To respond to a guest, ironically, with Veela being infamous in using their charming abilities to manipulate humans to get what they want; a Veela can't take being charmed and having someone try and manipulate their feelings. In the end the charm/potion won't work on the Veela, but it does leave them ill for a while with their body fighting off and rejecting the invading influence.
After the episode Adrien went through, the blond found himself to be stuck between confusion and delight. Marinette was acting a bit odd with him, getting suddenly flustered, hurrying away from when he drew near, her face taking on a curious yet adorable shade of red. She wasn't scared of him, he knew that. And she certainly wasn't upset with him. If anything, the feelings he caught from Marinette sent excitement and joy through him.
She was excited at the sight of him, of his presence being near. She was happy to see him and it sent a warmth through his core and filling him up. It made him want to reach out, pull her into a hug, be close and with her.
And that's where the confusion rang in.
Despite these feelings of mirth, she fled from him, she stumbled verbally, and she seemed even clumsier than before.
She seemed to avoid him, too flustered to be near him for too long.
The Veela was at a loss on what to do about this.
Instinct pushed for him to pursue and be close with her, nestle her, have her in his arms and to just be with her. But he could logically see that was no good. She would just run from him or wind up overwhelmed by his closeness.
What confused Adrien all the more was that he didn't know what sparked this.
Marinette was fine before, though not this jittery with him.
What happened that changed it?
"I think it's because you overwhelmed her with cuddles," Nino offered his friend as Adrien sat with a pout, trying to figure this out.
Adrien gave a start, turning to Nino with wide eyes. "We cuddled?" When did this happen?
"When you had food poisoning," Nino answered, giving him an odd look. "You don't remember?"
Adrien went red. "Nope," he confirmed.
He, he does remember getting sick and feeling ill, does faintly remember warmth and one of the most amazing smells. But that was about it. He had cuddled with Marinette? That certainly does explain a lot.
Nino watched as Adrien became a red mess, brow raised.
"You know bro," Nino brought up, "you should ask Marinette out already. You guys are practically a couple anyway."
Adrien emitted a garbled sound.
"Yeah I have no idea what that means."
Adrien released a sound between a moan and sigh.
"You do know there's no way Marinette's not going to say no, right?" Nino asked.
Adrien turned to him, considering Nino's words. Adrien couldn't see Nino being wrong. The sensations he picked up from Marinette backed that yes, his feeling were mutual. That she liked him. But what made this confusing was that she fled from him.
How was he supposed to handle that?
What does he do about that?
Adrien turned when he heard a sound, his green eyes locking onto Lila as she came into sight. Lila froze as her gaze met his and quickly hurried away as Adrien narrowed his eyes at her. He still didn't quite know what happened to cause such a reaction, but he had a feeling it had to do with the drink Lila gave him. And with her avoiding him, this backed his suspicion that his episode had something to do with her.
If she approached him again, the half Veela won't be so patient this time.
Nino nudged him, drawing Adrien's attention back to him.
Looking him straight in the eye, Nino ordered, "Talk to Marinette. Get this out of the way. This mutual pining is taking too long. It's not funny anymore."
Adrien smacked him. "My love life isn't for your amusement!"
"Yes it is, and I've done my waiting. I want my ship to sail."
Adrien gave him a flat stare.
Nino gave him another nudge. "So talk to her."
Adrien was still left asking how.
Especially since she was inclined to flee from him right now.
How does he get past that?
"You're being ridiculous," Alya sighed.
"I know," Marinette moaned from where she was lying on the bed.
Alya poked her head. "So Adrien gives you a little kiss and you flip out."
"I wasn't expecting it!" Marinette protested, rising up to turn to Alya, waving her hands about. "He just came out of nowhere and..." Marinette went red.
Alya in turn rolled her eyes. "You're being dramatic," she said.
"I know," Marinette sighed.
"So what are you going to do?"
Marinette made a strangled noise.
"You going to avoid him the rest of the year?"
"No."
"It seems like you are so far," Alya pointed out.
Tikki hopped up onto Marinette's bed, mewing cutely, ears perked up and tail swishing about. Marinette sighed, looking up to her familiar. She reached out, scratching her cat's chin, making her purr in delight, leaning about so Marinette can get the good spots.
"I won't," Marinette murmured, humoring Tikki. "Just... need to get ready for it."
Alya scoffed. "What's there to get ready for?! You go to him, talk it out. He swoons. You swoon back. You two are finally a couple, and this pining can come to an end."
Marinette gave Alya a flat look.
She jumped when Tikki nosed her, chirping.
Alya flopped back, bouncing the bed and disturbing Tikki, making the familiar shoot her an annoyed look. "Just get it over with," Alya bid.
"I will," Marinette promised, stretching out, her cheeks warm.
She really did need to talk to Adrien.
Adrien hurried along, trying to keep up with Plagg as the cat speed walked along. The lazy familiar liked to take walks around Beauxbatons, and Adrien had to hurry after the cat, less he tries to go and pester some of his comrades for cheese.
That was a big no no for cats.
Even a magical one like Plagg.
Adrien wasn't going to take any chances.
So set was he to keep up with Plagg, he almost tripped over his own familiar when Plagg suddenly stopped. Adrien stumbled around him, trying to keep from actually stepping on his cat. "What the heck Plagg?" Adrien proclaimed, huffing at the cat.
Plagg's ear twitched towards him, but that cat just peered out, observing.
Adrien looked over, curious about what his familiar was watching.
There sitting on the statue of a winged horse was Marinette, drawing away at her sketchbook with Tikki on her shoulders.
Adrien froze, heart skipping excited beats.
He looked down to Plagg, seeing the cat turn and peer at him lazily.
"Do you think I should give it a try?" Adrien asked. Would Marinette talk to him? Or will she run? Adrien didn't know. He was nervous of the possibility.
Plagg yawned.
He trotted over and climbed up, joining them.
Marinette made a displeased noise, moving about as Plagg slid into her lap, obscuring her view of her sketchbook. The black cat was set to be nestled on her, and would not work around Marinette so she can draw. Marinette huffed, pouting at the smug familiar.
"I swear," she muttered.
"He's always been a bit impossible."
Marinette gave a start, looking down to see Adrien peering up at her with an eager smile, a small bit of shyness in it. Marinette went red. A bit of pink bloomed over Adrien's own cheeks, his smile growing. He waved. Marinette looked away, lips pursed. Then she shuffled to the side, making room on the statue.
Adrien eagerly joined her up there, preening as he settled beside her, pleased to be close to her again.
"Hey," he offered.
"Hi," she returned.
They sat still for a moment, just enjoying each other's touch. Tikki rose up and crawled onto Adrien's shoulders, purring as Adrien reached up and scratched her chin. Marinette in turn scratched Plagg's ear, scoffing as the black cat stretched out across her lap.
"So," Adrien started.
Marinette paused, flustered. "Um."
"Did I do something?" he asked. "I notice that you've been avoiding me..."
Marinette went redder, Adrien blushed a little, catching onto her flustered state. "You did," she mumbled.
Adrien froze, eyes widening. He turned to Marinette, alarmed. "I did something?"
Marinette blushed harder, pulling Plagg up and cuddling him to her chest. "Yeah..."
"What did I do?!"
"You um... kissed me..." Marinette mumbled out, petting Plagg to distract herself from the little reveal. Though she did pause as the cat stretched out happily, and unwittingly knocked her pencil down to the ground. She stared down at it, lips pursed. Damnit.
Adrien blinked, soaking this in. He had quite a startwhen it clicked in his head, making Marinette and the cats jump with him. "I did what when?!" Adrien demanded, voice cracking a little.
"When you were sick," she confirmed, reaching up to tug at her ear. Plagg emitted something of a scoff, then stretched out on Marinette's lap, set to relax and ignore them. Tikki flicked her tail, curling it around Adrien's neck, purring and kneading on his shoulders, blue eyes locked on the two.
"Oh feathers," Adrien muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, petting Tikki instead and blushing. "I, I'm sorry, I don't know what posse— well I do..." Adrien went redder.
Marinette glanced to him.
He peered away. He breathed in and turned to her, grinning despite his flustered state. He licked his lips, starting, "Marinette?"
Marinette squeaked.
"I'm a V—"
Marinette rushed out, "I know your a Veela."
Adrien almost fell off the statue. "What?"
"Sorry!" she cried out, "I found out! Figured it out and... I'm sorry." At his gaping stare, she rambled on, "I thought about telling you a few times but then decided to wait for you to tell me and—"
He set a hand on her shoulder, stalling her.
She looked to him, wide eyed. Catching onto his silent question, she answered sheepishly, "Since second year."
Adrien gaped at her.
That long.
Marinette knew since then?
And she kept the secret since then. And wasn't put off at all by him being a halfbreed, which he knew since she supported and liked Ivan, but still it warmed his core.
"Sorry," she uttered again.
"No, no," he reassured, "it's ok. I, I don't mind. I'm actually happy that you know." He smiled, cheeks pink. "Saves me from explaining."
She gave him a small smile.
He took her hand, bringing it up to kiss her knuckles, peeking back to her.
Marinette stared back wide eyed.
Against her knuckles, Adrien murmured, "There is something you don't know."
Marinette blinked, raising a brow. "Something I don't know?" she echoed.
He gave her a shy nod. "Marinette. You, you're my soulmate."
She blinked, staring at him.
Soulmate?
That's right, Veelas do have soulmates, something she didn't really read much into the few times. Those were rare for Veelas right? And apparently she was Adrien's soulm... soul...
Adrien shifted, unsure, watching Marinette just stare at him. "Marinette?" he asked in concern.
Marinette emitted a strangled sound and next Adrien and Tikki knew, she shoved him off the statue.
Marinette gasped as the half Veela and her familiar both yelped. "Oh Merlin's beard! I'm sorry! Are you ok?! I don't know what came over me!" She rushed out, disturbing Plagg as she leaned over.
"We're ok," Adrien reassured with a laugh.
Tikki echoed him, making grumbling mews.
Adrien sat up, grinning as he looked up at his blushing soulmate, her officially aware of what he was and now she knew and now...
He felt they can only move forward hence forth.
He felt secure.
He felt happy.
And as Marinette slid down to help him up, Adrien felt like preening.
She knew.
And as he stood, she didn't let go of his hand, staring at him, taking him in. "Soulmates," she whispered.
"Yeah," Adrien sighed, then faltered. "You ok with it?"
She peered at him, then she brought his hand up, laying a kiss on his knuckles, a shy smile on her lips.
It was Adrien's turn to go redder than a tomato.
He had a good feeling for their future.
Near them, Tikki sat contently, pleased. Above, Plagg just stretched out, ignoring the humans below.
What a good day this was.
Heads up warning! No idea if next chapter will still be them in Beauxbatons, there could be some really far skips into the future. I am kind of tempted to see if I could get the next chapter as the last. Either one or two more chapters, but I'll be aiming for one.
Sorry if anyone wanted more of Ruffled or not liking me rushing this end but I am ready to be done with Ruffled. I want to see it complete and work on other stuff.
When Ruffled is done, I'll aim to get The Weight of Living and Rise of Mariposa updated next.