Chapter Text
Adrien stared transfixed as the weakening sunlight cradled her dark, bowed head, picking out lighter strands amongst the sea of ink and setting them aflame with blue fire. She rested on her forearms while her right hand gripped a pencil that moved furiously over an open page in a small book. He had seen this scene play out five times in the past two weeks, always as the sun began its retreat into the Parisian skyline.
Well, not always.
2 weeks and 5 visits ago
He first saw her on a rainy day.
The weather girl hadn’t predicted any stormy weather, so most were unprepared as the storm clouds started to loom over Paris. Adrien had been walking leisurely down a street, consumed by his own thoughts but happy to not have anymore commitments for the morning. He hadn’t notice the unusual darkening of the sky until the heavens had opened upon his shoulders. He had yelped and pulled up his hoodie, but it was not enough. Desperate to not get wet, or god forbid, sick, he ran into the nearest establishment, which turned out to be a bakery perched on a busy corner, named Tom & Sabine’s Boulangerie Patisserie.
The atmosphere inside the bakery was a complete opposite to the outside: it was warm, cozy, and vibrant. Adrien slipped off his hood and looked around. He didn’t seem to be the only one to have the idea to take refuge here, as there were 6 other people shaking the rain from their hair and getting comfortable, sitting down and browsing the selection of baked goods. Adrien quickly claimed a little table by the display window and texted Natalie where he was. She wanted to have the Gorilla pick him up, but Adrien insisted that his father’s appointments were more important and that as soon as the rain stopped he would go straight home, and yes of course he won’t get caught. Adrien signed exasperatedly and slid his phone into his pocket. Now bored, he rested his head in his hands to gaze at the storm outside.
I wonder how long this storm is going to last, Adrien thought mildly.
“Seems like the Mother Nature is unhappy,” a friendly voice said above him. Adrien looked up (and up and up) to meet eyes with a big, bear-looking man, who smiled at him. “Welcome to Tom & Sabine’s Boulangerie Patisserie. I am Tom. What can I get you on this dreary day?” Adrien liked him instantly.
“Um…” Adrien scanned the plastic-covered menu, unsure due to his breakfast a few hours prior. However, Adrien didn’t want to offend Tom by just ordering a glass of water. He looked back at Tom. “What would you recommend, monsieur?”
Tom’s grin turned conspiratorial. “Well, there is a new batch of croissants in the back, literally fresh out the oven. They are simply divine with some cheese.” Adrien liked the sound of that: something delicious but not too filling.
“That… actually sounds amazing, may I have that and a glass of water, please?”
“Of course, but… I feel like a hot chocolate may be more up your alley.” Tom said, taking the menu away from him.
Ooohhh, hot chocolate, Adrien thought dreamily. It did not seem like a bad idea, especially on this depressing day. Just as long as Natalie never finds out, otherwise she’d have a hernia.
“I see the look on your face and I know I’ve said all the right words. One hot chocolate and croissant with cheese coming right up.” Tom turned to leave, but stopped 90º degrees in. “Oh! I almost forgot – what type of cheese will you have: brie or camembert?”
Adrien inwardly cringed at the mention of camembert, a cheese with a smell so pungent he could scarcely stomach it.
“Ah, brie, s’il vous plaît.”
If it were possible, Tom’s smile grew even friendlier. “My kind of man! I could never stand camembert, but it’s a surprisingly popular choice of cheese here.”
And if it were possible, Adrien liked Tom even more (even if his size was downright terrifying). Adrien kept smiling at Tom as he walked towards the till, but stopped when the big man halted suddenly.
“Where did she…?” Adrien heard Tom mutter under his breath. “Where is that girl?”
“Here, Papa!” squeaked a sweet but disembodied voice from behind the counter. Tom marched forward and leaned over the counter to peer at who Adrien assumed to be the girl hidden beneath it.
“What are you doing? Well, come on out, there’s work to be done! Why are you slacking? Come now, up, up! I need you to make a special hot chocolate for Table 4; he’s soaked to the bone.”
“Pap-a! I was talking to Alya! Hardly slacking!” Adrien could hear the pout in her voice. “But yes, fine. Chop, chop, get to work,” she said sardonically. Adrien could hear the rustling of fabric as she jumped out from her place under the counter. Adrien only caught a brief flash of dark hair and the colour pink before the girl turned around and near-ran into the swinging kitchen doors.
“Ah, kids these days.” Tom called across the room to Adrien with a chuckle and a "what are you going to do?" shrug. At the noise, many of the other customers turned to see who he was talking to. Adrien leaned lower in his seat and ducked his head, trying to look inconspicuous.
Adrien, wanting to get his mind off of the consequences that he would face should he be recognized (though unlikely - he was the youngest customer by 20 years), looked up at the sound of the kitchen doors opening. He was actually eager for his food, but all thought of it faded away, because emerging from the kitchen was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. The brief sight of her that he had caught earlier could not do her image justice. She was fair, almost impossibly so, with the darkest hair he had ever seen, so black it was a midnight blue, but her eyes – oh, her eyes! While her hair was the night sky, her eyes must hide the sun behind them, for they were as blue as the sky should’ve been outside and as blue as the promise of summer. Eyes so magical, so wonderful, and…
They looking were not in his general direction. Like, at all.
Now, Adrien has never been one to be vain, but there was a reason his face was plastered all over Paris. Because he was, well, handsome. Heartbreakingly so, his mother had told him once (before she disappeared, but that’s a different story). And obviously, she wasn’t lying, as Adrien sometimes had to beat-off girls (and once, a boy) with sticks and a Gorilla. So, it was natural to think that perhaps the girl, Marinette - god, what a beautiful name - might be flustered by his physical charms, or at least notice them, or at least know who he was, but, no, her mind seemed to be somewhere else entirely.
In fact, it was a bit worrying that she wasn’t looking at him, for she was carrying a round silver tray with a mug and his croissant on top, and her gaze seemed fixated on the floor under her feet. Adrien had the sudden, horrifying realisation that if she were to stumble now, it would be a very loud and very public event. And he also had the sneaking suspicion that something like that wouldn’t be unlikely. Luckily, Tom took the tray from her, walked over and placed the plate and mug in front of Adrien. Unluckily, the girl turned around as soon as her burden was lifted and rushed to her previous position behind the counter before Adrien initiate eye contact her.
However, the most buttery croissant Adrien had ever seen soon claimed his attention. He stared at the warm pastry, mouth watering and feeling suddenly ravenous.
“Eat up, son. Today is on the house,” Tom said generously. Adrien’s head turned sharply towards him, all thought of satiating his newfound appetite gone.
“What? Monsieur, I cannot accept this! This is too much!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You can just pay next time!” Tom gave out a booming chuckle.
Adrien paused. “Next… time..?” he tried the words out.
Tom nodded encouragingly, grin still fixed under his impressive moustache. The wheels in Adrien’s head started to turn.
If I become a regular, then I can see Marinette more often. Maybe, even get to know her!
Adrien broke out into his most dazzling grin. “Why, monsieur, you’ve got yourself a deal!” he said, shaking Tom’s massive hand
Tom chuckled again and clapped Adrien on the back with his other hand. “’Atta boy!”
“Please, call me Adrien.” And your future son-in-law.
Adrien tore into his brie croissant with gusto, but sipped at his hot chocolate while he waited for the rain to let up. He had checked his phone a couple of times, but no messages beyond the usual changes-in-scheduling notifications from Natalie. His hot chocolate was down to its last dregs when he heard chairs scraping against the black-and-white floor. He looked around and saw many of his fellow prisoners of the rain getting up and heading to the counter, presumably to pay for the drinks and food consumed during their time inside.
Is the rain over? he thought distantly. He looked outside and could see the sunlight that was peaking through the clouds fragment through the raindrops lingering on windows and canopies. Adrien didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, he was happy to finally get on with the rest of his responsibilities. On the other, this meant that he no longer had an excuse to stay in the bakery. Adrien ultimately sighed and pushed his chair back, knowing that Natalie would have his behind if he wasn’t home in time for lunch. He got up and, remembering that the meal was for free, was about to just walk out when he saw who was manning the till.
Marinette, his mind whispered.
Adrien hoped no one could see the hearts in his eyes.
Not willing to loose the opportunity to make her acquaintance and resolute in his goal to get her number, Adrien joined end of the lining up to pay. It moved forward sluggishly, as each customer wanted to chat with girl about the bakery and how grateful they were for her family’s hospitality. And it didn’t help that Marinette was more than willing to make conversation, eyes sparkling as she handled the money and package baked goods. Adrien’s only consolation was that at least he would be able to make nice (real nice) when his turn in line came. Just as Adrien was warming up the Charm Machine™, Marinette looked down the line and locked eyes with him.
Adrien froze. He was so startled by how crystal her eyes were that he failed to flash a smile and simply ended up staring at her. Adrien lost all sense of his surroundings and time. All the noise faded out, and the only thing that seemed real to him was her.
God, she was ridiculously beautiful. The sunset streaming into the window was turning her skin into a blushing pink, her hair shimmered, her dainty hands frozen on a paper bag, and her pearly lips were parted in a manner that was equally endearing as it was sexy.
Oh, Jesus.
Adrien suddenly felt a bit too hot and broke eye contact. He glanced down briefly and thought furiously about his father to make sure he wasn’t a total creep. Satisfied with his stellar control over this hormones, he looked back at her, but the moment was lost: she was… gone? Standing in her place was a smiling, petit Asian women with the same hair as Marinette, mostly likely her mother, and probably Sabine.
Merde!
“Merde!” he said under his breath, just for emphasis. There had been just one person left in front of him!
Adrien frantically swiveled his gaze around the store, but alas, she was nowhere to be found. Upset by his failure, Adrien pouted until the person in front of him left after paying for her pain au chocolat, and he was left standing face-to-face with Marinette’s mother.
“Ah, Adrien is it? What are you doing, silly! Free meal, remember? You’re free to go” Sabine tittered daintily and made a “shoo” motion with her hands.
“Y-yes of course,” he laughed awkwardly. “I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality, and to ask, is it really if okay that I don’t pay?”
Sabine’s face softened. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…” she hesitated. “My daughter said you looked like you were a bit sad and needed some cheering up, and Tom thought that maybe a free meal would brighten your day.” Sabine smiled softly, crinkling her eyes into little crescent moons.
Adrien’s heart stopped and burst into flames. She… she cared how I was feeling?
Adrien could pinpoint the exact moment attraction turned into adoration.
With the brightest smile ever, Adrien promised to come back soon and left with his heart as light as the croissant he just had and thanking the clouds for raining on him when they did.