MariChat May Day 24: I Owe You One. Adrien meddled in things he probably shouldn't have, but it all turned out ok.
If you're confused about what's happening here, go back and read the chapter called Rejection. It'll make more sense. (Can you believe I've actually been planning this chapter since I wrote that one? I never plan. I am so pleased with myself.)
Marinette dozed contentedly on her new boyfriend, her limbs tangled with his on her chaise. The remnants of a plate of cookies sat forgotten on her desk, next to a pair of empty glasses. The movie they'd watched that afternoon had long since ended, but they'd been too comfortable to move.
She was startled awake by a knock at her door. "Hmm, what?"
"Marinette?"
"Maman?"
The door opened, and her mother's head appeared in the room. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had fallen asleep." Then an odd expression overtook the surprise on her face. "There's, um, someone here to see you, Marinette."
"Who is it?" She sat up, ignoring Chat's protests and stretching sleepily. "I told Alya I'd be busy this afternoon—"
"It's not Alya. I think that you should come down, and see for yourself."
Marinette frowned in confusion, and completely missed the fact that Chat had tensed beside her. "Alright, I'll be down in a minute."
Sabine nodded and disappeared, pulling the door closed behind her.
"That was weird." Marinette stretched again, and dropped a quick kiss on his mouth as she stood. "I'll be right back, Chaton."
"Yeah. Okay. I'll be here."
She gave him an odd look, but he didn't say anything else. With a shrug, she lifted the door to and followed her mother down stairs, wondering who in the world could have unsettled her mother. It began to make sense when she saw Nathalie Sancoeur sitting stiffly at their dining table, talking with her parents. She stumbled down the last few steps in surprise, her mind racing.
"Mlle Sancoeur! I—Are you, uh, looking for Adrien? I'm not—"
"It's fine, Marinette. This has nothing to do with Adrien. And please, call me Nathalie."
"O-okay." She came to stand by the table, and glanced at her parents for guidance, but they just shrugged. "How can I help you M-er, Nathalie?"
"I am here to deliver an invitation. I know you are familiar with the Gabriel summer internship program, and that you were not selected to participate this year. What you do not know, is that you were in fact the committee's first choice for the opportunity."
Marinette felt her eyes go wide, and she sat heavily in the chair across from Nathalie. "F-first choice?"
"Indeed. However, someone brought your work to the attention of M. Agreste himself the morning the announcement was to be made. He was sufficiently impressed that he has taken an interest in your artistic development. He does not want you to work with one of his other designers, because he wants to see how your talent develops independent of instruction." She pulled a heavy envelope from her bag, and slid it across the table to Marinette, who caught it reflexively. "This is a letter from him, extending his invitation to you. He would like an interview with you, an opportunity to view more of your work, and to discuss the possibility of bringing you on as an apprentice once you graduate from lycée."
Sabine gasped delightedly. "Oh, this is wonderful! Marinette, this is an even better opportunity than you'd hoped for! Marinette, sweetheart?"
"A-apprentice? Me?" Marinette blinked stupidly, trying to wrap her head around what she'd just heard.
"The poor girl is in shock, Sabine." He smiled warmly at his daughter. "Give her a minute to process."
"I am sure that it is quite a lot to take in." Nathalie turned her attention to Marinette's parents. "Perhaps we could take this opportunity to schedule a meeting time that would be mutually agreeable? As her parents, you are both welcome to be present during this interview."
"Certainly!"
"M. Agreste suggested a luncheon meeting, if that meets with your approval?"
"Of course. The bakery will be closed in July…"
As planners were consulted and a date set, Marinette sat in stunned silence. She was reeling. Gabriel Agreste wanted to meet her? He was considering taking her on as an apprentice? What? Who could possibly—Adrien. Her lips parted on an indrawn breath. He must have gone to his father with pictures of her work.
That sneaky kitty!
"Marinette?"
She blinked, and found that Nathalie had come to stand next to her chair. Everyone was looking at her expectantly.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm a little overwhelmed."
"I understand." She dropped her professional façade for a moment, and offered Marinette a genuine smile. "Congratulations, Marinette. This opportunity is well deserved."
"I-uh, th-thank you!"
"Good evening. I will see you in July."
Tom walked Nathalie to the door, and Sabine squeezed her daughter in a happy hug. "So, are you still disappointed that you didn't get the internship?"
"No! This—this is amazing!" She glanced toward the door to her attic room. "I need to—"
"Go on, dear." Sabine nudged her toward the steps. "We can celebrate later."
With barely a nod for her mother, Marinette raced up the steps and threw the trap door open.
"Oh my God, you crazy cat!"
"Marinette, please, let me explain. I had no idea you'd been chosen, and I never meant for you to lose the spot, honestly, I just wanted to make sure that he'd seen how wonderfully talented you are and—oomf!"
She'd thrown herself at him hard enough to knock him off the chaise. They landed in a heap on the floor, and she immediately began peppering his face with kisses, murmuring happy words of praise in between.
"You sweet—wonderful—thoughtful—sneaky—ooh! This is the best thing—!"
He caught her face and brought her mouth to his for a lingering, more thorough kiss. When it ended, he stroked his thumbs over her cheeks with a sheepish smile. "So, ah, I guess you're ok with how it worked out?"
"Yes!" She said emphatically, nuzzling into his neck. "Oh, I owe you one for this, Chaton."
He tipped his head back, allowing her better access to the sensitive skin there. "Hng…! Keep doing that to my neck, and we'll call it even."