To Boun1yHun1er, thanks fam, you the real MVP :)
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Quick Nino and Alya update:
Alya and Nino spent a less eventful night than Marinette and Adrien. Instead of getting thrown through buildings and running for their lives, they were snuggled on the couch, watching rom-coms, and eating popcorn.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled program:
Adrien walked Marinette back to her place, just in case. They both had one arm wrapped around each other, their shoulders touching, and their walking pattern in sync. Adrien had felt horrible that he left Marinette, but he couldn't have protected her in his civilian form… though, he couldn't even keep her protect her as Chat Noir… Ladybug had saved her. He was thankful for his partner but felt jealous and upset with himself.
"What a wild night, huh?" Marinette smiled, elbowing him in the side. Adrien chuckled slightly and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah it was," he stopped and paused, "Marinette… I'm-I'm sorry for leaving you behind. In that alley. I swear I wasn't trying to leave you behind to save myself or anything! I don't know what I'd do if you'd actually gotten hurt! I just- I was- I'm so sorry…" Adrien sound as dejected as he looked. Marinette didn't wait for a heartbeat to cure him of his blues. She grabbed his face in her hands and pulled his face to her lips. She kissed his cheek and then pulled him so he was looking at her directly in the eyes.
"It's okay, Adrien. I understand what you did and I'm thankful for you thinking about me like that… though… I do have to ask. Where did you run off to? I was worried sick!" Marinette asked. Adrien frowned even more.
"I was-I was…" Adrien looked at Marinette, whose concerned gaze deepened and increased even more, "I was trying to get Chat Noir's attention, to get you out of there as soon as possible… By the time I had gotten his attention… Ladybug needed help…" Adrien looked at her, hoping his lie had worked. Marinette had a soft blush on her face.
"That's very kind of you, Adrien," she smiled, but then got a mischievous look on her face and then flicked his forehead, he recoiled in pain and gave her a confused look, "but don't just leave like that again! What if you had gotten hurt?"
Adrien had a sad look on his face as he rubbed the spot on his forehead. Marinette smiled and rubbed his cheek with the back of her hand, cupping his head when her hand reached behind his ear, she crept up on her tiptoes and close in on Adrien, who lean in as well.
"Marinette?" Marinette's head shot in the direction of the voice. Her mother stood in the doorway of the bakery. A single light illuminating her face. Marinette's face burst into red.
"Uh, hi-hiya mom! What-what're you doing out here?" Marinette shot away from Adrien's face and stood awkwardly next to him.
"I heard a commotion," her mother said tiredly. Marinette felt bad.
"I'm sorry, did we wake you?" Marinette asked. Sabine shrugged.
"Yes and no, your father and I were about to head to bed after watching the- oh heavens! Marinette! Adrien! Are you alright!? That Akuma was in the park you guys were in!" Sabine rushed out of the house, checking them both up and down.
Adrien had to admit, while it felt weird having someone he somewhat knew check him out, it was a nice feeling to have a motherly bond with somebody. Don't get him wrong, he'd met Sabine a couple of times, but nothing to warrant her caring about him.
"We're fine, mom, really," Marinette grabbed her mother's frantic hands. Sabine had tears in her eyes and was panting slightly.
"Ok-okay," she sniffled. Marinette pulled her into a hug and patted her back. "I'm sorry, I just, when I saw the Akuma attack… and you didn't pick up your phone!" Sabine cried. Marinette felt guilty.
"I'm really sorry, mom… I'm okay, I promise," Mariette turned and looked at Adrien. She stepped to his side, "we're okay," she said, grabbing his hand and smiling at him. Sabine gasped and squealed slightly.
"Oh, my good heavens! Finally!" Sabine rushed over to them both and pulled them into a hug, "It's about you asked her out, mister! Let me tell you she's a really good catch!" Sabine stated, waving her finger in his face. Adrien immediately felt embarrassed and slightly humiliated.
"I-I, uh…" Adrien was at a lost for words, probably the first time Marinette had seriously seen him confused.
"I'm just teasing you!" Sabine joked. She did turn to him and whisper, "seriously, she is though" she winked at him.
"Yes," was all Adrien said, "yes, she is," Marinette blushed and looked away from him.
"Well, I'll let you guys get back to it, don't stay out too long," Sabine turned away, "Adrien," she turned back, "do you need anything? Do want to come in for a bit? Do I need to call someone to get you?" Sabine asked. A warm feeling filled Adrien's heart, but also cause it to wrench.
So that's what it's like to have a mother…
"No, thank you though, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng," Adrien smiled at her.
"Please, she said, call me Sabine," She smiled and headed inside.
Marinette turned to look at Adrien who was still looking at Sabine, a small smile on his face.
"Are you sure you don't want to come in? Or have someone come and get you? It is pretty late…" Marinette said. Adrien had that same mischievous Marinette had not too long ago.
"Are you suggesting I stay the night?" He teased. Marinette's head exploded.
"NO! NO, no, no, no!" Marinette said, backing away, "I mean, not that I wouldn't want you to stay or anything, but I don't want you to get the wrong idea that I don't like you, I do, but it's so soon and I'm not ready, I'm still pure, and omigosh I'm rambling now and saying weird stuff, please don't hate me!" Marinette put her hands together, clenched her eyes shut, and bowed to him.
Adrien stood there for a second before he burst out into laughter. Marinette slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Adrien who was wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Oh, Marinette," he said, chuckling. "No, thank you for the offer, but I do need to be getting home," he said.
"Oh-oh, okay, goodnight," She said, pulling him into a hug, her arms wrapping around his middle. He hugged her back, said his goodbyes, and began heading away. Marinette watched him leave, he got a couple of blocks away before Marinette bit her lower lip and began weighing her options.
"It's now or never, Marinette, go after him!" Tikki whisper shouted from her purse. Marinette tried to call out and chase after him, but both her mouth and feet were glued in place.
"Come on, girl, come on! You've got this! You've got this!" Marinette told herself. She gathered all the courage she had and chased after him.
"Adrien! Adrien!" She called after him. He turned and was met with Marinette crashing into him. He nearly fell backward, but balanced himself.
"Marinette?" He asked, rubbing his chest. She looked up at him and rubbed her head. She breathed in three times, grabbed a handful of his shirt in her hands, and pulled his lips onto hers. Marinette had her eyes closed, her hands trembling, and her lips firmly pressed against his.
After a couple of seconds, she opened her eyes and pulled away. It was like kissing a board. Adrien stood there, eyes wide open, and all his limbs stiff. Marinette's heart stopped and she felt sweat form on her brow line.
"I-I, I-I'm sorry! I should've asked first, oh god, I-" Adrien grabbed the sides of her face and pulled her in and slightly up for another kiss. He placed a couple quick kissed on her lips before deepening it. Marinette struggled to keep up, but, damn, she had to admit, he tasted pretty good. She wanted to go further, to be able to become more intimate with him, to be able to rake her hands through his hair or to be able to press her body closer to his, but, alas, she didn't want to rush things. In fact, it was quite risky for her to even initiate a kiss on the first date, but she didn't care. Logic like that never served her well in life.
They pulled away, both flushed and slightly breathless.
"Wow," Adrien said wide-eyed and staring off into the distance.
"Yeah, wow..." Marinette said, also staring off into another dimension. They both turned to look at each other and laughed.
"Goodnight, Mari," Adrien smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight, Adrien…" Marinette said smitten, the words melting out of her mouth. She watched him walk away in a trance.
"Hate to see him go, love to watch him leave…" Marinette gazed down to her purse and gave Tikki a wink, who rolled her eyes and snickered. They both headed inside and ended the even with squealing to each other about how they couldn't believe that that had just happened.
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Adrien hummed to himself as he headed home. The thought of transforming into Chat Noir to quicken the process sounded appealing, but he liked the weather and it gave him an outlet to think about the previous events with Marinette more closely. He couldn't believe it, if you asked him a couple years ago if he'd be doing that with Marinette, he would've laughed and said that she was "just a friend", but if he knew he'd feel this way with Marinette, he would've dated her a lot sooner.
Adrien stopped at a crosswalk and gazed up at the moon, for no apparent reason, mostly to cherish the last dwelling tingles on his lips from Marinette.
"It won't last," Adrien heard from behind him. Adrien jerked his head in the direction of the voice and saw a dark figure hidden from the light.
"Kagami…" Adrien groaned and was proven correct when she stepped into the light. Her longer navy blue hair wrapped in a loose messy bun and her pale skin glowing under the moonlight.
"Adrien," she said crossing her arms and leaning to the side.
"I see you've resorted to following me now?" Adrien asked. Kagami feigned a shocked look and placed her hand over her heart.
"Not acting very gentleman like tonight, did she suck the kindness out?" Kagami asked offhandedly. Adrien felt his blood spike a little, but remain neutral.
"What do you want, Kagami?" Adrien asked, gritting his teeth slightly. She smiled slightly, though, instead of giving off a warm look, she looked rather wicked.
"I thought it was obvious, I want you," she said, walking closer to him. Adrien took a step back. "But, if my eyes deceived me early, it seems your leading on a different sheep," Kagami sighed and took out her phone.
"Marinette? I am not leading her on. This may come as a surprise, but I actually like her," Adrien stated.
"My, my, this is a surprise, not because you said you liked her, but because that's exactly what you told everyone else when you were leading me on? What is it? The navy blue hair and penchant for red?" Kagami frowned.
"That's not the case-" she cut Adrien off.
"Oh, I'm sure it is, that's all you ever describe the girl of your dreams to be, unable to move on. Navy hair, striking eyes, killer in red, and adorable pigtails…" Kagami said it as if she were disgusted. "You make me sick, Adrien, to lead that poor, naive girl on".
"That's not it, Kagami! Unbeknownst to you, I have moved on. At least she treats me with respect, she doesn't see me as just money. Paint me as the villain all you want. Marinette is one hundred times more a woman than you," Adrien spat. Kagami actually looked shocked this time.
"Ouch, kitty's got claws," Kagami frowned, "we'll see how this stint goes with Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Mr. Agreste. I already know how it'll end. Marinette in tears and you crawling back to Ladybug, just like you always do," Kagami turned away and disappeared into the darkness.
Adrien stood on the corner, his heart racing and his mind muddled.
"You're not actually leading Marinette on, are you? I mean, I know Kagami was toxic, but still-"
"Of course not, Plagg," Adrien frowned, "I've given up on Ladybug. Marinette is different, she was there for me the whole time, when I need her most and when I didn't," Adrien fumed. Plagg hid back in Adrien's pocket and didn't say another word.
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Drama, drama, drama...