Thunder rumbled across the sky, deep and loud and angry. The few people before picking up their pace, probably out of fear of lightning. Anyone who was unlucky enough to be out in wet and humid weather were doing their best to huddle underneath umbrella's in a hope to keep dry. Their steps were quick yet tentative in order to get to their destination without stepping in too many puddles.
Amidst the pattering raindrops and hustling pedestrians, one girl took her time. She didn't have an umbrella, her midnight blue hair catching raindrops freely. Her face was turned towards the sky, smile lighting up her pale features. Marinette took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders further. All week the weather had been cloudy and grey, promising rain and she couldn't believe her luck that it decided to pour on her day off. At the moment she was enjoying the storm, the smell and feeling of water droplets helping to calm and clear her mind as usual.
Marinette had always loved the rain, ever since that fateful day of golden sunshine and bright laughter. No matter how much her parents or her friends fussed and insisted they couldn't keep her out of the rain and they couldn't get her to take an umbrella. It was her belief that with the rain came luck and all sorts of good things. First love, then an invitation to fashion week, an offer for an internship, graduation from the top design school in the country, the start of her own business, not to mention all of the other little successes and happy moments in between. Today was no different. The air just held something magical and Marinette couldn't wait to find out what it would bring.
Taking a detour down a side street, Marinette soon found herself at the Seine, looking over the bridge with its padlocks of love into the turbulent water below. Another rumble of thunder sounded and the designer looked up to catch sight of one of the lampposts, barely visible. She studied the scene for a moment or two until the inspiration started flooding in.
Glancing around she found a nearby street corner with an overhang. She quickly made her way over, only taking a second or two to wring out some of the water from her soaked person, before she turned to her bag that rested at her hip.
The bag was canvas, specially designed to be completely waterproof so that her work could stay safe and dry while she went on her rainy day adventures. The first pocket held a hand towel, which Marinette grabbed and used to dry off a little bit more. Next was a slightly bigger pocket, usually holding cookies for the small being that resided inside. This one Marinette opened and Tiki gratefully flew out. The kwami smiled sweetly, sure that they were alone and she wouldn't be spotted, and settled herself on Marinette's shoulder now that the girl was out of the rain. Finally, in the main and biggest pocket, was Marinette's sketchbook. The girl carefully took it out, making sure she didn't drip any water on it. A full breath filled her lungs as kind of a stabilizer before she dived into drawing. It wasn't long before the ping-ponging and jumbled ideas began to come to life on the page.
Soon swooping lines took the form of a dress, simple with an innocent flirty vibe. The bodice was simple, nothing to adorn it, swooping down to connect to a slight circle skirt, both black in color. Where they attached Marinette added a small belt, tiny heart shaped padlocks adorning it, all in a soft shade of pink. She also added three-quarter length trumpet sleeves, in the same soft pink to complete the dress.
Once the dress was finished, Marinette didn't stop. Her creativity was still running high and so she proceeded to design matching accessories. Drawing them she envisioned black metal for the chains and pink padlock hearts to dangle off. In a matter of moments Marinette had a pair of earrings, a necklace, a charm bracelet, and even a pair of black high heeled boots designed to accompany her earlier outfit.
Marinette leaned back to admire her work. It was a rough sketch and she knew that she still needed to figure out the details, such as fabric type and where to get the locks, but she was proud. It captured the essence of Paris and she couldn't wait to make it come alive even more. If that was the only thing that happened on that rainy day, Marinette would be perfectly content with the outcome of the day.
"Marinette." Tiki's voice reminded the designer that she had company. "You better get going if you don't want to be late."
The kwami held up Marinette's phone so she could look at the time. She gasped and quickly sprang into action, putting away her sketchbook and holding the bag open for Tiki to hide inside.
"I'm going to be late. Tiki, why didn't you tell me earlier that so much time had passed?"
Tiki giggled. "You were so focused I didn't want to interrupt. Besides, I didn't notice until just now as well."
Marinette smiled before closing the bag and stepping back out into the rain. She considered trying to hail a taxi but thought better of it. It would take too long and Marinette didn't want to give up the chance to enjoy every second of that day. So she instead hurried on her way down the street. A few blocks later the rain began to come down harder. Marinette stopped in surprise, glancing up into the falling water. A laugh escaped and soon she was laughing as she continued on her way, making sure to run through every puddle she possibly could.
By the time she reached the cafe where she was supposed to meet Nino and Alya she was completely drenched and had started to shiver slightly but she could hardly care. Reaching for the door handle she found herself swept up inside, laughter still spilling from her lips as the warmth and smell of coffee enveloped her.
"Ms. Dupain-Cheng, you are making a mess on my floor."
Monsieur Pierre, the cafe owner, came rushing up to her, a towel in his hand. His tone and words suggested annoyance and frustration but his smile and the laughter in his eyes told a different story. He had long ago gotten used to Marinette's soaking wet entrances and had learned to take it in stride, towels on hand for a quick clean up. As Monsieur Pierre put it when the bluenette kept apologizing time and time again, a little water was a small price to pay for the designer's company and customer status. So Marinette just returned the friendly grin and accepted the towel he held out to her.
"How's business today Monsieur Pierre?" She began drying herself off as she waited for the answer.
"Slow. The rain hit too early for many people to already be out on the streets. Most have stayed inside and away. But I know I can always count on you no matter what the weather." He sent a wink her way, tossing another towel over her head. "Your friends are in the usual spot. I'll clean up your mess and have your order out in just a moment."
Marinette chuckled again as she made her way to the back corner, going by memory since the towel was till over her head and she was using it to dry her hair. "Thanks Monsieur Pierre."
As she got closer to the booth she could hear Nino and Alya laughing with a third person. They must have brought along a friend, she thought. Trying to set me up with someone again based on the sound. The laugh was quite deep and rich, bringing to mind tall, dark, and handsome.
"That's a special kind of drowned rat if I ever saw one," the unknown third party said loud and clear. "What kind of people are you guys breeding in Paris these days?"
Marinette stood frozen to the spot, the towel still over her head, not quite sure how to react. Nino and Alya had gone silent, probably for the same reason, and Marinette could just imagine the looks of shock and disbelief on their faces. Because the voice was familiar, one Marinette would be able to pinpoint anywhere, but the words and the tone were not. In fact, they were complete opposites and never should belong together, especially not directed towards her.
A strangled cough escaped, breaking the weird standstill that had settled over them and spurring Marinette into motion. Her hands fumbled to remove the towel, a sudden urge to see the person who spoke, to make sure she wasn't just hearing things. The cloth slipped from her eyes, falling to the floor in a forgotten heap. Marinette stared in wide-eyed surprise at the person she was presented with. Reclining casually, looking for all the world as if he had always been there, blond hair styled just so and green eyes shining, was the one person Marinette never thought she would see again.
While Marinette stood there gaping like a fish, the evil and self satisfied smirk slowly slid into a look of shock with a pang of conscious induced sheepishness as the man recognized her and realized his mistake. Luckily for him the bluenette hardly noticed as her mind was occupied by one thought and one thought only.
Adrien Agreste was back.