A/N: My brain is so fried from all the multi-tasking today but I wanted to get as much editing done as possible so that I can finally, FINALLY share more of my already written works publically. I need to stop hoarding my WIPs like a dragon! Anyways, this one is fluffy and sweet so enjoy!
"Let's conquer the fears
Take every chance
Hold back the tears
What we wanna be we'll be"
So Good - Bratz
Pairing - Adrinette
Prompt - 'Waltz'
~(x)~
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If the sad little miserable island that just about neighboured France across the ocean had one redeeming factor about it, it's that Adrien has some of their blood within him, running through his perfect veins, courtesy of his beloved late mother. In fact, in Marinette's opinion, he should be treated as nothing less than royalty over there and in Paris too but of course, not everyone is as enlightened and smart as herself. But anyways, right now, right this second? He was teaching the class how to perform a traditional English ball dance for their school play (which was based on an old Arthurian legend), having been taught by his own family as a supposed necessity. A Graham de Vanily custom that has been passed down from generation to generation, unchanged and untouched for centuries and centuries. A heavy and intimidating mantle that had been placed upon the love of her life's strong, athletic shoulders which should only be passed on to the most worthy and brilliant of people.
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But who did he decide to choose as his dance partner despite all of that?
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"Remember, as you're leading your partner, ensure that your grip on their waist is firm and solid. Can you see the pressure that I'm putting on Marinette's waist? Like this," Adrien announced with a pleasant smile, oblivious to her internal banshee-like screeching and the mischievous, shit-eating expressions their friends sported as they simultaneously paid attention to his lesson. "Also, be careful not to hold them too tight. The waist is an easy place to bruise. Always make sure that you're communicating with your partner properly and don't be afraid to let one another know if you're feeling any discomfort. The point of the Graham de Vanily dance waltz is to feel like you're weightless when you're performing it." As if his undiluted touches and close proximity weren't enough, Adrien directed a loving beam towards Marinette, his eyes softening like butter and his hand on her hip bringing her closer towards him so that her senses were filled with nothing but him.
Alya was struggling immensely with restraining herself from whipping out her trusty phone and taking a million pictures of her one true pairing (aside from Ladybug and Chat Noir), vibrating almost manically in Nino's arms who couldn't help but smirk at the sight of his good friends and his girlfriend being as vibrant and energetic as usual.
So, she did the next best thing.
"How should we hold our partner's hand, Monsieur. Agreste~?" Alya asked smugly, earning a playful eye roll from the blond because of the formal address and a quietly hissing Marinette who kept on mouthing for her best friend to hush with a complexion redder than a tomato.
"That all depends really. Even though the dance itself is traditional, there's no need to keep it so formal and uptight," As if to emphasise his point, Adrien brought Marinette even closer (probably the closest they've ever been with intention), a pleased grin resting on his peachy-pink lips, their chests pressed up together perfectly and then he entwined their fingers as his other hand firm on the small of her back. "This position feels the most natural with my Mari- ehem, my partner. Experiment and find out which one feels the best for you guys!"
Poor Marinette.
~(x)~
"Sorry- sorry...ugh! I'm so clumsy- you..." Marinette immediately stepped out of his arms and turned away, hugging herself and her shoulders stiff with anger towards herself. She was blind to the soft and slightly sad expression that her dance partner wore, his brows furrowing and his hands itching to bring her back to him, wanting nothing more than to kiss her sorrows and pain away. "You should choose someone else, Adrien. No matter how much I try, I just can't stop messing everything up...I'll end up embarrassing everyone during the play, especially you. All your hard work will end up going to waste..."
She didn't expect him to finally give in to his heart's desperate wails and turn her back around gently, bringing her into his arms in a soothing, comforting embrace (getting to hold her tight and compassionately without having to use the excuse of dance practice.)
"Marinette, you need to learn to stop being so hard on yourself," He murmured kindly into her soft hair sweetly, a little smile playing on his lips when he finally felt her relax under his touch and melt from his warmth. "This is why we're practising alone. So that you can finally learn to relax and stop being a perfectionist. You'll do just fine, I promise."
The designer pulled back slightly to face him, her cheeks adorably pink and her brows rigid with worry.
"I know...but it's so much harder than it seems. I just freeze up. I don't want to ruin the school play with my clumsiness." She couldn't help but rest her forehead on his chest, unable to handle his beautiful greens peering down at her so attentively and wonderfully. She didn't feel deserving of such an adoring gaze from him, especially with all the mistakes she's been making during their rehearsals.
"Marinette, do you know why I chose you to be my partner?" His question had her observing him again, her lips tightening when he curled a stray strand of her hair behind her ear (like a lover). When she shook her head, his glittering smile practically melted her on the spot.
"Pourquoi, Adrien...?"
"Because when you're in your element, you become so, so graceful. You're quick on your feet, you're quick to come up with all these incredible plans and solutions, you're quick to improvise and most of all," He paused, his own cheeks reddening adorably as his nerves began to play up and his heart began skipping too many beats. "You're just so amazing and breathtaking, Marinette. I...choosing you as my partner is a selfish choice of mine. I didn't want to dance with anyone else, other than you. I feel most at peace when I'm with you...I'm sorry for stressing you out with this selfishness of mine."
Something indescribable clicked within Marinette's brain, a sense of Déjà vu from the vulnerability and sheer rawness of his words, emotions and tone but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Yet, it relaxed her a whole lot. It was a very familiar and welcoming feeling, putting her throbbing heart at relative ease- something that was becoming more and more common the longer she spent quality time with this amazing boy.
"Thank you for telling me all of this, Adrien," She smiled, her lips rosy and sparkling under the sunset that peaked through the school windows, the blue of her eyes turning to a shade of golden honey from the orange rays and her skin glowing ethereally. "It is still early on with practice...so of course it'll take a little while to get used to dancing. I really should be more patient with myself, hahah!"
"Are you sure you're okay with it? The last thing I want is to pressure you into this and make you upset-"
"I want to!" Her exclamation almost had him jumping out of his skin(just like the namesake of her beloved partner). "Sorry, I mean...I really do want to do this. I really want to dance with you...I love dancing with you,"
The beautiful, everlasting smile the love of her life wore was more than enough for her heart and was so worth the embarrassing confession that slipped from her tongue. Oh, so much.
"I love dancing with you too, Marinette!" He hugged her again, a childish teeter leaving his lips as his whole body buzzed with boyish excitement. "I promise you, Marinette. I'll make you the most confident and wonderful dancer you can ever be! You will become the envy of everyone!"
"Heh, I'm counting on you, partner."
"Partners~!"
~(x)~
Every step.
Every movement.
Every touch.
Everything they did together was all in such incredible sync and natural instincts that the duo couldn't help but finally, finally realise just who exactly they were dancing with and whose hand was tangled up with their own in a perfect fit.
Marinette's beautiful handmade ball dress swished against the floor like a swan's wing glazing the still waters serenely whilst Adrien's polished shoes were like stepping stones. Like a fairy tale that's come to life before everyone's very eyes.
Sky blues continued to bore into emerald greens, both the heroine and hero in disguise wordlessly performing the last dance of the play despite the rest of the world being muted to a silent buzz at the back of the head.
That was until Adrien decided to bring out the Chat Noir within him at full throttle, his eyes now blazing with a passionate intensity as his grip on her waist became even tighter just so she could feel the fire of his touch shooting through her skin and blood and veins without mercy.
He was testing her.
That sly petit Chaton.
Marinette wasn't one to back down from a challenge however, her baby blues turning stormy with determination and resilience, daringly pressing her chest against his and tightening the grip she had on their entwined hands, doing everything to hide the devilish smirk when she felt the way he physically shuddered under her touch and the way her sweet breath was hitting his sensitive, dewy lips.
"Getting a little bold, aren't you, Marinette?" Adrien murmured huskily in her ear during the next step of the dance, having to dip her down low and rest his cheek against hers indulgently.
"You may or may not see my picture if you ever were to search up the word 'bold' online," Marinette giggled humorously as he lifted her back up with ease, his spring-green eyes glimmering with both delight and mischief of his long-time suspicions turning out to be one-hundred-and-ten percent true all along. He loves it when he's right.
"BRAVO! BRAVO!"
"WOOOOOOOOO!"
"ENCORE! ENCORE!"
"YOU GUYS DID AMAZINGLY!"
The sounds of their audience bursting into a huge round of applause, complete with a standing ovation brought the duo back to the real world, whistles blown all over the place and screams of joy by their peers in the seats. Even Tom Dupain and Gorilla's claps combined were dwarfed by Sabine's and Nathalie's cheers and the children were going wild with their shouts of "Again! Again!".
Looking at each others' faces one more time with a victorious grin, Marinette and Adrien stepped forward in line with the rest of their classmates, hands still tightly woven and then they bowed.
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~(x)~
A/N: Throughout the whole time I was writing this, I couldn't stop thinking about food. I'm
hUNGRYYYYy.
