Nineteen: Growing Up

"Stop fidgeting," I admonished.

"Sorry."

Chat froze in position and I stepped in to finish attaching the corsage on the forward section of his belt; it was about the only portion of his costume I'd been able to hook anything to – and I'd tried a million variations. Being a super suit and all, it had resisted pins and such, leaving me with a simple belt clip from a cell phone that I'd superglued onto the back of the arrangement.

"There," I said triumphantly as I stood back to appreciate the effort.

Chat turned in my mirror. "Well," he said a bit dubiously, "it compliments my eyes…"

I laughed for the flowers were deep red roses in a bed of white baby's breath, wrapped in a netting that had small black dots at random intervals. I grinned a bit wider at the inside joke as I looked up at my partner of many years now, partially willing him to make the connection while reluctantly knowing he shouldn't. It was hard to believe we'd been together for more than five years now, and a couple for three. My eighteenth birthday had recently come and gone, which in typical Chat fashion, had been celebrated quietly in a nook atop the Eiffel Tower with a checked tablecloth, my first official glass of wine and some of the best Italian I'd ever had.

As it had also been close to our anniversary as a couple, he'd presented me with two gifts: the first, for my birthday, was the latest MacBook Pro pre-loaded with all the design software I was going to need at University that fall (and no small amount of Chat action photos he'd downloaded from the Ladyblog). I'd been agog at the expensive gift, but he assured me his alter-ego had saved his Euros from his internship the previous summer. I'd barely had time to digest this little nugget before he'd presented me with a small box in honor of our anniversary. It had contained a tiny Le Chat Noir pendant, though it had been customized slightly with small garnets in place of the eyes – a nod to the actual Chat Noir I was dating.

I fingered the pendant as Chat stepped down from the dais in front of my mirrors; I'd decided to wear it to the graduation party taking place shortly over at Le Grand Hotel; my parents were throwing a pre-party just below us in the residence, knowing that Chat would be unable to attend the bigger function later that evening.

As Chat had been coy regarding his own academic status, we were technically celebrating my own departure from Lycée, but I'd become certain in the final semester that he was a fellow student; all too often, he'd popped up exactly when I'd needed him, especially during hard or trying days when having a feline close at hand to cheer me up was a welcome option. Despite how empathetic my kitty was, I had a hard time believing he could sense my down moments from a Lycée on the far side of Paris.

It didn't hurt that Chat would also be right there when Ladybug needed him, too.

What was becoming a new development for me, though, was the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, I wasn't quite as wedded to my "keep our identities secret" Golden Rule as I thought I'd been. More than once in that final semester, I'd caught myself scanning my classmates, trying to see if any of them felt like likely candidates to be Chat. A few were close, but Chat was so… Chat, that it was hard to ascribe some of those personality traits to anyone else. Though in truth, Chat had often told me his civilian alter-ego was not really him, per se.

Chat caught the smile on my face and put a claw to my chin. "What are you thinking?" he asked.

"About how fast time has flown," I said, somewhat honestly.

"That it has," he smiled.

"I'm glad we have the summer to adjust to being adults," I added as I took him by the paw and started toward the trap door.

"Are you still staying here?" he asked as he leaned down to open the portal for me. "I figured you'd want to spread your wings a bit."

I looked at him, wondering if there was more to his choice of words and found just a questioning smile. "I am," I answered. "As well as the Bakery is doing, it'll still be pretty tight sending me to University. Staying at home saves on the living expenses for sure, and I can continue to work here at the Bakery with my folks."

Chat nodded and followed me down. "I'm sure your parents don't mind in the least."

"No," I laughed.

We found my parents in the living room, standing next to a tripod with our camera. Despite my protests that we were still trying to keep our relationship out of the public eye, my father had insisted on memorializing my graduation – hence the corsage for Chat, and the beautiful bouquet of flowers Chat had given me when he'd arrived. Quickly, my father ushered the two of us in front of the camera.

"A little closer," he said as he looked through the viewfinder.

"If you insist," Chat purred as he wrapped an arm around my waist and gently pulled me into is chest.

"Any excuse," I whispered through my smile.

"I'm just following instructions, Purrincess," he whispered back, but his tail wrapping around my ankle, just out of camera range, gave lie to the statement.

"Turn left," my father said.

Dutifully, Chat shifted both of us with practiced ease, seeming to know exactly what angle my poor father really wanted.

"That's… exactly it," he said as he triggered the shutter. "Smile!" he said belatedly as he took another series.

Ten very long minutes later, I was certain my father had filled every last megabyte on his storage card. And yet, Chat politely indulged his need to save the moment – long after my own patience had been frayed. Gratefully, I sagged onto the couch after it was over, with Chat snuggled into me.

"Well done," he said quietly after ensuring my parents were out of earshot. Glancing again toward the kitchen, he quickly nuzzled me with his nose, eliciting a slight gasp from me that produced a wolffish smile from him.

"Seriously?" I breathed as I tried to shove him away. Instead he slid further onto my lap.

"Yes," he said, deliberately answering the wrong question. "Photo shoots can be trying. You did brilliantly."

"There's hope for me on the runway, then?" I laughed as I batted him away again.

"I wouldn't go that far," he chuckled as he pawed at where I'd bopped him on the nose.

"And what does a cat like you know about runways?"

"Only what I read," he said slyly. His ears flicked and faster than humanly possible, he was sitting sedately next to me, arm casually draped around me, legs crossed.

Maman appeared with the first of what I knew were multiple trays of food and began the actual mini-party with just the four of us. As we shared the food and memories of my school experience, though, I remained cognizant of the time and at quarter to the hour, gently reminded them I had to go.

Chat stood and hugged my mother, and then without a pause, my father as well. "Thank you for the food," he said. "And the chance to have something of a celebration with Mari." He looked down at me and, with a sly smile that worried me somewhat, continued. "I'll be with you in more ways than one tonight, Purrincess."

I arched an eyebrow. "What in—"

"But we really should get you there," he interrupted after looking at his baton. "Chat's Air Express is ready and waiting."

Not long afterward, Chat was carrying me across the rooftops of Paris, humming happily as he did so. Gently, he set us down in an alleyway near to the hotel, and I braced myself with one hand on his shoulder as I slid my high heels on. "Wow," he purred. "You look extraordinarily beautiful tonight."

"You're a bit biased," I reminded him as I kissed him. With the heels, I was nearly his height and for once didn't need to be on my tip-toes to reach him.

"And insanely jealous at all the guys waiting for your entrance in there," he smiled.

"Is that what you meant earlier? You're going to be keeping a close eye on my movements, are you?"

"In a manner of speaking," he laughed before kissing me once more. "Have a great time," he said as he backed away and readied his baton. "Call when you want your pickup."

"Of course," I replied as he lifted himself into the sky and was gone.

I crossed the street as quickly as I could in heels and a dress and entered the massive foyer of the hotel. There was something of a crowd, and it took a moment for me to get my bearings; our Lycée was one of many celebrating that evening, making use of all of the ballrooms in the massive hotel. It meant the space was awash with students and family members dressed in their best – and also made everyone look the same, making it hard to pick out any of my fellow classmates. As I was losing hope of finding any sign of where to go, a gentle hand inserted itself around my arm.

"Mari," came a very familiar voice.

I turned and saw Adrien's deep emerald eyes looking back at me. He was in standard House of Gabriel formal attire, of course, looking every bit as elegant as the magazine covers he frequently graced; what was unusual was the mischievous smile on his face. "Adrien!" I said as I looked around him. "Are you actually alone?"

"Eighteen and fancy free," he smiled. "My bodyguard retired today, and gave my father a piece of his mind while he was at it." Adrien's eyes narrowed in laughter. "It was the most delightful thing I've ever seen. I found out his name, too."

"He has a name?"

"Yes. I'm going to stay in touch with him, actually; when I'm running House of Gabriel, I'll need a good assistant and he more than fits the bill."

My eyes widened. "You? Running your father's business?"

He nodded. "Oh yeah. But that's down the road – first I need to get my degree. Then the hostile takeover," he laughed.

"But – you model! How on earth will you have time to run a company?"

Adrien started the two of us toward the steps to the mezzanine. "I've only got another five or eight years in the business, Mari," he said honestly. "Ten if I am really lucky. Someone younger – and hotter – will replace me. So I've been planning accordingly."

I looked at my friend anew. "I had no idea."

"You work on the other side of the business," he smiled. "Your talents will never fall out of favor, whereas one little wrinkle will end my career faster than a deflated souffle."

"Harsh."

"It's the reality. The good news is, I can move into my dorm room next week, so I am officially on my own."

I frowned. "That's a bit early, isn't it?"

"It's not a moment too soon," he smiled again. "Believe me. Father wasn't very happy about it, but since I'm paying my own way, he didn't have much to say about it."

"You're what?!" I cried. Like everyone in our school, I was aware Adrien came from money – though you'd be hard pressed to know it the way he comported himself.

Adrien smiled wider and pulled me toward the railing overlooking the lobby. "I've not told anyone yet, but I scored a multi-year modelling contract for a firm that does catalogues here in Europe and over in the States. In addition to my normal work for House of Gabriel, it more than covers my education – and then some." He paused. "And if I'm really lucky, it will add a bit of international demand for my services once I graduate."

"That's insane!"

"I know," he smiled again. "Hopefully I can keep the candle burning at both ends a bit longer," he added meaningfully. Adrien then looked thoughtful. "I've been so busy, though, it left me without a date for this evening."

Even though I was seeing Chat, I'd kept up with my friend's life, and was aware that he'd remained studiously detached from any romantic relationships since – well, to be honest, there was really only his brief run with Kagami while we were still at Dupont. I smiled a bit at the thought of her; I knew she was planning a gap year in South America, since, as Ladybug, I'd made the rounds of my holders to see if they were staying in Paris after graduation. Reluctantly I'd had cross my friend off the list – at least until she returned, assuming I'd not found a replacement for the Dragon Miraculous.

But now that I thought about it, Adrien had never been seen with anyone hanging off an arm in public. At least, no one that wasn't also a paid model at whatever event they were both working at the time. It made me a bit sad to think he'd never found anyone after Kagami, and I privately hoped University would change his situation.

Still, the prospect of being his date for the evening – given how long I'd crushed on him – brought a warm smile to my face. "It's your lucky night, then, sunshine," I said. "For my boyfriend couldn't make it. I'd enjoy the company, if you don't mind."

Adrien smiled wider. "I was hoping you'd say that," he replied. "I didn't want to go in alone. And with Nino marrying Alya this summer, I would have been more than a fifth wheel hanging with them."

"Are you going to the wedding?"

"I'm the Best Man!" he replied happily before sobering. "But if I'm seen with you… won't Chat be jealous?"

"Of course he will," I smiled. "So don't make any sudden moves on me."

"I'll try to keep that in mind," he replied, and for just a moment, I thought I saw a classic Chat smile.