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“I really don’t want to go to this thing, Als.” Marinette raised her hands and tried to fight as her best friend pushed her towards her bathroom. “Seriously. Can’t we just have our usual wine and movie night, tonight?”
“Nope. The girls set this up and it’ll be good for you to get out of the house. Look at this place.” Alya gestured to the empty food containers and bottles of opened wine. How there was a rumpled throw on the couch and a bra draped over a chair. Mail from the past few months were strewn about her kitchen table. “You need to get out of this house, M. Look.” She grabbed her best friend's shoulders and spun her to face the mirror. “I want my incredibly hot best friend back, not the couch potato that replaced her.”
“Hey!” Marinette glared at her and slapped her hip, giggling.
“I’m just saying, girl. Shower, put on that sexy dress gathering dust in the back of your closet that I know hasn’t been taken out for years, and slap on some make-up. Dress to kill, woman.” Alya giggled and let her shoulders go.
Marinette rolled her eyes and looked in the mirror at her tired bluebell eyes that had dark rings beneath them from years of crying herself to sleep most nights. How her long dark hair was messy and up in a bun. How her pink tank top was wrinkly and her black pajama pants were begging to be washed. She looked like a hot mess to say the least. She couldn’t deny Alya’s accusations. She had seen better days and the pain of losing Adrien had overwhelmed her to pieces. He had broken her heart and she had tried to swim to the surface, finding herself falling back beneath the waves each time.
“I know you hurt still after Adrien left, but…” Alya worried her bottom lip, hiding the fact that Adrien was going to be there because Nino had invited him.
“He broke my heart. We were better as best friends, Als.” Marinette sighed as she turned on her shower.
“Well… maybe you can reignite that friendship.” Alya smiled at her and turned around as her friend undressed and got into the shower.
“It hurts too much.” Marinette sighed as she washed her hair and shaved.
“Look, I’m sure he hurts too.” Alya leaned against her best friend’s sink.
“Pfft. I doubt it, Alya.” Marinette rolled her eyes as she washed her body.
“You never know. You haven’t talked in a few years.” Alya shrugged as she left Marinette alone.
Marinette clutched her soft bath sponge in her fists as she rested her chin on it, thinking back to when they were superheroes and best friends.
“Thank you for agreeing to having dinner with me.” Chat leaned back on his palms and crossed one ankle over the other. “I’ve always wanted to do this with you.”
Ladybug rolled her eyes and smiled as she threw a grape at him, trying to hit him in the chest. She missed and he caught it in his mouth.
“Missed, M’Lady.” Chat smirked and chewed the grape with overconfidence.
Ladybug crossed her arms and rolled her eyes as she looked away from him. “Who says I didn’t mean to do that?”
“You were clearly aiming for my chest, but I’ll let it slide, Bugaboo.” Chat laughed and blocked another grape that came flying for his head. “Hey.” He grabbed a grape and went to throw it at her when suddenly her yo-yo shot out and wrapped around his wrist, yanking his hand to the side. He raised an eyebrow at her and watched her from across the blanket he had spread out for them.
The cream-toned candles glowed along the rooftop and rose petals were strewn around them. He had even brought pillows to lounge back on.
“You tried too hard tonight; you know that, kitty cat?” Ladybug unwrapped her yo-yo and Chat tossed the grape back to catch it in his mouth.
“Nothing is too hard for M’Lady.” Chat wiggled his eyebrows at her and she looked at him with a horrified expression. Chat suddenly blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I—I didn’t mean it like that. I was meaning that you deserve to be spoi—” He pointed his index finger at her with an awkward expression.
“No, no. I know what you meant.” Ladybug grabbed her glass of wine and brought it to her lips to hide her blush.
“Oh good.” Chat peered down as he rubbed the back of his neck with a blush. He slowly peeked up at her through his messy blonde hair. “I’m glad.”
Ladybug’s lips parted as she took in his sparkling peridot eyes under the candlelight. She shook her head and focused on her glass of wine. “You know… we’re not supposed to use our suits for personal reasons.”
Chat stumbled for a moment as he nearly tipped his glass of wine over on the blanket. “I’m sorry, what?”
“This. Isn’t this a personal reason to be in our suits?” Ladybug gestured to the cheese board, wine bottle, and crackers. “Also, fancy boy, where did you get your hands on this stuff?”
“You were the one that said we couldn’t reveal our identities, M’Lady. Cats have their secrets and this one has meow-llions of them.”
“Meow...llions, huh? Wanna play twenty-one questions?” Ladybug challenged him and watched him swallow hard.
“No, no. I like this meow-velous mystery between us.” Chat chuckled as he ran his fingers along the stem of his glass and peered down at the blanket.
“What if one day… I want to know who is beneath that mask?” Ladybug peered up at him and heard him choke. She bit her bottom lip as he slowly peered up at her.
A smirk slowly formed on his lips, “Then I’ll be ready.”
Ladybug nodded and took a sip of her wine as she burst out at some random joke Chat told her to break the silence.
Marinette shook her head and finished showering, turning off the water and stepping out of the shower to dry off. She walked over to her closet and opened a drawer. She pulled out a blush-hued lace thong. Marinette took a deep breath and slipped it on. She hadn’t tried since Adrien, and she honestly didn’t see a point in it anymore. She was over trying to impress men at some party or really anywhere for that matter.
She flung her clothing along the bar in her closet and stopped when she finally reached the tiny red dress. She hadn’t worn the thing in ages. Marinette’s heart raced as she thought about the last time she wore it.
“Adrien…” Marinette giggled as he held his hands over her eyes and they nearly tripped as he led here somewhere. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see, M’Lady.” Adrien smiled as he peered up at the Eiffel Tower.
She squealed as she tripped on a hole in the ground and took him down with her.
“Oh!” Adrien groaned as his back hit the ground and she fell on top of him. “This wasn’t how I wanted to surprise you.”
“I’m sorry.” Marinette burst out into a fit of giggles as she finally peered up to see the Eiffel Tower lit up in green and pink. “Chaton, what is this?”
“M’Lady? Princess?” Adrien reached up to touch her chin, bringing her gaze down to his.
Marinette’s eyes fell to the open box in his hand, and she clasped her hands over her mouth. “Adrien.”
“I can’t wait any longer. I love you so, so, much. I want to wake up to you. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms. I miss you every moment we’re apart. You’re amazing and I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me? Doesn’t have to be now or anything. I just- I—” Adrien became even more nervous, and his eyes widened as her words burst from her lips while she laid on top of him.
Marinette grabbed his face and leaned down to kiss him hard on the lips. “YES!”
Marinette’s bottom lip trembled as she touched the dress. She couldn’t wear it. There was no way her heart could handle wearing it again, not after that.
“Can’t wear it?” Alya leaned on her best friend’s closet doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.
Marinette slowly turned to face her and burst into tears with her towel clutched around herself. “I can’t. All I see is that damn ring!”
“Girl…” Alya sighed and walked over to her, going through her dresses. “How about this one? It’s nice.” She pulled out a black cocktail dress. It was off the shoulder and had a high-low skirt. “Throw on some stilettos and we’re good to go, girl.”
Marinette sniffed and Alya walked over to hug her. “I miss him. Why did he have to go?”
“M… You know what his father is like.” Alya sighed and Marinette shook her head.
“He could have fought his father’s orders. Could have said no to moving to Italy. He could have taken me with!” Marinette burst out into tears and Alya pushed her away to wipe the tears from beneath her eyes.
“You had your dreams, your shop? He didn’t want to jeopardize that. You know this. He told you.” Alya sighed and pushed her towards her vanity to brush her best friend’s hair and put it up.
“But doesn’t he know I would have given it all up for him? That I would have left it all behind just to keep him beside me?” Marinette trembled and Alya smiled at her in the mirror.
Alya gestured at Marinette with her brush. “That’s exactly why he didn’t take you. Right there. He knew you would sacrifice your happiness for his and he wouldn’t allow that. You mean too much to him, M.”
“I’m so—so angry, sad, and upset. I’m so frustrated! He’s so stubborn! You know that? He’s such a stubborn—stubborn—” Marinette struggled to find the word.
“Ass?” Alya raised an eyebrow as she brushed her best friend’s hair behind her ears to put it up into a ponytail.
“Cat!” Marinette screamed in irritation and Alya stopped doing her hair to look at her weird.
“That’s different.” Alya laughed as she went back to doing her best friend’s hair.
“FINE! An asshole kitty!” Marinette crossed her arms and Alya laughed harder.
“Is the use of cat important?” Alya crossed her arm over her chest and gestured with the brush in her hand.
“YES!” Marinette stood up and walked over to slip on the dress before sitting back down. She grabbed her make-up bag and began to pull out dark shadows and rich red lipstick. “I’m gonna find someone tonight. You’re right, Alya. It’s time.”
Alya turned away to cringe as she left to find her best friend a pair of shoes. “Uh… what if you find someone you didn’t expect there?”
“Isn’t that what I want? Someone unexpected?” Marinette brushed on dark shades of charcoal and cool greys. She began to apply her eyeliner in a short wing.
“Well, yeah but…” Alya came back out with a pair of red heels as she watched her best friend trace her lips with red lipstick.
“Then we’re fine! Let’s go!” Marinette took her heels from Alya’s hands and slipped them on as she walked towards her kitchen to grab her purse.
“Girl, wait—” Alya tried to stop her as she grabbed her own purse.
“C’mon. I’m ready. Let’s have fun!” Marinette opened her front door and gestured for Alya to walk through first.
“Okay…” Alya sighed as she took off through the door and watched Marinette close and lock the door.
Marinette spent the whole drive ranting about Adrien. Alya had just sighed and nodded to each of her stories. She had heard them all before, but she was willing to hear them again if it made Marinette feel better.
Alya pulled up to her place and Marinette peered up at the apartment building. “Nino thought it would be best to throw it at our place.”
“Why did I need to try so hard then? I could have come in my pajamas if it’s just you two.” Marinette rolled her eyes and Alya shook her head.
“I’m not letting you into our place tonight in pajamas, girl.” Alya laughed and got out of the car as Marinette did.
Alya locked her car and led Marinette to the front door. They greeted the doorman and made their way through the lobby to the stairs. They walked up to the third floor and Alya unlocked the front door.
Marinette stood behind Alya as she opened the door, hearing music playing in the background. She heard Alix’s laugh and Kim shout out a loud, ‘OH’, like he had won something.
“Did you invite everyone?” Marinette was shocked as she heard Rose giggle and Juleka’s warm voice mumble.
“Just about.” Alya winked at her and led Marinette inside.
She sighed and played with the strap on her purse as she walked in with a big smile.
“HEY… MARINETTE!” Kim called out from the couch as he sat playing the newest Ultimate Mega Strike.
“HEY!” Marinette shyly waved at Kim and suddenly was tackled by Mylene and all of the girls.
“It’s been so long!” Mylene hugged her harder and Marinette giggled.
“It’s so nice to see you all!” Marinette laughed harder as she hugged them all, one at a time.
She giggled and sighed when the girls let her go. Her gaze ran across the room to the kitchen where Nino was making drinks for everyone. She waved with a warm smile until she looked over a bit further to see a familiar back. One that she had known for years.
He was wearing a navy tee that fit him loosely, but the sleeves hugged his biceps and triceps. His jeans were tight and low sitting with a black leather belt, that were rolled a little at the bottom. He was wearing reddish-brown military style boots that were made to have that worn look. His hair was up in a small bun. He had clearly grown it out more since they had seen one another. A black leather thick banded watch sat on his left wrist, and a pair of brown leather bracelets sat on his right. He lifted a drink to his lips and slightly turned his head, showing off his smirk that she missed more than she thought she did. She swallowed hard as his silver miraculous caught the light and she wondered if Plagg was hiding in his shirt.
“Marinette?” Alya tried to bring her back to reality as she got lost in Adrien. “Nino thought it would be nice to invite him.”
Marinette’s heart was racing so hard, she couldn’t even hear Alya. She licked her lips and nearly tripped as she began to walk towards the kitchen island without thinking. Tears welled in her eyes as she walked up to him with her hands in front of her. She worried them together and peered down at her feet as she lifted a shaky hand. She awkwardly poked Adrien’s shoulder and watched him choke on his drink and nearly spill his glass.
“Mari?” Adrien suddenly stood up, nearly knocking her over as he panicked. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her back towards himself to steady her. She gasped as her hand hit his chest. “I’m sorry. I—I didn’t mean to knock you over.” He took his hands off her and she blushed as he stepped back from her.
“It’s—it’s cool-slaw. Cool. Oh my god!” Marinette flung her hands over her eyes to hide her embarrassment. “I’m sorbly, SORRY!”
Adrien softly chuckled and took her hand, “C’mon. I want to talk to you.”
“O-okay…” Marinette sighed before she squeaked when he suddenly yanked her towards the balcony.
Marinette felt his fingers slide from hers as he walked up to the black iron railing. He placed his folded arms on it as he peered up at the moon. “I’m really sorry that I left Paris.”
“You didn’t just leave… Paris, Chaton. You left France. You left me!” Marinette walked up behind him as she let her emotions go.
“I know. I know I did.” Adrien sighed as he reached up to undo his bun, letting his hair fall around his shoulders. “I was foolish. Too young. Thought I had to listen to my father.”
Marinette sighed as she placed her folded arms on the railing beside his. “Always did. But I could have gone with you to Italy. I would have loved to go with you to Italy.”
“I know. I know. But, bugaboo—” Adrien slowly reached into his shirt and pulled out a necklace. “—I knew you had a lot you wanted to get done. You had a shop—a life. You had dreams and moving to Italy wouldn’t have helped you.”
Marinette peered over at him and shoved him in the bicep, not paying attention to what he was playing with between his fingertips. “Stupid Chat! I could have opened a shop in Italy! It doesn’t have to be in France! It could be online, it could be in Milan, hell it could be—” She suddenly widened her eyes as he placed his index finger over her lips.
“I know. But your friends wouldn’t be there to cheer you on. Your parents wouldn’t be there. Your place is here. Not there. I didn’t want you to give up everything for me. I know you, M’Lady. You’d have sacrificed your happiness for mine and I don’t want that.” Adrien weakly smiled at her and flipped the item between his fingers.
“Why are you here?” Marinette sniffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Why’d you come back?”
“Nino told me… about how you’ve been. And…” Adrien rubbed the back of his neck as he nervously looked down and away from them. “I haven’t been the best without you either.”
“My heart is a wreck, my mind is a wreck, my life is a wreck, my apartment is a wreck. Adrien, tell me how yours can look any worse.” Marinette desperately spoke as she flung her hands down onto the railing.
“Well…” Adrien went to answer when a shadow burst from his shirt.
“It’s bad. The kid has done nothing but drink, smoke, and play video games for years. There are take-out boxes all over his coffee table and don’t get me started on all of his Ladybug Merc—” Plagg was interrupted by Adrien shoving a piece of camembert into his mouth.
“That’s enough out of you.” Adrien glared at his kwami and sighed as he turned to lean against the railing with his back. “Look, it’s bad. He’s not lying. I wish he was. It’s fine. Look, I’m really, really, sorry that I broke your heart. I’m sorry that I left. I’m sorry that I didn’t ask if you wanted to give up everything to go with me.”
“Adrien…” Marinette walked up to Adrien and placed her hands onto his chest, causing him to peer down at her shocked. She punched him on his left pec, and he groaned and went to grab her wrist. “Stupid cat!”
“I know. I deserve this.” Adrien groaned again as she stepped on his foot. “Look, beat me up all you want, princess. I know I deserve it.”
Marinette grabbed his shirt in her fists and pulled herself towards him, burying her face into his shirt. “I missed you! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH! AND IT HURT! AND—AND—” She burst into sobs and Adrien wrapped his arms around her, letting her fall apart. “WHY?”
“I told you why.” Adrien’s voice came out exhausted as he felt her tugging his shirt, choking him slightly.
“No… why Ladybug merchandise? If you hated me, why did you buy it?” Marinette peered up at him with swollen red eyes.
“It…” Adrien reached up to rub the back of his neck with his hand, “... it wasn’t just Ladybug merch. I bought—um… I bought a lot from your clothing line. Like more than half… my wardrobe at home is yours.”
Marinette pulled away from him and looked over his blue shirt again. She grabbed the hem and examined the stitching, searching for her name embroidered along the edge. She found it on the side of the shirt, plain as day.
She burst out into laughing sobs and slapped him in the chest. “You’re… PawsomePrinceCharming?”
“Would you expect any less?” Adrien smirked and raised an arm to flex his bicep.
“No, nope. Not now.” Marinette burst out laughing and hit her head against his chest. “Ridiculous.”
Adrien burst out laughing and reached down to touch her chin, bringing her gaze up to his. “Hey.”
“Hm?” Marinette lowered her lashes as he grazed her chin with his thumb.
“I’m sorry that I hurt you. I’m sorry that I made the decision for you. I’m sorry that I left. I should never have left. I should have put my foot down.” Adrien nuzzled the top of her head with his nose, breathing in her strawberry shampoo. She still smelled slightly like freshly baked pastries. “Stress baking again, bugaboo?”
“Oh God… you don’t wanna see my kitchen.” Marinette rolled her eyes and thought of all the pastries, cakes, and cookies that were in it.
“If what lies in it smells as good as you do? I want in.” Adrien smiled and heard her burst out laughing.
“Maybe later.” Marinette sighed and Adrien searched her gaze.
“I miss your baking.” Adrien sighed and warmly smiled at her.
“I miss your dumb puns.” Marinette softly giggled.
“My dumb puns, huh?” Adrien thought for a moment. “It’s been a while but... “
“Oh no…” Marinette groaned and laughed as she realized what she had done.
“Life is how you bake it. All you knead is love.” Adrien smirked and Marinette burst out into a fit of giggles, ripping her chin from his fingertips. Adrien bit his tongue and touched her chin again. “Hey.” He brought her gaze back up to his. He lowered his lashes and smiled at her with love filled eyes. “Do you loaf me? Because I knead you.”
Marinette gasped and didn’t laugh at his last pun. “Really?”
“I never stopped, Marinette. I can’t not loaf you,” Adrien teased, and Marinette groaned at his pun. “But in seriousness. I really never stopped loving you, princess.”
“I never stopped either. I missed you, a lot.” Marinette sighed as she gave in to her feelings.
“I missed you too.” Adrien leaned down to kiss her when she placed her finger on his lips.
“You’re not going to run away, are you?” Marinette raised an eyebrow at him.
Adrien softly chuckled and shook her head. “Never again.”
“Good, because I won’t have you leaven me again.” Marinette heard him burst out laughing harder. “Now mew can kiss me.”
“Who said I was gonna kiss mew?” Adrien threw it back at her and she feigned being upset.
“Shut up and kiss me.” Marinette reached up, wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and yanked him down.
Adrien brushed his lips against hers and the spark ignited between them. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss as he dipped her back. She clung to his body as she got lost in him. It was like the rest of the world didn’t matter. Everything fell away around them, but them. She sighed and he broke the kiss with a warm smile.
“Remember how I found out who you were?” Adrien smirked and Marinette rolled her eyes.
“Don’t remind me…” Marinette groaned at how embarrassing it was.
“Oh? I think I should. C’mon Marinette… It’s cute!” Adrien leaned forward to wiggle his nose against hers, causing her to press against his chest to push him away.
“It’s so embarrassing!” Marinette giggled as he stood her up straight and she ran away from him.
She ran back into the party with him chasing her. “C’mon Marinette….”
“NO!” She squealed as he chased her around the island, causing Nino to move out of the way.
Alya raised her eyebrow and watched the two adults slam their hands on the island, smiling at one another. Each one darted one way to the other, laughing hard as they challenged one another.
“I don’t want to talk about it….” Marinette whined as she squealed when he raced around and almost caught her.
She took off into a guest bedroom and she put the bed between them.
“Now what are you gonna do?” Adrien teased as he panted and stared at her through his messy hair.
“Keep this bed between us.” Marinette panted and squealed as he got onto the bed and began to crawl across it like he used to as Chat. “Don’t… you… dar...RE!” She screamed as he pounced and picked her up, shoving her against the wall of the bedroom. She giggled and squealed as she wrapped her legs around his hips and held on with her arms around his neck. He nibbled on her neck and pulled away to brush the strands of her dark hair that had come loose and fallen to frame her face. “You're dangerous, you know that?”
“Mm-hm… So, I’ve heard millions of times from a certain girl.” Adrien smirked at her and she leaned down to kiss him.
“Really dangerous.” She brushed her lips against his as he pinned her against the wall.
“Dangerous is my middle name.” Adrien purred against her soft lips.
“You have too many names. You have five.” Marinette picked on him between kisses and heard him laugh.
“Not my fault my parents gave me a long ass name. You have two last names, gorgeous.” Adrien picked on her back and heard her giggle and gasp as he suddenly hiked her up more. “We should go out there before they start to wonder.”
“We should… stay here so they do.” Marinette bit her bottom lip and felt his body shake with laughter.
“You’re the dangerous one. Not me.” Adrien poked her on the tip of her nose. “Forget me being dangerous.”
“Always could tempt you.” Marinette giggled and Adrien groaned.
“Always the tease.”
“Yeah…” Marinette peered off to the side before she suddenly locked her gaze with his. “But you loved the chase.”
“That—I—did. And—” Adrien pulled her from the wall and turned to throw her onto the bed with her beneath himself. “—I still do, Bugaboo.” He suddenly rolled his hips between her thighs as he kissed her hard on the lips, causing her to grip his shirt and moan.
She ran her fingers along his chest and felt something round beneath his shirt. Marinette slowly peered up at him and he sighed as she reached up higher, finding the dainty silver chain around his neck. She slowly fished it from his shirt and watched the circular object fall from the collar of his shirt. Marinette’s lips parted and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
“You put it on a chain?” Marinette examined her engagement ring and Adrien sighed again.
He swallowed hard and took it from her hand, putting it back into his shirt. “I did.”
“Why?” Marinette watched him roll off of her and lay down beside her. She rolled onto her side and watched him bend a knee and put a hand behind his head, pulling the ring out to peer at it.
“Because—” Adrien cleared his throat and licked is lips as he tried to think of why. “Actually, I have something for you.”
“What?” Marinette sat up as she watched him reach into his back pocket. “What is it?”
“This might explain where my head has been for the past few years.” Adrien passed her a small black leather journal.
Marinette grabbed it with a shaking hand. “You kept a journal?”
“I did to keep my sanity. You don’t have to read it now, but—your ring gave me hope and… I missed you. I keep it close to my heart and one day…” Adrien ran his hand through his hair. “I was hoping that you would want it back?”
Marinette hugged his journal in her arms as she peered down and let her tears fall down. “I’m sorry.”
Adrien rolled over to brush her tears from her cheeks. “It’s okay, Bugaboo.”
“No, I—” Marinette suddenly straddled his hips and touched his face. She leaned down and rubbed her nose against his. “—I wasn’t saying I’m sorry like I would never put it on again. I wasn’t saying I’m sorry like I didn’t want you. I always want you.”
Adrien wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against himself. “I figured you were saying sorry for crying, but now I—”
“I WAS! I was saying sorry for falling apart on you. Sorry because it made my heart panic that you still carried it around on you because it was cute and sad, but so cute! And—and—” Marinette burst out into tears again and he held her close and ran his fingers through her hair.
“Mari?” Adrien watched her look up at him. “It’s really okay. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I want my ring back. I mean—” She slapped her hand over her mouth and blushed.
Adrien softly chuckled and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “Always did blurt out your true feelings. Your filtering was never good.”
“Yeah well, you always flirted without thinking.” Marinette picked on him and he burst out laughing harder.
“You’re not wrong.” Adrien laughed and reached behind his head to undo the necklace.
“What are you doing?” Marinette panicked as he slipped the chain around her neck and fastened it.
“There. I don’t need it when I have you in my arms and—” Adrien gripped her chin and leaned up to kiss her, “—it’s back where it belongs.”
Song that inspired this: