Adrien's Pov
"Not so hard!"
He jumped at the shout, turning around on the bench. The girls were sitting in the snow behind him and Nino. Marinette had her hair down, and Alya was assaulting her hair with a brush.
"I told you pigtails get so tangled. Why not try something new? A braid? A French braid? A mohawk?"
He grinned, turning back around to Nino, picturing Marinette with a blue and pink mohawk.
"So you're serious? You're going to stop celebrating christmas?"
He glanced back at Nino, his smile falling at the grim conversation.
"Yeah. Just... after this year. I'm almost eighteen, and most of the time it's just me and Natalie on Christmas. It's... depressing."
"Come to my house! You know you're always welcome."
He knew that. But the holidays were more for family. And he wasn't family.
"I appreciate that."
Nino sighed, slumping onto the bench.
"There! Look at how pretty it is!"
They both turned, finding Marinette wearing a single braid that fell over her shoulder.
"It needs something else though."
"I think it's okay." Marinette mumbled, looking into the small pocket mirror Alya had brought.
"How about ribbon?"
They both glanced at him, and he grinned.
"I've got some."
"You seriously just happen to have ribbon on your person?" Alya questioned, and he shook his head, reaching into his jacket pocket.
He pulled out one box after another, totaling three. Alya squealed, abandoning Marinette and rushing to the bench.
"You got us presents?"
"I did."
Each box was wrapped with shiny gold ribbon, a small christmas tree charm tied in the center. Each tree had a different colored stone. Pink for Marinette, orange for Alya, and blue for Nino.
"I brought presents too." Marinette spoke, digging through her bag.
Alya frowned then, crossing her arms.
"Guys what happened to not giving gifts?"
"I couldn't take it." Marinette mumbled and he chuckled.
In truth, he couldn't either. It was their last year of school together. Alya and Nino were going to some school in America. He hadn't even picked a college yet, and Marinette had decided to stay in Paris. They were going to be split up, and as tragic as it was, the reality of their situation was that they were going to grow apart. He knew that. It was why he'd gone against the rule. He'd wanted to get something that would connect all of them. Marinette pulled out three boxes, placing them on the bench next to his. Hers had name tags.
"Well. Guess me and Nino are hitting the shops later huh?"
Alya nudged him, and he nodded in agreement.
"You don't have to do that."
"We totally do. Anyway, can we open them?"
Marinette nodded, and Alya and Nino both grabbed the ones with their names. He handed them their boxes, and handed Marinette's her's. He took his, pulling the lid off. A small bag of chocolates sat on top of a pair of blue gloves, a sky blue color that would match his scarf perfectly. He eagerly pulled them out, slipping them onto his hands. They were perfect.
"Did you make these?" Alya asked, and he turned.
Nino had on a beanie, and Alya was wearing a new scarf.
"I did."
"They're amazing."
Marinette blushed, and he gestured to their unopened presents.
"Alright go ahead."
They all three untied the ribbon, revealing a black corded necklace, with a gemstone in the center the same color as the gemstone on the tree. Each one was shaped like a puzzle piece.
"Oh, it's so pretty!" Alya squealed, and he grinned, pulling his out from under his shirt.
"And they all fit."
They all pressed their puzzle pieces together, forming a perfect square. His gemstone was green, naturally.
"That's so thoughtful." Marinette whispered, and he pulled his away.
"That way, when we're apart, we'll always have something to tie us all together."
They all three stared at him in silence, and he wondered if it was too much. If he'd crossed some invisible line, as he always seemed to do. Nino suddenly threw himself at Adrien, and he stumbled back at the hug. Alya joined, squeezing them both so tightly for a moment he couldn't breathe. He almost expected Marinette to join, and she looked like she was going to, she'd even taken a step towards them, but they accidentally locked eyes, and she froze in her tracks. He always managed to ruin things with her somehow.
"You're so fucking adorable man!"
He chuckled, finally being released from the hug.
"Thanks."
Nino wiped at tears in his eyes, before stretching.
"After that I need a nice cup of eggnog. Anyone up for a round?"
"I've got a curfew."
"Seriously? On Christmas eve?"
No, not really. Well he did, but it was later. But he wanted to get home, get through the obligatory Christmas eve dinner, then head out for patrol.
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"I actually have to get going too. The bakery is always really busy Christmas eve." Marinette spoke softly, and he realized she'd already put her necklace on.
"Oh fine. You can both go. But Adrien, walk her home."
"It's just around the corner." Marinette mumbled, and he stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Sure. I'll get her home."
"Thank you. Merry Christmas you two."
"Merry Christmas." They responded in chorus, and they gathered their belongings, setting off on the short walk to the bakery.
"I really like the gloves. They match my scarf perfectly."
He held his hand up to his neck, and she glanced at him, her cheeks rosy, most likely from the weather.
"I'm glad. I love the necklace."
He grinned, sticking his hands back into his jacket pockets.
"I'm really going to miss them too."
Her tone had changed, sounding sad now.
"Yeah."
"Are you leaving Paris too?"
He doubted it. Leaving would mean giving up Plagg.
"I don't think so."
She looked relieved, and warmth spread through his chest.
"Hey, we could still hang out."
"Really?" She questioned, and he nodded.
"Sure, why not?"
"You... you mean just us?"
She sounded nervous, and that ache in his chest came crawling back. He'd almost forgotten she seemed to hate interacting with him for the most part.
"We could invite anyone we wanted."
"Oh. Yeah."
She sounded different again, and he was about to ask why that was, when someone from a nearby shop shouted.
"Hey! Watch out it's-"
He didn't hear the last word, a hand on his arm distracting him. Marinette was slipping, trying to keep herself upright using his arm. He tried to grab her to steady her, the ground beneath his feet suddenly slick. They both hit the ground then, both on their backs. His arm was pinned under her head, having broke her fall. He was torn between being glad it had, and annoyed he was now in pain.
"I'm sorry." Marinette breathed out, and he chucked, slowly sitting up.
His arm was throbbing. Her leg was draped over his, and she was quick to remove it. He slowly pushed himself up, and offered a hand down to her.
"You kids alright?"
He glanced up at the man hanging out of one of the doors of the shop.
"Yeah we're alright."
"My prides a little bruised." Marinette mumbled, and he laughed, pulling her to her feet.
She slid a little, but regained her footing. She almost yanked her hand away, her face bright red. He tried not to let that one sting.
"So... what's your family doing for Christmas eve?"
"The usual. Hot chocolate, a dinner that consists mainly of cookies and sweets, baking cookies for Santa, taking a picture in Christmas pajamas, then sleep."
"Santa still visits you?" He teased, and she grinned, spinning around on the sidewalk to look at him as she walked backwards.
"Santa always visits those on the nice list. You aren't on the naughty list, are you?"
He smirked, adoring the rare moment where he got to experience Marinette as she truly was. Funny, witty and confident, rather than shy, clumsy and stiff.
"Are you kidding? I hold the all time record on the naughty list."
She giggled, the sound light and airy and beautiful. She'd always had such a beautiful laugh, when he got the chance to hear it.
"Adrien Agreste on the naughty list. Who'd have thought?"
He grinned, and she turned away. The bakery was to their right, and she sighed, stopping in front of the door.
"Thanks for walking me home. Think it's a good enough deed to get you on the nice list this year?"
He stopped next to her, shrugging.
"Guess I'll have to see if I get any coal in my stocking."
"Well, if you do, we can paint our faces with it and storm the north pole, because if anyone deserves to be on the nice list, it's you."
He smiled slightly, and she turned to face him.
"Merry christmas Adrien."
"Merry-"
A frantic pounding on the door interrupted him, and they both turned. Her mother was standing by the door, and once they both looked, she pointed up. He lifted his gaze, his eyes locking on to the mistletoe hanging above the door.
How festive.
"Maman!" Marinette hissed, and Sabine held up a hand, and they both heard a click sound.
Marinette immediately tried pushing on the door, her face filled with horror.
"You locked me out?"
Her mother pointed at the mistletoe, blew her a kiss, then turned and walked back towards her waiting customers.
"Unbelievable."
He chuckled, leaning over and knocking on the door. Sabine and a few of the customers turned, and he leaned back towards Marinette, placing a kiss on her cheek. Sabine was shaking her head, and a chorus of booing echoed from inside.
"Oh come on!" Marinette whined, and he looked back over at her.
Her face was bright red with embarrassment, and he wondered what it would be like to be embarrassed like that, rather than embarrassed by how horrible a parent was.
"She's going to hold out as long as possible huh?"
"She's unbelievably stubborn!" Marinette shouted loud enough for her mother to hear, and in response Sabine placed a white box on the counter, and Marinette gasped.
"No. Not the fudge. She wouldn't."
Sabine lifted the lid, taking out a piece and passing it to a customer.
"Maman no!"
Her purse hit the door the same time she shouted, and she grabbed it, looking panicked.
"I can make more." She spoke, and it almost sounded like she was talking to him instead of herself.
He glanced at his watch, flinching at the time. Patrol started in less than an hour.
"Marinette I've got to get going."
"Okay, yeah, sorry. Merry Christmas."
She didn't look at him, violently shaking the door handle.
"He's going home Maman! You can't leave me out here to freeze!"
He looked back to her mother again, who was stone faced, passing out another block of fudge.
"Leave the fudge alone woman! Have mercy, it's christmas!"
He grinned, shaking his head. The way she was panicking over fudge was odd. But Marinette was normally odd.
"Papa! Open the door!" She called, and he took notice of Tom.
He started in their direction, when he was intercepted by Sabine, sweet talking him with a piece of fudge. It worked, and she was left to fend for herself once again.
"Ugh. It's freezing out! I'm going to get hypothermia and frost bite and die."
She turned around and slumped against the door, squeezing her eyes shut. That wasn't happening on his watch, not if all it took to save her was a single kiss. He stepped closer and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. She was still for a moment, before kissing back. She pushed off of the door, and he nearly stumbled backwards at the way she pressed into him. He could feel her hand trail around his shoulder, her fingers diving into the hair at the nape of his neck. He hadn't kissed anyone in so long, he struggled to remember if it always felt this amazing. Like explosions going off in his chest. Like fireworks sparking in his veins, sending a heat pumping through him like no other. His arms slowly wound around her waist, certain that at any moment she would pull away, but she didn't. Her mouth opened slightly, and as if his tongue had a mind of it's own, it brushed across her bottom lip.
This was stupid. No one french kissed because of mistletoe.
She parted her lips wider, and he felt her tongue for a fraction of a second, before Tom's booming voice ripped them apart.
"Doors open. You can stop."
Marinette was gasping, and he was trying his best to force controlled breaths.
"Merry christmas Marinette." His voice sounded breathless, and he would have been embarrassed, if not for Marinette's response.
"Merry kissmas. Uh- happy hot days! Ugh... um... ditto."
She bolted inside past her father then, and he offered Tom a sheepish smile. Tom's face was stone for a solid two seconds, before he smiled as well.
"Merry Christmas, go on and get home."
He nodded, quickly turning and heading down the road, even if his legs felt like jelly. He wasn't sure he'd ever kissed anyone like that. Marinette was a really good kisser, and oddly he found himself disappointed Tom had interrupted them. Almost immediately he started thinking of ways to get Marinette back under the mistletoe, just so they could finish that kiss. Too bad it was already Christmas eve.
* * * * *
He was sitting on his bed, counting down the minutes to patrol. He'd gotten Ladybug a bracelet with his emblem on it, and he had a matching one, with her emblem. Of course, they were also magnetic. Unfortunately they didn't fit together like the puzzle pieces, but he didn't mind. He'd considered buying her a ring, but knew she'd decline that one. His phone pinged, and he opened the notification. Marinette had posted a picture of her and her parents, all donning Christmas pajamas and cups of hot chocolate. Tom had whipped cream on his nose, all three smiling widely. He zoomed in on Marinette's braid, grinning at the gold ribbon and tree charm in her hair. She'd taken his advice, and he'd been right. It looked great. He liked the picture, before putting his phone away.
"Ready Plagg?"
"Cats don't like snow. It's cold. And wet."
"Sorry. Claws out."
Plagg groaned, and he now stood as Chat Noir. He leapt out the window, bounding across the rooftops ro the eiffle tower, their designated meeting spot. He found it empty, and sat to wait, fiddling with the gift box.
* * * * *
He waited for over an hour, and just when he'd decided she wasn't coming, she landed on the eiffle tower, gasping and out of breath.
"Sorry, kitty. Couldn't get, away." She gasped out, and he grinned, quickly getting to his feet.
"No worries Mi'lady. I wasn't waiting long."
She had a basket in her hands, and she stood straighter. His heart skipped a beat at her new hair style.
A single braid.
"Notice anything different about me?" She questioned, and he smirked, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked closer.
"Hmm... your eyes are sparkling?"
She grinned, shaking her head.
"You're... wearing lipstick?"
"Nope."
He walked around behind her, leaning in close and sighing against her shoulder.
"You smell like hot chocolate?"
She giggled waving him away.
"I had a cup before I came, but no."
He walked around her, gently lifting her braid. His breath hitched at the gold glint, and his gaze locked onto the tree charm.
"It couldn't be..."
"Correct! It is the braid. And it only took you a thousand tries." She giggled, pulling away from him.
It couldn't be.
"I got you a present!"
Not her.
"I see you're empty handed. Decided to gift me the graciousness of your presence?"
"I... I uh... no, no it's here."
He numbly unzipped one of his pockets, pulling out the black box.
"Oh, let's guess before we open them."
She handed him the basket, and he handed her the box.
"Hmm... a watch?"
He shook his head, too focused on his heart pounding than the basket in his hands.
"A necklace?"
"No." He breathed, looking at her.
Really looking. Same hair. Same pretty eyes.
His gaze dropped to her lips, lips he'd kissed earlier today.
Marinette. His lady, his love. It was Marinette.
"You guess."
"A basket."
"Oh come on Kitty. Actually guess."
Sweets from the bakery your parents run?
"Sweets?"
"Some."
"Did you make them yourself?"
"I did. Everything but the basket is handmade."
"Clothing?"
"Yes."
"A hat?"
"Nope. Let's just open them."
They both sat down, and he pulled the tissue paper off of the basket. That was twice now he'd gotten a gift from her. Twice now she'd gotten one from him.
What were the odds? That the woman he'd spent years searching for, had been by his side this whole time?
There was a hoodie on top, and he pulled it up to look at it. It was black, with green stripes and cat ears sown into the hood. He pulled it on over his suit, before looking back into the basket. Several assorted sweets.
"Oh it's beautiful!"
He glanced up to find her wearing the bracelet, and he wondered if beneath the suit she still wore his necklace.
"I've got a matching one."
"Aww. That's so sweet, thank you."
She leaned over, wrapping her arms around his neck. Why couldn't she do that with Adrien? What did he do to make her that uncomfortable?
"Do you like the jacket?"
"It's amazing. Thank you."
She sat back with a grin, looking out over Paris.
"So, what are your vague plans for tomorrow?"
Open the pen his father got him for Christmas, act grateful, then stick it in the drawer with all the others.
"Thinking about crashing someone's Christmas to tell them I love them."
She glanced at him, looking confused.
"What?"
"I'm going to confess my love, to someone who can't stand me."
"I need more details Chat."
He sighed, laying back and looking up at the beams washed in christmas lights.
"She won't hug me. Practically runs from any form of physical contact with me, but she's never been outwardly mean. She doesn't like spending time with me. But... we kissed today. And I've never been kissed like that."
"In a good way?"
"Very."
She was quiet for a moment, and he lifted his head to make sure she was still there.
"Are you sure she doesn't like you?"
"Pretty sure. Once I even explicitly asked her if she liked me. She said something about liking me a normal amount, like a friend would."
"Maybe she lied. Or changed her mind. If it wasn't an awkard kiss, or a forceful hateful one, then it sounds like there were some feelings behind it."
He sat back up, wondering if she was right. If she liked him.
"You like someone too, don't you? How do you act around him?"
"Like a moron." She admitted sheepishly, and he frowned.
He'd never seen her act like a moron.
"What?"
"I stutter. I'm clumsy. I freeze up or run away."
Like she did around him? A beeping went off on her yo-yo, and she sighed, getting to her feet.
"I gotta head home Kitty."
"So soon?"
He got to his feet, and she nodded.
"My parents always check my room on Christmas eve to make sure I'm not awake. Santa can't come if I'm up."
"Santa still visits you?"
Her gaze darted up to his, and for a moment, it looked like she was putting the pieces together. She must have dismissed the idea, because she grinned.
"Of course he does. You know I'm number one on the nice list. I'm not suprised he doesn't visit you though. Plagg is certainly on the naughty list, and you're guilty by association." She teased, and he managed a smile.
"Probably right."
She wrapped her arms around him, and he closed his eyes. She even smelled like Marinette did. Hints of vanilla, and bread and now hot chocolate.
"Merry christmas kitty."
"Merry Christmas Mi'lady."
She pulled away, waving as she dove off of the platform. One more stop before home. As long as he was alive to make it home anyway.
* * * * *
He leaned against the railing, his kwami shaking his head.
"This is dumb. She's going to kill you."
"I hope not."
He pulled out his phone, dialing her number. She answered on the second ring, sounding tired.
"Hello? Adrien? Everything okay?"
"We need to talk."
There was a lengthy pause on her end, and through the skylight he could see she'd turned on a lamp.
"Okay... what's wrong?"
"Why did you kiss me like that?"
"I... I'm sorry, I know I crossed a line, and I shouldn't-"
"Marinette I'm not mad. I just... did it mean anything?"
There was no sound on her end, and he pushed off of the railing, tempted to peek through the skylight.
"Marinette?"
"Huh? What? What do you mean?"
"I mean, you kissed me like it meant something. It... it felt like something. Right?"
She was mumbling something incoherently, and he sighed.
"Okay. I'll tell you what. If it meant something, all you have to do, is go out on your balcony. If it didn't, then I'm sorry I called so late."
He hung up, sticking the phone into the hoodie pocket, quickly pulling the hood up.
"Stupid plan kid. So, so stupid."
"Thanks Plagg. I get it."
It felt like forever had passed by the time she opened the skylight. She climbed out, clutching a blanket tightly around herself.
"Chat? What are you doing here?"
He knew she could only see his silhouette, could only see the jacket she'd given him moments before.
"Please don't be mad at me princess. It wasn't on purpose, I promise."
"What?"
"If you have to find a new Chat Noir, I understand, but I don't regret it."
He could see her confusion, slowly bleeding into panic. He reached up, lifting the hood and letting it fall against his back.
"Hey Mari."
Her eyes widened in shock, her hand reaching up to cover her mouth, before she stepped closer.
"Adrien?"
Howdy. First time posting here, I hope you liked my little one shot. If you'd like to read actual stories of mine, I've got quite a few on Wattpad under the user HyruleAtWar . I also go by that name on Pateron, which ive only just started if youd like to check that out. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and until next time.
