good-fine.” His hand came to the small of her back and led her into the hotel lobby. She felt like she’d arrived with a member of MI6 the way he was ushering her in, his eyes surveying the area around them.

“Do you think your father’s still here?” she whispered, looking up towards him, a sudden tingle crawling up her spine. Gabriel Agreste could not see her with his son.

“Naa, he would have had to go to the gala. Gabriel Agreste being spotted yet not attend the gala would be company suicide.”

“In that case, why are you going all Ethan Hunt on me?”

She watched Adrien’s eyes dance. “Not James Bond today then?”

“Only when you’re in your suit. You’re more Tom Cruise when you’re wearing jeans and a jumper.”

“I’m at least a foot taller than Tom Cruise,” Adrien mused.

“A foot? Someone thinks highly of themselves.”

They both smiled at each other before breaking into wild, juvenile laughter.

“That pun definitely didn’t fall short.”

As they continued to laugh, she swore she was waking up from some rather bizarre dream. She was standing in a luxury hotel in New York laughing with Adrien Agreste, who once more looked as though he needed to pull out a revolver any minute and get her to safety. She knew she was a superhero but when did her life turn into the next instalment of Mission Impossible. She was worried that at any moment he’d have them rolling around on the floor, or he’d be pinning her to the wall.

Now, come to think about it… Marinette for the sake of your own sanity, and your job, stop it!

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look on edge.” Marinette looked him up and down, the laughter had completely died down and suddenly he was all seriousness again.

Adrien nodded in response, his eyes, once again, surveying the area. What was he looking for?

A hand shot to his head and he closed his eyes. When he opened them again and looked at her they were so soft and so green, it was like spring had arrived and she could roll around in them.

“Just checking for anyone who might be trying to spot me. I hate paparazzi.”

She knew he was lying. There was no way he was just looking for paparazzi, he wasn’t like this during their walk around Central Park. A noise blared between them as they waited with the crowd in front of the elevator. Adrien reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, frowning as he looked at the name. Marinette shuffled a little to the side in an attempt to see who was calling; however, before she could catch a glimpse, Adrien had silenced it and placed it back in his pocket.

He turned to look at her. His smile once again graced his lips. “So, have you had a good evening?”

“I have. I’m glad we talked.”

“Me too.” Adrien’s phone began to ring again; his actions mirrored what he did with the last call. Grab, stop, pocket. 

The elevator signalled its arrival and they made their way in with the rest of the crowds. Another call came through on Adrien’s phone, but this time he didn’t even look at it. Instead, Adrien messed around in his pocket, obviously shutting the call off.

A couple of minutes later, the elevator was at Marinette’s floor; the doors opened and freedom was in sight.

“So,” she said. “This is me.”

“So it is.”

Taking her hand, Adrien led her out into the hallway, matching her down towards her room.

“Oh, door to door service. Very posh.”

Adrien looked down to her, his eyes twinkling.

“Well, we’ve just started again on the right foot. I’m not going to jeropdise anything. You get the full Adrien Agreste friendship service.”

Her own lips pulled and she had to tuck her bottom lip under her teeth to control herself.

“And how do I tip you for your service?”

They slowed to a stop outside her room's door, both staring at each other as electricity crackled around them. From the moment she’d found out she’d been a massive idiot for believing what she’d overheard all those years ago, something had unleashed inside her. Something which felt like she’d been holding it in for a very long time.

Marinette had always found Adrien attractive, there was just something about him… probably why he was such a famous, sought after model, but to her, she saw it as nothing more than a niscience. An itch she could never escape from. Everyone had seemed to fall in love with Adrien Agreste, everyone that is, except her.

But now the blinkers were off and she could see him for who he was and what he’d done for her in the past; the whole Lila scenario playing on repeat in her head. No one had ever stood beside her when it came to Lila; however, it seemed someone had always had her back. The least expected person.

What else had he done for her without her knowing?

“I’m rather into night caps?”

She giggled before stretching onto her tiptoes. “I had fun tonight, thank you.”

Marinette pressed a soft kiss to Adrien’s cheek and lowered back down onto her heels. Even something as delicate as this ignited the simmering embers in her stomach. She was entering dangerous territory. This wasn’t how it was meant to go. One heart to heart shouldn’t have her wanting him this badly. Had she always wanted him? Was this just the go ahead she was waiting for?

“Thank you for saving me from the gala.” This time Adrien moved. His lips caught the corner of her lips sending her tummy fluttering and lips zinging. Oh!

Without saying another word, she pushed up onto her toes again, this time aiming for his lips, brushing her own against them softly and gently, hoping he’d succumb to the action and make a bolder move. Her mind was scrambled but she knew she wanted to kiss him — she needed to kiss him.

Pulling away, she noticed his eyes were closed but it was his lips which made her want to jump into his arms and ask him to trap her against the wall.

He was smiling. A smug natural grin which made her heart deflate and whoosh around her body.

“So, that night cap?”

Laughing, she pushed him away, his eyes opening and blazing. Her natural reaction was to lick her lips, only sending a sparkle through his emeralds as he watched the action.

Your job, Marinette! Think of your job!

“Goodnight, Monsieur Agreste.”

The slow blink he took was joined by an exhale, all glimmer and hope from his eyes lost. His lips twitched at one side, a small smile gracing his lips.

“Goodnight, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng. Sleep well.”

Feeling behind her, Marinette took the keycard out of her back pocket and held it against the door. Backing herself into the room and keeping her eyes firmly on Adrien. She kept staring all the way to the doors closure, taking the opportunity to turn around and back against it once it was shut solid.

She’d kissed Adrien. On. The. Lips. What the hell was wrong with her? He feeds her one evening of heartwarming information and she kisses him. Again.

Two days… two kisses! This needed to stop.

Luckily no one had been around — apart from the creepy guy in the park. She didn’t mean to play with the rules like this, she didn’t think she did anyway.

Did this mean that she liked Adrien? Every nerve in her body screamed yes!!

Shit!

Pulling the packet of M&M’s from her pocket, she tipped them in and attempted to ignore what was happening; instead she focused on the tasty sweetness in her mouth.

As the taste melted on her tongue she could feel herself calming. It’s okay. Everything will be okay. Only herself and Adrien know about this. No one else does. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s not okay! It’s not okay in the slightest.

Suddenly feeling very agitated, Marinette moved around the room clenching and unclenching her hands. She glanced at the bed noticing Tikki was fast asleep on her cushion. Damn kwami hibernation, she really needed to talk to the small red creature. Right now!

Her hands once again became restless. She needed to do something. She needed to draw. Marching over to the table in her room she noticed her sketchbook wasn’t there.

Where the hell did she leave that? Moving around the room she began to pull the covers from the bed and look around the floor.

“Where are you?” she muttered to herself.

Down on her hands and knees, she searched under the bed for the book, only to slide back with nothing.

Going for another look under the bed, a quick knock on the door had her startling and banging her head off the bed.

“Ouchhhhhhh!” she whined, placing a hand to the quick growing lump moving through her hair. “Ow! Ow! Ow!”

Heading to the doorway, she called out. “Who is it?”

“It’s Adrien.” The voice said on the other side of the doorway.

“Adrien?”

“Yes!” The voice responded again. “You know tall, light, handsome and smells like cheese.”

Marinette snorted, placing a hand on the door handle to open it. “Hello, how can I help you?”

“What’s wrong with your head?” He pushed himself into the room and shut the door behind him, using both his hands to reach up into her hair.

As Adrien stroked, pushed and patted her head, she noticed something under his armpit.

“My sketchbook!” She hollered, pushing his hands off her head so she could reach the book from under his arm. She grabbed it and hugged it tightly to her chest. “Oh! Thank God!”

“Why didn’t I get a greeting like that?”

“Maybe if you let me sketch on your face I would.” She walked further into the room and placed the book on the table. Turning around, she noticed Adrien was looking at the bomb site which was her room. “I — um — I was just trying to find my sketchbook. I don’t usually live in a mess like this.”

Adrien’s eyes were firmly placed on her bed. Bed! Oh no! She could feel prickles on the back of her neck as she turned to look at the little pillow her kwami usually slept on — it was empty.

“Isn’t it a sign of creativity?” he smirked.

“Something like that. Thank you for dropping this down.” She tapped the sketchbook on the table. “Now if you don’t mind, I need to get some more work done.”

His eyes were glittering and dancing again, her stomach spiralling and tightening in response. “Don’t I get a reward?”

She crossed her arms. “A reward?”

“Yes.” He shrugged. “I did make all the effort to come down here with your book.”

“Well, what were you thinking? Because my M&M’s are out of the question.”

Adrien guffawed. “No, don’t worry I’m not here to steal your contraband. I was thinking maybe something more along the lines of yesterday.”

Marinette frowned. Yesterday? “You want to go to the park?”

“No, no! More like what we did at the park.”

“Oh!” Marinette said, only for her eyes to widen as she fully understood what he was asking. “Oh!”

He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes never leaving hers.

“We can’t do that, Adrien, you know we can’t.”

“Because of your job?” She nodded in response. “Well… does each kiss count as a separate rule break or is it classed as per session? You just kissed me out there and you kissed me yesterday, so maybe if we’ve already broken that rule, we may as well make it worthwhile.”

Marinette studied him. Did she want to kiss him again? Hell, yeah! Was it the best idea? Certainly not! Was he right? They’ve already broken it once so why not make it better than a peck on the lips?

She looked around the room. It was only them here, so why not?

Stepping forwards, her hand fisted in his shirt as she pulled him towards her. His hands gravitating to her hips and pulling her body close. She watched as his eyelids weighed down; his name getting caught in her throat. She swallowed down and tried again.

“Adrien.” His name sounded out in relief, escaping her throat. Their hot breath collided between them, each exhaling roughly against the other's mouth.

There was no other permission needed. Adrien surged forward catching her neck with his lips as he walked them backwards, her own back colliding with the wall. She cried out. A cry which was quickly swallowed greedily by Adrien’s lips meeting hers. She didn’t care about how the wooden railing was digging in her back… this was so incredibly… hot!

From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, she felt her whole body go limp, Adrien’s tight grip the other thing keeping her up right. God, he tasted so good. So — so — good. It was making her lightheaded. Marinette was almost sure Adrien would only be tasting the M&M’s and she prayed he didn’t have a nut allergy.

“Stop. Thinking,” he whispered in her mouth before mashing their bodies together, his tongue wrapping around hers.

Everything inside her was full of awareness. His touch. His taste. His smell. She could feel his anticipation. His own awareness. Each only dwarfed by her own.

Never in her life had she been kissed like this. It was like a dream. A dream which usually included Adrien’s face on an unknown body; a body which from now on would be Adrien’s. She could feel everything as he pressed himself harder against her.

Their kiss was a spontaneous combustion of urges. Nothing planned or practised — and a little messy. Everything she ever felt about Adrien was suddenly exploding in this kiss. The hate, the embarrassment, the stress, the new sprouting feelings of something more.

His lips broke from her mouth. His teeth scraped down her throat before kissing the base; his hands hooking under her butt and lifting her up.

Walking them over to the bed, Adrien placed her down before climbing on top of her. Her hands once again fisting in his shirt as she pulled him down, the weight of him sending her deeper into the mattress.

A ringing started up and Marinette couldn’t help but wonder if he’d caused her prolonged damage from the intensity of the kiss.

The ringing stopped before starting up again. Adrien pulled away from her and reached into his back pocket. He pulled his phone and rolled his eyes; and for the first time that evening she’d seen the name of the persistent caller.

Félix.

“Leave it,” she said. Her chest rising and falling heavily.

Placing the phone back in his pocket, his head fell forward, lips once again finding hers as one hand moved to her head, racking his fingers through her hair — mindful of her bump. The rough kisses he’d used mere seconds ago had watered away to soft and slow caresses. Deep and passionate. It felt so natural and so right.

… and then the ringing started up again.

Adrien moved off her and ripped the phone from his pocket.

“This better be good!” he growled down the phone line.

Marinette stifled a giggle at Adrien scalding Félix. The model looked down at her with a small smile, before leaning forwards and placing a kiss on her forehead. As he moved back, she could see the frown lines encompassing his eyes and his head. Something was obviously wrong.

“I’ll call you back in about 10 minutes.” Adrien locked the phone and looked at her, his eyes still filled with lust and want. “I’ve got to go and check some work.”

Standing up, Adrien offered out a hand to Marinette pulling her into a hug and one last gentle kiss on her lips before heading to the door. “Sorry, I’ve got to leave.”

Marinette was barely standing. What the hell had just happened? Her head was foggy and she felt very disoriented. “I — um — okay?”

“How about I come and meet you for breakfast in the morning? I know this great little restaurant.”

Is he asking me out on a date?

It seemed she had lost all ability to talk as she flatly nodded, Adrien only chuckling in repose. He stepped forward again and kissed her forehead again.

“I’ll see you in the morning, beautiful. Sweet dreams.”

He opened the door and was gone.

What the hell had just happened?

With one hand to her mouth she headed back to the bed and sat on the edge listening to the faint click of her door closing; her fingers absentmindedly coming to trace the soreness of her newly bruised lips.

“Marinette? Are you okay?” Her kwami flew in front of her, but she had nothing to say. She was still trying to process what had just happened.

“I… don’t… know.”

As she contemplated what had just happened between herself and Adrien, she failed to notice the chime coming from her phone.

Email: From: Gabriel Agreste.

Chapter Text

Marinette

If Marinette was shaking anymore she was quite sure her teeth would fall out. She’d been summoned personally by Gabriel Agreste to the New York office, one which was a lot bigger than she had expected it to be. It was early in the morning, which could only mean one thing… This could not be good news.

The eerie silence within the room was a clear indication everyone was still in bed, sleeping off their hangovers before the main fashion show later that evening, one where she was meant to be dressing Adrien. A spiralling in the pit of her stomach made her reconsider that thought. Something internally told her this was not going to go well. Perhaps they had finally come to their senses and realised exactly how under qualified she was and we’re going to let her go.

She sat on a chair and felt like a naughty school girl waiting to go in and see the principal, very much like back in her Lila school days. Lila. The name did nothing now apart from bring up unclear feelings relating to Adrien. Adrien. He was the reason she was reinstated at collége; he was the reason Lila backed off a little during their final years; he was her hero. Her brain still couldn’t comprehend that it was Adrien who was fighting for her behind the scenes, playing the same mind games with the pathological liar as she had done with everyone else.

Adrien Agreste. Who would have thought it?

She couldn’t help but smile; a hand subconsciously reaching for her lips as her fingers soothed over the tender skin. The kiss they’d shared last night was everything and more. She’d never ever imagined a first kiss with someone being that… that… She didn’t even have words to express it. It was rough and sweet, and sultry and sexy. Intense. And she wanted more. So much more.

Grabbing her phone from her pocket she reopened the conversation between herself and Mr Unknown. She needed a distraction. A colossal step away from Adrien to think about why the hell she was contemplating kissing the one guy she shouldn’t (again)!

Miss Dial (8:36am): What would be the most inappropriate film to make into a porno?

Mr Unknown (8:38am): At least ask me a hard question…

Miss Dial (8:39am): Har har! But seriously? Thoughts?

Mr Unknown (8:40am): Okay, okay! This one’s easy… Pinocchio!

Miss Dial (8:41am): 😮 I hadn’t even thought about that! You’re right, that’s just wrong in so many ways!

Mr Unknown (8:41am): Worst thing is, it’s probably already out there!

Miss Dial (8:42am): I predict you’re searching for it right at this moment! Don’t you dare send me a picture! I DON'T WANT IT!!!!

Mr Unknown (8:43am): Chill, babe! I’m not that much of a pervert. I’m a little worried about who you think you’re messaging though.

She laughed and shuffled in her seat thinking about what to send him next. Once again, this unknown face was causing her to smile.

“Come out to play, Kitty cat,” she whispered, before tapping out the next message on her phone.

Miss Dial (8:44am): Who am I messaging then? Going to give me any clues?

Mr Unknown (8:45am): I thought you wanted to remain nameless, Miss Dial! Has someone changed their mind? I knew you’d fall for me and my charming wit.

Miss Dial (8:46am): Wit? Are you telling me all this time you’ve been making jokes?

Mr Unknown (8:47am): Has anyone ever told you that you’re mean?

Miss Dial (8:48am): Anyone ever told you your jokes are crap?

Mr Unknown (8:50am): I have feelings you know 🥺

Miss Dial (8:51am): Fine then, tell me a joke.

Mr Unknown (8:52am): Right now? With no time to think… *sigh*… if I must. What’s a vegetable's favourite sport? Carrot-ey!!!

“Marinette.”

Nathalie walked out of Gabriel’s office, her face statonic as always as she motioned for Marinette to follow her. This was it. The moment of truth.

She stood up and brushed her skirt down, before gathering her belongings and checking her phone one last time. Quickly, Marinette checked her emails. Nothing from Adrien.

After he’d left last night it seemed he’d gone radio silent and as much as she wanted to message him — she couldn’t. Unfortunately, she’d forgotten to get his number, and due to Adrien being such a ‘star’ of the company, and to stop unwanted advances, no one could get hold of his number without him personally giving it to them.

As she dressed that morning, she thought maybe he would have been in the restaurant for breakfast the same time as her, then maybe they could have rode to Gabriel together but it seemed she was the only one being summoned. Adrien was nowhere to be seen.

Following Nathalie into the room, she saw Gabriel was on the phone talking animatedly to whoever was on the other side. He gestured to her encouraging her to sit in the chair opposite him — his attention firmly placed on the call and not her.

Hesitantly, she sat down and took the opportunity to look around the room. It was sparse and cold — pretty much like Gabriel himself. Only a couple of black and white photographs, similar to the ones in the London office, lined the wall surrounding the singular coloured photograph; Gabriel and Émilie looking so young and full of love on their wedding day. What had happened?

Émilie’s green eyes were searching hers, almost lifelike, as they followed her movements in the chair. Marinette studied it. Her attention mainly focusing on the eyes, a colour so familiar to Adrien’s in made her heart yearn for him. Taking a deep breath, Marinette closed her eyes ignoring the dull ache in her heart. She really needed to snap out of this.

The portrait proved one thing: Adrien was all his mother. From the colouring of his eyes and hair, to the face shape and posture. Adrien Agreste was Émilie Graham de Vanily’s son through and through; not a hint of Gabriel Agreste anywhere to be found.

“That’s good news then, thank you. I’ll speak to you later. Bye.” Gabriel placed the phone down slowly; each millisecond feeling more like an hour as she waited for Gabriel to reveal her fate.

“Adrien,” he said, his hand pointing in the direction of the phone.

“Oh!” Oh? She had no idea what to say to Gabriel, all she could pray was that her face hadn’t turned to the colour of a fire extinguisher. The last thing she needed was to be questioned about why her face was exploding at the brief mention of his son.

“Yes,” Gabriel continued. “Before we begin I just wanted to let you know we will be putting forward a couple of your designs to the board for possible inclusion in our winter line.”

They were going to create some of her designs?

She couldn’t believe what he was saying. After all these years she had finally made it! Marinette Dupain-Cheng was going to be a showcasing designer for Agreste Designs. Forget kissing Adrien, she could jump over the desk and kiss Gabriel right now – on the cheek that is. She wasn’t that far gone.

The smile stretched her lips and she couldn’t stop the way her eyes were welling with tears. She’d made it on her own merit. She’d done all this herself. Pride oozed out of her, a slight smugness following it. She had been chosen, and she couldn’t be happier.

“There is just one change though. It will not be put forward under your name.”

Her smile dropped as did a stone into her stomach. “W-w-what do you mean?”

Gabriel threaded his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table. His fists supporting his chin as he looked into Marinette’s eyes – his own cold, grey and unwelcoming.

“Can you remember the documents you signed after we’d offered you a job? The day you’d come to meet with HR.”

Marinette nodded, her throat too dry to formulate any words. She’d read the documents forwards and backwards, inside and out. She knew them by heart. Any work that she did for Gabriel during her employment was owned by the company — not the designer. It was a normal stint within the fashion world, but still she thought she’d at least get a chance to present them.

“Our documents have very strict guidelines, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng, they’re there for a reason. They keep our work safe and our staff. Do you understand that?”

She nodded again, a sinking feeling burying deep into her stomach. It aroused her to the fact she was most likely not going to like what Gabriel had to say next.

“At Agreste Designs, we have clear visions about how our staff are meant to behave. Our policies are ironclad and have fair sanctions for any rules broken.”

Marinette felt her nose begin to burn; her eyes prickling and stinging at the edges. This can’t be happening.

“And unfortunately, your dismissal to the company will be immediate from now.”

Everything inside of her ran cold. Dismissal? Immediate? What?

“It has come to our attention that your interview and interest in this position is not in line with our policies. You have used the opportunity for your own personal gain and that is not how we work here in Agreste Designs, and it’s with regret that I have had to terminate your contract imminently. The conversation I had with Adrien this morning was rather… enlightening.”

Sitting unsure what to do, and even more unsure if she could actually move, Marinette froze.

Her own personal gain? Conversation with Adrien?

How could it be her own personal gain when the job had changed from what she had originally believed it would be. This wasn’t fair. She hadn’t done anything wrong. The tingling in her lips reminded her that actually she’d done a lot wrong… more importantly she’d almost done Adrien. She signed a disclaimer to say she would leave the model alone, that she understood interoffice relationships were prohibited. Had he told? Had this all been a game? Had Adrien lured her in just to make a fool out of her?

“Nathalie will escort you to human resources who will deal with your contract. I am very disappointed in you, Marinette. I really thought you had something special to bring to the fashion world.”

Wanting to do nothing more than break down and cry, Marinette stumbled as she stood. Her hands shaking as she grabbed her bag, and her top teeth clamping down on her lower lip, dragging along in need to keep control.

Finally securing everything in her arms, she scurried out of the room running head first into a male's body which may as well have been a brick wall. Stumbling backwards, two hands grabbed her upper arms holding her steady.

“Marinette?” The voice asked, “what’s going on?”

She shook her head, not wanting to let Adrien see her cry… but it was too difficult, especially when her heart felt like it had just been ripped from her chest. Batting his hands from her shoulders, she stepped away from his grasp.

“Don’t touch me!” she hissed, pointing a finger straight into the middle of his chest.

The conversation he’d had with Adrien. What the hell had he told his father? She felt played, utterly played — and it broke her just a little more.

“Marinette’s what’s wr—”

“You know exactly what’s wrong! I thought you were different. I thought I had got you all wrong, but once again you managed to trick me. Was anything you told me the truth, or was it all just lies to get me to kiss you?”

The tears were streaming down her face now and she knew she was ugly crying, but she didn’t care. What was the point? There was nothing left here for her, her future was ruined — ripped to shreds and thrown onto the floor.

“Marinette, please!” He stepped forward to hug her and in a moment of weakness she accepted, closing her eyes and settling against his chest; only to open them again and push him away.

“Just stop with the games, Adrien! You’ve won, okay? Once again, I’m the joke! You did a great job at tricking me! I bet you couldn’t wait to speak to your father and tell him all about how you got the new employee to fall for your innocence and charm — that she couldn’t keep her hands off you. Tell me Adrien, do you always make the girls think you're some kind of hero? You’ve ruined me.”

Adrien didn’t say anything. He just stood there staring. Emotionless. Did he not care? Is this all he wanted? Because she didn’t fall for his charm in the past decade he needed to try a new game plan and embarrass her?

“I’m going!”

“Marinette?” Stepping forward he reached for her arm. Pulling her close towards him.

“Don’t touch me, Adrien. I’m done.” She knocked his hands off her, his grip loosening as she moved away and out of the room.

Sights set on getting this over and done with, Marinette marched down the corridor away from Gabriel’s office; not realising she was being followed by a purple butterfly.

Chapter Text

Adrien

Adrien paced his room like a hungry lion in a cage. After the brief conversation with Félix the previous night, he’d barely slept more than an hour. His cousin had left him with quite the puzzle, and that, along with the kiss from Marinette, had screwed up his brain. Looking at the time, Adrien picked up his phone and dialled his cousin’s number. It was midday back in Paris and he was sure Félix would be free to talk.

“Adrien, any news yet?” Félix greeted.

He shook his head. “No, my father hasn’t called and I haven’t heard anything from Marinette. Seriously, Fé, you need to tell me what this is all about!”

“How do you think she’ll contact you?” Félix asked, clearly ignoring Adrien’s main query. “Don’t you think it’s about time you come clean about this ‘mystery texter’? She’s not stupid and it won’t be long until she gets your number and realises it’s you she’s been sharing all her secrets with.”

Adrien sighed. Wasn’t that just the question? Why hadn’t he come clean yet? The prospect of her knowing terrified him. It was too far gone now to end well if she found out; his window of opportunity had well and truly passed.

“It’s just… once she knows it’s me it’ll change our relationship and I really like where we are at the moment. She’s open with me, and funny and cute—”

“Or you’re just scared to lose your make out buddy. Come on, Adrien, I think she might actually like you. You need to just give it up, accept the consequences then grovel long and hard at her feet! The longer you allow this charade to go on the worse it’s going to be when you’re found out.”

A scoff left Adrien’s lips only to be sucked back in when he realised what Félix had just said. How the hell did he know that?

“Make out buddy? Something you need to share with the class, Félix?”

A few bangs were heard on the other side of the phone; the sign that whatever had just happened had caused quite the mess — if the crash didn’t prove it, the obscene cursing certainly did.

“Oh - um - just a lucky guess I suppose. So tell me… was she a good kisser?

“Like I’m going to tell you that. Oh, and by the way, you lost your ability to tell a decent lie from the moment you got with Kagami. So, explain! Now!”

Adrien heard a deep suck of air from the other side of the phone and was almost worried his cousin was about to inhale the damn thing. Félix’s voice returned. “Don’t kill me okay?”

“Félix!” Adrien growled, his cousin sighing through the phone. “There’s a hole you’re digging which is getting deeper by the second. Explain!”

“I may have sent someone to keep an eye on you.”

Adrien frowned. “What? Why? Félix, why the hell would you want to do that? Listen, if you were that invested in the idea of me and Marinette kissing, why not just send us on a double date?”

“Pfft, we’ve all tried that; but that’s not the point. Your father has this plan which involves you and Marinette. I just wanted to keep an eye on you both — that’s all.”

“What type of plan? My father couldn’t arrange a piss up in a brewery — that’s why he has Nathalie.”

“I’m getting there. Just give me a minute. I want to enjoy what’s left of my life before you murder me. For the record, Kagami can mourn me for 30 years, then she’s allowed to move on.”

“Félix!!” Adrien shouted down the line.

“I may have sent a Sentibeing over to keep a check on you.”

Adrien frowned. Why the hell would he — hang on! Wait a minute! “Medium height, brown hair and a crooked nose.”

“Almost the opposite to you? Yup.”

The guy that had been following them. It shouldn’t have surprised Adrien that Félix would do something so unethical; after all, Félix had always had his best interests at heart, and although his cousin was possibly insane that didn’t stop Adrien from being warmed by the care. However; this guy had had both him and Marinette on high alert for the past couple of days — for no reason.

“So, you sent one to follow me — us — why?”

A soft sigh once again made its way into Adrien’s ear. He could just imagine Félix running a hand along his jaw in exasperation.

“Your father seems to have some sort of issue with Marinette. We didn’t realise until after she got the job. I asked Kagami where she’d gotten the details from and she told me Nathalie had personally approached her asking if she knew anyone qualified and talented enough to take the position; and although Nathalie never mentioned Marinette by name, it was clearly indicated that’s who they wanted for the interview. There were just too many coincidences. I had to look into it. Sorry, Adrien.”

Rubbing his eyebrows, Adrien tried to comprehend the meaning behind Félix’s words. His father was involved with something and needed Marinette for it too… it was about as easy as the last question on ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’

“So, my father purposefully made Marinette apply to join the company?”

“Yes, but your fathers issues are a whole different story for another day.”

“But why? I just don’t get any of this! And why did we need a spy?”

“He’s going to fire her!”

Perplexed by what he should do, Adrien pulled his things together and headed out of the room towards the elevator. It was 8am and they weren’t needed at the centre until noon for last minute fittings. He guessed Marinette would most likely still be asleep.

Wanting to check up on her, Adrien planned on grabbing some breakfast and then heading to her room. The only option he had at the moment was to let her know what Félix had just told him. There was already one big secret held between them, he couldn’t afford to have another. From there, maybe he could go and see his father and Nathalie and get this straightened out. Had they both been used as pawns in his game?

The conversation continued with Félix, right up until the moment the phone almost dropped out of Adrien’s hand. His eyes widened as he followed Marinette stride through the lobby and out the exit, Gorilla standing in front of the car with the door open for her. Was she going to the office already? Was his father doing this now?

Without a moment's hesitation, Adrien ended the call with Félix, and pulled up his father’s contact details. Why the hell was Marinette leaving so early? They weren’t needed for hours!

Impatiently stalking around the lobby, Adrien held the phone to his ear and waited — his thumb tapping anxiously against the side.

“Come on! Come on! Come —”

The phone clicked to life, his father’s stealy voice sounding through the speaker.

“Adrien? What do you want?”

Taking a deep breath, he tried to play it cool — there was a chance Félix was exaggerating right? There’s no way his father would just hire and fire Marinette? It just didn’t make sense.

“I - um -” Steadying his nerves, Adrien moved his head from side to side to crack his neck. The uncomfortable tension lingering on the shoulders. “I need to come in and speak to you about something?” Adrien lied.

“Is it important? You know I have a busy day.”

Looking around the lobby Adrien thought of what he could possibly say to make his father react; to get the face to face meeting he wanted and needed.

“Yes, it’s very important!”

“Is it about your incompetence to turn up at events?”

Reaching to the back of his neck. Adrien began to rub. “I need to come and apologise about that too. I won’t take too much of your time. I promise.”

Silence burned through his ear as he waited for his father to reply, his feet, once again, sending him into a march up and down the lobby.

“I’ll give you ten minutes. Come in now and I expect a valid excuse.”

Breathing out, Adrien thanked his father and ended the call, just in time to receive a new message from Miss Dial.

Miss Dial (8:36am): What would be the most inappropriate film to make into a porno?

Suddenly, his mood had transformed from panic and worry to a side splitting smile. Marinette had shocked him last night in more ways than one. He had acted on nothing more than instinctive (and slight idiocy); but he couldn’t help himself. She was there all cute, hugging her sketchbook into her chest, and he’d just moved. He’d kissed that smart mouth right off her and loved every… single… second.

Marinette did things to him which he had never experienced before, and if Félix hadn’t been so persistent on calling, who knows what might have happened…

Mr Unknown (8:38am): At least ask me a hard question…

He fired a quick response as he made his way out onto the bustling streets of New York. Looking around, he could see the traffic already at a standstill; horns blaring around the area. If he wanted to get to his father quickly, he’d have to walk. There was only one option and that was to try and get to Gabriel before Marinette and talk his father out of doing something ridiculous.

Miss Dial (8:39am): Har har! But seriously? Thoughts?

Almost bumping into the crowds, Adrien swerved and dived through the walls of people, replying to Miss Dial’s latest message.

Mr Unknown (8:40am): Okay, okay! This one’s easy… Pinocchio!

Chuckling to himself, Adrien continued on to the ‘A Designs’ office. It wasn’t too far away now, just a couple more blocks. He pushed forward, every now and then apologising to those he’d bumped into as he continued his back and forth correspondence with Marinette.

Just as he sent his killer carrot joke, his phone began to ring. His fathers number displayed largely on the screen and the unsmiling face of the top class designer glared back.

“Father?” Adrien asked, joining the group of tourists waiting to cross the road. The building was just ahead, he was almost there.

“Adrien, where are you?” Gabriel said in a way of welcome.

“I’m just about to reach the building.”

“That’s good news then, thank you. I’ll speak to you later. Bye.”

Ending the call and moving across the road, Adrien couldn’t help but frown. Why was his father ringing him to check that? Was Marinette already there? Was he waiting for Adrien to join them to make his point even more vibrant?

Finally reaching the offices, Adrien signed in and headed to the elevator. Not having to wait too long, Adrien stepped into the elevator and headed for the top floor. In a matter of seconds, Adrien was out of the elevator and heading down the hallway, stopping in his tracks (and slightly winded) as a small hurricane crashed into him.

Grabbing Marinette’s upper arms, Adrien looked her over. She looked broken — hurt beyond repair.

“Marinette?” he asked. “What’s going on?”

She shook her head, obviously on the verge of crying and it broke his heart. Trying to pull her into him, she fidgeted, hitting his hands away.

“Don’t touch me!” she hissed, pointing a finger straight into the middle of his chest. He took a step back to put distance between them. What had he done? After that kiss last night he was sure they were on the same page with their feelings; that she wanted him just as much as he’d come to want her.

“Marinette’s what’s wr—”

“You know exactly what’s wrong! I thought you were different. I thought I had got you all wrong, but once again you managed to trick me. Was anything you told me the truth, or was it all just lies to get me to kiss you?”

The tears were streaming down her face and his heart broke as he watched her call him out for something he didn’t do. He hadn’t told anyone anything.

“Marinette, please!” he begged, stepping forwards with his arms open.

“Just stop with the games, Adrien! You’ve won, okay? Once again, I’m the joke! You did a great job at tricking me! I bet you couldn’t wait to speak to your father and tell him all about how you got the new employee to fall for your innocence and charm — that she couldn’t keep her hands off you. Tell me Adrien, do you always make the girls think you're some kind of hero? You’ve ruined me.”

What? Did she actually believe he had gone out of his way to trick her? Why would he want to do that?

“I’m going!” The huff of her voice had him turning his attention towards her, the anger and hurt radiated from her and he felt like scum – for no reason of his own. His father must have gone ahead and beat him to it.

“Marinette?” Stepping forward, he reached for her arm grasping onto it and pulling her closer towards him.

“Don’t touch me, Adrien. I’m done.” She knocked his hands off again, his grip loosening as she moved away and further down the corridor.

He wanted to run after her, to forget his father and chase after this girl who both infuriated him and brought the best out of him. But he couldn't do that, could he? He’d promised his father.

Adrien looked between Marinette’s back and the doorway to his father’s office, before turning his attention back again. He had a choice here. One which could make or break his future… he just didn’t know which was which? Looking again, Adrien made a decision and began to move.

“Adrien?” Nathalie’s voice stopped him before he could break out into a jog.

Eyes tightly closed, Adrien stopped and looked from Marinette back to where Nathalie was standing in the doorway to the CEO office. Her stance was strong and without emotion – the complete opposite to how Marinette had just left the scene.

“Adrien? Where do you think you’re going?” Suddenly his father was there too, siding up beside Nathalie and looking less than impressed by Adrien’s advancement towards Marinette’s retreating form.

“I’m going after Marinette, I don’t know what you –”

“I forbid you to go.”

Adrien raised an eyebrow. ‘I forbid you to go’? Who did Gabriel Agreste think he was? Darth Vader?

“No,” Adrien said firmly.

“You go after her and your part in this company is done.” Turning around Gabriel stalked back into the office leaving himself and Nathalie outside.

Adrien knew this was the make or break of him. On one hand he would have security for the rest of his life with his father — continuing in his job and living the life he knew; however, there was the opportunity here to turn around and take a risk. He could march down the corridor and make Marinette speak to him, to tell her he hadn’t done anything – that everything she thought she knew was once again her jumping to conclusions.

“Adrien?” Nathalie called, indicating for him to follow her into the office.

He took a step forward and stopped; the conversation from Central Park came back to him. He wanted to get closer to his father yet here he was years later with no development in their relationship. Gabriel Agreste never ever put him first. He never ever cared. Shaking his head, Adrien stepped backwards away from the door.

“I’m sorry, Nathalie,” Adrien started. “Tell father I’ll clear out my office as soon as I’m back in London.”

“Adrien? Adrien? You don’t know what you’re doing?”

Ignoring the words calling down the corridor after him, Adrien pushed forward as quickly as he could, set on getting to Marinette and fixing this. He wanted the opportunity of a life away from his father and the pressure of his surname, and he was quite sure he wanted the opportunity to get to know this amazing woman more. Out of Gabriel and Marinette… he chose her.

“Marinette,” he called again. “Marinette?” Skidding to the halt, Adrien watched the purple butterfly sail over his head. “Shit!” Starting up again, this time faster, Adrien moved towards Marinette, set on beating the perfect purple insect flying above them. He’d never run so fast in his civilian form, but there was no way Monarch was going to take advantage of her. Not now, not ever! Reaching her a split second before the butterfly, he had the smallest amount of moments to put this right and save her. He couldn’t fight Marinette. He could never fight Marinette.

“Don’t!” she said back, the fight from earlier gone leaving nothing but a broken voice in its wake.

“I’m not leaving you, Marinette.” He watched the flap of the butterfly sail over their head. No! No! No! He needed to think. He needed to sort this out now.

“Nope,” Marinette laughed. “It seems I’m leaving you.”

“I don’t work for this company anymore so technically we’re leaving together.”

That seemed to spike her attention, the butterfly hovering behind her without taking — the anger was dropping. This was it. This was the moment. Now he just needed to make sure his words came out correctly – there was no more room for mistakes.

Come on, Adrien! Just be smooth! Stepping forward, he was relieved to see she didn’t move back. Instead she stayed put on the spot and allowed him closer.

“Tell me Marinette — if the roles were reversed — would you mess up the opportunity to discover what you could have with someone who makes you feel free? Someone who makes you smile and laugh when you’ve lived a life so dark.”

He could see her thinking. The sorrow in her eyes transforming as she studied his face. God, Adrien wanted her to believe him. He wanted her to trust what he said and be willing to give him the same opportunity as he wanted to give her. He wanted> her! “I promise I said nothing to my father and I will work tirelessly to support you and help you take my father down. I don’t work here anymore so I can do that. I can help you start on your own and be the best you can be. But best of all, I can now do this.”

Adrien moved forwards and placed a hand on Marinette’s waist, pulling her into him as a hand caressed his face. “You’re beautiful Marinette, and you bring me to life.”

She sniffed, the only indication she had been close to tears. Closing her eyes in a prolonged blink, a tear rolled down her cheek and landed in the crease of her smile.

She was smiling and he thought his heart was about to explode out of his chest.

Moving his head down, he looked into her eyes and waited for the confirmation that he hadn’t read her actions wrong. With complete satisfaction, Marinette nodded, lifting up onto her toes and pressing her lips to his in a soft, slow kiss – completely opposite to what had happened the night before.

Taking the opportunity, Adrien pushed harder, complete satisfaction flowing over him as he noticed the butterfly moving away.

Chapter Text

Adrien

One week later…

“You actually did that?” Nino snorted, making his way over to the sofas and settling opposite Adrien.

“Yep!” Adrien replied with a smug smile stretching over his face; he reached for his beer bottle like the cat who’d caught the canary.

“You pretty much told your father to get lost and lived to tell the tale? I’m in absolute awe, Adrien! I’m so proud of you buddy!”

After the events known as New York, Nino and Alya were pretty much waiting on his doorstep when he and Marinette arrived home two days ago. Apparently, just a phone call wasn’t enough, the nosey couple just had to venture to London to get every single detail of what happened, and although Adrien wanted to keep a lot of the memories to himself, Nino had travelled all this way and deserved at least a little something. 

Félix wasn’t lying when he said everyone had been trying to get them together for years, it seemed every date Alya and Nino had, which Adrien and Marinette were dragged on, was an attempt at getting them to not only be cordial with each other but to also ‘fall in love’. Félix — the smug arsehole — couldn’t help but steal all the glory for it actually, finally, happening. 

Taking a quick swig of his beer, Adrien almost choked as Félix entered the room and smacked him squarely in the back. 

His coughing and spluttering was no competition for his cousin’s roaring laugh as he came to sit beside them, one foot on the coffee table and the other crossing at the ankle.

“The chick has finally flown the nest and in more ways than one if you catch my drift.” Félix wiggled his eyebrows at the other males in the room, Nino not impressed by the statement.

“That’s my line, dude!” 

Félix only laughed more at Nino’s possessive outburst. It was good to have them both here. As much as Nino was and will forever be Adrien’s best friend (best man status included when the time comes), Félix had become a significant person in Adrien’s life too. He wasn’t sure life would be the same without his cousin anymore.

“Félix, Nino doesn’t need to know everything,” Adrien said, taking another large amount of his beer. 

“Like hell I don't! You do realise Marinette is with Alya at the moment, if you don’t tell me I’m going to get an over exaggerated version from her instead and then have to ask you anyway. So tell me… are you together now?” 

Adrien used his beer bottle to cover the twisting of his lips. Oh boy, were they together!

From the moment they’d kissed at the ‘A Designs’ office, their relationship zoomed from one to a thousand. They were stuck in New York for 5 more days before being able to catch their flight back to London, so they made the most of it. Sightseeing, dates out, dates in… They’d spent the whole time together, Adrien moving into Marinette’s room and out of the suite his ‘father’ was paying for.

His father. Now there was an issue for another day. But this wasn’t about him and his father; his story, at this moment, was about him and Marinette. The girl who’d always lingered in his mind was now firmly in the palm of his hand and he had no intention of ever losing her. She was wonderful – inside and out.

“We are, well, neither of us have said it officially but we’ve barely been separated over the past week so I would say so.”

“Yes! That’s it cousin!” 

Adrien rolled his eyes. This was the first time he’d seen Félix since returning home. Adrien’s thoughts lead him to the fact his cousin was probably scared he was going to have his ass kicked for interfering; which he wasn’t! He was just going to make it known now truly fucked up his attempt at helping Adrien was. 

“Have you… you know?” Nino asked, Adrien smiling at his best friend. “Does that mean you’ve finally…” 

Adrien nodded which only added to Nino’s fire. The DJ launched himself off the sofa and grappled Adrien around the neck, pulling him down onto the sofa and into a bear hug. 

“I’m so proud of you! You’ve finally become a man!” 

Adrien laughed and attempted to push Nino off him. “Okay, okay! It’s not a big deal! It just kind of happened!” 

“It fucking well is!” Félix responded, lifting his beer bottle in the air. “To Adrien! Welcome to adulthood!”

“To Adrien,” Nino said, grabbing his own bottle. 

“To Adrien.” A new voice entered the room, joining the two guys with a beer in his hands. He was average height, brunette and very familiar. 

“You!” Adrien said, pointing at the newcomer. “You’re the person that was following us in New York.”

The guy stepped forward and offered a hand out to Adrien. “Miles,” he announced. “It’s nice to finally meet you!” 

Adrien looked at the hand before looking back to the guy. What the hell was this guy doing in his house? Bewildered, Adrien stood up and stretched out. “Nice to meet you.”

As though his phone has some sort of awkward moment alarm, Nino’s phone blasted out ‘The Duel of the Fates’; an indication that his better half was trying to contact him. 

“Alya,” Nino said, not that Adrien needed telling; he’d had that ring tone for her since they first got together in collége. What had started as a joke had turned into a long running annoyance for Nino’s girlfriend. Standing up, Nino left the room and the awkwardness which was about to be endured.

The click from the door had Félix jumping out of his seat and raising his hands in defence. He moved backwards keeping a safe distance between himself and Adrien. 

“Now, before you say anything, you need to let me explain.”

“Oh, really! I can’t wait to hear how you dig yourself out of this mess.” Adrien stepped forward, more to watch Félix’s nerves increase than to attack. It was quite funny watching his cousin unhinged for a change. 

Félix continued to move backward unaware of the footstool behind him. Before he knew what was happening his knees hit the furniture and Félix continued tumbling backwards onto the floor, his legs remaining in the air. Adrien moved to stand over him, offering a hand out to help his cousin back up and onto his feet.

“Tell me. Why did you go through all this effort to create a sentibeing. It’s unethical, Félix, you of all people should know that.” 

Sighing, Félix made it back over to the sofa and sat down next to Miles. “Miles was created by Kagami to try and help one of her friends. I know, I know, it’s unethical and immoral, but her friend was on the verge of…” Félix closed his eyes and took a deep breath, Adrien feeling for him. This didn’t seem like something his cousin wanted to talk about and even though there were better ways to go about this, Adrien couldn’t help but understand Félix’s doing. 

“Anyway, Miles and Kagami’s friend hit it off and they’ve been together ever since. Him coming over to check on you and Marinette was more a case of him being able to quickly report to me. Seriously, I’m really sorry he freaked you out. He’s still learning the ways of social communication.”

Aren’t we all? Adrien thought. He looked over at Miles. The guy seemed happy and normal enough. Kagami had obviously done a good job. “And he has his own free will?” 

“100% I wouldn’t do that to someone, you know I wouldn’t.” 

A pout took over Adrien’s lips. Félix was right. Even though he could sometimes seat himself firmly in the grey area, Félix wouldn’t restrict someone, it would make him too much like the adult males in their lives, the ones both boys were trying to break away from. 

“Okay, so say I believe you on that. What the hell was the deal with my father?” 

Félix moved uncomfortably in his seat; Adrien was sure he’d struck a nerve and now he couldn’t wait to hear the answer. 

“Don’t shoot the messenger, but I believe your father is working alongside Monarch.” 

Though most people would see this statement as ‘out there’, Adrien couldn’t help but see the logic behind the thought. It made sense, after all, Marinette had been fired and then almost made into an akuma. But what worried Adrien more was the fact Monarch had been in New York too. That plus what Félix was saying set alarm bells off in Adrien’s head. Alarm bells which were screaming at him to consider the chance that his father was Monarch. It made sense. 

He hadn’t spoken to his father since he chose Marinette over the company and now, knowing Marinette was purposefully being attacked, he had made it a mission to protect her. To make sure Gabriel was nowhere near. 

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Adrien said, moving back to his beer bottle before heading to the garden and pulling out his phone.

Things with Marinette were great and he was extremely happy, but it still seemed she was holding back a little — the little he knew as Miss Dial. 

She was freer behind her phone and he wanted that to continue until she let that side loose with him – as Adrien. He stepped out towards the cage he had his cock in; Daisy the cockerel that is. Selecting the camera option, he snapped a couple of pictures before pulling up her contact details.

Adrien (6:52pm): Hey, Miss Dial, look who wanted to say hello! I finally managed to get in touch with the right person today and my lovely Daisy will be heading to a new home tomorrow. 

Laughing to himself, Adrien shut down his phone and placed it back in his pocket, moving towards the cockerel. He’d finally managed to get hold of Félix’s friend and as of 12 noon tomorrow Daisy would no longer be digging up his small, London garden in the search for worms. She was probably more excited about leaving than he was; and he knew for certain his neighbours would be ecstatic. 

“Hey dude!” Nino shouted, sticking his head out the window as he attempted to slip his shoes on. “Alya’s got us last minute tickets for Wicked. I’m going to head out now, but let me know what’s happening tomorrow. Maybe we can all go on a double date?” 

“Triple date!” Félix shouted from inside the house. 

Adrien laughed as he moved back inside and said his goodbyes. 

“Double date it us,” Adrien whispered to Nino, causing Félix to grumble behind him.

“You’re out with me and Layla tomorrow anyway,” Miles said. “Don’t ditch me for your cool cousin.” 

“Listen, you’ve met Adrien now, you can see he is anything but cool.” Félix’s phone suddenly started to vibrate against the table as Kagami’s name flashed erratically on the screen. “Looks like I’m being summoned too.” 

Walking Nino to the front door, Félix and Miles followed shortly after, saying their goodbyes and leaving Adrien alone. 

He wasn’t due to see Marinette today, both needing time to wash and sort out their clothing from the trip to New York, and to actually see if they could stay apart for more than a couple of hours — he was missing her like crazy already. Marinette, much to Adrien’s dismay, was staying with Kagami and Félix for the next few days before heading back to Paris. A decision Adrien still had to come to himself. There was nothing in London for him now, yet he couldn’t fully commit to moving back to Paris.  

He loved Paris, that was his home, but his family were here and someone who’d lacked in the family department so much over the years, he was worried about letting it go. But then, Marinette had taken everything from him. He adored her and wanted to give his all to making this work. What had only been a week had been years in the making and he wasn’t ready to give it up so soon. 

He knew it was still early days, but there was no doubt in his mind that he was falling for her. Damn, he was sure he was already gone. She was his first thought in the morning and last thought at night. Her smile, her laugh, her lips. She fit perfectly into his life as her body fit perfectly to his. But Marinette was still reluctant to trust him fully and he was determined to let her know he was there, that they could work.

Slowly, Adrien began to move around the lounge clearing up the bottles from the lads' visit; as he placed the last two in the recycling bin it all came clear. His life wasn’t here, or in Paris, it was wherever Marinette wanted to be. He felt like an idiot for falling so deeply and so quickly, but he couldn’t help it. She was everything he ever needed in his life and more. She was what he wanted .

Reaching into his back pocket to call her, he knew they needed to speak. To clear up whatever this was and label it, because once there was a label he could make his move. He could stand beside her every step of the way as she became the greatest designer in Paris. The first step just needed to be taken. 

Before he could do as much as tap the screen his doorbell rang. 

Moving forwards, he hoped it wasn’t  Félix coming back. He’d seen enough of his cousin for one day.

“Listen, Félix, I …” 

Adrien froze, unable to move. On his doorstep wasn’t his cousin, it wasn’t even a male. Instead, it was the most beautiful woman in the world looking like the most broken, her face full of hurt and anger. Her red rimmed eyes glared into his and for some reason he wanted to run from her and hide because the way she looked at him right now, broke his soul. 

He opened his mouth ready to speak, only for the words to die away as she held up her phone.

“How long have you known?” 

Studying the screen in front of him everything became crystal clear. He hadn’t text Miss Dial as Mr Unknown, instead he’d sent the message straight to Marinette — from Adrien.

Chapter Text

Marinette

“I can’t believe after all this time hating Adrien, you’ve not only forgiven him but you’re now in a ‘sort of’ relationship with him and you’ve also slept with him. In a week, Marinette! In… a… week!” Alya shook her head, settling into a chair in Kagami’s back garden.

They were making the most of the weather whilst they could. A rainstorm was due to hit in just under an hour's time, and knowing the weather in England that could mean any moment now. Alya continued to scroll through her phone as she spoke, used the opportunity to travel into central London and catch a show – she just needed to find the right one.

“Sexual tension,” Kagami responded with a smug grin. “We've all been saying it for years! Also, everyone knows Adrien has been hot for Marinette since he hit puberty – maybe even before.”

“Let’s be honest. We’ve all been hot for Marinette,” Alya said with a laugh, Kagami raised her glass in agreement before placing it to her lips.

Rolling her eyes, Marinette stood up and moved away from the others and back into the kitchen. Kagami and Félix’s house was incredible. From the kitchen it had huge bifold doors which were the perfect welcoming onto a patio and into their tiny London garden. When she found out about the job and her new life she’d be starting in London, she couldn’t help but dream of a house like this.

Finally inside, Marinette searched around the kitchen for where she’d placed her phone. She hadn’t spoken to Mr Unknown much since starting things up with Adrien, the whole idea of texting another man whilst being in this ‘relationship’ with Adrien just seemed so wrong. She’d held back as much as possible; however, she couldn’t help but wish he’d drop her a message every now and again. She missed her Kitty.

Continuing to look, Marinette lifted the many scattered items on the worktops and checked underneath for the object. If she hadn’t missed a message of Chat Noir, maybe she’d missed one from Adrien. They’d only been separated for 24 hours, but she was missing him like crazy. She was addicted to him. His hugs, his kisses, his body. Just him in general.

“Al, can you call my phone please? I can’t find it.” Marinette shouted out into the garden.

“What’s wrong?” Kagami said, walking into the kitchen and straight to another bottle of wine. “Looking to see if ‘lover boy’ has messaged you?”

Alya followed in shortly after. “Does he actually have your number now?”

Marinette rolled her eyes and continued her search. “Yes, he does. He took it from me yesterday and said he’ll message me today.”

“And the suspense is killing you, so you want to find your phone and check, then whine to us when you don’t have anything from him. I’ll save you the hassle now. He’s a guy! He will have forgotten that he said he was going to text you.” Alya pulled Marinette's phone from her pocket and waved it in front of her. “He’s probably too busy celebrating his accomplishments with the guys.”

“How long have you had that?” She snatched the phone out of her friend's hand.

“Long enough to know you’re about level 8 on the stalker chart.”

Kagami smiled and poured herself another glass of wine. “Leave her alone, this is her first proper boyfriend since she was 14. We should be celebrating too.”

“To Marinette and Adrien doing the naked tango!” Alya announced, raising her glass to clink with Kagami’s.

As the girl’s continued to discuss Marinette’s newly reformed womanhood, the girl in question couldn’t help but look at her phone. There was a message from an unknown number, one which sent a prickle of panic down her spine.

“Hey guys, does anyone know this number?” As she read the number from the screen, Alya and Kagami both typing it into their phones. Alya giggling as she turned it around.

“Looks like ‘lover boy' is ready for his next hook up.”

Alya and Kagami giggled between themselves as Marinette studied the message. This just didn’t make sense! The message was from Adrien… but it didn’t read like it was from him.

Adrien (6:52pm): Hey, Miss Dial, look who wanted to say hello! I finally managed to get in touch with the right person today and my lovely Daisy will be heading to a new home tomorrow.

She grabbed Alya’s phone from her hand and looked between the two. The number was there in black and white for her to see as it glowed mockingly in her face. The message had come from Adrien, however Adrien also seemed to be hiding something from her. He’d called her Miss Dial. This just couldn’t be right, there had to be some sort of mistake.

“Does Adrien have two phone numbers?” Marinette asked, eyes still reading the message. She felt sick. Her insides were shaking as cold shivers ran down her spine. There had to be some sort of logical explanation for this. Maybe Adrien was in a phone-share with Chat Noir? Or - or… she couldn’t think of any other reason as to why this could be right. Nothing here made sense. Nothing apart from Adrien had been a liar. A manipulative liar who said what he needed to get her into bed.

Suddenly she gasped, a hand shooting over her mouth as tears raised in her eyes. The kiss. He’d used what she’d sent him to have that hot, steamy kiss with her. Had he done it just because that’s what she wanted? He’d used the knowledge to get her hooked on him.

Ignoring her sudden noise, Alya continued the conversation. “Yeah, he’s got two. That one is his newest one as his father wants his old work phone back. I thought he would have told you that?”

He hadn’t, in fact, told her anything; including the information about his alter ego. The alter ego who knew about her being Miss Dial.

“So, what was his work number?”

Alya frowned and looked at Marinette, her head tilting as she examined her friend's face.

“Marinette, you look pale. Is everything okay?”

Was everything okay? No! It was far from it. “Just, please, what was the other number?” Flicking onto the messages from Mr Unknown, Marinette saw the world blur as number after number matched the ones she had on the screen.

“I need to go,” Marinette said, turning abruptly towards the door.

“Marinette? Where are you going?” Kagami asked, her face in complete bewilderment.

“Marinette?” Alya questioned, a worried tone in her voice.

Without responding, Marinette left the house and pulled up her contacts. Finding the name she wanted, she placed it to her ear and waited with baited breath. The phone rang out a few times before a voice was heard on the other side of the line.

“Hello, you sexy beast!”

“Cut the crap, Félix! I know if anyone knows what the hell’s going on it’s you. The two of you have some sort of weird cousin telepathic thing going on.”

“Awww, so this is about Adrien.”

Marinette continued to walk in the direction of the underground. She knew Adrien lived close to Félix and Kagami, but she also knew she could get there quicker by going a stop or two on the underground.

“Where does he live?”

Silence sounded from the other end of the phone line and she half expected him to have hung up on the call.

“Félix!” she growled. “Where does Adrien live?”

“You know, don't you?”

Her blood ran cold through her body. Félix may as well have just admitted it there and then. He didn’t need to ask a rhetorical question when something was undeniably true.

“Address!” Marinette demanded. Félix’s voice shook a little as he passed the details onto Marinette, her hands typing frantically in her phone to note the address.

“Marinette,” Félix called just as she was about to hang up. “Listen to him before you make your conclusion. He deserves his chance at defending himself.”

Grumbling a ‘whatever’ into the phone, Marinette ended the call, placed the object back into her pocket and headed down into the underground. Adrien had no idea of the storm about to hit him.

“How long have you known?” she hissed through gritted teeth, holding her phone up towards him, the message clearly on display. She’d had a good cry on the tube, so she was sure her eyes were holding an unnatural red. Hopefully he’d get the idea that he’d truly messed up.

Adrien studied the screen in front of him, the moment of recognition lighting up his eyes.

“I -“

“Don’t bullshit me, Adrien! I want the truth! How long have you known I was Miss Dial?”

Adrien sighed and reached a hand behind his neck. The day had suddenly grown darker and she could feel herself shaking, unsure whether it had originated from the weather – or the truth.

“Marinette, please…” Adrien sighed, the action only flaming the burning anger inside her.

“What, Adrien? Just spit it out because I am seriously losing my mind here! Did you just want to manipulate me? Was all this a ploy to get me into bed?”

The sound of shocked gasps radiated from behind her, a quick glance showing a couple of older ladies with grey hair staring at Adrien’s front door, shopping bags in hands and a judgemental look on their faces.

“Marinette, come in please. Let’s talk about it inside.”

She stood on the doorstep considering her options. Option 1 was to stay out here and air their dirty laundry to everyone on the street, or option 2 do what Félix had begged her to do and actually just go inside and talk to Adrien.

“You have five minutes.”

Storming past him, Marinette walked straight through the house and out the kitchen doors into his small courtyard of a garden, complete with a cock (and she wasn’t just talking about the guy following behind her).

“I didn’t mean for this to happen this way,” Adrien said, walking around her as the cockerel let off a loud, teeth clenching call. “Ignore that.” He said, moving towards Daisy and ushering her into what looked like an incredibly expensive pen.

“And how did you expect this to happen?” A sudden thought struck Marinette and she felt the anger grow a little more. “Oh my god! You found out at the airport didn’t you? That’s why you ghosted me the following day… and told me about the date. You wanted to see if I would get jealous.”

“That’s not–”

“And the kiss. You knew exactly what you were doing when you kissed me that first time because I had already told you what I liked, what I wanted! You used my information against me!”

Without warning, droplets began to fall from the sky. April showers moving in over London and dampening anyone who got in their way.

“It’s not like that Marinette. If you would just let me –”

“And there I was, thinking you were my Kitty! What an idiot I was! Chat Noir would never, ever treat me that way. He is respectable and honest, and wouldn’t do something as devious as message me as someone else.”

Marinette crossed her arms, suddenly noticing Adrien’s face had turned pale.

“Your Kitty?” Adrien stuttered out. “As in… yours?”

Rolling her eyes, Marinette moved away. “What are you going to do, Adrien? Turn this around and say that I’m cheating on you. I’m not the bad guy here, you are!”

The rain began to pick up but she wasn’t moving; she wouldn’t move, not until he’d grovelled his way back into her good books.

“Marinette, you’re making no sense.”

“I thought you were Chat Noir!” she shouted.

What had been a slight spotting suddenly turned into an over enthusiastic downpour, the two standing and staring at each other. As the rain fell, Marinette realised Adrien’s mouth was moving but she couldn’t hear him.

“What?” she shouted, the rain soaking her hair, her clothes and anything else it could reach. The train ride home was going to be highly uncomfortable.

Adrien looked from side to side, his hair moving over his face and sticking to his cheek. He was soaked and, unfortunately for her, the way his tee was sticking to him only made him more appealing. His muscles strained against the wet fabric, and her hands twitched to reach out and touch him the way she had been doing freely over the past week.

His mouth moved again but she still couldn’t hear.

Like in a romance novel, Adrien decided speaking wasn’t enough anymore. Instead he moved towards her and placed a hand around the back of her neck, leaning in so his lips could meet hers. The kiss was different from the others. It was slow and careful, and Marinette was sure he was waiting for her to push him away — or slap him.

Moving back he lowered his head and looked into her eyes. “I am Chat Noir, M’Lady, and I’m madly in love with you.”

Chapter Text

Marinette

Marinette stepped into the lounge, awkwardly, drying her hair on the towel Adrien had given her in replacement of the ones which had gotten soaked. So here she was, after removing her wet clothing and showering; standing in his lounge, alone, drying the dampened lengths of her raven hair. 

They’d swapped places only moments ago and she already felt way out of her depth — time away from him and his revelation allowing her to once again see clearly. 

She shouldn’t be here. She should have marched out the front door as soon as he’d confirmed that he was in fact messaging her two ways. The thought still made her stomach spiral.

But no… she had to stay and challenge him more, accidentally dropping out her tightest held secret. He knew now. He knew she was Ladybug and, equally, she knew he was Chat Noir. Her trusted partner. Her best friend. Her confidant. Knowing it was Adrien caused a crack in her feelings, rewriting her entire past as she linked the two together. It was all so much information to take in. 

Walking around the room, she looked at the different pieces of furniture, each displayed in a very Adrien style. His personality oozed into this small townhouse, one — which thanks to her — he would have to move out of, unable to pay the mortgage.

She glanced around looking at the photographs and artwork on the walls; and it hit her hard just how different herself and Adrien were. They were chalk and cheese. Nothing in their lifestyles matched. Adrien had always led a different life to her; a life of prestige and importance, she was nothing more than a wannabe fashion designer who’d already blown her first job. This, whatever it was between them, just couldn’t work. It didn’t seem logical.

Soft, slow strokes with the towel down her hair gave her a slight ease. She loved having her hair played with, a comfort much like a settling baby, as she tugged gently at the roots. The whole month had been unpredictable and awkward;, from the unknown number to finding the identity of her best friend who she’s hated for most of their friendship. This was so messed up. It shouldn’t have happened. Chat Noir shouldn’t have been Adrien Agreste. This was wrong… so wrong! It just couldn’t work.

Yet, here she was. Here they were. Continuing her walk around the room, Marinette pulled Adrien’s shirt down a little lower, attempting to keep some of her modesty. She couldn’t understand why all of a sudden she didn’t want him to see her anything less than fully clothed. 

“Marinette,” Tikki flew beside her, the kwami’s expression worried for her holder.

“Um?”

“Talk to me, Marinette,” her little red friend said. Marinette shook her head. They’d already had this conversation. Marinette did not want to say anything just in case Plagg was listening in and reported it straight back to Adrien. 

“I can’t be here,” Marinette said in a panic. “I need to go.” Heading to the kitchen, Marinette decided she’d just grab her clothes from the dryer and head straight out.

She’d go back to Kagami’s and grab her belongings, before catching the earliest train back to Paris. She would go back to her normal life of trying to become a designer and continue to ignore Adrien just as she had for the past few years. It hadn’t done her any harm then, it wouldn’t now… the pain in her chest being ignored as she moved into the kitchen.

Opening the machine drawer, Marinette pulled her clothing erratically from the cylinder and considered whether to change or not.

Bleep!

Her phone signalled an incoming message. Torn between getting dressed or checking her phone; Marinette made her choice and picked up her phone, something inside her cheering her on to do it. A text from Mr Unknown.

Mr Unknown (7:32pm): I’ve got a picture of my cock. Want to see?

Marinette froze, her eyes looking at the message and wondering if there was a hidden meaning to it. Could he tell she was unsettled by the whole event?

Miss Dial (7:34pm): Curiosity killed the cat, you know…

Mr Unknown (7:35pm): But satisfaction brought it back… so does a Miraculous Ladybug but that’s a wholeeeee other story. 

Rolling her eyes, Marinette sat down on the sofa and tapped her thumb against the side. Before she could even think of a reply, her phone buzzed once again in her hand. 

Mr Unknown (7:36pm): Too soon? 

Miss Dial (7:37pm): I know what you’re trying to do, and believe me it is appreciated, but I’ve got to go. 

Seconds after the message was sent, a pounding was heard down the staircase. Adrien caught her eye as he grabbed hold of the bannister and swung himself over it. Landing just outside the lounge doorway, stretching his arms up and legs out to block her escape.

“No!” He stared her down as he dared her to make her next move. He stood there like the Adonis he was; all bare chested with low slung basketball shorts and a slight dampness on his shoulders from where he was still wet from the shower. Why couldn’t he be wearing something less appealing? Like a potato sack or a smock. 

“You can’t just hold me here against my will!” she said exasperatedly, moving forward and trying to find a gap big enough to fit through.. 

“I can, and I will! You can’t keep me here, Adrien! I need to go.”

After a moment of intense glaring, Adrien stepped aside, letting her past and towards the front door. She didn’t even care she was still in his old tee and shorts turned over at the waist. Her heart dropped when she realised he was letting her go. Letting her walk out the door without even fighting for her. She obviously didn’t mean as much to him as she thought. 

Hand braced on the handle, a soft voice sounded behind her causing her to stop in her tracks.

“Need or want?”

Sighing, Marinette closed her eyes and rested her heating forehead against the cold, wooden door. The slight coolness was a welcome relief to the reality of what was happening. 

“Adrien,” she warned with a sigh. She heard his bare feet pad against the marble floor, the sound of rain outside hitting against the windows in the door pane.

“I don’t get it! Why do you keep blowing hot and cold with me Marinette? I don’t like being played with. So what fears are stopping you from dropping your walls and letting me in?”

She sighed, keeping her head against the door. “I can’t have fears, Kitty.”

“Everyone can have fears, Marinette. Just because you have to look after everyone else doesn’t mean you have to be strong all the time. You can just be you, Marinette.”

A huffed snort left her mouth as she shook her head. “Coming from the guy who literally put his life on the line daily for years. You’re not exactly running with fear yourself, Adrien.”

“How do you know what fears I have, when you refuse to talk to me about anything? Want to talk about my fears, okay, I’ll tell you, but you won’t like them.” 

“Adrien—“

“Number one. I’m scared of the dark. I sleep with at least one light on somewhere in the house in case I have to get up at night. Number two. I’m always afraid that one time I will sacrifice myself and you won’t be able to bring me back, leaving you alone in this crazy secondary job. Number three. Cockroaches! They scare the crap out of me, and when I received the email about Daisy I had a panic attack because I thought instead of buying a cockerel I had bought a cockroach. It was one of the best days of my life when I realised I hadn't actually bought an insect. But do you know what scares me the most? The thought of you walking out that doorway and never coming back. That you’d not even give this a chance. That you wouldn't look past my incompetencies and  see where I was coming from.”

She never knew he was scared. The bravado of his personality, especially in super form, didn’t show these insecurities. Did she really play that much of a significance in his life?

“I’ve always misunderstood you Adrien, how can you be so willing to try with someone who thought you were the devil reincarnated?”

Adrien started to laugh, obviously amused by her statement, which in return caused her to laugh too. The backwards and forward of the laugh only grew with intensity as they tried to control themselves, it wasn’t even that funny.

“I’m sorry you’ve always thought I was the devil.”

“I’m sorry I called you a devil.”

Unsure what to do, she bit down in her bottom lip. “What do we do now?” Marinette asked, suddenly feeling as though she was back on the rooftop in New York. 

Smiling, Adrien stepped forward and offered out a hand. “I have one more fear to tell you.”

Tentatively, she placed a hand into Adrien’s, her body still tethering on fight or flight mode, as he led her into the lounge. Letting go, he headed towards a cupboard and pulled out a blanket, laying it out on the ground and scattering cushions upon it. 

“After you,” Adrien said, Marinette wondering if the lack of pet name was linked to whatever conversation was about to happen. 

She sat down, grabbing a cushion and hugging it tightly to her chest. Marinette looked over at him and waited for him to speak.

“You must be wondering why I didn’t tell you straight after I found out it was you I’d been texting.”

Nodding, Marinette shuffled a little uncomfortably in her spot. “I may be curious to hear more about it.” 

With a sigh, Adrien took a cushion of his own and mirrored her actions before starting to talk. “When I started talking to Miss Dial it was fresh. You didn’t know who I was and I could send you random texts and pictures at any time of the day knowing someone wasn’t judging me against this perfect, yet fake persona, my father had built for me.”

“I never realised you felt that way,” Marinette said, Adrien shrugging in response. 

“I never let anyone in close enough to see it.”

She studied his face, the honesty there pulling at her heartstrings as he opened himself up to her, allowing his vulnerable side to enter the spotlight. 

“It wasn’t just that though, it was what it represented. It was freedom in the smallest of ways. If I’d paid more attention and maybe took more notice of what was happening around me, I might have guessed it was you. But then part of me was in denial. It was as thought my brain wanted to keep Miss Dial to itself — maybe my heart did too.”

Marinette clutched the cushion tighter. “That doesn’t mean it was right to lie to me. To lead me on.”

Sighing, Adrien reached an arm up and rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes staring as he attempted to cover his mistakes. 

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I ghosted you to stop this from happening.”

“What do you mean?” she replied. 

“I didn’t want to jeopardise something you’d worked so hard for. You shouldn’t have lost your job, Marinette, it’s my fault because I couldn’t control myself. I knew you weren’t the greatest fan of me, and it would have been easier for you if it’d stayed that way.”

“I don’t know whether I should be angry or flattered,” she laughed.

“The fear of you finding out it was me just grew and grew. I couldn’t lose you, you allowed me to be myself; as Adrien, Mr Unknown and… Chat Noir.”

“You grew on me three times, that must mean something, Kitty.” She nudged him with her shoulder, the atmosphere lightning as she came to terms with everything that happened. 

He smiled at the purposefully placed term of endearment. He loved pet names. 

Staring at him, there was still a lot to be said and to be done but one thing Marinette did know was that she wasn’t ready to give up on this yet. She was ready to start moving forward, leaving the past behind them and trying a present and future. She couldn’t deny the desires for Adrien, Mr Unknown and Chat Noir, and falling for him three times in three different ways really must mean something. She hadn’t forgiven, not by any chance and she was sure the hurt would take a while to simmer down; but she couldn’t deny him. She didn’t want to. 

“Please, M’Lady,” Adrien said, his voice begging to her and sending her stomach into a spiral. “Please.”

She shook her head, his eyes growing disappointed before she quickly changed it to a nod. Stretching out, she took his hand into hers and stood up, pulling him along with her.

“Come on, Chaton. Let’s go and make some pancakes and we can plan what happens next.”

A sudden soul warming smile stretched his face and she couldn’t help but join in. They would be okay… 

If not they could  just find another weird way to fall for each other. 

Chapter Text

Adrien

Mr Unknown (10:03am): Are you for sale? Because I want to check you out.

Mr Unknown (10:03am): I’d actually prefer that life to give me lemons so that I can make a pretty lady like you some lemonade on a hot Summer's day.

Mr Unknown (10:04am): Did you ever notice that supermarket music is actually ideal for slow dancing with strangers?

Miss Dial (10:04am): I’m not a stranger and I thought you were just going to get some bread, not send me a pick up line after every aisle you pass.

Mr Unknown (10:05am): How about a little roll in the Bakery Department?

Miss Dial (10:06am): No! I would like you to get the bread and hurry back, we’re going to be late.

Mr Unknown (10:07am): Sticky buns?

Miss Dial (10:08am): Ain't nothing sticky about your buns, Kitty – they’re nice and smooth.

Mr Unknown (10:09am): Ooooo she’s playing. Game on! Do you prefer organic or local? Because I’m both.

Miss Dial (10:09am): I’m just down the spice aisle but think I’ll bypass the chilli today, you make me hot enough! 🥵 

Mr Unknown (10:10am): That was a good one! We’re so mint to be.

Miss Dial (10:15am): If you’re lucky, I’ll even show you my rack .

Mr Unknown (10:15am): All in thyme , M’Lady, all in good thyme . 

Miss Dial (10:16am): You know… I’ve been pepper-ing for this moment my whole life.

Mr Unknown (10:17am): I clove you so much!

Miss Dial (10:17am): Oh, boy! After that one I’m in need of a va- Cajun .

Adrien laughed to himself. They’d come a long way in the past few months, each and every moment highlighting that giving it one more chance was the correct decision. He adored her and their relationship. So much so, he’d packed up his life in London and moved back to Paris — Daisy included. When the cockerel came to be collected the day after the storm, Marinette was reluctant to let him sell it. Instead, his Lady concluded that it’ll be nice for their kids to have fresh eggs from the garden. 

(He was almost certain she was lying, knowing full well the cockerel can’t lay eggs.)

He couldn’t believe she was already looking that far into their future, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t see it going the long run too. They just fit ! Years of working together in supersuit and the sexual tension out of was a dynamite romance, one that was thrilling and comfortable, and, dare he say, perfect.

As he considered his next pun, he crashed into someone’s cart, almost toppling over and ending head first inside it.

“Ooooph!” he announced, wrapping an arm around his waist as he straightened only to catch sight of his father on the other side of the cart. Maybe it wasn’t his lack of attention which had caused the collision. Maybe it was Gabriel Agreste aiming directly for him. 

In another query, why the hell was his father in the supermarket?

“Adrien.” His name came from his father’s mouth more like a business associate than his only son. Absolutely no love lost.

Adrien looked his father up and down, the backdrop of the supermarket, plus the dodgy boy band soundtrack, almost made him want to laugh.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” Adrien smirked, crossing his arms and almost crushed the bread. He raised an eyebrow challengingly at his father. He wasn’t taking crap from Gabriel Agreste anymore and he was almost certain this meeting wasn’t coincidental.

“Nathalie said it would be good for me to do something more normal for a change.”

Studying his father, Adrien saw him finally for what he actually was. A manipulator and a coward. He looked pale, only increased by how frail he seemed. He was nothing. Pathetic. His fathers shoulders hunched over himself and Adrien didn’t feel the slightest bit of remorse for his father. He’d never seen Gabriel as anything less than perfect but right at this moment the guy looked nothing more than a badly ageing man.

A chime sounded between them, Adrien ignoring his father to look at the message before quickly sending a reply. A smile must have crept onto his face, as the steely glare from his father only ever came from Adrien’s happiness.

“Who’s that?”

Adrien shrugged. “Just someone.”

“Aren’t you going to inform me who this woman is? The correct safety checks need to be put into place —”

Holding up a hand, Adrien shook his head. “You just don’t get it, do you? That day you gave me that ultimatum: I chose to live my life, my way. Whether you like it or not, I chose a life without you in it. Now if you’d excuse me, I’m going to be late.”

Steadily moving forward, Adrien headed in the way of the spice aisle ready to find and meet with Marinette. They had to plenish their new apartment with food before heading out to meet the others on the Liberty. Everyone had rallied together not only to support Adrien and Marinette’s new relationship, but also Adrien’s move back to Paris and the opening of ‘MA’; and even though everyone thought marriage was on the horizon due to the acronym of the companies name, much to others disappointment it was due to the companies joint venture. 

Not that the idea of proposing had evaded him. Having Marinette, his Ladybug, as his wife would be incredible — a dream come true.

A hand reached out to grab his arm, holding him in place as he looked down at the long boney fingers of his father; his nose flaring. 

“Listen boy,” Gabriel hissed in Adrien’s ear. “I made you, I can break you.” 

Tugging his arm from his father’s grasp, Adrien glared the tall man down. He regretted deeply all the years he’d spent idolising his father, doing as asked and getting manipulated purely for his father’s vision. He was done now though. Gabriel had no hold on him anymore.

“I’d like to see you try, Gabriel .”

“I know all your secrets, Adrien. I could tear you and your little girlfriend apart, I could get you back under my thumb any second I wanted.” Gabriel hissed. 

Unable to control himself, Adrien laughed. Then he laughed harder. Suddenly unable to control himself, Adrien wrapped one arm around his waist and bent over clutching his stomach. 

“My… secrets?” He struggled to get out. “ Mine!” Adrien repeated again, attempting to stand himself up straight. He staggered forward, once again coming eye to eye with his father. 

“ If we’re talking about secrets, how about yours? If anyone should be watching their back it should be you, father . I’m quite sure being uncovered as a hero is worth a lot more than being the villain.”

With satisfaction, he watched his fathers face drop. Finally, getting one up on the man who’d tried time and time again to dominate his life was a breath of fresh air. 

“We’re in the end game now father, I hope you’re ready.”

“Adrien?” The voice he heard in his dreams floated towards him, his eyes softening as he saw the sheer ray of hopefulness heading to him, basket in hands. 

“Hey Lovebug.” Looping an arm around her waist, Adrien turned his head to press a kiss to her temple. 

Both turned to face Gabriel without now an ounce of fear on their faces. Together they were undefeatable. Together they stood strong.

“Good afternoon, M. Agreste,” Marinette greeted pleasantly. Adrien marvelling at the confidence of the woman standing beside him. She knew she was safe because she was with him and that was, by far, the greatest feeling in the world — the constant support of someone having your back. 

“Thank you for attempting to have my designs taken out of Paris Fashion Week. Luckily, I have the new mayor of Paris wrapped around my little finger. President Bustier is a rather large fan of… oh, dear my brains lapsed. Who was it sweetheart?”

“Ladybug, darling. She’s a big fan of Ladybug and what the hero says… goes. Don’t they have an act of support towards each other?”

“Oh yes, that’s right. Ladybug has diplomatic immunity, she’s a free agent to act on accord.” Adrien smirked knowing full well his father, aka Monarch, was attempting to piece this all together. More importantly, what it meant for him.

“Let’s just hope Monarch doesn’t do anything to piss her off right, Kitty.” Marinette stretched on her toes and pressed her lips to Adrien’s chin. The blond smiled in response. 

“Quite the woman, isn’t she? Now, if you’ll excuse us father, we have places to be,” Adrien said.

“Actually, before we go I hear the sky’s going to be clear most of the day; however, I’m sure there’ll be some clouds you can gaze at while you’re waiting around to spy on us again. We’re heading to the ‘Liberty’ for a picnic, if that’s any help in locating us?”

“We’ll be there for 2pm,” Adrien continued.

“And who knows, you might see some birds and bees flying overhead?” 

“See you, Gabriel.” Adrien saluted before leading Marinette away.

“Bye, little butterfly.” She finger waved in response. 

Without even glancing back at Gabriel, the two heroes headed towards the check out, a spring in their step and a smile in their heart. As they paid for their groceries, they chatted about their latest encounter and what was to come. After almost 10 years they were reaching their endgame and, after their meeting today, they would finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

If this encounter had left Gabriel with little to no words, then he would be well and truly silenced with what was about to hit him. 

The end