Chapter Text
Marinette Dupain-Cheng was happy at her current job, working in a bookstore. Sure, it was nothing like her dream of eventually becoming a world-renowned fashion designer, but it was something and she enjoyed it a lot. Books were something she loved, and being able to help other people nourish that same love felt amazing.
The lady who owned the shop was a kind old woman who had taken a liking to Marinette, even letting her rent out the apartment above the bookstore at a low price. The location was great, as it gave her very easy access to the rooftop where she would go, as Ladybug, to meet Chat Noir on patrol nights. Marinette returned the woman's fondness greatly, often looking up to the lady like a second mother.
However, at the moment, the store was pretty much empty. She looked around, saw that no-one was looking, and took the opportunity to start reading. This was something Marinette often did, and the owner didn’t seem to mind. She decided to give herself five minutes, and after that she would close the book and wait for any customers.
“Can you help, me please?”
Marinette looked up from her book to face the person on the other side of the shop counter. She nearly let out a gasp when she realised it was none other than Adrien Agreste, famous model and son of fashion designer Gabriel Agreste. “Um, sure! What do you need?”
“Well, actually I’m not really looking for a book—I’m looking for a place to hide… I’m Adrien Agreste—“
“Oh, I know who you are,” laughed Marinette.
“Oh, okay. Well, I just can’t really cope with all these photoshoots, and…” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I need a place to hide, please. I managed to escape from my father, but I’m pretty sure he followed me here. Can I…”
“Behind the desk, quickly! Your dad’s coming in now, I can see him. Get down and you’ll be invisible. Don’t worry.”
Adrien gave her a grateful smile and ducked down behind the counter. She couldn’t believe she had just met Adrien Agreste and he was now crouched down by her feet, hiding. Marinette could feel his breathing on her calves, and shivered. Gabriel Agreste made his way over to the counter.
“Hello, young lady. I am Gabriel Agreste, and I have reason to believe that my son has come in here in an attempt to hide from me. Have you seen him?” he asked coldly, holding up a picture of Adrien modelling. Marinette couldn’t help but notice how good he looked in the photo, but she put that thought aside. For now, she had to convince Mr. Agreste that his son was not in the building.
“I’d know that face anywhere, sir,” she replied cheerily. “It would be hard to miss Adrien Agreste walking in your shop! No, sir, I haven’t seen him,” she said, lying effortlessly.
Mr. Agreste gave her a curt nod. “Thank you, that will be all. Interesting… I could have sworn he came in here,” he murmured quietly to himself as he walked out of the shop. As soon as he was gone, Adrien quickly stood up from his hiding-place.
“Phew! That was close. Thank you so much, Marinette,” he added, turning to face her with a smile.
She laughed it off. “No problem! While you’re here, would you like to get a book?” Marinette asked.
“Uh, sure!” said Adrien. “I don’t really have anything in mind… Do you have a recommendation for me?”
She thought for a moment before pulling a book out of a pile at the side of the counter. It was called The Great Lie by Scarlett Williamson. “Here, try this. It’s one of my favourites, I think you might like it.”
He gave her a warm smile. “Okay, I’ll give it a shot.” He started to pull out his wallet, but Marinette stopped him.
“No, no, it’s fine! You don’t have to pay for anything.”
Adrien looked startled. “But—“
“’But’ nothing. It’s my gift to you,” she said, taking out a pen and writing an inscription on the inside cover. She put the cap back on the pen and held the book out to him. “Here, take it.”
He still looked taken aback for a second, but then he suddenly broke into a smile. “Thank you,” he said, taking the book. “It’s just… not many people are that nice to me. My father isn’t the friendliest person, as you may have noticed.”
Marinette suddenly felt really sorry for Adrien. Her heart wept for this poor child who seemed to live in a home with no love, where the only life he knew involved being continually rushed off his feet. “Like I said, it’s no problem!” she said, in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. “Come back whenever you want. It’s okay.”
He nodded gratefully, turned and left the store. Marinette spared him one last glance before opening her book again, trying and failing to keep the smile off her face.
****
That night at patrol, Chat Noir seemed for some reason to be happier than usual. He was almost constantly smiling. Ladybug laughed whenever she looked over and noticed. Once the patrol was done, and they were sitting together on their usual rooftop under the stars, she said “Well, well… What’s gotten into you today, kitty?”
Chat just smiled more. “I met a nice girl today who works at a bookshop. She was really friendly.”
Ladybug laughed again. “That’s funny, I…” She quickly checked herself just in time. She couldn’t tell him too much; it might give her identity away. Ladybug cleared her throat. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah. She gave me this book, too! For free,” he said happily, and Chat showed her his book. Ladybug’s breath caught in her throat as she saw what it was… The Great Lie by Scarlett Williamson, the same book she’d given Adrien earlier. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, she thought. “And look, she put an inscription inside!” he added. He opened it up to show her, and she nearly gasped when she read it.
A gift from Marinette :)
But outwardly, she just nodded and smiled. “That’s great, Chat!” she said, and then her miraculous started to go off. “Gotta run!” Ladybug called, waving Chat goodbye as she swung her way back to her home above the bookstore.
As soon as she got into her room and detransformed, she fed Tikki some cookies and flopped onto her bed. “Tikki… is Adrien seriously Chat Noir?!? This is too much.” She had no idea how to process this new information.
“It’ll be fine, Marinette! Take it easy,” her kwami replied in between bites of cookie.
Marinette thought for a moment, then a slightly evil smile spread across her face. “Actually, I know exactly what I can do…”
***
Two days later, Marinette was happy to see Adrien walking into the bookstore. He walked up to the counter and smiled at her. “I finished the book you gave me. It was really good, I loved it! Do you have any more you think I would like?”
She smiled back. “Sure! If you liked that one, then you will love…” Marinette pulled out a book from behind the counter with a flourish. “This one!”
Adrien looked curiously at the book. “The Great Reveal,” he read. “Is it a sequel to the other one?”
Marinette nodded brightly. “Here, you don’t have to pay for this one either, she said, writing another inscription in the front before pushing it across the counter towards Adrien.
He looked like he was about to protest, but then he thought better of it and took the book. “Thank you, Marinette,” he said, and turned to walk out of the store. Marinette giggled as she noticed the slight spring in his step.
***
Adrien hurried home to start reading the book Marinette had just given him. For someone who didn’t know him very well, she seemed to have a great gift for picking out books he’d like. But first, he told himself, he would read the inscription. Adrien opened up the front cover and stared, mouth hanging open, at what he saw written there:
To Chat, from his Lady.
Silly kitty.