After a solid five minutes of pure silence except for the sound of a foot thumping, Marinette was convinced Tikki's spirit animal was a rabbit. She tried looking as sheepish as possible, but something in Tikki's eye made her think that she wasn't as convincing as she hoped. Her contrite grin slowly fell into a grimace as she waited for Tikki to speak. All she'd done since entering her bedroom to wake her up was loom menacingly over Marinette's half-asleep form.
"Well," Marinette said when she realized Tikki's silence was prolonged, "at least we now know that locking me in my room doesn't stop my shenanigans." She gave a hopeless chuckle.
Tikki sighed. She surprised Marinette by sitting on the corner of her bed and covered her face with her hand. Guilt immediately replaced her fake embarrassment.
"Miss Tikki, I'm so sorry," she said, moving to her knees in her pyjamas. "I didn't mean to. I promise."
Tikki glanced through her fingers, her bring blue eyes contrasting so much with her dark skin and orange hair. She really was beautiful, Marinette noticed, if not a bit intense. And she didn't deserve the stress that Marinette seemed to bring her so far. Tikki let out a little shake of her head and sat up straight, her eyes moving to the stitches on Marinette's forehead. Her voice was soft when she spoke, which made Marinette cringe further with remorse.
"I know you didn't," Tikki stated. "I know. I think you may just have bad luck... Your date was supposed to be this morning."
Marinette didn't care much about the formal date, but Tikki's disappointment was almost too much to swallow. It weighed on Marinette's shoulders, and she would do just about anything to take away those feelings she'd given her guardian.
So she jumped out of her bed, quickly followed by Tikki.
"What are you doing?!" Tikki demanded.
Marinette gave a little twirl and was pleasantly surprised she didn't feel even a little lightheaded.
"I'm fine! See!" She gave a little dance, which made Tikki's shoulders sag a little, almost in relief. Marinette felt her own shoulders lighten, just a little.
"I don't know, Your Highness," Tikki said. "You hit your head really hard on the corner last night, apparently. Lost a decent amount of blood. I'm not sure what we're doing is -"
"I want to go on the date, Tikki, please."
Tikki's face scrunched with disbelief, so she pushed harder.
"I really, really want to see Adrien. I'm excited about. Please don't make me miss our on or reschedule this. Mr. Coteau said I was okay to go on the date." Well, that was a bit of a stretch. What he really said was that she would be fine in general. But Tikki didn't need to know that.
Tikki stared at her for a long time. Marinette hunched in on herself a bit, waiting, once again, for Tikki to react. But Marinette saw the curve of her eyes, and she realized... Tikki was trying to hold back a smile. So she gave her best, warmest, most hopeful smile.
Tikki's eye twitched, but she let out a chuckle. "You, Princess Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are going to drive me to drink." She moved as if she was about to leave, but then she paused, looking worriedly at Marinette. "Don't tell the Queen I said that. I wouldn't drink."
Marinette giggled, her heavy shoulders on clouds. "Yeah, no worries. I won't... As long as you don't tell them I keep hurting myself on accident."
Tikki grinned. "Deal." Then she left, quickly replaced by Jenna, who helped her get ready for her first date, whatever it may be.
Marinette decided she'd make sure to choose her outfit carefully, knowing she had a few bruises from when she fell last night, as well as blistered fingers. Also, she wanted to prove to Tikki she really wanted to be there, and a cute outfit would solidify that fact. She chose to wear a black a-line skirt, black tights, her favorite pink sweater, and white lace gloves. Her boots were high heeled, and though she still something felt a little anxious in them, she'd been given enough practice by now in her lessons with Plagg - that brutally honest man, she thought ruefully - that she could walk without any wobbling.
She grabbed a black purse, putting a notebook and pen in it just in case she got the desire to doodle, and opened the door, only to find her morning guard, Chloe, standing in front of her, her hand held as if she was about to knock.
"Oh no," Chloe stated in an instant, sounding as if she'd tried to push back her sass but failing. She dropped her arm and looked Marinette up and down. "You can't wear that today."
Marinette blushed. "Why not?" She immediately felt self-conscious and crossed her arms. She'd always loved fashion, and she thought this was a cute outfit. But maybe it looked silly.
"Ms. Tikki told me to make sure you left in... comfortable clothes. These don't look very comfortable."
Marinette frowned. That would have been nice to know before she'd gotten all dressed up. But she instead stated, "Do you mean casual? Like something I'd wear on a regular Tuesday?"
Chloe's eye twitched, as if she was trying to hold back an eye roll. "Can I see your closet, your highness?"
Marinette opened her door, signaling to let Chloe in. She ignored the way Chloe took in the four poster bed, large, spacious, circular bedroom, and tall windows. Marinette tried to look at it objectively. It had been her perfectly perfect bedroom for so long that she'd gotten used to it. But Chloe looking at it with fresh eyes helped Marinette to do so as well, and she remembered all over again how excessive it was.
Chloe stopped and turned quickly, her ponytail whipping around her shoulders. Once again, Marinette was reminded at how beautiful her guard was. The floor suddenly became very interesting, and she pointed to her closet. "It's over there," she mumbled.
Chloe's boots were light against the wood floors, stopping over the run over by Marinette's closet. She put her hand on the door and asked, "I can open it?"
"Yes."
Chloe rummaged for a few moments in her closet, as Marinette turned to her mirror and looked herself over. She'd thought she looked cute. She still did. And this was casual enough. What was the problem?
Chloe came out moments later, carrying a pile of fabric in her arms. Marinette let out a loud laugh and couldn't help but blurt, "Ohh, that makes more sense!"
Chloe threw the pieces of clothing onto Marinette's bed. There were different colored leggings, sweatpants, and nice work-out clothes. So obviously, their first date was going to be something physically exerting, so of course her current outfit didn't make sense.
Chloe started to organize the different pieces, making matching outfits. "See, I think that these brown sweatpants and this white sweater would be a cute combination, but also, this blue and white combination would bring out your eyes, so Adrien couldn't resist that. However, the black on black is always a good option, since it's a staple, obviously. Thoughts?" She blinked her pale blue eyes at the princess.
Brushing her hand over the outfits, Marinette asked, slightly embarrassed, "Does everyone know about my date?"
Chloe shrugged, her head held high. "Only the people that matter."
Marinette lightly giggled. "Okay, um, they're all good options. What do you think is best?"
Chloe's head cocked as she gave her a questioning look. "I don't think my opinion matters as much as yours, Your Highness."
Marinette was taken aback. "Of course it does. Everyone's opinion matters."
"Huh. If I was Princess, I think I'd probably make a lot of my own decisions, no matter what others thought. No one could stop me. Maybe it's a good thing I'm not princess, then!" She let out a little giggle and then sobered, a concentrated expression. She wanted to make the best choice.
Marinette thought back to the Akumas, who very much had a possibility of stopping whoever currently held the crown. They'd already spread enough fear, and no choice by the crown could stop that.
As princess... maybe if she had to become queen... Marinette decided she'd make sure her people's opinions mattered more than her own.
"Okay, well I don't think we're late yet, but I'm escorting you out. Hurry and put this one, and tie those boots of yours so that we can go."
Marinette quickly put on the brown and white outfit, and brown combat boots, and together, they walked rather quickly down the marble hallways. Marinette could barely stay up with Chloe's long legs, and by the time they reached the front door, Marinette was already a little sweaty.
Adrien was waiting for her inside the car. Marinette slid in the back seat quickly, the cold air already nipping at her nose, surprised that Tikki was driving, with Plagg was in the passenger's seat, giving off some type of bad energy.
"Hi Tikki, hi Plagg," she said, buckling her seatbelt. "Long time no see."
Plagg mumbled something she couldn't understand, and Tikki said loudly, "We're happy you're here, Marinette."
Marinette sat back, quickly feeling her anxiety spike as soon as Tikki pressed the gas pedal. She closed her eyes as she leaned back against the clean leather seats. She tried focusing on her senses. That's what she read in book after her first panic attack. Her pants were soft on her legs, and the black gloves were sweaty on the inside. She smelled clean leather, and something else, musky, but in a good way. She realized she'd forgotten to put on perfume, because she couldn't smell her normal rose scent at all. She listened to the rumble of the road, but that made her head spin, so instead, she listened to the loud heater of the car. And after Plagg made some smart-ass remark, he and Tikki started quarreling.
A soft voice came from her left. "Hey, are you okay?"
Oh, yeah. She'd forgotten Adrien was there. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and opened her eyes, focusing on Adrien's face. He was there, his green eyes striking against the grey of the car. Although her heart still pounded, and her muscles stayed as tense as before, Marinette's mind shifted from her surroundings to him.
"Yes," she managed to squeak out.
Adrien's eyes flickered all across her face, and it paused at the stitches on his forehead. For a moment, Marinette was worried that he'd ask about it, but he seemed to think better of it, and instead, he leaned in closer and whispered, "Who do you think will end up driving on the way back?"
Marinette's laugh, though tense, was immediate and real. She looked at the back of Tikki's head, listened to Plagg's complaints, followed by Tikki's professional clap-backs, and the cycle that followed. Marinette gave her best thinking face (though she knew she probably looked constipated).
Adrien said, "My money's on Plagg."
Marinette's head swung back to his. "What? You're crazy."
His hand flew to his chest in dramatic shock. "I am not!" he whispered.
"There's no way that Plagg is gonna be driving us home."
He raised his chin, but he leaned in close, whispering somehow even quieter. Marinette had never met anyone with the ability to speak so silently and still be heard. "I think Tikki's gonna get tired of his complaining and try to make peace." His breath smelled slightly pungent, as if he'd had fish for breakfast, or didn't brush his teeth after eggs. She turned her head slightly, not wanting him to smell whatever coffee was left on her breath, too.
"Have you met the woman?" Marinette asked just as quietly, her face inches away from his shoulder. "She's kind of insane."
Adrien snorted. "She's nice," he countered.
"You didn't deny it, though."
Adrien smirked. "How about this: if Plagg drives home, then I get something from you. If Tikki drives home, then you get something from me."
She narrowed her eyes. "What is that 'something'?"
He shrugged. "Guess you'll have to find out, if you're curious enough."
"Curiosity killed the cat," Marinette muttered, which made Adrien laugh. A little too hard, in Marinette's opinion, but she digressed. "I guess I have to start brainstorming what I could possibly want from you."
"Don't think too hard, or you'll strain yourself for no reason."
They giggled quietly, shadowed by the two adults in the front, for the two hours it took until they arrived at their destination.
Marinette's heart soared when she saw where they were. Marinette loved the forest. It had been so long since she'd been out of the castle walls, outside of her Ladybug mask, that seeing the edge of her country immediately brought tears to her eyes. She suddenly felt suffocated inside the car, and she opened the door before Tikki gave her the go-ahead. She ran to the edge of the trees, leaving behind people yelling her name, and stopped when the dying autumn grass turned into a mossy, evergreen forest.
She inhaled deeply, letting the rich, wet, earthy smell overcome her senses. The crisp air felt refreshing on her skin. Within a few seconds, Adrien caught up to her.
"Um, Tikki wants you to wait for her." His head was sideways, as if he was reading her.
Marinette took another deep breath. "I'm sure sure does," she mumbled.
"Excuse me?" Tikki's voice sounded from a few paces behind her.
She swiveled around, smiling brightly. "Are we doing a hike? With Adrien?" She grabbed hold of Adrien's arm in their practiced hold.
Plagg narrowed his eyes, but Tikki immediately relaxed. Plagg's face turned dubious at the dark-skinned woman.
"You're not -" he started, but was immediately interrupted by Tikki.
"Oh look! Security was right behind us."
Marinette and Adrien watched as a large black SUV with tinted windows parked next to the car the four had arrived in. Two guards, one of whom was Chloe and the other being a guard Marinette had never seen before, marched towards them, not looking at the two, even when Marinette gave a tiny, "Hello."
Tikki continued to speak once the guards stood in front of the hiking trail. "Two of us will go ahead, and two of us will be in the back. Make sure both sides are in eyesight of you two at all times. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Adrien said immediately. Marinette nodded her head.
"Okay, then!" she clapped her hands together. "Then, we're off!"
Next chapter: the first date