Hi everyone! Here's the end of the Water Park chapter! Let me know if you've enjoyed it!
Nino watched as the Agreste brothers seemed to wage a silent war over Marinette.
Not that it was an obvious fight, but Nino had known Adrien for a solid two years and spent almost all their classes together, sitting next to the blond. The tick in his forehead and the forced smile, and how Adrien would stand between Marinette and Felix at any point of time made Nino raise his own eyebrow in question.
Currently, the group was in the lazy river, it was shaped like a river and had nice scenery and ambiance with a slow current so that guests could relax while they float in the water. Marinette had perched herself on a huge float, cradling the towels (and Tikki) in her lap.
Alya was floating next to her, holding on to the other half of the towels. The boys had decided to forgo the floats, instead, they had ended up taking turns to push the girls through the water. Occasionally splashing them when they felt like, it taking advantage that they couldn't splash in retaliation.
The group had gone through several more rides, Marinette took turns, switching between both brothers so that they could all enjoy the rides together while Nino and Alya paired up.
There had even been a water obstacle course. Marinette and Adrien had raced to see who would complete it first, laughing as they tried to outdo each other. The other three had stayed under the shelter to cheer the rivaling duo.
Marinette and Adrien had gathered quite a crowd as they breezed through the obstacles while still exchanging friendly the end Adrien had climbed the rope ladder first, followed by Marinette, before dropping into the water with a huge splash.
Marinette had pouted and landed right next to him in the water in a futile attempt to drown the blond. The dynamic duo then laughed as they slowly swam back to the side of the pool to rejoin their friends.
Marinette was chatting with Alya, laughing at something that the redhead had said. The two girls had their hands clasped so that they wouldn't be separated while they floated with the current. Adrien was floating next to Marinette with a dopey smile on his face.
Nino recognized that look. It was the same smile that he had when Alya looked particularly beautiful when she let out a victory cry over something or other (usually a successful scoop for the Ladyblog).
Felix was waddling behind the two girls in a kind of a squat-walk position, trying to keep most of his body submerged in the cool water.
Once in a while, either blond would lean on Marinette's float whenever she would give them her attention. Nino was facing the group as he floated ahead, in his own squat-walk, his back against the current so that he could observe his best friends. Observing the dynamic between Marinette and the Agrestes.
"Mari look, a coral reef!" Alya pointed out. Pushing herself up from her relaxed position on the float.
Marinette followed the direction of her friend's hand and read the sign. It was a coral reef that guests could scuba dive to observe the marine life.
"Let's go!" both girls squealed excitedly. Alya gave Nino a pleading look, and really he would never be able to deny his girlfriend anything when she gave him that face.
Felix stood up and Nino watched as Marinette blushed, watching the water slide down Felix's bare chest. He started nudging the floats toward the exit of the pool. Leaving Adrien behind for a moment as Felix continue to nudge Marinette away from him.
Nino made his way over to the exit first so that he could help to carry the towels before the girls got off the floats.
Adrien took the load from Marinette's lap and gave her a smile as he held out a hand to help her off the float. Nino saw Marinette's ears turn pink. Felix's eyebrows furrowed at his brother.
Nino helped Alya with her towels and watched as his girlfriend fell into the shallow water in her attempts to get off the float without help. Marinette laughed at her friend before taking her hand out of Adrien's to help her best friend up.
Felix subtly stepped in between Adrien and Marinette, carrying a float on each shoulder to deposit them at the designated drop off point. Adrien frowned at being cut off a perfectly good chance to look at Marinette's butt, by his brother.
By the time Adrien snapped his attention back to Marinette, Alya had already pulled Marinette away, Nino decided to follow the girls and leave the brothers to settle their little feud.
Adrien was his bro, but honestly, nobody kept Alya waiting. Especially if she wanted something. And right now she wanted to swim with fishes.
"Frère?" Adrien hesitantly started.
He and Marinette were just friends, right? There was nothing between his brother and one of his closest friends and confidant (well she was Chat Noir's confidant at least, not so much Adrien's) right?
"D-do you…" Adrien tried to look at anywhere but his brother. Shifting nervously in place unable to come up with the words he needed.
"What is it, Adrien?" Felix asked gently. Adrien could see the concern in his expression.
Suddenly Adrien felt like he was five years old and asking his brother why mère and père were arguing again.
Uncertain, heart thumping in his throat, nervous sweaty palms and not really sure whether or not he wanted to know the answer.
Felix had been there trying to block his younger brother from the sounds of their parents' bickering. Ushering the smaller boy back into their shared room, far away from their father's office.
Adrien mentally shook the thought away.
"Frère," He tried again, green eyes locking with his brother's. "Do you like Marinette?" Adrien watched as his brother looked taken aback and blinked blue-green eyes in surprise.
"I do. I love her." Felix replied without hesitation.
Adrien's jaw had dropped in shock. His brother had admitted it so easily. It wasn't something he had expected.
The Felix from a year ago would have never admitted such emotions so easily. Especially not in front of their father. Last year when Felix had sent him, and Father, off at the airport, Adrien had only received a handshake in goodbye. Father only received a nod.
"I… I see," Adrien tried to swallow past the lump in his throat but ended up choking instead.
Felix came up to him and rubbed soothing circles down his back while Adrien coughed and hacked unattractively. Inwardly, Felix sighed. Apparently, Adrien had realized his feelings for Marinette. Probably quite recently. He gave his brother a thorough once-over. Definitely during his time spent alone with Alya.
"Do you have a problem with it?" Felix asked, curious. Honestly, he needed to know if Adrien would be competition for Marinette's affection. Adrien stood ramrod straight at Felix's question.
"I-I... Honestly?" Adrien looked up at his brother with wide eyes. Felix gave a stiff nod. Adrien sighed and looked at his feet. "Honestly, I d-don't know." Adrien rubbed the back of his neck his cheeks turning pink. Felix gave a resigned sigh.
"Adrien, I-" Felix started, reaching a hand out to his brother.
"YOOHOO BOOOOOOYS" Alya called out from the direction of the coral reef tank. Both Agreste brothers turned at the loud call. They gave each other identical looks of amusement and made their way towards their red-headed friend.
The conversation wasn't over yet.
Alya was waiting for the two, directing them over to the showers where they could wash off the chlorine from the pools. A preventive measure to make sure the fish would stay in good health. "Where's Mari?" Felix asked, head swiveling to look for his dark-haired friend.
Alya pointed to the platform where Marinette and Nino were being instructed by the staff. "I let them go first, I even offered to look for the two of you." Alya shrugged.
Felix pulled his brother over to the line that had formed. Alya smirking behind them, giving the two sly looks. She crossed her arms across her chest as she caught Adrien's eye and raised an eyebrow. Adrien blushed to the tips of his ears.
It was all the confirmation that Alya needed.
The Agreste golden boy had a thing for her best friend.
The coral reef was a huge transparent circular tank that was half raised above the ground while the rest was below ground. That way you could see the guests of the waterpark slowly swim past in the tank as they admired the coral reef and its great diversity of multi-color residents.
Felix watched as Marinette swam towards them without realizing, admiring the beauty around her. Nino was nowhere to be seen, probably somewhere behind her. Marinette took to the water like a dolphin, pushing her way through almost effortlessly.
Tiny fish were swimming towards her, curious of the newest visitor in their home. She was mostly underwater, occasionally raising her head up to break the surface of the water to take a deep inhale before she ducked back in order to observe the beautiful marine life before her.
Watching Marinette suspended in a body of water, floating amongst beautiful tropical marine life and glowing under the bright summer sun, she seemed absolutely ethereal. Felix felt his breath get knocked out of his body when Marinette finally noticed him and gave him a small wave.
Her hair had mostly escaped its ties and floated around her head like a dark halo. He could see her smile in her eyes, despite being obstructed by the garish yellow snorkel. In the blue water, her pale skin glowed in stark contrast against her black suit. Felix took the moment and committed it to memory, wishing that it could have lasted forever.
Until Nino finally caught up to her and gestured her to move on, to see the rest of the tank. With one last wave, Marinette turned away from him (well Adrien and Alya as well but they weren't part of the moment he had shared with her) and with Nino in hand, she swam away to observe the rest of the tank.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Alya nudged both boys. They had both stood in awe when Marinette had swum towards them. She watched as Felix and Marinette had a moment while Adrien observed the two enviously.
It was as if, for that short five or so seconds, Marinette and Felix were the only two people in the world. Marinette felt like a deity from the heavens themselves, come to bless Felix with her presence.
Truly, Felix felt that that was exactly what had happened.
He thanked whoever he had been in his past life, that had amassed such good karma for him to meet the most amazing person in this world that was perfect for him. Certainly, Marinette was not without her flaws. He could count three of the top of his head, her chronic tardiness, her inability to stop worrying and overthinking, and her inability to wake up once she had fallen into deep sleep.
Yet she had a smile that could light up a room, a laugh that made you want to join her and a heart so large and full of love that she had accepted a lonely boy, studying all by himself in a foreign country, without any hesitation.
She had shown the boy what unconditional love was really like.
Felix really did love her.
Adrien could see it in the way Felix would watch her every move, making sure she had what she needed without her having to say a single word. He was devoted to her. He looked at her like she was the single most beautiful thing in the world.
When Marinette spoke, Felix would hang on to her every word. When she touched him, nobody how slightly, Felix would lean into her touch, as if seeking for more. As if he was a winter's frost while she a summer breeze.
How could he possibly compete with that?
Adrien felt like such a fool. Marinette had always been there, right there next to him. He had never realized how amazing she was. It was like he was unworthy to even show her his affections.
Not that he was sure affection was what he really felt towards her. The feelings plaguing his heart made him uncertain and confused.
He had loved Ladybug for so long, he had sworn to love whoever his Lady would be under her mask. "Find me, chaton." Those words haunted his dreams and crept into his waking thoughts like a drug induced haze.
Was it possible that Marinette and his Lady were the same people?
The very thought made his heart race and his cheeks flush. He didn't understand why but it felt so right. Marinette and Ladybug had the same dark hair that shone blue under the correct light. The same bluebell eyes and soft pink lips. He had spent two years in both wonderful ladies' company.
How lucky would he be if his Lady and his Princess were the same people?
The trio was almost at the front of the queue for the ride when Marinette emerged with a bright-eyed Nino in tow. Alya waved them over, passing them the towels she had been taking care of so that the two childhood friends could dry off.
Marinette had grinned and gushed about a tiny clownfish that had kissed her nose when she swam too close to his anemone home. Nino had given Alya a sappy smile, saying that he had seen her through the glass and it looked like the outside world was a blur and only Alya had been in focus.
Marinette had cooed at Alya's blush and pushed Nino away to some nearby shelter to wait for their friends. Waving them away when it was finally their turn to grab their snorkels. Watching the three of them enter the water, Marinette continued to observe the tiny fish that had made their way to the tank.
"What do you think?" Nino questioned, joining her to observe the fish from the other side of the tank.
"Of?" Marinette locked eyes with Nino through his reflection in the glass.
"Of Adrien." Nino almost whispered the name. Marinette allowed a smile to grace her lips. Her eyes softened as she spotted a familiar mop of blond hair enter the water.
"You know, I've been so in love with him for so long, I realized I didn't love him." Marinette placed a hand on the cool glass. Nino raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I know that boy schedule's by heart, I could recite his phone number in my sleep. I know what he likes to eat and doesn't. I know he hates the taste of camembert yet he always smells of it." Marinette allowed the smile to fall.
"I know all of these seemingly important facts about him, but I don't really know who he is." Marinette continued to observe Adrien as he slowly made his way through the tank. Taking his time to admire the view. The fish didn't seem to like him and the swam away from the blond the moment he got too close.
"I don't know why he always smells of camembert even though he tries really hard to hide it. I don't know what makes him tick. I don't really know anything about him, I don't know his hopes and dreams. I couldn't even tell you what he wants to be when he grows up." Marinette sighed.
"But I could do that for Felix no problem." Marinette whispered, almost as if she was afraid to say it out loud.
Nino observed how Marinette's smile had returned the moment when Felix entered the water, the older boy floundering slightly at the start before getting a hang of it. Soon enough the older blond was swimming through the water with practiced ease.
"Felix is so smart, he could probably enter any university he wants on a full scholarship. But that's not what he wants," Bright blue eyes looked proudly towards Felix, "He's been studying so hard for so long, he just wants to take a break. He wants a job where he'll be surrounded by interesting numbers."
"The one thing he wants the most in the world... Is the chance to say goodbye to his mother." Marinette's fond smile fell. Nino placed a hand on Marinette's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"I was so busy trying to get Adrien to like me. That I never really got to know the real him. The real Adrien who we don't get to see beyond his perfect model mask." Marinette broke eye contact with the tank and stared at Nino. "I've been so selfish, Adrien doesn't need romance or a girlfriend. He just needs a friend." Nino smiled down at Marinette.
Really, this girl was too good to be true.
"Hey, I'll tell you right now that he doesn't put on his mask when he's with just the four of us." Nino smiled at Marinette, turning to look as his best friend swam closer and closer towards them. Marinette leaned into Nino's touch.
"I'll start being a better friend to him. If Adrien falls for me, it'll just be a bonus. But I want him to know that I'm here for him no matter what." Marinette said resolutely, eyes turning back to the tank to search for Adrien's distinct mop of hair only to take a startled step back.
The hauntingly familiar eyes of Chat Noir stared at her from the other side of the glass.
Marinette blinked and the image of Chat Noir was replaced by Adrien's waving. Marinette waved back, giving him a shaky smile. Marinette tried her best to keep her eyes locked on to green ones. Refusing to admire Adrien's perfectly beautiful and sculpted body that was suspended in a body of water.
Honestly, Adrien should have covered up if he didn't want Marinette to ogle at his perfect body! Bad Marinette! Didn't you just decide that you were going to be friends with Adrien? Friends don't ogle at other friend's delicious looking rock solid abs.
Marinette was horribly distracted with her inner turmoil.
Until Felix swam up, forcing his brother to move out of the way to make room for the taller boy. Marinette stood transfixed, staring into blue-grey eyes framed by the garish yellow snorkels and pale blond hair.
Felix looked like an angel. His blond hair framed his hair like a golden crown. He looked like he had just stepped out of an old renaissance painting. A vision from Greek mythology. Really, Marinette could spend all day describing how beautiful She admired his physique, not muscular like Adrien or Chat Noir, and didn't that set a nagging feeling deep in her head.
The two were so eerily familiar, it felt like she was missing something and it was staring at her right in front of her face. She just couldn't put her finger on it. There was just something about Adrien and Chat Noir that was so familiar.
Marinette felt like she was drowning as she continued to lock eyes with Felix. That didn't make sense when she was the one who was on dry land. Yet she couldn't breathe as Felix took her breath away. Her face blushing as the thoughts ran rampant through her head.
Marinette heard Nino suck in a deep breath and her concentration was broken, watching instead Alya playing with a butterfly fish who was swimming around her in circles. By the time she turned her head back, Felix had already moved on, giving Marinette a small wave. Marinette could only wave to his retreating back.
An hour later, Marinette and Alya were in the bathrooms, getting ready to leave. Taking a long shower, the two girls sang to the music that the bathroom speakers were playing. Laughing and giggling when either of them forgot the words. The day had been long, fun and filled with heart-racing moments not necessarily from the adrenaline-inducing rides.
Soon enough they met with the boys at the entrance to the locker rooms, finally collecting their bags. Tikki resting comfortably in Marinette's oversized tote-bag. Marinette could feel her stomach growling and cajoled Alya to join her for dinner, inviting Nino and Adrien along as well. Felix knew that he had an open invitation to join the Dupain-Cheng family for dinner.
While Marinette was on the phone telling her parents about the additional places at their table. Adrien had given her a sad look, and she realized that he would not be able to come along. She tried her best to ignore the heavy feeling in her stomach. They had already spent the entire day together, it would have been selfish to keep him longer than he was allowed. She had given him an understanding smile and a pat on the shoulder.
Really he wanted nothing more than to join his friends at dinner. The idea of not spending another meal alone in an overly large dining room was pulling painfully at his heart. It was moments of longing like these that made him wish that he could live his life as Chat Noir. And never return to being boring Adrien Agreste who had his entire life planned out for him.
But Adrien had to leave, lest he pushes too many of his father's buttons should he break curfew. (Again)
The car was already waiting for him on the sidewalk. The Gorilla was sitting impatiently ever-present frown on his face. Adrien quickly waved his goodbyes to Alya. Exchanged their friendship fist bump with Nino, Gave his brother a one-armed hug where his brother ruffled his hair affectionately. When he finally got to Marinette, he gave her a peck on her oh so very soft cheek. Lips tingling, he slid into the car and shut the door with a slam. Waving sadly, Marinette followed him with her eyes as the car sped off into the distance.
The group of four made their way to the Metro, ready for the journey back to Marinette's home. The promises of warm food gave them the energy to make the thirty-minute commute back to the bakery. Felix wrapped an arm around Marinette's bare arm, pulling her towards him to share his warmth. The evening was quickly approaching and the warm sun was making way for the cool evening breeze.
Marinette looked up to him through her lashes and gave him an appreciative smile, snuggling into his warmth. If Felix's ears were pink she chose not to mention it. Alya and Nino were walking ahead, bickering over something or other. If Alya noticed the two of them wrapped up in each other, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself.
Hope you've enjoyed the story so far! Leave a review and puns if you've like the story!