Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
Marinette:
I walked into the cafe that I called my home, closed the door behind me and fell against it. It had been such a long day. Two akumas within the same hour, each on opposite ends of the city. I grabbed two cookies off the counter and gave it to Tikki, who nibbled it gratefully. "Mom, dad, I'm home!" I called out and noticed that the shop was closed up already.
"Marinette, could you come to the living room, please?" I heard my dad reply. My eyes darted over to Tikki, who was sitting in my bag with a mouthful of cookie and staring at me in concern. I creeped closer, praying that it wasn't about my secret.
When I walked in, I was surprised to see the well dressed Gabriel Agreste himself sitting in the chair opposite my parents. "M- Mister Agreste?" I asked, glancing over at my parents. They looked... excited?
"Miss Dupain-Cheng. I apologise for my intrusion, coming in so unexpectedly, but I have a proposal for you." He replied, his voice formal, but warmer than usual.
"O- of course! What can I do for you?" I asked, relaxing a little and taking a seat next to my mom.
"The magazine that Adrien is currently modeling for, has asked that I provide them with a new medium to present Adrien in. They do not want a photoshoot of Adrien, but an artwork.”
"Oh?"
"I recall the work you did on the poster for Jagged Stone’s concert, and I was intrigued with the style and composition you presented. Thus, I find myself asking you this favour. I want you to make a nude sketch of my son, Adrien, preferably from the back."
"Huh?" Mom sent me a scowl when I made that sound. I was completely dumbfounded. The words he said in that sentence, in that order, did not make sense.
I continued to gawk like an idiot for a couple of seconds before he spoke again. “I know this may be unexpected, but you will be handsomely rewarded for your contribution.” He said.
I looked at my parents, who were nodding encouragingly.
"Um, okay! I accept your request. I just need to know-"
"It is now the 24th of April. We are hiring a studio on the 7th June. You and Adrien will be alone so that you have more privacy and comfort to work in. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't trust you with my son."
"And what is this reward you spoke of?" I ask after a moment of hesistation, absorbing his previous statement.
"You will earn a payment for each sketch-"
"With all due respect, mister Agreste, at this point money isn't what I work for."
"Oh? Then what do you prefer?"
"All I'm asking for is your recommendation. A foot in the door if you will.”
Mister Agreste smiled. "How resourceful of you to use an opportunity to network. I believe we have a deal, young Marinette. I look forward to working with you in the future." He said and extended a hand, his perfect, ruler-like posture only leaning more than it bent. I took his hand and was surprised by his firm grip and how cold his hands were. It was slightly spooky.
He turned and walked out of the shop. I whipped around at my parents, who were both sitting on the sofa, barely able to contain themselves. "You know what this means, right?"
They screamed with joy and engulfed me in a rib crushing hug. "Mariiii! You're going to be a star! The queen of the catwalk!" Mom cried and kissed my forehead.
"Can't... breathe..." I forced out and they let me go. "Do I smell something burning?" asked Mom. Dad's eyes widened and he took off to the kitchen, yelling "My keishes!" all the way.
Mom laughed. "Alright. I think you should take a long, good bath to think this over." She said, and I excused myself upstairs.
I flopped onto the bed, grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. This is it. I'm actually going to start a career as a fashion designer!
Not only that, but I get to sit in a room, with Adrien, drawing him while he poses... and he's naked.
"Can you believe this Tikki?" I asked and the Kwami giggled. "You deserve this chance, Marinette." She replied with a yawn, and went to go take a nap. Poor thing had to recharge twice today.
I called Alya. "Hey babes! What's up?"
"Alya, you won’t believe what just happened."
"What? What happened?"
"Gabriel Agreste, as in Adrien's dad, just asked me to draw Adrien for a magazine."
" What?! Seriously?"
"And get this. It's a nude sketch."
"You're kidding me."
"I'm dead serious! In two months I'm going to be alone in a studio with Adrien, who is completely naked, and I'm going to sit and draw him."
"Holy shit?”
"I know! Anyway, I'll tell you more tomorrow."
"Okay! See ya!"
I hung up and went to pour in a bath. I slowly lowered myself into the bubbly water, flinching at the sudden heat, and then relaxing into it. I’ve had to take far more frequent intensive muscle relaxing baths since starting my life as Ladybug, because I still get the occasional bruise and pulled muscle despite the magic suit.
The hot liquid untensed every muscle except for my brain, which was occupying itself with the thought of a naked Adrien. It did seem scary, and I don't know if I'll be ready to actually face that thought, but I will do my best to keep it professional.
I was not going to use this to take advantage over Adrien. This is just an opportunity to start my career. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope he would be okay with it though.
After about half an hour I climbed out, leaving the water to go down the drain with my day’s burdens. My phone suddenly started ringing, so I scrambled to wrap myself in a towel and ran for the bedroom, picking it up in one smooth sweep. It was Alya.
"Yeah?" I asked, not bothering to greet her. "Mari babe, I just had a thought..."
"What?"
"This isn't your first life drawing, is it?"
A dreadful shock went down my spine. "It is.” I replied, hearing her laugh on the other end.
"Damn Marinette, isn't that going to be a little tricky?"
"What am I gonna do? Mister Agreste can't give a first timer's nude to a Magazine!"
"Now calm down. I think you'll just have to ask Adrien if you could practice with him."
"Yeah... yeah! I'll just ask him! Surely he should be okay with it, right?”
"If I know Adrien, he’d agree in a heartbeat. Anways, I gotta run. Good luck!" The line went dead and I was left staring at the next contact on my list. Adrien.
A bunch of questions fluttered around in my head like butterflies. Does he know? Should I tell him? Will his father tell him? Should I call him?
Before I could decide, though, my phone started ringing again.
I was not expecting to see Adrien's face as the contact.
Adrien was calling me.
I fumbled to pick it up and pressed it to my ear. "Hi yes hello?" I blurted out a response.
"Hey, Marinette! I'm just calling because I heard you spoke with my father. I just wanted to know if you were comfortable to do this? With the... you know... sketching thing..."
"Oh no I'm completely fine with it. Actually, I should be the one asking you , with you being the model and all." I joked, and he laughed into the receiver.
"You know I trust you, Marinette. And so does my father, which is a good thing, I think.”
“I’m not quite sure why he thought I was the person for the job though, I know I did the Jagged Stone poster but there are plenty of other artists in the city-“
“I recommended you, actually.” Adrien replied, sounding a bit sheepish. My jaw dropped.
“You recommended me? Why?” I asked.
“Well I’m always getting paired up with photographers and videographers who I don’t know at all, but for once father let me pick an artist. I wanted to go with someone I knew and trusted, and you’re the first to come to mind.”
I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, feeling so flattered by the fact that Adrien holds me in such high regard.
The fact that I was going to have to draw a naked Adrien when I haven't even drawn a fully clothed one, started bothering me. "Mari?" Adrien said in a concerned voice, and I realised that I was silent for far too long.
"Yeah, um... Adrien, I'm gonna have to be honest here... I've never actually drawn a nude before. I haven't even sketched a full human body before."
"Oh?"
"I need some practice if I'm going to do this right."
"Oh well that's easy! I'll just come over to your place tomorrow so you can practice!"
"Okay! But... let's not start with the nude. Maybe just a t-shirt and jeans?"
"Agreed. So... see you then?"
"See you then."
I hung up and took a deep breath. I don’t get as flustered talking to Adrien as I used to, which meant that I actually got the chance to know him better without me stumbling and fumbling off into oblivion.
The soothing effect of the bath was starting to catch up to me, so I crawled into bed and drifted asleep.