Ok, sorry this took so long, but I let my friend read it and she was like, "It's good, but if you're writing a romance you can't just skip over kiss scenes with one sentance!" And she was right, so I rewrote it and added a couple hundred words to give you a proper good night kiss. Here it is now, thank you for being patient with me.
I do not own anything Miraculous Ladybug.
Three boxes of pizza, an angry fisherman, and one missing shoe later - Adrien and Marinette made it safely to shore, and he took her back home.
He pulled up to her apartment complex and turned the car off, but neither made a move to leave. Marinette shuffled her feet against the floor of the car. They were bare because she'd taken off her only remaining shoe rather than walk around wearing only one. Adrien coughed. "I'm sorry about your shoe. I'll buy you a new pair."
Marinette laughed. "That's alright. They weren't expensive."
"I'd still like to get you a new pair," he said, nervously fiddling with his keys.
"I didn't peg you for the kinda guy who liked shopping," Mairnette told him.
"I don't," he affirmed. "Well, not in real places, but I like online shopping. If it was with you though, I think it would be fun. Like tonight, this was some of the most fun I've ever had and I feel like it was more because of who I was with than what I was doing."
He was looking at her so earnestly with his big green eyes, Marinette found she couldn't bring herself to look away even as she felt her face heat up with an intense blush. "Adrien," she murmured and reached across the car to pull him towards her.
He was already leaning in and their lips met awkwardly in the cramped space. They both twisted and fumbled about to try and find a better angle while still keeping their lips together. Both unbuckled their seatbelts to move unhindered. Marinette found herself kneeling on her seat, her hands on Adrien's face every bit as much for balance as it was to keep him there. Adrien was too tall to do the same but he scooted as close to her as he could get with the console in the way and twisted.
Marinette felt the gentleness and underlying tone of building want in the kiss and hummed in pleasure. One of Adrien's arms came forward to grab her and pull her towards him. She tried to oblige, but aside from leaning a little closer there wasn't room for her to do more. Her hands slipped from his cheeks down to his shoulders where she tried to pull him closer.
Adrien let out a frustrated whine that sent a thrill through Marinette and pressed his lips harder against hers as if trying to make up for the lack of contact. They strained at each other, their frustration and desire intensifying as their lips pressed harder against each other and Marinette knew her lips would be swollen when they stopped. Finally the frustration grew too much and they broke apart gasping for air.
Marinette leaned back from her kneeling position and rested against the fogged window. Her bare feet could feel the cool, smooth leather and she curled her toes against it as she breathed deeply to try and get herself back under control. Never before had she felt such a need to be so close to another human being before. Had they been able to properly reach each other, how far would she have gone? Had nothing gotten in her way, would she have realized she wanted him that bad in the first place?
Before she could really contemplate that thought Adrien spoke up, "Umm, well, I think I finally found a problem with Bridgette."
Marinette let out a snort and groaned to keep herself from laughing. "Don't talk about your car right after making out. It's not cool."
He grinned over at her. "Perhaps not, but it's pertinent. It seems I need to get a bigger car."
Marinette gave a small chuckle. "That infers that things will be happening in your car again."
Adrien coughed and he started sputtering out apologies. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't- You don't-"
"Adrien! Adrien!" she called out, fighting back the urge to laugh at his sudden panic. "I didn't mean that nothing was happening again, just that there are more comfortable places than your car."
The car fell completely silent as both realized what she'd just said and Marinette felt like her whole body was on fire as the embarrassment settled in. Now it was her turn to stutter. "I'm not- You don't- I-"
Adrien reached out and gently pulled her face towards his bringing her in for another kiss. She shut up when their lips met and he held her there, lightly, so she could pull back if she wanted. Eventually he pulled back, a grin splitting his face in two. "Well now that we're both feline awkward, I think we should call it a night. I'll call you later alright?"
All embarrassment left as she gave him an unimpressed stare. "Adrien, you can't be serious."
"Oh I'm pawsitive, My Lady," he said with a grin, as she continued to give him a deadpan stare he leaned in closer, "I hope you can furgive me I just cat-not help myself around you."
Marinette reached out and grabbed his collar pulling him in until his face was just a breath's width from her own and help him there. His eyes dilated, and he gulped. Now it was her turn to grin. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
He gaped like a fish, but no words came out. She released him and pulled back with a smirk. He finally got one word out. "Marinette."
He said her name reverently like it was a prayer and it sent a thrill running through her while a shyness over took her and she found herself unable to meet his adoring gaze. Eventually he snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Right, we were calling it a night."
Marinette nodded, not trusting herself to speak right then and turned to try and let herself out only to stare blankly at the door. "Ummm, Adrien?"
"Oh, right! Just a second." He got out of the car, came around to her side, and lifted up the side so it rose up like wing.
Marinette slipped out, grabbing her shoe on the way and reached up on tip toe to give Adrien on final peck on the lips before slipping inside the building. She made sure she was out of sight before she let out her squeal of happiness and jumped up and down in the air. He had kissed her. Repeatedly! And she had kissed him. Repeatedly!
Marinette went to bed thrilled but emotionally exhausted after such a big night. She had a wonderful dream that night, involving a white dress and dancing hamsters and three little blonde children calling her mom. It was such a lovely dream that she was reluctant to wake up, but wake up she had to because Alya came bursting in to her apartment in the wee hours of the morning.
"Mari, get up! You're going to want to see this," Alya shouted, coming straight to the bedroom.
"I DO!" Marinette shouted, sitting up in bed as her friend flipped on the light and then flopped on top of her.
Alya laughed. "Girl, I hope last night was worth it."
Marinette sighed dreamily. "Oh Alya, last night was absolutely amazing! You'll never guess what happened."
Alya smirked at her. "I don't have to guess."
Marinette blushed. "Is it that obvious?"
Alya pulled out her phone and handed it to Marinette. "No, I mean, I literally don't have to guess. You should see this."
Marinette picked up the phone and then dropped it with a yelp, the shock of what she saw on the screen a better adrenaline shot than espresso. "How did you get a picture of that?"
"That's why I came here. I figured you'd want to hear it from me first and give you a chance to prep before you left the house. Are you okay?" Alya reached out a hand to grab Marinette's shoulder.
Marinette was still staring at the picture on the phone in shock. It wasn't a high quality photo, nor was the lighting that great, but it very clearly was a photo of her and Adrien on their picnic at the Fontaine Louvois.
"How did you get this picture?" she asked again.
Alya winced but tried to hide it with a smile. "I was going through local gossip blogs and found a link talking about how one of the thirty under thirty had possibly found a new girlfriend. You know I'm total trash about celebrity couples, so I clicked on it. Imagine my surprise when it was you."
"What's the thirty under thrity?" Marinette asked dazedly.
"Oh Mari, you really need to read something other than fashion magazines and manga some time. The top thirty most desirable men under thirty. They're rated for things like wealth, fame, looks, stuff like that. Adrien is number thirteen. Honestly, girl, google your crushes every once in a while."
"Why is Adrien on that list?" Marinette exclaimed.
Alya raised an eyebrow at her. "First off- have you seen that boy's face. Sunshine's so hot you could fry a steak on him. Second- he is a successful business man running his own computer software company making tons of money."
Marinette nodded, conceding. "Okay. Fair. It's actually not that surprising when you say it like that, but why do people care if I go on a date with him. Also, who took that picture?"
"You went on a date with someone who has, to date, been one of the most aloof and unachievable bachelors on the list. That's big news in the gossip world. As for who took the photo, anyone who pays attention to the thirty under thirty could have taken that and sold it to the writer. You would have to contact whoever published this to find out, and even then I doubt they would tell you because of confidentiality agreements."
Marinette groaned and pulled her legs up to her chest to flop her head onto her knees. "How many people do you think read that?"
"Not that many," Alya said quickly, while refusing to make eye contact.
"Alyaaaa," Marinette said in a warning tone. "How many?"
Alya sighed but still didn't make eye contact. "According to the last time I refreshed the page, a couple thousand had seen it, and the article was posted two hours ago."
"What?" Marinette shrieked.
"It's okay though, the article never mentions your name because no one has any idea who you are, and that's the only picture they have of your date, and it's only a side view of your face," Alya said hurriedly, trying to cut off Marinette's oncoming panic attack.
"No one knows yet, Alya. No one knows yet. Once they find out, what if they find out I'm Ladybug? The whole point of me becoming Ladybug was because I really can't handle attention, and you know that. Remember last time I did any kind of talking in front of people without a mask?"
Alya rolled her eyes. "That was Speech and Debate, and you were sixteen."
"And it was scarring enough that I never went in front of a crowd as Marinette ever again."
"But you've grown so much. I'm sure you'd be fine."
"Or I could blank on everything until I panic so bad that I forget to breathe and wake up in the nurse's office after I faint."
"You're not in high school anymore. You'd wake up in a hospital, not the nurses office," Alya said, trying to make a joke.
Marinette groaned and grabbed the pillow she'd been laying on, whacking her friend over the head with it. "If you're not going to help, get out of my room."
"No," Alya said, righting herself back onto the bed.
"Why?" Marinette growled.
"Because you're my best friend, and right now you need hugs." With that she pulled Marinette in for a forcible cuddle-fest that Marinette only resisted for show before giving in and snuggling up to her best friend.
"Do you think Adrien knows?"
"Considering he's tried to call you at least ten times since I got here, I would say yes."
"Why are you only just telling me, now?" Marinette shrieked, fumbling around for her phone.
"Because you were panicking, and I figured it would be better if you calmed down before trying to talk to him. Also, before you ask, your phone is on silent, so that's why you didn't hear it. Good thing I came to see you or you might have slept in and missed work."
"If it's on silent, how do you know he's calling me?" Marinette asked, pausing in her search to stare at her friend.
The brunette grinned and held up the device to show that Adrien was calling her once again. "Because I grabbed it off the coffee table on my way in here."
Marinette shrieked and lunged for the phone. Alya answered it for her, putting it on speaker.
"Marinette? Marinette, are you there?" Adrien's voice said over the phone speaker.
Alya flapped her hand at Marinette, urging the other woman to speak. "H-Hello?"
"Marinette, have you seen it yet?"
She didn't even have to ask what he was talking about. There could only be one thing making him call her in a panic this morning. "Yeah. I saw it. Alya just showed me."
"I swear I had no idea that was coming. Most people at least give me warning or ask for permission before posting anything. I didn't even know anyone had taken our picture last night. I'm going to have my secretary call whoever posted that and demand that it be taken down."
"Bad idea, Sunshine," Alya said, speaking up for the first time. "If it suddenly disappears after receiving this many views, it'll just blow up, and everyone will be watching you closer than ever trying to figure out what you're trying to hide."
"Oh, h-hey Alya. Didn't realize you could hear me."
"Relax Adrien, you didn't say anything embarrassing like profess your undying love to my girl."
"Alya!" Marinette shouted, making another lunge for the phone and finally freeing it from the other girl's grasp.
She pressed a button and brought it up to her ear. "Sorry, I finally got my phone back and took it off speaker."
"It's alright," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I was just calling to make sure you'd seen the article and were okay."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm freaking out a little, but I want you to know that I don't blame you. Maybe we should be more careful next time, though."
"So there's still a next time?" Adrien asked in a small voice.
She smiled and shook her head, then remembered he couldn't see her. "Adrien, of course there will be a next time. Last night was amazing and you still have those reservations for La Grand Vefour, remember?" she teased.
"Right. It would be a shame to waste those."
"That it would," she said with mock seriousness.
He chuckled a little but grew quiet, and she sensed he was getting serious again. "Would it be alright to stop by and check up on you later today? I just want to make sure you're doing okay."
"Uh, yeah. That should be fine. Text me later. Listen, I need to go. I'm already running behind and it's bad when the boss is late for work."
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'll let you go. See you later. Let me know if anyone gives you any trouble."
"Will do. And Adrien?"
A heartbeat of silence. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for calling."
"Anytime, Marinette. Anytime," he said fervently.
They hung up, and she pulled the phone back to stare at it and smile until she registered that Alya was still there, bouncing silently on the end of her bed while she waited for Marinette to fill her in on what she'd missed.
"So?" Alya said when they made eye contact.
"So, what?" Marinette said, getting out of bed and foraging around on the floor for some clothes to wear.
"So what was did he say when you took him off speakerphone and what did you do last night?" Alya asked.
"The point of taking him off speaker phone was so the conversation could be private." Alya raised her eyebrow at the other girl, waiting. Marinette sighed and gave in. "It wasn't much really. He just wanted to make sure I wasn't mad or anything. The exact same stuff you heard when it was on speakerphone."
"Except he also asked you out on a date," Alya pointed out.
"Well, technically I asked him- actually it was more confirming that something we'd already talked about was going to still happen since he thought I might be mad at him."
"Which you're not, so on the other question I asked- what did you guys do last night?"
"I thought you already knew from the article."
"That just says you went on a picnic. I doubt that's all you did. Come on, spill it girl."
So, she told her about the evening and its mishaps and wonders. Alya listened attentively; Marinette could tell from her twitching fingers that she longed to record or at least write down what she heard, ever the reporter at heart. She appreciated that her friend showed restraint for her benefit. If the internet was getting curious over just an interview, she wondered what they would do for the exclusive she was giving her friend.
When all was said and done, Alya sat back on the bed and laughed. "I'd have thought Agrest would be smoother than that."
Marinette giggled. "I think the lesson I learned last night was that I'm dating a total dork."
"So you are dating, then?"
Marinette bit her lip and looked down. "Yes? I don't know. We didn't have a DTR* , and it's only been one date so that would kinda be moving a little quick to tell him that we need to do that, wouldn't it?"
Alya shrugged. "A DTR is for whenever you're not sure where you stand, so there's not really a 'too soon' time for that, I think."
Marinette hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I think it's kinda exciting right now, being in between, but when I can't take it anymore, I'll be sure to talk to him."
Alya laughed. "Alright girl, in the meantime, you better get going before you're late for work. Well, more late for work."
Marinette cocked her head in question then turned to look at her clock- and promptly shrieked in alarm. "I'm late!"
*For those who don't know DTR means Define The Relationship
Also, if I get ten comments I will write the scene involving the "three boxes of pizza, an angry fisherman, and one missing shoe" it won't happen immediately, but I will work on it as a one shot for you lovelies.
Thank you all so much for the support that you've given me thus far!