Secrets

Adrien took a deep breath before entering the bakery. He had been there that morning as Chat Noir, but somehow it was hard to enter again. He was hoping that Marinette hadn't decided to call off their 'deal'. She had said she needed to think about it, and in the end, it wouldn't really matter after she found who he was, but he still didn't want her to end it. Even with the hopes of Marinette forgiving him for hiding he was Chat Noir, if she decided to stop the 'Rebounding' it would hurt him nevertheless. The Heartbreaker curse all over again. He was hoping that today they didn't touch the subject at all.

Adrien wished Nino could be there already, he was getting his final fitting too, but he was late, like really late.

Sighing, he pushed the Bakery's door and the bell rang. He was greeted by Tom, Marinette's father, who told him to go up because Marinette was waiting for him upstairs.

He passed by Marinette's mother in the kitchen and she too told him to go upstairs and make himself at home.

Adrien climbed the stairs and once he arrived at the last floor, Marinette's bedroom, he heard her voice. She was talking to someone. Maybe he wasn't going to be alone with her after all. This way she wouldn't talk about them... Getting his hopes up, he knocked on the door.

"Come in," she said.

He opened the door and entered the room, to find that Marinette was alone after all. She was sewing something that wasn't their costumes.

"Hi," She said, looking at him, unsure on how to behave.

"Hi" he looked around the room, feeling awkward, "I thought I heard you talking to someone..."

Marinette chuckled, nervous. "Me!? Ah, no! I was just... Talking to myself! Making a list of what I can't forget for the 31st. It's three days away, but there's so much to do!"

"Do you need me to do anything for you? From the list, I mean?" he asked, closing the door.

"No, thank you! You are doing so much already... I can't tell you how much it means to me that you- and Alya and Nino and Chloe - are wearing my pieces for free." deciding not to be a bad host, Marinette stood up and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

To hide the sudden blush on her own cheeks, she turned her back on him to pick up his suit.

"I've told you before, and I will do it again." Adrien said with a frustrated smile "We should be paying you." Marinette looked at him with an eyebrow raised and a skeptical smile. "I'm serious. I've been in the fashion world for as long as I can remember. I can tell when a piece is good. Yours are great. I have no doubt that you will win. And I haven't seen who you're up against."

"Yeah, right. Okay." She giggled and rolled her eyes. That expression made him immediately think of Ladybug. He smiled to himself and shrugged. Marinette would not listen to him, she would only nod and keep doubting herself. He sighed, she was so talented, so strong and so beautiful... How could she be the only one that didn't see it?

"Here," she said giving him the suit for him to try on. "You can go to the bathroom and change." She said opening the door and pointing to the bathroom.

He thought of several ways he could tease her, but he was afraid that she would shut herself up and end everything for good, so he didn't. He entered the bathroom and got dressed.

He looked at himself in the mirror and chucked, amused: Marinette had added a small golden bell to the necktie.

That Chat Noir costume was perfect. He silently thanked the gods that Marinette didn't find wearing face masks necessary because that way someone might figure out that he really was Chat. Marinette had captured the real essence of his alter-ego. He wondered if even his father could do something like this when he was younger and just starting out. She also had guessed the right measurements for him without measuring him. No wonder his father had canceled his appointments in Milan to come to the ball. Gabriel had called him a couple of hours ago telling him that he would arrive on the 31st and he had asked about Marinette. He had seen pictures of her creations and was very interested in meeting with the young designer.

Taking a deep breath, Adrien came out of the bathroom and entered Marinette's room. She lifted her head to look at him and smirked.

"What?" Adrien asked, smiling back at her.

"That looks really good on you." She said, pointing at him.

He chuckled, "Thank you, Princess. I like what you did here." He said pointing at the tiny bell. She giggled.

"Oh! Do you?" She shrugged, "I just thought that Chat Noir had to have his bell, or he would be a copycat!"

He laughed at the pun she made. That Copycat akuma had been one of the most annoying ones... but still, it was a great reminder of the moments he spend in Paris when he was younger.

Marinette got up from her chair and walked around him. Soon, she was fetching her pins to start doing final alterations. Adrien was the perfect model. It seemed that he knew where she wanted to look and pin down before she did. After a while pinning the blazer down, she asked him to take it off so she could pin the trousers and the shirt. He obliged and watched her work. Her method was a bit different from his dad's and, although it was a bit rough still, it was a very smart one. It was probably created by her, a mix of all the teaching she had gotten in the first year of college. It wasn't perfect, since she lost a lot of time in things that could take much less, but he couldn't argue that the results were amazing. She could only perfect it with time.

"Okay. I think it's all done," She said to herself, "You can take it off now" She sat on her desk again and started doing the final arrangements on the blazer.

Adrien took off the shirt and placed it in front of Marinette, who looked up and found him without a shirt. Once again. He started removing his pants-

"What are you doing?" she asked with her eyes popping out of her head and her face so red that he feared it might explode.

"I'm taking it off." He said, putting on his best innocent smile. It came out a bit mischievous since half of his trousers' fly was open. Marinette stood up.

"Not here!" She exclaimed, pointing at him and then at the door with both hands.

"Why not? I figured it would be a lot easier!" He said in a careless tone "Plus, you've seen me without a shirt and trousers before." He knew he shouldn't be pushing his luck like this. But he just couldn't help it. She looked so cute flushed!

"Yes, I have. But, that doesn't mean I got less susceptible to it." She let out a frustrated sigh and then admitted: "I know we are..." She paused to think about what she should say, "... On hold? But, it's very distracting to see you topless."

Adrien chuckled, making Marinette blush further.

"Okay, since we are being honest, I was undressing here because it's more convenient, BUT-" He smirked when she flashed an unconvinced gaze at him"-BUT, I also did it to see what kind of reaction you'd have. I'm sorry if I pushed it too far." He finished in a more serious tone.

Marinette shrugged, smiling and sat on her desk to finish sewing the costume.

"It's alright" She sighed.

She didn't want to talk to Adrien about their rebound today.

Mostly because she didn't know what to do! She couldn't help but admit to herself (and to herself only) that she had feelings for him as well as for Chat. And Adrien seemed interested in her... If she didn't cut him off, the other day, he might have declared himself to her. He said he didn't want it to end... And neither did Marinette, but if she was going to keep it going, it would have to become official.

She had a choice to make, she could only fight for one boy: Adrien or Chat. But that decision had to be postponed until after the ball. She looked at him, trying hard to ignore his naked torso.

"But please, do put something on. I can't focus."

Chuckling, he did as she asked.

"As you wish, Princess" He felt very relieved that, apparently, Marinette didn't want to talk about 'it' either and that their dynamics was still the same. It had been a bit weird in the first five minutes, but they were now talking and teasing each other like nothing had happened.

"Thank you," She said getting back to work.

He nodded, not wishing to interrupt her again.

After a while of inspecting Marinette's room in silence, he figured that talking to her wasn't going to be too distracting, so he asked: "What were you sewing before I arrived?"

"Capes," she answered in a monotone, very focused on what she was doing. This costume was her absolute favorite and she didn't want to ruin it.

"Capes?" Adrien repeated, confused.

Marinette lifted her head and nodded, then while working, she explained, "I want us to enter the ball with our costumes covered until it's our turn to present. Doesn't sound very original, but it will raise the level of curiosity in the guests." She smiled and admitted, "I'm a bit of a Drama Queen."

Adrien laughed, "I think you have the right amount of drama," he said, "Curiosity is a good thing, it will make them want to see your creations even when the others are being presented. Yours will be the ones everyone recalls." He wandered around and his gaze caught the window that led to her balcony, "For instance, I find myself way more dramatic than you." He smiled, remembering every time his lady rolled her eyes at him.

Marinette lifted her head, surprised, "You do?"

"I do" he nodded, solemnly. Marinette smiled.

"Guess I still have a lot to learn about you, then."

You have no idea.

"We have time" He had a kind smile on his face and said it almost like a promise. "I bet there's a lot I still don't know about you either." Marinette snorted.

"You have no idea."

This made Adrien laugh, she'd had the same reaction he did, but she said it aloud.

"I bet my secrets are bigger!" He said winking at her with a sheepish smile. Marinette snorted again.

"I seriously doubt that." Marinette's secret involved being a superhero. She was laughing to tears internally: I doubt you can top that, Mr. Agreste.

"Okay, let's make another deal." He said, feeling incredibly nervous.

She looked at him, caution gleaming in her eyes.

"I'm listening."

"One day, I will tell you my biggest secret. In return, you tell me yours." He offered with a trembling voice. That made Marinette wonder what kind of secret Adrien had that made his voice tremble at the thought of sharing. Now she wanted to know it, the curiosity was eating at her. But she could never be a part of such a pact. She couldn't even tell Chat the truth, how could she tell another person? Even that person being Adrien... The only person that knew was Alya. Marinette shook her head.

"No. I'm sorry, but I can't do that." He raised his eyebrows, "My biggest secret can never be revealed because it's not only mine."

He nodded, thinking. She didn't want him to know her biggest secret, not because she didn't trust him, but because it wasn't just hers to tell. But what kind of secret was she keeping? She thought it wasn't worth trading for another biggest secret. But then again, she probably thought that his biggest secret was that he liked barbies or something like that. Something big but without importance.

"I will make you another deal, then." He said and Marinette looked at him, curious. "When the time is right, I will tell you my secret. Free of charge."

Marinette smirked.

"How is that a deal? What's in it for you?"

You.

"You will know that I truly, fully trust you." He said with a nervous smile.

"Okay." She said, "Then if and when you do tell me, I will ponder if I should tell you my secret. But, I'm adding a rule to this deal." Adrien smiled, he had added the rule not to tell anyone about the rebound a few weeks ago, "You won't judge me and I won't judge you."

Adrien's eyes almost popped out of his head. Was she serious? He would never stop loving her for her secrets! But she had reason to judge him and to be mad at him when he told her... This rule would benefit him way more than her.

"Okay?" She asked, uncertain.

He took a deep breath.

"Mari, you might want to judge me when I tell you everything and you should have the right to do it." He said with sadness crossing his features.

Marinette shook her head.

"No. I won't judge. Everyone has the right to have a secret, as long as you don't to it to cause harm. And if you have one you must have a good reason." She got up and extended her hand to him, "Deal?"

He looked into her eyes and saw that she was dead serious about this, so, with his stomach twisting, he took her hand and shook it.

"Deal" he whispered. She smiled broadly.

"Good" Then she focused on finishing his costume, leaving him with his thoughts.

After a while, he heard her say: "It's done! Wanna put it on again?" He looked at her and her smile hit him like the morning sun. He was speechless for a second. "Umm... Adrien?" She called with her smile fading a bit.

"Umm-Yes! Sure" She handled him the costume and he smirked, "Do I have to do it in the bathroom?"

"Yes!" She exclaimed. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she pushed him outside of her room.

He laughed and obliged.

When he was out of her room, she sighed and sat on the floor, with the wall supporting her back. She hugged her knees and placed her chin on them.

"Tikki, men will be the end of me."

Tikki giggled quietly, peeking out from behind a book in Marinette's bookshelf.

"Adrien has some Chat Noir moments, doesn't he?" She said coming out of hiding and facing her chosen.

"He does!" Marinette said, exasperated. "I totally have a type! I wish this wouldn't be so hard..."

Tikki giggled once again. Marinette would find out soon enough that she did not have a 'type'.

"If I decide to make it official with Adrien I will have to stop thinking of Chat." Marinette continued, "Rebounding is one thing, but dating is another..." She groaned "I feel so bad. Why are things so difficult!?"

"It's okay, Marinette." Said Tikki, "Everything will work out just fine, you'll see!"

"Yeah, right. Only a miracle could make this mess right."

Tikki smiled to herself and hid when she heard Adrien coming back.

He opened the door, Marinette looked up and gulped at the sight of him. It suited him. It was perfect, really. She got up and walked around him to assess from every angle. There was nothing left to change, and since she was having trouble finding her voice, she nodded approvingly. Adrien looked perfect for the part of Chat Noir and it was seriously messing with her head.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

"It's amazing, really." He stated. Marinette smiled broadly.

"Thank you." She said after clearing her throat.

"It's the truth. Your creations are, each and every one of them, masterpieces." He paused for effect, then he held her hands and smirked, "I have two surprises for you."

Marinette raised her eyebrows and smiled, unsure.

"You do?"

"Yes. The first one is not really a surprise, but you will know it before everyone does, so it's an advantage."

Marinette looked at him waiting.

"Okay... So? ... What is it?"

He chuckled.

"My dad is coming and he told me he wanted to talk to you especially."

Marinette's heart started pounding.

What?

Did she hear that right?

Gabriel Agreste wanted to talk to her? About her creations? She screamed internally.

OH-MY-GOODNESS-OH-MY-GOODNESS-OH-MY-GOODNESS-

She started to feel a bit dizzy. She noticed Adrien was looking at her worriedly. She smiled, not sure why the dizziness was getting worse.

When Adrien saw her tumbling and face turning red he almost died of fright. He thought that something really bad was happening to her...

Until he noticed she wasn't-

"Breathe, Marinette!" He said holding her by her shoulders and shaking gently.

She did as he said.

With the excitement, she had forgotten how to breathe.

For a minute all she did was focusing on her breathing. The dizziness disappeared, but Adrien's face was still worried.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm better than OKAY! Oh, MY GOODNESS!" She laughed and hugged him making the tiny bell jingle.

He chuckled slightly, still a bit worried.

"Are you sure your father said he wanted to talk to me?" She asked quietly, in a totally different tone she had used a second before. He looked at her. She was second guessing herself again.

"Yes." He tried to tell her with his eyes too.

She took a deep breath and nodded.

"Marinette, you will do fine. More than fine, actually." He corrected, "Father usually doesn't come to this kind of competition because he thinks there's nothing worthy of seeing. But if he is coming and asked about you, I guaranty it's because he his very interested in your work. I would risk it and say he is coming especially for you."

Marinette gulped, feeling the weight of that kind of responsibility on her shoulders, but also the exciting possibility of having Gabriel Agreste as a mentor or even as a rival.

"Thank you so much for telling me, Adrien." She said, her smile brightening up the whole room.

"You are welcome."

"Okay, now you can take it off and put your clothes back on. I don't want it to get too wrinkled." She said clapping her hands.

"Wait! I have two surprises, remember?"

"Oh," She giggled, "I forgot everything after you told me your father was coming to the ball." She said, making Adrien laugh.

"I could tell." He inhaled deep. He picked up his jeans from her bed and took a little black box from one of the pockets. Marinette's eyes widened. He had been wanting to give her that from the moment she had said that she was going to be Ladybug. He just hadn't found the courage.

"No." She said with her index finger up.

"No? You didn't even see it!" He said chuckling.

"I don't care what it is. You will not spend money on me, Adrien Agreste. I will not accept it. You will go to the store and return it." She said crossing her arms. He laughed.

"I didn't buy this in a store and I promise you I didn't spend a dime." He said, moving closer to her with the little velvet box in his hands. She raised her eyebrow. "I've been wanting to give you this for you to wear at the ball." He opened the box and she gasped.

It was a beautiful pendant. It had a small red stone that looked like a ruby and some silver embroidery around it. It was delicate and stunning. It would look beyond amazing with her dress.

She shook her head slowly.

"No." She repeated with a knot forming in her throat. She just couldn't accept it.

He sighed and held one of her hands with his free hand.

"Why not? I told you I didn't spend a dime!"

"Because look at it! You may not have spent money, but someone did! I'm not accepting it. That's probably a gold necklace with a ruby!" She was hiper-venting.

"Actually," He said, calmly "I'm pretty sure it's silver and a shiny red stone, but what if it was a ruby? What if I wanted to give you a ruby?" He said looking at the necklace and then his eyes fell upon hers.

"I could never accept that." She said quietly.

He was looking at her so intensely that it took her breath away.

"Just so you know," He was dead serious, "This necklace is more important to me than any ruby, or diamond or all the money in the world." Marinette could see tears forming in his eyes.

"Why?" She whispered.

"It was my mum's." He shrugged, looking back at the necklace. "It's been closed in a drawer for far too long." She was about to refuse again, when he said, "I want you to have it." Their eyes met again.

"Why?" She repeated.

He smiled.

At least she didn't say 'no' again.

"That's a secret." The smile faded and he gulped. "It would mean the world to me if you wore it. Please accept it." Seeing she didn't answer, he added, "It will look stunning in your dress."

"You haven't seen my dress." She stated with her heart beating fast. He was giving her his dead mother necklace. She couldn't accept it, but how could she refuse when he was so close to her, clouding all of her judgment and about to cry?

"But I know it's red and that it will match." He said smirking like he was telling her 'she knew that wasn't the point'.

Marinette started to shake her head once again. She couldn't-

"Don't say no!" He whined.

She chuckled humorlessly.

"What else can I say!? It's your mum's! I can't accept your mum's necklace!"

He closed his eyes and frowned. His forehead very close to hers. Then he opened his eyes like he had an idea.

"Can't you wear it for the ball?" And before she could deny it again, "Just for the ball! It's borrowed only! You will give it back once the ball is over!"

She looked at him, unsure. She was having trouble with his proximity, but now her heart was beating fast for a different reason. Should she accept and wear it for the ball only? What if she lost it? Clumsy Marinette could totally lose the necklace! What then?

"What if something happens to it while it's in my possession?"

"Nothing will happen, but if it does happen, it's better than having it closed in a drawer." The corner of his mouth raised into a pensive smile, "My mum had a thing for adventures, you know? She would prefer that necklace to go on an adventure than to stay put forever."

Marinette laughed. Necklaces going on adventures was something that she would like to see, really. She took a deep breath.

"Okay. I will BORROW it. I will return it to you on the 1st of November."

He smiled and hugged her, lifting her off the ground.

"Thank you." He said after putting her down. She nodded, smiling.

"Thank you" She whispered, praying to every God on earth to push him away from her, otherwise, she would not be held responsible for kissing him right there.

He did step away and she made a huge effort not to complain. He picked up the necklace and placed it around her neck.

"Was the story of the adventurous necklace what changed your mind?" He asked smiling broadly after finishing tying the pendant.

She giggled looking at herself in the mirror. This was Adrien's mother necklace. It would look stunning with her dress. She also felt braver with it. She smirked at him.

"You will never know."

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for your support! As you can see, the weekend of writing paid off! I was mostly writing jibberish at first, but then things started to get better and eventually the crazy longing to write returned. So... Yay for that! Ahahah

I'm back on my tracks! Next chapter I hope to start with the Halloween Ball, so hold on tight!

Hope you liked the chapter! (=^ ◡ ^=)

AuriMoon*