Marinette stood at the start of the catwalk and closed her eyes. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her hips and she took a deep breath. She opened her eyes with a smile and walked down the catwalk with one foot in front of the other, swaying her hips.
Adrien stood with one foot turned out and watched her from the curtain. She posed and smiled at the camera men. They took photos of her and she held her hand out behind her and Adrien came out first. He took long strides and did his casual model walk with the rest of the models following behind him. Marinette let them pose behind her in a group pose. Adrien watched Marinette from his periferal. She beamed and blushed at all of the attention.
Gabriel walked up to the curtain and watched from afar. Nathalie walked up to him. "How's it look sir?"
"I'll be damned. She actually did it. She might make a good designer after all." He rubbed his chin in thought.
Nathalie smiled next to him hugging her tablet. "Adrien looks truly happy, sir."
"He does." Gabriel didn't like admitting it, but there was no denying it. "That boy is smitten."
Nathalie looked over to see her boss happy and proud.
The models came through the curtain and Marinette followed behind. She jumped and her eyes went wide when she saw Gabriel.
"Gabriel?!" Her heart beat faster and Adrien wrapped an arm around her hip.
"You've done well. You even got my son to pose in a more dignified way. I've never seen such amazing work from my son." Gabriel smiled at her and brought her in for a hug. Adrien reluctantly let her go and his mouth fell open at them hugging once more.
"I don't understand." Adrien was shocked.
Gabriel let her go and held her by her shoulders. "Good work, Marinette. I look forward to working with you more."
He patted Adrien on the shoulder and walked away. "I'll see you two at the after party."
Adrien's mouth fell open and his whole body turned to follow him.
"Come on, let's get dressed for the party." Marinette beamed and dragged him off to the dressing room to change into party attire.
Adrien buttoned his sky blue button down shirt and rolled the sleeves to his elbows. He slipped on tan pants and did up the silver buckled on his black belt. Marinette slipped on a red short cocktail dress. It was tights around her waist and went out at her hips. It had one strap that went around her left shoulder. She lifted her hair and turned her back to Adrien. He smiled and fluttered kisses up her spine to her neck.
"Just zip it, Chat Blanc." She nudged him away from her.
He chuckled and zipped the back of her dress up, grazing his fingers along her spine at the same time. She shivered at his touch and bit her plump bottom lip.
"I'd love to take this off you later." He brushed her neck with his soft lips and her knees about buckled out from under her.
"S-stop being s-so good at- that." She began to stutter and couldn't catch her breath. The room suddenly heated up around them and he let her go, lingering his hands along her waistline.
Adrien fetched her black stilettos and held them out to her. "I really do hate high heels. Too dangerous."
Marinette gave him a glare and yanked them from his hands. "Well, they look good with this dress, so mer." She stuck her tongue out at him with her eyes closed like a child, her hands on her waist.
Adrien leaned in and caught her tongue with his and yanked her close to him. He kissed her deeper and passionately. She hummed and melted against him, dropping her shoes to the floor. He slapped her ass and grabbed it.
"Adrien!" She scolded him with her lips parted and leaned away from him.
He shrugged. "What can I say? It's the Chat in me."
Marinette suddenly burst out into laughter and tears fell from her eyes. "You're ruining my makeup!" She ran her fingers beneath her eyes to try and catch her eyeliner and mascara from running.
She picked up her shoes and sat down to slip them on. Before long, they were out of the room and on their way to the after party.
They climbed into one of the Agreste cars and showed up at the venue. Cameras flashed outside the car and there were crowds of reporters and photographers.
Adrien rubbed the back of her hand. "You ready?"
Marinette took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I think so. But what if they ask me questions? What if they want to know fabrics or brands or…"
"Mari." Adrien grabbed her face in his hands. "Baby. You're the brand. You made the designs. You orchestrated it. My father put it in your hands. You got this. I'm right here. I'll always be right here." He placed a chaste kiss on her pink lips.
She nodded and rested her forehead on his. "Ready."
"Let's go." Adrien opened the door to flashing lights and held his hand out to her.
The flashing camera lights shined around him like a halo and all she could see was the most perfect, beautiful smile on his face with his hand outstretched for her. Her lips parted. How had she gotten so lucky? She took his hand and held her black clutch to her side. He tucked her arm in his and they walked down the carpet posing for cameras along the way.
They made their way down a carpet, being asked questions. Marinette was relieved when she began to understand that they weren't too hard to answer.
"Are you together?" A reporter held a mic out to them and Marinette was thrown off guard. It wasn't a fashion question like the rest. It was a personal one.
"I-" Marinette's words caught in her throat and Adrien tugged her closer to his side.
He smiled his perfectly practiced model smile and answered for her. "Yes. This is my girlfriend. Isn't she just stunning tonight?" He spun her around and dipped her, as cameras flashed.
Marinette's eyes went wide and she got lost in his emerald eyes as lights poured on them. Adrien winked at her with a smile and brought his lips down to hers, as more lights went off like makeshift fireworks.
He stood her back up and guided her by the small of her back down the carpet to the safety of the venue. Once, inside he grabbed two glasses of champagne from a cocktail waitress that was walking around with a round black tray on her hand.
Adrien handed it over to Marinette and she nursed it, nervously.
He leaned into her ear and whispered. "Reporters always want the newest scoop. Anything to make a quick buck. A romance of a wealthy heir to a huge fashion brand is a big deal for them. Unfortunately, you're going to have to get used to this if you're with me."
Marinette nodded and blushed looking up into his eyes. "I-" She was still in shock. "I thought they would only ask about my designs and the show- I never thought- t-that." She could barely get her words out.
Adrien shrugged. "I've been asked that question for years, Bugaboo. They've been trying to catch me dating someone."
She shot him a look. "You've dated before?"
Adrien smirked and whispered in her ear. "Wouldn't you like to know…"
Marinette backed up from him and bumped into someone. "Sorry." The random man wiped his suit coat of his spilt drink.
"I'm so sorry, Monsieur." Adrien handed the man a napkin to clean his coat off with. "She's a little clumsy at times."
The man grumbled and walked away from them.
"Only you. It's always only been you, m'Lady." Adrien sighed and gave into her look of shock. "You can relax now." He chuckled a musical laugh and she joined in before taking another sip of her drink.
Stay by Stephen and Lindsey Cook began to play. Adrien held out his hand. "Care to dance?"
Marinette set her drink on a black tray that was being walked by and Adrien did as well. She took his hand and he walked her back with little steps to the beat. He pulled her close, rested a hand on her hip and held her other hand into the air.
Here's a little light of mine
That I would never have dared to find
If you and I didn't collide
All I wanna do is stay.
You've taken my by surprise
You brought me back to life
You didn't even have to try….
All I wanna do is stay.
He swayed his hips and she swayed hers, as he walked them forwards and backwards. He then spun her and went back to walking forwards and backwards with his hands back on her.
Will never change…
The nights we stayed up
All I wanna do is stay.
With confidence in your eyes.
You've taken off my disguise.
I'll never leave that behind…
All I wanna do is stay.
She peered up at him and watched the string lights in the place catch the yellows in his eyes and saw a spark. She blushed and he smirked down at her. He spun her out and pulled her back in expertly. She was having the time of her life and it all felt like a dream. She never wanted to wake up from it.
Song: Stay by Stephen (Feat: Lindey Cook)
