Adrien had been stood at the bar with Nino for 10 minutes before being served. Both boys carried two round trays containing a dozen vodka mix filled glasses on each. They slowly walked over to the table avoiding the elbows of dancers as they went. Adrien had been concentrating so hard on following Nino and not spilling any glasses, that when they reached the table he almost dropped the tray at the sight in front of him. Marinette sat with Alya, the pair doubling over with laughter. Marinette looked so different to the last time he had seen her, she wore her usual bangs but with long curls cascading down her bare back. Her bluebell eyes enhanced by a smokey-eyed shadow, her perfect lips painted red. The biggest shock came from her dress; blue satin hugged her dainty but curvy toned body, relieving more of Marinette's body than he had ever seen. He had always seen Marinette as attractive, but now he realised just how stunning she actually is. A fluttery feeling he only ever got from a certain ladybug danced around his stomach.
"Dude you alright?" Nino asked smothering a laugh and elbowing his friend out of his trance.
"Huh uh yeah I'm good man." Adrien felt the heat flare onto his cheeks, At least it was only Nino who caught him staring, not that Nino would let that slip.
"See something you like man." Nino asked smugly, close to his ear so nobody else heard.
Luckily for Adrien he didn't have to answer his best friends mocking as the girls had noticed their arrival, greeting him with smiles while they both fanned their faces from laughing so much.
"How're you Adrien I haven't seen you in so long." Marinette asked without a hint of shyness for once, a sweet smile lighting up her face, multiplying the butterflies in his stomach. Marinette had long grew out of her stuttering around Adrien but she had still remained somewhat reserved till now.
Adrien's shock at her change of personality around him didn't linger on his face long, he returned her smile. "I'm good thank you, how about you Marinette?" He grabbed a drink needing to pull his eyes away from her enchanting face.
"I'm glad to hear, me too." she grinned "Oh do you guys want to play Alya's drinking game." She winked at him.
Who was this girl and what had she done with Marinette?! The same girl who could hardly get a sentence out to him, was now winking at him without a tint of pink on her cheeks. He was glad she's become more confident he could never understand why someone so amazing could lack confidence.
"Sure."The boys replied in unison, Nino taking a glass asked "who starting?"
"Me." Alya grinned "Uhhh" While she pondered what to say, Nino gave Adrien a brief explanation of how the game worked. "Oh I know. Never have I ever ran out of my house, in broad daylight in my underwear!" Alya snickered watching as Marinette rolled her eyes, drinking the last of her glass and reaching for another noticing Nino had drank too.
"Wait babe, when did you do that?!" Alya asked him shocked.
"There was a a shit load of wasps in my house they chased me out, only one neighbour saw though." He defended while the three laughed at him. "Pftt it's not that funny, what about you Marinette how did you manage it?"
"I woke up late for class, panicked and just ran out." She waved her hand in front of her dismissing the matter between giggles.
Adrien had to fight the image of a sleepy Marinette rushing out the bakery in her underwear, he shifted in his seat pulling his jeans down slightly, to accommodate the bulge growing in his pants. Nino glared at Alya who was still teasing him for the wasps "Right" He declared "Never have I ever rushed out to film ladybug with my knickers tucked in my skirt." He expected Ayla to be embarrassed but all she laughed harder.
"Just when exactly do you wear knickers and skirts babe." Ayla had gone red in the face with laughter she tried to drink in vain, snorting as she brought the glass to her lips, a giggling Marinette leaning on her shoulder for support.
More teasing at Nino's expense went on as the game continued, Marinette and Alya being the main target. The girls eventually wobbled over the ladies room holding on to each other for balance. Adrien watched the disco lights bounce of the bluenette's shiny locks.
"So you seem to be paying Marinette a lot of attention tonight, huh?" Nino asked a sly smile pulling on his face.
Adrien faltered for words, not too sure of the answer either. His partner in spots played through his mind, guilt wrenched at his stomach, the idea of liking two women at once made him feel awful. Sure he had slept with his fair share of women but Marinette deserved someone to love her wholeheartedly. Once again he was saved from answering his best friend by an interruption, Nathaniel had made his way over to the table, two glasses in hand. "Have either of you seen Marinette? She promised me a Dance." He inquired to the pair.
Nino raised his eyebrow to the red head "she's gone to the restroom with Alya" He replied rather bluntly.
Adrien watched the exchange with confusion and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on, ignoring the option of jealousy.
"Okay ill just sit with you two till she's back then." Nathaniel slid onto Alyas unoccupied seat and started on one of the glasses he'd brought over. The silence was somewhat awkward. Nino kept shooting daggers to an oblivious Nathaniel, who ignored them both and watched over the sea of dancers, impatience painted on his face. The girl had returned from the bathroom to the dance floor, the pair swaying their bodies hand in hand to the upbeat music pounding through the speakers. Adrien did his best not to watch the way Marinette's hips moved to the music, more guilt and fluttering battling in his abdomen, he needed to clear his head.
Nathaniel noticing Marinette dancing let out a low whistle of approve bouncing up and strutting over to join her, Adrien watched him go with an irritated glare. "I'm gonna get going man, I'll text you later, tell the girls I said bye." Adrien jumped up patting his best friend shoulder. He rushed for the exit before Nino could protest. Not allowing his eyes to roam over to the dancing girl, he made it outside and began his long walk home to his apartment. Images of Marinette flashed through his mind, joined by ladybug almost comparing the two, he let out an annoyed huff and shook his head. Ladybug had always brushed off his flirtation and never returned his feelings, but that didn't change the way he felt for her. Confused and tipsy he took deep breaths ignoring the buzzes of his phone, probably Nino questioning what his quick leave was all about. The streets were bare as the night was late, and he thanked his normally bad luck for the peaceful walk. He was also glade for his unusually free schedule the next few weeks.
"What's wrong lover boy" Plagg snickered from his hiding place, his black kitty ears appearing from the inside pocket of Adrien's leather jacket.
"Nothing Plagg." He tried to sound convincing hoping Plagg would leave it there, of course he knew that wouldn't be the case.
"Why did you run away from you little 'friend' then." He asked sweetly, a smug grin on his tiny face.
To avoid answering he turned into a 24 hour convenience store. Inside he grabbed the smelliest cheese they stocked from the fridge for Plagg and an energy drink for himself. He paid for his items and left the store, practically shoving the cheese in his kwami's mouth before he could start probing for answers again. Marinette's warm smile and bright blue eyes refused to leave his mind, her perfect curves, her ivory skin that begged for hid touch- stop it Agrest he chided his inner monologue.
He finally reached his apartment building rummaging in his pocket for his keys when he heard disturbance on the roof.
"Damn it, stupid yo-yo, come on." An irritated murmur came from above.
Hearing the oh-so familiar voice he stepped back from the door till he could see her figure on the roof. He hurried down the side of the building checking no one could see him.
"Plagg Claws out." Adrien whispered, muffled protests where quickly silenced as Chat Noir stood where Adrien had been. He climbed his way onto the roof, quietly he crept towards the amusing scene before him. A clearly intoxicated ladybug was sat down tugging the string on her yo-yo, which seemed to be wound onto an antenna. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips. ladybug squealed swinging her body round to see him doubling over, laughing at her.
"Oh hey kitty-cat you scared me." She smiled brightly still struggling with the string on her yo-yo.
"Looks like you need some help my lady." Chair Noir smirked as she tried to stand upright, wobbling with a big smile still plastered on her face. He noticed her lips were painted red. Her hair free from the usual pony tail she had adopted two years ago, curls hugged her shoulders, his stomach flipped at the familiarity. He shook his head and walked further onto the roof to free her yo-yo from the antenna.
"Phew, thank you kitten." She pranced over to plant a kiss on his cheek and flicked the bell at his neck a playful smirk on her lips.
"Okay bugaboo just how much have you drank tonight." He laughed nervously, his heart pounding at her close proximity, his cheek burned where her kiss landed.
"A purr-fect amount." She giggled followed by a hiccup.
"Okay your wasted, flirting and puns?" He raised his eyebrow and steadied her with an arm at her waist, which for once she didn't protest to.
She rolled her eyes at him "well pretty kitty I'm off. Bug out." She attempted to throw her yo-yo at the next building. She threw her arm back and swung the yo-yo forward releasing it too late, it missed the building and hit the bonnet on a park car, setting off its alarm. She burst out laughing falling to her backside holding her sides. "Oops, I'm gonna just walk home." She wiped a tear from her eye and hopped down the side of the building and released her transformation. A blinding flash of pink surround the dark street, Chat Noir followed her in shock. Ladybug had refused for the last five year for them to know each others identities, yet here she was revealing her civilian self without warning or care. He jumped off the building beside her eyes tightly shut "Ladybug what are you doing, someone could of seen you transform, I nearly saw!" He whisper shouted in panic. He heard the sound of heels clicking over to him, a small warm hand stroked his cheek.
"You can open your eyes kitten." She said softly.
He hesitated wondering whether she would be mad at him knowing who she was later when she was no longer drunk. But he didn't want her to walk home alone in this state. He hesitantly opened his eyes to reveal at smiling Marinette stood in front of him, her hand still placed sweetly on his cheek. His heart quickened, lost for words his mind went blank just staring at his princess, his lady.
"What's wrong chat?" She asked staring into his face her eyebrows furrowed slightly, her bottom lip pouted out adorably.
"N-nothing I'm good, let's get you home." He scooped her up bridal style with a yelp and giggle from Marinette; he used his free hand to reach behind his back for his baton.
"Why thank you good sir" She wound one arm around his neck the other hand playful stroked one of his cat ears. He said nothing avoiding her gaze, heart pounding, as he extended his baton and flew back up to the rooftops. Heading towards the Dupain-Cheng bakery, he felt Marinette watching his face but still didn't meet her eyes. He landed onto her balcony and helped her stand up straight. Still avoiding looking directly at her, she huffed at his strange mood kicked off her heels, walking over to her trapdoor in silence. Chat watched her retreat with a pained look on his face, he was about to leave when he noticed blood trailing down the back of her thigh snapping him out of his deep thoughts.
"Marinette what the hell happened to your leg." He rushed over to her.
She paused biting her lip. "Oh it's nothing chat, thanks for the ride." She brushed off his concern and climbed into the trap door landing clumsily onto her bed, placing her bag onto her bedside table. She didn't hear Chat follow but he stood beside the head of her bed arms crossed over his broad chest looking at her with suspicion.
"Let yourself in its fine." She quipped sarcastically.
"What happened to your leg Marinette." He repeated slowly.
"I told you it's nothing." She said straight faced with a huff, feeling insecure at his lack of response to her identity, was he really that disappointed?
With an exasperated sigh he rolled her over onto her front and ignored her protest, he examined her thigh to see a long slice.
"Chat what are doing." She shouted.
"This needs cleaning and you are going to tell me what happened, where do you keep bandages?" He asked sternly. She ignored his question pouting at him. "Fine ill find them myself." He jumped down from her bed and searched through her bathroom, seeing nothing of use, he tried the kitchen and found a first aid kit in a high cabinet.
He made his way back to Marinette's room to find her stood in the middle of her room pulling pyjama shorts over her half naked body, he coughed to let her know he was back trying to look anywhere but at her. She payed him no attention, as she pull a tank top over her lacy black bra. He waited for her to climb back to bed; his face flushed trying to concentrate on selecting the right sized bandage. He didn't know how to feel about Marinette being ladybug, relief that his two favourite girls were the same girl, annoyed at certain redhead who she'd promised a dance with. He watched Marinette reach into her handbag and cradle a red sleeping kwami in her hands. Once she had placed the little god gently onto a pillow she turned to a flustered Chat with an unreadable look on her face. He patted the bed to signal her to lie close to him. She sighed in defeat and slumped onto stomach, her arse and thighs inches from Chats face. She watched him clean the cut with concern.
"What happened?." He asked her again in a quieter voice
"I had a fight." She shrugged
"What? a knife fight?" He questioned eyebrows raised searching her face.
"No obviously not, he just happened to have a knife, he was following me I kicked his sorry arse and he got me from behind." She let out a sigh
"What?! Who Marinette?" Chat raged angrily standing to his feet, fists clenched, a menacing look in his eyes.
"I don't know him, he just tried to follow me before I met up with some friends, hes probably still unconscious where I left him." She laughed smugly. She watched his eyes slant darkly, jaw clenched and the protective stance of her partner sent a pleasant shiver through her body. The atmosphere screamed danger and she found it alluring, she bit her bottom lip as his eyes roamed from her face down her body to the cut he had bandaged, the action screamed territorial but then why did he seem so disappointed when she saw behind the mask?
"Where Marinette?" He demanded through gritted teeth.
"An alleyway between the pub and that new club that opening a few mon-" She barely explained before a furious Chat Noir had leapt out of her trapdoor back into the night.
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, excitement and fear battled for domination within her. She tried to ignore the ache between her thighs, she huffed pulling her covers over her. Sleep took her over within seconds.