Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a smart person. She's resourceful, creative, and incredibly intelligent. She's great in arts and decent with numbers.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng has done the math and yet, out of the seven billion people in the world, her heart chose to beat for Adrien Agreste, golden boy extraordinaire.
Of course it's just in her luck that she has to fall for someone so kind and gorgeous and utterly unattainable. She tried her best to tell him how she felt but curse her mouth and her luck! (Yes, she will forever blame her luck and lack of it.)
It's been three years of trying and failing. She managed to get past her tongue-tied stage but now they're graduating and it's a little too late.
"Girl, you have got to stop drinking now," Alya worriedly remarked as they're all gathered around one table. "It's graduation! It's time to let go of that blind sunshine child."
Nino nodded. "I agree, dudette. Adrien's my bro but, you deserve someone who will see you, Mari."
Marinette only grunted in response. She was way too sad and heavy to find the words to say. 'Then again, I always struggled to find the right words,' she thought bitterly, downing another glass and ignoring the concerned looks on Alya and Nino's faces.
She felt guilty, of course. This was their graduation, they were supposed to be celebrating! They didn't deserve the sad atmosphere she was emitting. But, she couldn't stop how her heart ached for what could've been, her what-if since her first time meeting him at lycee.
She gazed at him as he tried to avoid Chloe's antics on bringing him to the dance floor. The way he gently smiled while telling Chloe off tugged Marinette's heartstrings. She forced herself to look away from the scene and looked down at the glass down her hand.
Oh well.
Adrien Agreste is tired and cranky.
Yes, graduation was supposed to be for celebration but despite the years he put in modelling, the grueling schedule is still something he just can't seem to get used to. He's tired to the bone and Chloe is just wearing his patience thin. He loved her, of course, but he was simply not in the mood.
It's not because his father did not attend his graduation or that he's leaving the place he loved so dearly. The former is something he's used to by now while the latter can be doable since everyone has promised to keep in touch! However, he couldn't help but notice how a certain someone has been ignoring him since the rites.
Oh, he was not imagining it. Sweet, kind, beautiful Marinette avoided his gaze a while ago when they met at the reception. He was used to first and second year Mari averting her gaze but they already got past that! She already confirmed that she did not, in fact, hate him and that they were okay.
So, what was happening now? He searched for her from the crowd as Chloe invited him to dance, to which he is politely declining, and saw Marinette drinking a glass of wine.
Adrien knit his brows in confusion. Did he do something wrong to upset her? Should he go talk to her? Will she get mad? What will—
As he was busy wondering what to do, his thoughts were cut off when he saw Marinette stumble, just as Alya and Nino left the scene, and hurriedly ran to her side.
"Are you alright, Mari?" Adrien worriedly asked.
As Marinette wordlessly looked up at him, he noted how she was a little disoriented and red around the edges, the scent of wine clinging onto her. Keeping a strong grip on her waist, he guided her outside of the reception hall and into the fountains outside. It was already approaching night and the setting sun glowed with tinges of reds and pinks.
"Mon dieu, are you drunk, Mari?" He couldn't help but question as he helped her settle down somewhere people won't bother them.
Adrien was stunned when Mari laughed in a tone he has never heard before. "I might have... drunk a glass or two," she drawled out, staring directly into his eyes with a small smirk on her face, a complete contrast to the person who has caused the shift on his mood since the afternoon.
Adrien gulped. Has Marinette always looked this confident? The sunset highlighted her glazed bluebell eyes and the light settled softly onto her red and black off-shoulder dress. It reminded him faintly of a ladybug, something he was supposed to comment when he approached her earlier but got snubbed.
"Did I do something wrong, Princess?" Adrien prodded gently, using the nickname he had for her. He couldn't help the crack that escaped his voice, the unsaid goodbye that hung in the air was something he couldn't ignore. It was like after this, he wouldn't see her anymore. Marinette was not the type of person to abandon people but sometimes, she seemed faraway, like something he could never attain even if she was within his reach. That was just her magic.
Marinette seemed to sober up at that, her attention instantly on him. "No, no, you did not do anything wrong, Chaton," Marinette sternly said, her grip on his arm as she called him by the pet name she gave him after he accidentally got scratched by a cat after giving it some cheese. "You didn't do anything... wrong."
Marinette sighed and looked up at the sky. Adrien remained silent and waited for her. That's what he learned about Marinette, you just have to wait for her. And he has been, for a long time now.
"I have something to tell you, Adrien, and you have to promise me to answer honestly. Please?"
The desperate tone in her voice further worried Adrien. He raked through his thoughts trying to remember what it is he did but chose to wait instead and nodded in response.
Marinette took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She prepared herself for this, it was now or never. Standing up, through unsteady feet, she stood in front of Adrien and kneeled on one foot. Adrien was surprised and tried to stand to guide her up, this was so wrong on so many levels!, but Marinette shook her head and firmly sat him down.
Awkwardly, Adrien obeyed, worrying about her kneecaps. Marinette inhaled deeply. Thrice. Then, finally, she spoke, "Adrien, from the first moment you gave me your umbrella, I have been in love with you. I tried to tell you several times before but I struggled to find the right words. And now, I am here to confess to you two truths and one lie: how I have always loved you, how I stole your phone, and how I am secretly a ladybug superheroine fighting butterflies."
She was... What? Marinette was what?!
Adrien blanked out. Marinette first told him she loved him, and it was great! He loved her, too! For a long time now! And he was so happy his heart was practically bursting through his chest and he just wanted to hug her right here and now, but, sweet, kind, and beautiful Marinette would never steal cellphones.
So, that would mean...?
"I understand."
Marinette was confused. There she was, pouring out her love for him and he says that he understands? Understand what, exactly?!
Marinette stood up and put her hands on Adrien's shoulders for balance. Looking down at him, even under her drunken stupor, she could see that he was determined and... sure?
"Adrien, I don't think you do," she smiled sweetly, noting how his serious demeanor suddenly shifted. Oh, she was liking this! For once, she was not the one who was bothered!
It may have been the liquid courage talking but Marinette slowly leaned towards Adrien, crossing her arms behind his neck and slightly embracing him, enjoying how his faced turned redder and redder by the moment.
"Marinette, you're drunk," Adrien commented as he tried to push her off.
She ignored him. No. Not this time. "This," she lamented, staring into his eyes with all the confidence she could muster, instantly melting under his green eyes. "This is what I meant."
Adrien could not, for the life of him, think of anything else other than the fact that Mari. Lips. On his lips.
Marinette has worried him since the afternoon, further worried when she almost stumbled, internally combusted under her fiery gaze, almost got a heart attack when she said she loved him, and now, Marinette Dupain-Cheng (who might be a superheroine!) was kissing him right on the lips. All in the span of 10 minutes.
If anyone said Adrien was a weirdo for passing out right there and then, he would defend his honor and say it was perfectly justified.
(Marinette would later die of shame and guilt as she recalled how she has practically harassed Adrien, to which she apologized for and he promptly replied with a, "Please harass me anytime you want, Princess.")
