Hey! Glad you're here :) Oh, fun fact: Pomegranate seeds in Mandarin is 石榴籽. At least, according to Google translate haha. I apologize beforehand if I get anything wrong about any cultures in this story. I've done my best to research all the places visited, but I'm sure there's still some technicalities I overlooked so feel free to correct me if it's blatant.

oOo

Upon pushing aside the strings of beads that hung in the doorway, Adrien slipped through the shop's entrance, taking a sweeping scan of the place. It was small and dark and a bit cramped, but otherwise carried a quaint and almost homey feel to it. Within seconds, he decided he liked it.

He had been wandering around Shanghai for hours, looking for some amusement away from his empty hotel room, and all it took was a sign that read Huang's Place: Souvenirs and Fortune Telling to snag his curiosity. Of course, he didn't believe in fortune telling, but he had always wondered what fortune tellers actually looked like. He knew movies could distort reality easily and was now extremely curious as to what the silver screen had gotten right and wrong. Moreover, he could grab a few keepsakes to bring his friends while he was there.

The sound of the clinking beads must have been loud enough for the storekeeper to hear, for a "Just a moment!" sounded in clear Mandarin from the back of the store. Adrien took the time to peruse the shop's wares. There were handwoven rugs hung on the walls as well as paintings, clocks, charms, and shelves upon shelves of various trinkets and knickknacks. In between, there were racks of clothing and jewelry and keychains and greeting cards and pretty much any other mementos one could think of. It was the perfect tourist trap. Flashy enough to catch attention, but old fashioned enough to seem authentic.

A moving figure caught Adrien's attention. He turned in time to see an old woman emerging from two thick, green curtains lined in golden embroidery behind the front counter. He was sort of disappointed in how normal she looked. No fancy headwrap, no clunky jewels dripping from her neck and wrists, no golden hoop earrings the size of dinner plates. She wore a modest black blouse and a pair of washed out, denim jeans, a simple gold necklace at her heart.

The woman flashed Adrien a warm smile.

"Hello there," she greeted cheerily, still in Chinese. "What can I do for you?"

Adrien gave a little wave. "Oh, uh, hello. I was… looking at the sign outside and walked in. I was curious."

She nodded, then said in fluent French, "Are you from France?"

Adrien was startled, but relieved nevertheless. Chinese was a beautiful language, but it made his head spin to speak it for too long. Translation was difficult.

"Yes I am," he replied, sure she could see the obvious slumping of his shoulders. "Are you… Huang?"

The woman gave him a single nod, edging on a bow. "Marie Huang, at your service."

She leaned against the counter, waving him over with two fingers. His brows drew together, but he did as instructed and crossed the store to meet her.

"You're a pretty young man," she commented, wrinkles creasing around her eyes as she smiled. "I'd like to tell your fortune. I'm sure you have wonderful things in store. May I?"

Adrien laughed, a bit nervously. "Thank you. And sure, why not? Sounds fun."

Ms. Huang hummed in approval before gesturing to him again and ducking back in between the green curtains. Adrien assumed she wanted him to follow her, so he slipped around the counter and parted the curtains, stepping inside.

In hindsight, Adrien supposed he probably shouldn't have followed a stranger to the back of her store, given that he knew nothing about her integrity and could have very well been kidnapped, but he was a naturally trusting person and assumed the best in the kind woman.

It was a dark room, illuminated by nothing but a few candles scattered about and a blue-tinted sphere in the middle of a square table. It was strange that the sphere was, for absence of better phrasing, glowing, but Adrien was too fascinated by his surroundings to think it alarming in the slightest. The room had even more trinkets that the store itself, which was saying a lot. They overflowed from baskets and shelves, hung from the ceiling in between green leaves that Adrien supposed were herbs. Shiny, captivating little things were everywhere.

"Wow," he breathed.

Ms. Huang chuckled and took a seat in a green, cushioned chair on one side of the table. Adrien claimed the one across from her, still looking about himself with wide eyes.

"It isn't much, but it's certainly pretty to look at," she put in, good-naturedly. "Now, give me your hand, Adrien."

Adrien held out his hand on command, but froze halfway across the table. His eyes snapped down to hers and for the first time, he felt unnerved.

"How did you know my name?"

She laughed outright. "My granddaughter reads your fashion magazines. She's very fond of you, you know. Besides, I am a fortune teller, remember?"

His sudden anxiety melted away, a sheepish grin unfolding on his face.

"Oh. Right."

He finally gave her his hand. She took it in between both of hers and eased forward, greyish blue eyes trained on his. Adrien tried not to squirm as she stared into his very soul, which was considerably difficult. He wanted to break away from her gaze, but was afraid she might reprimand him, so he allowed her to stare as long as she liked.

After a moment, Ms. Huang nodded sagely and whispered, "I see… emotion. Deep emotion. Feelings for a special girl."

Even though he knew this whole thing was probably scripted, Adrien's mind jumped to Ladybug. Wonderful Ladybug. Smiling. Laughing. Fighting. Sassing villains with a toss of her head.

"The feelings are getting stronger," she went on. "You're thinking of her."

That was true. Then again, when wasn't he thinking of her?

"I see a color," she observed. "Red. Bright, bold red. The color of love. Romance. Does that mean anything to you?"

Adrien swallowed back a laugh. He knew she meant red figuratively, emotionally, but all he could see was a scarlet mask with black spots, outlining ocean eyes.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"Yes. You love her, don't you? Passionately."

At this, Adrien winced. He had never really liked that word. It seemed too… heavy. Like the word moist. It made him shiver. Wholly, ardently, absolutely, those words worked. But passionately was just... it made him uncomfortable. However, he supposed that by definition, he did love Ladybug that way, so he nodded in agreement.

"However," Ms. Huang continued, face falling in sympathy, "she does not return your feelings."

Okay, that was kinda creepy. How did she know that? Perhaps something on his face had given it away. Yeah, that made sense. His eyes must have dimmed or flickered or something akin to clue her in.

"But don't worry," she piped up. "She will. Someday, she will love you with just as much intensity and loyalty and fervor as you do her."

Adrien couldn't help the subtle scoff that escaped him. He watched her raise a brow.

"You doubt?"

Adrien flinched at her tone, feeling guilty for an unknown reason.

"Well, it… it's unlikely," he explained, carefully. "I mean, she's wonderful. Perfect. Irresistible, even. But she's head-over-heels for someone else. Some otherworldly guy that I could never compete with."

The woman's lips pressed into a thin line.

"The future is not set in stone, son," she countered, eyes not at all unkind but almost reprimanding in intention. "You are a good boy and full of persistent hope. I can see that. Do not let that hope die. You must have faith."

Then, she dropped his hand and shifted, placing her wrinkled palms against the glowing sphere at the table's center with great reverence. Adrien watched as her eyes slipped closed and her brows drew together in concentration. The air about them suddenly felt cooler, as if a draft had swept through the room and past their ankles. He couldn't suppress the shiver that dragged up his spine.

Then, the strangest thing happened. The ball (which had previously been blue) was now fading to emanate a greenish glow. Unbeknownst to Adrien, it was the exact shade as his eyes. A lively, spring green. And while he knew she probably had some sort of remote control hiding beneath the table or an outside assistant switching the colors, Adrien felt himself lean into the light, intrigued.

Ms. Huang's eyes reopened and settled on the sphere, fully focused on it. Her gaze darted back and forth, like she was watching a movie or several images flash before her. She was a remarkably good actress.

"Green," she muttered, distracted, low and drawn out. "Secrecy. Lies. Insecurity masked by humor. A boy of a thousand faces whom everyone knows of, but no one truly knows."

Well jeez. He should have just gone to a therapist. It probably would have surrendered the same results.

"Innocence and good intention, yes, but… shame. Guilt. Resentment…" She shook her head, sadly. "So many problems. So many tears."

Adrien squirmed in his seat. This was starting to get a little more personal than he was comfortable with. He was wondering if maybe this woman was some sort of stalker, following him through his life and jotting observations down in a notebook from a front-row seat.

The ball flared up and flashed, switching to a starkly different color. A warm, soothing, recognizable color.

The woman's face relaxed. The sadness melted away, the lines of her expression softening. She looked like she could feel exactly what he did upon seeing the switch.

"And then…" she went on, smoother and fonder than before, "then, there is red. Associated with… good feelings. An ache to please, to glorify, to adore. Tenacity. Optimism. Desire. All for one person. The woman you would lay your life down for."

Warmth flooded the room, contrasting with the previous chill biting at his heels. Still, despite the alleviating atmosphere, Adrien shuddered. He crossed his arms around himself, stomach turning over itself. He was beginning to think this wasn't just a hoax. It wasn't just flashy lights and generalizations that may or may not be true. This was private and up-close. Exposing. Somehow, this woman had managed to worm her way into his head and heart, describing the thoughts and feelings that made him into who he was. Had he not been shaking like a leaf, he might have been colored impressed.

He wanted to leave before she discovered anything else (particularly regarding his double life), but wasn't sure if he should. What might happen if he disturbed her in her musings? Not really wanting to find out, he remained glued to his chair, eyes fixed on the fortune teller.

"You love her," Ms. Huang continued, gentler still, "and you would do anything for her praise. But her heart is held by another. Because of this, you swear you can never have her. But…"

The woman's hands fell from the orb and it faded back to that neutral, cooling blue. She then stood up and turned away from the table before slipping between the green curtains and vanishing back into the store.

Adrien stared after her in blank confusion. Was that… was that it? Should he… follow her? Was she going to finish her sentence? But. But what?

He wasn't given time to make a decision, for she returned in a matter of moments, holding what appeared to be an ornate box, painted gold with red carvings scattered all over it. She smiled as she crossed over to the table and placed it before him. Adrien looked between her and the box.

"Open it," she coaxed.

He hesitated a moment, but since curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought it back, he ventured to do as told. After lifting the metallic lid, he was greeted with the sight of…

"Pomegranate seeds?" he asked.

The woman nodded. "To share with your lady love."

Adrien continued staring, skeptical, confused. This woman was a puzzle inside of a puzzle, difficult to predict and impossible to figure out.

"Trust me," she pressed, upon sensing his doubt. "Convince her to take of these and she will be bound to you, in love, forever."

She slid the box over to him, prompting him to reach out and accept the gift. He did so.

"Um… thank you. How much would you like?"

He made a move to grab his wallet, but paused at the dismissive shake of her head. "Free of charge. I insist."

"Really? Even for these?"

He lifted the box.

There was a certain spark in her eye, one that looked immensely amused. "I haven't had a customer quite like you before, Adrien. It was a pleasure. Think of the seeds as returning the favor."

Adrien allowed himself to smile as he stood up.

"Thank you. You've been so nice. It's a gorgeous box, too." He peered closer, eyes tracing over the etchings that graced the sides and surface. "Do the little lines mean anything?"

Ms. Huang turned, an arm stretching out and easing aside a curtain, allowing natural light to pour into the back room. It drew a small halo around the crown of her grey hair.

"Haven't you heard? The strings of fate are painted in red."

oOo

Chat Noir swiped his hands together to rid them of any remnants of dust as he stood back to admire his work. Plush blue blanket spread out flat, snacks of all assortments scattered in a neat arrangement, and two little candles at the very center to light the whole scene. He knew this wasn't a date, that it was merely a picnic with a friend, but he hadn't been able to help himself with the candles. They gave the place such a nice, warm, welcoming glow. Besides, the rooftop needed a little sprucing up. It looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in years. Upon realizing that his blanket would be ruined after tonight, he made a mental note to bring a broom next time, even if he might have to endure a few black cat jokes from Ladybug.

Somehow, Chat had talked Ladybug into having a picnic together after their separate patrols. She had been rightfully suspicious at first, accusing him of trying to romance her. He argued that he would always try to romance her despite the circumstances, so what did it matter if there were a few cupcakes and a blanket thrown in the mix? She agreed, but not without specifying at least a dozen times that it would be strictly platonic and nothing more.

Sure, sure. Platonic. Friendship. That was definitely all he would be thinking of sprawled out at his lady's side, munching on sweets and stargazing on a delicious summer night. Completely impersonal.

Speak of the devil (or rather, speak of the angel), Ladybug swung in just in the nick of time. She landed on the rooftop's edge with a small bag in hand and a satisfied sigh that spoke of adrenaline buzzing in her veins. She was almost always in high spirits after returning from patrol. Something about the night air and city lights. Whatever the case, she was positively glowing.

"M'lady. Fancy seeing you here," Chat crooned, hands folded behind his back as he ambled over to her.

Ladybug snapped her yo-yo back into place with a noncommittal shrug.

"Coincidence, I guess," she answered.

She looked up, about to say more, when her eyes finally landed on the layout Chat had prepared. He watched her gaze float over the treats and small bottle of sparkling apple cider. And the candles. When she had taken it all in, her features fell into a wary expression, eyes turning back to him.

"Chat…" she said in a warning tone.

Chat Noir immediately waved a hand in flippant dismissal.

"Relax, LB. I remembered. Strictly platonic. The candles are just… well, I had them laying around, and thought they'd look nice. Besides." He glanced to their otherwise dim and dismal surroundings. "Don't you think they lighten up the atmosphere?"

She pointedly ignored his poor attempt at punning, hand slipping onto her hip, head nodding to the green bottle with the fancy label.

"And the wine?"

"Wine?" he repeated, aghast. His hand flew to his chest. "Why Ladybug, I'm offended. Insulted, even. You truly think I would dare bring wine to a picnic? Please. It's apple cider. Wine doesn't fit the aesthetic at all."

It really had less to do with the aesthetic and more to do with the fact that he wasn't the biggest fan of alcohol. And the fact that wine was typically considered a romantic beverage, poured into crystal glasses and used to toast a beautiful, long-lasting relationship. That is, if movies had taught him anything.

Ladybug still seemed hesitant, but eventually, her shoulders relaxed and her hand slipped.

"Well…" she began, "I guess it's alright then. And, for what it's worth, it is kinda pretty. Very pretty."

A boyish grin broke out on Chat's face and stretched until his cheeks squished and his chest very nearly burst. Ladybug couldn't help smiling at his eagerness to please her, covering up her affection by quickly brushing past him.

"Gosh, Chat," she said as she drew nearer to the scene and got a better look. "There's so much. How on earth are we gonna eat all this?"

Chat spun around, following her over to the blanket.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll find a way," he replied.

"I sure hope so. I would hate to leave some behind. It would feel like a crime."

Chat's eye snagged on the bag in her hand once again. It was one of those brown paper lunch sacks elementary students typically use. He took in a deep breath through the nose, catching a whiff of something sweet. Something baked.

He slipped up behind her, acting very much like his namesake, and asked directly over her shoulder, "What's in the bag?"

He noticed her tense at his sudden nearness, but she soon turned around and met his eyeline with ease. They were so close, Chat almost forgot about the bag in the first place.

"Oh, this?" she asked all too innocently, as if she had no idea what she was able to do to his heartbeat's rhythm with just one look.

He nodded, having to take a subtle step back to keep a grip on himself.

"Yeah that. Wait, I know. Is it a present? For me?" He feigned excitement. "Oh Bugaboo, you shouldn't have! It's not even my birthday."

Ladybug rolled her eyes, but smiled, nonetheless.

"It's not a birthday present," she answered. "But it's much better."

Chat cocked a brow. "What could possibly be better than a birthday present?"

"Oh, well, if you didn't want my homemade double chocolate chip cookies, you could've just said so."

She turned with an offended sniff, about to take the bag and leave, but Chat jumped to grab her with an exceptionally loud, "Homemade cookies?!"

Her ersatz offended air didn't last long. She melted at the excitement lighting up his whole face, laughing as she handed him the bag.

"Made just the way you like them," she assured.

Chat Noir fairly tore apart the paper in his haste to get to the golden treats, hardly noticing as Ladybug moved to take a seat on the blanket. He retrieved the first cookie that his hand grazed and took a greedy bite, allowing it to melt in his mouth like ice in the summer sun. Warm. Soft. Sweet. Extra chocolatey. Just the way he liked them.

He swooned, sinking down onto the blanket beside her, eyes rolling into the back of his head before closing completely. It was hardly an exaggeration.

"You, M'lady, are a baking goddess," he praised.

Ladybug shook her head fondly.

"So dramatic," she muttered.

As he shoved the rest of the current cookie into his mouth and dove back for another, Ladybug looked around, deciding on what to indulge herself in first. Olives, chesses, cupcakes, croissants, finger sandwiches, a wide array of assorted fruits. There was even a little plate of what looked to be chicken nuggets. At seeing them, her cheeks puffed out with effort to contain a laugh.

A few weeks ago at around one in the morning, Ladybug had gone on a sleep-deprived rant, all about how much she wanted chicken nuggets but didn't have money for them. Chat had, of course, run out and returned with a bagful, earning him an abundance of thanks and even an eager hug, which he had hardly disapproved of.

Then, Ladybug's eyes snagged on a small box. It was gold with red accents and definitely stood out against the rest of the spread. Curiosity took over, persuading her to grab for it and turn it over in her hands.

"Hey, what's this?"

Chat stopped stuffing himself just long enough to say, "Pomegranate seeds."

She flipped open the box and, sure enough, there resided a handful or two of red pomegranate seeds. Her lips formed a small "o" shape, letting out an impressed whistle.

"Fancy. Where'd you get 'em?"

Chat didn't answer at first, having to scrape together a suitable story to tell.

"A gift shop," he replied after a second or two. "I got them for free, but I really don't like them that much. I figured you might."

Her jaw dropped.

"What?!" she cried, incredulously. "You don't like pomegranate seeds?"

Chat's nose wrinkled up in distaste.

"No. I tried them once and let me tell you, never again. They're too bitter."

"They are not," she defended. "How old were you when you ate them?"

"Um… like five."

Ladybug deadpanned.

"Chat. You gotta try them."

"No thanks. Me and my cookies are just fine without you and your sins against humanity."

Ladybug's hand suddenly shot out and snatched the bag from Chat's claws. He cried out in protest, lunging across to try and retrieve them, but she held the bag fast, above her head and out of his grasp.

"Give em!" he whined, stretching to reach over her shoulder. She leaned further back, shaking her head.

"Not until you try one."

His fingers clamped and unclamped, desperate for purchase on his poor cookies in the clutches of an unempathetic thief.

"That's not fair!" he objected.

"It is to. They're my cookies, aren't they?"

"But you gave them to me! They're a gift! And its rude to take back a gift after you give it. It's like… like… embezzlement!"

With this, Chat tilted just the wrong way and lost his balance, hand slipping out from under him. He came crashing down onto Ladybug, both toppling back onto the blanket with matching strangled shouts. He landed directly on top of her. The bag of cookies fell.

It took a moment for Chat Noir to process just exactly what had happened. At first, he just laid there, muttering a small, "Ouch" on behalf of his elbow. But then, he realized that he was, in fact, laying on top of Ladybug, AKA the love of his life.

The fact sent him jerking upwards. His forearms propped him up, eyes going impossibly wide at their situation. About four curse words flashed through his mind, punctuated with many, many exclamation points.

Ladybug groaned beneath her partner, annoyance etched into her features as a hand lifted to rub at the back of her head. Her eyes were twisted closed, so she didn't see the fast-spreading blush sinking into the apples of his cheeks.

"Nice one, blondie," she grumbled.

Before he could do anything more to give himself a heart attack, Chat dragged himself off of Ladybug with a scoff to cover up his embarrassment.

"You started it."

"I did not!"

He crawled back till he was sitting up again, offering Ladybug a hand. She took it, allowing him to pull her upright.

"Fine," he relented, looking elsewhere to hide the red painting his face. "I'll try them. But just one. No more."

Any hints of agitation vanished from Ladybug's face, making way for approving satisfaction.

"Good."

She scooted the box closer, encouragingly if not insistently. Chat begrudgingly dipped in and retrieved a single seed, shiny and blood red. Knee brushing hers, he tossed it into his mouth and bit down.

As it popped between his teeth, a grimace immediately pinched Chat's features. His eyes screwed closed, head shaking furiously in revulsion. It was hard work to finally swallow it down.

Chat grappled for the nearest food, fingers closing around an apple, half golden, half pinkish. He took a generous bite out of the yellow side, immensely thankful when sweetness exploded from it and chased away the leftover bitterness.

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "You have no taste," she insisted, popping a cluster of the offending seeds past her lips, as if they weren't made of poison.

Chat watched, off-put but resigned as Ladybug ate away.

"At least they won't go to waste," he reasoned before biting off another chunk of his apple.

oOo

Okay to be honest I've been working on this story for a long, long time, but I wanted to ensure I had a good grasp on the plot and storyline before I just posted one chapter and then never circled back to it again. Thankfully I have about 13000 words written? Maybe? I just have to edit and stuff before I post them. Anyway I really hope you liked this little concept. Things get a little more interesting next chapter ;))