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Alya turns another card.
They all bring their hand to their cheek. All of them but Adrien who takes a few seconds to analyse the Ace of spades before looking around. Confused, he brings his right hand to his cheek.
‘’Dude ! You’re awful at this !’’ Nino laughs.
‘’I was a sheltered teen, I didn’t get much practice’’ Adrien sigh before taking a sip of his beer.
‘’You’re 23, man. We’ve played this enough for you to know the rules’’
Adrien shakes his head and looks over at the girls who are sitting right across him.
Marinette swirls around the last few sips of her white wine, her cheek resting in the palm of her hand. She is beautiful. The cool wind coming from the opened window of her apartment blows the few strands of dark raven hair that fell from her bun. Her cheeks are red. Maybe from the alcohol, maybe from the warmth of the summer night or maybe from both.
‘’Ah ! Fuck me’’ Nino mutters as he bring his drink to his lips. The three of diamond lays in front of him.
‘’Gladly my dear, but maybe later ?’’ Alya teases.
‘’We’ll see’’ he replies with a wink.
‘’Urg, gross’’ shoots Marinette. ‘’How long has it been ? 10 years ? And you guys can’t even keep it in your pants’’
‘’Not 10, we’re not that old’’ Alya laugh while crossing her arms. ‘’And don’t ‘ew gross’ us. I have distinct memories of you-‘’
‘’Alright, Adrien, turn a card !’’ Cuts Marinette.
Now her cheeks are even more red.
She slides the loose strap of her dress back on her shoulder and stares down at her drink.
Adrien reaches for the pack of cards and turns the first one on top.
Queen of heart. The young man looks around, again, confused. Even though he’s played this game multiple times, he’s never been able to remember what each cards means. Especially since Alya and Nino often argue over which version of the game they should play.
‘’Ask Marinette a question’’ Alya says.
‘’What ?’’
‘’Weren’t we playing with Question Master ?’’ Asks Nino.
‘’Poor guy can’t even remember the basics, don’t make this harder for him’’
‘’Alright’’ agrees Nino ‘’Ask Marinette a question, she’ll ask Alya one and so on until someone can’t figure out a question to ask’’
Adrien frowns a moment, thinking about what he should ask her. It’s not as if he needed to know anything. She was his best friend. He had seen her at her highest high, frantically trying to finish a piece for one of her class and he had seen her at her lowest low, walking back home, crying and exhausted from everything. He had spent many nights watching a movie in a comfortable silence with her, in the dark of her apartment, or his, next door, when she couldn’t bear the clutter anymore.
‘’Who’s your favourite hero ?’’ He asks.
‘’Dude, you’re so fucking boring’’
‘’Stop bullying me, I’m trying my best !’’
Still, all eyes turn to Marinette. Her painted nails tap the bottom of her wine glass as she thinks.
‘’I mean, we all know the answer anyways’’ Alya laughs.
Adrien didn’t.
‘’Well I mean, Ladybug’s cool’’ she says ‘’With the Lucky Charm and all. Smart I guess. But Cat Noir is… I don’t know… He just balances her well… I think…’’
Well.
Now he’s the one with the red cheeks. He knew Marinette had liked Cat Noir as a teenager. Heck, he still often thought about that one evening where they kissed at Ile aux Cygnes.
‘’Alright Alya’’ Marinette starts ‘’What was the real reason you couldn’t help me last week for my project ? I’m not buying the whole babysitting thing. You sisters are like 15.’’
The young woman shakes her head.
‘’Alright, alright, I was reading this multi-chaptered fanfiction and I just couldn’t put down my phone’’ Alya reveals. Her best friend looks at her, opened mouth, in disbelief.
‘’I knew you were lying !’’
‘’But it was this really good slow burn filled with angst. I’m sure you would like it. Even Nino cried while reading it’’
‘’Don’t expose me like that !’’
‘’Aw, dear, I’m about to expose you even more’’ Alya says before taking a sip of her beer. ‘’Have you ever fantasize about kissing either Marinette or Adrien ?’’
‘’What the actual fuck ?’’ The words slip out of Nino’s mouth.
‘’Well I’m bound to ask deeper questions. I know everything about you’’
‘’Yeah, you could’ve asked about my sleep paralysis demon that suspiciously looks like The Bubbler. Now that’s some deep shit. But this ?’’
‘’What ? Are you afraid to answer ?’’ Marinette teases.
‘’Dude, I had a massive crush on Marinette back in collège. Of course I fantasized about kissing her.’’
‘’What about Adrien ?’’ Alya presses.
‘’What - Hey ! It’s one question !’’
Adrien can’t help but laugh. Nino is looking down at his drink, his leg jumping nervously under the table.
‘’Man, at least be subtle about it’’ Adrien says ‘’You can’t lie for shit’’
‘’I was a horny teen and you were on every magazine cover. I maaaay or may not have asked myself once’’ Nino answers while removing his cap. The young man slides his fingers through his hair, a nervous tic he couldn’t seem to get rid off.
‘’I mean, I’m flattered, man.’’ Adrien says with a laugh.
‘’To be honest, who didn’t thirst over Adrien Agreste at least once’’ Marinette mumbles in her glass.
Adrien’s eyes go straight to her where he catches, for just a few seconds, her gaze. He swallow, as she gets up for a refill.
She is gorgeous.
‘’Oh my God !’’ Alya exclaims. ‘’What if you realized your teenage fantasy !’’
‘’Uh ?’’
‘’What if you kissed Adrien !’’
‘’Babe, you’ve been reading too much fanfictions. And anyways, why would I kiss my best friend if we’re dating ? Plus, wouldn’t that mean that I’d have to kiss Marinette too ? ’’
‘’Sure, do both, who cares !’’
‘’Sorry but I’m not kissing Nino’’ Marinette replies while walking back to the table with a fresh glass of wine. ‘’I’ve known you way too long, I just… I can’t’’
‘’Alright, so Adrien ?’’
All he can seem to do is shrug. ‘’I mean, he’s your boyfriend. I might end up stealing him if you’re not careful’’ Adrien teases. His Cat Noir persona was never too far whenever he drank.
‘’I’m sorry but shouldn’t I be consulted on this ?’’ Nino shoots.
‘’Sure, babe. Do you want to kiss Adrien ?’’
Nino stays silent.
Adrien truly does not care. He knows he’s got feelings for Marinette. He knows it’s not going to change anything between him and Nino. Maybe if he was fully sober, he’d think twice. But now ? Sat in Marinette’s studio apartment and comfortably numbed by the alcohol ? He’s got nothing better to do.
‘’What ? Are you afraid you’ll fall for me ?’’
‘’Jesus, alcohol makes you cocky, dude’’
Adrien shrugs. ‘’All I’m saying is that I don’t mind.’’
‘’Dude…’’ Nino starts.
‘’Man…’’ Adrien replies.
They’re gonna do it.
Slowly, Nino brings his face closer to his. Adrien puts his hand on his best friend’s jaw as he pulls him into a small kiss. Their lips touch ever so slightly. But then, Nino does that one thing which drives Adrien crazy. He doesn’t know if he’s done it on purpose but he brings his hand behind his blond curls and delicately pulls on them. To this, Adrien replies by pressing his lips harder on Nino’s. He captures his friend’s lower lip and sucks on it lightly. The room around them is quiet, apart from the music escaping from Marinette’s speaker. Nino taste like gin, a mix of citrus and pine stuck on his lips. Slowly, Adrien opens his mouth, unsure if his friend would follow.
To his surprise, Nino slides his tongue, brushing the tip of Adrien’s. They kiss, gently, and Adrien can’t say it’s unpleasant nor life changing. Sure, Alya’s a lucky girl if she gets kisses like these whenever she wants, but this is definitely not something he’d want to try again with Nino.
Still, the feeling of lips sliding on his, tongue crashing together and of course, Nino’s fingers between his golden locks, mixes oh so well with the alcohol buzz.
Slowly, Nino starts to pull away; his grip loosen around friend’s hair. Adrien removes his hand from the other man’s cheek. Both of them open their eyes and look at each other. Nino’s lips are slightly red, Adrien can imagine his are too.
‘’Fuck’’ Alya breathes.
‘’Yeah’’ Marinette replies.
‘’That was hot’’
‘’Yeah’’
Nino sits back straight and takes a sip of his drink. ‘’Alright, now that that’s over, I can ask my question, right?’’
‘’Sure, go ahead.’’
Adrien smiles. He’s probably going to ask him if the kiss was alright or something along those lines.
The young man looks at Marinette who’s gaze is stuck on that one crack on the wooden table. Again, the loose strap of her summer dress slides on her shoulder. His inner Cat Noir almost reaches to place it back where it belong. He could slide the tip of his fingers on her smooth skin and later, maybe, if only he had the courage, he could kiss her there.
‘’So, my question to you, Adrien’’ Nino’s voice snaps him back to the small warm apartment. ‘’When are you gonna ask Marinette out ?’’
Fuck this game.