Adrien
It never left his mind. From the moment he heard it on his way home to the moment now at his father's party.
Let's have some fun on that day. It would mean a lot if you'd say yes.
Of course he said yes. He believes he did, at least. The entire moment was unclear, as it happened all too fast. He probably blacked out from it all.
But anyway, she just asked him out!
"You holding up okay?" Someone punches his shoulder out of nowhere. It was a boy he always saw at his father's events. Thinking apologetically, he couldn't recall his name. The son of a good acquaintance, perhaps. Or a cousin? "You've kinda been giggling to yourself and staring at that plant."
"H-Have I?!" He feels himself turn red. How embarrassing; to be caught off guard and daydreaming like that.
But who could blame him? He was the happiest boy on Earth at this very moment! Moments like this were beyond his control.
"It was a joke I just remembered! Something about.. about a deer crossing the road!" He scratches the back of his head.
"Don't you mean a chicken?"
"Uhh.." He glances at the ceiling, cringing at himself. "The deer joke is new! This time, he misses the car!"
The boy took five seconds of awkward silence before deciding to laugh. Adrien holds back an eye twitch.
"Ohh.. Haha! Good one, Adrien!" He pats his back before excusing himself off.
What a weirdo. He assumes the boy's thoughts. He must have also noticed his sunken eyes and lousy posture. Adrien blames the terrible food and his itchy suit, not to mention he still had four more hours until he was actually allowed to go home. His father had even confiscated his phone, making the night much duller than it should be.
Two hundred seventy six more hands to shake. He reassures himself, walking around to look for newcomers.
To his left was the famous fashion designer Gabriella Chénel, dressed in a huge black gown chatting away with Gregorio Armandy, another icon. Many other famous people were at the party. Jenny Versacci, Pal Accino, Lennifer Jawrence, and even the President of the United States, Orack Babama.
Adrien recalls Marinette gushing about Versacci's latest designs. He sighs, wishing he could take pictures for her.
"Adrikiiiins!" Oh no.
He turns around only to be bombarded with kisses by Chloe.
"O-Oh, you came.." He says monotonously.
"Of course I did, silly! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" She bats her lashes at him, flashing her glittery makeup.
For the longest time, he's known of Chloe's feelings for him. She would always drag him around and call him her boyfriend. Adrien, being young and clueless, just went with it and agreed that he was, indeed her boy-friend.
Now, he couldn't help but sometimes give the same apologetic look at her.
He just never felt the same way. Not even if he tried hard enough.
Her groaning brings him back to his senses. "You don't seem happy to see me." She pouts, noticing his distraction.
"I-I am!" He tries convincing her, raising his hands defensively. "In a sea of strangers, you're the best thing I've seen all night." And he kinda meant that.
She showers him with more kisses, instantly making him wish he could take back his own words. The people around them would look and smile, sometimes scowl at what they assumed was a young couple displaying their affection.
Others would tend to wonder why the display would often seem one sided.
"I-I'm getting us some refreshments!" He writhes away from her, still managing a polite smile as he spoke.
"Okay, cutie! I'll be waiting!" She sang.
Going past the drinks and food table, he exits the room.
On the balcony, he notices that the sky had gone pitch black. But right below, Paris was still teeming with life.
Bright and beautiful as it always had been.
But he was a bit tired of it. The city was too loud, too glamorous for him. Adrien recalled a book he came across as a little boy. He couldn't remember the title, but what caught his eye were the bits of gold that decorated each page.
The author called them fireflies. Little bugs that twinkled like Christmas lights whenever it became dark out. Sometimes, he would stare out his window in search for them, hoping he would see some in person.
"You can find them in mama's old house." He remembered his mother whisper as she tucked her only child to bed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Only in places where the flowers bloom like stars and where the lands are fresh with grass"
Adrien closes his eyes. Feeling the breeze as he tries thinking of better thoughts. The memory of his mother still pains him.
He couldn't help but feel his eyes water. It could have just been some dust, but the ache in his chest told him otherwise.
Unquestionably, the world was lonelier without her around. He no longer heard stories of the fireflies since she disappeared, nor did he ever wish to. It wouldn't be the same.
"Are you alright?" He hears a voice. It startles him, making his eyes wander for the source.
It was from right above him. Sitting on the roof, was a girl in red.
"Ladybug?" His eyes widen. "What are you doing here? Is there an akuma?"
"No." She chuckles, swinging down to his ground level. "Tonight is the Fashion gala. I'd usually watch from home but I heard it's being held in Paris this year."
All of a sudden, his mind flashes back to the time he first tasted a kind of love.
The sun was high and victory had blessed them on their first mission. He could almost remember the swarm of white butterflies like it had happened yesterday. Even the feeling was still a tad bit fresh.
But there was no mistaking its absence now. No mistaking the darkness shrouding her as if no light were ever there.
"And I heard Jenny Versacci was here too." Ladybug grins.
"You like Jenny Versacci?" Adrien lights up. "My friend loves her!"
"Oohhh, really?" Ladybug raises a brow. "Is it that Chloe girl?"
"No, someone else.." Adrien shakes his head. "I would have loved to take her here. I'm going to try getting my phone back so I could take a bunch of pictures for her."
"She must be very lucky to have you." Ladybug smiles. "It would be nice to have a friend like that."
Adrien felt the need to argue. "But isn't Chat Noir—?" But stops abruptly, noticing the slow blush creeping up Ladybug's face.
With this, he realizes his wrong slip of tongue.
"Chat Noir is... well, he doesn't understand me the way you understand your friend- But I don't blame him!" She says, smiling sadly at him. "I don't tell him everything. It's the way things are with us superheroes."
"I see..." His green eyes stare out onto the distance. The night lights twinkle fiercely with life, making his head spin. He just had to look away. "So... are you always out like this? Wandering as Ladybug?"
"Haha, no way. That would be a waste of my power." He expected her answer.
He always knew her as the type of person to never think of herself. Adrien admits, he would go out as Chat Noir whenever he pleased. Whenever he felt down and needed time alone, he would transform. Or when he felt like having a bit of fun.
Does Ladybug ever have any fun?
"I'd be happy to bring you inside as a guest. My father is the host, after all and I'm sure he'd be pleased to see you." He offered. Adrien could not mistake the light burning in her eyes, widening with the thoughts of meeting her idols all in glamorous designer clothes.
But instantly, he notices them disappear in a split second.
"I wish I could.." She looks down. "But I've got to get back home. I wouldn't want to use this disguise to my own advantage.."
It was no use convincing her whenever it came to situations like this. Her identity meant more than her own life.
So Adrien decides not to argue.
"Alright then. Jenny Versacci is at the floor below me, probably third window to your right, if she hasn't moved yet."
"Thanks." She smiles wide. "And Adrien?"
"Yeah?"
She glances down at his coat and tie. "Have you always looked this good in black?"
He couldn't help but choke back his response. Was she seeing a hint of his alter ego?
But silence evaded him before he could even speak. Before he knew it, she had already disappeared into the night.
Marinette
Swinging by the said window, you could really see Jenny Versacci glowing like a chandelier. She wore what seemed to be her newest Fall piece, an article she had seen on this month's latest Voag. Marinette couldn't help but let her mouth hang open.
Versacci called it the First Drop of Winter. And indeed, she looked very much like a big beautiful snowflake.
Cameras filled the carpets, flashing and sparking up like a cluster of violent stars, capturing pieces of walking history. If only one day, she could be one of those well known designers. Standing in those rooms wearing her own luxurious designs while paparazzi call out her name and ask her to smile for their magazines and news reports.
"Spots off." She says the second she landed on her balcony. "Sorry about that, Tikki! I couldn't help myself, Jenny Versacci is my idol.."
"No worries, Marinette. I know how long you've been a fan of her work." Tikki grins. "And I'm sure you wanted to check up on Adrien too. He seemed down this afternoon, didn't he."
"He did." Marinette looks out her window, sadness drifting over her. She felt for him and couldn't help but reach out.
He was her first love, after all.
"I'm going to give him a day he'll never forget! I'll even invite Nino, and Alya, and—"
"Or, you could just go with him alone." Tikki suggests.
"Alone?" Marinette thought, confusion wafting her. "But wouldn't it be more fun if more people came?"
"Maybe.." She couldn't think of a good excuse.
"I was thinking of maybe going to an amusement park. Alya loves roller coasters and Nino is Adrien's best friend! They're sure to say yes." Marinette pulls out her phone, immediately typing down a message.
"The old Marinette would have loved to go to the amusement with just Adrien." Tikki says, reminding her of how she used to swoon whenever Adrien would walk in the room. How her eyes would shine or her face would flush.
"Tikki.." Marinette looks at her. "Adrien's.. just a friend. Besides. He likes someone else! I could never see him in that way. Not anymore, at least."
Tikki could not sense any pain in Marinette's words. But one new thing she could feel was
Adrien's unexpected feelings for Marinette. The way he looked at her in class, or the adrenaline that flowed through him whenever he asked Marinette to walk home with him.
Was this some kind of accident? How could he have fallen for the same person twice?
Perhaps it was destined. Kwamis cannot predict the future, but this was unmistakable. After all, Marinette has done the same thing.
Tikki decides to leave it alone.
Adrien
He had woken up early to practice his lines. Not that he had a play to perform in or an interview to do,
It was only one girl on his mind at the moment.
"Marinette, you look so lovely today." He repeats for the twentieth time already. "I end up lost in your eyes through every glance, it's making my head spin.."
"You're going to embarrass yourself, Adrien. I'd rather you not go to that date at all." Plagg states blunty, landing on the book in Adrien's hands. "Don't ever dare tell that girl you were consulting a shoujo manga. I don't want you to lose the rest of your dignity."
"But all they talk about here is love. Is it wrong?"
"Trust me, Adrien. She's going to laugh at you."
"You know nothing about love, Plagg. I'd rather consult anything else." Adrien argues. "You only ever talk to cheese."
"Whatever. Don't say I didn't warn 'ya."
Adrien shoos Plagg off of the book, continuing where he left off.
In the manga, the male protagonist Arai has finally fallen for his classmate, the intelligent and beautiful Haruka. "Is it just me.. or have the stars faded since I first laid my eyes on you?" He couldn't help but flush red. The words were indeed ridiculous. He's never heard anyone in his life say something this embarrassing in public before. But Haruka seemed to have been captivated by Arai's sweet talk!
Marinette might feel the same. Adrien just had to keep going.
"Oh M-Marinette.." He forces out the next words, uncertain but still eager. "I-I'm feeling dizzy from all this excitement. Can I.. rest my head on your lap—?"
"Adrien just stop already!"
Harsh silence follows. A scream.
"Did you hear that?" Plagg asks.
The scream echoes again, this time louder.
"Claws out!"
Ladybug and Chat Noir
"You came right on time, Chat Noir." Ladybug punches him lightly in the arm. "If it weren't for you, Paris would have seen worse."
"No problemo, Ladybug." He winks mischievously at her. "Good looking people like me are used to being all over the place."
Though she's fallen for him, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at his cringy comments. But it was an asset she had come to love a lot.
"Though I do hope nothing comes my way tomorrow. I'll be greatly busy with something." Ladybug noticed the way he smiled at his own words.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Ahh, nowhere." Chat Noir shrugs, now grinning at the night sky.
She's seen this smile before, and smiles vary depending on the cause. His own smile was obviously for someone.
And why share something like that out of the blue?
"I see.." She bit back the burning sensation to ask more. Was his giddiness for Marinette? Did he have anything planned?
She began to doubt herself. Was he even thinking about her? Chat Noir hasn't been dropping in lately on her balcony. Was he going to see someone else?
Did he even mean it when he said he was in love with her? Or was he only saying that to pacify the hurt he felt after all that's happened between him and Ladybug?
The doubt was stinging her. The fact that she couldn't even do anything stung even more. What was the use of trying to follow him around when he'd detransform and she'd instantly lose sight of him anyway.
And why follow him around? She stopped to think of that.
He doesn't belong to me. She thinks, feeling herself shrink. In their "relationship", Chat Noir was the one going off to places having fun and doing new things. Marinette stayed at home and lived quietly on the sidelines. Ladybug would only wake up whenever she was needed.
Of course that smile was not for her.
"Something the matter?" He noticed her frowning at the air.
As if he'd ever detect her emotions. She couldn't help but frown deeper. "I'm fine." Said no one ever. "I want to go home."
"Oh.." She did not care, the stung look on his face made her feel like she got even with him.
Though she felt sorry for snapping at him, her petty teenage girl instincts were much stronger.
"Good night then, Ladybug-"
She swings off without another word.
Author's note:
Yeah, I know, this is Marinette we're talking about. The unakumatizable, the queen of positivity! But I'd like to incorporate some hints of imperfections here and there, she is human after all lol. Sorry for the late update (i literally say this every time), but now I'm on Christmas break, I'm gonna try updating more hehe. I'm gonna post the date in the next chapter. Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear more about what you guys think through your reviews hehe.. xx
