Calm before the storm
"I have some time after the photoshoot this Saturday. Maybe we could hang out together if you don't have any plans? – A
Marinette wanted to squeal at the top of her lungs. Adrien Agreste asked her out on a date! She texted back an enthusiastic yes and bid him goodnight. She called Alya right after and the two talked excitedly until Alya's mother reminded her daughter that she had school tomorrow morning.
She felt like she should share the news with someone else though. A certain presence that shared every secrets of her life. Someone who knew her more than her parents or even Alya. But who was that? Her brain was too exhausted to come up with an answer. She already took three painkillers that day and didn't want to add a fourth one. Fatigue suddenly washed over her. She fell asleep hoping that tomorrow things would get less confusing.
In her dreams she was running away from a giant flower-like creature. Her destination was the darkened alley just across the street, where no one would see her. A black blur blocked her way. "What are you doing here?" The black blur said. "Go away!" She shouted. "I have to transfo-"
She woke up grumpy next morning and learned that taking two painkillers at a time only deepened her headaches, not lessen them.
After school was over Marinette strolled around the Place des Vosge thinking hard. It seemed like the world changed overnight. Suddenly, she was only Marinette, just a normal girl with her normal life. But that's what she was, right? What else was she supposed to be? She felt like the answers were slipping out of her grasp as seconds ticked by. The headaches still remained and wasn't helping.
She gave a sound of frustration and sat down on the bench. It suddenly occurred to her that something was off about the park. In the center of the square was a giant statue of Mayor Bourgeois. She couldn't remember when the statue had been there.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you know how long that statue has been here?" She asked a man who was nearby.
The young man smiled ruefully. "Since April. I know how you feel about it. I hate it as much as you do, even though I made it."
Marinette looked at him astonished. "You're the artist who made it?"
"I'm afraid so. Name's Theo Barbot. I wanted to make a sculpture about a boy and a girl who are protectors of Paris. Two teenagers who look very ordinary but were actually heroes working hard to keep our city safe and happy. The Mayor considered it was unrealistic though, and said I should stop daydreaming."
"I'm sorry."
"You're a very sweet girl to say that, but you don't have to be. The Mayor paid me doubly when I offered to make a statue of him instead. I really despise the outcome, but at least I have enough money to concentrate only on art. No more pulling rickshaws for me."
"But you never got to make the sculpture that was very important to you."
"Sometimes you have to lose something very dear to you to make your life better."
As she walked home, Marinette thought about Theo's words and convinced herself that he had a point. She was clinging on to something unclear when it only did nothing but give her headaches. Whatever she was missing out on, she couldn't let that keep her from living her life, especially when her life was about to get better. Tomorrow was Saturday and she had a date with Adrien.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Heroes only existed to little kids like Manon. It was time to put away childhood tales. Let it go, Marinette. You are only just Marinette, and you should accept that. She said to herself.
After Adrien's photoshoot on Saturday they strolled around the Trocadero. When they passed Andre's ice cream stand, Adrien offered to buy an ice cream for her. Marinette swelled with happiness as one of her dreams – sharing Andre's ice cream with Adrien – came true. They held hands as they walked around, enjoying the weather.
On their second date they hung out in her place playing video games and somehow ended up throwing macaroons at each other. On their third date she went to see a movie with Adrien. He kissed her on the cheek as he said goodbye to her on her doorsteps. On their fifth date they went to see Jagged Stone's concert together. Adrien didn't deny when Jagged called him her boyfriend.
There were more dates after that. Before a month had passed, everyone in school knew that Marinette and Adrien were a couple. Her stuttering days were long since gone as if they had never existed.
Time seemed to fly. Every day was pleasant. There were no more 'one of those days' where her mistakes escalated into a spectacular disaster. Her headaches didn't subside but she learned to adjust to it.
There was another fashion competition in school. Marinette won first place again, this time without feather designs. A few days after the contest Adrien told her that her father wanted to invite her to dinner.
She was very nervous but Gabriel Agreste was surprisingly cordial to her. He said he was very impressed with her design and that if she were a few years older he would have suggested she apply for the summer internship program in his business.
Marinette was speechless. Gabriel Agreste, one of the big hands of the international fashion industry thought she was good enough for an internship program that was for university graduates. It was the best compliment she ever received.
As Adrien was seeing her home after dinner, he said that his father was not so cold and distant anymore since they had started dating. He was still aloof but he tried to spend more time with his son. He also became more lenient about Adrien's schedule and gave him more time to hang out with friends. He said that Marinette was like a lucky charm and being close to him brought him joy and happiness.
Marinette was touched by his words, but felt a very sharp prick on her temple when she heard the phrase 'lucky charm'. She shrugged it off though, and the pain melted away when Adrien leaned down to give her a kiss on the lips.
Marinette was happy with her life. Everything she dreamed of became true. She couldn't have wished for a better life. No more awkwardness, no more clumsiness, no more heartbreaks over her unrequited love.
Her intermittent headaches that used to drive her crazy became dull. It didn't go away, but she was used to it now and was able to ignore it most of the time.
Her life was peaceful. Very peaceful. No life-threatening situations, no need to juggle between two separate lives. No heavy burden of being responsible for the whole of Paris. A huge weight off her shoulder. Everything was perfect.
So why does it feel like half of her was empty?
AN: I don't own Miraculous. Hawkmoth can have them. (Just kidding) My love to all of you who have read/followed/favorited/reviewed this story.
