Here we go! Took me a bit because I'm super rusty on my poetry.
Anyway, thank you all for the kind words and for enjoying this little thing. I enjoy balls and gowns and all that awesome stuff, so this is even more fun to write than ever before.
Read on!
I don't own...nope, still nothing.
Adrien didn't get to see his masquerade costume until Tikki had finished it. When he did, he was amazed at the detail and the amount of time she had put into it.
"This is amazing, Tikki!"
"Oh hush."
He shook his head in wonder as he circled the mannequin, looking over the black and silver thief costume and fingering the material every so often. It was fitted and even had a fake scabbard to go along with it. Tight pants, a silver ruffle shirt with billowing sleeves and an emerald belt. He pointed at it in confusion.
"Green?"
She nodded and pulled out a large box, handing it over to him. He gave her a questioning look, but she just gestured to the box. As he unlocked the clash, she clasped her hands together in excitement.
"I wanted to add a little something that would go with your mask. You can't go to a masquerade ball without a mask."
Inside lay a large mask, complete with green and silver intricate patterns and pointed ears sticking from the top: a cat burglar. It looked phenomenal and it suited his taste perfectly.
"Tikki….you made this…?"
She nodded. "I made it large enough to properly hide your identity. I'm sure you'll feel less nervous while talking to her with this on."
"Wha-no, I-!"
"I'm sure she finds it amusing, Monsieur." She giggled. "There's only a week left until the masque, so you'd best prepare ahead of time."
He smirked as he picked up the mask. He couldn't wait.
The day before the ball, he got a little surprise. At dawn, Tikki burst into his room, waking him from his peaceful dream. It had been such a nice dream, with Marinette going on a boat ride with him. He groaned and rolled over as she flicked open the curtains of his bed and thrust something under his nose.
"Tikki, it's far too ear-"
"It's from Mademoiselle Marinette!"
That woke him up faster than anything ever could. "What?!"
He sat up, took the envelope and opened it (he guessed Tikki wanted him to have the honors this time), pulling it out and unfolding the letter while holding his breath.
It was a poem:
With such a way with words,
I should think you were a poet.
In such a short amount of time,
I never thought you'd show it.
I had never thought you charming,
Yet now, I see I was wrong.
I thought you to be annoying,
However, not for long.
You've shown to me such kindness,
And manners, too.
Yet now that you've got my eye,
I'm not sure what to do.
Perhaps, with time,
I can get to know you.
I hope to see soon,
And with a different view.
"What does that last line mean?" he asked Tikki.
"You should ask her yourself when you see her tomorrow." She closed the bed curtains. "Now go back to sleep."
The day came, along with a clear day, and Adrien couldn't stand having to wait until evening to get ready. Tikki finally gave in and let him dress after lunch, which got the young man to eat quicker than he ever had before.
"You're going to choke." Plagg commented as he set down a new glass of water.
"I'll live." Adrien replied.
Plagg sighed and shook his head. "And you say I'm bad, Tikki."
"You are when I get you camembert."
"Only because you rarely get it for me."
"It's expensive, Plagg. Besides, you don't need twenty blocks of stinky cheese." she huffed.
"That's what you think."
Tikki just rolled her eyes and turned to her master. "Plagg is right, though; you're going to choke at the pace you're going. Slow down a bit."
Adrien paused in taking a bite of food to stare up at her before sighing and doing as his maid had said. She smiled her approval and left to fetch his costume and lay it out on his bed. No doubt he would race to it the moment his last bite of food was in his mouth.
Which is exactly what he did, throwing his napkin onto the table and running for his bedroom. He was bouncing with energy and as he rushed into his room, he glanced at the clock that hung on his wall. Barely any time had passed, which annoyed him to no end.
"Why can't time go faster?" he grumbled.
He made his way to his bed, where each article of clothing was laid out for him. He dressed a bit slower, hoping that time would speed up. It didn't.
"Ugh, this is ridiculous." He buckled his emerald belt and snatched up his mask. "I can't take this anymore."
Moving over to his bedside, he grabbed the golden rope that hung near the head of his bed and pulled it, summoning Tikki. She appeared not long after, smiling as she saw him in his costume.
"You look stunning, Monsieur."
"I want to go to the Lahiffe estate. I'm going to go insane if I stay here and wait for time to go faster. Besides, the place the masque will be held is closer to their place than mine."
She blinked back at him. "Oh, alright then. I'll ask Plagg to fetch the carriage and horses while I pack our clothes."
"You made costumes for yourselves, too?"
"A master never leaves without his servants, Monsieur Agreste. You should know that by now." she said with a wink over her shoulder, leaving him in his room.
Alya was the one to open the door and didn't look the least bit shocked to see him on her doorstep. She was already dressed and looked fanciful with her orange dress, white lace stitched into it. She opened the door and smiled.
"Come in."
He nodded and did so, Tikki and Plagg coming in behind him. The door closed.
"I…um…I know I should have warned you of my sudden arriva-"
"But you couldn't wait any longer, could you? I understand, so no need to explain yourself." She gestured to her spiral staircase. "Marinette is the same way, actually."
He instantly panicked. "She's here?!"
Whoa, calm down there, Adrien. You look like you're going to have a heartattack.
Until the next chapter!