Marinette added the final touches onto the mannequin. A flower here and a scarf there…perfect! Exactly the way she wanted it.
"And the hour is up! Keep up this good work and you'll be fine," her teacher told her.
With the last round only a few days away, Marinette kept coming back after classes to practise. Her teacher would give her a designated piece of time to complete certain tasks, such as making a skirt, dress or item without any guidance, maybe like the real thing. Even though the round was a mystery and she had no idea what to expect.
Still. You could never be too prepared.
"Just stay calm and think of any designs you've made recently or any styles that have popped out to you when you've been walking around the city," Marinette's teacher advised her. "And now all there is to say is good luck."
Her teacher walked up to her. "I'm so proud of you, Marinette," she said. "Quite a few of my students have participated but you're the only one that has got to the final. You're up against better colleges and designers and already you've accomplished so much. So whatever happens, know that you have gone above and beyond."
Marinette teared up a little bit. "Thank you," she choked out. "You've been so kind and helpful too, Miss," she added shyly.
Her teacher patted her on the shoulder comfortingly. "All right, go enjoy the day," she said with smile.
Marinette grabbed her stuff and said good-bye.
On her way out a hand grabbed hers and pulled her to the side.
She squealed but then she saw it was Adrien.
"What the heck are you doing here?" she asked, looking annoyed but her heart fluttered in rebellion.
Adrien grinned. "Let's go for a walk."
"You want to know about my love life?" she squeaked.
Yes, so Adrien had shared his inner feelings and truthfully told her about this mystery girl he had crushed on for ages. And true, she had fallen asleep listening (her parents used to tell her bedtime stories so it must have triggered old habits), and had Adrien to thank for getting her home. Apparently he had to carry her until the 'Gorilla' came to pick them up. And he was given quite a look, but Adrien had tried (key word: tried) to explain himself.
"It's only fair," he winked.
She sighed.
Well, if he could keep the identity of the 'mystery girl' a secret then she would also keep some secrets too.
"Well," she began, "I've never dated anyone before you," she admitted. He mocked her with a shocked expression until she elbowed him in the ribcage.
"And I, um, argh this is so embarrassing!" Marinette put her hands to her face.
Adrien gave a little chuckle. She peeked through her hands.
He looked infuriatingly good today. Hands in his pockets, wearing a formal white shirt with the first two buttons unbuttoned with jeans, he looked like a freaking supermodel. Which, annoyingly enough, he practically was.
She still didn't know how she was lucky enough to have him.
Marinette turned her face away. Her cheeks were reddening. "I, um, had a crush," she said.
He cocked an eyebrow. "On who?"
"On, on, oh my lord, I can't do this!"
"Nuh-uh, you said you would!"
"You," she said quietly.
"What was that?" he asked with a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Say that a bit louder would you?"
"Argh, I hate you!" She ran forwards, but didn't get far.
Adrien wrapped his arms around her waist and practically stopped her from moving. "Don't be embarrassed," he said gently in her ear. "If I had had the sense to see you clearly, I would not be ashamed to have a crush on you," he confessed.
Marinette still couldn't look at him. "However obsessive you were, I was way worse. And that's all I'm going to say on the matter."
"Aw, I'm glad you've always liked me," he said jokingly, still holding onto her.
Marinette gave a laugh. "I was so blinded by you, that I even pushed away this guy that would always flirt with me."
Adrien rested his chin on her shoulder. "Oh?" he said casually.
"Yeah," Marinette gave out a sad laugh. "He was fun to be around, but he kept flirting with me and making awful jokes. But now they're just endearing when I think about it."
"You think about him a lot?"
Marinette smirked. "Getting jealous?"
He shrugged. "Maybe a bit," he admitted.
Now Marinette laughed. "Don't worry, there was no competition. I could never have feelings for him when you were around."
"Ok good," Adrien said possessively.
"But he was a good friend," Marinette reminisced. Chat Noir was a terrible flirt, but he was a great friend. He would be there for her and protect her, and she knew she would do the same for him.
"Friends only is fine," Adrien said nonchalantly.
She finally turned to look at him. "You're cute when you're jealous," she said and bopped his nose.
Adrien leaned over and kissed her, quick but with feeling. "I cannot believe you are mine," he said.
Marinette gave out a small laugh. "I was just thinking that about you a minute ago," she said shyly.
"Really?"
"Um hello? You should not be allowed in public looking like that!" She stepped away from him and gestured to his outfit. "You're going to make girls look at you and then I'll have competition," she complained.
Adrien grinned. "I didn't know I had that effect on you. And don't worry," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "There's no competition," he said gently.
Marinette huffed. "Easy for you to say. I've seen all kind of girls eyeing you. And they're so much prettier than me," she pouted.
Adrien couldn't believe his ears. "You seriously do not look in the mirror, do you?"
"Huh?"
"You have no idea how beautiful you are. And I've got plenty of competition, too."
"Hah! Don't lie," she snorted.
"I'm not lying! I see the guys checking you out. And it makes me mad," he said gruffly. "No-one should look at you like that. You deserve to be respected and honoured. And I want to let them all know that you're with me, and they should back off."
Marinette looked at him with a large smile. "You are actually so attractive when you're jealous like that," she smirked. "But seriously, enough of that. You're with me and I'm with you. That's all that matters now."
And that was true. So they walked hand in hand, just the two of them with nothing to separate them at that moment in time.
Adrien leaned on a table.
"Perfect! Now give me a pouty look," the photographer said vivaciously in a thick, Italian accent.
Adrien cringed internally but turned away from the camera, so it would take a side shot.
"Excellent! Now, pretend to look thoughtful."
What now? What was the concept of these shoots anyway? Looking deranged? Adrien thought.
"No, no!" the photographer said, smacking his own forehead. "Don't think about annoying things! Think about, a mid-summer's day, the sun kissing your skin and the breeze ruffling your hair…" the photographer's voice melted into the background as Adrien got lost in those kinds of thoughts.
Every single memory of him with Marinette came to his mind. Their first kiss, their walks in the sunset and eating at cafes. His eyes glazed as he got lost in the midst of those memories.
"And wonderful! You are done, monsieur!"
Adrien blinked a few times. "Ah, right, thank you," he said politely but in a little bit of a daze. He stepped away from the set and sat down on a nearby chair as staff starting packing up.
He looked at his watch. Hmm, it was getting late. He was thinking of calling Marinette, but she needed to rest. Besides, he thought fondly, he had learnt more about her today already. There would be some time to see each other before the final round of her competition.
"Watch out!"
His eyes snapped to the side and saw a flash of light coming towards him. Years of experience saved him from getting hit, as he jumped and dodged it. His chair got hit and was left smoking after what remained.
A wire laced around his waist and he was flung up into the sky. He was flying towards the dark, night sky.
An arm caught him and he found himself precariously at the edge of a balcony. There could only be one explanation for this.
"Akuma?" he asked. He turned around to meet his rescuer.
"Ladybug, what's going on?" he asked her.
She looked at him in fear. "Are you okay? You're not hurt?" She looked worried.
Adrien looked awkwardly at her. "I'm fine, thank you," he replied before looking down to see what was going on.
Ladybug, the girl he had loved first. He hadn't told Marinette that it was Ladybug who was his first crush because although the people of Paris loved Ladybug, they did so at a distance. They didn't love her the way Adrien had.
So to meet her now as a civilian was awkward to say the least. Especially as she seemed so concerned for him.
"Yeah, another akuma. I'll deal with it soon, but do you need to be anywhere?" Ladybug asked Adrien, a soft look in her eyes.
He smiled but didn't gaze at her for long. "My house, please," he asked. His father would no doubt ask questions.
His father. That was another strange topic. Gabriel had been recently taking more of an interest towards Adrien. Dare he say it, but he was being more attentive? About time, Adrien thought bitterly.
"Of course," she said, "grab onto me," she said, giving him her arm to take. Her cheeks were pinker than before.
Adrien gingerly held onto her. Ladybug looked at him questioningly. "You don't want to fall off, do you?" she asked and without bothering for his reply, she grabbed his arm and securely made him hold on to her. The contact made Adrien uncomfortable.
Soon, they were flying through the city. "So, I managed to see a little bit of your photoshoot before I caught you. What were you thinking of?" she asked with a friendly smile.
Adrien was a little surprised to hear that she was watching. "Um, just before the shoot ended?" She nodded. "I was thinking about my girlfriend, actually," he said, a little shyly.
He expected her to stiffen perhaps, or maybe feel angry at him. Angry, because he was hinting that she was hitting on him.
Instead, he was surprised again. She smiled widely.
"You were?" she asked, an undeniable tone of happiness in her voice. "Well, I'm sure she would be over the moon to hear that."
Adrien smiled and gave out a small laugh. And here he was worrying.
Worrying, because it had been strange that Ladybug had always been so much more open to him when he was Adrien. Perhaps foolishly he had thought previously that maybe she liked him. But clearly that wasn't the case. Ladybug was happy to hear of his girlfriend. So there was no tension between them, which he had feared there would be.
"Yes, I'll make sure to tell her that tonight," he decided. Adrien looked at her. "How about you? You must have a boyfriend?"
She blushed, and swung her arm out again as they turned around a corner. "Yes, actually. And he's one of the sweetest people I know. Even though I am biased."
They laughed as they landed outside Adrien's window. "Is this fine?" she asked.
"Yes thank you, Ladybug," he said with a smile.
Adrien felt good. He was happy she was happy with someone she loved. And he was happy that he was happy with Marinette.
He was happy for the balance there was in his life right now.
Ladybug gave him a wave. "See you whenever I see you next!" she said lightly, and she leaped off into the distance.
Adrien smiled as he leapt into his room, closing the window in the moonlight.
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