I apologize for such a long wait, but this chapter ended up being deleted halfway through writing it, so I had to start over. Hopefully it's decent, but it definitely isn't as good as I wanted it to be.
Regardless, please FINALLY enjoy our dear boy and lovely lady (not Lila, ignore her).
An Agreste knew proper etiquette, from dining to dancing. It had been engrained into his brain, branded into every fiber of him. Gabriel Agreste was many things, but inefficient was not one of them.
Which was why, when a familiar figure approached him, he knew better than to refuse the little lady.
"Hello again. Not out there dancing yet?"
He turned to face dark green eyes, the same masked woman from before that had asked for a dance. Adrien had been standing to the side, taking a moment to himself while basking in the ambience. He could easily grant her request.
"I suppose that can change." He offered a hand. "Shall we?"
She eagerly followed him onto the floor, her posture one of elegance and grace as they stood together, and Adrien stepped into the rhythm. She smiled up at him, leaning closer until their chests were touching.
"I don't believe we've even been introduced. I- "
"Lila." he interrupted kindly.
"Oh, you know who I am! Well, I am from quite a wealthy family, so I doubt there's anyone here who doesn't know my name." She laughed, pressing herself even closer. "Any chance you'd be able to give me your name?"
Adrien managed to step back and put a little distance between them. He pressed his lips together, floundering on what he should say. Should he keep up the little façade or drop the silly game?
"What, are you too shy? That's so cute. You must fluster easily."
"Noire. Chat Noire." he said.
Her smile dropped. "You…excuse me?"
Best to keep up the façade. "The one and only Chat."
Her smile did not return, plumb lips stuck in a sour expression. She stepped away from his embrace, as if she were physically repulsed by him now.
"I'm sorry, I feel a bit dizzy. I need a drink."
Before Adrien could say anything, she was walking off in a swirl of her skirts. Adrien watched her go, almost at a loss for words. Had she just been…repulsed by him? He couldn't recall anyone doing that before while he was just Adrien. And although he had had lies being thrown left and right throughout his life, he had never heard such a flimsy one.
A swaying couple stepped close, reminding him that he should move out of the way and continue enjoying the party. Lila was long gone, probably off to find another dance partner. Before he could decide whether he should find Nino and Alya, a figure slid up beside him and threw an arm over his shoulders.
"Hey kid. Why aren't you having fun?"
If he had been Adrien Agreste, he knew Plagg wouldn't be so informal and comfortable around him in public. But here, under their masks, Plagg didn't hesitate to speak and act as he would at home, talking without a filter as if they had been friends forever.
"Plagg!" Adrien bristled slightly, looking around. No one even spared them a second glance. He dropped his voice anyway, just to be safe. "What are you doing here? Where did you get a mask?"
"Tikki wanted to have a dance out here, so I indulged her. Right now, she's stuffing her face with all those sweets." He threw a thumb over his shoulder, rolling his eyes under the intricate green mask. "She got these spares from Nino's lady. She didn't have any problem letting us have fun."
He looked over to see his housekeeper donning a lovely pink mask, which she had shoved atop her head in order to take a bite out of a tart, licking her lips in satisfaction.
"My Sugarcube never changes." Plagg sighed happily. "Anyway, what are you doing by yourself? You're supposed to be making friends and having fun."
"I…I don't know what I'm doing, Plagg. I'm trying to be more…relaxed, but I'm not exactly winning friends right now."
Plagg groaned dramatically. "Kid, you amaze me sometimes. Look, go find a group of people and just talk like the silly, fun gentleman I know. Quit overthinking it."
With a slight shove, Adrien let his feet move, mind reeling at his butler's words. It couldn't be that easy, could it? He had already tried that with Lila and had received a rather lackluster response to his friendly quips. But then again…Marinette had been the complete opposite. She had been open and honest without a single thought. And again, with Alya, who knew who he was and refused to let that hinder speaking to him like an old friend. Perhaps Plagg wasn't too far off the mark.
Feeling lighter, he set out to find a familiar face.
It didn't take him long to find Nino again, who had almost shouted his real name aloud. Thankfully, he had given him a signal to stop him, although he gave him a very confused look. Adrien pulled him aside, quickly explaining his situation. Nino, the angelic friend as always, easily agreed to go along with the white lie, laughing at the silly alias his best friend had come up with.
"Well, Chat, it's a good thing I didn't outright say your name to anyone earlier." He leaned in closer. "I believe Alya caught on to what you've been trying to do, so she made sure to smooth over anything I missed. Your secrets are safe with me, friend."
With a smile and wink, Nino led him back into the group of masked faces. Marinette was among them, shaking Alya's arm excitedly.
"Alya, I would be honored to!" Marinette squealed.
Her friend, despite the smile on her face, sighed. "Okay, okay! But you need to promise me – to swear on it! – that you won't overwork yourself again like last time. I won't let you stress yourself out when I can easily find another seamstress."
Adrien could see Marinette trying to contain her giddiness, doing her best to match Alya's energy.
"I swear on my bakery that I will not overdo it this time."
Nino shot him a confused look before deciding to cut in. "What's going on here, little ladies?"
"Oh! Nino, there you are!" Alya exclaimed. "You disappeared so suddenly."
"I was pulled aside by my friend here."
"Sorry about that, Alya." Adrien didn't miss the smile on Marinette's face, returning it with a wink. "I'll try not to do it again."
"Well, Mari and I were speaking about some wedding details – "
"Alya, come on. You weren't supposed to – " Nino attempted to interrupt.
" – and she just offered to make my wedding dress." Alya finished.
"Whoa." Nino blinked at her. "Are you serious?"
Marinette nodded. "I already have her measurements, so I can get it started tomorrow."
"It's so exciting!" a petite woman said, clapping her hands.
"I can't wait to see how it turns out!" said another short woman.
The ladies surrounded Alya, gushing over the wedding details. Nino shrugged, letting his fiancée become swarmed by the giggles.
"Come on, I bet all the men are staying near the food. I know I'm not allowed to know about Alya's dress."
Adrien followed Nino, sharing a passing glance with Marinette, who met his eye once more and waved before he moved deeper into the crowd. However, instead of searching for Nino's friends, he pulled him into a less populated area, mouth agape.
"Wha – "
"You and Marinette. Alya was right!" Nino hissed.
Adrien felt embarrassment rising, outwardly struggling to respond. Nino's eyes went wide, pulling up his green mask.
"We're hardly even friends, Nino. Moreso acquaintances, honestly."
"My friend, I know you." He put a supporting hand on his shoulder. "Marinette is an incredible woman. But…I want to warn you before you get your hopes up. She has someone she works with, he's a great man. I'm glad to see you so completely interested in someone, but she only has eyes on him."
Adrien Agreste would have been nonchalant, knowing all the eyes that would follow his every move. His father, if he was here to see this, would grip his shoulder and order him to keep his composure.
Chat didn't need to worry about any of that.
Adrien's face fell. "She's already involved with another man?"
"Not openly, but she's mentioned him wooing her. I've only met him a handful of times, but he seems, um, too obvious about how he feels. Alya worries it might scare Marinette off."
Adrien sighed, cocking his head to gaze behind him at the lovely lady standing amongst friends, her hands waving about as she passionately spoke. She seemed so enthusiastic, drawing everyone in with her words and actions. She was certainly captivating.
"Are you okay?"
"Nino, I may not get to court her, but I still would like to call her a friend. Maybe it's better that way." Adrien smiled, pulling his eyes away from her. "I doubt she would see me as a potential romantic interest anyway."
"Don't throw those lies around! Come on, you need to loosen up."
Adrien grinned and allowed Nino to tug him off into the party.
As the party began to die down in the late hours of the night, Adrien stuck by Nino through the remainder of it. He became further acquainted with Max and Kim, two of Nino's friends he waslater introduced to. Max was studious and well-spoken, clearly from a middle-class family that had probably sent him to a private institution. Kim, however, was built for labor and said slang terms that Adrien was unfamiliar with. Two entirely different men, but they seemed to hold a mutual respect for each other.
Adrien liked them both right away.
They had all joked and laughed and drank, occasionally disappearing to dance before returning. The night passed by and Adrien hardly even noticed until a clock chimed twice somewhere and Nino gave a large yawn.
"I do believe this night is coming to an end." Max commented, swirling the remains of his drink.
"What do you mean? It's only just begun!" Kim said.
Adrien glanced around the room at the stragglers of such an incredible celebration. Adrien wished it would go on forever, but he realized that Tikki and Plagg were probably waiting for him. They were tired, no doubt.
"As much as I hate to say it, I think I should get home. I didn't know the night had passed by so fast." He smiled, nodding to Kim and Max. "Good night, gentlemen. I hope to see you again in the future."
"Not sure we'll recognize you without the mask, but I'll keep an eye out for any sophisticated men in suits."
Oh. Right. He had nearly forgotten about that little detail.
"We'll cross paths again, no doubt. Get home safe, my friends."
Adrien walked away to find Tikki, fingers brushing over his mask. He can't believe how easily he had allowed himself to be…himself this night, but now…
Now, he was having second thoughts on whether this had been a good decision. What was he going to do once the mask came off? Would all these wonderful people he had met tonight shun him, turn their backs the moment they realized who he truly was? The thought made his stomach tighten. He spotted dark hair on the stairs, relieved to find his servant so easily.
"Tikki, I – "
The person standing on the stairs, the one who he mistook for his maid, turned. He felt like an idiot once she faced him, now recognizing the lovely dress and Marinette's soft hair, now undone and tumbling over her shoulders. She raised a brow, a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Tikki? Have you forgot my name already, monsieur?"
"No, no! I apologize, it's gotten late and I'm tired. I mistook you for someone else." He turned to look for his servants elsewhere.
"Are you leaving now, Chat?" she called out.
Adrien cleared his throat, keeping his back straight and chin up as he looked back at her. Her blue eyes seemed to draw him in without needing to bat an eyelash.
"I am, yes. I just need to find my servants. I should ask Alya."
"I'll help you!" she said.
Before he could refuse, she was already by his side and smiling up at him. Mari directed him to where Alya now stood against the far wall, a few women copying her example. The bride brightened at the sight of her friend, but Adrien easily caught how Alya struggled to stand. She must have enjoyed too much of the wine, then.
"Mari, there you are! I was beginning to think you had run off like Cinderella and left without saying goodbye."
"You know I would never, Alya. No, I was just helping Chat in finding his servants so he can leave for the night."
"Oohh, they must be in the tearoom, I think." she said.
Mari thanked her and took Chat by the arm, dragging him away. He simply followed, allowing himself to be led off from one room to the next. Eventually, they were within a warm, open room filled with soft light from the crackling fireplace. On one of the chaise lounge sofas, Tikki and Plagg were fast asleep. No one else seemed to be within the room.
"They must have been quite tired." Marinette laughed quietly.
"I lost track of time. Thank you for helping me find them, milady."
"Of course, Chat." She gave a slight curtsy. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
Now that he hadn't forgotten.
"I wouldn't miss it."