start notes—
The love square and mistletoe shenanigans.
(Or four holiday-prompted kisses for the Christmas season.)
my tellonym: milkisande
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dealer's choice
(christmas)
i just wanna keep on waiting,
underneath the mistletoe.
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.
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LADYBUG is the only one he's excited to see again.
It's understandable though, since he hadn't wanted to go to the Christmas party in the first place. As his father was busy planning for his trip abroad, it had fallen upon Adrien to spend time and speak with adults who really only cared about him because of his family's wealth and stature.
They're all sickly-sweet and overly-kind to him, though it's intensely clear that if he were anything other than an Agreste, they'd never even give him the time of day.
(It's exhausting to spend time with people who don't even really see you, after all.)
The last straw, however, is when he speaks with a particularly snooty lady who corners him to talk about fashion. The conversation is halfway decent, until she brings up the feathered hat in Gabriel Agreste's newest collection— one she says is, verbatim, "the worst thing she's ever seen featured in a runway," and that "it was clear a high schooler was the one who made it."
Adrien surprises both himself and the lady when he answers back.
"Actually," he starts. "That hat is an inspired and unique work that even my father was in awe of. She may only be a high schooler, but her sense of fashion and style has grown so far past that." Adrien looks at his conversational partner's outfit, then pauses. "And that's one thing about her that… not everyone can say about themselves."
The woman splutters, mutters a few words about disrespect and how his father will hear about this, as she almost stomps away from him.
It's weird that he doesn't feel that bad about it.
"You're going to get in so much trouble for that," someone suddenly speaks up, hands haughtily folded in front of her chest. Beside her is another girl, who stands much more calmly but holds the same level of intimidation.
"That was in poor character for you Adrien," she steps in, eyes still the slightest bit wider from surprise. "I had never expected such behavior to come from you," she continues, then slightly tilts her head to her partner. "I mean, I'd expect it from Chloé, but I thought you'd be able to control yourself better."
Ignoring the indignant 'hey!' from the blonde, Kagami looks at him in worry. "What did she say to you?"
"Just… she said something wrong," he finally replies. "And I corrected her."
"We're not here to correct people, Adrikins," Chloé points out. "We're here to listen and agree and make sure they still want to work with our parents."
Adrien sighs. She's right.
"It's not too late to apologize," Kagami says. "We cannot be any less than the perfect children anyone expects of us."
A brief silence encompasses the three, as the weight of the words crush upon them. It isn't easy being in their position; to always have to watch their behavior, growing up quickly in the elite circles of high society. It's strict and limiting, and Adrien can't imagine not having Chat Noir to let him freely express and be his true self.
He misses staying inside the suit more than he does outside of it.
Or maybe he just misses the girl he sees when he's in the feline's costume.
He knows what she'd do if she were in his position.
"I stand by what I said," Adrien finally says, somewhat determined. "She said something bad about a friend, and I'm not sorry for protecting her." He pauses, then adds as an afterthought: "It's what she would do."
Kagami looks shocked, but nods slowly. "An honorable choice."
"You're going to regret it," Chloé only says, though he can see the hint of a smile on her face. "But I think your superhero crush would be proud of you for doing it."
As if perfectly on cue, an all-too-familiar figure steps through the entrances of the hallway.
Dressed in her token red suit and mask, Ladybug comes in, an awkward (but bright) smile on her face.
She looks absolutely beautiful tonight.
(But she always looks beautiful to him— so nothing's really new.)
"Are you a witch or something?" Kagami whispers under her breath. "Your timing is impeccable."
"I have my Ladybug radar on at all times."
"What about your Ryuuko radar?"
Chloé scoffs, then smiles softly. "Is that even a question?"
At that, the two sneak off, likely to some empty hallway to have time for themselves.
Adrien doesn't mind, watching with awe as Ladybug kindly greets all the guests at the party.
(He thanks the lucky stars that Ladybug had accepted Mayor Bourgeois' invitation, even if she only plans on stopping by briefly.)
They gravitate toward each other, as Adrien is the first to spark conversation.
"It's great you're here Ladybug," he says, almost flustered. "I'm a great fan of yours."
"I'm a great fan of yours too— I mean, you're a model! Right? I've seen you on billboards and stuff… you know, while I'm going around and saving Paris!"
The fact that Ladybug, of all people, is a fan of his civilian self brings Adrien a rush of joy that he never thought possible.
"You have no idea how much you being a fan of mine means to me."
"Believe me, I feel the same way."
They smile at each other, and enter into pleasant conversation.
She's definitely Adrien's favorite conversational partner by far.
They spend a good hour or so simply talking to each other (much to the envy of the other guests), and Adrien feels as if he's on cloud nine.
It's only when they walk to the beverage table that they are interrupted, as Ladybug accidentally bumps into a vase of greenery, consequently getting some of it in her hair.
Adrien leans in to help her, only belatedly noticing how closely they're standing together as whispers seem to surround the two of them.
Then:
"Mistletoe!" Someone suddenly chants, pointing enthusiastically at the two of them.
The rest of the crowd joins in, as Ladybug panickedly waves her hands to say 'no'— though it only serves to intensify the situation. He picks at the red berry upon her head, then smiles softly.
"May I, milady?"
She looks at him with wide-eyed surprise, then nods slowly.
Her eyes close, visibly nervous.
And Adrien presses a kiss to her forehead, before picking out the plant in her hair.
He shows it to the rest of the guests, then smiles. "This is actually holly, not mistletoe." Adrien looks almost mischievous, as they dissipate in disappointment.
"Wait… if you knew it was mistletoe, then why did you kiss me?"
He shrugs, the teasing grin still on his face.
"Maybe I just wanted to."
.
.
ADRIEN comes to pick her up before they go to school.
It's become a kind of strange tradition between them, for him to stop by the bakery every morning and walk with her to Françoise-Dupont. Ever since he was permitted to go to classes on his own— a freedom long overdue, really— he explains that he's been making the most of it as much as he can.
Her parents don't really mind, after all.
In fact, they think Adrien's a good kid, and it helps that someone else is around to make sure their daughter gets to school on time. Sabine and Tom also think that the two of them are pretty cute together, but decide to keep that little factoid to themselves.
Marinette's late, as per usual, stumbling down into the shop as she's greeted by the sight of her boy friend— emphasis on the space— comfortably leaning upon the counter, talking animatedly with his parents about some random topic about the happenings of the previous day.
(Is it strange that she's already getting used to that sight?)
"Marinette!" He notices her first, brightening up as she awkwardly waves at him. He's snuggly wrapped up in a warm jacket and hat, holding a to-go cup of hot chocolate in his hands.
"Morning, Adrien," she says, before quickly planting a kiss to her parents' cheeks. "Mom, dad."
"What? No kiss for Adrien here?"
Marinette splutters, to the amusement of his family— and even Adrien, who quickly coughs into his hand to hide the laughter that threatens to escape his lips.
She can't even say anything, with Adrien finally taking pity on her and tapping on the chair beside him, gesturing for her to take a seat.
"I was just talking with your parents," he starts. "About your plans for the holidays."
"Yes," her mom chimes in, smiling brightly as she leans onto her father. "You know, poor Adrien here doesn't have any plans for Christmas Eve? Mr. Agreste is only coming back from New York on Christmas Day, and I can't imagine how lonely it's going to be…," she side-eyes her husband, then gently nudges him at his blissfully unaware expression.
"Ah, right!" He coughs, then speaks in an almost overly-dramatic way: "How sad for Adrien, if only there was something we could do for him… if only he had somewhere to spend the day…"
Both of Marinette's parents eye her with sad eyes, as she only rubs tiredly at her forehead.
Why are her parents like this?
She takes a side glance to see Adrien, who has a somewhat soft smile on his face. (If anything, he even looks hopeful that she'll say yes.
Which is strange, considering that he can probably spend his Christmas anywhere he so wanted— from all the most lavish Christmas parties and celebrations… maybe she just doesn't understand the rich.
And it's not like she wants to tell him no, either.)
"Are you okay with this?" Marinette finally decides to ask, turning to face him directly.
After years of being friends and spending time together, she's glad to see that her tendency to stutter and stammer (and ultimately fail as a human being) around him has lessened by quite a bit.
But as he sits only a few meters away from her, close enough for her to almost count how many eyelashes he has, she frankly becomes reminded of how little it lessened.
And how her crush on him has only grown exponentially since they first met.
He smiles at her, and she has to physically force down the blush threatening to take over her face.
"Of course I am," he says honestly, maintaining eye contact with her as he leans the slightest bit closer. Marinette can't look away. "There's no place I'd rather be."
She wants to stay in the moment— really, she does— but her parents watching from beside her with the hugest smiles she's ever seen is more than enough to sever the mood.
Coughing awkwardly, she steps back and slings her bag over her shoulder. "That sounds great, then!" She finally says, "Christmas with Adrien Agreste, no big deal, nope! I'd love that— I mean, not that I love you but…," she pauses, then sighs in resignation. "Just. We'd love to have you there."
He laughs lightly, then stands up as well, holding the cup with one hand. He bows lightly to her parents. "It's always nice to talk to you, Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng."
"Please, just call us mom and dad."
They wink, and Marinette decides against turning back so she doesn't have to see their faces. Instead, she grabs Adrien's hand and pulls him forward.
"Let's go," she says, only belatedly realizing that ohmygod they're holding hands and they fit so perfectly together do all fingers intertwine and meld this amazingly—?
They're one foot out the door, when her parents speak up:
"Ahem, Marinette," her mother says, forcing her to turn back.
"What?"
She only smiles, before gesturing for her to look up.
Oh, you've got to be kidding me.
At her exhausted expression, Adrien looks at where she's staring:
Consequently noticing the mistletoe hanging above the bakery door.
"Really?"
Her parents look excited.
"I'm not going to—"
Marinette turns to Adrien, fully expecting him to decline as well: until she sees his awkward (though almost… excited?) smile.
His fingers tighten their grip around her own, as he looks down at their intertwined hands.
"It's just a harmless tradition," he says quietly, some sound of amusement resounding from his tone. "A little holiday fun?"
She can't speak.
Is he serious?
He leans closer, and she closes her eyes in anticipation.
Then she feels the unmistakable touch of someone's warm lips.
Upon her hand.
Marinette's eyes flutter open, in time for her to see him press a kiss to her knuckles.
"What?" He asks, almost playful. "Did you expect anything else?"
She can't even speak.
(And thankfully doesn't notice the stifled laughter from behind the counter. Betrayal.)
"Come on, we're going to be late!"
He tugs her forward, as they disappear outside the bakery.
Marinette doesn't realize that Adrien's still holding her hand until they arrive at François-Dupont.
.
.
MARINETTE waits for him outside the balcony.
It's eleven-fifty in the evening as the snow starts to pile up, leaving Marinette to wish she'd put on more layers than her pair of pajamas and a cardigan around her small frame. Her nose is getting red from the cold, but she doesn't quite mind it as much as it should.
Because when she thinks about him, all Marinette can really feel is warmth.
Blonde hair, bright green eyes, and a smile that can bring even the sun to shame…
She's only distracted from her thoughts as a familiar suit of black starts making its way toward her.
He arrives almost clumsily at her balcony, holding a bright-red box in his hands as he furtively tries to hide it from her attention.
(It doesn't work.)
"Chat," she only says, then rolls her eyes. "You're late."
The first thing he does is bow down to her.
"Yes, and I'm so sorry, but I had some issues at home and—"
"Never mind that," she only says instead. "Do you have it?"
He smiles. "Of course I do," he starts, jokingly saluting at her. "Your local delivery man, at your service."
Marinette brightens up almost immediately as the words escape his lips.
"And it's really from him?" She asks, slowly taking the box into her hands.
It's quite small, fitting the palm of her hand, but Marinette knows that whatever's inside— the worth is immeasurable.
She hugs it close to her chest. "I can't believe he got me a Christmas present."
Chat Noir smiles at how excited the girl seems to be. "I— I know he's just really sorry that he couldn't give it to you himself."
"It's fine," Marinette only responds, the soft smile still on her face. "I know that he really wanted to go, and that's more than enough for me."
She recalls how apologetic Adrien had sounded over the phone, after telling her that he couldn't spend Christmas Eve with her family. (If anything, Marinette thought that he sounded more upset than she did about it—
Which is saying a lot, considering that she'd been looking forward to it as soon as he said he'd go.)
She tinkers with the box for a few more moments, then looks up at the superhero.
"Did he tell you what was inside?"
He ponders her question a bit longer than he should have. "Technically, no," he says, then pauses. "But I do know what it is."
"How do you know?!"
Chat Noir smiles lithely. "Let's just say that Adrien and I are similar in a lot of ways."
Marinette has to stop herself from snorting. "Please," she laughs lightly. "The two of you couldn't be any more worlds apart."
"... and what do you mean by that?"
"Adrien's the perfect type," she starts, then stops as she notices the superhero's almost hurt expression.
"So I'm not?"
"Nope," Marinette says easily. "But that's what I admire about you. You're imperfect and messy and chaotic, but you love and embrace your flaws, and even my own. It's so easy to be around you."
"Then Adrien is…?"
"He's kind," Marinette says carefully. "He's the kind of boy everyone dreams of, me included. But I always wished he'd drop his perfect interior in front of me and show his true self."
"The flawed self?"
"Yes. Because I'm sure I'd still love him just as much."
She smiles absentmindedly, then carefully starts to open the box.
Inside is a locket; gold, with a simple ladybug token hanging upon the chain.
Marinette belatedly notices the simple paper put inside the box:
To our Everyday Ladybug—
She turns the paper around.
And my ladybug.
Marinette isn't even given a moment to process the information as she looks away from the box, to notice none other than the boy in question standing before her.
Plagg floats next to him, a cautious expression on his face.
"Adrien, I— you— wait…" He tries to make calming gestures with his hand, giving her time to understand what's happening. "This can't be real…? You— are you really… and Plagg… wait, I thought I wasn't supposed to know your true identity…"
He looks absolutely nervous, and can't even get the words out.
Plagg speaks in his place:
"Sorry for the surprise, kid, but Tikki and I talked it over. With you being the guardian and all, it was only a matter of time before you two find out," then he sighs tiredly. "Adrien found out about your true identity by accident. And after that, he's been insistent on being the one to do the reveal."
"I— but— you— I'm— this is—"
The sudden buzz of Marinette's phone informs them that it's midnight.
"Merry Christmas, Marinette," Adrien finally says, voice soft as he takes her hands. "I love you."
He leans closer to her, as she suddenly stops him.
"Wait— but a kiss— it's too soon, and so out of nowhere…"
Adrien pauses thoughtfully, then smiles; almost mischievous.
He retrieves a pen from his pocket, then takes the box from her hands:
The word 'our everyday ladybug' is crossed out, as a simple word proudly displays itself in black, bold, lettering.
He holds it above their heads.
MISTLETOE.
"Is this enough of a good reason?"
Marinette can't stop herself from laughing. "You couldn't even draw it?"
"I'm not the artist," he only says. "That's your job."
"Then what's yours?"
"I provide the quality humor and flirting, I think."
She has to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"Fine then," Marinette starts, leaning close to him before…
Pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"The cheek?!"
"You didn't even get real mistletoe. So you don't get the real thing, either."
He hmphs, before his eyes suddenly twinkle. "But if I get real mistletoe, then I'll get a real kiss?"
"As long as it's still Christmas, then sure."
"Great," he grins. "Twenty-four hours then."
.
.
CHAT NOIR looks at her for confirmation.
The mistletoe stands proudly above the two of them as the purified akuma flies away into the night, easily forgotten by the rest of the Parisians.
All they care about— and all he cares about is the girl held in his embrace, as she looks at him with eyes that he can't at all decipher.
(Or maybe he can: but it's too terrifying to think of what things could be if he were wrong.)
From the background, Alya holds her phone as the scene is livestreamed to all the families and friends celebrating their Christmas together.
He leans in close to her, hesitant, as if asking a question.
The outsiders can't make it out, but he whispers in her ear:
"That's real mistletoe," he points out. Then slowly: "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Ladybug doesn't say yes.
She doesn't say no, either.
Instead, she only smiles, leans forward:
Then kisses him.
Alya drops her phone as she throws her fist in the air, and the quiet chill of the city is instantaneously broken with a series of loud celebratory cheers and cries for celebration.
Everyone calls it one of the greatest Christmas miracles of all time—
And neither Ladybug nor Chat Noir can correct them.
.
.
.
end notes—
there were too many cute mistletoe prompts so …. why not do ALL OF THEM amirite ,, i thought it'd be fun to end this w a bang too (featuring all sides of the lovesquare !) i also tried to include a lot more of the mlb characters just to make this fic a lot more fun hehe ngl this was insanely fun to write ! :DD
but after the initial enjoyment, you may then want to ask me, "but milk, why are you doing a christmas-themed fic? it's still august!" and your concerns are absolutely valid ! but the -ber months officially start tomorrow and as a holiday freak MERRY CHRISTMAS BABEY ! :^))
lmao anw yes outside of my excitement for christmas-THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO READ THIS FIC ! ily all so so much im so grateful for the support like ? it's always the most amazing thing to wake up to new comments/kudos ;u; i could only rlly describe this month as Stress but all ur engagements made me so much happier than u would ever know tysm ! 333
i do not need mistletoe i will give u all a virtual kith for all ur support (or hug if youre not into that lmaosksks) ,, but yes for the last time in this challenge !
thank you for reading! ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～