"Marinette, dear. Could you man the register for a bit? Your father's baking and I've got a delivery to pack."
"Got it, maman." Marinette answered, already washing her hands and stepping up to the counter. It had been a miserable day. The rain had started nearly the moment she woke up, leaving her to roam the bakery groggy and listless. Business was slow. Her brain felt slow. All she wanted was to crawl back upstairs and collapse in her old bedroom. Working in her parent's bakery had provided her steady income while she worked towards her dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer, but it certainly hindered her need for an excessive amount of sleep. She wiped the dust off her apron, trying to gather what was left of her energy for the day, and looked up at the nearby browsing customer with a polite grin. "What can I get for yoooouuu- Adrien!"
"Hi Marinette." Adrien waved from the other side of the display case, nervously pushing the same hand through the hair at the nape of his neck a moment later. "I was in the mood for something sweet and Alya insisted I come here."
"Did she?" Marinette busied herself with grabbing a paper bag off the counter and opening it much slower than necessary. "How..funny. Sounds like Alya!" Why was she so awkward? When had her brain decided to abandon her?
"So.." Adrien glanced around, pointing to a line of macarons in the display case. "What flavors do you have?"
"Salted caramel, white chocolate, strawberry, passion fruit, red velvet, pistachio, lemon, mango, crème brûlée and blueberry."
"Oooh passion fruit is my favorite. I'll take four of those. And two of the white chocolate. Oh! And a blueberry. I've never had a blueberry flavored macaron. I bet it's delicious."
"Is that all?" Marinette giggled slightly at his enthusiasm and suddenly his face was all lit up like he was standing under a spotlight.
"What's your favorite flavor?"
"Mmm." Marinette looked down at the macarons, studying them as if she hadn't looked at them multiple times every day of her life. "Probably strawberry."
"I'll take one of those too."
"I'll get those bagged for you." Marinette hastily but carefully, oh so carefully, boxed up Adrien's order, slipping it into a carry out bag with all of the grace she could muster. "Anything else?" She asked as she typed his items into the register, replying with his total when he denied anything more. "Here's your receipt." She handed him the bag and the slip of paper and Adrien smiled as he took them from her, his fingers brushing hers.
"Thank you, Marinette. I, um..We're having a game night. Me, Nino and Alya. Would you- would you want to come?"
"I'd love to." Marinette breathed before she could even process the question, her heart picking up its pace in time with Adrien's quick grin.
"Great. Saturday. 8 o'clock. My apartment." Adrien winked as he added, "This time without the unlawful entry."
Marinette couldn't even find it in herself to argue.
"See you then?" Adrien asked, eyes searching hers for confirmation.
"Yeah. Definitely. See you then."
Marinette's eyes followed Adrien's figure through the bakery, out the door and onto the sidewalk. He carefully guarded the bag she had given him as he worked to open the object in his other hand. The rain had to have been coming down hard but he still managed, the black umbrella popping to life only moments after his departure. She stared at his back, heart and thoughts both racing.
Her heart constricted as a bright light illuminated the bakery's front windows.
Love and Lightning.
What a terrifying combination.