Chapter 16: Ladynette
Adrien and Marinette left Alix's party and walked out onto the street.
"It is late," Marinette said, looking around, "I can't believe we were talking for two hours."
"It isn't late, the moon is still out." Adrien did not want the night to end. "Let's go through the park. It's on the way."
Without a second thought, he grabbed Marinette's hand and pulled her towards the park. He was not running, rather walking at a brisk pace, since, for a reason he could not explain, he was giddy with excitement. He soon realized he was forcing Marinette to jog behind him and loosened his grip.
"I'm sorry," he tried to pull back his hand. "I didn't mean to make you run."
"I don't mind," Marinette tightened her hold. "I want to get there too."
They held hands all the way to the park. The lamps shone all around the park, their light reflecting off the trees. Still, it felt deserted. The dry fountain, empty pathways and the carousel hid in the dark without its colorful lights.
"I don't know why, but I feel like running." He was with Ladybug, so his 'Chat Noir' was coming out. He let go of Marinette's hand, regretting the loss of her touch, ran along the path, jumped upon a bench, balanced on its back and hopped off with a half turn in mid-air, ending with a smooth landing. As Adrien, he could not achieve the acrobatics of Chat Noir, but years of hero work has improved his body, making it lean, strong, flexible, with a great sense of balance.
Adrien expected admiration, even applause. He did not expect Marinette to channel Ladybug and run on the same path, climb the bench, run across the back, jump with a twist and a half to land right beside him.
"Wow! Where did clumsy Marinette disappear to?"
"Don't worry, I am still madly clumsy most of the time," she said, then ran to the fountain.
Adrien watched in fascination as Ladynette ran along the fountain edge, spun on one leg and ran on the next edge.
Madly Clumsy?
Adrien shook himself and ran after Ladynette, trying to catch her. He seems to spend his life chasing ladies in red and black suits. Even now, she was out of reach. He complained her costume was more suited for this activity. She told him to stop whining.
They ran all around the park, climbing on benches, on the carousel, or spinning around poles.
"You probably wish you could use your yo-yo," they were sitting on a bench, catching their breath.
"This useless toy? I never understood why Ladybug chose a yo-yo as her weapon. It seems rather childish. Chat's baton makes more sense."
"You think she chose it? She uses it in so many ways, it's rather versatile."
"You're right, she's talented with her toy," she said, her words laced with sarcasm.
Adrien studied Ladynette's face. She looked like Ladybug, she acted like Ladybug, she even talked like Ladybug.
"Why do you hate Ladybug?"
Ladynette's looked at her shoes. Adrien forced himself to be quiet, to let her gather her thoughts.
"I don't hate Ladybug. In many ways, I admire her. She's brave, confident, and saves people all the time. Possibly, I'm slightly jealous she is all the things I'm not. But she's also fake, and I hate fake."
"Fake?" That was not what Adrien expected. "Why do you think she is fake?"
"Her relationship with Chat Noir. It isn't real. I am not sure if she's fooling Chat or he's part of it. That would be disappointing."
Adrien was flabbergasted. She saw right through their act. She must be the only one. How did she do that?
"How do you know this?"
"She doesn't love him. She kisses him and looks at him adoringly during interviews. The rest of the time she doesn't even treat him nicely."
"She doesn't?" How could Marinette have seen this? He hasn't noticed it until it became a problem.
"She used to. The videos when they were younger show them working together, supporting each other. These days it's all about Ladybug. I've always thought of Chat as her partner, not her sidekick. Now, that is all he is."
Marinette looked up, the light reflecting off the moisture in her eyes. She cares about Chat Noir so much she weeps for him.
She cares about me. This beautiful, wonderful person cares about me.
Her piercing bluebell eyes filled up the slit in her red mask, the world around her became a blur as her eyes filled his vision. Her face, much closer now, he could count the freckles on her nose. He could not help but look at her sweet lips, slightly open and so very close to his own. Leaning closer, he felt her breath caress his skin, the . . .
She doesn't care about me. She cares about Chat Noir, not Adrien.
Adrien sat back on the bench, slightly breathless.
What am I doing? She cares about Chat Noir. I love Ladybug. This is so messed up.
"I should take you home, it's getting late."
"What? Oh, okay. I guess so."
They walked in silence to her house. Adrien was loath to end the wonderful evening with a low note. He needed to get his head straight.
"Why is the light on at the bakery?"
"My parents are up, baking a special order for tomorrow. They'll work all night. In the morning, they'll send the delivery and go to sleep. Then I'll run the bakery."
"You're going to be baking? By yourself?" Was there no end to her talents?
"No," Ladynette laughed. "I only need to deal with customers. But I have baked a few times by myself when my parents needed me to."
"So you could be a baker."
"The bakery is a good fallback option, but I'd rather be a designer. "
"Oh yes, your designs. I'd like to see them?"
"You want to see my designs?" Marinette hesitated. "Like, right now?"
That wasn't what Adrien meant.
"Em. Yes, if you want."
"So? You want to come up?"
"If you're sure it will be alright?"
"I guess. My parents are in the bakery, it isn't like we could wake them up."
Adrien always entered via the bakery. Coming in through the house door felt more intimate. Marinette led the way past the door to the bakery and headed upstairs. Following, Adrien studied the photos hanging along the walls.
They walked past the dark kitchen and up through the trapdoor to her room. It was different at night without sunlight streaming in from the windows. The pink motif took on a darker shade, converting the room from girly to romantic.
"I'm nervous to show them to you." Marinette stood next to her closet, her hand on the handle. "They are not all good."
"I know not everything can be perfect. Even with my dad, not all the new designs make it to market. Sometimes, after the photoshoot there's such negative feedback, they cancel the entire range. I have many one of a kind clothes in my room that never made it the production line." Adrien realized he was rambling. Why was he so nervous?
Ladynette nodded, put her arm in the closet and randomly pulled out a hanger. Her breath hitched.
"Hold it up to your body," Adrien instructed.
She hesitated, gaping at the dress.
"Go on," Adrien encouraged. "Lets see."
She did so, and it was beautiful. It was a blue strapless dress, coming down to the knees. A black top covering the shoulders, with a gold pattern flowing down the arms. Adrien walked closer and felt the fabric, the back of his hand brushing against her chest.
"It feels really nice. I would love to see you in it."
"You would?" Her eyes were bigger than ever, holding him transfixed, drowning in a blue world of beauty. Everything slowed down, except for the rapid beating of his heart.
"I would. It's beautiful. You're beautiful."
He could not remember moving. Her lips were sweeter than the most luxurious chocolates he's ever tasted. More delicious than anything from her parents' bakery. Softer than he could have ever imagined. And most amazing thing about them: they were kissing him back.
His right hand came up to her cheek, caressing her smooth skin, the tip of his fingers running along the bottom of her mask. He felt an arm on his left shoulder, her delicate fingers running through his hair, pulling him closer. A second hand briefly pressed on his chest, exploring his body, finding its way under his coat, and around to his back. Adrien's right hand rose to hold one of her pigtails while his left wrapped around her delicate frame.
Months of kissing Ladybug paled compared to the passion and energy of this one kiss. Adrien was lost in the wonder of Ladynette's embrace. Her kiss pulled him with a need he longed to fill, a passion to mirror his own and a desire he could not suppress.
The need to breathe forced them to disengage their lips. Holding their bodies flush, they opened their eyes, stared at each other, followed immediately by diving for the other's lips. He felt pressure on his lips. Her tongue invaded his mouth as it opened, moving along his upper teeth, dueling with his. An experience both new and exhilarating. A throaty groan escaped his lips, pressing them harder onto hers.
The hand on his back rubbed up and down, pulling at his shirt. The hand froze when it touched his exposed flesh, sending a pleasurable shock through his whole body. Adrien lowered his own hand to her side, pulling her closer. Her hand moved again, traveling under his shirt, caressing his back, sending thrills from every point she touched his skin.
Running his hand up her back, Adrien was mildly surprised to find Ladybug's suit had a zipper.
A/N Next Chapter "Felicity"