Chapter Six: Crush.
It seems like half of Paris has a crush on Adrien Agreste. Including Ladybug.
Thursday 6th February 2020. 10.45 a.m. Collège Françoise-Dupont.
As soon as the bell rang to signal the start of morning récré, Adrien pulled his phone out of his pocket. He waved a few goodbyes to his friends as they left the classroom around him but didn't look away from the screen. Not even when Marinette slipped into the seat next to him, though he did wrap his arm around her.
It had buzzed twice in the middle of morning lessons and he was eager to check it. Pretty much everyone who would normally text him was in class with him which only left the adults in his life. His father and Nathalie were still in New York, he hoped, Gorilla would only text if there was a security issue, which he really didn't want, and he'd given Tom and Sabine his number when he and Marinette had started dating, but he didn't see it being from either of them while they were working.
He was dreading seeing who it was from. It would be a nightmare if it was from Nathalie, saying that they had returned to Paris earlier than planned and that he was to be home for lunch as usual. He had plans to spoil his girlfriend for lunch and didn't want anything to interfere with them.
Adrien peeked at the sender and his heart soared when he saw it was from his bodyguard…
...then plummeted when he read the texts.
[The Man. 6-Feb. 09.32]: There have been some fans and media lingering around this morning. Your lunch plans might need to be altered if this carries on.
[The Man. 6-Feb. 10.07]: Sorry Adrien but they're too persistent. You can have lunch at school or try and get to the bakery. I'll be stationed outside the school for most of the day if you need anything.
Adrien sighed and shifted the phone so Marinette could see it.
Sometimes he really hated being a model. It had been fun when he'd modelled with his mother, and even now it could still be fun sometimes, but the majority of the time it was more trouble that it was worth. He couldn't do anything that a normal teen could do without running it through several security checks. Even his boys day out a few days ago had way more security measures that an average teen's day out - though Kim had been a surprisingly good bodyguard. Who knew?
"We had lunch plans?" Marinette asked.
"Yeah, had." He grumbled. "I'm sorry, mon coeur. I wanted to surprise you with a-" A startled purr escaped him when she interrupted him with a kiss. "Wha-?"
She giggled and nuzzled against his nose. "Silly kitten. You know we have a third option for lunch?" Marinette traced his ring and flicked at her earrings for emphasis.
Adrien grinned. "So can I still surprise you then?"
"I don't know, can you?"
He laughed and pulled her to him for another kiss. "I just need to text Gorilla back and ask for a few things."
"Then why don't I take Plagg and get him some camembert from my locker?"
A muffled cheer sounded from Adrien's jacket then, with a bit of wriggling, a very happy cat kwami emerged and zipped into Marinette's open bag. Tikki's peal of laughter could just be heard through the thick fabric.
"The sounds purr-fect, my Marinette. I'll make sure I get some kwami food for our lunch too."
That got two happy cheers from her bag and Marinette shook her head with a wry grin and stood up to leave. He gave her one more kiss goodbye, then blew three more after her as she left the room, before picking up his phone again to text his bodyguard. He just needed to tweak his plans a little, and maybe ask the Gorilla to get him a few extra things, but he could still give his Princess a wonderful lunchtime date… even if they had to put their supersuits on to do it.
Damn all those fans thinking they loved him because they had a celebrity crush on him.
Two texts later, one very long and specific list of requirements and one affirmative but confused reply, Adrien was hurrying out of the classroom to find his girlfriend and their friends for what was left of their morning break. She was sat on their favourite bench with about half of their class and he hurried towards them.
"Hey love," he leaned over the bench and kissed her cheek, leaving his arms wrapped around her shoulders. "Hey guys."
"Dude that is so unfair!" Kim groused.
"What is?"
Nino rolled his eyes. "Marinette just told us you had to cancel your lunch date because of the fans. That's not on."
"I'll fight them for you if you want?" Alix offered, looking unnervingly eager for a good brawl. "I said I'd fight the world for you two and you know I meant it. A few media clowns would be no problem at all."
"Simmer down girl," Alya laughed, shaking her head in fond amusement at Alix's antics. "You two can join Nino and me at his place if you want? He's treating me to a gourmet frozen pizza meal and a film."
Everyone chuckled at Nino's exaggerated wounded expression but even he laughed. A frozen pizza was pretty much the extent of his cooking abilities despite multiple attempts to learn over the years.
"Or you could join me and Juleka?" Rose offered eagerly. "We're studying for tomorrow's test at my house. I'm sure Mylène and Ivan would invite you on their lunch date too if you wanted to ask them?"
Marinette twisted in her seat and looked up at him, leaving the decision in his hands. He grinned at her. "Thanks guys but we'll stay here. My bodyguard is dropping some things off for us so we can still sort of have the lunch date I planned."
"If you're sure?"
Adrien nodded and everyone dropped the subject. He had no words to describe just how happy his friendships made him. The fact that they were all willing to fight the world for him never ceased to amaze him. Conversation drifted onto the newly released expansion pack for UMS III and Adrien let himself listen and soak up the warmth of their companionship.
Thursday 6th February 2020. 12.20 p.m. The rooftops of Paris.
Ladybug was doing a rare lunchtime patrol of the city, swinging from roof to roof, trusting her yoyo and her magical supersuit to carry her around effortlessly. She always adored the view from above the city but it was only really on patrols that she could fully appreciate the beauty of her home and the perspective that only she and Chat Noir ever got to see.
And, speaking of Chat Noir, why hadn't he contacted her yet?
They had waved goodbye to their friends when the bell rang for lunch, and waited inside the school for Gorilla to deliver the things that Adrien had requested from him. He had been punctual as always and dropped off a large cool box and a large canvas bag that was surprisingly light weight for being stuffed to bursting. He had left them with a bemused look and a caution that they should be careful and they had immediately slipped to the roof to transform.
Chat had taken the cool box and the bag before she could reach for one and insisted that he go on alone.
"Trust me on this, my Lady, you'll love this surprise."
He had disappeared with a wink and a kiss to her cheek, leaving her to wander the city aimlessly while pretending to patrol and doing her best to stamp down on her curiosity.
What could he possibly be doing?
As if responding to her thoughts, her yoyo beeped then and she stopped on the most convenient rooftop to check what it said. She was praying that it wasn't an akuma. Not today.
It wasn't.
It was the message from Chat that she had been waiting for, finally. No words, just a coordinate, and her yoyo locked into it automatically. He was only about two miles away from where she was now luckily.
She got there in less than two minute and was surprised to see her partner stood alone on the roof, no sign of the cool box or the mysteriously full bag, and only his teasing smirk to let her know this was completely intentional.
"Chaton?"
"My Lady," he bowed deeply to her, brushing a kiss to her knuckles, then straightening up and handing her a beautiful red rose with a flourish. Where had he been hiding that? "A purr-leasure as always to have you with me."
She rolled her eyes. "I believe you have something for me, Chat Noir."
"The rose wasn't enough?"
"Chaton!"
He laughed and pulled on their still joined hands, tugging her into his arms. "What about me? Am I enough?"
Well there was only one answer to give to that, wasn't there?
Ladybug grabbed Chat's bell and pulled him down to her, locking their lips together, and kissing him fiercely. She startled a meow out of him before his brain caught up with what was happening and he tightened his arms around her. She tilted her head just enough to deepen the kiss a little and then, when that didn't work, she slipped one hand up over his shoulders and along his neck to bury her fingers in his hair. His purr roared out of him and she gave a satisfied hum in return and sank into him. She loved that purr.
They were both red faced when they broke the kiss and Ladybug really liked how his blush looked against his mask. It worked very well with the dazed and dreamy look in his eyes too.
"You're more than enough, mon chaton. Never forget it."
"...uuhnh."
Ladybug snorted then burst into laughter at his oh so eloquent response. "Oh kitty…"
His flush deepened a little then and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Right, yes, well…" he took a step back and pulled her hands to his lips for another kiss. She suspected it was to regain his composure as much as it was because he loved doing that. She was quite surprised that she wasn't a blushing mess after a kiss like that but that would more than likely come later. Right now she was enjoying the rare sight of a flustered and off-kilter Chat Noir. He cleared his throat again and offered her his arm. "If my Lady would care to join me?"
"Your Lady most certainly will."
She slipped her arm through his and snuggled close, enjoying the remnants of his purr and letting him lead her around the corner and between two chimney stacks.
Ladybug gasped in delight when she saw what Chat had done for them.
There was a large picnic blanket set on the rooftop with a few smaller blankets tied to the chimneys to create half a tent around their picnic area. There was a large Ladybug and Chat Noir blanket folded to one side, ready to wrap around their shoulders, and the whole thing was lit by the soft glow of some fairy lights and tiny little LED candles.
It was gorgeous!
The food was just as appealing too. Half a quiche, that she knew was from her parent's bakery just by looking, was set next to a few sides of roasted vegetables and a small salad, and for dessert they had one of the biggest fruit salads she had ever seen, a pile of heart shaped macarons, and a small raspberry cheesecake to share.
What moved her the most was the tiny little kwami cave he had built. The cool box was lay down on one side with a small blanket and heat patch inside and a single LED candle. A plate was set just outside the opening with a wheel of camembert and a stack of cookies.
"Do you like it, my love?"
All Ladybug could do was grab his bell and pull him to her for another searing kiss that left them both gasping and flushed.
"That-" Chat panted and pressed his forehead to hers "- is without doubt the best way to answer my questions."
"I quite like it too."
He chuckled. "I'm trying to think of another question to ask you but my brain has stopped working."
Ladybug laughed. "Then let's have our wonderful picnic so you can fuel your brain again."
They both released their transformations and set Tikki and Plagg in the little kwami cave before moving to the picnic tent. Adrien sat down first and Marinette intended to sit next to him but he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She tried to get up because surely this couldn't be comfortable for him up on a random rooftop but then he started purring.
She sank into him bonelessly. "Cheater."
"No such thing, Princess."
Adrien reached for the Ladybug and Chat Noir blanket next to him and wrapped it around the both of them, tucking it in and fussing over her until she assured him that she was definitely warm enough. Between his purring, their cuddling, and this lovely blanket she was in no danger of feeling a chill on this cool winter day.
The food was as delicious as it looked and Marinette made a mental note to ask him where he had got the side dishes from. They were divine. Still not as good as her parents cooking but she was perhaps a little biased there.
Adrien broke the comfortable silence they had fallen into as soon as they'd finished the last bite of their shared cheesecake. "I was going to invite you on a picnic today anyway, you know."
"Really?"
"Yeah. In the little park a few streets over from the school."
Marinette knew the one he meant. That was where they had seen the école kids singing Christmas carols. She often went there for designing inspiration. "Oh, I love that little park."
"I know."
"We can always have a picnic there some other time if you want?"
"I'm sure we will. I just wish that Adrien Agreste's fans hadn't ruined it for us today."
Marinette was momentarily stunned by how he'd referred to his fans and the vehemence in his tone, but then she realised what he really meant.
Adrien didn't really mind having fans. Yes they could sometimes be an annoyance, especially the pushy ones who felt entitled to his time, but generally speaking they weren't a bad bunch.
That didn't mean that there weren't any bad ones though. There were the fans that acted like they owned him, that he was theirs and was madly in love with them only, the ones who claimed they knew him better than anyone, the ones who loved him because he was Adrien Agreste. They weren't his real fans, they were the fanatics.
They were also the ones who had been lurking around today and prompted M. Guérin to increase his security measures.
They were a danger not just to Adrien but to Marinette as well. They were the whole reason why their relationship hadn't been officially confirmed with the media just yet. That had been Gabriel's only real condition for their relationship. They could not appear 'official' in the media until after Valentine's Day - the fanatics would get very upset if it was revealed that someone else had won Adrien's heart on the day of love.
So long as Marinette appeared to be just a friend to Adrien she was safe from the fanatics. That's why they were here on a random roof. The fanatics meant they couldn't have their picnic in the park.
That explained his tone of voice too. Her sweet and amazing kitty was blaming himself for this wonderful rooftop picnic.
She wasn't going to stand for that.
Marinette leaned up and nuzzled into his neck, pressing a tiny kiss to his jaw as she rested against him. "I wouldn't call this ruined. Quite the opposite. I'm here with you and there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Adrien Agreste's fans don't matter when we're together."
"Oh really?"
Even if she hadn't been able to hear the smirk in his voice she could feel it with how closely she was pressed against him.
Adrien chuckled. "I heard from a little birdie that you're one of M. Model's fans, my darling Marinette."
She rolled her eyes at that but decided to play along and tease him a little. Some good banter would help break him out of this mood. "Well yeah, I mean, have you seen his shoots? Nice! Damn he can work those clothes! Plus, I hear he's actually super sweet."
There was a blush creeping down his neck at her words. "You're making me jealous here Lovebug. It sounds like you have a crush on the model."
"Like I said, he sure can work those clothes. But-" Marinette pulled back to look him in the eyes properly "-I promise you, you don't have to worry about the model. My heart has only ever been yours, mon chaton. No little crush could possibly compare to that."
This time he was the one to pull her to him for a kiss and, even as she lost herself in his embrace, she prayed that he knew how true her words were.
Even before all of this, even before she learned he was her literal other half, the matching part in their yin-yang dynamic, even before the reveal when they were just friends and she had been in love with him from afar, she had never once wanted him for his fame. His modelling had merely been a perk, a way to see the handsome face of the boy she loved all over the city, and never the reason for her feelings.
She wanted Adrien the flirty-punny-dorky cat-boy, and she wanted him forever, not Adrien Agreste the picture-perfect model. Marinette was determined to prove that to him no matter how long it took.
Author's note: Alix mentioned fighting the world for Adrien and Marinette in All I Want For Christmas chapter 31, the école kids choir is in chapter 6. Christophe Guerin is my headcanon name for Gorilla.
I made some minor edits to previous chapters to correct some typos and errors with the time/date stamps. It won't make a difference to the story.
Now that this is posted I'm going to thaw out. It was -2°C for the school run this morning (busses are not the warmest method of transport out there) and the car just would not warm up fast enough for my driving lesson either. I'm an ice cube. And yes I know it could be colder but I'm way too sensitive to the cold. I could do a purring cat-man of my own to warm me up. Lucky Marinette.
Also, as I forgot to put this in the last chapter, here is the reminder that I have not yet seen all of season 2 and none of season 3 so consider this an AU if it disagrees with canon.
Replies to reviews:
KrisKrat (on chapter one) - thanks for your review and I'm really glad you like this little continuation. Yes they do go to school on a Saturday. From what I've researched it seems quite common for students in France to do a half day on Wednesday and a half day on Saturday.
yellow 14 - the Lovesquare is my favourite but in a fluffy Valentine's fanfic how can I not include the other adorable relationships in this show? They're all so sweet! And yes this class is very competitive. I hope the new router comes soon too.