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In the enchanting moonlit garden, the atmosphere was exhilarating with the revelation of Marinette and Adrien's true identities. Their lips met in a slow and sweet kiss, a moment that has deepened their sense of longing for each other. They continue to sway in each other's arms, their first kiss still lingering in their lips.
It was such a lovely night for the both of them. Conversations flew bye easily as they danced, and silence between some moments were comforting. They had so much to say to each other, all their feelings ready to combust, but the silence just felt right. The music that echoed from the venue played more casual music, and the Chat in Adrien decided to be more cheeky.
"So what happened to the guy you said you liked?" Adrien couldn't resist teasing, a hint of mischief in his eyes. Marinette blushed and playfully rolled her bluebell eyes.
He was joking, but he could argue that the world was an even better comedian. He rejected the love of his life.. for the love of his life. He couldn’t imagine a better outcome though, even if he tried.
“I don’t know, I think he went out with Chloe.”, Marinette jokes.
“Oh come on.”, Adrien laughed. “Low blow Mari.”
Marinette blushed, playfully avoiding his gaze. "Well, it seems I might have been mistaken. Turns out, the guy I truly admired was always right in front of me, wearing that cat mask." She looks at him with the same expression as to when Ladybug reached his hand after bravely saving everyone. 'The woman she was longing for was the same one he turned down', he reminds himself as he mentally beats himself up for it.
Adrien prepares to ask the question lingering in his mind. “Why couldn’t you fall for the cooler version of me? I was really trying with that confession at the Theater.” She recalls that night, how fast her heart was beating back then. How she felt like she was on cloud nine.
Marinette lets out a small laugh. “What can I say? I'm loyal to you, Adrien.”, Marinette said. “I couldn’t forget the boy that was concerned about me tearing up at the library.”
Adrien grinned, pulling her closer. "And you're the girl who saved my heart, Marinette. I'll do whatever I can to make you fall for Cat Noir too."
Marinette's eyes glistened with emotion, touched by his sincerity. "That's not hard to do. I would've fallen for him a long time ago if it weren't for this other boy who stole my heart."
Adrien raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh? And who might that be?"
With a soft chuckle, Marinette looked up at him, her voice tender. "I keep embarrassing myself in front of you, Adrien. I mean, who’s dumb enough to fall for the same person twice?"
“They’re as much of an idiot as me then,” Adrien replies, all smitten. His playful demeanor softened into genuine affection. "You know, Marinette, I thought it'd be hard to smile again once my dad was.. you know. I felt free, but lost. But look at me now, being happy is as easy as breathing next to you.”
Raindrops cascaded from the sky, each droplet hiding the girl’s tears. The rhythmic drops of the rain seemed to echo the beat of her heart, heavy with unspoken emotions. Adrien, as prepared as ever, had a black umbrella with him that was placed near the trees. He opens it and offers it to her.
She takes the umbrella as the venue started playing a melody that felt like it was made for them. It was a lovely piano tune, violin, and hints of sparkle and rain sounds.
“Come in here kitty. You’ll get wet.”, she worried. The nickname made him blush. It feels different to hear that nickname from the girl behind the mask. She has the power to put his heart into turmoil and bliss. He caved as they shared the umbrella, finding themselves drawn even closer, their bodies brushing against one another. The umbrella was too small for two, and their shoulders at the edge of the umbrella were getting wet from the rain.
Adrien took off this suit jacket and placed it on Marinette’s shoulders. They go back the glistening venue, but only around the open entrance, the building sheltering them. They were close enough to the crowd of students to hear muffled sounds of conversions from other people as Adrien closes his umbrella.
"I still can't believe it's you." Adrien confessed. "From the very moment your hand reached out for me, I knew I loved you. You're so out of my league Marinette." His confession remained ambiguous for anyone who would try to eavesdrop, but Marinette gets it and soaks in every sentiment.
With tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks, Marinette whispered, "I like you a lot more than you think."
They recounted all their moments together as they sat down at the front steps of the door. Every memory they had together felt recontextualized.
The day at the fair, where Adrien discovered her talent for fashion, was also the day where they were first affectionate to each other, recognizing themselves as equals, as partners.
Their playfights, their late night patrols, civilian hangouts..
Adrien opening up to Marinette about his mother. Realization hits him, that the two people he decided to open up about her was the same girl. Every moment was remembered with more fondness.
Time noticeably passed to the point where Alya and Nino were probably looking for them.
“Let’s go inside. You said you’d join them.”, Marinette reminded him as she stood up from their position.
“And I wouldn’t have said that if I knew I’d lose some alone time with my favorite watermelon.”, Adrien says with a smirk. Marinette slightly jabs Adrien with her elbow.
“I really want to punch you right now.”
“And I’d like that, Buginette.”
They went back to the crowd of people hand in hand, eventually finding their friends. They tried their best to be engaged in talking with their respective best friends as they start casual conversation, but they can't help but steal glances at each other all throughout the night.