Chapter Text
The day Adrien Agreste met Marinette Dupain-Cheng was not a momentous day, it was just a regular Tuesday.
But looking back, both would agree that that day had been important, at least to them. Adrien and Marinette were not in the same social class and they lived far enough apart that a coincidental meeting wouldn’t have been possible.
There was really no reason they should have met at all.
Adrien was homeschooled by his mother and only went out into the world when she did, or when they visited the Bourgeois family down the street. Marinette, on the other hand, attended the local preschool and played with the neighborhood kids in the park across the street from her home.
The two had very different lives and would have continued on that way never knowing of each other’s existence if Emilie Agreste hadn’t needed to pick up a birthday cake for her husband, Gabriel.
She could have just ordered a cake to be delivered, or hired a caterer to take care of the whole affair, but she was a social butterfly and loved going on adventures and meeting new people around Paris with Adrien in tow. Together they found new cafes, museums, and hidden gems that tour guides often skipped over or didn’t know about. They met people from all around the world who hoped for their happy ending in the City of Light, and came home every day with a new story to tell Gabriel, who was slaving away at his designs to keep them and the new company supported. There was so much to see and do, Emilie didn’t have time to be cooped up inside a big, empty house.
So instead of ordering for something to be delivered, she slung her purse over her shoulder, grabbed her sunhat, took Adrien’s hand in her own, and went out for a morning stroll to the new bakery that had just opened a few blocks away.
It was a hot June day, but she smiled all the way, enjoying the warmth seep into her skin and watching the sunlight shine off of her son’s golden locks. A ladybug buzzed by, drifting lazily on the wind and right past Adrien’s nose. He ripped his hand from hers and took off at a run, chasing the ladybug down the sidewalk.
“Just don’t run into the street, Adrien!” she called after him.
“Okay!” he quickly shouted over his shoulder before whipping his head back so he wouldn’t lose sight of the ladybug.
He came to a screeching halt at the end of the block, as far as he could go without running into the street, green eyes gazing forlornly across the street.
“Did you lose your ladybug, love?” she asked once she caught up to him, running her slender fingers through his hair.
He nodded sadly, shoulders starting to hunch in on themselves. Emilie knew that stance. He always stood like that before he would launch into a fit of crying. Before he could start though, she crouched down so she was eye-level with him and tipped his chin up with her fingers.
“Hey, chin up my darling. I’m sure your ladybug will come back to you one day. They’re good luck after all.”
She winked at him and his frown immediately transformed into a wide, toothy grin.
“Let’s go get that cake now, okay?”
“Okay!” Adrien latched onto her hand once again, ready to continue their adventure. As it turned out, they were already there. The bakery was just behind them, sitting patiently on the corner of the block. She pulled open the door, a bell jingling brightly through the store.
The bakery wasn't very big, but it was cozy. The cabinets and counters were white with gold trimming and the bright daylight streaming in through the wide windows bathed everything in a warm, cheery light. Cases of sweets, cakes, tarts, and quiches sat in cases on each side of the shop and a small counter was set at the back with a register.
“Welcome!” a young Asian woman greeted with a sweet smile. She had jet-black hair that fell to her chin and had a pink rose tucked behind her ear. She wore a simple apron over her jeans and Chinese-styled shirt. She was very pretty, probably no more than twenty-five years old.
“Hello!” Emilie cheerily returned the greeting. “I'm here to pick up a birthday cake? It should be under Agreste.”
“Okay, let me go into the back and put it in a box for you, Madame Agreste,” she said after confirming the order in her leger, “We just finished icing it.”
Emilie nodded patiently and waited as the woman walked back into the kitchen calling, “Tom! Madame Agreste is here for her cake!”
The woman came back a moment later with a small pink box in her hands.
“This is a really lovely boulangerie you have here by the way,” Emilie commented, eyes sweeping once again around the room and lingering on a macaron display. “How long have you been in business Madame...?”
“Cheng,” the other woman supplied, “But you can call me Sabine. My husband and I only just opened up this year.”
“Oh really?” Emilie blinked in surprise, “I wouldn’t have guessed that at all. You look like you’re doing well for yourselves here.”
Sabine smiled, blushing at the praise. “We’re just as surprised. It’s been a lot of trial and error…”
As the two women chatted, they hardly noticed that a little girl, no more than five years old, had peeked around the counter and now was staring with big blue eyes at Adrien. She had short black hair like her mother but instead of a rose, she wore two pink hair clips that kept her bangs out of her face and was dressed in a pink and white dress with sandals. She was about the same height as Adrien.
Adrien quickly noticed he was being stared at and turned his gaze--which had previously been occupied by a plate of pain au chocolats --on the girl. His mouth split into a toothy grin and he waved at her, which got him a shy wave in return. She got over her shyness quickly though, once she decided he was friendly, and padded over to Adrien.
“I’m Marinette, who are you?” she demanded boldly, her hands on her hips. She didn't seem mean to him though, just really curious.
“Um, Adrien. My name’s Adrien.”
“You’re getting a cake?”
He nodded. “It’s for my father. His birthday’s tomorrow.”
Marinette seemed satisfied with this answer, nodding knowingly. “I helped make the cake. My daddy, who is the best baker in all of Paris, taught me how to mix everything up..”
“That’s cool. My father’s a designer. He likes to make clothes.”
“Do you like cupcakes?” Marinette suddenly asked, apparently not interested in hearing about anything unrelated to baking.
“Yeah.”
“Good, c’mere!” she grabbed Adrien's hand and dragged him back behind the counter, much to the amusement of Emilie and Sabine.
She led him into the bakery and over to a counter where a rack of colorfully-frosted mini cupcakes sat.
“What’s your favorite kind of cupcake?”
“Chocolate," he said, grinning. Like he had to think about that one. Who didn’t like chocolate?
She nodded approvingly, as if she’d known that would be his answer, and climbed up onto a stool to select two: a chocolate mini cupcake with bright green frosting and black sprinkles, and a red velvet one with bright red frosting and the same black sprinkles.
“Here, this one's yours,” she said, handing down the green one to him.
Adrien decided he liked this girl. Especially since she was giving him sweets.
“Adrien, it’s time to go dear!” Adrien’s mom’s voice cut in from the front of the shop.
“I gotta go,” he said, his smile fading into a frown.
Marinette didn’t look happy either to have her new friend gone so quickly. “Okay, but you should come back sometime,” she said, leading Adrien back out.
When Emilie saw the cupcake in Adrien's hand, her green eyes grew wide.
“Adrien, wat’cha got there?”
“A cupcake! Marinette gave it to me!" he grinned, holding it up high for her to see.
“Oh, how nice of her.” Emilie turned back to Sabine, an apology written on her face. “How much for the cupcake?”
“Oh don’t worry about it, it's on the house," Sabine answered, winking down at Adrien.
“A-Are you sure?”
“Definitely. It looks like these two have become fast friends. It was lovely meeting you Madame Agreste.”
“Emilie,” she corrected. “Feel free to call me Emilie, please.”
Sabine smiled and nodded. “Of course. It was lovely to meet you Emilie and Adrien. Feel free to come by anytime.”
“We might just take you up on that offer!” Emilie giggled. “Say goodbye, Adrien.”
“Bye Marinette! Thanks for the cupcake!” He waved enthusiastically as his mother took his free hand and led him out of the store.
Marinette sprinted after them and stood at the corner, watching them go.
“Bye!” she waved at their retreating backs, a cupcake in one hand, her lips already smeared red with the frosting.