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Of all the times it had to rain, it of course had to be the freezing rain of winter. New Years was coming, he had already missed his chance to propose to the love of his life at Christmas, now here he was, ringless, frozen and without a plan. Ladybug had always been the planner between the two of them, but Adrien normally held his own. At least now that they were older and thinking clearly. Well, it wasn’t entirely true. That he was planless, at least. He was still a fool in love with a former pigtailed blackette. While Christmas with her family had come and gone, he at least had New Years Eve. That along with the big party they were throwing for the first year of MDC Designs meant he still stood a chance. If only he could get that ring.
Shoulders hunching forward against the onslaught of rain the blonde trudged forward, his days of having a driver long gone. Though he wished he at least had a car now. Rather than always riding on the back of his girlfriend’s motorcycle. Marinette thought that he was locked away in his home office, taking a “sick” day from MDC Designs; but he had snuck out. Well, there wasn't much sneaking since she wasn’t home.
“Where are we going, kid?” Plagg’s nasally voice drifted up from inside his inner-coat pocket. The kwami most assuredly not going to drift out in the rain, which Adrien was thankful for. He wouldn’t be able to explain him away.
“They couldn’t deliver her ring. The one I special ordered was ruined. Now I have to go pick out a new one. And I need it now. The New Years Eve party is in a week. Now shush.” Finally ducking into a store, the store he had trekked this whole way for, the blonde stood in the doorway for a moment, dripping onto the floor.
“Oh my!” A sales person gasped as they caught sight of the man in their doorway. Hand against their chest they pushed a smile forward when Adrien lowered his hood. “Monsieur Agreste!”
“Theo, hello. Please call me Adrien, and forgive my appearance..” Removing his coat he hung it on the coat rack before making his way forward. “And the wetness.”
“Monsieur Adrien it is. Do not worry about the water. We will clean it up for you.” Theo smiled easily, and presented the white glove service. Together the two spent at least an hour and a half picking out the perfect ring. Luckily they had the size perfect to fit her dainty finger. He could only hope that she liked it half as much as he did. Hell, he hoped that he did not lose it before being able to give it to her.
Once they were outside the blonde glanced up at the sky before a sigh left him. “Plagg, do you think she’ll like it?” He asked softly as he put his earbud in. Not that anyone was out in this weather, but he also did not want people to think he was talking to himself.
“Don’t worry, kitten. She’ll love it. If she doesn’t I’ll cataclysm her personally.” The kwami promised as he huddled into the warmth of his holder.
“Let’s not do that to the love of my life. But good to know you’re on my side.” Adrien chuckled softly before starting the trek home.
~
“Marinette, your dress is lovely.” Tikki gushed as she floated around the carefully laid fabric. “Adrien is going to love it.” It was red and gold, with a traditional Qipao design. She normally shied away from anything red, due to her alter ego, but this was New Years, and Adrien had told her to wear something special. So, rather than going out and buying something, she had designed it herself. Far different from anything she had ever made.
“Thank you, Tikki. I just hope I can finish it. This silk is so delicate I’ve snagged it more than a few times.” Which of course meant that she had to start over, but that was beside the point.
“You’ll be able to finish, do not worry Marientte. I just wonder where Adrien went in this storm.” The kwami frowned as she floated over to look out the window.
It took Marinette some time to register what had been said to her, but once it had the pins dropped from her mouth and she sprang up. “What do you mean? He’s not in his room? In his office? Anywhere?” It would make sense as to why Tikki was floating around in the main living area. She had moved into the dining room to get some better light.
“Don’t you mean your room?” The little red kwami giggled, which earned her a quick shush.
“Tikki, what do you mean he isn’t here? It’s pouring out there, he’ll catch his death.” With that she dashed to the door in her slippers, grabbing her coat. She had one sleeve on, her keys in her mouth and her phone in her hand when the door opened. “Woah!” Falling back onto her ass the raven haired woman gasped, looking up at what had to be a freezing boyfriend.
“Marinette?” He asked around a sneeze, which immediately had her standing.
“Adrien! You know how easily you get sick in weather like this.” Tutting softly she helped him out of his jacket, despite his awkward protests, hanging his jacket up on the coat rack. “Off with your shoes. You’re soaked. You need a hot shower.”
“Take one with me?” Adrien attempted to flirt, but the snotty sound of his voice had her snorting.
“Maybe if you didn’t sound so terrible.” Marinette kicked his shoes aside and guided him to their bathroom.
Long ago they had moved in together under the guise of being roommates. Roommates had lasted for a while, until they wound up having so many sleepovers in the living room that ended up in sad kisses goodnight that he offered for her to sleep in his bed. Nothing more. Of course more eventually happened. But that first night had been so peaceful. Not a nightmare between them.
Luckily he still hadn’t figured out her secret (nor she his) and they lived quite happily together. Looking back at the dining room, where Tikki had covered her dress before disappearing, a soft sigh left her as she gave Adrien one final push into their bedroom.
“Come on, let’s get you out of these wet clothes. What was so important that you had to go out? I thought you were in your office.” She pouted as she helped him remove his sweater.
“I thought you were at work.” Adrien pouted back, which had Marinette checking the time.
“It’s 6 o’clock! You normally work until 6:30 when working from home. You said you were sick.” The secret bug poked his chest as she shoved him into the bathroom.
“Well, I definitely am now.” Taking a moment to blow his nose while she started the shower a soft sigh left him. “I was getting last minute things for the party.”
“Adrien, that party is not worth your health. So relax.” Chiding him gently she looked away politely when he finished stripping and stepped into the walk in shower. “Are you okay to be on your own? I’ll clean up your clothes and get you some pajamas.”
“Just leave it, princess. I made the mess. I need to clean it up.” Standing under the slightly too hot spray, the way Marinette liked it, and the way he likely needed it, Adrien tried to breathe normally.
“Well, if you’re sure. I’m at least going to throw your socks and underwear in the dryer.” Without another word she left him to get warmed up.
~
“Plagg? Plagg?!” The blonde hissed, poking his head out of the shower. That was when the kwami came floating through the wall with the ring box. “Thank you! Now hide it.” With that he ducked back under the water to ignore Plagg’s complaining. When his kwami joined him in the steam of the shower he knew he had pushed them too far. He just had to get them better before the New Years party.
~
Over the next few days Adrien was luckily able to get him and Plagg back into tip top shape. No more walking in the rain for the two of them. His loving girlfriend had doted on him until he was breathing normally through his nose. And he gave Plagg extra cheese until he stopped whining. Between that and the heated blanket, his kwami was fine.
But the New Years party was coming up. He was nervous. Beyond nervous. It was his big chance to propose. His chance to move them from boyfriend and girlfriend to something more, something permanent, something he felt he not necessarily needed, but wanted. Which was a powerful thing.
“Adrien?” Hearing her sweet voice he hid the ring in his sock drawer watching as Plagg disappeared before he turned to face the love of his life.
“Hi princess.” Adrien greeted, wrapping his arms around her.
“Hi baby.” Wrapping the tie around his neck Marinette smiled as she used it to pull him down and give him a kiss. “I made this for you. It will match my dress.”
“Oh you know that is my favorite.” The blonde gasped, watching as her hands tied his tie so he could see how it would look. Laughing when she pulled him towards the mirror by the end of his tie he stopped before it and let her smooth it out. “Oh Marinette, it’s lovely. And silk. Are you sure I can wear this?”
“Yes, you can wear it. You are a top model after all.” She teased, standing behind him and peering to the side since she was too short to see over his shoulder. “And besides, it’ll be with that black suit of yours. It’ll be rather dashing. The one with the silk lapels?”
“Oh, so the one you made.” He teased back, his gaze bright as he turned to kiss her. “I love you.”
“Oh Adrien, I love you too.” Kissing him back Marinette cupped his cheeks, rubbing their noses together sweetly as they separated. “Now, put the tie away. We are late for work.” Patting his ass playfully to get him moving she pulled back, making sure her hair looked halfway decent in the mirror before leaving the closet.
“I cannot wait until I can make gagging noises when you two are being gross.” Plagg complained as he came to help Adrien undo his tie.
“I know Plagg, but first I have to talk to Ladybug.” A sigh left him at that. He could only hope that she would trust him to share their, or just his, secret now that he was serious enough about someone to propose. He could only hope she believed in him.
~
“Bug!” Landing beside her in an attempt to scare her, Chat Noir sighed when she didn’t even jump. Instead she reached out to flick his nose, her gaze still on the magazine she held. “What’s going on, buggaboo?” He asked, the wind whipping around them from their place. He was glad that over the years the kwamis had taught them how to change their suits. He knew his bug got cold this time of year, just like Marinette did. They weren’t made for this weather. At least it wasn’t raining.
“You know, these damn magazines are still saying we are an item!” Smacking the thing with a gloved hand she was a bit louder than normal due to the black earmuffs, so he reached over with clawed fingers to carefully take one off her ear. “Oh, sorry.” Looking sheepish the bug themed hero looked over at him finally. “I am just thinking about how I would explain this to my boyfriend if he knew.”
“Well, hopefully your boyfriend trusts you enough to know that you would never cheat on him. Though I have had the same worries with my girlfriend.” He admitted as he finally sat down beside her. Wrapping an arm around her, his best friend, to keep her even warmer, he leaned over to see the magazine. “Oh, that last kiss with a return from Dark Cupid. You know, that guy is likely a dick in his civilian life.” Which he was. Kim was an ass for everything he had ever done to Marinette. Chat still played a bit too rough with him. Like a cat toying with a mouse.
“He’s just a lost soul.” Ladybug murmured softly, her head shaking sadly as she leaned into him. “So, you called this meeting. What’s so important, minou?”
“Well… I have something rather serious to ask of you, my sweet, understanding, bug.” Looking sheepish the hero shifted his weight, still holding her close to his side. “You see… I want to propose to my girlfriend. I want things to go to the next level. And I feel as if I cannot do that if she does not know all of me.” When he shifted his weight again Ladybug elbowed him playfully.
“You’re going to knock us both off the tower with your wiggling.” She teased as she reached out a hand to pat his knee. “Chatton, if you feel as if this woman is important enough to propose to then of course I trust you to share your secret. I had always hoped we would be in a place to share our identities first… But I am worried it is still too dangerous. Besides… I kind of need to tell my boyfriend too. We are living together.” Ladybug let out a sigh.
“Oh damn, bug! You’re living with him? That’s amazing.” Grinning happily for his friend he pressed a kiss to the top of her head with clear affection. “I am so happy that things are working out for you.” Rubbing a hand up and down her side, Chat hugged her close.
“Thank you. For being happy for me, minou.” Her hands lifted and she cupped his cheek before placing a kiss to his forehead. “Now, let’s get on with this patrol. We do not have much time.” Rising up she gripped her yo-yo, giving it a swing while she waited for him to stand. Together they took off into the city, checking on their precious Paris to make sure all was well.
~
“Plagg, it’s time. It’s time. How did we let this happen?” Adrien was panicking, he was in his suit and he was panicking. Retying his tie in the mirror for what felt like the tenth time the blonde groaned when it wasn’t right. Marinette was getting ready in the other room, finishing touches she said, and he couldn’t even manage to keep his sweaty palms from nearly ruining the silk of his blasted tie.
“Kid, you have got to breathe.” The kwami sighed heavily, moving forward to fix his tie before floating up to land in his hair. “Just breathe.” He said again, his little hands rubbing on his forehead like windshield wiper blades. He was attempting to soothe, but Tikki was so much better at this than he was.
“Okay, deep breath. Right? Deep breath.” Staring into the mirror the blonde groaned, fixing his tie and his suit. Patting his pocket to make sure the ring was there he frowned when his phone chimed. “Marinette! Our car is here.” Making his way out to the main living area he grabbed his wool coat and slipped it on over his suit. Looking for Marinette’s coat as well he frowned when he heard her call.
“Can you send the car back for me?”
“What? Marinette…” Making his way over to the room that had once been hers he laid a hand on the door knob, but didn’t open it yet. “Marinette it is time for us to go. Come now, what’s going on?”
“Don’t you dare open that door, Adrien Agreste!” Hearing his full name he removed his hand from the door knob, a frown on his features. That was not fun to hear. “This dress is going to be the death of me. I cannot handle it.” She called from within the room, and he could hear the panic in her voice. Oh how he hated to hear that. It seemed they were both panicking today.
“Marinette, please. Come on now. Talk to me.” He pleaded, but she refused to open the door. After some back and forth she had him convinced that she would make it there on time.
“You’re going early. I just need an extra thirty minutes. Please Adrien, just trust me. I will be there.” Marinette attempted once more, and he was debating before hearing her soft plea.
“Alright, princess. Alright. I will send the car back for you.” Patting the door gently the blonde pushed himself back, worrying his lower lip. “Be safe. I love you.”
“I love you too.” And then he heard the sewing machine start up again. He could only hope she made it. There was a red carpet. All of their friends were going to be there. He was going to propose…. Heaving a sigh he made his way to the door. He needed to call Nino and Alya.
~
“Yeah, she kicked me out. I mean, I have the ring. I have everything. But she kicked me out. I don’t even know if she's coming. She said she would. But I don’t know. I’m panicking here. Today was supposed to be the day.” On facetime with Nino and Alya, who were busy getting ready in their own apartment, Adrien was glad the divider was up in the car. He didn’t need his driver hearing him panic.
“Adrien, sunshine-honey-face, she’s just getting ready. Sometimes Marinette needs a bit of extra time. I will call her in just a moment, and she will be at the party. Have no fear. Bye!” Hanging up the call Alya waved into the camera, despite Adrien’s protests. He was worried, beyond worried.
Arriving at the party early as planned he got out of the car, making his way inside. He could only hope Alya got Marinette here.
~
“Okay, she is panicking. I have to get over there.” Turning to give Nino a kiss the fox-themed hero fluffed her hair, then wiped her lipstick off his lips with her thumb. “Marinette hasn’t had a stage five emergency in quite some time. She might not make it if I don’t go give her a push.”
“You told Adrien everything was fine.” Nino protested, turning to watch her go. “Babe, you cannot just go running off! We promised Adrien!” But just like that she was gone. Apparently it was up to him to run to Adrien’s side and make sure he was okay.
~
“Marinette! Marinette, I will use my key if you do not open this door!” Calling out to her friend so loudly that the neighbor poked their head out of their front door; Alya gave them stink eye until they went back inside. “Okay, using the key it is.” Sighing heavily the brunette unlocked the front door and marched straight to Marinette’s work-room.
“Marinette, honey.” Pushing open the door she found her friend hunched over her sewing machine with her head down on the table. Tikki was patting her head, and they shared a sigh. “I bet that dress is perfect.”
“It ripped.” Marinette murmured unhappily, not bothering to lift her head. “It ripped. And I cannot fix it. And I can’t change my dress because I made Adrien a matching tie that he left with. So, I’m not going.”
“Oh girl, you have to go.” Crouching beside her friend she laid a hand on her shoulder, her orange velvet dress shimmering in the light. “You really do. Adrien would be so heart broken if you did not make it.”
“I’ll just tell him I’m sick.” She sniffled. “I haven’t done my make up or anything!” Came the wail as she sat up abruptly.
“That’s it. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you are the Marinette Dupain-Cheng. You are one of the world’s leading fashion designers. This dress and some difficult fabric will not best you. You are too good for that.” Rising up Alya set her hands on her hips, staring down at her best friend. “Adrien worked so hard to make this perfect. You are not going to disappoint him because you’re being too hard on yourself. Now, put the dress on.”
“But… The slit goes really high. So I… It looks weird. It’s not traditional any more.” Marinette sniffled.
“You are not traditional. You’re extraordinary!” Throwing her arms up to emphasize her point she then grabbed Marinette’s face gently. “Put. On. The. Dress.”
“Okay! Okay…” Sighing heavily she grabbed the dress and went behind the room divider. Getting changed the raven haired woman awkwardly stepped out from behind the partition. “See? It’s just… Too much.” Turning to show off her surprisingly long leg for being so petite Alya could admit the slit was a bit high. But Marinette had closed the hem, then done straps of fabric across the thigh to tie it all together.
“Honey, it is beautiful. Now, let’s get you ready. Then you need to bug out.” Nodding her head she dragged her to her bedroom to get her ready. It took another five minutes, eight tops, but most definitely not a full ten. “There you are. No more tears.” Dabbing at the corners of her eyes Alya smiled.
“Thank you, Alya.” Squeezing her hand Marientte smiled.
“Anytime girl, anytime.” Kissing the top of her head she moved away. “I have a car downstairs.” Came the offer but Marinette was already touching her earrings.
“I think I should have been there thirty minutes ago with my boyfriend. So I’ll get there quick. See you!” With that she was transformed and out the window.
“Oh, thank god that worked.” Alya groaned, before texting Nino a thumbs up emoji and locking the place back up.
~
“Oh man, Tikki he’s probably freaking out by now.” Having forgotten her coat, Marinette was huddled against the cold in an alley while she fed her kwami. “I am such a bad girlfriend.”
“You aren’t a bad girlfriend. You just feel things strongly. He loves that about you.” Tikki stated around her cookie. “Alright, I’m ready. I’ll be in your bag all night. So don’t forget about me.” Nuzzling her cheek the kwami flew into her bag and Marinette went running.
Finally making it to the entrance she snuck around the red carpet and went to find Adrien. Her poor Adrien who was deserving far better right now. Maybe she needed to feel things a little less strongly. “Adrien!” Seeing a tall blonde anxiously checking his phone the bug themed hero came up behind him, laying a hand against his back.
“Marinette! Oh I was so worried about you.” Turning to hug her he stepped back, holding her hands out so he could look her over. “Where is your coat? Your hands are freezing.”
“I forgot it. I’m sorry.” She blurted quickly, surging forward to hug him again.
Lifting her off the ground in a tight hug Adrien smiled into her hair. “You are always worth waiting for. And you look beautiful.” Kissing her cheek as he let her go the blonde quickly shrugged out of his suit jacket. “Let’s warm you up, then we can walk the red carpet.”
“Okay, honey. Okay.” Looking up at him with nothing but love Marinette smiled.
~
The party was going wonderfully, but Adrien was close to a panic attack. The ring was warm in his pocket from how often he had reached down to grab it. When was the right time? Was it now? Or when they were dancing? Perhaps on stage? Nino kept shooting him looks and Alya had given him a threatening glare more than once. That was how he had found himself out on the balcony, the cold making his cheeks red.
“Adrien? What are you doing out here? It’s supposed to start snowing soon.” Marinette’s voice was sweet in the night air.
“I just needed a breather.” He admitted as he turned to face her. She was so beautiful, it almost brought him to his knees then and there. Hey… They were alone… And that felt perfect. “Marinette?” Came the softly spoken question as she came into his arms.
“Yes?”
“You know I love you, right?” Kissing the top of her head for what he hoped wasn’t the last time Adrien hugged her tightly against him. “I love you more than anything. You’re my light in the darkness, you are my reason beyond reason. I would move the heaven and the stars for you, I would burn the world down for you if you ever asked it of me, but I know you wouldn’t. You’re good, Marinette. So, so, good. You’re the yen to my yang.” Pulling back to smile down at her his hand drifted to his pocket once more.
“Well, that sounds very romantic.” Marientte whispered, only to look up when something landed on her nose. Snow, snow had begun to fall around them in a light sprinkling. “We had best go inside.”
“Hold on, I have something to tell you. And something to ask if that goes well.” Shifting from foot to foot Adrien shrugged out of his suit jacket and wrapped it around her once more. He’d be fine. Waiting for her to grab onto it he took her other hand carefully. “Marinette… I haven’t been entirely honest about some things, but I got permission to tell you. So, this is me telling you.”
“You needed permission from someone to tell me something about you?” Brow drawing together Marinette frowned, thinking of all the possibilities.
“Well, I am a sidekick. I don’t call those shots.” Shrugging easily, as if he had accepted his place a long time ago Adrien lifted his hands, her’s falling from his grip, and held up three fingers each behind his head, as if making ears. “I’m a famous sidekick.”
“Adrien, whatever you’re trying to tell me, it isn’t funny.” Folding her arms over her chest she shifted with worry. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t be mad. But um… Well, I don’t have health issues. You know, that cause me to run off often? I just have to get to the akumas.”
“No you don’t. I know every holder.” Except for one. But there was no way. Her sweet Adrien was not that pun loving, adorable idiot. They were so different. Staring up at him, holding his fingers up still with a pleading expression she frowned. “Except one.”
“Wait… What do you mean?” Head tilting his hands dropped, his shoulders drooping as well. As if defeated. “It’s dangerous to know that. You should not be working with Alya on her board. So, you stop that. But that aside, I’m um… I’m sorta… Well, not sorta, I’ve always been… “
“Oh gosh, you’re terrible at this kid.” Coming out of his coat pocket Plagg flew up between them. “He’s Chat Noir, pigtails. I ran out of cheese and this was so painful to watch.”
“Plagg!” Coming out of his coat pocket as well Tikki swatted at the other kwami. “They were supposed to do this on their own!”
“You’re the one who let the cat out of the bag!” Destruction cackled like a mad hatter.
“Tikki!” Marinette squeaked, “Plagg?” Her big eyes shifted up to stare at Adrien, whose mouth was hanging open as he stared at the kwamis. “You shouldn’t be out in the open.” She chided as she panicked and scooped them into her hands. “And it’s too cold for you Tikki.”
“You’re Ladybug? After all this time… You are Ladybug? I just… I’m stumped. I am. Truly. I am not computing this.” Adrien admitted, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I am trying to think of every interaction I’ve ever had with my bug. And it’s painful, Marinette. Painful.”
“Painful?” She asked sadly, thinking him disappointed in her.
“Yes. Painful. Because if I had just pushed a bit harder you would have known every miraculous holder.” Reaching out with both hands he gripped her biceps, pulling her close to kiss her forehead. “I love you.” He whispered, seeing the tears clinging to her lashes. “Don’t cry, my love. Don’t cry. It’s just me. You’re dumb cat.”
“You aren’t dumb.” She sniffled, nearly crushing the kwamis between them as she pushed forward to hug him. “I am dumb. To think I could have had you this whole time!”
“Marry me?” He asked suddenly.
“What?” Sniffling she pulled back so she could hear him better.
“Marry me?” Adrien asked again, slowly dropping down to one knee as he pulled the ring out of his pocket. “Please? I know that sounds a bit desperate. But a day without you feels like a lifetime. I never want to feel that again. I want to be the man at your side for always.”
“Oh Adrien, oh my…” Shifting from foot to foot Marinette gasped, trying to contain her excited squeal. “Yes. Yes!” Laughing she held out her hand, and the moment the ring was on her finger she jumped at him. Together they tumbled to the ground, laughing and cold.
End