Man I was tired, I don't think I could even look at a pen for the next week. Nouveau Paris couldn't get enough MDCD's, the fan name for my designs. My sketchbooks sold for thousands sometimes but I don't think I could keep it up. Fashion had lost its passion. I had pretty much everything I had dreamed of, a successful career in fashion design, respect, confidence, a fiance who loved me. A date with him tonight. Then why was I here? In a seedy bar on the edge of Nouveau Paris, now known as the city of miracles?I knew why. The reason was all around me. In the statue outside city hall, in the fact that red and black were still the trending colours even after 6 years, in the fact that even now, nobody ever knew who any of us were. The Masked War they called it. I missed it. I missed the warm Paris air rushing past my face. I missed the tingle on my skin as I transformed. I missed the pride I felt helping people. Most of all I missed him. His green eyes, his carefree love of his duty, even his puns sometimes. I took another sip of my drink and stared at the wall, immaculately dressed and alone in a bar.
Someone sits three stools down from me and orders a drink. I pay them little heed and lean back to stare at the ceiling
"Hey, you're that kid model. Something or other's son. What was his name? Gabe something something?" Model. Gabe. I react tiredly and turn my head to see who the bartender was talking too. The person in the stool groans.
"Please don't mention my father. Gabriel and I went our own ways years ago. That Adrien is long dead" Oh my god. Either this drink is stronger than I think or the universe is cruel. There was no mistaking it though, that ring on his finger was unmistakable. He notices my dread stare.
"What? If you wanna stare at me, go buy one of my old magazines. I look better there." His eyes narrow in scrutiny. "Either this drink is stronger than I think or the universe is cruel." Oh god, I'm not hallucinating.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Who would've thought I'd see you here," he chuckles under his breath.
"It's been a while." I stare into my drink.
"It sure has, bugaboo." He smiles at his little callback. I on the other hand, was not pleased.
"Please don't call me that." I hold my head in my hands, I was not ready for those memories right now.
"I thought you'd be happier than you are, how does it feel to be the one people fawn over now?" There was just a hint of cynicism in his voice. Meh, I'll make light of it.
"Now I see why you never liked people talking about you as a celebrity." I laughed lightly, it really had been too long. Even though I'd given up chasing him long ago, simply hadn't been worth the stress, I still felt relaxed in his presence.
"So what have you been up to these past six years? I saw you on billboards still for bit then never again." All I knew was that he'd tried to continue his modelling career. To no avail apparently.
"Well uh…" He started rambling quickly, failure had made him boastful. I guess maybe that was actually the cat in him coming out. Made sense; he didn't have to keep those parts separate anymore. My suspicions were confirmed when he made a pun which I couldn't help but laugh at.
"I'd ask where you've been, but it gets detailed daily in every tabloid ever." His eyes still sparkled like they used to, his hair still flowed like it did in the high-altitude winds. But it's not the same though, he lost his charm. I reckoned I could still make him look good in black though, maybe a leather belt. Who was I kidding, he set that trend.
"I guess it is isn't it? I never realised how tiresome fame can be." I flopped onto the counter. He'd made it seem easy, flaunting around, somehow never letting it go to his head. He had asked to go to school for crying out loud.
"I heard about your engagement. Congratulations." His congratulations seemed empty. Maybe it was a hint of jealousy?
"Uhh, thanks." Quick, change the subject. "Are you and Nino still in contact?" That sounded casual right?
"Surprisingly enough, yeah. He's in the underground DJ scene these days, not doing too bad for himself from what I hear. Still sensitive about Alya though." That had been a rough breakup hadn't it. "How is she these days actually?"
"Argh, I barely see her these days. We're still officially 'friends' (I even do the air quotes) but I'm just so busy that I can't tell you a thing about her. She continues to blog about me though, Red Fox Fashion it is these days. Honestly, I don't even read it. I can't bring myself to do it and not see her." Oh man this night just got better and better.
"You miss it don't you?" Of course he could tell. Of all the things he'd missed, he had to finally see this one. "I see that longing in your eyes."
"Yeah… you're right. I do miss it. I miss the respect I got. I miss the exhilaration I got when I cried those magic words. It was cheesy but I loved it. I still wear the earrings." I gestures to my earlobes where the two black circles sit, spotless.
"You're not alone, I still find myself buying camembert on occasion. I've done it so often that I've actually acquired a taste for the stuff. Also," He held up his ringed right hand. "Feel no shame, we all do, Nino treats it as a lucky charm (How ironic) and I've seen Alya wearing hers in photos. She got hot, you know?" I chuckled nervously.
"Uhh, yeah I guess she did." Actually, thinking about it she had. Or maybe I'd just gotten an eye for these things more. I guess my aged eye just didn't see people in the same way anymore. Adrien's boyish looks just didn't do it for me anymore. "Are you trying to tell me something?" As far as I remembered, he'd somehow managed to stay single throughout Collége. Probably his father's influence I supposed.
He nearly choked on his drink and pauses for a moment. "Actually I'm with someone", you might remember her. Chloe from school" No. Freaking. Way. My worst nightmare coming true. How? Well it makes sense. They both dropped off the radar after school, both experiencers of fame that had lost it. How had I not seen it coming? Obviously, he notices the look of dread on my face and starts to laugh.
"I'm just kidding. God, she was clawful. Even after becoming Queen Bee she still stung." Nope. The first pun was ok but this was too much.
"Adrien… I could barely handle them when we were kids. I don't think I can sit with you if you're gonna keep making puns this bad." Despite my physical pain from this pun, I started laughing.
"Puns are all I got left now. In truth, I dated a few people on and off but nothing stuck. I was supposed to be on a date tonight but I got stood up." Oh god. I'm doing that to Spencer aren't I? He's probably just waiting there for me. I should tell Adrien. I should go. But I won't. I'm too nervous. I'd got over my stammer for any situation vaguely romantic with the help of therapy but that wasn't the reason. This would be our first date since our engagement and I was still overwhelmed by his proposal. The ruby and onyx ring sat on my finger and the memory makes it weigh a ton. What if this didn't work out? What if we weren't meant for each other? Calm, Marinette, calm. That's one of the techniques the psych had taught me. Deep breaths. But there was my first love sitting, in front of me. I slap myself, I can't be doing this to myself
"Uhh… Marinette?" Oh wait I slapped myself. For real. Idiot.
"Uhhhhh… there was a- uhh- what's that thing that flies around?" Oh god I was stammering again. You're better than this. Deep breaths.
"A fly?" Oh yeah. Whoops
"Yeah, that, heheh." I feel myself blush. This isn't right. I'm going to have to aren't I? Do the one thing my psych had said to do that I hadn't. Deep breaths.
"Actually Adrien, there's something I should have said to you 10 years ago, in the rain." Crap I still had his umbrella. Nevermind that it's speech time.
"Back then I liked you. Like, like liked you. A lot. I found you fascinating, like, 'how can one boy be this amazing'. Eventually I started seeing you as a normal person and that helped, but you were a major part of my life for most of collége. You were the reason for my stutter and nervousness." I let out a bloody massive sigh, my shoulders slipped back and my whole body fell into a comfortable position. The truth felt good and I was proud of how I said it. I nodded to myself slowly. Adrien, on the other hand, stared with dead eyes at a spot on the wall.
"I'm sorry." He sounded sincere, like, genuinely sad. I frown on one corner of my mouth and look sideways at him.
"It's alright, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. You inspired me to follow my dream as a fashion designer." That was mostly true. About 90%. 75%.
"That's not just it. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you earlier that I felt the same way for Ladybug. I'm over it too but that's not the point." He took another slow sip, the truth affecting him differently.
So he was genuine in his advances. "God you feel guilty about everything don't you?"
"Everything." He let out a breathy laugh. "But I regret nothing. You will though, if you don't go to your date tonight." He knew? Goddamnit. I laid my head in my hands and groan.
"How'd you know?" He was right, though.
"Call it a cat's intuition. Also I follow your instagram." I'd never even noticed. "Now go, he's been waiting too long already." I reached for my bag and slowly stand but stop halfway.
"Let's do this again sometime." I slid a card across the counter, smiling gently. Despite the confusion and confession, I was glad to see him again. I truly was. He took it and tucked it in his pocket before pausing and extending a fist. I knew what he meant. I bumped it with my own, this time without gloves.
"Pound it." The timing was habitual, wired into our brains after 5 years and over 100 battles.
"Now go have fun with whatever his name is. He's a lucky man to have you, so make sure he knows that." He fell back into a sheepish slump and I remember that day 10 years ago. I grab his shoulder and kiss his cheek lightly, I couldn't help myself.
"See ya round kitty." I waved goodbye and left, clutching the ring on my finger lovingly.
A/N: Oh man I love this universe. This was meant to be a one-shot but I might write more stuff in this timeline. In fact, I might even do a full reunion thing of all 5 (or maybe 7) depending on how this season goes. In terms of my other work, Not Me Chapter 5 (The last one!) should be up by the end of the weekend, maybe a little longer but then I reckon I'll take a break for a bit. Hope you guys like this! It was based off the song Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John, at least loosely. It's also the first one I've done entirely from Mari's perspective, so it's unexplored territory. Please leave a review! Any feedback is good feedback. G, out!