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"Adrien?"
"In here," he called from the kitchen. He didn't hear Marinette's approaching steps through the sound of the running water but felt her arms wrap around him.
"I was going to do the dishes. You made dinner," she mumbled against his back.
He smiled as he lathered another plate.
"You hate doing the dishes, m'lady."
"You got me there. But I still would have done it."
"Your hands suffer enough from your sewing," he reminded her. He had lost count of the puncture wounds he'd kissed over the years.
"That's life," she sighed.
"And you always forget your gloves and cold makes your skin flake," he added. "And you forget the use the hand cream I got you," he chided her gently.
"Guilty."
"So I can do the dishes," he concluded as he rinsed off the forks.
"But you cooked," she groaned.
"It was nothing," he snorted. "Just some pasta."
"It was great pasta," she countered and he felt a kiss on the back of his neck. "We would have starved if it wasn't for it."
"You were in the zone, I knew that I had to intervene," Adrien chuckled. She was in the final stages of a project and she always got like that. He knew not to disturb her.
"You're also tired and needed a warm dinner," she yawned, betraying her own need for sleep. He knew that she had barely slept the last nights. This was why he'd sent her for a hot shower while he washed the dishes.
"I don't mind doing all this for you and you know it," he insisted as he turned the water off and wiped his hands dry. "We're partners for a reason. We can help each other."
She was quiet and when he tried to turn around she just held him tighter.
"Marinette?" He said, feeling that something was troubling her.
She still didn't say a thing, her forehead between his shoulder blades and her arms tight around him. But eventually he managed to turn around and gently make her look at him.
"What is it?"
"I don't often tell you how much you've helped me, do I?" She said, her eyes troubled.
"What do you mean? I don't need you to tell me."
"Not just now," she shook her head. "Always."
"That's what good partners do," he shrugged. "Besides, Ladybug was always amazing and barely needed any help."
"There would have been no Ladybug if it wasn't for you, though."
He frowned.
"I did nothing. I was just a punch bag and provided some comic relief. It wasn't much."
"You still don't get it, do you? But it's my fault."
"Then tell me."
"You were so much more than that. You were brave and selfless... "
"And so impulsive, you had to get me out of trouble constantly," he grinned. But she remained serious.
"Hush. What mattered the most was that you believed in me. From the very first moment when I was just a frightened girl who didn't think she could be a superhero."
"I saw that you had it in you. You just needed some encouragement," he smiled fondly at the memory.
"And you gave it to me, Adrien. Always. I had other people who believed in me and helped me after that. All my friends, our team, Master Fu and even Su-Han. But I would still have given up if it wasn't for you."
"I'm glad that I could help," he said simply. "It wasn't much to me. I never doubted you."
"Until the very end. I wouldn't have done it without you. You were the best, kitty," she said, her voice wavering just a little as tears filled her eyes. "I was so lucky to have you."
"We both were," Adrien said as he pulled her into his arms, gently rubbing her back as she hiccupped.
They stood like this for a moment in the quiet kitchen, trapped in the memories that took them far away from the mundane everyday life. But as much as Adrien had enjoyed their time as superhero partners, he wouldn't give up the peace and quiet of their life together now for anything.
"Next time, I'll cook," Marinette mumbled eventually as she stole a look at him with red-rimmed eyes.
"If you insist," Adrien smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"Can we go to bed now?"
"I need a shower but you can wait for me there."
"I might fall asleep before you're done."
"I won't mind."
"I need a good night kiss, just in case."
"Sure thing," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her. "Sweet dreams, m'lady."
Of course, she had no way of knowing that even when he found her sound asleep, he still couldn't resist kissing her soft cheek. Only then he could go to sleep as well.