Notes: I watched the fireworks scene from Kaguya-sama; Love is War and thought of Adrien. I was going to use this plot bunny for Ladrien month, but it's such an Adrinette one, I couldn't help it (and I already have too many prompst I'm working on for that moth). This is mostly self-indulgent angst/fluff. The title is from Taylor Swift's Sparks Fly (which is a Ladrien song, but the title fit this fic so much). Feel free to tell me your thoughts, my tumblr is marrys-dream-world.

"Your father denied your request, Adrien."

He wasn't surprised at Nathalie's words, exactly, but he couldn't stop the familiar pit of disappointment from settling in his stomach. Perhaps he had been too hopeful, spending so much time picking up a nice outfit to break out from his routine, trying to style his hair a bit differently (and inevitably giving up when it made him look a touch too much like Chat Noir) and texting Nino nonstop between his breaks from practicing piano. It seemed like everytime he got too excited by something, the universe got ready to cut him down again.

"But he had already said yes." Adrien responded, his voice soft as to not break. "I told my friends that I would meet them there."

"He changed his mind." Nathalie said, like it was that simple. And it was to her, wasn't it? Just another message she was delivering from his father, like it wasn't breaking his heart. "There'll be too many people there and your bodyguard could lose sight of you. It's too dangerous."

"But — " He tried again, but stopped when his eyes met Nathalie's bemused stare. "I understand, Nathalie. Thank you for telling me."

As she left silently, he closed his bedroom's door and dropped down on his bed. It was weird to be so careless about the outfit he cared so much about before, he thought as Plagg came out of his hiding place in his pocket, speaking words that weren't registering in his mind. He felt like his head was underwater and that he could only faintly make out that there were words being said and touches given on his head, but it was like he wasn't really feeling it. It was dumb, right? Being upset by something so common. How many times had his father denied him the right to go out with his friends or made him cancel plans last minute because of a sudden whim? It wasn't any different this time.

Except… it was. When Adrien was younger, he loved to watch the fireworks in the summer. There was one holiday, particularly, that had an impressive firework display that he absolutely adored. He begged his parents to watch it more closely, but his mother had taken him into her arms and explained that it was much too dangerous for a boy as small as him and set up a picnic in the gardens so him, her and his father watched it all. Together. It still ached, a little, that he wouldn't be able to do it with her this year and that his father certainly wouldn't join him, but that would all be okay because he had friends to watch it with, for once.

He hadn't seen them since the beginning of summer break. Whereas all his classmates were incredibly excited about the summer, he couldn't help but dread it. It just meant numerous beach-themed photoshoots and being unable to meet with his friends everyday. So he watched as they all made plans to go out in groups, pairs, host slumber parties and have picnics that he wasn't allowed to go to. He missed his friend's trip to the beach, their party at the Couffaine's and make-shift Mecha Strike III tourney at the Dupain-Chengs in favor of extra chinese lessons and work. So imagine his surprise when he was allowed, after begging his father during the one dinner they had together in weeks, to go with his friends to a festival in the park near Marinette's to watch the fireworks with his friends. But of course, it just looked like his father had a "temporary lapse in judgment".

"Just go, Adrien." Plagg said, his miraculous wielder finally making out what he was saying. "It's not like he'll notice."

"You know I can't, Plagg." He said. "Nathalie will probably think I'll try to sneak to go, anyways, after she found the room empty some days ago."

All because of an akuma, of course, but it's not like he can say that. That must have been one of the reasons he got his permission revoked. Joy. He grasped his phone and opened the messaging app, already receiving texts from Nino asking him if he was on the way, since he had gone to pick up Alya and they would all be meeting Marinette there. He started at the screen for a moment, willing his fingers to stop trembling. It was alright, it was just an outing, his friends were already used to him cancelling last minute…

#1 ladybugs fans (and marinette the chat noir fangirl)

[6:45 PM]

Adrien: Sorry, guys, I won't be able to make it.

Nino: dude what

Nino: didn't ur dad let u come already

Adrien: Yes, but he changed his mind, said it's too dangerous, so I won't be going anymore.

Alya: what a bummer, Adrien, i'm sorry.

Nino: want us to break u out?

Adrien: No, I don't want to upset him, everyone, but thanks for the offer. Hope you enjoy the fireworks.

…. so why wasn't the lump in his throat going away?

He stayed on his bed, watching his phone screen, willing for something to distract him. But all that appeared the "Marinette is typing…" only for it to disappear and reappear, no new message coming. Marinette did that, she was always a bit careful with her texts. It was a little adorable and never failed to bring warmth to his chest, no matter how upset he was. Adrien only noticed that time actually passed when he noticed the fireworks starting from his window, far away from his house.

[7:15 pm]

Adrien: I wish I was there with you guys.

When he noticed how much the screen was blurring, tears were already spilling down his cheek. He laid the phone screen-down on his chest and sobbed, Plagg curled up against his neck and comforting him more than he could ever know. It was just another disappointment down the line, but it hurt so much more. He spent so much time telling himself that this summer would be worth it if he could at least do this with his friends, just one thing. Why couldn't he do that? It wasn't fair at all. He just wanted… He just wanted a lot of things he couldn't get. The phone in his hand lighted up, signaling another text.

[7:25 pm]

Marinette: I wish you were here, too.

He just missed his friends so much. He wanted, just for once...

"Looks like Pigtails wants you to go." Plagg said, casually reading over his shoulder and with a tone that Adrien couldn't quite place, between nonchalant and smirking. "You should take her up to that."

"Should I?" And it was a bad idea, Nathalie would probably show up at any moment, but…

"There's still time."

"... Plagg, claws out."

[7:27 pm]

Adrien: I'm on my way.

What could they do anyway? Lock him up in his room? Forbid him from seeing his friends? Nothing that wasn't happening to him already. So let Nathalie come to the empty room, alert his father and have the Gorilla look for him. Let them come embarrass him by forcing him back home from the park. As long as he could get this one moment with his friends, it would be worth it. So he ran through the rooftops, the lights from the fireworks coloring everything around him. He wanted to make it worth it, watch the display with his friends, watch Alya take videos for the 15th blog she created this year, listen to the playlist Nino made for the moment, listen to Marinette talk about her latest design.

He dropped from the rooftops, going in an alley to destransform before running in the direction of the park. His face was blotchy and his eyes were puffy, hair a little messy from lying on the bed and clothes all rumpled. It would have bothered him a few hours ago, but now he couldn't care less. He ran to the park entrance, it was so close.

I just want to be with my friends and watch the fireworks, just this once…

So it was inevitable that as soon as he got there, it was over.

It was alright. It was fine. Just minutes ago he didn't expect to see his friends for the night the whole summer, but the festival was still going on. He would still see them and talk to them and eat with them. Who cared if he didn't see the fireworks? It wasn't why he was here. At least, not the only reason. If his friends watched the show and liked it, then it was enough for him. Then why was he shaking? It didn't make sense at all.

"Kid…" Plagg whispered to him from his jacket pocket.

"I just…" Adrien started, voice cracking a little. "I just wanted to watch the fireworks with my friends…"

"Then we'll see them." He heard a voice say, before a hand grabbed his wrist and started to drag him away. Adrien tried to resist out of reflex, even though the person was surprisingly strong, before recognizing them.

"Marinette?" He said as he let himself get pulled away from the entrance. "What do you mean? How did you find me?"

"Y-you said that you were on your way." Marinette said, keeping a fast pace. Her face was incredibly red, but she only tightened her hold on his wrist. "So I-I knew you were probably at the entrance's park. I mean park's entrance."

"What do you mean about watching the show, though? It 's over."

"A-Adrien…" She said as looked over her shoulder to him. Whatever she saw hardened her gaze, making her look more determined, like a woman on a mission. "Trust me on this, okay?

As she finished speaking, he caught sight of Nino and Alya leaning against a cab.

"Dude!" Nino exclaimed, smiling wide. "Escape from the cage?"

"Something like that."

"Okay, okay, you two can talk in the car." Alya said, her teasing scolding given away by her smile. "Everyone get in."

Adrien didn't question it, watching Alya get into the passenger's seat. He took the right window seat, while Marinette claimed the middle and Nino sat besides her. He watched as Alya leaned in to the drivers, giving him directions and shortcuts to an address he recognized.

"We are going to the Le Grand Paris? Why?" Adrien asked.

"You know how everyone sets off their fireworks for today at the same time?" Alya asked, tapping away frantically at her phone.

"Yes?"

"Well, Chloe decided that her fireworks display was just going to be the best in town and made her father start it 20 minutes later than usual, so there would be no competition fro which one to watch." She continued, taking her eyes away from her phone to look at him. "She talked about it for a week straight before summer break."

"So if it was delayed 20 minutes…" He said, heart beating faster. Did he dare hope?

"It will go till eight." Nino completed. "We're going to show you some fireworks, dude."

"If we get there in time." Marinette said, looking straight ahead. Her face was already flushed, probably from running so much, and he could feel her warmth from where their arms touched.

"If we get there in time." Nino repeated, but he was still smiling too wide.

"Y-you guys did it for me?" Adrien said, eyes watering. He was going to be really dehydrated after this night, huh. "I don't even know what to say…"

"A thank you would be nice." Nino teased, before bumping shoulders with Marinette. "But you should say especially to this dudette here, she's the one that came up with the whole plan."

"Marinette…?" Adrien whispered, watching as her face slowly changed between shades of red.

"I-I just… You were so excited for it." She said, like it was a confession, barely looking at him. "I li-like the show too, but you were just… static to do it. H-how could could I watch it without you there? When you sa-said you were coming over and it was ending I…"

"She spent the whole show on her phone, texting you and then planning this." Alya completed, when it seemed like Marinette wasn't. " So say 'thank you, Marinette.'"

But how could he, when words wouldn't be enough to express what he's feeling?

"I hope we can make it." Nino said as the car went through a tunnel, the only thing separating them from a close up on the fireworks show by the Le Grand Paris.

"We will." Marinette answered, her eyes glinting. She spoke like she wouldn't accept anything less. "I know we will."

The whole car was tense as they finally reached the end of the tunnel, looking out of the windows to the right side of the car. As soon as they came out of there, the dark sky lit up with the first colorful firework, followed by dozens of others. Adrien knew they were the main attraction, the reason why they came from so far across the city, why Marinette made this convoluted plan and that it was all for him. He was aware of all that, but he was so, so sorry that he wasn't looking at them at all. How could he? All he could see was… that face.

She was leaning over him to watch the show, face almost pressed on the glass in childlike wonder. Her hair was loose today, he noted almost absentmindedly, framing her face adorably and being the perfect dark canvas for the lights to play in. Her mouth wasn't smiling, glossy lips slightly opening as she stared at the display in awe, rosy cheeks glowing in the dark. But what captured him were her eyes, the most amazing blue he had ever seen, shining so much it overshadowed the show in front of them.

His heart was beating so loudly, he couldn't even hear the sound of the fireworks. Could everyone in the car tell? Could they see he couldn't take his eyes away from Marinette for even a second, that he didn't want to do it for the rest of his life? Feeling warm around her wasn't something new, it was expected by this point. But this familiar sensation wasn't something he could brush aside at the moment like he often did, it wasn't something he could ignore. It was all-consuming and amazing and— oh. Oh. That made sense. Of course that's how he felt about Marinette, how could it be anything else?

And for the 20 minutes of the fireworks display, he didn't take his eyes away from her even once.

"Did you like?" Marinette asked him, after, mouth now smiling and cheeks still rosy.

"No." Adrien admitted. "I loved it."