After a rainfall, Paris turned into a view that most citizens took for granted. The rain washed away any lingering dirt and pushed it below ground. Most people saw it as nothing more than an inconvenience, having to watch where they walked for any residual puddles. Some would fear for another storm and keep gear on them to protect them.
The windows reflected sunlight off them, causing miniature rainbows to appear out of the corner of peoples eyes. Water washed metal to shine more silver than dull grey. Whitewashed walls sparkled like gems were embedded into the very material that they were built with.
Adrien woke up with a smile on his face from the previous nights events and decided to go out. He walked with his hands stuffed in his jean pockets, noticing all this and more on his second patrol of Paris, but this time only it was during the day. He hummed a little tune under his breath, it hitching when he noticed something new and exciting. He passed a floral shop that had displays of fragrant flowers just outside the doors under awnings and they had the tell-a-tell signs of being hit with water as little beads shimmered just on the corners and edges of a plethora of colors. He stopped at one such display to admire the red roses, his mind drawn to think of Ladybug.
The shopkeeper noticed him standing there and came out, greeting him kindheartedly. "Beautiful blooms, are they not?"
Straightening, Adrien flashed his signature smile. He glanced for the mans name tag – Frazier – and nodded. "Yes, they remind me of someone I know. Do you grow them yourself Mr. Frazier?"
The shopkeeper nodded. "I do in fact! I'm very proud about my blooms, and I try to keep them as pure as possible."
Adrien nodded along encouragingly. "I can see that, they look very well tended to." He strode to another display, and lowered his body to sniff at a delicate pink flower. a peony. The subtle scent of flower mingled with that of rainfall and hid any trace of dirt scent. That made his mind up right then and he stood to face the shopkeeper and gestured to the flowers. "Could I buy a few of these please?"
"Please, call me Scott and of course!" The man was only too happy to pluck choice stems of the peonies from the bundle and bring them into the store where he placed them in a small container to hold some water and wrap them nicely for Adrien. "You're Adrien Agreste, aren't you?" He asked as he ran through the transaction and Adrien pulled out his wallet. He chuckled softly. "Sorry, you're on a lot of posters."
He wasn't surprised and was mostly used to the attention by now. Pulling out his wallet, he counted out the amount of money for the flowers. "Yes, yes I am."
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed my blooms so much, please, come back soon!" The man handed the carefully wrapped bundle to Adrien with a card placed carefully by the stems. "Call anytime you need any floral needs."
For once, someone wasn't asking him to parade their items around and Adrien mentally noted the shops name, "The Briar Patch" and made sure that people would be directed to it, discreetly of course.
As he left the store, his phone rang and he flipped it open to see that Natalie, his father's secretary was calling. Knowing there would be hell to pay if he ignored it, it hit the answer button and held it to his ear as he began his walk again.
"Adrien, your father wants to see you at 2pm today," her dispassionate voice sounded over the device and it took all of his willpower to not sigh.
"Of course, at the office or at home?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"The office. Be prompt." And with that, the call was terminated. Closing the phone he finally let out the sigh he was holding and turned around. He would not be able to carry the flowers with him to the office as people would talk and his father would be very disappointed at him. Despite his misgivings about being a model for his father, he had to admit he led a life that let him indulge often and being on his fathers bad side was a one way ticket to having those privileges revoked.
After they had parted the night before. Marinette took her time getting back to her room and into the warmth. Dissolving the transformation, she waved Tikki to the plate of macaroons as she flopped onto her bed, face in the covers. Her cheeks turned red as she remembered she had been practically checking out Chat Noir during their time and turning to her side, she brought her cool hands to her face.
"Marinette?" Tikki's soft voice carried from the table.
Sitting up and peaking through her hands Marinette regarded her kwami. "Yes?"
"Don't deny your feelings." Sitting ramrod straight Marinette tilted her head.
"I don't know what you mean."
Finishing the plate of macaroons, Tikki floated over to Marinette and hovered in front of her face. "I feel all your emotions while we are bonded. You like him. I know you fight yourself on revealing yourself but don't be afraid."
Groaning, Marinette flopped onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. "Have you ever liked someone?"
Tikki floated closer. "No, I have not." She paused and Marinette sighed, but before the raven-haired girl could speak, she continued. "But I have many lifetimes of feeling the feelings you're feeling with past users." Floating to land on the headboard, Tikki continued. "You have the tight stirring in your heart, that you enjoy being near them, and that they make you feel warm, and safe. You find yourself thinking about them more often than you realize and sometimes it takes over your everyday. When you look at Chat Noir, your heart speeds up. You then are able to do so much more with yourself, jump higher, run faster and not because of the power of the miraculous. It comes from inside yourself."
Marinette had never heard Tikki speak so much, and at length. She turned her blue eyes to the little red kwami and listened.
"What you feel is love, Marinette. Love for Chat Noir. And for Adrien Agreste, but the latter is tinged with awe. It's still love, Marinette."
Closing her eyes and draping an arm over them to further block out the light like she could the truth, Marinette clenched her jaw. Tikki was right. But she was afraid, so afraid.
Tikki could sense the emotions going through her mind. "Marinette, it's alright to feel some fear, many people feel this. But don't let it consume you. You are Ladybug, the Hero of Paris. You are also Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a most wonderful girl with lots of friends and great skills. You can be both at the same time. It's up to you decide when to let those lives merge." Tikki quieted herself then, letting the girl think for herself. She only meant to give her a nudge in the right direction and hoped so strongly she did it right.
"I'm going to bed Tikki," was all Marinette said, getting up and ready for bed.
Tikki said nothing until she was comfortable in her own bed. "Goodnight Marinette."
The heart wants what it wants.
Marinette rolled out of bed just as her alarm started to beep annoyingly. A knock from the hatchway singled her mother checking on her and she opened the door just slightly, reassuring her mother she was awake. It may of not been a school day, but she had work to do.
Within the hour, Marinette was showered, dressed and working diligently on her sketchbook when an enthusiastic scream laughter bubbled up from behind her. Turning around in her chair, Marinette smiled at Alya who had immediately seen the gown in the corner and was looking it all over and being very careful not to touch the display.
"Marinette, you've outdone yourself!" Alya exclaimed, hands to her face with excitement. She turned to her friend and pulled her out of the chair, dancing around.
Marinette could not help but be pulled into Alya's joy and felt laughter bubble from her, smiling.
"I'm glad you like it, today is the fitting!" Marinette finally spoke as they stopped turning in happy circles, taking a seat at her desk. Her sewing kit was out including all the items needed to pin the dress perfectly for her friend.
Alya sat down on the lounge chair just as Sabine came up.
"Here's a plate of snacks for your time girls, and Alya I'm so excited to see you in that dress." Sabine practically swooned, making both girls laugh before taking her leave.
Grabbing a pastry from the plate, Alya turned to look at her friend. "Before you fit me, I want to make sure you have something for yourself."
Knowing that exactly this was coming up, Marinette flipped her book to a page and held up the design to her friend, smiling behind the book.
"Oh. My. Glob. Marinette, that looks... so... wow I don't even have words. Girl, you've done it again." Alya walked over to her friend and peered at the drawing, tilting her head. "It's so you and so mature at the same time. I can't wait to see it."
Marinette smiled and turned her book back to herself, glancing at the sketch, nodding. "I just haven't decided on the fabric choice yet – but!" she paused Alya's attempt to scold her about this, "I have it narrowed down but I need samples, because I want a overlay for a shimmer effect and sometimes fabrics don't work together well."
Satisfied, Ayla nodded. "Well, okay then. When do you have to have all them prepared?"
With a small grimace, Marinette scratched the side of her face. "Next week."
Alya immediately hung her head, and sighed. For all Marinette's skills, the one thing she failed on was being on time. Marinette waved her hands frantically – she had jsut done this last night for Chat and she clasped her hands together in her lap. "I just need to have a few prepared to fit someone, the rest can be mock-ups. The highlight is our dresses. I was hoping you'd come with me after we get you fitted to check fabrics. I need your expert opinion," Marinette ducked as Alya chucked a piece of a croissant at her, "for it."
"You just want me there so you don't spend forever second guessing yourself. Alright, lets get this show on the road."
The next couple hours passed without issue. Marinette directed Alya to put on the dress, helping her friend out. She didn't have to make too many adjustments from having her friends size down perfect, but she was the careful type. Measure twice, cut once.
A few tapered darts into the top dress and small adjustments to the level of layers and positions and Marinette was done, having pinned the dress and back on the mannequin for assembly later. It would only take moments of her time to sew and add the hidden zipper closure at the back.
They both descended from her room and linked arms to leave, farewell to her parents. The journey to the store took no time at all and within moments Marinette had multiple bolts of fabric in a pile and was standing with her hand to her chin, other hand cupping the elbow, thinking.
"So I could do this soft opal silk and overlay with this ivory organza, or go a bit heavier with this silvery voile, or just go with some sort of lace. I feel lace would be too heavy and I like the effect this organza gives over this silk." Marinette held both pieces of fabric over the main cloth she choose.
Alya looked at the fabric and felt she was out of depth. The design Marinette had finished for herself was themed specifically around the white lily. Even a lily had additional colors on it and the one that was sketched had a very soft pink into it. Alas, the artist was so indecisive and there she was, helping pick them out, but in an attempt to think, Ayla found her gaze landing on what could possibly be the best fabric for her friend. She dashed away, and grabbed the roll and brought it over. It was the base fabric for the dress. "Use this and that organza girl, you'll look absolutely stunning! Adrien won't be able to take his eyes off you," she teased
Marinette turned to look at the fabric and gasped, then went right into blushing. "Stop, stop stop alright you win!" She cried, all flustered. She then took both bolts over to table to cut lengths she'd need. The shopkeepers here knew Marinette by now and let her do her own measurements and cuts, trusting the girl to give correct numbers for their values with just someone lurking around.
Alya only grinned in response. She let Marinette do her thing and watch her continue to fight the blush. Talking anything Adrien was always bound to get her to stop or run and while Alya hated to use it but at times like this, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Both girls left the store carrying a bag, Marinette finding a few more things she needed for Alya's dress and all the items for herself. "
AN: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Long story short, a week after my last chapter, I had a bunch of things happen to me, including a job loss and eviction from home. Right after my main email got hacked and I only got it back end of last year and was combing through for my accounts to various things. I also lost my original computer and all the documents on it, and so I was attempting to pick this back up... then my mother died. She was the one who encouraged me to write and loved reading all the things I could come up with on any given day. It was only today, accessing messages on that I realized how much I needed to continue this story, for on FF, my mother had made an account and written me a message.
So this chapter is dedicated to my mother Connie.