"Why am I here at 7am on a Saturday again?" Marinette asked her best friend as they headed towards Pont des Arts. It was a cold December morning and it was a completely inhumane time to be out in the pre-dawn.
"You agreed to come and help Nino with his film project, remember?" Alya said, far too cheerfully for this time of the morning Marinette noted. "He needs to get it submitted before the holiday break."
"Well he's going to owe me big time for this." Marinette grumbled, pulling her red coat tighter around her. "You know the cold and I are not friends, and you didn't even give me enough time to grab a cup of coffee on the way. I've been working on assessments for this semester too, you know, I neeeeeed my caffeine. Without the coffee I can't do the talkie."
Alya chuckled at the desperate look on the bluenette's face. "You're too funny girl. Don't worry, there will be a perk for you in this and you can feed your caffeine addiction soon enough, I promise. The café near here opens in about half an hour, and don't worry, you won't have to talk for this because I'll be narrating it."
Marinette buried her icy cold hands into the pockets of her coat. She had just discovered that morning a lovely big hole in her favourite gloves and she was almost certain one of the Kwamis was responsible, although no one was fessing up. It was always the way with those mischievous little magical creatures - somebody did it, but nobody knows who. Honestly, sometimes it felt like she was babysitting toddlers and not the Guardian of ancient magical creatures. On top of that, she couldn't for the life of her find her other pair. She idly wondered if her kids would ever be like that. She quickly shook her head at herself. Thinking of having kids means thinking of Adrien, and thinking about Adrien leads to thinking about Chat and her caffeine deprived brain can't think about that right now.
It had been a little over a week since they had accidently discovered each other's identities. They looked at each other shocked at first, having both dropped into the same lane to detransform. Marinette's first reaction was to want to go into a meltdown, but after a few moments it was Adrien who pulled her into a tight hug, telling her it would be alright. She believed him, but unfortunately they hadn't had much of a chance to talk about it as they both had to run back to their respective class. Marinette's head was still swimming from the revelation, after all, it wasn't everyday that the secret love of your life turns out to be the crime fighting partner you had been in serious denial about for over two years.
Of course, Alya had been no help at all. When Marinette went to her to freak out, Alya practically rolled on the floor laughing. The intrepid reporter was even good enough to pull out that photo she had taken after Oblivio of her and Chat kissing and reminding Marinette that Chat had been in love with Ladybug since day dot. Oh Lordy, she had kissed Adrien and hadn't even known it or even remember it for that fact! For the rest of the week, Marinette had buried herself in her work and tried not to think about the fact that it was Adrien under the black mask and cat-suit.
Lost in her thoughts, it wasn't long before Marinette realised they had found Nino setting up his film camera.
"Hey babe, glad to see you were able to get Marinette up on time." Nino waved before turning his hat to the side to look through the camera zoom.
"For your information I got myself up, thank you very much." Marinette replied indignantly, folding her arms. That hadn't been entirely true, it had taken Tikki at least three goes to get her out of bed, but Nino didn't need to know that.
"And I bribed her with coffee after we are done." Alya added.
"Well, thanks for filling in for Zoé on such short notice. She got a pretty nasty cold…apparently." Nino gave Alya an odd look before making another adjustment to his camera lens. He then picked up a clip board and showed it to the girls. "So basically the deal for the project is to film a 15-20 second commercial with the theme 'morning perks' so I'm making mine for Paris Special Reserve coffee."
"Now you're speaking my language." Marinette clapped enthusiastically looking around. "So where is it?"
"Where's what?" Nino asked, confused.
"Ah…the coffee?" Marinette said flatly. "Don't you want to film me drinking coffee. I mean that seems like a perk to me."
Nino shook his head in a disapproving manner. "Don't they teach you anything in that design school? You don't show the actual product in the advertisement." Nino said, looking like he held some great universal secret. "You are selling an idea, a feeling, a destination." He finished off dramatically with an outstretched arm to the horizon and the other hand over his heart. Alya wasn't sure whether to laugh or die of second hand embarrassment.
"Really?" Marinette deadpanned. "See my idea of coffee is feeling it warming my insides with its final destination residing in my stomach, preferably before I have to use my brain too much." Marinette pouted. She had a feeling this was going to be a long morning.
Nino gave her a pleading look and Marientte let out a playful huff. She wasn't really as annoyed as she pretended to be. "Okay, okay, let me look at the script then." Marinette held out her hand and took the clipboard from Nino and read over the script page.
~~~~~
Ext: Bridge at dawn
Camera pan shot of the horizon. Zoom out and bring to centre a couple standing together with backs to the camera as the sun breaks over the horizon in the distance. They are both looking ahead at the sunrise.
Narrator: When all you want [couple turn
their heads to face each other] is for that alluring warmth to finally touch your lips.
Couple leans in closer as though to kiss as camera fades to black and coffee logo fades in.
Narrator: Parisian Special Reserve - For lovers of fine coffee
~~~~~
"Now you're just taunting me aren't you? Let me guess, you wrote the script?" Marinette asked Alya with an amused look. "It's so cheesy!" The apprentice reporter shrugged her shoulders.
"Considering Nino's original idea was 'is coffee - is good' I think I did a better job." She chuckled. Nino readjusted his hat.
Nino cosied up next to Alya with a cheeky grin. "Is coffee, is good." He teased near Alya's face. His girlfriend pushed his face away with her hand with a playful smile.
"You're just lucky I love you, you dork."
"Aww, but you do have such a way with words babe." He grinned like a lovesick puppy as the two of them rubbed noses. Marinette rolled her eyes. What time did Alya say that café was opening again? She definitely hadn't had enough coffee for these two with their PDA at…not even 7:30 yet. Then another thought suddenly hit Marinette and she looked back over the script.
"Hold up, this script requires two people. Who's coming to…"
"Hi everyone, I hope I'm not late."
Marinette froze. She didn't even have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to. Chancing a glimpse her suspicion was confirmed when a mop of blond hair approached them above the upturned collar of a well tailored black coat. Marientte almost had to do a double take. With his hair windswept like that he looked just like his altar ego and it was doing funny things to her stomach. Calm down Marientte, she shided herself.
Seeing her turn around, Adrien gave Marinette a soft smile and wave. "Hey Marinette. It was good of you to come so early in the morning, I know you're not much of a morning person."
Marinette tried to respond, but didn't get much more than an eep out, so she resorted to a too wide smile and a blush she knew was invading her cheeks. How on earth could someone look so good at this ungodly hour?
"You look fine…I mean I'm fine…I mean fine…it was fine." She spluttered. Well done Marinette, she thought as she dug her hands further into her pockets. She could feel her face burning up even more despite the cold air, and what was worse was that he seemed to have been smirking about it. That damn Cat!
Adrien gave a light chuckle before heading over to help Nino with the portable spot light, taking off his gloves and putting them in his pocket to get a better grip on the pole.
Marinette looked at Alya with wide eyed panic. "You didn't tell me Adrien was coming." She whisper-shouted.
"Of course I didn't." Alya grinned. "But I know you'll thank me later. Didn't I promise you a perk if you came this morning?" Marinette knew that conspiratory look on Alya's face. She was definitely up to something, and if she didn't know better, she would say Adrien was in on it too.
Marinette ran her icy hands down her buring face. Nope, there wasn't enough coffee in all the world to deal with her brain turning to mush.
"Okay dudes, I think we're ready for a test run here." Nino said, adjusting the light stand again. "Adrien, Marinette, can you stand where I've put the tape on the ground?"
Marinette gave Alya a pleading look, but her best friend just waved her on with a wink. Taking a deep breath, Marinette began to walk over towards where Adrien was standing, leaning against the railing and looking like he had just stepped off the set of his latest fashion shoot. "I can do this." She told herself. "It's just Chat, I know Chat, I've known Chat for a long time, I can…"
Her internal pep talk came to a screeching halt when her foot slipped on one of the puddles. Pitching forward with arms flailing wildly, Marinette expected to hit the ground, but instead she fell against a soft plush coat.
"Don't tell me you're finally falling for me Princess." She heard him say, and when she looked up at him her heart picked up an extra beat.
"Sorry." She flustered. "I haven't had my coffee this morning and things don't work right when I don't."
There it was, that same soft smile that made her knees weak. "Well, I'll have to remember to make sure I have your favourite coffee always on stock. I do have a pretty awesome coffee machine in my apartment."
Before she could reply though, Adrien had wrapped his warm hand around her frozen one. "Marinette, your hands are like icicles. Here, put my gloves on."
She could only watch as Adrien pulled his own gloves from his pocket and held one out for her to put her hand in. Finally Marientte's brain moved up enough gears for her mouth to start working.
"I can't take your gloves, now your hands will be cold." She protested. The model gave her a soft smile.
"Tell you what. You put on the left glove and I'll put on the right glove." She watched him as he slid the left glove onto her hand. It was too big of course, his long piano fingers dwarfing her's, but it was still warm, and the warmth was giving her a tingling feeling all over.
"Smooth Bro, but what about her other hand?" Nino butted in with a chuckle. Marientte could almost swear it looked like Adrien had a dusting of pink in his own cheeks. Maybe it was just the cold?
"Oh, I could put it in my pocket." Marinette suggested, but before she could, Adrien grabbed it, and entwined his fingers in hers. She felt a shiver run down her spine, but this time it wasn't from the cold. "Or we could just hold hands." He said softly, his gaze threatening to make her into a pile of goo.
"Okay you two, we have work to do." Alya said, clapping her hands. "That sunrise is just starting to break through. Now just stand here like this…that's it…and when I say 'want' turn to each other and start leaning in on 'your lips'. Got it?"
Marinette bit her bottom lip and nodded, trying hard not to self combust at the look Adrien was giving her and how her hand fit so perfectly in his. She knew that Chat had always loved Ladybug, but she had hardly dared to hope that Adrien would still have felt the same after he found out his beloved Ladybug had been his friend Marinette.
"Now when the two of you are about an inch away from each other, hold that for a count of five to allow for the fade that we will add later. You know how to do that and keep it professional, don't you Sunshine?"
Now Marinette was certain Adrien was blushing. Thank goodness it wasn't just her.
"Alright Alya, cue narrator in three…two…" He pointed at his girlfriend who began reading the script. Marinette and Adrien turned and looked at each other right on cue and began to lean into each other, Adrien dipping his head to cater for the height difference.
Marinette could feel the warmth of his minty fresh breath mingling with her own, his lips coming closer, so close they could almost… "CUT!"
Marientte had to quickly look away and release the breath she didn't even realise she was holding. It's acting, she reminded herself, they were just acting and Adrien is just extremely good at his job. Maybe now she could finally go to the coffee shop and…
"That was perfect guys, let's just do it one more time." Nino said, readjusting the glare umbrella.
"Again?" Marinette said exasperated. She wasn't sure she could survive another close encounter with Adrien's lip…face…eyes… ugh. Marinette felt the hand still holding hers give it a light squeeze.
"Don't worry m'lady." He whispered near her ear. "You're going great. They usually do more than one take just in case."
Hearing him call her by his hero endearment for her made her feel much calmer. Of course it would, because he was her Kitty, and Chat always knew how to help her get out of her own head.
"Right, into your positions." Nino called out from behind the camera. Adrien and Marinette moved back and stood looking out at the rising sunrise. Nino counted down again and Alya began her narration. Neither Adrien or Marinette were really registering what she was saying, turning their heads in sync at the right moment, the sunlight dancing in Adrien's hair and reflected in Marientte's eyes. Almost in slow motion, Marinette could feel herself drawing closer to him as he dipped his head once more, pausing a tantalising breath away from her lip for five…four…three…two… "ACHOO!"
Marinette recoiled back horrified that she had almost sneezed right into Adrien's face.
"Cut" Nino called out amid his and Alya's laughter.
Marinette covered her face with her hands wishing the earth would open up and swallow her whole. Peeking out through her fingers, she saw Adrien offering her a handkerchief.
"Marientte you're shaking." He said with concern. "I'm taking you over to the coffee shop to warm you up." He had determined. "Do you need us anymore Nino?"
"Nah dude, we're all good. I'll call you later."
"Enjoy your coffee date you two." Alya called out in a sing-song voice.
Marinette took off Adrien's glove and gave it back to him as they began to head to the other side of the bridge. Adrien put both gloves into his pocket, his now bare hand brushing past hers before he curled his slender fingers around hers, entwining their hands once more. Marinette leaned herself into him, taking refuge in his warmth against the light cool breeze.
"Date huh?" Marinette teased. "Were you in on this too?"
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand. "It was Alya's idea to get Zoé to throw a sicky and bring you in. I wasn't about to question it though. How else was I going to get you on a date?"
Marinette laughed. "At this time of the morning?"
"No time like the present Bugaboo. So how would you like your coffee, short or tall?"
"Is intravenous an option?" She asked. "It's far too early to be calling me Bugaboo."
"Noted." Adrien chuckled and they walked in a comfortable silence for a moment. "You've been avoiding me for the last week haven't you?" He asked suddenly, although his voice was incredibly soft and non-judgemental.
"I didn't mean to." She replied. "I guess I just needed to get used to the idea of you being, well you." Marinette cringed. It sounded completely ridiculous when she said it out loud.
"So…you weren't disappointed it was me?"
Marinette stopped walking and turned to look at him. "Is that what you thought?" She asked surprised.
"I wasn't sure…I guess I had kind of hoped you might have texted me or something."
Marinette blinked at him with wide eyes. "You wanted me to text you? But I thought you would have been the one disappointed."
Adrien took her hand and brought it to his lips, softly kissed her on the knuckles. "How could I be disappointed m'lady? You know how I feel about you."
"I…I do?"
"Yeah." He said, moving in closer. "Because you know I latte you a lot." He said, his face breaking into a wide Cheshire grin. "And I just want to espresso what you bean to me." Marinette stared at him before she broke out in a laugh, pushing his face away.
"Oh my god, you really are my Kitty aren't you?" She giggled. She couldn't deny it, knowing Adrien was Chat really did make her fall more in love with him. Adrien pulled her by the hand closer to him, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"I could be." He said, his emerald eyes losing themselves in her ocean of blue.
"Be what?" Marinette asked, her heart beating faster as his face moved closer to hers.
"Yours." Adrien murmured, kissing her on the forehead. Marinette closed her eyes, savouring his soft warm lips on her cool skin as the sun streaked through the trees, the earth around them feeling so much warmer.
"Mine." She whispered back, resting her hands against his chest and rising slightly on her toes. Marinette's breath hitched as his lips met hers. It was soft and sweet like she expected from Adrien, but there was a simmering fire burning just under the surface, reminding her this was her Chat Noir holding her so close to him. His hand found its way into her hair and her head tilted ever so slightly, inviting him to deepen the kiss, and she was happy to let him take charge and for the fire to take over.
When their lips finally parted Marinette saw Adrien's face lighting up in the most beautiful smile, and own heart full of love. They had finally come together, and everything had changed.
Adrien held both her hands in his and looked adoringly into her eyes. "Care to come with me on a date, to the coffee shop." He said, nodding his head towards the now open temple of caffeine. "Maybe I can get you a cap-purr-chino?"
Marientte looked up at him with a smile. Well, some things never change. "I thought you'd never ask."