A/N Fun Fact: I wrote this whole chapter while listening to "Ce Mur qui nous separe" on loop :3
"It was our love that did this to the world, m'lady," Marinette woke up in a sweat, the words still ringing in her ears. The nightmares become more and more frequent since Sandboy's attack, they nearly happening every night. Adrien's nightmares almost always happened when she had hers, but she never mentioned them. I don't want to burden him, especially since he is constantly having nightmares himself... knowing that an evil version of him haunts my dreams wouldn't make him feel better.
Sandboy's attacks were taking a toll on the two. We have to defeat Shadowmoth soon... for our own sanity. Marinette got up and prepared for school. Her parents were working in the bakery when she left. She waved at them. Today was the day.
"Good luck sweetie," Tom and Sabine cooed.
Adrien was waiting for her outside the door, the two had made it a routine to walk to school together. "You ready," he looked at her, "mentally?"
"Y-yeah, it is nothing. I am just modeling at one of the most influential fashion houses in Paris, no big deal," Marinette responded.
"When you say it like that, of course, you're going to be nervous. Think of it as business," Adrien said. Yeah, that makes it so much better Adrien. Marinette entwined her hand in Adrien's as they arrived at the school.
Marinette spotted the familiar brunette standing in her group of 'friends.' They're more her pawns. As the couple passed by Lila grabbed at Marinette's shoulder. "I want to let you know that our war isn't done. Adrien belongs with me," she looked at Adrien and smiled, "Gabriel closed my contract with the modeling agency because of you. I will ruin you, I swear on it." Lila pushed Marinette away and returned to her conversation with her friends.
Adrien and Marinette arrived at the venue, a concrete warehouse with blinding lights. There were people running around, and other models were having their photos taken. Marinette was not in her element, meanwhile, Adrien shrugged it off, it is just another day of work. Adrien held her hand as he took her to the fitting room where a worker would assist her with putting on her dress and making sure it was perfect. He then went to his own designated spot and put on the suit that Gabriel made for him. It fit perfectly, of course. The worker then messed with his hair and made sure that everything was perfect, then setting him on his way. Marinette still hadn't come out, so Adrien headed to their designated spot in the warehouse. They were taking the photo against a pitch-black background. The photographer grabbed Adrien and started posing him and testing the lighting. It felt like an eternity to be separated from her. He knew she was terrified of the experience, and he felt bad that he couldn't help her.
Finally, Marinette arrived. She is gorgeous... Adrien melted at the sight of Marinette. Her hair was let down to flow, and it suited her so well. Her makeup was similar to her usual, except she was given winged eyeliner and fake eyelashes. Her eyes sparkled in the lights. She looks so cute... Marinette walked towards him, laughing, "this feels so weird." Adrien just smiled at her, he couldn't help but stare at her. He heard a shutter.
"Now that - that is the energy I want!" The photographer sounded ecstatic, "keep that look on your face Adrien." The photographer grabbed Adrien and moved him. He then took Marinette's hand and put it on his chest, and moved her chin so that it was perfectly in line with his. He stood back, and then pushed their faces closer, the tips of their noses touching. The photographer then looked through his camera lens, fiddled with some lights, and then took another snapshot.
The dress fit Marinette nearly perfectly, they just had to mess with the shoulders of the dress. Having someone else dress her was weird, but she was calmer than she imagined she could be. When she headed out she felt like all eyes were on her, when she knew deep down that they were all busy trying to do their own job. She finally saw Adrien, who looked like he was born for the task. He was pretty much a figurine for the photographer to work with, he stayed still and didn't move unless instructed, and allowed himself to be poked and prodded whenever necessary. Just do as he does... simple.
It was not simple. Adrien is right in my face... I can hear him breathing... I can feel his heartbeat on my hand... Marinette tried to keep the composed look of a model, but it was hard to fight back the smile that she wanted to have on her face. A wide grin spread on her face, she could not help it. It isn't like I haven't been this close to him before... so why does this feel so new? She heard a snapshot, "now that, Marinette, that is the look I want." What?
"Just be natural, okay?" The photographer looked at the two, contemplating his next move, "Gabriel wants to truly embody the ideal of true love you see, the idea of the softness of fresh love, your soft pink outfits, contrasting the harshness of life, the black background..." The photographer looked through his lens, and while he was fiddling with settings Adrien sneaked a peck on Marinette's lips, her face becoming extremely red. She heard another snap, "I like you, Adrien, that blush cannot be replicated." He stared at the camera in front of him, scrolling through the photos, "I just need a few more photos and we are done." The photographer moved Adrien back a step. "You're strong right?" Adrien shrugged, "I want you to dip her, ya know what I mean right?" Adrien nodded, a smirk on his face. His Chat Noir is showing.
"Now don't freak out okay?" Why would I freak - Adrien grabbed her hand and her waist, then pushed her down, so quickly that she nearly lost footing. She heard numerous shutters, he still has that smirk on his face. "I may have done this a few times," Adrien laughed. He pulled her up and patted her on the head.
"Perfect!" The photographer looked satisfied.
Marinette pouted, she didn't even have to react. The photographer moved the monitor into view and said, "this is a cover-worthy photo. It shows the emotions that Gabriel wants, but also shows off the outfits perfectly." The photo was of Adrien dipping Marinette, her face was full of shock, but somehow... It worked. The way that his face of deviance danced around her surprised expression was perfect.
"You look beautiful," Adrien said, sincerity in his tone.
The magazine debuted in a week. Gabriel rushed its publication, saying it was vital for his business plans to work out that they were released as soon as possible. The day after, news articles started writing about the new heartthrob of Adrien Agreste. Somehow, they started to demonize Luka. They started nasty rumors about him, such as how he cheated on her, forced her to date him, and many other outlandish stories. Marinette browsed the web and constantly was bombarded with either theories of the three's drama, or theories of why she and Luka broke up... all were demonizing Luka. Why do they care so much? Weren't they literally blaming Adrien the whole time before? "I need to talk to Luka," Marinette said to Adrien and Tikki. Plagg wasn't paying attention.
Tikki nodded, "Luka is going to be feeling a lot of complex feelings and he might be a candidate for one of Shadowmoth's attacks."
Adrien, however, didn't seem too keen on the idea, "does he even want to talk to you?"
"He was my best friend for nearly the whole summer..." Marinette opened her phone, Luka's contact right on the screen... "I can't just let him think that I agree with what they are saying about him. We may not be together, but he deserves to know that we" Marinette looked at Adrien, "are going to try and fix things."
Adrien sighed, "do I have to go with you?" Marinette gave him the death stare, "okay, okay... fine" he said, waving his hands.
Marinette got up from the couch and started to walk out of Adrien's room, "you coming?" He groaned but got up. "Luka is our friend."
I am pretty sure I am the last person that Luka wants to see, but she is right... he needs support. Adrien walked downstairs, with Marinette leading the way. She had quickly become one with the atmosphere of his home. Just like the Gorilla and Nathalie, her presence was seemingly always there... without her, it didn't feel like home. She had gotten way more confident when it came to coming over, she even was able to muster up a few words to Gabriel without stuttering or getting nervous... the few times that he did appear. She struck up with a conversation with the Gorilla, and he headed to the car. It is almost as if she lives here now.
"What is with that face?" Marinette said giggling. What face? She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the house. The car arrived a few moments later and they piled in and headed for the Couiffane's ship. Marinette kept looking at her phone.
"I know you're worried for Luka, but I am sure he isn't mad at you."
"I know he could never be mad at me... I just know that he is feeling miserable. This isn't only affecting him, but also Kitty Section. If he is the enemy of Paris' favorite boy... then..."
"Kitty Section is brought down with him..." Adrien finished her sentence. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "I love you because you do stuff like this," he looked at her, their eyes interlocking, "you always think about other people, m'lady."
She smiled, with a blush creeping across her face, but her look of worry still persisted. I don't want to lose her... ever.
They arrived at the boat and the couple came on board with Anarka's permission. They found Luka in his room playing guitar, to be expected. Marinette went in alone, they both thought it would be better if she approached and talked to him first. "Luka..." Marinette sat down on his bed next to him, "I just want to say I am sorry."
Luka stopped strumming and breathed in, "for what?" This caught Marinette off guard, "for dating me while you were in love with Adrien or for the articles?"
Marinette sighed, "both... I am so sorry... I truly don't think that I realized I was still in love with him still until you mentioned it."
Luka smiled weakly, "I know, Marinette. I know you. I am sorry."
"You're sorry?"
"I should've never dated you. I knew deep down inside that you would never get over him, as much as you tried," Luka strummed a few times on his guitar, "you two are made for each other."
Marinette gasped. I did not expect him to say that... or be so casual about it... "About the articles... Adrien and I are going to try our best to straighten things out." Adrien walked in, as if on cue, and stood in front of them.
"I am sorry Luka. I am going to try and get Nathalie to try and find anyone for us to talk to. I want to straighten things out with the press. We never meant any harm by those photos..." Adrien extended his hand to Luka, who took it half-heartedly.
"It is tough, I will admit... but I think I will be okay eventually. It is just a lot to take in because -" he stopped his words, but the two knew what he was thinking. He publicly lost his girlfriend and his image in one night. Luka sighed and continued strumming, "I will see you guys later."
The couple walked away, but Marinette still felt off. There is something wrong here... She couldn't figure out what was up, but she knew that Luka wasn't okay.
Lila Rossi was fuming. Her head was pounding at the idea of Marinette Dupain-Cheng being Adrien's new muse, and Gabriel kicking her to the curb. The new photos only fueled the fire. When the couple arrived at school Lila immediately grabbed Marinette's wrist and dragged her into an abandoned corner. No matter how hard she tried, she could not free herself from the model's grasp. Lila finally let go of Marinette and shoved her into the corner. Where is Adrien?
"Marinette, our war is not over, and starting today your life is going to be a living nightmare!" Lila shoved her fingers in Marinette's face. "I was supposed to end up with Adrien, I was supposed to be the face of the Gabriel brand! Then you come and swoop him in with your fake charm! This isn't what I and Gabriel agreed on. He used me! You are going to pay!" Lila's words stung like bullets, Marinette wasn't fully sure what she was saying at the time, but she knew Lila meant it when she said that she was going to try and ruin her life. What do I do?
Marinette tried to get out of the corner to escape Lila, but the girl was determined. She blocked every single one of Marinette's attempts to leave. Lila calmed her demeanor, "just do me a favor, okay?" Why would I give you of all people a favor? An evil grin spread across Lila's face, "break up with Adrien."
"Now why would I do that?" Marinette tried to keep her composure, but inside she was shaking. Adrien has to be looking for me, right?
"Because - it is the easy way out. You break up with him, I will call a truce. Gabriel will need me again, and all will be well. Be smart, Marinette."
"I could talk to Gabriel about giving you a modeling job again," Marinette said desperately, "but I am not breaking up with Adrien." Lila contemplating the offer for a minute, but anger once again returned to her face.
"No. War it is," the brunette walked away and put on her fake demeanor as she met up with her friends.
