A/N: Don't have much to say; D'Angelo Wallace just dropped a video full of piping hot tea AND I NEED TO WATCH IT NOW.

"(I know, I know)

We're taking off together

Even though we always crash and burn

Tonight you and I will fall from the sky"

Taking Off - ONE OK ROCK

Pairing - Adrinette

Prompt - 'Money'

~(x)~

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When Marinette arrived at class with at least ten minutes or so to spare (for once), she expected a few playful jabs from her friends at most for being early. Maybe walking into either Alix and Kim's wild, exaggerated stories about their latest daredevil stunt and how they narrowly 'escaped death' or even an Akuma attack because le Papillon doesn't believe in a consistent timetable and thrives on disrupting her day as much as possible (like the miserable old cretin he is).

Even the possibility of Alya bouncing up to her and shoving an old book in her face that talked about famous figures whom she suspects could have potentially been miraculous holders in the past would have been plausible (though, Marinette thought that her best friend's last theory of the infamous Jack the Ripper being a villanous miraculous holder was a stretch).

But no.

Nope.

Nuh-uh.

There on her desk was THE LATEST model of the SEWING MACHINE that she had been dreaming (practically salivating) about getting her hands on since the day it was released in stores. All neatly arranged and wrapped with a cute bow on top, surrounded by her gawking classmates whose jaws would drop at any second.

Oh.

And Adrien was standing by the side with the most adorable, kitten-like grin, beaming brighter than the sun could ever dream of. When he registered her arrival, Marinette could have sworn that his beautiful greens lit up and glittered like emeralds as he waved her over joyfully.

Oh dear.

He did it again.

Oh, Adrien.

"W-Why...?" Marinette managed to rasp, shuffling towards her desk and her face began to redden the closer she got to the love of her life. "It's way too much! You shouldn't spend so much on me like that!" All she got in return was a stupidly cute (illegally adorable) pout from the blond and for a second, she could have sworn she saw feline ears plastering against his hair.

"But you re-eeeeeeally wanted it," His eyes became impossibly larger to the point where she could see her flustered reflection within them. "An incredible artist like you deserves everything~!" And he got closer to her, cradling her hands gently with his own as if they were made of delicate porcelain. "Please accept it? Marinette? Please?"

And she was a goner.

"Erm— ah— ehem! F-Fine…" Just like always, she caved in to his whims and the pure, boyish smile he let out could have cured all the ailments and sicknesses in the universe with how radiant it was. "Only if you accept the gift I'll make you in return with this sewing machine." She mumbled, keeping her blues averted whilst her face grew hotter and hotter the more he stared down at her.

"I would love that!" He dealt the final blow by bringing her into his embrace and holding her tight, robbing her of every single breath, thought and sense of sanity. Neither of them paid any mind to their classmates' giggles and light cheers (barring Lila and Chloé of course who looked ready to unleash the furious second wolf within but this ain't about them). "I'll bring you your favourite chocolates as a 'thank you' gift." He didn't expect her to pull back a little just to direct a (fucking downright adorable) glare at him.

Baby blues narrowed. Kissable lips pooched. Skin still blooming with that sweet, sweet sakura hue.

"Don't. You've already given me plenty! And my gift is a 'thank you' for your gift." She had her hands on her hips sternly but his hands remained on her shoulders, his smile now turning cheeky (and resembling her silly, beloved partner a little too much for her liking). "Promise me you won't give me anything else."

His smile only grew wider and then…

He ran.

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"W-What!? ADRIEN! HEY! DON'T YOU RUN AWAY FROM ME!"

And she ran after him.

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"One-thousand, four-hundred and ninety-nine euros…" Max rasped after a beat of silence, eying his phone in horror after searching up the new sewing machine in curiosity. "That lovesick fool spent one-thousand, four-hundred and ninety-nine euros on Marinette this time round." He didn't even flinch when Kim choked on his drink and spritzed it out of his nose, sounding like a dying monkey in the background. "We need to stop him now."

"Trust me. We've tried." Alya bleated, thinking back to the super, super expensive set of Ladybug-themed merchandise Adrien bought for her as a late birthday gift that she's religiously kept in their packaging and dusted every single day and the brand new set of headphones he got for Nino ("Babe…I can't trust myself to actually use these! They're so expensive that if I get even dust on them, I'll never forgive myself…"). "But he's just as stubborn as Marinette and you've seen just how hard it is to say no to him when he uses those kitten eyes."

Internally, she thanked all the higher deities she could think of from the top of her head that Adrien wasn't a supervillain like le Papillon or else the entire world would be absolutely fucked and everyone would allow him to do whatever he wanted with the bat of his unfairly long lashes. 'Ugh. Rich people.'

"Oh, no~! I really, really want these limited-edition weight sets and swimming sets from JD Sports but I don't have the money right now~! Whatever shall I do— aHCK!" Kim was shut up with the whack of his empty water bottle against the back of his head, courtesy of Juleka who was fed up with his yapping (and was probably getting revenge from when he accidentally shot water at her through his nose earlier on).

"That reminds me— he called me his honourary big sister and bought me these awesome lacey gloves." Though her quiet mumbles were hardly audible, the rare but gorgeous beam on her face said everything as Juleka wiggled her fingers.

Once again, everyone's jaw dropped.

Those gloves were the latest designer garments from Juleka's favourite brand and last they all checked, it cost a whopping two thousand euros.

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"This is why his dad hates us all…" Nino muttered bleakly. The entire class looked down with tight lips, wondering how on earth they would manage to pull off a surprise party for their money-blind but wonderful Adrien for his upcoming birthday without his stick-in-the-mud father getting in between their plans out of pure spite.

Oh, they were so, so, so screwed.

They all simultaneously hoped that Marinette would put some sense into him and ensure that the singular working brain cell of his finally, finally registers that he doesn't need to spend an ungodly amount of money on his loved ones.

~(x)~

"Really? He really said I'm allowed to use this card to purchase whatever I like?" Adrien bounced on his heels, holding the debit card that Nathalie handed him as if it were a piece of treasure that could change his life forever. Literal stars were glittering in his eyes and the woman mustered all the strength within her to not melt on the spot like his late mother would have.

"Yes. He said it's the least he could do considering you're the face of his brand and have been working very hard since the very beginning." She lied, relishing the look that the man would have plastered on his face once he noticed the strange purchases being made by his son and how he would not be able to do a single little thing about it thanks to her. She had Gabriel's arm pressed against his back and she was going to milk every single bit out of it, starting with ensuring that Adrien was living a happy life and fulfilling his own wishes and dreams.

"Tell him I said thank you! Now I'll be able to buy my friends all the things they deserve!" She didn't expect him to pounce her in a hug like an over-excited kitten and before she could even think of wrapping her arms around him, Adrien pulled back and grinned at the card with that sweet, sweet smile of his. "I know just the thing for Marinette."

He skipped away, leaving behind a grinning Nathalie and a cooing Duusu who remained hidden within the lapels of her blazer.

"Is there a limit on the card by any chance?" Duusu asked, peering out of the fabric now that the coast was clear. She was met with her wielder's smile turning into a devilish smirk that would have given Chat Noir a run for his money.

"Nope~!"

And in the near future, Gabriel Agreste faints on the spot after checking his bank statements, finding out that within a week over a hundred thousand euros were spent on fancy cheese alone.

(Meanwhile, Ladybug figured out her silly partner's civilian identity because what other idiot in this city would spend thousands on her without a second thought? Not that telling him off did anything because she kissed him silly first).

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~(x)~

A/N: Whilst his friends were trying their best to make Adrien spend as little as possible on them (and failing miserably), Plagg capitalised on this and got all the cheese he ever wanted because he's just a wee little God, no?

Now give me your comments or else you'll end up spending a shit tonne of money soon on cheese.