"Okay guys, new rule!" Marinette opened the Secret Santa Emergency Meeting at lunch with a determined smack on the table. Shocked Adrien stared up at her while Nino next to him squealed in absolute horror.
"Even more rules?"
Laughing Marinette quickly calmed them down. "Don't worry, it actually makes the whole thing kind of easier: Everyone gets a joker! That means I allow you to buy one, but really only one, of the presents instead of crafting it." She cheerfully winked at Adrien who thankfully smiled at her. "Obviously I'm not going to make use of said rule myself" she continued and playfully threw her hair over her shoulder. "That's a point of honor."
"Guess I'm not as honorable as you are. I'll definitely buy something! Thanks girl, that makes it even easier for me to deliver the best presents out of this group." Confident as always Alya put an arm around Marinette's shoulders and looked at the boys with a challenging smirk on her lips. "What about you guys? What do your egos say?"
A resolute expression appeared on Nino's face as he answered completely serious: "I will do this on my own. I will accept the challenge of creating four... somethings with my own hands and I will conquer it, I know I can do it!" He ended in an epic pose with a clenched fist raised towards the sky. Impressed Adrien clapped him on the back while the girls suppressed their giggles.
With a resigned smile Adrien looked at Marinette. "I'll desperately need that joker. Thanks for changing the rules for us, I know how much you liked your original idea."
As always when Adrien directly addressed her Marinette flushed and started to stutter a little. "Oh, uhm… no worries! It will be fun. I-I mean, it will be a lot of fun anyways!"
Gladly Adrien smiled at her and her knees weakened. "I'm happy to hear that. I'll do my very best for you guys."
Before Marinette could respond something to that cute statement Alya cut in. "Hate to interrupt but I have to go. And I'll take Nino with me, just because I can." Surprised by the unexpected grip around his arm and the enormous force behind it Nino defenselessly followed Alya out of the room.
Sheepishly Adrien smiled at Marinette and scratched the back of his head. "So… do you still agree with helping me out? Otherwise I'd have to pay you to grant me three more jokers." He laughed nervously, only partly meaning it as a joke. But Marinette's genuine smile calmed him down immediately.
"Sure I will, I always keep my word" she responded kindly and gained an even softer smile from her counterpart. "Besides," she nudged his shoulder with her own, "I can't allow you to mistreat Secret Santa Marinette Style™ like that and corrupt me." His genuine laugh warmed her whole body, giving her the confirmation that it was worth the effort to act like a sane person around him.
"With that being settled, would you meet up with me tomorrow to brainstorm a little? I really don't want to screw this up so… I think it would be best to get down to it as soon as possible" Adrien suggested still a little insecure and Marinette could only smile entranced by how sweet he was.
"Sure! I'll think about something easy to show you."
As a reward she gained another happy smile. "Thank you so much, Marinette! I have to go get my books before class starts now but we'll see each other later, right? Or tomorrow at my place at the latest!" Not even waiting for her response he waved at her as he walked out of the room, leaving behind a startled Marinette.
She would visit Adrien's house. The house that also happened to be the home of Gabriel Agreste, the most talented and popular designer in all of Paris, if not entire France. She would set foot into her biggest idol's house!
If it wouldn't have been for Max who asked her why she was just standing in the middle of the room staring at the door she would have been late for class once again.
After school Marinette headed to her favorite art supply store to get some materials she needed for the presents she'd come up with and to get something for Adrien to practice with. It was a beautiful, clear autumn day and on her way there she enjoyed the colorful trees surrounding her and the light breezes playing with her hair. Just as she was about to reach the store's entrance she closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the fresh air and immediately bumped into someone.
"Oh my god, excuse me, I wasn't…" The words died on her lips as she looked into a pair of amused, green eyes.
"Princesses don't need to apologize" Chat Noir said before placing a kiss on her hand he was suddenly holding. "Not even if they're clumsy."
Perplexed by the unexpected encounter with her partner Marinette looked up at him in silence for a few seconds before she finally managed to say something. "Chat Noir? What are you doing here? Is there a needle-swinging akuma around or anything?" she jested, too surprised to realize that Chat began to fidget nervously.
"Uhm, a friend of mine recommended the shop to me since I needed something to… do… uh… certain heroic things with, yes. But what are you doing here? I thought princesses have servants to handle those things for them. Don't tell me…" he gasped. "You're not a real princess?!"
Marinette rolled her eyes but giggled. Maybe she would have been suspicious of his behavior if she wouldn't have been that confused herself, so she only ascribed it to his usual quirkiness and grinned at him. "I'm fine on my own, thank you. Also, if your friend recommended this shop to you, they must have a pretty good taste! I like that one very much too."
"I'm sure the sense of beauty of such a charming princess is the furry best." He winked.
"I would love to keep letting you tell me how great I am while ignoring your horrible puns but I actually have to hurry, my parents are waiting for me to help them in the bakery. Good luck with those mysterious heroic things you have to do!" Marinette excused herself with a playful smile.
"I will definitely overcat every difficulty to secure the safety of your kingdom!" Chat assured her with a flirtatious grin playing around his lips.
"Told you your puns are horrible" she countered smugly and poked the tip of his nose, something she did all the time as Ladybug. Laughing she walked past him into the store, sending him a last wave of goodbye.
When she was gone Chat Noir sighed loudly and leaned against a lantern next to him.
Why didn't he think of the possibility that he could encounter Marinette when he decided to go to the store she had mentioned to him earlier? Maybe he was overreacting but it could have been a hint about his true identity when she saw him there as Chat Noir at the same day.
Not that he had much of a choice. He knew very well that his father would not let him go to buy fabrics, of all things. He would tell him that he could get him anything, only the best of the best of course. And also he would hire someone to create the gifts for him so Adrien wouldn't have to do it himself.
Since there was nothing he could do about it he hoped Marinette wouldn't think about the reason why he was there too much and headed home.
This evening Marinette heard a muffled sound from above, like footsteps, and tried to fight down the fear rising inside of her. Why and how could anybody be up on her roof right now? Quietly she exchanged a look with Tikki who was resting on her pillow beside her, both ready to transform any moment if needed. Carefully Marinette got up from her lying position and opened her window, slowly peering out on her balcony. But what she found in front of her soothed her instantly.
"Chat Noir! What are you doing here?" she asked dumbfounded, just like she had done in front of the store just a few hours earlier. For a moment she was afraid that he had somehow figured her out but inspecting the nervous, guilty looking boy in front of her she knew he had to be there for a different reason.
"I came to apologize" he answered hesitantly, not meeting her eyes. "I was quite a flirt today and I wanted to make it up to you. You deserve a proper conversation at least." Shyly he looked down at her, scratching the back of his head.
A soft smile appeared on Marinette's lips as he held his hand out to her so he could help her climb out of her room. She'd always known that he was a gentleman underneath all his flirting and bad jokes but she hadn't expected something like that from him. After all Marinette wasn't more to him than some random citizen he had to protect just like anybody else.
"But you don't even know me. How do you know that I deserve your effort?" She straightened up next to him with a curious expression.
"Let's say I'm pretty good with assessing someone's character" he answered smiling and his tensed body began to relax as he leaned against the balustrade beside her. "So, what brought you to the store?" he asked casually as if he didn't know too well. But her shining eyes and the devotion in her voice was totally worth hearing the whole explanation of Secret Santa Marinette Style™ again while hardly getting a chance to speak on his side.
"…and that's how it works! I am so excited, I can barely wait for December to begin!"
Chat couldn't help but chuckle affectionately. Of course he'd known how passionate she was about her project already but he once again had witnessed her unfettered, cute excitement and once again it had completely enchanted him. "You really are the incarnated Christmas spirit, aren't you? Your enthusiasm is truly infectious and I would love to stay longer to hear more but unfortunately I have to leave. Besides, I wouldn't want to cause Paris' princess to miss any of her well-earned sleep."
Slightly he bowed and giggling Marinette followed suit. "It was very nice having you here, minou."
Surprised by the warm feeling Marinette's words caused inside of him he jumped over the balustrade. "The pleasure was all mine. See you soon, Marinette. Stay the way you are."
While she watched him leave over the nearby rooftops Marinette realized something. Usually, as Ladybug, she didn't get that emotional and passionate around Chat Noir. But today, as Marinette, all of her thoughts had bubbled out of her without any interruption or restraint. And it had felt right, felt save with him.
No matter what happened, no matter how bad things could possibly get, she could always count on her partner, her friend. And that meant the world to her.
With a knowing smile Tikki watched the two of them saying goodbye.