"You have the picnic basket, Cat?" Mama asks, and I hold it up with a nod. "And you have K. K.?" Papa asks. "Yes, don't worry you two. Cat and I will be fine," I tell him. "K.K. is actual code for the Horse Miraculous as Marinette and I are going out of the city tonight on a sky watching trip. The akumas we've been fighting have been exceptionally brutal, and both Mama Cheng and and Papa Dupain told us we deserve a break.
We're waiting for the subway to come to the station, and people swarm all around us like ants, and I try not to be jostled. Then from far away, I hear the shriek of the whistle. Soon, the train comes whooshing into the station, and the wind makes Marinette's pigtails wave in the wind. "We'll see you tomorrow," I tell him, kissing both of them on the cheeks, and giving them both a hug. The only way this is possible is Father's out of town at a rare fashion show. Otherwise, I would be probably stuck in my room tonight.
I led Marinette onto one of the cars, and I flop down beside her. "Thank goodness, I won't have to roll out anymore bread dough tonight," I tell her, resting my head on her shoulder. With the holidays around the corner, I'm working extra hours at the bakery when I don't have photo shoots, but I don't mind the hard work. I love the Dupain-Cheng's as they are my family now. "Lucky you," Marinette grins as she pulls her yarn ball out her bag, and begins to knit. I squirm. "Marinette, you know what balls of yarn do to me," I say. "Find something else to look at," she says, and I rest my head against her shoulder. Before I know it, I've fallen into a doze.
It only feels like five minutes, when the train stops, and Marinette shakes my shoulders. "We're here, love." Grabbing our things, we head to a big empty field where hundreds of people are gathering. There's to be a Harvest Moon tonight, and the sky is just creeping towards twilight.
The guides shows us where a good spot would be, and Marinette and I find a quiet hillside, spreading out the blanket. Then we munch on the delicious meal Mama Cheng packed away for us in the basket. Now that we're alone, I can drop my transformation and so can Marinette. My Kwami, Plagg, dives straight into the basket with barely a hello to Marinette. "Cheese!" Plagg yells. "Not so fast," I pull Plagg out before he can sink his teeth into the wheel of cheddar. "Say a proper hello to the Guardian," I tell him sternly, while Marinette looks on and giggles. Plagg tells her hello, and I let him go, sighing and flopping down on the blanket. Plagg and Tikki zoom away to enjoy their own meal, and I feel Marinette's fingers working their way through my soft hair. "Is it hard living with him?" she asks. If I were in my Cat suit, I'd be purring right now. I swear she has magic in her fingers. "No, its actually quite fun. I just wish I didn't have to smell like Camembert all the time." "Is that why you take so many showers?" Marinette teases, and I sit up, our noses brushing slightly. "You always smell good. Like vanilla and strawberries and love," I kiss her on the nose, and flop back down. She lays down next to me, laying her head on my chest.
The only sound other then our breathing is the soft chirp of crickets. The sun has just set, and purple shadows are all around. Rabbits play tag with each other, leaping and bounding. "Do you think I'll ever been like that, Marinette?" I ask, sitting up again. "Free to do what I wish, and be in a glass cage."
"You'll be eighteen in few weeks, Adrien. Just a little longer," she soothes. "And yes. You are strong, and your getting better at standing up to your father." "I wish we didn't have the arrangements." I pull her into my arms and hold her close.
The moon is just peeking above the horizon now, like a fresh lemon slice or melon. The thought of a ripe melon makes my mouth water. Soon, we are illuminated in moonlight, and Marinette snuggles close to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I sigh in contentment. "It really is a beautiful night, isn't it?" she asks. "Yes, but not as beautiful as you." I nip at her earlobe, and Marinette squeaks and as I tug at the soft lobe. I trail tiny kisses down her neck, then look up into her eyes. "I love you, Marinette."
"Funny, I thought you were in love with Ladybug," she teases, tracing her fingers down my jawline. I close my eyes and just feel her soft touch. "Marinette is Ladybug," I say softly, pressing a kiss to her lips. "She's my M'lady, and my Princess."
Marinette trails her hand down my chest. "Not your Bugaboo?" I sigh happily, I just want to be touched by her. "That too."
The sugar shaker in the sky has spilled over, and thousands of points of light twinkle and dance in the heavens. A shooting star streaks across the sky, its sliver fire flashing and burning. As quickly as it comes, its gone.
"Did you make a wish?" I ask, finding her hand under the blanket we're now wrapped up in. "I don't need to make a wish, I have everything right here next to me." I roll over, kissing her. I gain access to her mouth, and oh! How sweet she tastes like pumpkin and cream. "I got my wish the day I met you. I have always wanted a friend like you, Marinette. I just got lucky when your literally fell into my life as Ladybug." "That would make sense, since I'm Lady Luck," she giggles.
We talk and giggle, warm and snug in our blanket under the night sky. This is heaven right here, and there's nowhere I'd rather be then here.