Like a Big Pizza Pie~


Nino was starting to wonder what was taking Marinette so long. She normally took about 10 minutes to bring the coffee, make small talk, and trade food. This exchange had passed 15 minutes, and he was starting to become concerned.

After all, what would he do without food?

He sighed, drawing a smiley face in the condensation hanging off his frappe. A buzz sounded, and he dug around in his pocket, fishing out his phone.

Congratulations, DJ Bubbler! Your album has sold 25,000 copies!

Another sigh. His phone was shoved back into his pocket. He knew people loved his music, and he was happiest when making it. He just hated the publicity it brought. He grew up watching Adrien's face fall every time someone recognized him. Every time his father scheduled another photo shoot. Every time Chloe mentioned something about him being famous. His face would fall. And so would his heart.

Nino hated that. Sure, he didn't mind that people enjoyed his music. He loved that his creation could be enjoyed by the world. He just hated the fame.

His phone buzzed again. He pulled it out, hoping to see Marinette's name with an "I'm coming back now, sorry I'm late, I was just making out with your best friend" message attached. But it was from Alya.

Did you buy DJ Bubbler's album yet?

His face softened. She was one person he didn't mind the attention from.

u know I dont listen to his music

You should, Nino! It's the best ever! I know you'd love it, I've heard the music you listen to!

meh

Baby. Are you free friday?

i think so

What do you say to dinner?

sounds good to me

should we bring mari

To our date?

double date

With who?

im assuming you know adrien agreste

Nino didn't hear from her for a couple minutes. He was about to go on break when she replied.

Will you marry me because I think we need to get married.

soon. any idea where Mari is she's been gone for a while.

Have you messaged her?

three times. think you can try?

Sure.


Message from: Alya

Marinette?

Please answer your phone we're worried.

"We're" is me and Nino, he needs you back at work.

Helloooo?

But Marinette wouldn't see those messages for a while. She was too busy meeting every employee that worked at Slice Guy's Pizzeria.

"This is Ivan," Adrien called over the boisterous laughter a small pink hair girl was emitting. She didn't think someone that little could make such a big sound.

"Nice to meet the girl who's been keeping us awake for our way-too-long shifts," Ivan said quietly as Marinette shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet the people who have kept me alive by feeding me," Marinette said. Ivan cracked a grin.

"I can't believe it!" The pink haired girl yelled over the sounds of the fiery oven. "Adrien finally is letting his girlfriend meet the family!"

Adrien rolled his eyes.

"This is Sabrina. You probably know her already. That is, if you know Chloe Bourgeois, you should know Sabrina." Sabrina smiled as Marinette nodded in understanding. Chloe was famous for picking people, calling them friends and making them personal servants. Sabrina lasted the longest, but ditched Chloe out of nowhere.

"I'm impressed you managed to stay sane with Chloe around. Pretty sure if she didn't like the coffee I made she would spill it on me every time she saw me." Marinette commented. Adrien snorted and Sabrina smiled sadly.

"She has her issues, and needs to sort them out. You make great coffee, by the way," Sabrina's high voice told her. Marinette grinned.

"I'm gonna come here more often, you guys keep boosting my ego!"

Adrien laughed, pulling her toward two other workers.

"This is Kim, and that's Rose."

Marinette narrowed her eyes. Something about Rose seemed strikingly familiar.

Rose turned and gasped, wide blue eyes gleaming in the light. "You're Marinette! One of my mom's tenants!"

Marinette let out a quiet, "ohhh…" Rose Lavillant looked just like her mother, with shorter hair and a smaller build.

"It's so nice to meet you! You gave my mother those flowers and candy, and she still won't stop talking about how great you are!"

"That's so nice to hear. You look just like your mother, Rose."

"Ha! I look better than both my parents!" Kim yelled out, flexing dramatically. Adrien coughed.

"That's how genetics works, Kim. You're not special."

"He's special education, if anything," The pink girl commented, finally using her inside voice. "I'm Alix. Nice to meet Adrien's girlfriend, finally. Let's just keep it PG while were here, okay? We have a lot of customers eating their food, we don't wanna make them sick."

"Not my girlfriend," Adrien called from the back. Marinette hadn't realized he left her side.

"Uh, nice to meet you too Alix. I'd bet that you're the one who likes their coffee black, right?"

"Ohohoho, she's good. You can keep her, Adrien."

"Once again, she's not mine to keep," he commented gruffly as he lifted a bag of flour.

"Oh, she's taken?"

Marinette channeled her inner Alya and said, "Taken for granted, if anything."

The Slice Guy's employees roared with laughter, making Marinette giggle at their ferocity. This was definitely a new experience compared to Busy Bean's chill atmosphere. She could see why it was so popular.

"What can I get for you?" Sabrina asked over at the counter, shoving down her giggles.

"So, what are you doing here, anyways? Didn't like the pizza?" Ivan asked.

"Hey, that's not nice! I made it today!" Kim pouted.

"Yeah, but Adrien usually makes it. She could probably could tell the difference between a gentleman's hands and an idiot's flippers," Alix flipped the dough into the air gracefully. Kim turned on her, yelling about how "swimming doesn't make you grow flippers, Alix Kubdel!"

"No, the pizza was run over. She's here to make a new one with me." Adrien told the group.

"Ooooooo!" The group called and teased, making kissy faces at the blonde. He waved them off, grabbing Marinette's hand and pulling her to the back.

"Don't get distracted, you two!" someone called.

"Don't hit your head on the ceiling!" Adrien called back, followed immediately by a loud "OW!" as someone hit their head on the ceiling.

"They're fun," Marinette commented as she turned back to Adrien. Her throat turned dry as he gazed back at his friends. His hair drifted slightly in the wind, and his eyes glittered in the light.

"Yeah. They keep me…" Adrien's voice died out as he cleared his throat. "They keep me entertained," He turned back to her, and inhaled slightly at their proximity. She blinked, before pulling back slightly and turning to the table. She ignored her obvious blush.

Clearing her throat, she asked, "So, how do we make a pizza?"

Adrien walked over to the counter, grabbed a rolling pin and scooped over a pile of flour. "Spread this out evenly over the table and cover the rolling pin." He said, dusting off his hand before heading toward the large fridge. Marinette did as he asked, making a nice even coating across the counter. He grabbed a lump of dough, took off the wrapping, and tossed it onto the flour. A poof of white powder erupted beneath Marinette, coating her chest and face. it stuck out obviously against her black shirt, and she wrinkled her nose to keep from sneezing all over the dough.

Adrien stifled a chuckle. She shot him a look, before letting out a small giggle that Adrien joined in on.

"Okay, now we're gonna roll out the dough. I assume you've never done this before?"

"I grew up in a bakery. Just tell me how thick we need it." She rolled her neck and dusted off her shoulders, making more of a mess.

"Eight inches," He said from behind her.

She turned around in disbelief. "What? No way."

"Yeah, I'm kidding. Half an inch, make it smooth. We don't want a rough crust."

Marinette nodded in understanding, before remembering an odd fact.

"You wanna hear something weird?"

Adrien made a clattering noise behind her. "Can't be worse than what I hear around this place."

"Well, I think you'd be surprised at how many people like their pasties to have a rough edge to it. I think it's weird. A rough pastry is one made without love. Who wants a pastry without love?"

"That's such a mom thing to say," Adrien chuckled. Marinette grinned in response.

"Yeah, I'll admit. I took that from my mom." She bent over and checked the width of the dough. "Okay, I'm done. What now?"

Adrien walked over, pressing his chest into her back as he looked over her shoulder. She stiffened but didn't move otherwise. He hummed in her ear, his hair brushing her temple.

"I think you did great." He reached around her and pulled it into his hands. He took a step back and tossed it into the air gracefully. It spun in a beautiful spiral, and he caught it neatly. He repeated this process, and Marinette couldn't help but be entranced by his movements. It was almost beautiful. He took a step forward, and Marinette's breath disappeared again. He lightly placed the dough back down, spreading it out in a perfect circle. Marinette could feel his body heat.

"I'll grab the sauce." He pulled away, and Marinette could breathe again. Only for a second, however, as he was back, his shoulder scraping hers as he gently drizzled the sauce onto the dough. She swallowed roughly. He turned back to her, and held back a laugh. She remembered. Her face was still covered in flour. He coughed out a laugh and tried not to grin.

"Now all we need is the cheese," his hand reached past her, and lightly brushed her chest on the way back. They both froze and blushed.

"Uh… sorry," Adrien offered awkwardly.

"I-it's fine, I m-mean… it happens," Marinette stammered.

He nodded and silently sprinkled cheese across the top. The loud, boisterous sounds of his coworkers drifted back into the quiet kitchen, interrupting the awkwardness.

She glanced around for anything to change the atmosphere. As Adrien placed the pizza into the oven, she scooped up a handful of flour into her fist. She crept up behind Adrien, waiting for him to turn around.

He turned, and she blew the flour into his face.

He coughed and sputtered, stumbling back as she giggled into her flour covered hand. He blinked roughly, clearing his eyes. His face was plastered in white powder, probably mimicking hers. His golden hair was dusted white, and his red Slice Guy's shirt was messier than normal.

"Ohoho," he managed to chuckle as he coughed the flour out of his lungs, "you're lucky we have a lot of time until this pizza is done, because it's on."

He lunged forward and grabbed more flour, throwing it straight at Marinette's dark hair. She squeaked, ducking and throwing another handful. Adrien ducked behind the counter and swiped more flour, crawling slowly behind the counter and surprising Marinette from behind. She squealed as white dust rained down in front of her face. She stumbled back and slammed into Adrien's chest. They both careened toward the floor, but Adrien regained his footing last second and pulled her back up to her feet. She fell into his arms.

He tilted his head downward, gazing past his nose into her bluebell eyes. She stared up, feeling her neck strain with the effort and angle. Her weight was still against his chest, and she could feel his hips resting against the edge of the counter. She felt his nose brush hers, and she wondered who had moved closer, her or him. She didn't think it mattered.

His breath washed over her face, hot and quiet. Her eyes fluttered closed, and his nose moved ever so slightly closer, sliding to the side as his head tilted and his face moved the slightest bit closer and—

Both their eyes flew open as they inhaled sharply. Marinette pushed herself off and Adrien ran to grab the oven door; the room reeked of smoke.

"Grab the baking soda!" Adrien called, coughing through the billowing smoke cloud that erupted from behind the oven door.

Marinette scanned the room, quickly spotting the baking soda and tossing it to the blonde. He pulled out the pizza— luckily it didn't appear burned— and tossed the baking soda into the oven, effectively smothering the fire. Marinette breathed a sigh of relief, glancing over the pizza to see if it was damaged. Besides the edges seeming a bit darker than the rest, the pizza was mostly untouched.

"What now?" Marinette asked.

"We're still gonna cook it, but not for very long," Adrien said, overlooking the dough. "Just for a couple more minutes."

"Okay."


Marinette had already left the Pizzeria when Adrien finally glanced at his phone. His jaw dropped and he unlocked the device, pulling up his messages. Thirty messages from Nino, twenty-six from an unknown number, and even a few from Chloe, which worried him more than the others. If Nino had involved Chloe, it meant he thought Adrien was dead or dying.


Messaging: Nino

sorry man I didn't look at my phone

WTF MAN I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD WHY DIDN'T YOU RESPOND

I got distracted?

HOW THE FUCK DID YOU MISS 30 MESSAGES

idk man I just didnt see them

im gonna hit you so hard when i see u on friday

friday?

were goin on a double date

with who?

my date and ur date

that's not specific enough for me

its specific enuff for me mr i dont answer my phone

fine

WAIT IS MARINETTE OKAY

yeah she's on her way back with a surprise

if its a baby ill be pissed I told her to use protection

dude wtf do you think we did

IDK MAN YOU BOTH WERE AWAL FOR OVER AN HOUR YOU COULDVE MADE SO MANY BABIES IN THAT TIME

did you ever take health class cause that is so wrong

FUCK YOU MAN

fuck you too nino i didn't impregnate mari

i doubt she wouldve complained if u did

wait what

god your so dense

this better be the best goddamn double date ever or ill kick your ass

youll be presently surprised

that is not the right word

whatever man mari better get back here soon or youll be the one losing their ass

bye nino

bye adrien


Messaging: Chloe

i'm alive, chloe

Good


Messaging: Unknown Number

sorry, who is this

This is Alya, Marinette's roomate.

WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE

whoa calm down she's back at work

WHY WAS SHE GONE FOR SO LONG?

her lunch was crushed so i brought her to the pizzeria and we made a new one

And why wasn't she answering her phone?
we were both distracted by the building almost burning down

Typical Marinette, almost burns down a building when making pizza. She's safe and back at work?

if you don't trust me i bet she'll answer her phone if you message her

We'll see about that…


Message From: Alya Cesaire

Marinette please tell me you're alright and back at work!
I'm okay, don't worry!

Okay… WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD

Sorry! The pizza caught fire and I got distracted!

That pizza better be the best goddamn pizza in the entire world for that neglect you gave me.

I'll make it up to you tonight. You pick the movie and dinner?

Twenty extra minutes in the bathroom and you have a deal.

I'll take that deal. Sorry again!

I forgive you. Get back to work!


Marinette walked into Busy Beans only to bump into a furious Nino.

"Oh. Hi."

"Where the fuck were you!" he hissed. She covered his mouth and glanced at the preteen couple near the door. She nodded her head toward the back and Nino nodded, albeit reluctantly.

As soon as the door closed, the last bits of Nathaniel's "How may I help you?" squeezing through the gap in the door, Nino slammed his hand on the table.

"Marinette, explain yourself! I messaged you at least fifty times, and neither you or Adrien responded! Do you know how worried I was? I thought you guys had died or worse! I was this close," he put his fingers together, "to calling the Police!"

"Your fingers are touching, Nino," Marinette noted.

"I know. I called the Police. I'm going to call them back and explain that it was a false alarm before they send out one of those Amber Alert things."

"First of all, that an American thing. Second, that's for kidnapped children."
"Considering I am your father, it fits perfectly. Get your thoughts together and for gods sake clean yourself up! You're still here for another two hours!" He stormed out of the room. Marinette shook her head, knowing that he wasn't as angry as he was concerned. She had known Nino long enough to understand his hidden words.

I'm glad you're okay.

She went to the sink and started to wipe off the flour.


Marinette could admit that the pizza she and Adrien had made was delicious. He did a great job at instructing her through the process, and an even better job at making her feel happy. She had never felt more comfortable with an almost-stranger in her life.

The workers at Slice Guy's Pizzeria were the most energetic people she had ever met and she wasn't complaining. She knew they would clash horribly with her coworkers at Busy Beans, but for some reason she wished to see them combined. The outcome would be miraculous.

They were very upset to see her go, and Alix had made some comments about "coming back to visit Adrien before he got sad again." She didn't like the sound of Adrien being "sad again", so she promised she would come visit again.

She arrived home to find Alya singing along to DJ Bubbler's new album into a hairbrush. The girls had dissolved into giggles.

As promised, Alya chose the food— chinese, the movie— Guardians of the Galaxy— and took a fifty minute bath to "relax all her muscles that tensed up from worry". Marinette was happy to give her what she wanted, as Alya tended to worry easily, and today must've given her multiple panic attacks.

As she heard Alya sing along to DJ Bubbler from behind the bathroom door, she heard her phone buzz. She glanced down, and her eyes widened.

yeahchatnoir: thanks for being so willing to ruin our kitchen today lol

callmeladybug: thanks for teaching me how to make a pizza

callmeladybug: I had fun today

yeahchatnoir: so did i. We should do this again sometime

callmeladybug: next time ill teach you how to make your own coffee, and then there will be no reason to trade

yeahchatnoir: well we wouldn't want that

yeahchatnoir: i wouldnt get to see your beautiful face everyday and ive gotten too used to that to stop now

Marinette slammed her phone on her nightstand and crushed her face into her pillow.

"This would be so much easier if you didn't flirt like that!"


That's Amore~
guys this was supposed to be a one shot how did it all go so wrong?
This is a slow burn chapter I think (not really sure)
I hope this was as enjoyable as the last two chapters, the kids are starting to get to know each other better!
this chapter is being updated way earlier than it was supposed to but hey whos complaining except my future SAT score hehehe i should be studying oh god im so screwed AHHHHH
~Ani