The show was a smashing success. The roar from the crowd when the lights came on and Adrien came out was deafening. The clothes moved beautifully. The amateur student models did admirably. Chloe was so intimidated that she just did what she was told, to Marinette's relief, and to her credit, Chloe did look great. The highest high, though, for Marinette, was when Juleka emerged in the final dress, and the audience gasped. Juleka's hair was pulled half back, exposing her cheekbones and amber eyes, eyes on fire with confidence and adrenaline. The dress was iridescent, shimmering from green to purple with every step, full skirt billowing from Juleka's waist, long feathers dancing behind her and at her shoulders, emphasizing the careful piecework Marinette had made on the corset sleeves. The standing ovation began before Juleka had made it off the runway, and Alya had to elbow Marinette to remind her to go join the final walk. Adrien, in his Chat Noir- inspired suit, led the models down the runway and Marinette had her moment, holding Juleka's hand and feeling as her own dress flowed around her, waving to the crowd, smiling into the flashbulbs popping crazily, filled to bursting with pride and floating on clouds.
…
Maxine couldn't care less about the clothes, though the purple number at the end was pretty. She only had eyes for Adrien Agreste, walking the runway in all his gorgeous glory. Everyone was cheering and clapping, but she was single-minded. She had to get to the autograph queue before anyone else. She pushed through the crowd, quickly fixing her hair and adjusting her dress, running down the aisle before it filled with people. Her heart flapped inside her and her stomach buzzed with excitement. All the extra hours at work, all the time spent writing letters and posting pictures, all the nights dreaming about beautiful Adrien, all was about to come true! She made it to the line where he would greet everyone, behind just those lucky girls who were rich enough to have front row seats. But they didn't matter, Adrien would only have eyes for her! And it would be just a few minutes!
…
Backstage was chaos once again, but joyful, amazed chaos that everything had gone so well, people shouting, hugging, exclaiming about the after party, the good luck, the fun of it all. Marinette was suddenly drained, though unable to stop grinning. She accepted hugs and even signed autographs, as if in a daze. Someone's arms engulfed her from behind and she laughed, feeling breath tangling with the soft hairs on her neck. "You are amazing," said the voice she most wanted to hear. When she turned, Adrien grabbed her again, lifting her off her feet and spinning around. "You are amazing!" Marinette shrieked with delight, and took in Chloe's outraged face to gloat over later. She hoped that Alya was catching this on video.
Adrien put her down, took her hand, and gave her a twirl. He was shining with pride for her, but there was something else too- expectation? Distraction? "Adrien, what?" she asked, still in their little bubble together. "Oh!" he said, "Did you hear? Ladybug might have seen the show, she might come support the event!" As her heart twinged with pain, her brain lit up with panic. "..Ohhh..uh RIGHT! Amazing! Go out and look for her, I'lll uhh, be there soon, hehe, good job again ok bye!" Marinette dropped his hand and fled. Adrien heard a tiny scoff from inside his jacket. His heart sank. Plagg was right, he had just accidentally dismissed Marinette on her big night. But come on Agreste, Ladybug saw you model tonight, maybe! Go look for her… Adrien ran a hand through his blonde hair and ran out of the backstage area.
…Only to be greeted by a line of screaming fans who wanted autographs. No! his brain cried, not now! But all of his years of grooming won. He couldn't shirk his duties. These people were paying to see him, but the event was for the kids at the shelter. With great power comes great responsibility.. he grumbled internally. He donned his model smile and walked over to the queue. He did his best to smile graciously, accepted thanks, posed for pictures and selfies, signed autographs, made small talk and jokes. Sometimes he grudgingly appreciated the rigorous social training his father pressed on him. Adrien's mind was elsewhere, and as often as he could he was scanning the crowd and the skyline for the swoop of Ladybug's arrival.
…
Marinette pressed through bodies, shaking off congratulations, claiming she had to use the bathroom, "be right back! thanks!" She had to get away, and seem like she came from elsewhere. Tikki had barely emerged and was about the offer congratulations, but Marinette cut her off. "Oh my gosh Tikki, I totally forgot I was supposed to be Ladybug for this! Spots on!" Tikki just managed to squeak "But Marinette, your HAIR!" before disappearing into the miraculous. Marinette froze. There wasn't time to fix it up, but it couldn't stay in her topknot. I guess it's a fashion event, and anything goes, she thought, shaking it loose so it brushed her shoulders, wavy from the twist of the bun. Let's hope this isn't the focus of the Ladyblog tomorrow, Ladybug thought as she sent out her yo-yo, mentally choreographing her entrance. Time to show off a little more than usual, for a certain model.. she grinned into the night air.
….
A girl in a tight purple dress and heavy eyeliner made her way towards him, face lit up with the expression he had come to privately consider rabid. He fixed his smile and reached out to sign her program when a sudden movement caught his eye. Others noticed it too, and his heart flopped over when someone shouted "Look, Ladybug!" In an instant, there was a spotlight trained on her (good one, Nino, thought Ladybug) as she swooped over the crowd, leaping backwards off a lamppost to land gracefully next to him as the crowd cheered. The spotlight was on them both, and the program he was holding fell to the ground.
"Hi Adrien, hello everyone!" Ladybug exuded happy confidence, smiling into the flashbulbs. She grabbed his hand, and he tried hard to regain his model composure "What a wonderful event tonight! I hope you will all join me in donating what you can to the children's shelter. Let's give it up for Adrien, and the entire crew that put this wonderful effort together!" She turned back to him, smiling broadly. Adrien was nearly blinded by her beauty, more vibrant than any spotlight. As Chat Noir, he could resist it, but as mere Adrien, he felt totally vulnerable in front of her. She squeezed his hand, and he realized he was supposed to talk.
All he could say was, "Your… hair!" Ladybug looked a little surprised, and then threw back her head and laughed, shaking her loose tresses in amusement. The crowd joined in. That laugh..! He was struck by a vision of Marinette earlier in the night, laughing at her success. What.. if..? But he was quickly brought back to Earth by the amusement dancing in Ladybugs eyes.
"Yes, thank you everyone! Thank you Ladybug, for supporting this event. I want to thank the Mayor for sponsoring it, Agreste designs for donating the materials, the Dupain-Cheng Bakery for their amazing catering, and all of my friends who worked so hard to make this happen. Most of all, though," he paused, searching the crowd for her face but not seeing it amidst the flashbulbs going off, "I want to congratulate my friend Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the real talent that made this an event to remember!" The crowd cheered, and Ladybug squeezed his hand again, making his stomach flip. He hoped his face wasn't that of a rabid fan, but he couldn't be sure.
In the hubbub of her entrance, though, neither of them noticed a girl in a purple dress fleeing the event, eyeliner streaking down her cheeks, hand clutching the small fan hanging at her neck.