Won't let you go
Chapter 3
Sunday afternoon couldn't come quickly enough. Marinette was nervous but she had set everything up to allow herself several free hours as long as Hawkmoth didn't interfere. She didn't like lying but she had become good at making up stories to throw people off her path since receiving her miraculous earrings. Because of this, both Alya and her parents had been given reasons and excuses for her not spending time with them that afternoon.
She left her house after lunch as planned and walked a few blocks away before ducking into an alleyway and emerging onto the rooftops as Ladybug. It only took her 2 minutes to reach the Agreste mansion after that. As expected she found Adrien's window wide open for her. She dropped inside and found him waiting for her.
"You came!" The smile that lit Adrien's face was breathtaking. He clicked off his tv and met her in the middle of the floor.
"As promised." She said. It was hard not to squeal in excitement that she was here and he was happy about it and she got to spend her afternoon with Adrien!
"I started to plan out all sorts of things for us to do but then I realized I don't know what you like or how you want to spend your free time so I don't have anything specific to do. So tell me, what would you like to do?"
Ladybug looked around the large room. Climbing wall, books, skate ramp, computer, tv and gaming system... She smirked at him with a glint in her eye. Time for a rematch!
"Do you like Ultimate Mecha Strike III?" She asked as if she didn't know already.
"I love It! Do you want to play?" He asked excitedly.
"Love to." She sat down on the couch while he turned on the system and handed her a controller.
An hour later Adrien groaned in defeat again while Ladybug smiled.
"How did you get so good at this?" He asked. They had played several rounds of the game and he had only won twice.
"That's one of my many secrets." She teased.
"I'd like to know all your secrets." Adrien murmured while studying her face.
"We'll have to see about that. But for now just know that I was taught well."
"I suppose that will have to do. Ok. So you are a gorgeous crime fighting superhero who is great at video games. But can you play an instrument?" He asked.
Ladybug blushed at his compliment and then nodded. "I spent 3 years learning violin when I was younger but haven't played in quite a while. You?"
"Piano. I've had lessons since I was 8."
"Favorite food?" She asked.
"Anything from the Dupain-Cheng bakery." He said.
She remembered how he loved the food her parents gave them last time they played this video game together at her house. He had mentioned it at school a few times since she but didn't know he liked it that much.
"Cake. Any kind of cake for me." She told him.
"I like this. I like getting to know you better." He said.
"Me too." She agreed.
"People think they know me because of the modeling thing. But very few people actually take time to talk and get to know me. Do you ever feel that way as Ladybug? That people guess about your life without asking you?"
"Sometimes. But I have my regular life too. And I promise you that no one there would imagine I could be Ladybug. I'm pretty normal and boring."
"You aren't boring to me."
"You say that now. But you would have no reason to pay attention to me if I weren't this." She gestured to herself and the costume.
"I'd like to hope differently but people can be blind sometimes. We miss things that are right in front of us. Or we don't pay attention to the people we should." Adrien looked sad as his train of thought led him away.
"Who doesn't give you the attention you need? Your dad?" she guessed.
Adrien nodded his head. "He left for a trip today after lunch. We always eat together on Sunday but we don't exactly talk. He's on a plane to Milan right now for the week. And if you asked him what I'm doing he wouldn't have a clue. I don't think he would believe me if I told him the truth either. Sorry. You don't want to hear this."
"Yes I do." Ladybug reached out and placed her hand over his where it rested on the couch between them. Adrien's eyes lifted to meet hers.
"You make me forget how lonely I am." He said and he meant it. Both as Adrien and Cat Noir, she made his life better. More like a real life: the kind he had always wanted.
"I don't want you to be lonely." She said.
Adrien leaned toward her closing the distance between them and gave her a small sweet kiss. He didn't pull back immediately and she took a quick breath before leaning a bit and kissing him back.
When they parted they sat back a little, looking at each other. Then they began to giggle. Adrien leaned his head back on the couch and sighed.
"I must be dreaming. This is too good to be true." He said and turned his head to look at her. She nodded in agreement as she contained her giggles. She felt giddy and lighter than air.
He reached out for her hand and held it as they sat in the quiet, taking in what they had just done.
"Now I get what Nino was talking about." He said.
"What?"
"I've kissed one or two models during photo shoots but I'm still young so I haven't had to do that much yet. It's quick and weird because my dad and the photographer are there and she's a stranger. But kissing someone I like? Someone I want to kiss? This is infinitely better."
"I once kissed someone to break an akuma's spell. It's not the same at all." Ladybug agreed.
"You did? I don't remember that... I mean, seeing it on the news." Adrien covered quickly. "You really had to kiss some random person?" He sat up but kept hold of her hand. He was searching his memories but for the life of him he could not remember this.
"It wasn't a stranger exactly. Do you remember Dark Cupid who struck on Valentine's day and made everyone hate each other? Well Cat Noir took one of his arrows to protect me which made him hate me. I needed my partner's help and you know how there's a saying about kisses breaking spells? So I kissed him and then we were able to defeat Dark Cupid and make everything right again. It was a quick kiss that didn't mean anything. I felt bad for a while that it was my first."
Adrien was staring at her. He blinked a few times and tried to collect himself. "You had your first kiss with Chat Noir?" His mouth was dry and the words felt strange in his mouth. How did he not remember this? His Lady had kissed him!
"I had to break the spell." She said.
And then he remembered her saying something like that right after defeating Kim as Dark Cupid. Adrien had to think fast. He couldn't ask more or show that it hurt that she didn't like kissing him as Cat.
"I probably should have asked this before, but you and Cat Noir, are there feelings there?" He asked nervously.
Ladybug misread his nerves. She squeezed his hand and looked him in the eye.
"Cat Noir is my partner and my friend. He's a huge flirt but I know it doesn't mean anything and besides, I've always liked you."
Adrien's eyes narrowed slightly. "So wait. You never gave him a chance because of me?"
Ladybug nodded and her cheeks flared in a deep blush.
"Wow." He was reeling from this new information. She didn't take Cat seriously and she had been crushing on him for a while now. He quickly made a decision.
Adrien tugged her hand lightly and Ladybug looked at him again. He released her hand and placed his palms gently on either side of her face as he leaned in and kissed her again. Pleasant tingles radiated through her body from his tender touch.
"I'll make sure every kiss from now on is one worth remembering." He promised as he leaned in for more.
They broke apart when there was a knock on Adrien's bedroom door.
"Who is it?" He called as he stood and started to cross the room. Ladybug remained sitting on the couch, willing her heart rate to slow down.
"Natalie. I'm going for the day and can notify the kitchen when you want dinner on my way out." The muffled voice came through the door.
"Tell chef George that 7 as usual is fine." He answered.
"I'll pass that on. Goodnight Adrien. You know how to reach me if you need anything." Natalie said and then they faintly heard her retreating footsteps.
Adrien returned to Ladybug and she stood as well. "Sorry about that."
She shook her head in dismissal. "Are you left alone like this often?"
"Yeah. This is pretty normal." He shrugged. "Making new friends at school has helped a lot. Nino is always great about keeping me company these days."
"You should call him to hang out tonight." She suggested.
"You can't stay?" He sounded disappointed.
She glanced at the clock. As much fun as she'd had the last 3 hours it wasn't fair to Tikki to stay transformed too long.
"I need to get back before I won't be able to explain why I was gone so long. My family doesn't exactly know that I'm Ladybug."
"I understand. I'm glad you came today."
"Me too." She smiled warmly and slid her arms around his waist to hug him. His arms were strong and comforting around her, causing her to sigh in contentment. She could stay here all day.
"I really like you Ladybug. I have for a long time." He said and she could feel his breath ruffling her hair. He reluctantly loosened his hold on her and she stepped back, affection shining from her blue eyes.
"I'll come back in a few days. How does Wednesday night sound?" She asked as she headed toward the window, her own personal entrance to Adrien's world.
"I'll be waiting."
He watched out his window long after she disappeared from view. This was going to be a different kind of relationship, but well worth it.
...
Marinette was on a high for the next few days. It seemed to be enough to keep the nightmare at bay for three nights. At school Alya teased her for being even more infatuated with Adrien than usual, which was saying something. The truth was that when Marinette had a free moment to gaze at the boy sitting in front of her she remembered the kisses they shared and how it made her body buzz. She had dreamed of kissing him many times before and reality had more than lived up to the fantasy.
...
AN: Did you like it? I love to hear what you think. As always, thanks for reading!
weesh
