The stars clustered throughout the dark blanket overhead. Off in the distance, the glow of the city could be seen. Two figures sat side by side on a tiled roof, just starring up at the night sky.
"Do you ever miss it?" A petite young woman with dark hair dressed in black sweat pants and an oversized white t-shirt turned to look at the blonde man that sat next to her. He turned his attention to her, and his green eyes stared into her blue ones.
"Honestly?" He thought for a moment, then stretched, wrinkling the white dress shirt and grey suit pants he wore. He made the movement a smooth transition to placing his head in her lap. "We're both sitting on a roof in the middle of the night. I think we both do."
"Yes, but do you miss all the other stuff?" She looked down at him. He smiled up at her.
"I can definitely say I prefer how things are now, My Lady." His smile shifted into a mischievous grin as she began stroking under his chin.
"Seems like my kitty is getting a bit scruffy." She teased.
"My PR manager wants to go with a more rugged look." He rolled his eyes. "Apparently, he thinks I'll do better as a 'Bad Boy'." He threw his fingers up in quotes at the label.
"If only they knew how little that actually describes you." She replied lightly. "Not sure that I like it though."
"I didn't complain when you cut off your pigtails." He countered from his prone position.
"It's hard to be taken seriously in the fashion industry when you keep the same hairstyle you had in high school." She placed her finger on the tip of his nose. "Still, why are they going for the 'Bad Boy' look with you anyway?"
He frowned a bit at her question.
"It's not like you've allowed me to go public with our relationship, despite my protests." He pointed out. "Being considered a trade magazine's 'Most Eligible Bachelor' doesn't necessarily lend itself to the image of a proper gentleman."
"Adrien," Her voice got serious. "I want to make my own way in the fashion industry. You're so tied to Agreste Designs, I don't want people to think that I only made it because of my connection to you."
Adrien sat up in an attempt to get on her level.
"Which doesn't explain why you declined the offer of an internship, only to go with a lower end company." He looked at her hard.
"Lyon Creations is your biggest competitor, it's not that low-end." She countered. "Besides, if we were to go public now, what about when I try to get a job?"
"Marinette, I've been waiting three years." He tilted his head. "And I'll continue to wait as long as you need it, but I'd rather be walking around with you on my arm as well as hanging out on a roof all night."
She smiled at him and punched his shoulder. It had been three years. Three years since they defeated Papillion and their powers went dormant. It had been a very tough time for her. Due to her refusal to reveal themselves to each other, they had parted ways without knowing who the other was, and without saying goodbye.
Losing Tikki and Chat in the same night had put an incredible weight on her soul. Marinette couldn't confide in anyone and felt like she was left to suffer in loneliness. Adrien had offered her unexpected comfort while dealing with the loss. She thought he understood what she was dealing with due to his mother's disappearance. Neither of them realized they were dealing with the same problem for some time.
It had been Adrien that figured it all out first. After revealing his own identity to her, they were able to more openly confide in and console each other. Outside of their separation, there had been a lot of trauma to deal with from their years as teenage superheroes that they hadn't been able talk to anyone else about. The people in their lives saw them creating a deep friendship, but the two never officially dated. They would go on group dates, but no public shows of affection.
Outside of the public eye, the two were inseparable. They were partners and best friends in every aspect of life. Adrien had spent so much time at her parent's house that it felt weirder when he wasn't there. He even had his own room in their home. Her parents had practically adopted him, but never pushed them about their relationship. Even on the odd occasion that he would end up slipping into her room at night so that he could be closer to her.
Without the distraction of being Ladybug, Marinette had become focused on her career and wanted to prove that she could do it on her own talent and tenacity. When she asked him if he would be okay with keeping their relationship private, he simply smiled and said he would always follow her lead.
After finishing school, Adrien had become the public face for Agreste Designs. Gabriel Agreste's reclusive habits in the past had done a lot to damage the reputation of the family company. Adrien now did all official interviews and public appearances that would have normally been put off by his father. He even had an entire team dedicated to his public persona. His modeling career had prepared him for dealing with the public, but he worked mostly on the business end of it all, now.
He supported her in every way and she had no idea what she even brought into their relationship, but thanked her lucky stars that they had found each other.
"Speaking of internships." She said. "It wouldn't look good if I were late on the first day."
"So you're going to just leave me out in the cold?" He pouted in her direction.
"Silly kitty," she stood up and offered her hand to him. "Don't you need to make an appearance at the mansion tonight?"
He took her hand to stand, then used it to pull her towards him. He wrapped his hands around her waist and brought his lips down to hers. When he pulled away he looked into her eyes as he kept his forehead against hers.
"Not like there's anyone there to see me." He said. "I'd rather be here with you."
Marinette just smiled and extricated herself from his arms. She walked over to the open skylight a few feet away. She disappeared through it, and when he didn't follow she popped her head out.
"Coming, mon chaton?" She grinned even wider as he ran in her direction. She ducked out of the way as he jumped through the opening and landed on the bed directly below it.
Marinette stepped back up to close the skylight, then turned to look at him.
"Are you trying to wake the downstairs neighbors?" She chided.
"I still don't know why you won't let me get you a bigger place in the city. This tiny flat is not worthy of your presence." He said through pouty lips. "It's also pretty far from where you're interning."
"Yeah, well, it's what a third-year fashion student can afford." She said.
"Your bed is in the kitchen." He replied flatly. "You're lucky the bathroom is walled in."
"And how much cooking do I do?" Marinette said before slipping into the mentioned bathroom.
Adrien stretched out on the mattress and kicked off his shoes. Marinette stepped out of the bathroom and looked at him lying on the bed.
"There is no way I'm letting you fall asleep in a designer shirt that you have to wear out of here tomorrow." She pointed at him and marched over. He just lay there grinning as she began unbuttoning the shirt. She was very methodical, as she reached the last button she stood back and beckoned with her hand. "Hand it over."
He pouted and sat up to remove it. He handed it over and was left wearing the white undershirt. He then reached down and stripped off his pants. Leaving only a pair of black boxers. He balled them up and threw them all at her.
"That wasn't nearly as enjoyable as it should have been." He pouted.
"I'm tired, and now I'm getting up earlier to make sure your clothes are in proper order for tomorrow." She hung the items in a depression in the wall that acted as her closet.
"Will you at least do me the honor of giving you a ride to your first day?" He asked. "It is on my way."
"I don't see any harm in that." She approached the bed and slid under the sheets. Adrien let her get comfortable before laying down and wrapping himself around her. He cradled her head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat relaxing her to sleep led to her steady breathing that did the same for him.