It was unsurprisingly hard to find an open restaurant or anything, really, to grab a meal, even though it was lunch time; But Adrien and Felix were determined, and their stubbornness only grew alongside their hunger as they walked the streets of Paris. They finally found a place at the Chinese neighborhood, and both of them decided to have a hot soup after Adrien failed to trick Felix into getting something he knew his cousin wouldn't like out of the non-translated menu, and the boy just copied his choice.
''Now I know why you never complained about your chinese lessons, out of all the shit Gabriel had you doing'' Commented Felix as they waited for their meals.
''I'm not THAT big of a glutton, you idiot, besides you don't really need to know to come-'' Said Adrien playfully, but stopped once he noticed that Felix just raised an eyebrow and smiled at him. ''Oh… you mean Marinette…''
''Duh''
''She doesn't speak Chinese though, and I didn't know it was her for the longest time'' Adrien said, avoiding his cousins gaze because he was still quite ashamed of never noticing that both girls he treasured the most were one and the same. ''I liked Chinese because it's interesting, useful and I got to talk to Master Fu, he's huh, like our trainer-''
''Wait wait wait wait, hold up'' Felix raised a finger in front of Adrien's mouth, shutting him up. ''You didn't know your girlfriend and your girlfriend were the same person? HA!'' The boy then proceeded to laugh and Adrien just rolled his eyes and thanked the man that appeared with their food seconds later.
''It's not that funny'' Said the ex-model after a couple slurps on his soup, Felix still hadn't touched his because of his laughing fit.
''You are seriously so stupid, dear cousin''
''Yeah yeah, it's old news now, you know… besides, SHE had a huge crush on my civilian self to the point of knowing almost every detail about my life, which, if we are being fair, has never been very private, and yet she still didn't know I was her partner all along either!'' Adrien tried to explain his embarrassment away, for some reason it affected him even more now that he just witnessed Felix figuring it out with a couple of clues.
''Nope, no amount of magic bullshit explains that lever of blindness''
''I have to agree with you on that one'' Joined a third voice, floating over the table all of a sudden to inspect the contents. ''No cheese? seriously?''
''We will go to the fromagerie after Plagg'' Said Adrien. ''And go back to the bag, we talked about this''
Felix started to wonder for a second what was so wrong about the little cat being out in the open when everyone and their mother knew that Adrien was Chat Noir, but then he looked around and saw why. All the other clients were opening staring at them now, and Felix would be lying to himself if he didn't recognize the familiar look most of them had in their faces, specially the adults: Worry. He also didn't have to think long to figure out why. Trouble followed the cat everywhere, there was a villain loose right now, and he also was kind of the symbol for bad luck. Plagg being there as the supernatural reminder of those facts did not help at all, specially if they didn't want to get kicked from the restaurant.
''Anyways'' Said Adrien, taking Felix out of his head. Plagg was nowhere to be seen again. ''Care to tell me about the men following you now?''
There was a pause provoked by Adrien's phone receiving a message that made the boy smile, which made Felix roll his eyes. Had to be Ladybug, of course.
''You don't sound surprised about it'' Felix remarked. ''And Ladybug wasn't either… So I assume they follow you too?''
Adrien nodded, seriousness back on his face. ''And it's not your typical stalker either, sorry'' The ex-model finished his soup completely before continuing. Felix was barely halfway with his, and he wasn't exactly slow. ''The public doesn't know this, but we have two enemies right now, not one''
Then Adrien explained the whole thing with the mysterious mister M. to Felix, and the frown on the meaner boy grew with every new bit of information.
''Don't worry, I've been thinking about your proposal and it makes a lot of sense, I'll keep you safe'' Adrien winked at him, and Felix felt the tic on his eye as the cringe became too much.
''It's not just that, idiot!'' Felix realized his volume got a bit too high for the place they were in, because the stares came back and someone shh's them, so he lowered his voice again. ''Have you ever thought about asking for help?''
''We have''
''I mean real help, you know, adults with jobs that take care of things like that man's shady business, like, oh, i don't know, the freaking police?''
''They're not in France''
''Not the point! don't be obtuse!'' Said Felix, and then put both hands on his mouth as Adrien pointed with his eyes that he was being loud again. ''You know what I mean''
Adrien sighed. ''I do… but one, we don't want to get more people involved, and two, we are freaking superheroes Felix. Things like these are in the job description, besides I honestly can't think of any organism I'd trust with our secrets''
''Why do you have to tell anyone your 'secrets'?'' Felix mocked that last word with his tone and added the quote marks with his fingers. Superheroes were so dramatic, jeez.
''Because that's the only thing we can give in return for the help in the first place… Our own government is asking for them in order to let us keep our freedom. Everyone wants a piece, Felix, that's the freaking problem!''
''Sirs, I hope you enjoyed the meal but you need to leave'' Said a chinese woman with a bit of an accent. Both blond boys recoiled at the same time, Adrien wanting to hide his head in the sand like an ostrich and Felix blushing against his will.
''Sorry, ma'am…'' Adrien apologized.
''It was delicious'' Pointed Felix, who started to take out his wallet to pay for both meals but got stopped by the woman's hand on his.
''No'' She simply said, smiling this time. ''For your service'' She was looking at Adrien now, who smiled back at her.
''Thank you''
''But leave, please''
Felix contained his laughter until they were outside in the snow again, but even his mocking didn't stop Adrien from smiling openly.
''But leave, please'' He imitated the lady, making Adrien snort as they walked.
''It's not that funny''
''I've never been kicked out of a restaurant before!, and how come she knew it was you and not me? If anything I look more like Chat Noir than you now, mister dyed hair!'' Felix complained in the typical voice of someone that wasn't really serious about it.
''Because I don't look like a jerk'' Smiled the hero.
Marinette hadn't felt nervous like that in a long time. The kind of sensation she gets when her whole body is anticipating a good thing instead of a bad one. She wouldn't say she exactly liked it, but it was a good sign that what she was about to do, and the steps that followed, was the correct choice. There was also the type of nervousness she always got when she was about to show her creations to someone whose opinion really mattered to her, but compared to the other thing it was minor, which said a lot. It was almost a relief, having her drawings as a backup topic for when it inevitably got awkward. Because that was the worst thing that could happen, right?
Marinette shook her head violently, almost missing a step on her walk towards Tina's studio. She heard Tikki's giggle from inside her bag, and couldn't help but smile despite everything. Or maybe because everything. She was finally going to fix things, and the choice felt amazing. The consequences of it still heavy as fear usually was, didn't stop her from moving towards the future, and then calling the studio's bell as soon as she was in front of it. No time to hesitate.
''Mari! come in come in!'' Said Louie's voice, chipper, from the intercom at the door.
The girl suddenly realized Tina wasn't gonna be the only one she was about to surprise with the city's biggest intrigue, as her assistant was with them pretty much all the time. He was basically the woman's next set of arms, and she surely needed them.
She shook her head for the second time, forcing herself to stop wavering at every little bump on the road to balance. She had already decided that she would tell the world, two people at once was still a small step before that. Even if she mentally prepared herself that whole hour walk just for one.
''Oh well'' She whispered to herself, stepping in the studio.
She was greeted with the typical scene at the place, though she wasn't sure she had the right to state that, considering she had only been there a couple times now. Tina smiled at her from her table, and before any words were exchanged she signaled for her to get closer to see what was on it.
They spent the next ten minutes involved in a discussion about which texture was better for a dress Tina was working on, Ladybug themed to no one's surprise. and so Marinette was having trouble finding a window to bring the topic up.
''You seem to have something in that head of yours you want to tell me, but you haven't yet. Out with it, girl'' Said Tina after a long pause, that was supposed to be dedicated to the three of them closing their eyes and feeling the texture of both fabrics. Tina standed out from the crowd of designers Marinette knew about because of her light personality, but she was just like the others in the eccentricity, or so the heroine assumed anyways.
''I like this one'' She said, lifting one of the two options, mentally kicking herself. Tina raised an eyebrow. ''Alright sorry, I do have something to tell you''
''Louie, bring us tea please'' Ordered Tina.
''Oh, no he can stay'' Said Marinette in a little voice, remembering that she was going to have to tell the whole world sooner rather than later anyways.
''Alright'' Said the woman, and Louie shrugged and joined them at the table while Marinette searched her bag for her designs.
She laid them down on the table for the two artists to look at, and then there was a good five minutes of pure silence as they shuffled between drawings without a word. Five minutes doesn't sound like much, but when people scrutinized your work without you being able to read minds as they do it, any second is too long.
''I really like where you are going with this'' Said Tina lifting one in particular, and to Marinette's relief it was the same one she would have picked out of the pile.
''You have not taste, this is great!'' Said Louie, pointing at the mecha Ladybug one. Marinette wanted to giggle as she remembered Adrien joking (Or maybe he was serious, who knew) about that same one, but her nerves got in the way. She wasn't done yet.
''You really got into this assignment, huh? and all of these look so...her, I bet Ladybug would love to wear them, even that one'' Said Tina, pointing at the joke design with her finger.
''It's not hard to think like Ladybug… well, not for me'' Marinette started that sentence with energy, but it quickly drained along with the volume of her voice as she finished. The last word was barely a whisper, but apparently it was enough. The room was silent once again.
Tina and Louie were just staring at her, and Marinette didn't know what to do. Forget the silent judging of her drawings, this was even worse!
''Is she saying what I think she is?'' Asked the assistant trying to make his tone playful but kind of failing.
''I think she is…'' Whispered Tina, awe filling her whisper. ''Marinette? Look at me dear, and lets make this less awkward. You're Ladybug?'' The heroine did as the woman asked, and as she forced herself to breathe again, that same determination she felt on battles filled her entire body, making itself known in her expression.
''Oh my god you are!'' She didn't even get to speak, apparently her face being the only confirmation the woman needed, and then Marinette was being embraced by a bear hug that almost competed with her fathers.
''Tina! you're gonna kill her!'' Said Louie jokingly as the older woman lifted Marinette from the floor and spun around with her.
The designer finally let Marinette go and placed her on the floor once again. She wasn't even that much taller than the girl, even with her heels, how was she so strong?!
''This is the best day of my life!'' Announced the woman, but before she started to fangirl once again she stopped herself and asked: ''But why tell us this all of a sudden? Isn't your identity like, the most guarded secret on this city?''
Marinette smiled, both because of the woman's reaction and the lightedness on her heart after letting go of said secret voluntarily for the first time. No imminent danger coaxing her, no emergency reveal, no people figuring her out. Just her and her will.
''Let's just say you two are a bit of an experiment I had to make''
''Like a test? did we pass!?'' Asked Tina, enthusiasm on again.
''A test for me'' She said, her smile widening as she realized SHE passed.
''I feel so honored I want to cry. Why is Ladybug in my studio Louie?!'' The woman exclaimed and her assistant just shrugged, smiling wide too.
''I bet she asked herself the same when you entered the bakery, Tina''
''Yep!'' Said Tikki, suddenly coming out of the bag. Literally.
The screaming and questioning and sheer energy that happened after that was so much Marinette wouldn't have believed it came mostly from one person (Tina) if she hadn't been there. She answered all her questions easily, mostly because the woman never asked anything sensible. What does Tikki eat? What's the fabric of your suit made of? Is Chat Noir ok? Who sleeps more, Chat Noir or his kwami? Do you know if Gabriel Agreste was the one deciding the designs on his monsters, or was it random? Oh my god! you helped with the Gala dresses! (That was not a question) Can you shape the earrings however you like?! and so on. As expected, most of it was fashion related.
Once they were done with that, an hour was almost gone and they (Tina, really) had calmed down. The designer ordered Louie to bring cookies and tea, the first mostly for Tikki and the second for her to have a good reason to finally shut up a little and let Marinette speak freely. The girl used that chance to tell her a bit more, now that she was free to do so, and found it even better than when she got the first weight out of her mind. The best part was telling her about her romance story with Chat Noir, aka Adrien Agreste.
''Giiirl, you were in the fashion world from the start! You don't even need me! No way out! Dating a model and everything'' The woman giggled even as Marinette fumbled her explanation about how she wasn't into Adrien because of that, even at the beginning. It was almost like talking to an older version of Alya, and the 'older' part was only in appearances really, because this woman turned out to be just as into gossip as her best friend was.
''Besides, he's not a model anymore, and I don't think he can even go back to that if he wanted'' Said Marinette, sadness making its way into her voice despite her efforts to avoid it showing. There was a second of silence, so Marinette looked up from her cup of tea to see Tina with her eyes wide open and a hand on her mouth.
''OH MY GOD'' She exclaimed, standing up and brusquely leaving her cup on the table. Louie intervened just in time to save the precious fabrics from a spill. ''I NEED CHAT NOIR TO MODEL FOR ME''
Both Louie and Marinette stared at the woman as she grabbed Marinette's shoulders, her enthusiasm back again full on. The bell of the studio rang and Louie shrugged at the scene unfolding, deciding to ignore it and go attend the door.
''He's perfect! I don't care about anything, that boy is modeling for me once the danger is over! If I become the only one that wants him even better!'' The next Marinette heard was a wave of pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease coming from the woman, and she just snorted once she was let go once Tina decided that kneeling was more productive.
''I'm not the one that you need to convince, Tina … please get up'' Said Marinette, suffering from secondhand embarrassment now. She wondered if Tina was doing all of this just to make her feel better, or if this was the way the woman got so high on her career. She briefly pictured a younger Tina begging on the floor in front of whoever helped her climb and giggled.
''But I need him, I just can't believe my luck I need this! I've been obsessed with those designs Agreste did last year and now here you are! someone that knows the perfect model for all my ideas!'' If Marinette didn't feel so stupidly connected to the woman's train of thought like she did, she would have been annoyed or something… probably. She didn't know, she related to the 'pain' of suddenly learning how close she was to Adrien. Pure bliss.
''I'm starting to think you picked me just because I was his classmate'' Teased Marinette.
''What!'' Tina kissed her fingers and lifted her hand. ''I swear I had no idea of anything before today!''
''If anything, it was my idea to go to your bakery to satiate this woman'' Said Louie once he was back, his voice a strangled attempt at not laughing. He was followed by two blond boys.
''Your mentor is even weirder than you, My lady'' Commented Adrien, while Felix by his side had the same problem Louie had once he saw a grown ass woman kneeling on the floor in front of a very red Marinette.
Said woman had a minor collapse after that.
Adrien got very happy when he received Marinette's brief but powerful text as he was having lunch with Felix. His lady deciding to finally reveal herself to the world, starting with her mentor to test the waters, was good news to him. Not because he wanted her to be like him, or because he was completely sure it was a good idea. He was happy because he knew, deep down, after so many conversations with her, that THAT was the key to her finally relaxing a little, even with all the problems they had. He never felt like it was his place to tell her what to do, that was her role in their dynamic, so when his Lady finally reached a conclusion he celebrated. She was never wrong once something clicked for her after so much turmoil.
''So, change of plans?'' Asked Felix after he explained to him his idea.
''Just slightly, we get her from her apprenticeship and we go all three apartment hunting. I want to be with her''
''You liar, you just want to be able to rescue her if things get ugly'' There was a bit of truth to that, Adrien was Marinette's partner after all. Once she decided on something, he should always be there to assist. The ex-model just laughed the comment off, though.
He wasn't sure it was the correct address, and doubted his memory even more after a man answered the door, but he seemed to recognize him and, instead of cowering like the people on the restaurant, let them both in without even asking what they wanted. So Adrien supposed Marinette's confession had already taken place. Or he found the other kind of fans in the worst moment possible.
The scene inside was hardly what he imagined Marinette would be doing on her prestigious apprenticeship with Tina Masoni, the famous designer that was on the way of replacing his father once she got settled on Paris. Judging by the screams and the conversation he heard even before he entered the room, he was about to really make an impression on someone that already had one to begin with. Might as well have some fun with it.
''Your mentor is even weirder than you, My lady'' He said, and he enjoyed seeing a mature, famous and so well dressed woman slowly turn her head to see the two boys and crumble in front of him with pure excitement.
''A-'' Was all she said, then she looked at Marinette as if asking 'CAN I?' and the girls only reaction was to raise an eyebrow and giggle, which the designer took as a 'YES', because the next thing she did was go after Felix's cheeks.
''I'm so blessed!'' She screamed while she hovered over the wrong boy, or so Adrien assumed with the little information he had. He decided to stay quiet while enjoying Felix's annoyed complaints. Marinette kissed him in the cheek without saying a word, and the warm smile she had was all he needed to know.
''Why are you here?'' She asked playfully.
''I decided I want your opinion on the place Felix and I will be renting'' He said, and paid careful attention to her reaction to the news. He hadn't told either of them how certain he was on the idea, but that pretty much confirmed it. He had never been one to muster on things for long.
''I'll just have to make sure to enjoy your company extra hard then'' She said, just as carefully.
''I'm offended, my lady, that you think I'll leave you alone with your precious privacy just because I'll move from your parents house''
''You're just a stray cat that goes wherever the food is better''
''Are you implying that I'm tired of pastries? because you're dead wrong there''
''Now that I think about it, this is better. That way when you get fat, it's not gonna be on me''
''Hey now-'' Their banter got interrupted suddenly by Marinette's phone.
''It's Luka, with a video call no less'' She announced staring at the phone, worry on her features.
And just like that, the spell was broken. Marinette answered the call after getting a nod from Tina, who by the time the girl answered had already realized she was fusing over the wrong blond. Adrien wasn't sure how long the woman knew, but he liked her already just because of how ridiculous Felix looked with his cheeks red.
''What is it Luka?'' Asked Marinette as a greeting, which would have sounded rude had it not been by the worried tone she said it with.
''Hey Mari, have any of you seen Chloe?''