"Last night, a new fashion designer made their debut via an online website. Many celebrities, specifically Jagged Stone who credited them with his latest album design, endorsed their work, sharing links to the site on their social media. Many fashion designers and critics, including Gabriel Agreste, have complimented the designs and are seeking to recruit this new designer. However, we only know the new designer by their logo: MDC Fashion. This event has almost completely outshined Chloe Bourgeois who has yet to face justice for her crimes."
Marinette
She couldn't believe how fast her website had blown up overnight. Orders came in faster than she originally thought they would, the Ladybug and Chat Noir merch selling the most. Despite it being six in the morning, she was dancing around wildly with excitement, Tikki zipping around the room with her. "Marinette, this is so exciting! All your hard work is paying off! Literally!" the kwami giggled.
The young guardian beamed at her, "I know! I gotta tell someone!" Marinette pulled out her phone, Alya's contact opened in seconds. She hesitated, she hadn't spoken to Alya in a week and no doubt the redhead was mad at her for being ignored. Instead, she opens Adrien's and began typing out a message. Due to her excitement, he had to slow down and correct herself five times before finally sending the message. Marinette looked back at Tikki, "I still can't believe this! I know Ladybugs are lucky, but this just… wow!"
Tikki flew up to the excited girl, "I can believe it, Marinette. You have always been hard working and your designs are incredible." Marinette smiled, hugging the kwami.
Plagg
He was sleeping in his nest of cheese when Adrien's phone went off, the noise startling him awake. His green eyes glared at the abomination that awoken him from his dream of cheese land. "Who the heck texts a person at this ungodly hour," he muttered darkly as he inspected the message. Pigtails, his guardian. Okay, she gets a pass he decided. "Kid wake up!" he shouted, slapping his holder with his paw.
Adrien stirred, muttering, "Go away Plagg." He rolled over, pulling a pillow over his ear.
Plagg groaned, "It's your girlfriend. She is texting you right now. Wake up and deal with it!"
With that Adrien bolted up, snatching up his phone and knocking Plagg back off the bed. He was still dealing with the fact that Marinette made his favorite scarf and that she let him believe it was from his father. It made him feel warm inside that she wanted him to be happy, even if that meant she had to let someone else take credit for something she worked so hard on. He scanned the message and smiled.
Marinette: The site has been blowing up like crazy, so many orders have been coming in all night long. This is so exciting! Thank you so much for helping me set it up in time! :) 3
Adrien blushed when he saw the heart emoji on the end. Plagg noticed snickered, enjoying the goofy look of his holder's face. "You didn't deny that she's your girlfriend. Are you finally admitting that I am right?" Adrien glared at him, opening his mouth to deny the kwami's claims, then closing it when he realized Plagg might just have a point for once. As he looked back at his phone to type out a reply, Plagg zipped around his head in a victory dance before swan diving into his cheese stash. He burst back out, cheese in paws. "So what did your princess want?"
"Her website for her fashion designs launched last night and there are already lots of orders," Adrien commented, completely focused on his message. Plagg simply inhaled his cheese, sitting on Adrien's shoulder, watching him respond.
Marinette
She was still doing her victory dance when Adrien's reply sounds off, her phone vibrating on her desk. Rushing over, she read the message, then dropped her phone. Tikki zipped in to catch the phone, setting it back on her desk before zipping back to her holder. Marinette's face was filled with shock, hands shaking. "Marinette, what is wrong?" When the young guardian didn't respond, falling back on to her chaise, Tikki zipped back to the desk. Flipping the phone back over, she turned on the lock screen and read the message for herself.
Adrien: That's awesome Mari! It makes sense that people like your designs so much. They are the best, especially the Marinette original you gave me for my birthday! :)
Tikki gasped, "Adrien knows that the scarf wasn't actually from his father." Marinette nodded, still freaked out from the sudden revelation. Tikki tilted her head, confused, "Isn't that a good thing?"
Marinette shrugged, "Maybe? I don't know. What if he is mad it's not really from his father?" Marinette pulled her knees close to her, hiding her face as she groaned. "What if he doesn't want to hang out anymore?"
Tikki kissed her holder's forehead, trying to calm her down. "Who says he isn't happy that you made the scarf for him?" she reasoned as she patted Marinette's head.
Marinette looked at the kwami, "You are right, Tikki. How did you get to be so wise?"
"Oh you know, existing for a couple of million years. You aren't the first drama queen I been paired up with." Marinette burst out laughing her insecurities long forgotten.
Alya
Alya shook her head, looking at her phone while sitting with Lila and Nino on a bench in the courtyard at school. "Girl, I can't believe that you are friends with the MDC designer. And that you helped with Jagged Stone's designs and those sweet Ladybug and Chat Noir themed outfits." She continued to scroll through the Ladybug section, admiring the different designs. "These are even cooler that Marinette's!"
Lila flashed her a smile, "Well this is a professional designer, not an amateur like Marinette. I made some of them as a personal request from Ladybug. She said she relies on me to get it right because we are such good friends."
Alya went full fangirl mode, "That is so awesome, you have to do the interview after school and tell me all the details." She shook her head, "If Marinette wasn't jealous of you before, she won't be able to deny it now."
Lila nodded, "But maybe I can introduce Marinette to MDC and she can become an intern!" Lila shook with hyperactive energy, as if eager about her idea. "And then Marinette and I will be friends finally!"
Nino grinned and nodded, while Alya narrowed her eyes, scowling, "I don't know, Marinette has been pretty rude to you. Does she even deserve something like this?"
Lila nodded her head in agreement, "I know Marinette has been jealous of me, but maybe this will help with starting a friendship with her. Once she sees how truly kind I am, she will see past her jealousy and apologize." She smirked to herself as Alya nodded in agreement, it was all too easy. Marinette would refuse, denying that Lila had no connection with MDC. Alya would tell her friend off instead of fact-checking the story, cutting Marinette off for good. The bell rang and the three of them walked off to their biology exam.
Alix walked out from behind a nearby pillar. Alya had some serious brain damage if the name MDC didn't ring a bell.
Marinette
Despite Tikki's earlier assurance that Adrien loved the scarf, Marinette still had her doubts. She was in the kitchen cooking breakfast while Tikki sat on the counter munching on some cookies. "Marinette, you have to stop worrying. Adrien said in his text that he loves your scarf, even if it wasn't from his father." The kwami inhaled her final cookie, then zipped over to sit on Marinette's shoulder, offering her physical support.
Marinette shrugged, focus on the crackling bacon. "I don't know Tikki, I guess I still worry about not being enough."
Tikki zipped in front of Marinette's face, hands on her hips as she stared her holder down, "Not enough? Marinette, you are amazing. If that boy isn't completely smitten by now, then he is as dumb as his puns."
Marinette laughed, "If you ever tell him I said this, I will deny it but I kinda like his puns." Tikki made a face while Marinette kept laughing, as her hesitation was forgotten again. Whatever happened, Marinette was certain it would be alright. She heard a knock on the door. 'Most likely Adrien,' she figured. As Tikki hid, she called out to him, "Come in!"
Adrien walked in with his messenger bag slung over his shoulder. Wrapped around his neck was an all too familiar blue scarf. He beamed as he saw her, "Hey Mari!"
Marinette blushed slightly, mentally scolding herself for letting Chat's secret identity melt her confidence. "Hey. So you know the truth about your scarf?" He nodded, giving her a kind understanding smile. Marinette sighed in relief, "Well at least Nino doesn't have to freak out every time you wear it now, not I am going to tell him right away." She tilted her head sideways as she leaned against the counter. "Are you upset that it wasn't from your father?" she asked, concern in her voice.
Adrien shrugged, unslinging his bag, hanging on a chair by the table and sitting down. "At first I was, but then I watched the security tapes from that day. My father was too busy and assigned Natalie to find me a gift, reminding her the day of. She panicked and took the note off your present. Honestly, I can never blame Natalie, she is one of the hardest working people I know." He looked her in the eyes, frowning. "Father never had been big on remembering my birthday lately, or anything really," he admitted.
Marinette walked over to him and gave him a hug, which was a bit awkward due to her standing and him sitting. "I am so sorry Adrien."
He pulled back from the head, looking her in the eye again as he confessed, "Don't be, you gave me the best present ever. For the first time since my mom disappeared, I was happy on my birthday. Thank you!" He got up and pulled her close, hugging her tightly. His nose was filled with her sweet scent, driving him nuts.
Marinette squeaked, completely caught off guard by him. Her face blazed red as she tried and failed to stutter out a reply. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Tikki turning off the stove to prevent the bacon from burning, while Plagg shook with silent laughter on the countertop.
A few moments later, Adrien broke the hug, his face also red with embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. They looked away, then both tried to talk at the same time, then laughed as they both asked the other to go first. Adrien calmed himself down just before Marinette did, "You go first."
Marinette nodded, then pointed towards the stove, "I made you breakfast." As Adrien opened mouth to protest, she held up a finger and stared him down. "Sit down and eat. We both know what your model diet is like and it is not enough." Adrien attempted to stand his ground, but the mixed look of concern and conviction on Marinette's face told him he did not have a chance of winning. He meekly sat down and ate the food, Marinette grabbing her plate and sitting down next to him. She looked at him curiously, "What did you want to say earlier?"
Adrien blushed slightly, thinking of the ramble of how great she is that he was going to burst out. "Um, just that I think you are amazing and incredible." Marinette felt like she was going to burst.
Alya
As the class poured into the cafeteria for lunch, Alya lingered in the hallway, pulling out her phone. Pulling up Marinette's contact, she pressed call and waited. Marinette hadn't replied to any of her previous calls and text, so Alya was unsure if she would even pick up. Just as she was going to give up, she heard someone pick up on the other end. "Hello?" Marinette's voice came through.
"Girl, did you see that new fashion website last night?" Alya couldn't contain her excitement, eagerly waiting for Marinette's eager ramble about it.
In Marinette's room, Marinette was sitting on her chaise with her sketchbook carefully set aside, while Adrien sat at her desk scrolling through her designs. She gave him a questioning look while he just shrugged, having also heard Alya and confused by her question. "Yeah, Alya, of course, I saw it," she stated, suspicion creeping in her voice. Adrien pulled out his credit card, making Marinette lean forward to see what he was up to. Her eyes widened, "Adrien, no! Put that credit card away!"
Alya's jaw dropped, "Adrien is there with you?" Marinette didn't reply, arguing with Adrien about his ability to make financial decisions. "Girl, are you with Adrien right now?"
"Yes," her voice came back, a hint of nervousness mixed with frustration.
"Well, that's okay I guess. Lila is dating Kim now and seems to be over Adrien. Anyways, Lila wants to mend the bridges with you by introducing you to MDC and getting you an internship. She already is going to try and get me an interview with them as well." Alya jumped with excitement, drawing a few odd looks.
Marinette glanced at Adrien, who was momentarily distracted from his very full shopping cart. Both grinned at the other before bursting into laughter. This was probably the worst lie Lila could have used. While Adrien fell on the floor, Marinette managed to calm herself. "Okay, good one Alya."
Alya shook with fury on her end, "I am serious, Marinette, but clearly you are not. This could have helped your career but maybe you don't deserve Lila's help." With that, she hung up and stormed into the cafeteria. Nino, Kim, and Lila greeted her, asking why she was upset as Alix glared at them, a plan forming in her mind.
Adrien
Marinette was pissed when she saw the number of items in the shopping cart, but he managed to purchase before she could stop him. Now she sat pouting at him while he smirked victoriously. "So Alya has forgotten your initials." Marinette simply turned her attention away from him, focusing on her sketchbook. Not paying attention to him. That was not okay Adrien decided.
He started to snoop around her room, the gramophone once again capturing his attention. Adrien moved to try and play something but remembered Marinette had no records to play. He moved on towards a closed chest with a pile of sewing supplies piled on top of it. Adrien moved the supplies and was about to open it when a spray of water hit him. Recoiling back, he turned to face his attacker. Marinette glared at him, pointing the spray bottle at him like it was a gun. "Bad kitty." Adrien frowned for a second, his brain cells working overtime when she sprayed him again, forcing him to back farther away from the chest.
"Stop that," he hissed, glaring at the spray bottle in her hands.
Marinette smirked, "Make me." Adrien lunged for the bottle, only for Marinette to lift it out of his reach. As he hit the floor, she giggled, the most wonderful noise he ever heard. "You are just like a cat!" He glared at her, not amused. Marinette's eyes shot wide open, an idea forming in her mind. She opened a desk drawer and pulled out a laser pointer.
She smirked at him and shot the little red light right in front of him on the ground. His eyes instantly locked on it, watching it closely as she moved it back and forth. Finally, he gave into temptation and tried to swat the dot with his hand. Marinette turned off the laser just then, so when he raised his hand, Adrien was clueless as to where it went. Marinette's laughter pulled him out of the daze, realizing she was messing with him. "Not funny," he muttered as he silently vowed to kill Plagg.
Marinette giggled to herself, "Yes it is." He glared at her, clearly not amused. She smirked and switched it back on, pointing it at the wall across the room from them. Adrien forced himself to stay rooted, not wanting to give her the satisfaction. Marinette's phone went off, informing her of a new message. As she looked away distracted, Adrien lunged up. He tended to snatch the laser pointer, not tackle Marinette to the ground. Nor did he intend to end up play wrestling with her, both fighting for the laser pointer.
But he certainly didn't mind it, especially when they stopped rolling around. Marinette on top of him, her sweet scent overwhelming him, her lips barely an inch away from his. Her blue eyes stared into his, her face red as Ladybug's suit. He could ki…
"Excuse me, am I interrupting something?" The flustered teenagers looked at the semi-open hatch, Sabine smiling at them. Marinette tried to get up as Adrien tried to move away, causing both teenagers to get tangled up. Sabine laughed and left the plate of snacks she brought for them on the floor, eager to share with her husband what happened. As Sabine walked down the stairs, she changed her mind. Tom approved of Adrien and loved the boy, but Marinette was still his daughter who he can get a little overprotective of.
Adrien
As he sat at his computer, Adrien scrolled through the long list of items he bought from Marinette's website. After their little play fight, Marinette opened the message she received. It had been from Clara Nightingale, who sent a video message saying hi and answering the questions they asked. For the rest of the afternoon, they played Ultra Mech Strike III in awkward silence, though Adrien swore the few times he stole a glance at her that he caught her looking at him too.
His thoughts slipped back to that moment that they were so close. Adrien found himself longing to be in the warm bakery as his phone rang. Picking it up, he was startled by the voice of Alix, "Hey sunshine child. We gotta have a chat."