"Evening, Plagg," Adrien's quiet voice floated through the silence of his mostly dark living room, waking up a black grumpy kitten, happily nestled in a posh comfy bed beside the couch. Plagg lazily yawned and opened one eye. Through the haze of sleepiness, he noticed his so called owner to enter the room and head to the kitchen throwing him a quick greeting. The cat yawned again and turned around getting into a more comfortable position for sleep. That foolish adult didn't bring Marinette with him again so there was really no point in waking up.
"What could have happened for them to call me forty times?" Adrien's voice was heard again. Plagg frowned and squished his eyes tighter. Who does he think he is to show up so late and interrupt his nap? And without his Marinette?
"What?" sounded loudly from the kitchen. "This can't be real."
Plagg buried himself even further into the plush goodness of his bedding and tried to keep himself from exploding. Happy thoughts, he thought, just think happy thoughts. Think about Camembert. No, that was getting old. Marinette! Yes, think about his real human, not that fraud of an owner to whom he was mistakenly handed over. Marinette was the one who found him in that horrible, overcrowded place with no real, delicious food on premises. Marinette was the first one who looked at him and called him adorable. She was the one whose blue eyes sparkled when he stared at her with his green, glowing ones from a corner of a cage. She was the one who reached out and lifted him up, who cradled him in her warm, soft arms, whose touch he still remembered to that day. His kind, beautiful Marinette with the most gorgeous voice in the whole wide world was the one who took him home that same day and let him cuddle with her and Tikki in her soft and warm bed all night long.
Plagg was so happy there; he was loved, safe and comfortable. It was even better than a heaven on Earth… until he showed up. Adrien Agreste. What Marinette saw in this mangy alley human, Plagg didn't know and why she thought that Plagg wanted to live in his empty, cold, Marinette-less apartment he couldn't comprehend but here he was – stuck with that human he was still refusing to call his own leading a lonely existence, waiting for the day she would visit him again. She did come from time to time but it wasn't enough, Plagg wanted to see her all the time. He wanted to live with her. He wanted to be hers! But fate decided otherwise, Plagg growled. He wasn't grumpy as Adrien was saying, he was just wronged by that thing called fate. At least that boy had the decency to occasionally sneak him pieces of Camembert, the kitten sighed satisfactorily, even if it was on rare occasions and Plagg had to beg or steal it every time. He didn't get his Marinette but he did have his Camembert.
"I forgot my phone at home, father," he heard Adrien's voice again as the latter reentered the room and stopping by the window leaned on it looking outside. "No need to make up a lame joke to get my attention. I would've called you anyway once…"
All sounds suddenly stopped. Plagg opened one eye again to see what happened. Adrien continued to stay by the window but he straightened up suddenly and frowned.
"What do you mean it's not a joke?" he said into that thing he was holding near his ear. Plagg scrunched his nose. These humans are strange, talking either to themselves or in those small boxes all the time. Marinette was normal. She talked to him or Tikki or even that Adrien directly.
"Father, we live in the 21st century," Adrien said again after a short pause. "I'm not entering into an arranged marriage-" his voiced stopped again.
"I don't care about their traditions or whatever else."
Plagg opened both of his eyes because this time this human he lived with sounded actually angry.
"Father-" Adrien tried to say something again but stopped.
"Father, I am repea-" his voice grew more and more frustrated.
"Father!" Adrien actually shouted. "I can't! Ok?! Just can't!"
"What do you mean why?" he asked a moment later. If the saying Plagg heard about steam coming out of one's ears are true, this was the closest he ever saw to it.
"Because I am already engaged!" The words slipped Adrien's lips after a short pause, unexpectedly, it seemed, even to him. He momentarily bit his lip, closed his eyes and held his breath, the rising tension of his body even Plagg was able to sense. The kitten rose up from his nap and curiously looked at the blond man in front of him. "I can't marry Chloe because I am already engaged, father. Is that a good enough reason for you?" Adrien seethed through his teeth into that thing he continued to hold close to his ear. Plagg cocked his head to one side and continued to observe. Finally, something interesting was happening. Serves him right for taking him away from his Marinette and rarely letting her come over.
"You didn't know because I just proposed today," Adrien said in a little more relaxed manner. "Yes, just a few hours ago. Of course, I can," he added after a short pause. "Sunday at 6 we'll be there. Don't worry. Goodnight, father," he sighed into the thing and after poking it with his finger stared at it before throwing it across the room and practically dropping onto a couch.
"Sh*t," he whispered and hugged his head, staring at the floor. Plagg slowly stretched and lazily walked over. He needed to see it closer. The pain on this pitiful human's face.
"Where am I going to find a fiancée in one day, Plagg?" Adrien asked quietly after the kitten settled in his eyesight. "Any ideas?"
"Meow," Plagg responded indifferently and continued to watch Adrien. What was a fiancée anyway? All he needed to feel better was Camembert and Marinette.
"Ok." The blond rapidly stood and started pacing the room. "Think, Adrien, think. If you were to marry right now you would certainly want it to be Mari but—" he paused sighing heavily, "—she'll say no for sure. Not looking for a relationship right now… Unless!" Adrien suddenly stopped, a wide grin spreading on his lips, eyes starting to sparkle. "Yes! Plagg!" he picked up the kitten and hugged him tight and close to much of Plagg's disgust. "Marinette is my friend, Plagg," Adrien mumbled. "Best friend! She'll agree to help me out and play a fake fiancée for me, right? We'd known each other for a long time so there is no need to think of a getting-together story. We already have one. Plus, Marinette won't be weirded out if we needed to show affection or move in together since we're already so close and see each other often." Plagg almost growled as Adrien's words were slowly settling in his mind. You little traitor! If you see my Marinette so often why is she rarely here?
"I'll ask her tomorrow evening, Plagg." Adrien hissed a little and almost dropped the kitten back to the floor. Plagg digging his claws into his hand might have had something to do with that. "I'll prepare a romantic dinner and ask her tomorrow. She'll say yes for sure. Fake isn't real so she'll agree. Mari is my friend and that's what friends are for, right?" he glanced at the grumpy kitten again. "Friends help each other, Plagg, not use them as a scratch post for no reason."
The kitten completely ignored him, licking his paws.
"The ring!" Adrien suddenly exclaimed. "I'll need a ring!" he repeated and sat on the couch. "Yes, the most gorgeous ring for Mari."
For the next few minutes, Plagg in confusion observed his traitorous human sit, pace and even lie on the floor all while mumbling something under his breath. Most of it Plagg didn't even understand but what he did was a little promising yet slightly weird at the same time. According to Adrien, Marinette might come to live with them (that would have been great, actually), he, Adrien, would behave his best and extra attentive and Marinette, his, Plagg's Marinette, would assumedly fall in love with him (Ha! Plagg would like to see that happening. Everyone knew Marinette called him cute and adorable, not that overgrown, bony human with a blond mop on his head). Lastly, Adrien was going on and on how this was a standard scenario in all romcoms (what's that and what do you eat it with?) and fanfiction. Apparently something fake leads to something really real and he finally had a chance.
Plagg yawned. The human he was stuck with was even weirder than he thought. He slowly walked to his bowl and drank some water. Almost crawling back to his bed the kitten noticed that Adrien was already gone. Probably went to his own bed, Plagg thought and plopped onto his pillow. That's good, he closed his eyes and settled for the night. I really need a nap and all that freaking out keeps me awake.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, Marinette!" Alya's hyper voice screamed at her as soon as the girl picked up mercilessly vibrating for the last ten minutes cellphone. "You have to wake up, girl! I have amazing news for you! Huge news! Out of this world news! Wake up!"
"Ok, ok, I am up," Marinette groaned into the device. She glanced at the clock and groaned even louder. What must have happened for Alya to call her at 7 a.m. on Saturday and not quit after the first 15 calls she didn't pick up?
"Guess who got engaged yesterday, girl?"
Marinette sat up. "No way! You said he was going to wait for his birthday next week?"
"That's what I thought!" Alya squealed. "And Nino knew I thought that so he decided to surprise me before!"
"Did it work?" Marinette grinned into the cell. Who cares if Alya couldn't see her? She was happy for her friend and that wonderful news deserved her widest smile.
"Would I be calling you at 7am and scream if it didn't?" Alya almost yelled back in excitement. "That was so amazing, Marinette!"
"I am so happy for you!" Marinette's smile grew even wider.
"You are grinning to yourself, aren't you?"
"I might be but only because I am super extremely happy for you Alya."
"I still can't believe it myself, Mari," her friend's voice finally started to calm down only to explode again. "But enough about me, my friend! You have to get ready, girl! I am picking you up in an hour cause we have to celebrate!"
"What have you planned?" Marinette crawled out of the bed and walked into her bathroom. If Alya said in an hour it was pointless to argue. Better start preparing now or risk being pushed out of the door later in all of her PJ's, make-up-less glory.
"Only the best girl's day out! All the deets later! See you in an hour! Bye, honey!"
"Bye, Alya." Marinette turned her phone off and splashed some cold water on her face. Quickly finishing her morning routine, the girl headed for her kitchen and froze in her steps as soon as she stepped over the threshold. Oh. Marinette might have forgotten a few details of the previous night. Her still destroyed kitchen quickly reminded her of all the details, including Adrien's confession about his love life. Marinette sat down in a chair and sighed. And to think that she'd hoped that she actually had a chance.
When Marinette was fifteen she met a boy. She didn't like him at first but pretty soon he gave her his umbrella to save her from the rain. In exchange, she gave him her heart. Time flew by fast, years passed but he never paid any special attention to her apart from friendly affections. Marinette wanted to confess her feelings at first but that damned stutter and nervousness made that impossible so she gave up for the time being. When she finally grew up and got over it, she didn't confess for a completely different reason.
You see, the more she found out about Adrien Agreste, the closer their friendship became, the more incompetent she felt to be by his side. To her he was always this incredibly silly dork with a kind, generous and loving heart; a little lonely and neglected by his family but adored and loved by his friends. Yet to the public he was this famous, rich and extremely handsome boy who excelled in everything he did with ease. Who was she to stand by his side if he were to accept her feelings? Who was Marinette Dupain-Cheng, she asked herself one day. The answer wasn't as nearly satisfying as she'd liked and so she made a plan. Marinette would study, she would get a prestigious job and make a name for herself. And then and only then, if she was interested in Adrien and he was single, she'd try her luck.
The time was finally here, Marinette thought. She'd actually planned to do it soon. That was the reason she was brave enough to finally probe into his love life to see if there was even a point. The bad news – there wasn't. Adrien admitted it himself yesterday – he was in love with someone unavailable to him for quite some time. That couldn't be her. She was single all those years, heading to her goal headfirst, never giving a chance to any other man coming her way. Why bother if she knew it wouldn't work out at the end? Her heart belonged to Adrien. The good news, though, Marinette now had her answer and, maybe, that would help her to finally shift her focus onto someone else and move on. Maybe…
"Morning, Tikki." Marinette petted her excited puppy when that greeted her with a few barks, already holding her leash in her mouth. "Want to go for a walk before I leave for the day?"
"Woof!" Tikki barked and wagged her tail.
"Let's go then, "Marinette stood up and put the leash on the ever-moving puppy. "Fresh air should do us both good, right?" Marinette sighed and put her sandals on. "I need to clear my head as well. Should've cleared it a long time ago rather than pine after someone who had never seen me as more than a friend anyway."
Throwing a quick glance at the ruins of her kitchen the girl closed the door behind her. The mess that her life had become including that kitchen would need to be dealt with later, as soon as possible but later. Now, she had a friend to take care of.
"Race you to the park," she called to her puppy and sprinted ahead. To a better, happier future.
"Unbelievable." Alya's eyebrows crept up. "Not only you are on time but also already waiting for me downstairs?" She couldn't believe her eyes. Marinette was never on time on such short notice and she definitely never waited for her at the front door of her apartment building instead of the coziness of her own space. "Is everything alright, Marinette?" Alya frowned. Only something out of the ordinary could explain such unusual behavior.
"My kitchen is a real mess today," Marinette explained. "So I escaped before my perfectionist side would make me clean it. That's the only reason," she lied and grinned wide. The last thing Marinette wanted to explain right now was the real cause of her kitchen's ruins because it would inevitably lead to mentioning Adrien and that was the last thing she needed right now. She didn't want to give away her miserable, heartbroken state and ruin this day for Alya. Today was her best friend's day to celebrate her engagement. Today Marinette needed to be happy for Alya and not let her heart remind her that she might never get engaged or get married herself because Adrien loved someone else, someone who wasn't her. I'll meet another guy some day, she kept reasoning with herself all morning. The world wasn't ending with Adrien being in love not with her, her mind said. You are doomed to be alone till your last breath, her heart screamed.
"So what's the plan?" Marinette asked cheerfully before Alya could voice her obvious concerns. All those years later she was still unable to hide her feelings, always wearing them on her face for everyone to see. "I am so, so excited for you," Marinette added sincerely this time, pulling Alya in for a tight hug. She really was very happy for both Alya and Nino.
"We'll talk about the real reason you are upset later," Alya narrowed her eyes pulling back. "So don't think you are off the hook, mademoiselle. And only cause I know we'll be late for our first appointment if I were to spend the next hour pulling the bits and pieces out of your stubborn mouth."
"So where are we going?" Marinette cocked her head to the side, ignoring everything her friend had just said.
"To the salon," Alya announced with a smile. "We are having the most magnificent and amazing spa date today, girl. Massages, manicure, pedicures, hairdos, the whole package! Courtesy of moi, chèrie."
"Oh, wow!" Marinette gasped playfully. "Going all out today?"
"Of course, chèrie!" Alya smirked. "In exchange-"
"Oh, no! There is a 'but'" Marinette gasped again covering her mouth with a hand with feigned shock. "What will she want from a poor, little me?"
"In exchange," Alya repeated, her voice going low and bossy. "You will make me the perfect wedding dress."
"I thought we agreed that I would make you a perfect wedding dress a long time ago?" Marinette asked.
"Just making sure it's still on," her friend grinned. "I don't know the wedding date yet but gotta start planning early, no? All those details you know you have to do but forget at the last moment! A dress, a cake, a limo, flowers, a venue, guests, a groom! Man, there is a lot to do!"
Laughing lightheartedly, Marinette stepped forward and tightly hugged her best friend again. "Hey, don't go all bridezilla on me so early on. Everything will be fine. You'll be fine, Alya. We'll help you every step of the way until Nino places that ring on your finger."
"Thanks, girl!" Alya hugged Marinette back and closed her eyes. "I am so happy, Mari," she whispered in a few moments. "I was secretly starting to think he wasn't interested enough to marry me despite what I said earlier about his possible birthday proposal." She pulled away, light traces of tears still visible in her eyes. "But he is the best man ever and I love him so much!"
"Nino loves you very much, Alya," Marinette smiled back. "I never doubted you were made for each other and I am so, so happy for you. You'll have an amazing life together, achieve all your dreams and have five kids."
"Five?" Alya gasped, untangling herself from a giggling Marinette. "If I remember correctly you wanted no more than three. Why would you wish me five?"
"Cause you are amazing and there must be more amazing people like you in this sad, little world," Marinette offered with lips trembling with the urge to erupt in a smile.
"Fine," Alya pouted. "I forgive you. But!" she poked her finger into Marinette's chest. "I am the one deciding how many kids I am having. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Marinette nodded feverishly, dangerously close to giggling. "Should we go if I am forgiven then?"
"Only cause you are cute and I want Adrien to have a gorgeous bride one day," Alya replied and pulled out a small business card out of her purse checking the address. The lack of reply on Marinette's part and her sudden uneasiness didn't escape her, though. She decided not to push it. There was obviously something that bothered Marinette, something she now figured that was related to Adrien, and knowing Marinette and her problems it was probably his failure to make that damned first step towards a proper relationship. Damned Agreste, Alya sighed. If he wouldn't make a move, it seemed that she would have to do it for him. As for Marinette, being her closest friend, Alya knew the girl would come to her when she was ready. There was no point in prying before that. Hard, but still fruitless and ungrateful labor that would be - Alya knew that from experience. If Marinette didn't want her to know something, she would never find out. Better spend her energy on making Marinette have a great day and soothe whatever pain she was harboring. The rest would fall into place eventually.
Today is the day everything would change, Adrien thought excitedly as he practically jumped out of his bed ready to face the day that would change his life forever. Today he was going to propose a fake relationship to Marinette. Today, as his best friend, she would undoubtedly agree to help him out and his cunning plan, "Make Marinette fall in love with me," would commence. Grinning to himself all the way through his morning routine, Adrien felt finally happy. No more stalling. He needed to move and do something if he wanted to win Marinette's heart. Yesterday's fiasco was barely remembered as he quickly made himself a sandwich and got to plan his evening, fake engagement date. Food. Yes, food must be real and delicious, he hummed to himself and googled the nearby restaurants with the best reviews. Music. Soft, romantic music and maybe slightly dimmed lights?
"Plagg, stop it," Adrien muttered under his breath for the fifth time, taking the plate with the remains of his sandwich away from a pair of vying paws trying to snatch the cheese. Candles would probably be too much and way too obvious and he wanted to be sneaky, not to scare Marinette away by pushing too hard.
"Plagg," he frowned at a kitten who was now rubbing against every part of him he was able to reach. "I know what you are trying to do and that won't work. Cheese is bad for you."
The room? Adrien looked around his kitchen and living room. Seemed to be clean enough, he judged and decided to do just a light dusting and vacuuming. And everything will be just perfect. Simple, homey and sweet. Perfect.
"Plagg," Adrien giggled when a rough tongue started licking his hands. Plagg was really going all out today and if this day promised to be exceptional for him why not make his kitten a little happier too? "Ok," Adrien agreed. "But only a small piece and you deal with the consequences yourself. No complaints accepted." He chipped a little bit of the cheese from his sandwich and offered it to Plagg. The kitten hungrily bit right into it, his loud, satisfied purr filling the room.
"Well, at least one of us is already happy," Adrien smiled and finishing the rest of his meal headed to the kitchen. Time to get ready. Time to make his life a little better too.
That afternoon, when the food was pre-ordered, a perfect music list organized and set up, lighting tested a few times and the apartment became spotless, not a thing out of place, not a speck of dust to be seen Adrien's cell unexpectedly rang. Caller ID stated Alya, the voice on the other end was too quiet to distinguish.
"Hey, Adrien," she whispered barely audible.
"Why are we so quiet, Agent Cèsaire?" he whispered back.
"No time to explain," Alya said a little louder but still clearly trying to hide from someone either the words she was saying or the fact of the call itself. "Do you remember that thing I asked you to get for Nino's birthday?"
"That not-out-yet, super cool, Nino-would-totally-swoon album by that awesome new band?" Adrien smirked. Even he had to go through quite a bit of trouble to get it but it was all worth it. The universe would pay him back today for being such a good friend. He'd get a fake fiancée of his dreams. "Of course I do and as a matter of a fact it just arrived this past Thursday."
"I need it," Alya demanded. "Right now. Can you bring it in an hour to this address?"
Quickly glancing at his screen, Adrien registered the address Alya sent to be not that far away and agreed. It was in the nearby shopping district and he still needed to buy an engagement ring for Marinette anyway. "Sure. I'll be there at four. But what's the rush? Didn't you said to hold it until next week for his birthday?"
"Plans tend to change sometime, Agreste, but thanks," she replied in her almost normal voice. "I owe you one."
"Sure," Adrien chuckled. "I'll add that to the list."
"You'll thank me one day very soon," Alya's tone indicated a definite smirk. "As a matter of fact, I'll make one of your dreams come true today, Adrien."
"And what dream is that?" he asked a bit intrigued. "Wait! Are you saying-"
"Not your bizarre free croissants for a lifetime wish, don't worry," Alya snickered. "Something way cooler. Just meet me at 4 and you'll understand."
"Ok," Adrien chuckled again. "I guess I have no choice but to trust you on that, huh?"
"As I said, Agreste, you'll thank me," Alya added and bid her farewell. Glancing at the clock, Adrien noted the time and went to change. Maybe he'd be able to drop into a jewelry store beforehand if he left a bit early. Everything else was already done anyway so there was no point in waiting around for the right time. With his wallet and cellphone, Nino's present and a few other necessities in hands, the man left the house.
He should've stayed home.
Adrien's mind stopped working, instantly turning to something incapable of rational thinking and spitting out something incomprehensible in short, random bursts instead. His usually perfectly healthy body refused to function properly, threatening to disable his limbs at any given moment, as his eyes couldn't look away from a sight he momentarily considered both a blessing and a curse.
Standing in a middle of the road the young man stared point blank through a window of a bridal boutique in front of him at a very flustered, unbelievably gorgeous Marinette in the most beautiful wedding gown he'd ever seen. Similarly staring back at him for a few moments, Marinette sent him one of the prettiest smiles he'd ever see her wear. He vaguely noted something falling down from his hand and hitting the road causing Marinette to softly giggle. She shyly waved to him, bringing the man back to this world.
A sign, a perfectly clear sign that my plan will succeed, Adrien concluded and bend down to pick up the small bag containing Nino's present. He quickly checked his cell to make sure that this boutique was, in fact, the address Alya sent him earlier and walked in. Upon learning his name, the receptionist quickly ushered him inside to a room full of wedding gowns, featuring a slyly smirking Alya and a shy, blushing Marinette in a middle, both wearing one of their own.
The gown Alya wore was undoubtedly beautiful. It hugged every curve she owned in a sensual way, sleeking down her skin until it flared out in a skirt just above her knees. Adrien, however, didn't notice anything beyond that because his eyes were once again glued to Marinette. The gown she wore was incredible. It was a lace, body-fitted dress, accentuating Marinette's forms softly yet very effectively and in just the right places. The sweetheart neckline, pretty lace straps, and A-line skirt were simple and common enough elements of wedding dresses but somehow this particular gown fit Marinette so well that it physically pained him to look at her and not be able to do anything else but stare, forgetting how to breathe in the meantime.
"Doesn't Marinette look great?" Alya appeared beside him from out of nowhere. "Told you you'll thank me," she whispered. "Now, go take it off," she said so quietly Adrien at first thought he heard her wrongly but glancing at her grin freaked out.
"Wh- what do y-you me-mean t-take it of-off?" he stuttered.
"I mean," Alya said out loud now. "I need to leave a.s.a.p. and I'll need both of the assistants available to help me. So you go help Marinette to take that dress off. Plus, I promised you a wish come true, no?" Alya whispered again. "Doesn't every man dreams of taking a wedding dress off a girl?"
"Alya!" two voices sounded at once.
"I can take it off myself," Marinette protested, crimson color covering her cheeks rapidly.
"Oh, can you really?" Alya grinned. "With all those buttons at the back? And what's the big deal, guys? You never shied away from the physical contact. You are even more touchy and cuddly than Nino and I and we are engaged!"
"Oh, so he actually went through with it?" Adrien grinned yet wondered why Nino hadn't called him yet. Then, on the other hand, he should've suspected it right away seeing Alya was in a bridal boutique trying on wedding dresses. Why was Marinette in one, thought? A sign, he grinned and added: "Congratulation, Agent Cèsaire! May you live happily ever after with your handsome husband by your side. By the way," he leaned closer and whispered. "Not to wait till his birthday was my suggestion."
"You knew and didn't tell me, Agreste?" Alya narrowed her eyes at the blond.
"Why would I tell you that?" Adrien was clearly surprised but wasn't given even a second to recover as Alya burst into a laugh at his lost expression.
"Adrien," she laughed. "When will you stop being so easily played? Just go help out Marinette with that dress already. I really am in a hurry."
"Alya-" Marinette wanted to intercede.
"Come on," Alya said first. "What really is the big deal? Or are you finally admitting that this time you won't be able to resist -"
"There is nothing to resist," Marinette interrupted before her friend could spill her so well-hidden secrets to the man from whom those secrets were safely guarded for years. Her face flared up with a blush yet her features saddened just a bit. In a minute, thought, that determined streak she possessed spiked in her eyes. Alya was right! This shouldn't be a big deal. The road to getting over Adrien had to start sooner or later. Why not now?
"Let's go, Adrien," Marinette called and headed to a nearby change room. She would prove that she could do this. She could let Adrien take that dress off and be completely cool with it. In fact, if she will let him do it and not be bothered in the slightest. "And we'll change faster than you with two of your assistants," Marinette added, pushing the man in front of her inside the small room.
"Oh, it's on, girl!" they heard from behind a rapidly closing door. "Bet you…"
The sound of Alya's voice drowned in the void rapidly as the door closed and the pair found themselves standing less than a meter away in the confinement of a small changing room with no one around and a single goal on their agenda - to take that dress off Marinette as soon as possible. A wedding dress, Adrien gulped. Deep inside he admitted that Alya was, possibly, right. He did often wonder what it would be like to make that happen. Unfortunately, contrary to his dreams, they weren't married now and they weren't in their newlywed's hotel suite.
"Ok, so you unbutton those things at the back and then I can do the rest by myself," Marinette instructed and turned around revealing to him her back. The moment she did Adrien froze again. There was a nice lace design at her shoulders connected to the skirt that started just at her waist by a row of round white buttons but that was about it. The rest of her back was bare. Well, under that thin, see-through, barely there kind of material he didn't even register at first. The fact that he, the man who worked most of his life in the fashion industry, couldn't even remember the name of that fabric said a lot to Adrien as he hesitated to start, noticing one more particular detail that made him stop in his tracks.
"Adrien?" Marinette turned a bit around when after almost a minute and he hadn't moved an inch. He looked at her desperately, his eyes wanting to say something, his lips refusing to obey, unsure if he should and what would even be the proper way and how would he explain that this was a problem for him in the first place?
"Did you forget how buttons work?" Marinette chuckled at his helpless expression.
"No," Adrien yelped and looked away.
"Then what is it?"
"There," he didn't really know how to say it, blushing and nervously biting his lips at the same time. "Well, you see…" he tried again.
"Is there something wrong?" Marinette frowned.
"Well, yes and no," Adrien replied. "You see, it seemed that, maybe I am missing something, but I think, it's quite possible that you… you are not wearing your bra?"
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he whispered after the dead silence stretched past the comfortable level but just before he wanted to suggest he should probably go Marinette burst in giggles.
"I'm wearing one of those strapless, bandless bras, Adrien," she explained. "Alya made me buy one here so my regular bra wouldn't show up at the back," she turned around. "Come on, Adrien. We'll lose the bet this way, Get to it, already. As if you've never taken clothes off a girl before."
"Actually," he muttered under his breath and moved closer. "I'll have you know that you are my first one," he said loud enough for Marinette to hear and blush into a stunt silence. A moment later she raised her hands and drew back the hair from her back to give him better access. Receiving no more instructions Adrien started his job.
As far as everyone is aware buttons are a pretty much one of the simplest inventions ever, easily operated by most people. Kids learn quite early on how to work them. Adults never think twice when buttoning their own shirt. You just take a button and pull it out the buttonhole. Easy. Trying to make that happen, Adrien wasn't so sure anymore. At least not these buttons anyway because these ones stubbornly refused to let him undo them. His shaky hands might have contributed but that didn't matter now. He needed to help Marinette and do that quickly since he would be asking for a favor himself in a few hours. Struggling, Adrien held his breath and leaned closer, determined to succeed.
After the first button finally gave in the rest went much easier. However, the lower he was getting, the more times his fingers brushed over Marinette's bare, silky soft skin, the tenser and tenser she became, the more uneasy and conflicted he became. His fingers wanted to linger on her skin longer, he wanted to lean in closer and inhale that sweet aroma one more time but it was evident that Marinette was uneasy about the whole process in the first place.
Ok, Adrien thought to himself, need to do this without touching Marinette. If she didn't like it, he needed to respect her boundaries and not touch. At least it was easier on her. She didn't have any romantic feelings for him that she had to fight against. For Adrien, being so close and unable to have, might just have been the ultimate torture.
Don't get him wrong. Adrien was used to cuddling and hugging Marinette. As Alya said platonic touches weren't a big deal for them. Taking off clothes, however, was, and as a young, healthy male who happened to find Marinette extremely attractive but didn't want to make either of them uncomfortable, Adrien had to minimize the contact with her bare skin as much as possible.
"I'm sorry," he muttered when accidentally brushing over her skin again. Proceeding to the next button, he pulled the fabric just a bit out more to create some space. The rest of them went much smoother. One-by-one they yielded under Adrien's fingers so easily that a few moments later he didn't even notice as he passed Marinette's waist and almost reached the end of the row. An unexpected sight of black and red lace edging that clearly didn't belong to the dress made Adrien pause and notice just how close he got when he absentmindedly kneeled down to reach those last buttons. So close he could feel the heat radiating from her body, could register the slight scent of the body lotion she used, could almost feel her trembling a bit. Biting his lip, Adrien vaguely registered a suddenly strong urge to lean in just a tad bit closer and touch the silk of her skin with his lips. His eyes closed on a whim as he inhaled the sweet aroma of Marinette's skin.
Just a little bit closer.
Digging into his lip harder Adrien pulled back before making a crucial mistake. He couldn't give in now. He couldn't do something like this. Not at least before she felt about him the same way he did about her. He respected her much more than that. Pulling the fabric even further in that particular spot Adrien quickly finished his job and stepped back to leave.
His gaze landed on a mirror in front of Marinette and met her stunned eyes. He froze, caught in her flustered expression. Did she see his little near-miss? Did she realize what he was about to do? Did she now know how much he wanted to slide his hands inside that dress and feel the tantalizing skin beneath? How much he would give for the chance to taste the softness of her lips at least once? How hard he had to restrain himself to not turn her around and pour all of his longing and love into a kiss, pressing her against that damned mirror? Did Marinette now understand that by responding back she would be making his life worth living, would fulfill his life's most fervent desires?
"Done," he said almost silently and way too quickly. He needed to get out of here. Escape his embarrassment. Needed the air. Needed to breathe. "I'll wait outside if you don't need me anymore."
"Thanks." He heard a quiet response just before closing a door behind himself.
"Looks like I won, Agreste!" Alya announced as soon as he was out. Fully clothed into her regular outfit, the woman eyed him with a satisfied smirk on her lips and an unhidden amusement in her eyes.
"You had two assistants," Adrien murmured. "It wasn't fair from the start."
"Agree," Alya grinned. "Plus neither of them was so shy and nervous as you about doing their work."
"I—" Adrien wanted to say something to contradict the blooming blush on his face but Alya decided to spare him: "So are we even?"
"What do you mean?" Adrien sat in a nearby chair with a slightly confused look on his face.
"You got me this album for Nino, I made your masculine dream come true."
"You can keep that album—" he only sighed in return. Why was he even annoyed? It's not like either Alya or Nino hid it how hard they shipped him with Marinette. But more often than not their little stunts left both, Marinette and him, a little more than embarrassed and as a result, Adrien sometimes thought that they only pushed his dream farther away, "—as long as you promise to stop doing whatever you are doing guys. Both you and Nino."
"We are not doing anything, Adrien," the girl tried to play innocent but, being met with an extremely skeptical glare and a raised brow, pouted and stopped.
"I'm only trying to help, you know," Alya said a little later, much quieter.
"Well, it doesn't help, Alya. So, please, stop," Adrien responded. The next few minutes they sat in a tense silence, boutique workers walking away a long time ago.
"So," Alya's lips were tingling in a near explosion of a grin. "How many buttons were there?"
"Twenty-seven," Adrien responded absentmindedly but froze and glared at Alya immediately as the red tint of his cheeks made a triumphant return. Yet before he could say anything in response, the changing room's door opened and out came Marinette. The girl stopped and addressed her friend right away, ignoring him completely.
"Alya," she said calmly yet it was obvious she was struggling to keep herself in check. "A word. Outside. Now."
"Can you, please, stop this already?" were the first words Marinette said as soon as they stepped out into the street and walked a few meters to the side.
"Stop what, Mari-"
"Stop pushing Adrien and me together," Marinette's voice cracked. "Do you really think that I don't see what you are doing, what you have been doing for years? Do you honestly think Adrien doesn't realize what is going on? Do you know how uncomfortable and embarrassing this is for him?"
The pain in Marinette's eyes that Alya had caught only a glimpse of this morning returned tenfold, rendering her speechless. Her friend's voice trembled, her eyes got moist, the arms reached to hug the seemingly fragile all of a sudden frame.
"I don't think this is the case, Marinette." Alya stepped closer and put her arm on Marinette's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her friend. "Adrien is in love-"
"Not with me, Alya," the girl interrupted very quietly.
"Marinette." Alya put her other arm on a Marinette's second shoulder and looked her right into her eyes. "Have you seen the way he looks at you? The way he talks about you? He's practically screaming that he loves you, girl. Do you at least realize that no one spends as much time together or is as comfortable with each other and the amount of cuddling you two are doing unless-"
"I asked him, Alya," Marinette interceded again. This time even quieter, curling in on herself even more.
"You what?" Alya couldn't believe it. For years she observed her best friend losing it over Adrien. Marinette wasn't so open about it now but they talked about it quite a lot at the start. They planned her unrealized confessions to him, she gave her countless advice Marinette never took, then later Nino and her made and executed hundreds of plans to bring those two closer. Some were awesome, some didn't work but in the end, Alya thought they had succeeded - Adrien and Marinette were the closest they'd ever been.
There was only one problem. She just couldn't push them into a romantic relationship for some reason. No matter what she did, no matter how obviously in love those two idiots were, it just wouldn't happen. There were times Alya wished that she'd be able to do that for them but at the end that was something that no one could do for them, she realized; nor would Marinette want for her to go that far. So she stuck to her usual teasing and pushing them together. And now, after long eight years, Marinette finally did something herself to try to achieve her happy ending? That was quite surprising. It would've been also quite a nice surprise if it weren't for the miserable and dejected state she was in right now.
"I asked him yesterday if he had someone special in his life…"
"And?"
"He said he has been in love with someone for years," Marinette responded. "But he can't be with that person for some reason."
"That person could be you," Alya shook Marinette's shoulders. "Marinette, look at me. That person is you."
"Do you really think so, Alya?" the girl raised her brows. The amount of pain and sadness in them almost astonished Alya. "Because all those years he knew me I was single. There wasn't and isn't any reason Adrien couldn't or can't be with me. We spend so much time together, as you said," Marinette's eyes fell back to the ground, her voice becoming shakier and quieter. "Do you really think that if he felt something more that friendship towards me, he would've made a move by now?"
That question even Alya couldn't answer because as much as she was convinced Adrien loved Marinette, her heartbroken friend's logic was right. There was not a single reason why he couldn't be with her. Eight years they had known each other, all those months of close friendship, all those days they'd practically lived together… Yet, Adrien never made a move. He never told Marinette he loved her. He never confessed even to Nino about whom his heart belonged to. He hadn't even tried the simplest but most telling of things - a kiss.
"Adrien is in love, Alya," Marinette suddenly spoke again. "Just not with me. So can you, please, stop?"
"I'm so sorry," Alya whispered and pulled Marinette into a tight hug. "I am so sorry, Marinette. I honestly thought-"
"I know you didn't mean anything bad, Alya," Marinette responded quietly. "And who knows… if he did feel something for me, maybe it would've worked but it's just simply not meant to be."
"So what now?" Alya pulled away after a few minutes, still keeping her hands on Marinette's shoulders. "Now that you know this what are you going to do?"
"Move on," Marinette tried to smile through her lingering tears. She wiped them hastily away and repeated: "I'll do my best to move on."
"Will you look for someone else?"
"I'll try to heal first," Marinette smiled sadly. "But I don't think I'll avoid other guys from now on. We'll see what happens. Maybe my prince charming will find me soon."
"And Adrien?" Alya asked. "The kind of friendship you have isn't the one that just goes away. Not without an explanation, at least."
"I think, I'll try to avoid him as much as I can for now," Marinette sighed. "I still want to be his friend but it's time for my heart to move on. I lived all those years with one goal in mind—" she paused for a second, all those years flashing by her, "—to reach the time I would be in a position to confess to Adrien. Yet, that was me chasing an illusion I was never meant to have. Now, it's time to finally stop following someone so unattainable and start thinking about myself."
"I'll support you in whatever you choose, Marinette. You know that, right?" Alya pulled her friend into another hug. "As long as it'll make you happy, I'll be right by your side."
"I'm sure it will," Marinette breathed out, calming down a little. Today was undoubtedly a fun day out with her friend yet it was a really hard day at the same time. It was the day when everything for her changed. Today she had made the hardest decision of her life to start the road to freedom from the bounds that kept her heart a prisoner for years. Today she'd start moving on from Adrien Agreste.
"I am sure it will," she quietly repeated and felt a light squeeze of Alya's arms around her shoulders. "As long as I have my friends by my side, I'll be fine."
Please note: English is a strange and wonderful language where many words have multiple meanings and slang can change depending on your country of origin. It is my third language so while I will do my very best, there may be mistakes made along the way. If you notice any miscommunications or incorrect word usage, help a girl out.