December 20th, gift number 20:
Marinette delicately removed a nice silver bag that she had just opened, not one, but two small cylindrical packets, both wrapped in silver paper with white chevrons.
She removed from the first package a candle whose glass was stained in black and which was surrounded by a green satin ribbon with a golden bell hanging on it.
The scent of the candle quickly tickled her nose and awakened her smell.
It smelled like Chat Noir.
She could not define otherwise the smell that now invaded the room and captivated her sense of smell.
It was a mixture of Leather, spices, and flowers. No, in fact, it was an assemblage of leather and Ylang-Ylang: the latter being a subtle scent balancing floral and slightly spicy notes.
Leather : an ambivalent smell that reminded her on the one hand, of the feline, suave, mischievous side and on the other of the refined, protective and reassuring side of his partner. A fragrance that exudes dry and raw notes but authentic notes, full of characters. It was undeniable that these notes of perfume also evoked in her the memory of the very smell of the soft leather costume of Chat Noir.
Ylang-Ylang, a powerful and elusive smell: having both a spicy facet like a clove and a floral facet, recalling the smell of white flowers, similar to jasmine. A fragrance as elusive as the two facets of its partner. On the one hand the sensitive and tender facet and on the other the passionate and wild facet of Chat Noir.
Intoxicated and somewhat anesthetized in a pleasant and delectable way by the scent "Chat Noir" of the candle which she sniffed without moderation, Marinette undertook to unpack the second package in which she found a second candle. This time, made of a red glass with black dots.
On top of this candle she found this time a small note:
"My Lady with the sweet perfume that intoxicates my heart,
You know that felines, besides their increased hearing, also have an overdeveloped odorat.
It allows me, without really wanting to, to capture in a different and more intense way the smells of the world that surround me. It also includes people who are close to me when I am transformed, which is mostly down to you and me.
I don't think it's necessary to go any further in my explanations, you must understand by yourself that I did not randomly choose the scent of these candles.
Your kitty, happy to have a sharp nose to enjoy your enchanting scent. "
Curious, Marinette plunged her nose into the second candle to discover what smells she evoked to her partner.
Vanilla Cinnamon: two strong and distinct smells.
Cinnamon: which makes us dream because it transports us to warm and delicious regions. All in it evokes beauty, femininity and refinement. Its smell is captivating and intoxicating, but also strong, full-bodied and full of character.
Vanilla: this sweet, warm, familiar, gourmet and reassuring scent that softened the spicy notes of cinnamon.
Knowing that the odors that made up her partner's candle also strongly reminded her of his personality, Marinette wondered if this is how Chat Noir perceived her: strong, with a strong character but at the same time soft and warm.
-Marinette? Called a familiar voice from behind the hatch that led to her room.
-Yes, Dad? She replied by carefully placing the candles in the silver bag.
Tom Dupain's head appeared a short moment later:- There are more customers than usual this Sunday morning, many people come to order for the holidays, could you come to take note of these? Your mother is already busy making macaroons to help me, but a third pair of hands would not refuse.
-Of course, Dad, I'm coming.
-Plagg stops moving, you tickle me and disconcentrate me for the shots, whispered Adrien of the weakest possible voice.
-I'm cold and the camembert in your pocket is frozen, said Plagg with disappointment
-I know Plagg, but the more you move, the longer this photo session lasts.
A groan was the only response Adrien received from his Kwami. And he couldn't blame him because, himself, was also beginning to feel the cold creeping under his coat and his stomach demanding to eat something.
He had been in the park for almost 2 hours participating to a photoshoot for the special "Outwear" collection of the Gabriel brand. This year, his father had the idea of releasing an additional collection composed only of coats. And of course, he was the model who had been chosen to represent the male range.
Fortunately for him, the session was coming to the end. The photographer had just taken his last shot and seemed quite satisfied with the overall result. As he joined the car in which the Gorilla was waiting, he glanced at the bakery on the corner. The desire to see Marinette was stronger than anything.
It was Irresistible.
He turned to his bodyguard and asked him if he could go and buy a croissant. The Gorilla looked at him with severity and disapproval, so desperate situations called for drastic remedies, Adrien promised him to bring him a box composed of the almond chocolates that he loved so much in exchange for a few minutes of freedom to eat a croissant.
And maybe see Marinette of course, but that, he hadn't entrusted to him.
Adrien entered the bakery and his heart began to double the rhythm of his beats, she was there, beside the counter and took note of an order After a few minutes of patience, he found himself the last customer in the bakery and finally faced the counter.
-Good Morning Mr..Dupain, h...hi M..Marinette, stuttured Adrien totally lost his means when the magnificent cerulean blue gaze of his classmate crossed his own. Marinette smothered a loud cry of surprise and answered the young man in front of her :
- Hello A...Adrien, can you help me, um sorry I mean, can I help you? Marinette asked him when she saw that her father had gone away to leave them alone. Thanks, Dad.
Adrien nervously put his hand in his neck. He just wanted to shout at her how much he loved her but was almost certain that "I love you" was not a pastry that was sold in the bakery and that he could order at the counter. So he decided to stick to what he had come for.
-I... I'd like a croissant, and a box of almond chocolates, for the Gor... my bodyguard.
Marinette nodded and concentrated to satisfy the young blond's request without letting her clumsiness come to ridiculise her.
-Your father agreed to let you come to the bakery? could she ask him without stuttering, but by failing to drop the box of chocolates that she held for him and that he narrowly caught up with.
-I...I was shooting in the park, I was a bit hungry, so I... negotiated almond chocolates for a croissant. Adrien's explanations provoked a small laugh to Marinette and at the same time the bodyguard knocked at the window door of the bakery to signal to the young man that it was time to go.
-Sorry, I... I have to go. See you soon, Marinette.
-Good Sunday A..Adrien.
It was certainly the first time he had stuttered and lost his means in front of a girl. It was certain, she drove him crazy, crazy in love. Suddenly he was struck by lightning: he was stuttering and losing his confidence because he was attracted to her and because it was hard for him to keep his feelings hidden.
Marinette was still stuttering in front of Adrien. Ladybug told her there was a boy she loved… Marinette is Ladybug.
Yet Ladybug was also beginning to stutter in front of Chat Noir. Chat Noir is Adrien.
All this information was scrambling in his head.
Was it possible that he was so lucky? Was it possible that the pieces of the puzzle could be put together to reveal "a love triangle" according to the popular expression, but which actually possessed four sides, so as to obtain a love square, which finally formed only one pair? Geometrically it was impossible, but in his life, he had recently learned that special creatures thousands of years old could empower humans with magical jewelry, which meant that much less seemed impossible to him now.
To be continued…
Hey Aria2006 : I'm Ladynoir addict too #Ladynoir in power! So sorry for this Adrienette moment! But It was Necessary!I promise you to give you some good Ladynoir in the next days! :)Hope you're enjoying the story.5 days until Christmas!It will be soon the end of this story...Prepare your handkerchiefs for tomorrow. I cry a little when I was writing the day 21. I hope It will upset you guys. As strong as I was.
