day 6: "baking gone wrong"

"MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm," Adrien moaned, half of the macaroon hanging out of his mouth. "My Lady, this is definitely the most amazing thing I have ever eaten in my life."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Come on Chat," she teased. "My macaroons are okay, but my dad's are the best in all of Paris!"

He blinked. "So you're telling me, that an item that tastes even better than this is out there?" He shook his head. "Nope. False. Untrue. I don't believe it." Ladybug laughed, and the sound was music to Adrien's ears. He smiled widely. "But if there was, my Lady, where would I go to find it?"

She reached over to smack him lightly on the head. Their feet dangled over the side of the building, over looking the rest of Paris. They both had places to be soon so the pair had elected to stay away from the Eiffel Tower.

Adrien ducked and flashed her a smile. "If someone has managed to make a better macaroon than you, I need to try it."

"Nice try, Kitty."

He shrugged, leaning back on his hands. "It was worth a shot."

Ladybug sighed, looking over at her partner. "How about this, I'll write down my recipe and give it to you so you can make it at home."

Chat's eyes lit up. He gave her a big bear hug. "LB that would be the best present ever!"

She laughed, pushing him off her slightly. She scribbled the recipe down on a napkin she brought with her and handed it to the greedy cat.

Adrien held it in his hands like it was the most precious thing in the world. So much was happening all at once. He was finally getting to see Ladybug's handwriting, but it was oddly familiar. He would also get to make the macaroons whenever he wanted, which was awesome. He'd have to get his chef to help him.

The wheels in Adrien's brain started spinning rapidly. He had some free time tomorrow where he could stop by the kitchen and ask his personal chef to whip some macaroons up, and maybe take the time to teach him so he could do it himself. If the week went well, it was gonna be the best one he had in a while.

Later in the week, Adrien made a trek down to his kitchen. His chef, Pierre, was present and preparing lunch.

"Hey Pierre!"

"Monsieur Adrien, what can I do for you today?"

"Pierre I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me how to make macaroons."

"Monsieur Adrien, I am not allowed to make sweets. You know what Monsieur Agreste thinks of them."

Adrien's mood dropped. "You're right," he said sullenly. He blinked, an idea hitting him. "Chef, what if I had some friends over and we were allowed to use your kitchen?"

Chef Pierre winked back at Adrien. "I don't care what happens here after hours, as long as you keep my kitchen clean."

Adrien gave the cook a hug. "Thank you so much Pierre!"

He left the kitchen and returned to his room. He texted the only friend he had that knew how to cook: Marinette.

hey mari! a friend gave me a really good macaroon recipe and I need help making it. wanna come over and test it out?

Mari nearly fell off of her bed, and agreed to come over later that night after dinner to get started.

The doorbell rang and Adrien rushed to answer it. He ripped it open. "Marinette!"

"Hi Adrien!" She waved shyly and he pulled her inside.

"Quickly," he told her. "My dad doesn't know this is happening so we have to keep it on the down low."

Mari nodded. She knew his father could be overprotective and overbearing, so the least she could do was help prevent Adrien from being caught.

"This is the kitchen," Adrien led Mari inside. She was taken aback by how large it was.

"So let's see this recipe," she began.

Adrien pulled out the napkin from his back pocket and placed it on the countertop in front of them. Mari sucked in a breath and held it, her face turning ghostly white. It was the same note she had given Chat Noir last patrol.

She pushed the air in her lungs out, suddenly very nervous. If Adrien had gotten a hold of the recipe copy she had given Chat, it could only mean that either Adrien was good friends with her obnoxious kitty, or he was her obnoxious kitty.

"Um…Adrien," she began. He looked at her and nodded to continue. "Where did you get this recipe?"

"I got it from the love of my life," he sighed, thinking about Ladybug.

Mari frowned. Was Adrien gay? And dating Chat Noir? She'd support him either way, but a small part of her didn't want to believe it.

"Adrien," she began, "Are you in love with Chat Noir?"

He barely held in a laugh. "Hardly. I'm in love with Ladybug."

Mari slowly put the pieces together. If Ladybug gave him the recipe, then he was Chat Noir.

She felt sick. The guy she had been rejecting had actually been the guy she was in love with all along. Fuck.

"Adrien, I think we need to talk."

He had been rummaging through the kitchen trying to find all of the supplies they would need for the recipe. He stopped and joined her back at the counter, a couple pots and pans smashing in the background.

"You got this recipe from Ladybug?" she asked.

He smiled. "I don't kiss and tell, Mari."

She rolled her eyes. "That's not what I'm saying. I'm just wondering, are you Chat Noir?"

Marinette didn't mean to be so direct, but the question kind of spilled out. Adrien nearly slipped off the counter, face bright red. "No absolutely not why would you think such a thing."

She looked at him and smiled. "Because I gave this recipe to Chat Noir last night."

He blinked three times, piecing the picture together. "Holy shit. My Lady?"

It was her turn to wink at him. "In the flesh, mon Chaton."