Marinette tapped her pen against her note book. She was still getting used to this new world where chasing a butterfly villain was in the past and the only thing she had to focus on was passing the Baccalaureate and graduating from Lycèe. That is if she can get her brain to focus on this assignment for ancient history.
It seemed she wasn't the only one having trouble since many of her classmates were piled into the library. Getting up, Marinette went back to the bookshelf. She could see on one of the higher shelves a book on Egyptian Mythology that looked interesting. Standing up on her toes, she strained up to reach, cursing her short stature.
"Need some help there m'lady?" A warm familiar voice said behind her. Marinette smiled to herself and leaned back against the bookcase as Adrien reached over her head and grabbed the book.
"Thanks Kitty." She smiled looking up at him. "I thought you had fencing this afternoon?"
Adrien leaned his shoulder against the bookcase next to her. "Mr D'Argentcourt has the flu and Kagami is out of town so I didn't really have anyone to spar with. Otherwise I could teach you a few moves." He said with a cheeky grin.
"The last time you tried to teach me a few moves I ended up with a twisted ankle." Adrien chuckled remembering the indignant look on her face when he insisted on carrying her home. "Besides, I really have to work on this assignment. I'm at least three resources short."
"I can help you with it." Adrien offered. "I already finished my assignment."
"Already?" Marinette said, astonished. "We only got the assignment last week."
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous tick Marinette had often noticed over the years. "Well without all the modeling and Chinese and the "other" extracurricular activities," He whispered with a wink, "I have a lot more time on my hands I guess. Besides, we have a pretty extensive library and Nathalie is really knowledgeable. Tomorrow's Friday, if you want you can come around after school and I can help you find some resources?"
"That would be amazing." Marinette smiled. "Are you sure it's alright for me to come over?"
"Oh sure." He replied. "Nathalie isn't anywhere near as strict as…" His face dropped a little as his voice trailed off. "I don't need permission anymore."
It had been almost a year since Adrien's father was unmasked as their arch nemesis. It had been a rollercoaster of anger and despair, but Adrien's saving grace had been finding out that Ladybug was none other than his amazing and supportive friend Marinette.
Despite it all, she had stood by his side all through the trial, both as himself and when he had to testify as Chat Noir, and he felt truly blessed to have her in his life. They had grown so much closer since then, and while Adrien's heart would still beat faster just at the sound of her voice, he didn't try to press his feelings onto her anymore. Ladybug was always very clear that she didn't love Chat Noir, and Marinette had never indicated she felt anything more than friendship for Adrien. He was okay with that though. Her friendship meant everything to him, and right now that was all that mattered.
Marinette placed a supportive hand on Adrien's arm. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Hey, don't you apologise." He replied. "If I can't talk to you about it, who can I talk to? I did talk to my father on the phone a few days ago. He's… adjusting I guess. He wants to redesign the prison guards uniforms but I'm not sure how well that would go down though."
He chuckled, but she could see he was trying to make light of things, just like he always did when things got too hard for him. Marinette knew that fake smile all too well - the one that doesn't reach his eyes.
"You know my parents said if you need some time away from the mansion you are more than welcome to come and stay with us for a while."
Adrien reached out and took her hand into his. "I know. Your parents have been amazing to me, but I think Nathalie needs me around right now. She's hurting too and feels really guilty about her part in everything."
Across the library, Alya could feel her eye start to twitch. Anyone else watching these two idiots would think they had been dating for years with the way they look at each other and holding hands. Unfortunately, she knows better and that single fact was driving her completely up the wall.
After Adrien kissed Marinette on the cheek and left to be picked up by his driver, Alya called Marinette over.
"Hey, where's Nino?" Marinette asked, pulling up a chair.
"He had to go take Chris somewhere." She waved off. "More importantly, what were you and Sunshine talking about?"
Marinette shrugged. "The assignment. Adrien's going to help me with it at his place tomorrow afternoon."
Alya's face morphed into a smirk. "Just the assignment?" She asked, waggling her eyebrows. Marinette rolled her eyes at her. "But Marinette…"
"Shhhh!" The librarian glared at the intrepid reporter. Alya indicated for Marinette to come outside with her and the two girls packed up their bags and started heading for the bakery.
"Come on Marinette, you look like a couple, you act like a couple… why are you not a couple?"
"Alya, I told you, Adrien needs support and a friend right now. I'm not declaring any feelings to him. We are friends, best friends even and that is all Adrien wants." She said emphatically. Alya could feel her eye start to twitch again.
"You can't be serious! Adrien did nothing but declare his love for you for years."
Marinette let out a tired sigh. "To Ladybug, yes, but that was a long time ago. Adrien never said he was in love with Marinette."
Alya had to resist the urge to tear her hair out. "Marinette, blind Freddy can see that boy is head over heels for you."
As they approached the door of the bakery, Marinette patiently turned to her best friend. "Listen, if someone had told 14 year old Marinette that she would be this close to Adrien without passing out, she never would have believed you."
"But 14 year old Marinette would never have believed Adrien was Chat Noir either, or that his father would turn out to be the enemy."
"And that is exactly why I need to be here as Adrien's friend." Marinette insisted. "If something changes and Adrien is ready for something more, then I'm here for it, but I'm not going to be the one to say it."
Alya dropped her shoulders and gave Marinette a conflicted smile. "You know I almost miss clumsy, heart eyed Marinette. When did you become so mature?"
Marinette just hugged her best friend and told her she would see her tomorrow. As Alya left, Marinette made her way up to her bedroom, grabbing some cookies and saying hello to her parents on the way. Sitting at her desk, the kwamis helped themselves to the cookies while Marinette flicked through her design book.
Has she really become more mature? Marinette wondered to herself. She wasn't sure about that. The truth was her knees went weak when she heard Adrien's voice behind her in the library, and her heart raced faster in her chest when he held her hand and oh how she wished that friendly kiss on the cheek had been a passionate one to the lips. Inside she was still every bit that 14 year old Marinette still desperately in love with Adrien Agreste. Had finding out he was Chat Noir changed that? Not one bit. If anything it had only made her love him more, but it also fixed her resolve that Adrien was in too vulnerable a position for her to be confessing her feelings. He needed a friend right now, and Marinette was determined to be the best friend in the world.
A shower of rain hit up against the windows. So much for patrol tonight Marinette thought as she sent a text to Adrien. This was the third time this week they had to call it off due to the inclement weather. It wasn't like they had to patrol, after all there were no villains in Paris presently, if anything it was just another excuse to see each other. Plus it delighted the citizens to see their heroes still visible.
Marinette's phone beeped with an incoming text and she smiled when she saw who it was from.
Adrien: I figured patrol would be off. Talked to Nathalie, she said you're very welcome to come over and she has some books she is sure will help you.
Marinette: Thanks, that's sweet of you
Adrien: What are friends for right? What are you up to?
Friends… it was a word she had become used to, but also one she had come to cherish when it came to Adrien. Once it was like a stab to the heart, but now Marinette understood how important friends were to her Kitty and it had become important to her too.
Marinette: Working on a design for my portfolio.
Adrien: Don't stay up too late. You'll be falling asleep in class again.
He knew her too well.
Marinette: I won't, I promise. Goodnight Kitty.
Adrien: Goodnight Bugaboo.
Taking out the dress she had been working on, Marinette laid it out on her table and started sewing on the gems that would make it shine.
~~~~~
Adrien had to hold back his laughter when he walked into class and found Marinette passed out on her desk. Alya had all but given up trying to wake her at this point.
"I could give you three guesses, but you probably only need one." Alya said unamused.
"I know, I was texting her last night. That's why I brought this with me." He said, holding up a coffee travel mug.
Alya shifted out of her seat and sat next to Nino to let Adrien take her spot. Sitting the mug on the table, he leaned in close to Marinette's ear. "Marinette." He whispered.
She responded with some unintelligible mumbling.
"Well, if you want to join the land of the living, I brought you a double shot latte."
Marinette's head suddenly shot up and she wrapped her hands around the mug, sliding it closer to her lips and taking a sip.
"You're a lifesaver." She breathed out after a few more sips of the life giving elixir. "This is really nice actually. Where did you buy it?"
Adrien suddenly looked really bashful, averting his eyes. "Oh, well now that we don't have as much staff Nathalie showed me how to use the coffee machine in the kitchen. I've been practicing."
Marinette hadn't realised that the kitchen staff had been let go. She thought Adrien had been opening up to her more, but clearly he still wasn't telling her everything. He looked back at her nervously and she reassured him with a bright smile. "It's wonderful. Really. Good enough papa would probably give you a job if you ever wanted one. Mama always wanted to add a barista to the shop."
Something lit up in his eyes. "Don't tempt me, I'd probably take him up on it."
Ms. Bustier came rushing into the classroom, apologising for her tardiness. "I have just confirmed some exciting news." She said, still slightly out of breath. "Mr Damocles has given us permission to hold a Valentine's Day dance here in the school gymnasium."
The classroom filled with chatter and excitement, everyone except for Chloé that was. "Who wants to go to a dance in the school's stinking gymnasium? That's just lame, utterly lame." She declared, waving her hand around dismissively.
"Well nobody said you have to go." Alix retorted. Chloé glared indignantly at the several students chuckling around the room.
Ms. Bustier smiled patiently. "Attendance is optional of course, however we do hope that as many of you attend as possible. Ivan and Mylène will be heading up the organising committee, so if you can donate your time or your talent, please go and see them at lunchtime. They will also be fundraising on the night for the new ARC - Akuma Rehabilitation Centre to help those who are still suffering the effects of their akumatizations."
Out of her periphery, Marinette saw Adrien shrink back into his seat. The ARC foundation was set up by volunteers, but Nathalie had seen to it that they were funded by what remained of the Agreste estate. Still, Adrien felt like all the eyes in the room were turned onto him, even though Marinette knew that wasn't the case.
Under the table, Marinette reached out and took his hand into hers and gave it a squeeze, just to let him know that she was there for him. He didn't look up at her, but she could see the small smile on his face. As Ms. Bustier started the class, she soon felt his thumb making absentminded circles on the back of her hand.
~~~~~
When the afternoon came, so did the rain again albeit a lighter shower than the night before. Marinette was expecting to see Adrien's car and the Gorilla waiting, but was surprised instead when he opened an umbrella above their heads.
"He works for the Mayor now." Adrien said to her unspoken question. "He still lives with us for now and helps out where he can. I hope you don't mind walking."
"Not at all." Marinette replied, looping her arm around his. "I always loved the rain."
The two walked in a comfortable silence for a while, but Marinette could see a frown growing between Adrien's eyebrows. "What is it?" She asked.
"Nothing, just thinking." He said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Marinette shook her head. "Don't give me that, Kitty Cat. I know you better. We promised to always be open with each other, so if something is bothering you please tell me"
A beat of silence. "I… I guess I was just wondering whether I should really go to this dance or not."
Marinette stopped walking, pulling him back to face her. "What do you mean Adrien? Of course you should go."
He shrugged his shoulders, looking away from her as the rain came down heavier around them. "It's just, they're raising money for something my father caused. I don't know how welcome I would be."
"They're our friends Adrien, of course you would be welcome."
Adrien wasn't convinced though. "Most of them have also been akumatized, or at the least got caught up in an akuma. They wouldn't even need to be raising funds if my father…"
He was cut off when Marinette placed her fingers over his lips. "You're wrong Adrien, they are our friends and would never think that of you, but if you really don't want to go then we won't go."
"We?" Adrien blinked at her before shaking his head. "No, don't do that m'lady. You can still go and have a good time with Alya and Nino. Besides, you wouldn't get to wear your dress."
Marinette tugged him by the arm to continue walking. "That's not important. I was making the dress for my portfolio anyway and I wouldn't want you doing anything that would make you feel uncomfortable. Tell you what, instead of going to the dance you can come over to my place. We'll bake cookies and order pizza and watch movies… we could even make another blanket fort like we did last time."
If Adrien was being honest, that sounded like a really great idea. During the days of his father's trial, Natalie had allowed Adrien to spend a lot of time with the Dupain-Cheng family. The bakery has become his safe haven against the media spotlight. It was during that time that he and Marinette had begun to connect more as friends than just superhero partners. It was also at that time he realised his feelings for Ladybug hadn't changed, but had evolved.
Adrien looked down at the girl by his side. She was looking ahead, her face calm and serene. So very Ladybug. She had changed since the end of Hawk Moth. More confident, more self assured, more of the Ladybug he had first adored wrapped up in the Marinette he had fallen in love with. He could see what she was doing though. She was trying to protect him.
As Chat he had protected her physically, but now Marinette had been protecting him emotionally. Maybe he wasn't totally ready, but Adrien knew sooner or later he was going to have to step out of his father's long shadows and find his way into the light. It might only be a dance, but it could be a new start.
"No, you're right. These are our friends and if I can't face them then who can I? I'm not going to keep letting my father stop me from doing what I want to do. Not any more."
Marinette smiled to herself. "I'm glad you changed your mind Kitty."
As they approached the gates of the Agreste estate, Adrien stopped and turned Marinette towards him, making sure the umbrella was over the both of them. "Would you like to come with me? To the dance I mean?"
Marinette could see a light dusting of pink across his cheeks, and it brought a smile to her lips. "I wouldn't want to go with anyone else."
Walking into the mansion, the first thing Marientte noticed was how bare it was. It had never been that homely before anyway, but it seemed to her there was even less then there was before. Statues, small furniture pieces, pictures on the walls, so much was gone. As Adrien took Marinette's coat, Nathalie came out from the study. Inside, Marinette could see the portrait of Emilie still on the wall.
"Marinette. It's lovely to see you again." Nathalie greeted. "Adrien you should have called me to collect the two of you rather than walking."
Adrien looked at Marinette and smiled. "We like the rain." He said, giving her that soft look he often did.
"I see, Well Adrien told me about your project Marinette and I found some books that should be useful to you."
Marinette thanked her for her help, but Nathalie just waved it off. "I'm happy to help. With everything you have done to support Adrien it was the least I could do. I received an email from the school too saying there was going to be a Valentine's Day dance, I do hope you are planning to take Marinette with you." She said, looking over her glasses at the blond. Nathalie had to hold back a smile at their matching blushes as they nodded.
"Marinette made her own dress. She's submitting it as part of her portfolio."
"So you are still wanting to go into fashion?" Nathalie asked.
"I'm hoping too." Marinette replied. "I want to start my own label."
"I'm sure you will." Adrien said with an encouraging smile.
"Indeed." Nathalie agreed. "Adrien if you want to get me your black suit I'll have it dry cleaned."
Adrien suddenly started to fidget with his feet. "I was thinking that maybe I could get a new suit. I really don't want to wear one with my father's brand on it."
Nathalie's eyes softened. "I understand Adrien. I'm not sure when I can take you to look for one because I have a meeting tomorrow and then…"
"I can make one." Marinette jumped in and volunteered. "I've pretty much finished my dress. If you give me Adrien's measurements I'm sure I can make one in time."
Adrien was so happy he wanted to scoop Marinette up and kiss her… on the forehead or the cheek like a good friend.
"That's very kind of you." Nathalie said. "Although the measurements I have for Adrien are over a year old and he's grown so much taller since then. I'll get you a tape measure and you can jot down new measurements. I'll bring it to you with the books I found."
Marinette could only look on with wide eyes as Nathalie turned and headed away from the foyer towards another room.
"I think I'll have the best suit there." She heard Adrien say cheerfully beside her as he took her hand and led her towards his room. She was soon aroused from her stupor though when she saw how bare Adrien's room was. Once he had closed the door, Tikki and Plagg emerged out to spend some time together while Marinette looked around.
The arcade games were gone, along with Adrien's foosball table and even his basketball hoop. About all that he still had was the piano.
"Nathalie is selling most of what is in the house." Adrien explained, taking out some camembert for his Kwami. "Once I finish Lycèe the house will go on the market too. Between that and the liquidation of my father's company it should cover all the debts and legal bills. With any luck, there should be enough for me to get an apartment of my own."
Adrien sat down at the piano and patted the space next to him for her to sit. Marinette tucked her hair behind her ear as she sat down and watched him press his fingers to the ivory keys. She didn't know the tune he was playing. There was a melancholy to the song, but also a sweetness too, romantic even, like a string of hope emerging from a storm.
Marinette closed her eyes and let her head rest against Adrien's shoulder. Adrien almost faulted the keys when she did, but smiled to himself. He didn't tell her that it was a musical piece he had written for her, before everything had come out about his father - before he had found out that Marinette was his Lady and he would never have a chance with her.
Eventually, two knocks came to the door and Adrien stopped playing when Nathalie came in with the Egyptian books and a tailor's tape measure.
"You can keep these as long as you need." She said, handing the books over. "Are you going to be joining us for dinner Marinette? I can make extra, it's no trouble." Nathalie asked.
"Thank you, but unfortunately I can't. My Grandfather is coming for dinner tonight and I promised I would be home."
Nathalie looked out towards the windows at the rain pounding down. "Let me know when you are ready and I will drive you home. I wouldn't want you walking in this, even if you do like it." She added with a small smirk on her face as she handed over the tape measure and left the room.
Marinette thumbed through the books that Nathalie had given her. They were perfect for the assignment, but Marinette also realised that Adrien could have just bought them to school on Monday, or even dropped them off at the bakery over the weekend. Technically she needn't have come to his house.
Marinette was becoming lost in those thoughts when she realised Adrien had stood up and, with his back to her, started taking off his shirt.
"Ah… A…Adrien." She stammered. Adrien turned to look at her over his shoulder.
"You're measuring me for my suit right?" He said with an innocent look on his face. "Isn't it easier if I take my shirt off."
Oh boy. Easier for who exactly. Not easier for Marinette considering the way her heart palpitations suddenly increased.
"Oh, right, sure." She said with increasing fluster, picking up the tape measure and grabbing out her notepad and a pen.
It wasn't like she hadn't seen Adrien without a shirt before. Many times they had gone to the pool either as a class or just with their friends, and Adrien had always been trim and toned, but this… this was something else.
With modeling and strict diets behind him, Adrien had spent a lot of time in the gym over the last year. It might have been partially due to needing an outlet for his frustrations, but the results on his body certainly spoke for themselves. It was all Marinette could do not to let her fingers want to linger over the toned muscles of his back, chest and abdomen. Just friends, just friends, just friends, she chanted to herself while trying to avoid eye contact, not realising that Adrien was mentally chanting the same thing.
Once she had taken the last measurement, she finally looked up and into those intense emerald eyes, looking at her like he was waiting for something… or maybe wanting to do something. He was too close. So close that she could feel his body heat. So close that they could…
"Adrien, will you tell SugarCube here that Brie is not the same thing as Camembert. She can't seem to tell the difference." The black cat burst in.
"Well they both smell as bad as you do, you old Stinky Sock." Tikki retorted.
Adrien and Marinette practically leaped away from each other, both sporting severe blushes they were trying to hide. Adrien cleared his throat.
"I guess you could say Brie is softer and creamier. Some say it's a sweet cheese even." Adrien said, pulling his shirt back on. "Camembert has a deeper and more intense flavour."
Adrien looked at Marinette with surprise when she started to giggle. "You're quite the cheese connoisseur." She quipped. Adrien rolled his eyes.
"I guess I didn't have much of a choice when the Kwami of destruction also happens to be the world's pickiest cheese eater."
"See SugarCube, you are the Brie to my Camembert." Plagg said with theatrical flair. Tikki just gave him a skeptical eyebrow. "If you say so, but I have my doubts."
"Come on Tikki, we better get home for dinner anyway." Marinette said, opening her bag for the red Kwami to hide in. Adrien rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Thank you." He said in a small voice. "For making the suit. You didn't have to."
Marinette gave him a reassuring smile, coming closer to stand in front of him. "You deserve the best Kitty, always remember that." Standing up on her toes, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I'll see you on Monday."
As Marinette left his room to go find Nathalie, Adrien stood transfixed, his hand to the cheek she had kissed.
"Just friends huh?" Plagg said with a mischievous grin. "How long do you really think that is going to last?"
"As long as it has to." Adrien replied, a touch of sadness in his voice as he spoke. "But I'll always love her, Plagg. Always."
Plagg folded his paws and shook his head. "You have to tell her kid. What if she's waiting for you the same way you're waiting for her?"
Adrien furrowed his eyebrows on that thought. Could that really be the case? Adrien shook his head. "If I confess myself to her and she still rejects me, it could ruin our friendship. I can't risk that. As long as she is still here with me, that's all that matters."
"Sometimes you have to take a risk in life Kid. If you hadn't taken a risk to go to school, we wouldn't even be here now would we?"
Adrien didn't have an answer for that, because Plagg was right. Laying down on his bed, Adrien closed his eyes. Life was all about risks and Marinette was worth taking that risk on.
~~~~~
When the night of the Valentine's Day dance finally came, Adrien was struggling to contain his nerves. The suit Marinette had made him was without a doubt the best he's ever had. Although he had gone around to see Marinette for follow up fittings, she had insisted on blindfolding him so he wouldn't see the suit finished and she had it delivered to him that morning.
It was black and fitted him like a glove, the jacket slightly longer than a usual suit. The real special touch though was the embroidered paw prints hidden under the lapels and the ladybug that was on the inside pocket. It was the special touches that only they knew about that touched his heart the most.
Adrien stood in the living room of Marinette's parents. The Gorilla had especially taken the night off so he could drive them there and he was exchanging pleasantries with Marinette's parents. In his hands, Adrien nervously fidgeted with the small bunch of pink roses. For days now he had been prepping himself that tonight he would take the leap and tell Marinette how he really felt. He still wasn't sure how he was going to do that, he just hoped that when the right moment came he wouldn't falter.
Soon the sound of footsteps came and Adrien's eyes met hers before taking in the dress she wore. It was a beautiful deep red with a square neck and short puffed sleeves. It came in beautifully at the hip before flaring a little and finishing just at her knees. Paired with a set of red kitten heels and Adrien felt weak at the knees.
"You look like a vision." He said unabashedly. Marinette's eyes lit up and she smiled softly at him, taking the roses he offered her.
"You scrub up pretty well yourself."
"It's the suit." He replied with a shy smile that was all Adrien. "Remind me I must thank my seamstress." He added a cheeky wink that reminded her this was also her Kitty.
After posing for some photos for her parents, Adrien took her hand and led her to the car. Marinette felt like she was falling in love with him all over again. She'd had long talks with Tikki as she worked on Adrien's suit about the feelings she was struggling to suppress. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, all of him, but she didn't know if he was ready to hear that from her yet.
When they arrived at the school, Nino already had the music in full swing. Adrien missed Marinette's hand almost instantly when she was swept away by the girl gang wanting to gush over her dress. He smiled to himself as he watched her, so full of life, spinning around under the lights. The room had been strung in red and white - balloons, streamers, red love hearts all sparkled by the hanging disco ball, but she… she outshined them all.
"Kim, I do hope that is not a flask I am seeing in your pocket."
Adrien was pulled from his thoughts by Mrs Mendeleive's voice as she narrowed her eyes in at Kim who was hovering suspiciously over the punch bowl.
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about Mrs Mendeleive. I'm not old enough to buy alcohol." Kim said ever so innocently.
Adrien chuckled at the suspicious look of mischief on Alix's face. She turned 18 last month and Adrien was sure she knew exactly what was in that flask.
"Dude, don't tell me she ditched you already." Nino laughed, clapping a hand down on Adrien's shoulder.
"She seems so happy." Adrien said, his eyes lingering on her as she listened to Rose and Juleka talking to her "It makes me happy to see her smile."
"You haven't told her yet have you?" Nino asked. Adrien lowered his head.
"I can't force someone to love me Nino, the way that I love her I mean. I'll be happy to just be whatever it is she wants me to be."
Nino ran his fingers over the top of his head. Enough was enough, and if it meant facing the wrath of his girlfriend then he would cross that bridge when he comes to it.
"I can't do this anymore." Nino suddenly said, causing Adrien to start. "Alya will flip if she knew I told you, but I can't keep watching the two of you dancing around each other anymore."
"What are you talking about?" Adrien asked.
"What I'm saying is what Marinette wants is you, and I don't mean as a friend."
Adrien blinked his eyes at him. Nino put both his hands on Adrien's shoulders and turned him to face him.
"Adrien, Marinette has been in love with you since that day you apologised over that gum thing, you know when you first started school?"
Yes, Adrien remembered that day. He had given her his umbrella because it was raining. He thought she hated him, and in the end he made a friend, a friend that became so much more than that. Someone that had become his whole world.
"I never realised." He said in disbelief at his own stupidity. "Does that mean she still feels that way?"
"It's never changed dude. She's just waiting for you."
Adrien looked back over towards where Marinette was standing and he felt like his heart was swelling up in his chest. Almost as if she knew he was looking at her, she turned her head and her eyes met his. A shy smile and a soft blush crossed her face as she tucked her hair behind her ear and turned back to the conversation she was having.
"Nino." Adrien said. "Can I make a song request?"
"Way ahead of you bro." The DJ said, patting Adrien on the back and heading back to the DJ booth. Taking up the microphone, Nino cleared his throat.
"How's it going out there dudes and dudettes?" He called out, receiving cheers in return. "While I have the mic I want to shout out to Mylène and Ivan for organising tonight's event." There was a pause for applause. "And also the organising committee headed by Rose for the amazing decorations."
As Nino spoke, Adrien made his way across the room and to Marinette's side.
"Now since it is Valentine's Day I think it's time we slow things down a little, so grab your dance partner and make your way onto the floor. Max if you want to hit the lights."
The lights dimmed and the mirror ball took centre stage as the various couples grabbed their partners. As the music started, Marinette recognised it. She had danced to it before, with Adrien.
"Care to dance m'lady?" He asked with a bow, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
"I'd love to." She replied, curtsying in return.
Adrien linked his fingers through hers, bringing her to the dancefloor. Channeling his Chat Noir confidence, Adrien placed his hands on her waist and brought her body closer to his, his eyes never leaving hers. On instinct Marinette looped her arms around his neck and he held her closer still as the dance moved to the music.
"Marinette." He said softly near her ear. "Do you remember the first Valentine's Day we spent together?"
She was confused at first, but then realised what he was talking about with a chuckle. "Oh, you mean when Kim was Dark Cupid? Yes, I remember."
"Do you remember what else happened?"
Marinette could feel her face flushing red. "Yes." She said quietly. Oh she remembered alright, how could she forget the first time she had kissed a boy, and not just any boy. Little did she know at that time that the boy she was kissing was the same boy she had fallen head over heels for. "I remember Chaton. I remember every detail like it was yesterday."
Adrien hummed in affirmation. "You're lucky then, but then again you always were. I've kissed you twice and have no memory of either."
Marinette lifted her head to look up at him. He was so much taller than her now, and his face seemed so close to hers. "Well, there was one thing that was missing. You weren't exactly kissing me back."
There it was, that Ladybug fire on her eyes that Adrien knew so well. She was teasing him, daring him. Come and get me Kitty, I'm here waiting for you.
"Well then." He said, his voice a little hoarse with emotion. "Can I refresh your memory?"
Adrien's hands left her waist to cup around her face as her hand slid from his shoulders and pressed against his chest. Marinette's eyes fluttered close as his lips came down to meet hers. She could no longer hear the music, or the chatter or even her own breathing. All she could hear was the beating of her heart and feel the warmth of his lips on hers.
The moment came to an abrupt end though when the loud sound of a throat clearing suddenly invaded her ears. Opening her eyes, Marinette was confronted with a very unimpressed Mrs Mendeleive.
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, Mr Agreste. Public displays of affection are not permitted at school events."
Adrien and Marinette both blushed profusely.
"Yes Mrs Mendeleive." Adrien said rather sheepishly.
"We won't do it again." Marinette added. Satisfied with their responses, the teacher left them and they both soon started to giggle. Adrien hooked his finger under her chin so he could look into her eyes.
"You don't really mean never ever again, do you m'lady?" He asked, looking at her with all the love he had in his heart.
"Of course not." She whispered, looping her arms back around his neck and swaying to the music. "I'll leave my skylight unlocked, if you want to come back later and continue where we left off."
Adrien could feel his whole body tingling at the thought of more sweet kisses from his lady, his Marinette. He pressed his forehead to hers. "Thank you." He whispered. Marinette brought a hand to touch his cheek.
"For what?"
"For still loving me. For waiting for me. For just being you."
"I just want you here with me Kitty, by my side like you always have been."
It was all Adrien could ever ask for. He then pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Happy Valentine's Day m'lady."
"Happy Valentine's Day." She nuzzled back as they swayed to the music in each other's embrace.
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