#Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mikauzoran · 3 years

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Marichat/Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Fifty

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of love.

“Stop moving around so much,” Plagg grumbled as he snuggled up against the crook of Adrien’s neck.

“Leave him alone,” Trixx admonished groggily, burrowing further into the nest he’d made out of Adrien’s hair. “He’s got a lot on his mind; it’s no wonder he can’t sleep.”

“Thinking about the wedding tomorrow and how you’re going to smooch the love of your life in front of all of your friends and family?” Plagg snickered, giving Adrien’s shoulder a playful nip.

“Thinking about how Marinette is making the biggest mistake of her life,” Adrien snorted, twisting his engagement ring round and round on his finger, watching the EKG heartbeat-like line as it dipped and soared around the center of the band.

“Don’t say that,” Plagg commanded, flying up to stare Adrien down with a scowl.

Adrien shrugged, avoiding Plagg’s gaze. He pulled off the ring and looked at the inscription on the inside of the band: Home. Love. Family. Forever.

“She could do better,” he muttered.

“But she picked you,” Trixx reminded softly, petting Adrien’s hair.

“You’re just psyching yourself out,” Plagg diagnosed. “Stop fretting, Kid. Go to sleep, and things will look brighter in the morning. You’ll marry your girl, have a big party with lots of tasty food, and everything will be alright.”

Adrien hummed noncommittally in response, closing his eyes in order to make another attempt.

Fifteen minutes later, when Adrien was still tossing and turning, Plagg gave a resigned sigh. “Okay. Clearly, this isn’t working. Let’s go for a run and burn off some of your nerves.”

Adrien gave a mirthless chuckle, turning onto his side to gaze at Plagg melancholically. “Man, I must be pretty bad if you’re volunteering your services so willingly.”

Plagg rolled his eyes, waving away the suggestion. “You’re just driving me nuts, and I want to get some sleep. Think of this as a wedding present.”

“Plagg’s really a big softie,” Trixx chortled, tail flicking mischievously. “He just doesn’t want anyone to know, so he puts on the obnoxious, slothful act.”

“Hush, you,” Plagg hissed, his own tail giving an annoyed twitch. “There’s no acting about my sloth. I really am this lazy, thank you very much.”

“I’d believe it,” Adrien snickered, the laughter breaking through his glum mood. “All right. Let’s go for a run. I guess it can’t hurt anything. Plagg, transform me.”

He spent the first ten minutes or so of his run aimlessly leaping from rooftop to rooftop, dodging antennas and hopping over chimney stacks, seeing how fast he could go in an attempt to burn off some energy and tire himself out.

He soon got bored of that, however, and decided to make his way to the Eiffel Tower, a site of various special moments including the time five years prior when Marinette had arranged a picnic and told him that she loved him for the first time.

He bounded to the top of the tower, flying from girder to steel girder until he found himself at the pinnacle of the monument.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t alone.

Marinette’s eyes widened at her partner’s unexpected arrival, but then a warm smile stretched across her lips and all the way up to her eyes. “Good evening, Chaton. What a lovely coincidence meeting you here.”

“Likewise, My Ladylove,” he chuckled, giving her a supernova grin in return. “Though, I think it’s more morning than evening at this point.”

She shrugged, motioning for him to join her.

“Aren’t you cold?” he couldn’t help but ask as he came to stand beside her at the railing, observing her thin, cotton pyjamas and little cardigan that couldn’t be keeping out the slightly chilly breeze. “It’s kind of nippy up here.”

Marinette shook her head as she gazed out at the city sprawling before her. “I like it, actually. It makes me feel alert. I won’t stay up here untransformed long, though, so don’t worry.”

He slipped his arm around her, pulling her into his side to share a little of his warmth. Despite what she said, he could see her beginning to shiver.

“Do you mind me asking what a pretty girl like you is doing all by your lonesome in a place like this at this time of night, or is that being too forward?” he inquired playfully, giving his eyebrows a waggle.

Lightly, she slapped his arm, shaking her head. “I couldn’t sleep. I just had a lot on my mind, so…”

“…Like…what?” he tentatively pressed, the teasing tone gone from his voice now as he wondered if her head was filled with worries like his.

She shrugged. “How everything’s going to be different after tomorrow and how I don’t think I’m ready. Like…we’ll be officially moving in together, and what if the kitchen faucet starts leaking?”

Chat blinked and began to open his mouth to tell her that the building supervisor took care of upkeep and things like that, but she spoke again before he could, her worries snowballing and carrying her away with them.

“I don’t know how to fix a leaky faucet,” she reported anxiously. “I know you call someone, but Maman and Papá are always the ones to arrange for things like that, and I don’t even know how they find the person, so…and there’s grocery shopping and paying bills and keeping the apartment tidy and making all of our own meals and starting a family, and what am I going to do if the kids get sick?” she gasped as if suddenly realizing that this was an important issue that she had failed to attend to.

Chat had to smile at her penchant to get way ahead of herself.

“Don’t worry, Princess,” he cooed, leaning in to press a comforting kiss to the outer shell of her ear. “We’ll figure it out. I mean, we could always call your parents if we have questions, but I’ve been living on my own for almost four years now, and I haven’t died yet, so…I think, whatever comes our way, we can take it on together. We’ve proven ourselves to be a great team over and over again. This is just one more thing where we’ll have to pool our strengths and figure it out together…right?”

Slowly, she started to nod as she absorbed his words.

Her worry receded as she called to mind all the other times they seemed to be facing down unbeatable odds together. They had always made it out so long as they fought side to side, so why should surviving adulthood be any different?

“You’re right,” she realized, her easy smile coming back as she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his torso. “We can do this…. Thanks for talking me down.”

“Any time you need it,” he promised, catching the top of her head in a quick, affectionate kiss.

There was a comfortable moment where they stood there together, looking out at their city and enjoying each other’s solid, grounding presence, before Chat Noir tentatively spoke up.

“…Want to come back to the apartment with me and snuggle?” he inquired sheepishly, a light pink blush peeking out from underneath his mask and coloring his cheeks. “I don’t want you to go, but I don’t want to keep you out either,” he confessed. “I know it’s the middle of summer, but the breeze really is chilly up here, and I don’t want you getting sick.”

“Alright,” she chuckled, easily giving in. “I don’t really feel like going our separate ways either. Carry me? For old times’ sake?” She gazed up at him, batting her eyelashes prettily.

He laughed as he effortlessly scooped her up. “As my Princess commands.”

She held on tight as he bounced back across the rooftops towards the apartment that they would soon officially share.

He let them in through his bedroom window and set her down on the bed, releasing his transformation as he attacked her neck with playful kisses.

Marinette giggled and squirmed as his nips and licks tickled her.

He stopped before long and pushed himself up on his elbows to gaze down at her in adoration as her chest heaved in her attempt to catch her breath.

Her dazzling smile lit up the dim, moonlit room, and she reached up to play with his hair, brushing it out of his eyes and twisting it around her fingers.

She lifted her head to ghost her lips against his and then lowered back down onto the bed, laughing.

“What?” he wondered softly.

“I’m happy,” she explained, smiling wider.

“Me too,” he whispered, leaning in to nuzzle her ear.

“Good,” she hummed contentedly. “So…what were you doing out for a run? Couldn’t sleep?”

He stiffened, knowing she would scold him if she knew why he’d been worrying. “Yeah,” he replied cagily. “Just a lot of stuff on my mind. You know.”

She took his face in her hands to make him meet her eyes. “Anything I can help with?”

He shook his head, averting his gaze as best as he could. “Nah, not really. It’s just silly things. I’m just being silly.”

“It’s not silly if you’re worried about it,” she patiently reminded. “I mean, I was keeping myself up fretting about how to fix a leaky faucet and what to do if our future hamster gets sick, so…whatever you’re worrying about, it can’t be any more ridiculous than my worries. Talk to me. Let me see if I can help you like you helped me earlier. We are a team after all…right?”

How could he argue with that?

With a tired sigh, he turned to meet her gaze, confessing shamefacedly, “I was fretting about what a big mistake you’re making by marrying me.”

She blinked at him uncomprehendingly. “Wait. What? Adrien, what are you talking about?” Her eyes narrowed in concern as she stroked his face comfortingly.

“You could find someone better, Marinette,” he explained as if reluctant to inform her yet duty-bound to make sure she understood all of her options. “I’m sure there’s someone out there better suited to you, and I don’t want to trap you in this relationship with me knowing that—”

“—Adrien, stop,” she commanded gently, pushing them both up to sitting.

He looked at her searchingly. “But—”

“—No,” she firmly interrupted. “Okay. Maybe you’re right that some guy exists out there who would be completely perfect for me in every way, but you know what?”

He cocked his head to the side listening carefully.

“I don’t want him,” she declared resolutely. “I don’t want a perfect life with a perfect partner where everything is always easy and effortless.”

“You…don’t?” He blinked at her, baffled.

“I don’t,” she confirmed. “Adrien, one of the things I treasure most about our relationship is the hard parts, the times when we’ve really struggled to make it work, the things we’ve overcome together. I love that we’ve come together as a team time and again and that we’ve made it through and are still standing after all of that,” she stressed.

“That’s why I calmed down about all the stuff I was worried about when you reminded me that we’d take on whatever problems came up together. I believed you because we’ve gotten through apocalypses together before, so I know we can do it again. We’re tougher because of all the garbage we’ve been through,” she cooed squeezing his hand.

He squeezed back, unable to find his voice to reply.

“Why would I ever pick some seemingly perfect guy over you?” she continued to obliterate his fears, shaking her head at his ever having doubted. “They say you don’t really know a person until you’re buried up to your neck in crap together,” she chuckled at the memories, and he couldn’t help but grin at the past catastrophes that were now comic. “I know you, and you know me, and I know I can count on you no matter what. I wouldn’t trade our partnership for anything, Adrien.”

He nodded, seeing now how ridiculous his worries had been.

“You are the one I want…” She gave his hands another firm squeeze. “…rough edges and all…because your rough edges line up with mine, and I don’t think I could find anyone more perfect for me if I tried.”

He blinked back tears at that, completely overwhelmed by a raging cocktail of emotions. Far too many people had looked at him and declared him perfect without ever knowing about the dark, ugly parts inside of him. Yet, here she was, fully cognizant of the insecurities and the faults, declaring him perfect for her because of the ways in which he was broken.

“Maybe on the surface other people might look better,” she conceded, looking him full in the face and giving him a smile full of acceptance and love. “but you and I have been through fire together, and I know we can make it out on the other side in one piece, so…don’t doubt yourself. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted fighting by my side and having my back…whether that’s battling akumas or changing diapers or paying the bills or succeeding in our careers. You’re the one I love, and you’re the one I want to marry, Adrien.”

With a wordless sob, he pulled her into him, squeezing her close and pulling her down onto the bed beside him so that he could bury his face in her neck.

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him together as he let it all out.

“Shh,” she coaxed. “It’s okay.”

He trembled, overcome by joy and relief and all-encompassing warmth.

“Did you like that little preview of my vows?” she chuckled fondly as she pet his hair.

“You’re going to make me cry tomorrow,” he choked, lifting his head to kiss her cheek. “Thank you.”

“Any time you need it,” she repeated his earlier promise, meaning it wholeheartedly. She knew he had always struggled with self-worth and didn’t always believe that he deserved love and good things, so she had sworn to herself always to build him up and support him.

“I’ll text Alya to remind Nino to have tissues on hand,” she added as an afterthought.

“Please,” he whimpered, loosening his hold on her to shift into a comfortable snuggling position. “I’m going to be a mess tomorrow.”

“You’ll still look gorgeous with tears and snot dripping down your face. Don’t worry,” she assured, breaking away to pull down the covers.

Reluctantly, he got up so that they could settle in for sleep.

Marinette arranged herself comfortably and then motioned for Adrien to snuggle in, resting his head on her shoulder, an arm and a leg draped lightly across her.

Fifteen minutes later, just when Marinette was starting to doze off, Adrien spoke in a timid, quiet voice.

“Are you sure you don’t have any regrets about never dating anyone else?”

His vulnerable tone banished the fog of sleep.

“I’m sure,” she responded decidedly. “I don’t need to date anyone else because I wouldn’t be able to fully be myself with anyone but you. You really know me, both sides of me, the good and the bad, so you’re the only one I can truly be the real me with. You’re not trapping me, Adrien; you’re setting me free. You were always right about revealing our identities. Being able to be myself around you without the masks and the secrets and the lies keeps me sane. Knowing that my partner really gets it makes all the stress and the strain bearable…and I wouldn’t have that with anyone but you. Go to sleep, My Love. You’re stuck with me.”

“Okay,” he chuckled softly, leaning in for a gentle, reassuring kiss. “I’d be overjoyed to be stuck with you for many, many years to come.”

“Same,” she hummed happily, nuzzling his hair and running her hand up and down his back soothingly until they both drifted off to sleep.

The End

#Adrinette #Adrienette #Marichat #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Plagg #Trixx #Kissing #Fluff #Hurt/Comfort #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty

Ready it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...because the world is ending.

Emma took a deep breath before gently pushing open the door of her father’s study.

Adrien was lounging on the couch, reading over his lines for the production of Our Town he would be starring in as George Gibbs the following month. His mouth moved silently with the words on the page.

He hadn’t seen her yet, and Emma was sorely tempted to chicken out…except…she was at her wit’s end, and she needed her dad.

With conviction, she lifted her hand and knocked.

Adrien looked up and smiled warmly at his daughter, making her feel like maybe things would be okay after all. “Hey, Emmie. What’s up?”

She stepped into the room and blew out a breath as she closed the door.

Adrien frowned. “Something wrong, Honey?”

She nodded as she crossed the room.

He stood, dropping the script and meeting her halfway. “Hey. What is it?”

One hand rested supportively on her shoulder while the other cupped her face, tipping it up so that her peridot eyes met his.

Emma Agreste-Dupain-Cheng was normally tough as granite, but, in that moment, she crumbled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “You’re going to be really mad at me, but I’m seriously freaking out, and I need your help, Daddy.”

“Emma, what’s wrong?” Adrien pleaded, beginning to panic as he wiped away his daughter’s tears.

“I think I’m pregnant!” she squeaked.

He blinked dumbly as her words took a minute to process. When they finally did, the anger, outrage, and disappointment overwhelmed him.

“You what?!” he demanded irately. “Emma Sabine Gabrielle Agreste-Dupain-Cheng, what was the point of us buying you condoms and making sure you had birth control?! How could this happen?! How could you be so…”

Adrien froze as he heard his father’s voice coming out of his mouth.

He took a deep breath and finished without heat, “…irresponsible?”

He looked at his daughter trembling before him, and his heart broke.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, pulling her into a tight hug. “Emma, I’m sorry. A lecture is the last thing you need right now. I love you so much, and I am one hundred percent on your side, okay?”

He pulled back to look her in the eye and cup her cheek once more. “Thank you for telling me. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me. Everything’s going to be fine, okay? You’re going to be fine.”

“I’m really scared, Dad,” Emma whimpered.

“Shh. It’s okay,” Adrien shushed comfortingly. “It’s okay to be scared, but you don’t have to be because everything is going to be fine. I’m your father, and I’m going to make it fine, okay?”

Hesitantly, Emma nodded. “O-kay.”

“Here. Come sit down,” he cooed as he gently guided her over to the couch to sit beside him, his arm around her protectively. “Okay. Let’s…Let’s go about this rationally. You said you think you’re pregnant. You don’t know for sure?”

She shook her head.

“Okay.” He nodded, trying to keep his own whirling emotions at bay so that he could be there for his daughter. “Okay. So…why do you think you’re pregnant? Did you miss a period?”

She nodded. “I’m not super regular, so it could be nothing, but…” She shook her head again, squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to stop the tears from flowing.

“But you’re on birth control, right? And you and Michel use condoms?” Adrien verified, trying to cover all their bases.

Emma winced. “Maman told me that the pills only work reliably if you use them one hundred percent right, and I…don’t,” she admitted shamefacedly, averting her gaze. “I forget sometimes. It’s hard to remember to take the pills regularly, so…”

Adrien exhaled slowly, trying to keep from snapping at her about how on earth something that important could be hard to remember. “But you two use condoms, right?” he repeated.

Emma shrank. “I mean…yeah, most of the time.”

“Emma,” Adrien groaned, momentarily forgetting that he was supposed to be supportive and nonjudgmental.

“Come on, Dad,” Emma sighed. “You’re a guy. You know what it’s like. Sometimes you just get caught up in the moment.”

“No, Emma,” Adrien replied firmly. “I don’t know what it’s like because I love your mother too much to put her at risk like that.”

He realized he probably wasn’t being fair to Emma and Michel because he couldn’t understand the experience of people who weren’t asexual, but he figured it was probably better from a parental standpoint to impress upon his daughter how important it was to use protection until she was ready to start a family.

“Michel loves me,” Emma countered defensively.

“I know he does,” Adrien begrudgingly admitted.

He’d watched his best friend’s son fall silly in love with his daughter, and he knew Michel meant no harm. He was just a dumb teenager who’d made a mistake. Adrien himself had made equally dumb, albeit very different, mistakes when he was young.

“…Let’s just focus on the problem at hand,” Adrien gently got the conversation back on track. “We can worry about having the safe sex talk with you again after we make sure you’re not pregnant.”

“What happened to being on my side?” Emma sulked.

“I am on your side,” Adrien stressed, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Sometimes, part of being on someone’s side is lovingly telling them that they’ve screwed up. Plenty of people have had to do that for me. Emma, you’re old enough to make your own decisions about having sex, but you need to be more careful. What you’re feeling right now, all the fear and uncertainty, I don’t want that for you.”

He gave her hair an affectionate tussle. “Having a kid affects every aspect of a parent’s life, and I have a feeling that you want to do a lot of things before you take the plunge into parenthood, so…let’s just get through this, and then we can figure out a way for you to remember to take your pills and use condoms every time. Okay?”

Emma looked away and grumbled a begrudging, “Okay” in response.

“Okay,” Adrien repeated with a sigh, trying to collect his thoughts.

“…So…what do we do now?” Emma looked expectantly up at her father.

“Tell your mother,” he answered immediately.

Emma shot up out of her seat and waved her hands in protest. “No, no, no, no! No! You can’t tell Maman. She’ll totally flip on me.”

“Emma, I think we need backup on this one,” Adrien tried to persuade her. “I’ll tell her. I’ll make sure she calms down before you have to deal with her, I promise.”

“Daddy, no,” Emma whined. “Please don’t tell her.”

“Emmie, I don’t keep secrets from my wife,” Adrien explained firmly. “Trust me. I learned my lesson years and years ago, and I’m not—”

“—I don’t want to give her more evidence of what a screwup I am,” Emma blurted out, a fresh wave of tears flowing down her cheeks.

Adrien stared at his daughter in surprise, his chest starting to ache as her words struck a chord with him.

He got to his feet and pulled her into a tight hug. “Emma, you’re not a screwup. Not by any means. You’re an amazing, bright, talented young woman, and I am so, so proud of you. Everyone makes mistakes, but your mistakes don’t say anything about who you are as a person,” he assured her, repeating the words Marinette had told him many times over the years.

Emma sank into his embrace, squeezing him back. “Still. Please don’t tell her. I don’t want her to be disappointed in me.”

Adrien pulled back to give her forehead a kiss. “Okay. Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal: I’ll go get you a pregnancy test. If it comes back negative, this stays between you and me and you make sure we never have to do this again. If it comes back positive, I’ll tell your mother. Okay?”

Emma nodded, reluctantly agreeing. “Okay.”

“Adrien,” Marinette greeted as she caught him coming down the stairs. “I was just coming up to get you. I want to rearrange the living room, and I need your help moving the furniture.”

Adrien immediately broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that she could sense the duplicity coming off of him in waves.

He smiled, or, at least, he tried to smile. It came out as more of a cringe. “Oh. Hey, My Ladylove. Can it maybe wait an hour? If not, could you ask one of the boys? I need to run to the store.”

Marinette’s cheerful expression morphed into a subtle frown. “Is something wrong?”

“Nope,” Adrien replied too quickly, and it came out sounding forced. “Everything’s great. Why would you think something was wrong?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Did you break one of my flowerpots?”

“No.” He attempted an innocent smile but didn’t have any more luck than he’d had the previous time.

She crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Adrien Agreste-Dupain-Cheng, what are you hiding from me?”

“Nothing,” he insisted.

“Did Plagg cough up another one of those nasty green sludge balls on the carpet?” she guessed.

“Marinette, My Love, I’m just going to the store. Nothing untoward is happening,” he lied through his teeth.

She wasn’t buying it.

“Fine,” he relented. “I’m going to the store to buy pure, unadulterated garbage because I have a sweet tooth, and I’m really craving those pre-packaged snack cakes.”

Marinette looked at her husband in disgust. “Adrien, just run by the bakery and get something decent, if you want sugar. Don’t you dare bring snack cakes into this house.”

“No, Marinette.” He dug his heels in. “I want to eat rubbish, so I’m going to buy rubbish, and you can’t stop me.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “No need to get all dramatic on me. Just know that I’m judging you. Harshly.”

He shrugged, circling around her so that he could make a break for it. “I’m sure our marriage will survive. Our love has been tested by greater obstacles.”

“Mmhm. Hey, pick me up a pack of those awful chocolate-dipped madeleines while you’re at it,” she called after him.

“Will do!” he tossed over his shoulder as he fled.

He returned twenty minutes later with the pregnancy tests hidden in the bottom of a brown paper pharmacy bag with some low-quality, pre-packaged snack cakes sitting on top.

“In the kitchen!” Marinette called out when she heard the front door close behind him. “Bring me my trashy junk food and tell me if this new dress design is a total dumpster fire or not.”

Adrien smiled fondly when he found her bent over the island in the middle of the kitchen, doodling away on the back of a flyer for a new Chinese restaurant that had come in the mail. She had one pencil tucked behind her ear and another stashed in her bun while she jotted down ideas with a third.

Adrien went to her side to peek over her shoulder at the smart yet stylish business suit she had created. “Hmm. I think jade isn’t a good colour choice. You want to make a statement, right?”

Marinette nodded. “Mmhm. I want it to be bold and daring. I want the woman who wears it to feel empowered.”

“Then jade’s a little too…pastel. Maybe try forest or emerald green,” he suggested.

She turned to give his cheek a quick peck. “I knew there was a reason why I kept you around, even if you break my flowerpots and have a weakness for cheap snack cakes.”

Before he could realize what was happening, she took the bag from him and carefully poured the contents out on the counter.

Adrien sucked in a sharp breath as Marinette stared quizzically at the pregnancy tests and tipped her head to the side.

Her first thought was that her husband thought she might be pregnant. Her second thought was that Adrien wanted another baby now that their three children were well on their way to being grown. Her third thought turned her blood cold.

“Oh my God. I’m going to kill her,” she hissed, rounding on her husband.

“No, no, no!” Adrien protested, catching her by the shoulders. “Marinette, please. Listen to me.”

“No,” she snapped. “Adrien, you had no business trying to hide this from me. I am going to kill her,” she repeated. “How could she let this happen? She never thinks, and now—”

“—Marinette, she didn’t want to tell you because she was afraid you’d be disappointed and think she was a screwup,” Adrien broke in, making Marinette pause and look at him in confusion.

“She thinks you think she’s a screwup,” Adrien stressed, trying to make Marinette understand. “She really looks up to you, and what you think of her is really important. I know what that’s like, Marinette, and it feels really, really bad when people you respect are disappointed in you.”

“Oh, Adrien,” Marinette sighed sympathetically, reaching up to cup his face in both hands, running her thumbs along his cheekbones.

“Please don’t make her feel bad about this,” he pleaded, and the deep, personal hurt in his entreating eyes made her want to cry. “Emma’s already beating herself up enough.”

Marinette leaned in, pressing a reassuring kiss to her husband’s lips. “Okay,” she relented. “All right. You’re right. She’s probably been freaking out for days…. Adrien, what are we going to do?” she groaned, burying her face in his chest as she wrapped her arms around him. “She’ll have to drop out of school, and people will say bad things about her and make her feel bad, and she won’t get to go to university and get a good job, and all her dreams will be ruined, and—”

“—Marinette, it’s going to be fine,” Adrien interrupted, pushing her back so that they could lock gazes. “Plenty of young mothers have very successful, fulfilling lives. If she even is pregnant, it’s not the end of the world. Nino and Alya aren’t likely to let Michel be a deadbeat dad, and we’re both here to support her. Maybe she’ll have to take a little time off school, but we can get her tutors so she doesn’t fall behind. We’re going to make this work, okay?” he coaxed encouragingly, starting to really believe the words himself.

She blew out a long breath and nodded. “You’re right. Of course, you’re right. We’ll make this work.”

He smiled, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her lips. “Okay. I’ve kept Emma waiting long enough. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“No way,” Marinette snorted indignantly. “I’m coming up there with you. I’m her mother. I’m supposed to be there for her for this kind of thing.”

Adrien winced. “She made me promise not to tell you unless the test came back positive.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, drawing away and grabbing the pregnancy tests. “Please. Are you going to show her how to pee on the stick?”

Adrien blanched. “On second thought, go ahead. You are her mother after all.”

“Emma?” Adrien called out as they ascended the stairs.

“Here,” she responded, poking her head out of her room. Her face went from ashen to vermillion as she spotted Marinette. “You told her!” she accused, betrayal coating the words.

“He didn’t tell me,” Marinette explained, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. “I grabbed the bag out of his hands and found the tests because I thought he was bringing home snacks.”

Emma’s gaze dropped to the flooring, and her shoulders scrunched up to her ears.

“Oh, Baby,” Marinette cooed, going to her daughter and pulling her into a bolstering hug. “It’s going to be okay, Sweetheart. We’re here for you, and we love you no matter what.”

Emma started crying again as she rested her head on top of her mother’s. “I’m s-sorry.”

“It’s okay, Emmie,” Marinette assured, all her irritation and anger leaving her in the face of her child’s suffering. “This kind of thing happens. It’s okay.”

Adrien came over and joined in the group hug, assuring, “No matter what, we’re going to get through this as a family.”

They stayed like that for a minute, each gathering courage from the other two. Then they broke away, and Marinette led Emma into the bathroom to go over the instructions with her.

Adrien was sitting on the floor in the hallway with his back up against the linen closet door when Marinette left Emma to take the test.

“How’s she doing?” Adrien inquired pessimistically.

Marinette blew out a sigh and sank to the floor next to him, shaking her head. “She’s freaking out.”

“She’s her mother’s daughter after all,” Adrien hummed half-heartedly. “Usually she takes more after me.”

“Normally I find that charming,” Marinette admitted, “but, today, I’m wishing she hadn’t inherited your recklessness.”

“Me too,” he snorted ruefully. “…So…how long does the test take?”

“Three minutes.” Marinette dropped her head to the side, onto his shoulder. “This is probably going to be the longest three minutes ever.”

“Yeah,” he agreed miserably. “…This is kind of the worst. I remember when we were trying to get pregnant and taking the test was the most exciting part of the month.”

Marinette snickered. “My favourite part was all the sex.”

Adrien rolled his eyes. “Allow me to respectfully disagree.”

“My poor ace baby,” Marinette teased.

“Actually, I think that’s some of the worst sex we’ve ever had.” Adrien turned his head to nuzzle her hair. “There was too much mental pressure, and it wasn’t even about making you feel good, just about getting you pregnant. I was super stressed out the whole time we were trying.”

“You didn’t say anything,” she chided.

He shrugged. “I wanted children. It was worth it in the end, and having Louis made it easier when we were trying with Hugo and Emma. I had a better idea of why I was doing what I was doing and putting myself through all that.”

“You still should have said something.” She gave his shoulder a light nip.

“Meh. I’m over it,” he replied as his eyes slipped closed and he let himself be comforted by her scent.

A minute and a half later, Emma poked her head out of the bathroom and smiled sheepishly at her parents. “False alarm.”

Marinette and Adrien heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness,” Adrien laughed giddily, getting to his feet and then helping Marinette up.

“Now we can be mad at you,” Marinette informed in a cheerful tone, grinning widely as she pulled her husband and daughter into another group hug.

“I think maybe this experience has been punishment enough,” Adrien interceded with his wife before looking sternly at his daughter. “You’ve learned your lesson about using protection, right?”

Emma nodded vehemently. “Absolutely. This will never happen again.”

“Good.” Adrien smiled softly, leaning in to press a kiss to his daughter’s temple before turning to his wife. “Okay, Marinette?”

Marinette sighed and shrugged, letting it go. “Okay.”

“Hey.” He tugged gently on Marinette’s sleeve as they all pulled out of the hug.

She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Wanna go call Nino and Alya and tell them what a crappy day we’re having?”

A diabolic grin dashed across her lips. “We should tell them about the pregnancy test and then wait until tomorrow morning to tell them the results.”

“Maman. Dad,” Emma whined, shooting her parents a glare. “No! I don’t want Michel to get in trouble. Besides, it’s not Auntie Alya and Uncle Nino’s business.”

“No,” Adrien argued, “I think a pregnancy scare is just what Michel needs to make him think twice next time about not using a condom.”

“Think of it as a valuable learning experience,” Marinette suggested. “You’ve been worrying about this for at least a couple days now, haven’t you? The least he can do is wait in suspense overnight in solidarity with you. Couples are supposed to go through these kinds of things together.”

“Ditto best friends,” Adrien added, nodding in agreement with his wife.

“Mmhm,” Marinette agreed. “I’ve sat through a couple pregnancy scares with Alya, and now it’s time for her to go through one with me.”

Emma eyed her parents skeptically. “Are you sure that Grandpa Gabriel is the evil one in the family? You two are kind of devious. Are you sure you were superheroes?”

“Positive,” Marinette assured. “Best friends give one another crap. It’s part of being best friends.”

Slowly, Emma began to nod. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything if I turned off my phone for the night. Michel couldn’t blame me for being too exhausted to check my messages after the ordeal I just went through.”

“That’s my girl,” Adrien chuckled, patting Emma on the back. “…We should go get ice cream to celebrate!”

“But you already brought home those gross sugar bomb snack cakes,” Marinette snickered.

Adrien stuck out his tongue in disgust. “I didn’t actually want those. Those were just a cover story.”

Marinette shook her head, unable to suppress her smile. “All right. I guess we can get ice cream, then. The boys will probably eat the snack cakes if you leave them sitting out. They weren’t raised in a bakery, so they don’t have such refined tastes.”

“Maman, I’ve seen you eat a whole sleeve of Oreos before,” Emma teased. “I don’t think you have any room to talk about refined tastes.”

Marinette pursed her lips in a pout. “I feel called out. Called out by my own daughter.”

“She does have a point, Princess,” Adrien snickered and got socked in the arm (lovingly) for his trouble.

#Adrinette #Adrienette #Marichat #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Emma Agreste #Pregnancy Scare #Kissing #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty-Six

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of envy or jealousy.

They were at a Gabriel charity event, and it had been twenty minutes since Adrien left Marinette talking to one of the lead designers at Chanel to allegedly go get her a drink.

Now, the conversation had ended with the exchange of business cards, and Marinette had no drink and no idea where her fiancé had gotten to.

At five feet, eight inches (ten in shoes, as Adrien always reminded defensively), Adrien was practically impossible to spot among the crowd of gracefully lithe models, tall businessmen, and women wearing ridiculously high heels.

She was just about to pull out her phone and call him when the crowd happened to part enough that the bar suddenly became visible, and she spotted him. She paused mid-step to squint in confusion as a tanned, thirty-something young man leaned into Adrien’s space and said something suavely flirty—Marinette could tell by the way the man’s eyes smoldered.

Adrien laughed, shaking his head as he replied.

The man smiled predatorially and inched in closer, casually placing his hand on top of Adrien’s resting on the bar. He ran his thumb back and forth over Adrien’s knuckle, leaning in some more and seemingly lowering his voice.

That was it.

No one hit on her man like that without getting a piece of Marinette’s mind.

She took a deep breath, composing herself and squaring her shoulders before, head held high, striding confidently over to the bar.

“Adrien!” she called in a factitiously cheery tone. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over.”

Adrien turned at the sound of her voice, opening his mouth to greet her only to be ambushed as she pulled his arm to her chest (nearly causing him to spill his drink all over the slimewad who had been flirting with him) and caught his lips in a territorial kiss.

Adrien blinked, stunned, as Marinette pulled back and grinned widely at Adrien’s equally startled companion.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized with artificial sincerity. “I hate to be rude, but I need to steal my fiancé for a minute. His father, Gabriel Agreste, needs him.”

Adrien’s eyes flew even wider open, this time in terror. “What?!”

“Come along, Darling,” Marinette cooed, almost making Adrien trip as she practically dragged him away.

“Sorry, Kumar!” Adrien called back over his shoulder as Marinette hauled him over to the far corner of the ballroom.

“What does my father need me for?” Adrien inquired urgently when they came to a stop.

Marinette rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t need you for anything. I made that up to get you away from that creep.”

Adrien blinked uncomprehendingly. “Kumar’s not a creep. He was really nice. He recognized me from my modeling mainly, but he said he’d seen me in a couple of the productions I’ve done while in university too. He really liked me as Viola in Twelfth Night three years ago,” Adrien beamed with pride, and Marinette almost hated to crush the illusion.

Adrien always believed the best about others, always gave them the benefit of the doubt. It was something Marinette treasured about her partner, but sometimes it made Adrien too credulous, too trusting, and that had burned him in the past.

“He’s actually a director, and he wants to do a modern-day adaptation based on the Arsène Lupin books. He wanted me to audition,” Adrien informed with all the excitement of a puppy about to go for a walk. “He gave me his number.”

Marinette smiled patiently, her annoyance subsiding as she reached up and lovingly stroked Adrien’s face. “Oh, My Love…maybe he really is a director and he really does want you to audition, but I know one thing for sure, and that’s that Kumar was coming onto you.”

Adrien blinked, staring at her incredulously. “What? …N-No. No. He wasn’t. Yeah, I mean, he bought me a drink, but it wasn’t like that.”

Marinette pursed her lips but didn’t argue.

Adrien frowned. “Okay. Maybe he was being a little friendly, but he was kind of tipsy. You get super handsy when you’re tipsy. It’s not uncommon.”

Marinette didn’t fight back and, instead, let him put the pieces together himself.

“Though…” Adrien bit his lip. “I mean… He did…”

Mentally, he reviewed the exchange, cringing as he saw things in a new light.

“Okay,” he admitted with a sigh. “Maybe he was trying to pick me up a little bit, but he definitely wanted me to audition for his play too.”

“I’m sure he did, Chaton,” Marinette encouraged, giving Adrien’s arm a pat and leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. “He would be crazy not to want you in his play.”

“I know, right?” Adrien nodded, trying to convince himself of that fact in order to save face a little.

“Mmhm,” Marinette confirmed. “You’re an amazing actor, Adrien. You’re going to be famous all over again in your own right before you know it.”

“Yeah,” Adrien sighed, beginning to look glum.

“You okay?” She took his hand and gave it a bolstering squeeze.

He squeezed back. “Just feeling kind of foolish for not realizing I was being chatted up.”

She shook her head and waved the incident away. “It’s just because you’re so used to it. People hit on you all the time, so flirting doesn’t really register anymore.”

That got a glimmer of a smile out of him. “You’re not wrong. I am in rather high demand.”

“I’m going to have to put a collar and a bell on you so everyone knows without a doubt that you’re taken,” Marinette snorted teasingly, giving her fiancé an impish grin.

His smile widened into a full-fledged beam. “I’d be delighted if you’d make it official and put a collar on me, My Ladylove.”

She bopped his nose playfully, giving him her Ladybug smirk. “The wedding’s not until the summer, Chaton. You’ll have to wait.”

“I can’t wait,” Adrien hummed, pulling her in to rest his forehead against hers. “Seven whole months? It feels like a lifetime.”

“Patience,” Marinette chuckled, giving his shoulder a supportive squeeze. “We’ll get there when we get there.”

Adrien gave a soft grumble, making Marinette laugh harder.

“Come on,” she coaxed, stepping back but retaining his hands in her own. “Let’s work the room and rub it in everyone’s faces how obnoxiously happy we are together.”

Adrien chuckled as he shook his head and gazed lovingly at his future bride. “As my Princess wishes.”

#Adrinette #Adrienette #Marichat #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Kissing #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Marichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty-Five

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of anger.

“I can’t believe you!” Marinette shouted, swiping the throw pillow off of her chaise longue and launching it at her boyfriend.

He easily deflected it even as he tried to contain his giggle fit.

She scooped it up off of the floor and hit him in the arm with it. “Don’t laugh! I’m super angry, Chat Noir!”

She hit him again for good measure, but he just kept grinning and chuckling, obnoxiously pleased with himself.

“You’re not angry,” he called her bluff.

“I am!” she insisted. “I am very, very angry! I told you not to spend a fortune on me for my birthday, but-but…just look at all of this!”

She made a sweeping gesture with her pillow-less hand, indicating the new sewing machine and several bolts of pricey fabric that she would have had to have saved up months to afford.

Chat Noir did look at the gifts he’d given her, and his grin only widened. “Marinette, money is nothing to me. You know I’m loaded. Why won’t you let me spoil you?”

“Because this is too much!” she cried in exasperation, throwing the pillow once more.

He effortlessly batted it down out of the air with a single paw.

“Chat Noir, I don’t want you spending this much money on me,” she repeated, all joking gone from her voice. “I really appreciate the thought you put into it, and the fabric and the sewing machine are beyond wonderful. Thank you, but please don’t buy me such expensive things in the future.” Her gaze dropped to the ground where she scuffed the toe of her shoe against the floorboards as she reluctantly admitted, “It makes me uncomfortable,” in a small, apologetic voice.

“What? Princess, why?” he coaxed, taking her hands in his.

“Because,” she muttered, “You deserve nice things too, but I could never give you something this nice. I feel bad that I can never give you gifts as good as the ones you give me, so…”

“Marinette, no,” he cooed, tugging her over to the chaise and making her sit beside him. “Look at me.”

She forced herself to gaze up and meet his eyes so full of affection.

“Marinette, there isn’t much you could buy that would really mean anything to me,” he attempted to explain. “Sure, I would appreciate and treasure it because it was from you, but it would mean a lot more to get something you’d made for me yourself. The time and the effort you put into designing and making something special for me is what really matters. Knowing you were thinking of me the whole time you knitted me a scarf or crocheted me a Ladybug plushie or sewed me a pair of pyjamas…that’s the gift.”

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. She wanted to believe him, but she feared he was just being kind, knowing that her income was meager. “Really?”

He nodded solemnly, willing her to trust him. “My gift to you is the same way. I’m not really good at making things like you, but I thought about what I could get that would be useful to you, what would really make you happy, something that you might not be able to have otherwise. Money doesn’t mean anything to me, Marinette. I’m blessed not to have to even think about it, so your real gift isn’t me spending money on you. It’s me taking the time to figure out what would make you happy…just like you do when you make things to give to your friends. The only difference is that I have a bigger budget. That doesn’t make my gifts better. Your handmade gifts mean every bit as much to me as if you had spent a ton of money.”

She narrowed her eyes, studying him intently. “…You’re really sure?”

He nodded once more. “I’ve told you about my home life, how my father buried himself in his company after my mother left. My father’s secretary picks out my gifts on his behalf, and she tries, but…there’s nothing truly personal about them. They’re fancy, and they’re expensive, but there’s no feeling behind them. Anything you gave me would be a treasure.”

He looked at her so earnestly, so lovingly, it almost overwhelmed her.

“Oh,” she chuckled, blushing and averting her gaze.

“Just being with you is gift enough,” he whispered, leaning in to bump his nose against hers.

“Yeah?” she breathed, looking up and getting lost in his eyes.

“Mmhm,” he assured, closing the distance between them for a languid, luxurious kiss.

When they finally pulled back, Chat Noir smirked. “So…will you please accept my heartfelt gift? I agonized over which fabrics to get, and I even did research on what model sewing machine would work best for you. Please don’t make me return them.” His pressed his palms together in a praying gesture and gave her the kitten eyes.

Marinette heaved a longsuffering sigh. “Oh, all right.”

“Yes!” he cheered, jumping up to punch the air in triumph.

Marinette rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Dork. But just this once. It’s okay to spend a little money on me every once in a while, but this is really over and above. Maybe just one bolt of fabric next time.”

“We’ll see,” Chat responded with a satisfied smirk.

“Minou,” she groaned.

The teasing expression left his face as he confessed, “Honestly, Marinette. I’m the one who feels like whatever I give you will never be enough to match what you’ve given me, you know that?”

She blinked at him, taken aback. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “Even before we were really friends, you let me come over when I was feeling down, you shared your time with me, your family, your food… Maybe it all seemed like little things to you, but having a safe space to retreat to when my life on the other side of the mask got to be too much and having a person I knew truly cared about me…that was everything. You’ve been a lifeline to me these past few years…and then you agreed to go out with me on top of it. You are the greatest gift anyone has ever given me, and I am the one who doesn’t think he could ever manage to give you anything anywhere near that nice.”

“…You stupid cat,” Marinette huffed without heat, rising to her feet to pull him back into her arms.

She looked him right in the eye and pointedly informed, “You are more than enough.”

She kissed him, catching him entirely by surprise.

Once the initial shock passed, he smiled into the kiss, melting into warm contentment.

#Marichat #Adrinette #Adrienette #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Kissing #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Marichat/Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Thirty-Eight

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...because they’re running out of time.

It was bad.

It had been an honest mistake, a simple oversight, but Marinette was now regretting it immensely as an akumatized Adrien fangirl tore the roof off the Gabriel warehouse where Marinette was doing her summer internship like the lid of a soup can.

Two days previously, Chat Noir had rescued Marinette when she got caught in the crossfire of the latest Gabriel Agreste-caused akuma attack. Unthinkingly, Marinette had rung his bell, called him her hero in a flirty, saccharine tone, and kissed him on the cheek.

One of the other interns (Marinette’s rival Benoit) had gotten it all on tape as he took cover behind a clothes rack and posted the video online, the sniveling coward.

Of course, Adrien’s rabid fans were now calling for Marinette’s head on a platter despite Adrien’s insistences that Marinette was not cheating on him.

Clearly this fangirl was a little slow on the uptake if she’d only found out about and gotten akumatized over the quote-unquote “scandal” just then.

“You!” the akuma (Marinette hadn’t gotten her name yet) shrieked like a banshee as she pointed threateningly at Marinette, flapping her harpy-like wings as she slowly descended. “I’ll show you, you little hussy! The penalty for breaking Adrien’s heart is death!”

Marinette groaned, standing her ground and letting herself be a sitting duck to keep the akuma’s attention while the rest of her coworkers fled to safety.

“News flash!” Chat Noir growled as he leapt through the hole in the roof the fury had created, bashing the akuma over the head with his baton like a baseball bat on his way down.

He landed in a crouch in front of Marinette, putting himself between her and the monster. “Adrien’s heart isn’t broken, and he’s pissed that you’re harassing his girlfriend,” Chat snapped as he rose to his full height, teeth bared.

Marinette mentally noted that her boyfriend was really hot when he was worked up over protecting her.

The fury recovered from Chat’s little love-tap faster than expected, hissing like a feral cat as she dropped to the ground, denting the warehouse floor with her clawed, bird-like feet.

“You and your lover will die!” the akuma screeched, pulling a cartoonish gun-apparatus off her shoulder holster and firing it at them.

Acting on instinct, Chat dove at Marinette, pushing her to the ground.

Unfortunately, it was a net gun, and the resulting net got a two-for-one special, trapping both Marinette and Chat Noir in one shot.

The harpy akuma cackled, slowly advancing on her prey. “I will sacrifice you both to Adrien, and then he will realize his love for me!”

“Hate to break it to you,” Chat grumbled as he and Marinette struggled to free themselves and only wound up making it worse. “but Adrien’s ninety percent vegetarian, and he frowns on human sacrifice.”

Checking to make sure Marinette was clear of his right hand, Chat shouted, “Cataclysm!”, and the rope trapping them dissolved away.

“Run!” Marinette yelped, half pulling him to his feet as they took off.

The akuma screamed in anger, folding her wings and giving chase much faster than a bird of prey that large should have been able to on land.

“We need somewhere you can hide while I lead her away,” Chat panted as they raced down evacuated hallways.

“Storage closet,” Marinette agreed, spinning on her heel and going back three doors to where they kept bolts of the three dozen hues of chiffon regularly used at Gabriel.

Just as Marinette managed to yank open the storage room door, the fury rounded the corner and shrieked, “There you are!”

She dove at them, snatching them up in her talons and tossing them into the closet together.

They landed with a thud, bolts of fabric raining down around them.

“Stay put,” the akuma commanded, shutting them in and piling debris up outside the door to make sure that they couldn’t escape. “I have to go get Adrien so he can watch your demise.”

And, with that, the girl flew off to find her idol, certain that her prey would still be right where she’d left them when she returned.

“Marinette? Are you okay? Did she hurt you?” Chat called desperately as he dug himself out of the fabric pile.

“I’m good,” Marinette groaned, shoving the blots of chiffon off of herself. “I’m probably going to be nursing some bruises later, but nothing’s broken or bleeding.”

Chat sighed in relief as he made his way over to her, helping to clear away the last of the fabric before assisting her to her feet. “Thank goodness,” he whispered, pulling her in for a gentle hug. “I kind of flipped when I saw that harpy monster on the news announcing her manifesto to put you to death.”

“My phone is in my purse in my locker, so I didn’t hear the akuma alert,” Marinette sighed, thinking, not for the first time, that she needed to come up with a way to stay on top of akuma notices even while at work because this was becoming a problem.

“I’m just glad you’re safe,” he sighed, nuzzling her hair. “I was really scared.”

He shuddered even as he held her. His first thought had been of Marinette’s lifeless body being presented to him by the akuma, and that was quickly followed up by the terrifying thought that if Marinette was gone, there would be no Ladybug to restore her to him.

“You’re still freaking out, aren’t you?” Marinette realized, wrapping her arms around him tighter and nuzzling him back.

He nodded. “I couldn’t live without you. It would break me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised. “We’re going to get out of here, and then you and Ladybug are going to purify the akuma. Everything is going to be fine.”

He took a deep inhale of her scent, letting it calm him.

“Right,” he breathed. “You’re right. Everything’s going to be fine.”

She held him a little longer until his breathing evened out, and then she pulled back, giving him an encouraging smile. “Are you ready to get us out of here, My Love?”

He returned her smile weakly and nodded. “On it.”

“I’m honestly worried about Adrien,” Marinette sighed as Chat Noir squared off against the door. “He’s probably going out of his mind worrying about the both of us. You and Ladybug need to stop Harpy Lady before she abducts poor Adrien.”

“Won’t be a problem,” Chat assured, raising his right hand and calling out, “Cataclysm!”

Nothing happened.

Marinette and Chat frowned in tandem.

“Not enough juice for a second Cataclysm today?” Marinette hummed.

Frankly, she was impressed with how his abilities had grown over the years. It was a little unpredictable, and it changed from one fight to the next, but sometimes he could get off two or three Cataclysms before having to detransform, and the five-minute timer no longer seemed to apply to him.

Ladybug’s powers, on the other hand, hadn’t seemed to improve or grow at all. She still got one Lucky Charm and then detransformed five minutes later.

She’d asked Tikki about it, but that hadn’t gotten them anywhere. Tikki thought maybe Marinette’s stress was limiting her growth.

Marinette couldn’t bring herself to be amused by the irony.

Chat Noir’s ring began to beep in warning, causing the hero to groan. “Plagg, it hasn’t even been ten minutes. What the heck?”

“Has he not been feeling well?” Marinette inquired, a deep frown of concern etching itself into her brow.

Chat shook his head. “He’s been his same old annoying, cheese-eating self. I don’t know. Maybe I’m the problem. I am kind of off my game because an akuma is trying to kill the woman I love.”

Marinette grinned, stepping in to give him a sweet kiss on the cheek. “Aww. That’s kind of romantic.”

“It’s kind of annoying,” he laughed self-deprecatingly. “Unfortunately, this is my reality.”

She stepped back with an affectionate smile and turned to face away from him, closing her eyes and covering them with her hands. “Go ahead and detransform. I won’t look while Plagg recharges.”

He pressed his lips together, considering as his ring gave another beep.

“I promise I’ll keep my eyes shut,” she insisted, misinterpreting the cause of his hesitation.

He dropped his transformation and tossed Plagg a piece of Camembert.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped in, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend from behind.

She jumped, startled at the contact at first, but then settled back against him, enjoying the feeling of his bare skin on hers. She usually only got so much skin-on-skin contact during intimate moments, and the sensation now lit little flickers in her stomach.

“I love you,” he whispered into her shoulder, pressing kisses like a flower chain up her neck.

“Love you too,” she giggled, hoping Plagg would take his time with the cheese.

“Marinette?” he called tentatively.

“Hm?”

“I love you, and I can’t keep doing this anymore,” he confessed, making her suddenly go rigid as all of the happy, warm feelings vanished.

She swallowed hard. “W-What do you mean?”

“Keeping secrets from you. Lying to you,” he explained, nuzzling her neck and pulling her closer, his hand on her stomach.

“What exactly are you lying about?” she found the words to ask even as they stuck in her throat.

“Who I am,” he sighed. “I can’t do it anymore. I need you to open your eyes and look at me. I need you to know who I am because we’ve been dating a year and a half, and I’ve let this farce go on far too long.”

“Chat Noir, no,” she stressed, pressing the heels of her hands harder to her face. “I can’t know. We’ve been over this many, many times. It’s not safe while Papillon is still at large.”

“Marinette, all the things you’re afraid of aren’t going to happen,” he sighed in frustration. “I know you’re scared, and I’m not saying your fears are unfounded, but…Papillon doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon, and I cannot keep up this act for another month, let alone another year or more. I’ve always respected your wishes because I didn’t want to force this huge burden on you without your consent…but we’ve passed the point of ridiculousness, and I need you to know now. I can’t hide this any longer. I won’t.”

“Minou, don’t be unreasonable,” Marinette coaxed. “I…It’s not safe.”

He turned her around to face him and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Open your eyes and look at me, or I’m breaking up with you.”

Her body gave a jerk, and her mouth fell open in a silent gasp of shock at his harsh words and no-nonsense tone.

“Please,” he returned to pleading, taking her hands and gently pulling them from her still-closed eyes. “Please,” he whispered against her lips, giving them a desperate kiss.

“Please,” he repeated in a tearful, strained voice, getting down on his knees, pressing his face to her stomach and giving it a nuzzle. “Please, look at me.”

He sat back on his heels, looking up at her plaintively, giving her hands an entreating squeeze. “Please, Marinette?”

Her lips were quivering as tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. Her hands too were shaking even as he held them.

Gradually, her eyelids did part, and her gaze came to rest squarely on Adrien Agreste, a supplicant mess at her feet.

She pulled back, falling over backwards as her hands went to cover her mouth.

“A-Adrien?!”

“I’m so sorry,” he rushed to get out. “You didn’t want me to tell you, and then things got so messed up that I didn’t know how to tell you. I’m sorry, Marinette. I’m so, so sorry.”

But she didn’t hear him. She was too busy panicking and shaking her head and trying to come up with reasons why what she was seeing couldn’t be true.

“—No,” she finally responded, cutting him off as he babbled apologies and tried to explain himself. “No,” she laughed just on the right side of maniacal. “I’ve seen you two together. I’ve made out with the both of you. I’ve seen the both of you making out with each other!” she accused, desperate to keep her understanding of reality in one piece.

He shook his head and replied in a very small, brittle voice, “Fox Miraculous.”

She blinked at him, not comprehending.

He gulped and tried again. “I used the Fox Miraculous to create a doppelgänger.”

She stared at him, hurt and betrayal flooding her senses. “You…used the Fox Miraculous…on me?”

Adrien visibly shrank, his shoulders rising up to his ears as he responded with the smallest, most timid of nods. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. I…” He trailed off as she shook her head, her eyes cutting into him with the depth of their hurt and anger.

“How could you?” she asked quietly, calmly, leaving him wishing that she would just yell and get it over with.

He had nothing to say for himself.

He didn’t think she’d react well to “How could I not?” or “What else was I supposed to do?”

So he didn’t say anything. He just sat there, looking at her penitently, waiting for her to get to the part where she forgave him and told him it was okay. He waited for her to say she still loved him.

He wondered if he should say it first.

That didn’t feel right, though. He knew he still loved her, but he wasn’t so sure that she still loved him. He wasn’t good at fights. When his parents fought, they sometimes didn’t speak for days or weeks afterwards. Adrien had never gotten to see how those fights were resolved, how couples made up.

When Adrien got in trouble with his father, the usual protocol was for Adrien to stand still and take whatever verbal abuse his father threw at him until Adrien was dismissed.

He wondered if that’s what he was supposed to do now. Though Marinette seemed to be done talking. She seemed to be waiting for Adrien to say something.

Adrien had no idea what that something was. He didn’t usually get a turn to speak when his father took him to task.

He’d seen Alya and Nino argue about little things from time to time. They usually apologized, kissed, and made up…but Marinette didn’t look like she wanted a kiss.

“Well?” she asked, voice emotionless…like his father’s.

Marinette wasn’t supposed to make him feel like his father did.

Adrien looked for Plagg, hoping his kwami might offer some assistance, but Plagg was nowhere to be seen.

Adrien was on his own, feeling very tiny, stupid, and not good enough.

“I’m…sorry,” he tried miserably. “I love you.”

She stared back at him and sighed, shaking her head as she got to her feet.

Was she breaking up with him? Did her shaking her head mean that she didn’t love him?

The only thing he truly understood was the disappointment on her face. He was very, very familiar with disappointment.

“We’re wasting time,” she decreed, scrubbing at her face with her hands. “I’m sorry. We’ll have to talk about this later. I’ll come over to your apartment. Right now, there’s an akuma to fight, and you need to get us out of here.”

“R-Right,” he readily agreed, pushing himself up on shaky legs.

He tried to focus on the task at hand and not let himself think about losing Marinette’s love forever.

“Plagg?” he called, uncertainly.

The little deity flew out from behind a stack of chiffon and came up to nuzzle Adrien’s cheek.

The affectionate gesture almost made Adrien cry, it meant so much to him.

“Thanks,” he whispered in heartfelt appreciation before calling on his transformation.

Once the storage closet door and the pile of rubble blocking it was Cataclysmed away, Marinette was on the move, tossing an, “I’m going to find somewhere safe to hide. I’ll drop by your apartment after the attack,” over her shoulder as she went.

He tried to tell himself that her cold, distant behaviour was the result of shock. She was dealing with a lot of emotions, and maybe springing a reveal on her during an akuma attack where the akuma was trying to kill her hadn’t been the best timing.

He tried to tell himself that it wasn’t him. It was just Marinette panicking because that’s what Marinette did.

Somehow, those thoughts didn’t make him feel any less miserable.

The akuma was purified, and, while that was all that truly mattered at the end of the day, the battle had been a clown fiesta that surely left Paris wondering what was wrong with its heroes.

They were a mess. Chat Noir and Ladybug were horribly out of sync, tripping each other up, misreading signals, and getting thrown all over one another by the harpy lady.

Everyone was just happy that they’d somehow pulled it off regardless.

No fist bumps were exchanged at the end of the battle.

This was a little disheartening because Adrien took it to mean that Marinette was so upset with him that she’d forgotten or didn’t care that Ladybug shouldn’t be behaving coldly toward Chat Noir because he wasn’t supposed to know that Marinette and Ladybug were the same person.

Adrien collapsed on his bed, arms spread wide as he let out a long, bone-weary sigh. “Today is the worst.”

Plagg came over and settled on Adrien’s chest, giving his ward a nuzzle and a comforting purr. “At least nobody died,” he offered.

Adrien groaned, throwing an arm over his face as tears began to leak from the corners of his eyes. “I’m such an idiot.”

Trixx poked his head out of Adrien’s right shoulder and flew up to stroke Adrien’s hair. “You’re not an idiot,” he cooed, trying to be helpful.

Usually he left these kinds of interactions to Plagg who knew Adrien better and was, therefore, better suited to providing comfort. Today’s confrontation with Marinette in the storage closet had been particularly intense, though. Trixx could feel the way Adrien’s body had shaken and tensed and braced to be struck. Trixx could smell the stress hormones Adrien gave off, and he could tell that his holder needed more comfort than usual.

“I’m sorry Plagg and I didn’t give you the best guidance,” he whispered his regret. “We didn’t help you handle the situation well.”

Plagg snorted, stopping mid-nuzzle to look up and glare at Trixx. “We didn’t do anything wrong. This is all on Tikki. It’s her fault for filling her girl’s head so full of horror stories of identity reveals that went wrong in the past. It’s Tikki’s fault we got to this point. She knew Adrien and Chat Noir were the same person. She should have said something, told her girl it was okay to lighten up.”

Trixx couldn’t help but think that it was rather ungenerous of him to throw his other half under the bus like that. He would have thought that Plagg would show more loyalty to Tikki. On the other hand, Plagg’s kitten was suffering and had been suffering for quite some time, as the Adrichat charade had been going on for about a year at that point.

Plagg turned back to Adrien, insisting, “Kid, you know this isn’t your fault, right? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t really do anything right either,” Adrien mumbled despondently.

Trixx kept petting Adrien’s hair in the absence of anything more helpful to do.

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Plagg coaxed.

Adrien only sighed in response. “…Are we broken up now, do you think? I’m not good at fights. That felt like a pretty big fight.”

“That’s not what I took away from the encounter,” Trixx offered, mentally crossing his fingers that his understanding of human interactions aligned with the reality of the situation.

“Kid, no,” Plagg assured, going back to nuzzling. “She’s just upset. She’s not dumping you. She said she’d be by to talk it over later, so—”

“—So she can dump me officially?” Adrien groaned.

“I believe this is what that therapist person we saw the other day referred to as the cognitive distortion of ‘catastrophizing’,” Trixx remarked, trying to be helpful.

“What the fox said,” Plagg seconded. “You’re doing that catastrophe thing. Stop that and go into your talk with your girlfriend with an open mind. Maybe she’ll scream at Tikki first and get all of her anger worked out before she comes here, so she’ll be able to think clearly and see that this is all her own fault.”

Adrien took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah,” he replied half-heartedly. “Maybe.”

He felt bad for hoping that Marinette yelled at Tikki because, deep down, he knew he was in the wrong too, but he had a feeling that Tikki could withstand Marinette’s anger better than Adrien could.

“Just try to stay calm,” Trixx coached. “We’ll deal with whatever happens when it happens, so there’s no point in worrying about it now.”

“Okay,” Adrien mumbled, trying to focus on his breathing and the comforting caresses of his kwamis.

Adrien woke to muffled voices coming from the main room about two hours later. Trixx was still curled up beside him, his head resting on Adrien’s shoulder, but Plagg was nowhere to be seen.

Adrien wiped the crusty debris from the corners of his eyes and sat up, trying to make out to whom the voices belonged. He rolled off the bed and onto his feet, going to investigate.

He found Plagg and Marinette in the main room of the apartment, hissing at each other in hushed tones.

Her complexion was splotchy, and her eyes were red. She looked a mess, but his heart still leapt for her.

Sensing their audience, Plagg and Marinette looked to where Adrien stood in the bedroom doorway, and Marinette’s eyes lit up.

“Adrien,” she breathed, rushing to his side, wrapping her arms around him, and squeezing him tight.

Reflexively, he untensed, settling into her embrace and dropping his head to rest on hers, his face buried in her hair.

“I’m sorry,” she stressed into his chest. “I’m so sorry. I’m not breaking up with you. Ever.”

“O-Oh,” he choked, beginning to tremble as an overwhelming wave of emotions washed over him. “Good,” he managed.

“Come here,” she coaxed, tugging him to the couch so that they could sit before their legs gave out.

She pulled back to look him in the eyes, gingerly cupping his face in her hands. “I’m sorry for how I reacted before. I was really upset, and there was a lot going on. There was a lot to think about and digest, and…” She shook her head. “I’m hurt and I’m angry and I’m still upset, but I will always love you, even when I want to scream at you and slap you silly, okay? I can be mad and still love you at the same time, all right? Plagg wasn’t sure if you knew that, so I wanted to make certain we were clear on that point.”

Adrien had to swallow and take several deep breaths before he was able to reply. “…I wasn’t sure,” he admitted. “I’m not good at fights. I don’t know how this works.”

She nodded, stroking his face and petting his hair. “That’s okay. I know you haven’t always had the best examples in your life, so… When my parents fight, things can get ugly. Sometimes they say things they don’t really mean. I think everyone does that. The important thing is that once they cool down, they sit down and talk about what happened and what they were thinking and feeling, and they work together to fix the problem that started the fight. They say sorry, and they remind one another how important they are to each other, and then they try to learn from the experience and not make the same mistakes again. Ideally, that’s how it’s supposed to work,” she explained.

“So…” He frowned as he tried to wrap his head around this new information. “You said sorry and that you still love me. I said sorry earlier. Does that count, or do I need to say it again now?”

Marinette grimaced and had to remind herself that he was struggling to grasp this new concept, so she needed to be patient.

“It’s not quite so formulaic as that,” she informed gently. “Those were more guidelines than a script, but…Plagg told me how torn up you’ve been about keeping secrets from me and how hard it’s been for you not being able to tell me who you were, so…I know you’re sorry. That’s the important part. I believe you’re sorry, so you don’t have to say it again.”

He nodded, tentatively, still not quite sure of his footing. “So…you forgive me? Are we done fighting?”

She bit her lip, dropping her hands from his face to his palms as she looked away. “Yes and no. I’m still…feeling things. This is a lot to process, and I’m still mad and hurt and upset, so…I need some time,” she confessed, looking back up at him imploringly.

He averted his eyes, shoulders inching up towards his ears as he began to curl in on himself defensively.

“Okay,” he mumbled, even though her answer wasn’t the one he’d wanted to hear.

“It’s going to take a while for me to sort through things in my head,” she explained. “I still love you, and I still want to be with you, but…you lied to me.”

He flinched but didn’t bother saying anything to defend himself.

“Like…a huge lie. For a long time,” she stressed. “That isn’t something I’m just going to get over. It doesn’t feel good to be tricked and betrayed like that, Adrien, so it’s going to be a while before I’m able to forgive you. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you anymore, though,” she reiterated, wanting to make sure that he believed her. “Do you understand?”

He nodded, trying to make himself smaller so that he would, hopefully, shrink away and disappear.

This hurt worse than when his father scolded him. When he got in trouble with his father, it was usually for something Adrien had no control over. It hurt worse when he had actually done something wrong and knew his punishment was justified.

“But we’re going to get through this, okay?” She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “This is just a rough patch. We’re going to come out on the other side stronger.”

“Okay,” he whispered, trying to believe her.

It was hard because he had always been a screwup, and he didn’t anticipate that changing anytime soon. He would always disappoint her and make her question the trust she placed in him. He’d been doing it for five years now, and it made him wonder which time would be the final straw. He always felt like he was on the precipice of losing her forever.

When he tuned back in, at least a minute or two had passed, and Marinette was in the middle of saying, “…you ever thought this was a good idea. I just…I don’t understand. How could you trick me like that?”

She stopped talking and looked at him expectantly.

He looked up and blinked at her.

She frowned. “Adrien, are you listening to me?”

“I…” He gulped. “Sorry. I don’t usually get to say anything, so…”

Slowly, her left eyebrow drifted up toward her hairline. “When have I ever not let you talk?” she inquired in honest confusion.

“Not you. My father,” he informed. “When I’m in trouble and he’s yelling at me. I don’t usually get to say anything, so…” he trailed off again with a shrug.

Marinette stared at her boyfriend as a cold chill walked its fingers up her spine. “You feel like you’re in trouble and I’m yelling at you…like your father does.”

His shoulders rose back up to his ears, and his gaze cast around on the floor for something to look at instead of her. “That’s…yeah. I mean…it’s a little different because you said you loved me, and that…that doesn’t happen with my father, but…yeah. …You’d think I would get used to being told what a disappointment I was,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Marinette didn’t laugh. “…You’re not,” she stressed, taking one of his hands in both of hers and squeezing tight. “Just because I’m disappointed in something you did, that doesn’t make you a disappointment.”

Tentatively, he peeked up at her. “Is that anything like the saying, ‘You are not your failures’?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. Just because you did something that disappointed me, that doesn’t make it a part of who you are. It was just…just a mistake. Human beings make those.”

“Even you?” he ventured softly.

“Especially me,” she agreed. “I’m sorry, Adrien. I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad; I just wanted to understand what had happened, but… What your father does to you is horrible, and I don’t want things to ever feel like that with me. Say something next time.”

Taking a deep breath and finally meeting her gaze, Adrien asked, “When we fight, afterwards, do I get to talk about what I’m thinking and feeling too?”

It hurt her that he even needed to ask.

She nodded, assuring, “I care very much about what you’re feeling and thinking.”

He blew out a long exhale. “Okay. So…I don’t get to make choices often. I mean, I do this past month now that I’ve moved out, but…my whole life, I’ve just kind of had to do what people tell me. This past month is the first time I’ve been able to pick what I wear or what I eat or what I do with my free time, so…thinking for myself and making decisions on my own is a bit of a foreign concept.”

She had known that on some subconscious level, but now that he spelled it out for her, it was horrifying in a whole new way how tightly controlled he had been.

“I know you said you still loved me, even though you were mad,” he continued uncertainly, “but…will you still love me if I’m mad at you?”

She blinked at him in surprise but nodded, assuring, “Of course…but…why would you be mad at me?”

He took a deep breath, gathering his courage. “Usually, when my father is scolding and punishing me, it’s for something that wasn’t my fault. Normally, I keep my head down and take it without protest because I have no control over the situation, no say in what happens to me…but…this relationship isn’t like that, is it?”

Slowly, she shook her head. “No. It’s not.”

He held her gaze as he continued shakily. “You’re not my father. You’re not unfair like that, and you care about what I have to say.”

She nodded vehemently.

“And it’s okay to fight with you because you’re not going to stop loving me,” he added and waited for her to confirm it, needing to be sure.

“Yes,” she promised, internally bracing herself, even as she squeezed his hand tighter.

“Okay,” he breathed out shakily. “In that case…Marinette, I’m kind of tired of always accepting the blame for things that aren’t my fault.”

Her eyebrows drew into a frown of confusion as she tried to parse his words for meaning.

“I’m not trying to say that I didn’t do anything wrong because I know I did,” he rushed to explain. “I never thought it was a good idea to pretend to be two different people. I never wanted to do that, and it wasn’t like it was all fun and games for me. I hated lying to you…but even though what I did was wrong, it wasn’t entirely my fault.”

She pursed her lips, trying to figure out what he meant, if he was trying to blame Plagg for giving him bad advice or what.

“Marinette,” he called imploringly, eyes wet with the start of another round of tears. “You didn’t give me a choice.”

Her mouth dropped open in stunned disbelief.

“What was I supposed to do?” he pleaded. “It all got really messy really fast right from the very beginning. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you as Chat Noir. I didn’t mean for us to get so close, but we did, and that wasn’t something I could give up. You have no clue how horrible it was in that deserted mansion all by myself, always feeling like an impulse buy my father deeply regretted but couldn’t return. I felt safe with you. Your house was always a happy, warm place, and you made me feel like I was worth something. I couldn’t keep away,” he explained, praying that she would understand even a little bit where he was coming from.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t stop coming as Chat Noir…and then I fell in love with you, but that day when I accidentally tried to kiss you as Adrien, you said there was someone else, and, I mean, that someone else turned out to be Chat Noir, so…I was just so overjoyed to have my feelings finally returned that I didn’t stop to think that it was stupid to date you as a masked superhero. I didn’t think,” he sighed, mentally kicking himself for the thousandth time. “And then I accidentally kissed you as Adrien, and you accidentally kissed me back, and…”

He pinned her with an intent gaze. “Remember how I tried to tell you who I was that night? After the kiss in the library with Adrien, I came over that night as Chat Noir, and I was going to tell you everything, but you wouldn’t let me. You said no, and I respected your choice because you were right; it is a really freaking big deal, and knowing my identity could potentially put you and the people you love in danger, and that wasn’t something I could force on you. I respected your choice. Was that wrong?”

He stopped, offering her space in which to speak.

She took a measured breath and blew it out slowly, confessing, “I don’t know. I wasn’t operating with all the facts. I don’t… I think…maybe you should have said something.”

“I tried,” he whined. “I dropped so many hints, Marinette. As things got further and further out of hand, I kept trying to tell you. You always said no, but I kept trying. I let so many things slip, hoping maybe you’d figure it out so you could stop beating yourself up about cheating on me, but… Marinette, I even asked you as Adrien, ‘What if I’m Chat Noir’. I tried.”

“…You…did, didn’t you?” she replied hollowly, image after image of him trying to tell her flashing before her eyes.

He nodded miserably. “The whole dating myself thing was purely idiotic, but I panicked, and I just wanted you to stop being so distraught over quote-unquote cheating on me when that was mostly my fault in the first place for not being able to keep my hands off of you as Adrien. I was stupid, and I messed up, but I was just trying to make you happy. I asked you again and again to let me tell you my identity, and you were aggressively against it…so I just let it go. When you wanted Chat Noir and Adrien in the same room, I figured out a way to make it happen, and that was that.”

He shrugged helplessly. “I was going to say that Chat and Adrien couldn’t find a time in their schedules that worked, but…you were so excited for the three of us to all get together,” he groaned. “I couldn’t let you down, and then when I asked Ladybug for the Fox Miraculous—”

Marinette paled, feeling incredibly stupid as she played the scene over in her mind.

“—I asked her if I could just tell you my identity, and she said no too, so…and then it just kept going for so long it felt like I couldn’t say anything anymore, but today… This has been eating me alive, Marinette,” he sighed, sounding every bit as exhausted as he looked. “I couldn’t do it anymore. I’m sorry. I knew I was in the wrong the whole time, but I didn’t know what else to do. Like I said, I’ve grown up my whole life with very little opportunity to think for myself and make decisions, so those are things I really struggle with. I’m sorry, and I’m working on it.”

“Oh, Adrien,” Marinette cooed, pulling him into her arms. “I’m sorry. I can see why you didn’t feel like you had a choice. I’m so, so sorry.”

She tipped her head up, pressing her lips gently to his.

He leaned into the kiss, his heart fluttering at the contact.

When they pulled back, he gave her a goofy smile. “I was so scared you’d never kiss me again.”

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she sniffled, stroking his cheek lovingly.

“I’m sorry I lied and tricked you,” he answered, touching his forehead to hers.

“I’m actually really touched that you put that much time and effort into trying to make me happy,” she giggled through the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

He gently brushed them away with his thumb. “I’m glad that that’s worth something.”

“It’s worth a lot,” she assured. “You’re worth a lot.”

A light blush spread across his face, and he smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to the tip of her nose. “I really, really love you.”

“I really, really love you,” she responded with a giggle.

They pulled back just to look at one another, smiles pulling their mouths wide.

“…Hey,” Marinette remarked after nearly two minutes of gazing softly into one other’s eyes.

“Hm?” he hummed in answer.

“Have you eaten?”

Adrien frowned, trying to recall. “I…Maybe? I don’t remember.”

“He hasn’t!” Plagg and Trixx called out in unison from the arm of the couch where they were watching the scene develop.

Adrien blushed, looking away sheepishly. “Thanks, guys.”

“You’re welcome,” Plagg snickered.

Ignoring the kwami of destruction, Marinette forged ahead with her plan, “We should make dinner. How about I prep some salad for us while you brew two mugs of mint tea? Then we can snuggle on the couch while watching that one anime you mentioned the other day. Maybe even make popcorn. What do you say? I think we could use some low-energy bonding time after the day we’ve had.”

Tears spilled over down Adrien’s cheeks as he nodded enthusiastically. “You know just how to make me feel better.”

#Marichat #Adrinette #Adrienette #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Identity Reveal #Chat Noir Identity Reveal #Chat Noir #Adrien Agreste #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Plagg #Trixx #Original Akuma #Kissing #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 4 years

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Adrienette: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Thirty-Two

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...to wake them up.

“Wake up, My Ladylove,” Adrien whispered, giving Marinette’s temple a breathy kiss.

Marinette groaned, rolling to her other side.

“Boys, help me wake your maman,” Adrien called to Louis and Hugo, helping them up onto the bed.

“Maman!” Louis called, bouncing.

“Ma!” Hugo joined in, mimicking his big brother.

“Gently,” Adrien chuckled, urging, “Give her kisses,” as Marinette opened her eyes with a wide smile.

The boys did as instructed, lightly pressing their lips to their mother’s forehead and chin.

“My boys,” Marinette cooed, reaching up to fondly ruffle their hair. “Good morning.”

“Good morning!” Louis cried energetically.

“Morning,” Hugo shyly parroted.

“Where’s my good morning?” Adrien pouted, taking a seat on the bed beside his wife’s legs.

“I’m still mad at you,” Marinette reported. “I’ll wish you good morning when you un-kill those plants I asked you to bring in before it stormed that you forgot about.”

“I’m really sorry, Princess,” he stressed, giving her the kitten eyes. “I’ll buy you new flowers and replace the pots that broke.”

She blew out a sigh and shook her head, tugging her sons in closer. “I know I’m being petty, but just once I would like to have a pot you didn’t end up breaking.”

“I will buy you a pot and keep it in bubble wrap so that nothing bad can happen to it,” he swore, raising his right hand as if taking an oath.

A small smile tugged at Marinette’s lips despite herself.

It was so hard to stay mad at her husband.

“Okay, but if anything bad ever happens to that pot, we’re getting divorced,” she snickered.

Adrien gulped, tugging at the collar of his shirt. “That’s a lot of pressure. I might have to rent a safe deposit box for that pot.”

“Maman and Daddy are fighting?” Louis finally asked, not able to make sense of the conversation and tired of being confused.

“Fighting?” Hugo echoed.

“No,” Marinette assured, nuzzling her boys. “We’re just being silly. See?”

She pushed herself up and gave Adrien a quick peck on the lips.

“Everything’s fine,” she stressed, turning to drop kisses on the tops of their heads.

Adrien arched an eyebrow. “So…I’m forgiven?”

“Provided you buy me new flowers and replace the pots that got broken in the storm,” she agreed.

“I will get right on that after breakfast,” he promised.

Marinette looked to her children. “Have you guys eaten?”

Louis and Hugo shook their heads.

“We brought breakfast up to you so we could eat as a family,” Adrien explained, tipping his head towards the nightstand where a big serving tray was loaded with bread and fruit and yogurt.

“Aww. Thank you, Chaton.” Marinette paused mid-smile as a thought occurred to her. “Are we all eating in our bed?” She flicked her eyes meaningfully at the children who, at four and two years old, were not the neatest of eaters.

“No, I brought in the table from the kids’ playroom for them,” Adrien reassured, inclining his head towards the corner where he had situated it. “Come here, Guys.”

He held open his arms for his sons and helped them down off the bed, shepherding them over to the kiddy table where he partitioned out the food and helped them get started eating.

“How are you feeling?” Adrien whispered as he came back over to Marinette’s side, giving her hair a stroke.

She smiled wanly. “So-so. I can’t believe I’m still getting morning sickness this far into my second trimester. It wasn’t like this with the boys. Tell your daughter to knock it off.”

Adrien leaned over and pressed a kiss to Marinette’s stomach, chiding, “Emma Agreste-Dupain-Cheng. What are we going to do with you? Why are you making your mother so sick?”

He looked back up at his wife. “Do you think you can eat something? I brought toast with almond butter and banana slices. I thought it might be a nice change from crackers and oatmeal and rice congee but still easy enough on your stomach.”

“That sounds good, actually.” She scooted back, propping herself up against her pillows and taking the tray from him. “Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness? Even if you are a plant killer.”

“Hey,” Adrien whined. “I feel really bad about that…especially after Gogo cut himself on the pot shards.”

“Oh, Adrien,” Marinette sighed, shaking her head as she reached out and stroked his cheek. “It was hardly a cut. He scratched himself. It barely bled.”

Adrien pursed his lips. “But it did bleed.”

“Shh,” she coaxed, taking a bite of her toast. “I’m sorry. I’ll stop teasing about it.”

“Thanks,” he sighed, looking over at the boys, making sure they were still managing.

“…Speaking of blood, you know what sounds good?” Marinette remarked after a minute.

Adrien frowned at her suspiciously, slightly disturbed. “I have no idea what’s about to come out of your mouth. Part of me is very concerned.”

She rolled her eyes. “Steak. A nice, rare steak sounds amazing…. Please don’t throw up,” she added as she noted the sick look on her husband’s face.

Adrien winced. “I love you, Marinette, but I don’t think I can cook bloody dead animals for you.”

“We should host a barbeque,” she suggested, deciding that she’d teased him enough for the time being.

At that, he brightened up. “Excellent idea. I’ll ask Luka and Xavier-Yves to come over and cook the meat while I prepare the side dishes. If you get me a list of the cuts you want, I can send Victor to the butcher’s this afternoon.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Marinette agreed, smiling sheepishly. “Thanks for taking my weird cravings in stride.”

Adrien shrugged. “Rare steak isn’t as weird as that time when you were pregnant with Louis and ate almost as much Camembert as Plagg…or that time you were pregnant with Hugo and ate all of my tofu without cooking or seasoning it. That was weird. Bloody steak is a thing that real humans actually eat, though.”

Marinette opened her mouth to reply but then caught sight of her younger son’s antics. “…Hugo is finger painting with his yogurt.”

Adrien whipped his head around to look. Finding yogurt all over the table, his child’s face, and his child’s clothes, he sighed and then shrugged. “Oh well. I’ll clean him up when he’s done eating.”

“The joys of fatherhood,” Marinette chuckled.

“Yep.” He got to his feet and strode back over to his son. “Gogo, Honey, that’s for eating, not for playing.”

#Adrinette #Adrienette #Marichat #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Hugo Agreste #Louis Agreste #Emma Agreste #Kissing #Domestic Fluff #Fluff #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 4 years

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Marichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Thirty-Three

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...forcefully.

“Princess? What’s wrong?” Chat demanded in a panic as he landed on Marinette’s balcony.

He’d gotten a text reading, “I need to see you NOW” after the akuma battle, and he’d run straight over after giving Plagg a chance to recharge.

In lieu of a response, Marinette pulled him to her, arms vice-like around him as she crushed her lips to his.

He let her push him down roughly onto the snow-dusted deckchair, ignoring the bite of the cold as it melted against his skin.

Her mouth pressed, hot and insistent, against his, and he happily bent to her will…until he felt the tears sliding down her cheeks and onto his.

He turned his head away, calling softly, “Marinette? Why are you crying? Are you okay?”

She pushed herself up, shaking her head and sniffling.

“Hey. Let’s go inside,” he suggested, slipping his hands under her thighs and lifting her up.

She dropped her head to his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he carried her down into her room, carefully depositing her on her bed.

“Princess, talk to me,” he coaxed as he curled up around her protectively. “What’s wrong?”

“Y-You died,” she accused through tears. “Again!”

It abruptly occurred to him what an idiot he was. Of course she was upset about him sacrificing himself to save her—or Ladybug, at least—from the akuma the hour before.

“You saw the footage of the fight?” he offered her an excuse, knowing she’d seen things firsthand, seen the life drain out of him as he landed limply beside her.

He was such an idiot. He should have realized she’d need to see him, to make sure he was really okay.

She nodded, body shaking. “I saw you get hit. I saw you go down.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, rubbing his face against her neck and giving her his most soothing purr. “I’m okay, Marinette. I promise.”

“But you weren’t,” she spat, angry at herself, at him, at the world. “For nearly three whole minutes, you weren’t, and I…” She turned in his embrace, catching his lips in another fierce kiss. “…I can’t take you not being okay.”

He pressed his forehead against hers and rubbed their noses together. “I’m sorry, My Love. I never meant to hurt you like that, and I’ll try not to let it happen again, but…” He pulled back to cup her cheek in his hand and gaze into her eyes. “Marinette, I’ll be as careful as I can, but there are going to be times when I have to take a hit.”

She started to shake her head no, but he stopped her.

“Shh. Yes. Yes, Princess, it has to be me. Don’t you know I would do anything to protect you?” he cooed.

Her brow furrowed slightly. “Me?”

He nodded, tucking a stray bang back behind her ear. “You,” he confirmed. “As long as Ladybug is safe, you’re safe…Paris is safe, I’m safe too. Even if I get taken down, so long as Ladybug is safe, she’ll fix everything.”

Marinette opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. “I know you don’t always believe in her, Marinette, but I do. Ladybug is brave and selfless and smart and resourceful…just like you. I know she doubts herself, but I’ve never once stopped believing in her. There has never been a problem that she couldn’t solve.”

“…But…what if she fails?” Marinette asked hesitantly, afraid to even voice the unthinkable thought. “What if she can’t do it without you?”

He shook his head, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Don’t doubt. Just believe in her like I believe in her.”

She pressed her lips together, a troubled expression still clinging to her face. “It’s hard to trust like that.”

“You trust me like that, don’t you?” he prompted, a sly smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“Of course I do,” she answered automatically.

“Okay. So…trust my judgment,” he urged. “Do you think I’d entrust your safety to just anyone willy-nilly?”

“…No,” she realized, more than a little humbled by the huge amount of trust he placed in his partner.

“Okay then,” he replied as if that settled it. “So the next time something like this happens, I need you to trust in Ladybug, okay? So long as she’s safe to fix things, I’m going to be okay, so there’s no need to freak out, even if I’m taken out of commission. Ladybug can handle it. I’m going to be fine.”

“I wish I could trust in her like you do,” Marinette sighed, resting her head on his chest.

He winced, wishing he could say something that would make a real difference. “Are you feeling any better at all?”

Surprisingly, she nodded. “What you said did help. About staying calm because so long as Ladybug was okay, you would be okay too. I just…when you got hit today…I panicked. I kept thinking about what if Ladybug couldn’t save you, what if I’d lost you for good…. Those weren’t very helpful thoughts. It would probably be better to focus on how to fix things without letting all of those negative thoughts flood in to distract me.”

He nodded, nuzzling her hair. “Just keep telling yourself that I’m going to be okay.”

“Hopefully it’s a long time before I have to,” she sighed in exhaustion, sinking into his embrace. “Right now, I think the best thing for me is to listen to your heartbeat and soak up some of your warmth.”

“I’ll even throw in a free purr,” he offered gallantly.

“I’d like that,” she chuckled.

#Marichat #Adrinette #Adrienette #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Kissing #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Marichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty-Three

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of greed.

“Are you okay, Princess?” Chat Noir inquired tentatively, as if afraid to trip the wrong wire and set her off. “You seem kind of quiet tonight.”

They were downstairs in the living room, curled up on the couch and watching Strictly Come Dancing reruns after having helped make dinner with Tom and Sabine.

The whole evening had been a little tense with even Tom noting that something had been off with Marinette. She’d assured them that she was just preoccupied with a design she was hoping to submit for a contest, but Chat suspected that was just a smokescreen so that her parents wouldn’t worry.

Adrien had screwed up big time, and now Marinette was paying the price. He never should have dragged her into that janitor’s closet to hide from the akuma, never should have kissed her, never should have let things get as far as they had. He hadn’t protected her like he’d promised he would in the park weeks ago. He hadn’t kept his lips to himself, and now…

Now, Marinette was mentally raking herself over the coals for what she had done.

“Just tired,” she lied with a reassuring smile. “I went to Alya’s to play DDR with some friends after school today, so, with the akuma attack earlier and everything, my day’s been a little busy.”

He nodded, pretending to buy it. “Do you want me to go so you can turn in early and get some rest?”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I want you here. I just…” She trailed off as her eyes caught on his.

The depth of concern and love in his gaze took her breath away, almost making her choke as a fresh wave of guilt threatened to drown her.

She didn’t deserve him.

He was so good, so loyal, so devoted, and she was an indecisive, weak-willed traitor.

She had the most wonderful boyfriend ever. He’d given his life for her over and over. He’d chosen her twice, falling in love with both sides of her.

Yet he somehow wasn’t enough. She wanted Adrien too, so she’d repaid her boyfriend’s goodness with treachery and deception.

The thought crossed her mind to tell him everything then and there, get it off her chest, hope he wouldn’t get akumatized in a jealous rage and end up destroying Paris, promise him she’d stop fooling around with Adrien.

But she knew that would be a lie. Try as she might, proximity to Adrien was enough to draw her back in and capitulate to her desire. Giving up Adrien would be like giving up a lung. She knew it was the right thing to do, but…she couldn’t force herself to be a good person right now.

“I’m sorry,” she laughed, smiling through tears as she thought about all the things those little words weren’t big enough to atone for.

“Shh,” he cooed, gently brushing the tears aside as he promised, “It’s okay.”

His expression was one of anguish, as if he was feeling her pain right along with her.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me, you know?” Chat coaxed, praying she’d say something so that he could bring their suffering to an end. “You can tell me anything.”

She shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry.”

He opened his mouth to try to press the issue, but she leaned in, catching his lips in a hard, insistent kiss.

She kissed him and silently begged whatever deity might be listening to let him be enough for her. She fervently wished she could give herself completely to the boy who had always given himself wholeheartedly to her.

But, at the same time, the ugly part of herself wished there were some way she could have them both.

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mikauzoran · 4 years

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Marichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Twenty-Five

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...as a “yes”.

“So…why are we going on this date as Princess and Chat Noir?” Chat inquired, hanging upside-down off of Marinette’s chaise longue as he watched her put the finishing touches on her chameleon-like makeup. “Wouldn’t it be less fuss to go as Adrien and Marinette?”

“Nope,” Marinette decreed, rubbing her lips to spread her lipstick evenly and letting the word go with a pop. “Reasons. Come help me with my necklace.”

“Yes, My Ladylove,” he chuckled, flipping over the chaise and going to her side.

He grinned widely when she handed him the bell necklace she’d worn for many of their special occasions.

“I’m a fan of the bell,” he purred, carefully working the clasp and slipping it around her neck.

“I know,” she chuckled. “That’s why I’m wearing it.”

Chat pursed his lips, giving his girlfriend a scrutinizing look. “You’re up to something.”

Marinette shrugged.

A wave of dread hit him, figuratively knocking his feet out from under him. “Am I forgetting an anniversary?” He scanned his mental calendar, trying to come up with a significant past event.

“Nope.” She shook her head with a mysterious smile. “Just a regular Saturday in August.”

He frowned, sensing that there was something he was missing. “It’s the eighth day of the eighth month. I’ve heard that the Chinese consider eight a lucky number, so it’s an auspicious day, at least.”

“That’s what my mom said,” Marinette snickered. “Come on. Time for our date.”

Chat quirked an eyebrow in suspicion but obediently followed as she made her way up to her loft and out onto the balcony. “May I know where we’re going, Princess?”

“To get ice cream. André’s waiting for us on the Pont des Arts,” she informed, giving his bell a gentle tap.

People gawked and took pictures much as they had done for the past three and a half years, but, between dating Chat Noir as Princess and Adrien as Marinette, Marinette had long ago gotten used to the attention.

They got their ice cream from André and took it up to the rooftops to eat in relative peace as they watched the sun set in a rolling wave of citrus colours: tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit pink fading into soft lavender and rich indigo.

“You’re planning a surprise,” Chat accused through a wide grin.

Marinette shrugged, leaning in to give their shared ice cream cone a nonchalant lick.

Chat Noir presented his evidence: “You colluded with André so that he’d be waiting on the Pont des Arts for us.”

Marinette smiled enigmatically, refusing to play into his hand.

He pursed his lips and studied her. “So…”

She kept smiling.

He frowned. “Are you going to give me a hint?”

She shrugged again.

His frown morphed into a pout. “Are you at least going to tell me where we’re heading next?”

“Jardin du Luxembourg,” she granted, trying to play it cool, even as the ring box burned a hole through her purse.

They strolled through the garden hand in hand, the shade of the trees combining with the twilight to afford them a little more privacy.

“Do you feel like I love you?” she asked as they approached the Medici Fountain.

He gave her a puzzled look but answered immediately, “Princess, I know you love me.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, but…do you feel like I love you? Do you feel loved?”

“Oh,” he breathed, nodding as he understood what she was really worried about. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, My Love. I do.”

She blew out a sigh of relief. “Okay. Good. Because you’re always going out of your way to do things for me to make me feel loved, and I just…I worry that I don’t speak your love language. I worry that I don’t say it enough or that I don’t say it in a way you understand.”

She stopped at the thigh-high fence around the fountain basin and turned to look at him. “You’re so precious to me. I want to make sure I’m taking care of you. I want to make sure I’m doing this right.”

“Princess, you are,” he stressed, tugging her over to one of the countless green metal chairs encircling the fountain. He sat, pulling her down onto his lap. “Why so serious tonight?” he whispered, giving her hair a comforting nuzzle.

“Just…nervous. Doubting myself, I guess. I worry a lot,” she mumbled, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I’ve noticed.” He clicked his tongue and began to purr soothingly. “Don’t worry, My Ladylove. I see the effort you put in, how much you care about getting it just right for me. Most of the time you nail it, but, even when you don’t, I still see how hard you tried, and that means just as much to me as if the romantic gesture you were going for had gone off without a hitch. I feel loved, so don’t doubt yourself.”

She took several deep breaths and let them out slowly. “Okay…. Okay. Good.”

“I knew it,” he snickered when they arrived at La Méditerranée and the server escorted them to their table. “We’re recreating our first date.”

“Maaaaaybe,” she chuckled, cocking an eyebrow nervously. “Is that romantic or cliché?”

“Romantic,” he assured decidedly. “…So long as you don’t feel compelled to order oysters just because we had oysters on our first date. I know you think they taste like seawater snot.”

She covered her mouth to muffle the sound as she burst out laughing. “Your father would have a heart attack if he knew you’d said that out loud in public.”

Chat shrugged, a wide, knife-like grin spreading across his lips. “You see, that’s the perk of being Chat Noir. Father doesn’t get to control or have an opinion on what I say in public.”

She shook her head, setting her menu aside to reach across the table for his hand.

The bell around her neck glinted in the dim restaurant light, and his smirk softened.

“It’s okay,” he assured quietly. “He doesn’t matter. I don’t need him; I have you.”

She nodded, giving his hand a squeeze. “…In all seriousness, I was planning on ordering oysters.”

His eyebrow arched. “You hate oysters. They make you gag.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, obviously, you’d have to eat them, but I want a shell to take home to go with the one from our first date. It’s a memento that I treasure, so…” She smiled shyly, a cherry blossom blush leaking out from under her Princess mask.

“As my Princess wishes,” he replied with as much of a bow as the seating arrangements allowed.

Chat settled the check as they leisurely finished their crème brûlée and he prattled on about the musical about Molière’s life that he had just seen with Nino and Luka.

All of the sudden, it dawned upon Chat that Marinette had been uncommonly quiet, nodding and making little sounds in all the right places to let him know that she was listening but not making any contribution to the conversation herself.

“Is everything all right, Princess?” He peered across the table at her in concern.

“Fine!” she hurriedly assured a little too loudly and then looked around to see if she’d disturbed any of the other diners. “Fine,” she repeated, voice lower. “I was just…”

His head tipped to the side. “Just…what?”

His eyes scanned her face, searching for the answer.

She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I love you.”

The worry faded from his face as he beamed. “I love you too.”

She reached across the table, interlacing her fingers with his. “I love you, and I can’t imagine ever feeling this way about anybody else.”

His eyes widened.

“You’re the one for me,” she stressed, gaze locked with his. “Even though I sometimes doubt whether I’m what’s best for you, I’ve never questioned how I felt about you. Even when things were messy, you’ve always felt right to me. I’ve never been uncertain about you. From day one, you being my partner felt natural. My head may not always have been in the right place, but my heart has never wavered.”

Chat nodded speechlessly, eyes tearing up as he let her words wash over him and tried to absorb them.

She squeezed his hand and then let go, moving to fish the ring box out of her purse as she stood.

Chat gasped, right hand moving to cover his mouth as he gawked at Marinette going down on one knee.

She smiled nervously. “I want us to be partners in everything for the rest of our lives…. Will you marry me?”

With a choked sob, he pulled her to her feet and swept her up into his arms, spinning her around as he pressed his lips to hers.

“Y-Yes,” he laughed as he pulled away, staring into her eyes in love and wonder and joy. “Yes, yes, yes! To be by your side is a dream come true.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” she chuckled, pressing a kiss to his nose. “Wanna head somewhere more private so I can give you your ring? I don’t want to take it out here because it’s kind of unique, and I’m afraid someone is going to get a picture of Chat Noir wearing it and expose your identity.”

“My place okay?” he suggested, and she nodded eagerly.

Later that night as they cuddled in Adrien’s bed, Adrien couldn’t stop playing with his new ring. It was stainless steel with a black band in the center. On the band was an erratic line pattern reminiscent of a heartbeat on an EKG monitor.

He pulled it off his finger and admired the engravings around the inside of the band for the dozenth time.

Home. Love. Family. Forever.

“Explain the inscription again,” he begged like a child desperate to hear their favourite bedtime story one more time.

Marinette sighed, rolling over to nip his shoulder before patiently acquiescing. “‘Home’ because home is where the heart is. My heart is with you, so I’ll always be home by your side, and you’ll always have a home in me.”

He had to hold back tears yet again because her knowing that he needed that promise, that stability meant more to him than words could say. She knew without him ever having to tell her what he needed.

“‘Love’,” she continued, “because that’s what we have in many different forms. Love for one another as friends, as romantic partners, as teammates, as people.”

“And ‘family’?” he prompted.

“‘Family’ because it only takes two people to make a family,” she recited, pressing a kiss to his jaw just above his scar. “So long as you have me, you will always have a family…and, someday, it won’t just be the two of us. Together, we can build whatever kind of family we want.”

“What about ‘forever’?” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her torso more tightly.

“‘Forever’ because that’s how long I’m making these promises for. What we have is permanent. I will never abandon you. I will never stop loving you. I will always fight by your side, no matter what the battle, if it’s dealing with work stress or taking care of sick kids. We’re in this together.”

“Thank you,” he sniffled into her neck. “This…all of this…you really hit it out of the park, Marinette. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more loved and understood than I do right now.”

“Good,” she sighed into his hair. “I really wanted to get this right for you.”

“You shouldn’t doubt yourself,” he encouraged. “You know exactly what I need, and you always take care of me.”

“I’m glad you think so,” she chuckled.

“Hey, I’m the only one whose opinion counts when it comes to deciding whether my needs are being met.” He gave her collarbone a playful nip, making her laugh harder.

“Thank goodness. I would never give me a passing grade.”

“…Hey,” Adrien interjected softly once the laughter had faded into comfortable silence.

Marinette angled her head so that she could look down at him. “Hm?”

“I know we’re already engaged because you asked me to marry you, and I said yes, but…” He chewed nervously on his bottom lip. “Would it be okay if I proposed to you too? Maybe as Adrien and Marinette?”

She took his face in her hands and crushed her mouth to his.

“I would love that,” she assured.

#Marichat #Adrinette #Adrienette #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Kissing #Fluff #Proposal #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

Text

Lady Noir/Marichat/ Adrienette/Adrichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty-Nine

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of necessity.

“Let’s get this over with quickly,” Ladybug grumbled as she landed beside Chat Noir on the upper gallery overlooking Le Grand Paris’s ballroom where a young man who had been in attendance at the New Year’s Eve party had been akumatized because he was upset that he didn’t have anyone to kiss at midnight and was now terrorizing the other guests, shooting them with beams that, when they hit their target, made them partner up and kiss.

“Someone’s in a crumby mood,” Chat chuckled teasingly, raising an eyebrow at his partner. “What’s up?”

“This akuma attack is interrupting a hot date,” she hissed, scanning the supervillain for clues, trying to ascertain a weakness. The wand with a heart at the tip was an obvious candidate for the akuma’s object.

“Tell me about it,” Chat sighed.

Up until the screams had started, he had been enjoying a lovely evening of flirting with Adrien and Marinette and admiring his girlfriend’s latest design in action. Marinette looked like a movie star in her red evening gown with its halter-style top and myriad straps crisscrossing over her otherwise bare back. The slit up the side was just enough to show off her toned legs while still keeping within the bounds of modesty.

“Are you and your…uh…partners doing anything for New Year’s Eve?” Ladybug inquired politely, if not a tad awkwardly.

Chat nodded. “We were actually at this party, so I’m kind of worried.”

“Marinette and Adrien will be okay,” Ladybug replied encouragingly. “They’re more than capable of taking care of themselves.”

“That’s not really the problem,” Chat muttered ruefully. “They have a bit of a thing about playing hero and getting themselves in trouble.”

Ladybug winced. “Oh. Yeah. I guess that would be problematic. Well, let’s get this taken care of before your people have a chance to do anything altruistic.”

“Sounds good to me,” Chat agreed. “What’s the plan?”

“Lucky Charm!” she called out and got a sprig of mistletoe for her trouble.

She pursed her lips, brow furrowing as she inspected the object intently. “What the heck, Tikki?”

“Maybe if we get closer, you’ll see something you can use it with?” he suggested, not sounding all that sure.

She shrugged, willing to give it a try in the absence of other viable options. “We’ll have to be stealthy, though. Those beams he shoots are kind of wide, so I think they’d be a little challenging to dodge. Best to fly under his radar.”

With a nod of accord, they hopped over the side of the railing when Matchmaker’s back was turned, landing softly before scurrying to hide behind one of the pillars holding up the upstairs gallery.

Ladybug sighed in frustration as she surveyed the open area between them and the akuma. If they attempted a charge, they’d be defenseless with nowhere to take cover.

She could send Chat in first as a decoy and let him possibly take a hit while she snuck up on Matchmaker and grabbed the wand, but…the thought of potentially sacrificing him made her feel sick to her stomach.

“How are we going to get close enough without getting hit?” she muttered to herself, desperately searching for something to use with the mistletoe she’d gotten as her Lucky Charm.

Chat’s eyes fell on the mistletoe, and he came up with a stupid idea that just might work. “What if he thinks we’ve already been hit?”

Her brow knit in confusion as her lips parted to ask what he meant.

“He’d have no reason to hit us again if he thought we’d already been hit,” he clarified excitedly. “Maybe we could trick him into letting his guard down by making him think that we’re defenseless.”

She blinked, eyes still narrowed, not getting it. “How are we going to do that?”

“Trust me,” he entreated, taking her hand and tugging her out into the open.

“Chat Noir!” she hissed, eyes wide in panic.

“Keep your eyes open and keep my body between you and him,” he instructed before crushing his lips to hers.

She gave a jolt, startled and confused for a moment before the familiar feeling of his mouth gently moving against hers gradually calmed her down. Slowly, she began to kiss back.

“Ha!” Matchmaker crowed when he spotted them nearly a minute later. “Even Ladybug and Chat Noir have succumbed to my power! Now everyone will have someone to kiss at midnight and no one will ever have to feel lonely or inadequate ever again!”

Chat had positioned them with his back to the akuma so that even as they kissed, Ladybug had a line of vision on Matchmaker.

She watched as the telltale magenta butterfly outline glowed around Matchmaker’s eyes as Papillon gave instructions to his minion—instructions that Matchmaker seemed not to like.

“But I haven’t found a partner for everyone yet, and midnight is only an hour away!” the akuma whined indignantly.

The butterfly outline pulsed as Papillon retorted.

It occurred to Ladybug that now might be a good time to sneak up on Matchmaker while he was distracted, but the way Chat Noir was teasing her bottom lip between his teeth was very preoccupying.

“Fine,” Matchmaker snorted, his attention returning to the snogging superheroes. “I’ll take their Miraculouses now while they’re defenseless, but you’re not getting them until I make sure that everyone has someone to kiss.”

Matchmaker advanced, and it took a little effort for Ladybug to pry her attention away from Chat’s wickedly delightful mouth. She eventually succeeded, but it was a true test of her willpower.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Matchmaker sighed, “but I need to take your jewelry before Papillon takes away my powers. You can go back to making out once I have your Miraculouses.”

As soon as Matchmaker was within range, Ladybug pulled back, and Chat ducked out of the way so she’d have a clear shot at his wand with her yoyo.

In the blink of an eye, she was snapping the wand in half, purifying the akuma, and tossing her Lucky Charm in the air to activate the magical ladybird swarm.

She turned to her partner for their customary fist bump only to find him blushing and sheepishly rubbing at the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes.

“Sorry,” he muttered, feeling her gaze on him hot like tongues of fire. “I shouldn’t have kissed you like that without your permission, even if it was to defeat an akuma. I wasn’t thinking, and I’m sorry, Ladybug.”

“Hey,” she called softly, reaching out to rest a supportive hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. It was a good idea, and it worked, so… Don’t worry, Chat Noir. I’ve kissed you before in an akuma emergency, so it’s not like it’s something I wasn’t willing to do. It would have been nice if you’d warned me first, but it’s fine. Seriously. We’re good.”

He tentatively looked up at her then, a hopeful smile waiting in the corners of his lips to come out. “Yeah?”

She nodded, assuring, “Of course. …Um…I mean…so long as you feel like we’re good.” Her face started to burn as she remembered how she’d practically attacked him with her enthusiasm. “I’m sorry I kind of got a little carried away with the kissing,” she chuckled awkwardly, trying not to make things weird. “I know you’re one hundred percent faithful to your partners, so I didn’t get the wrong idea or anything. I hope I didn’t give you the wrong idea. I probably shouldn’t have been so…uh…into it.”

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze any longer as she internally died of embarrassment. She wanted to melt into a puddle and seep into the floor in order to escape this mortifying situation.

“No worries, Buguinette.” Chat gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. “We’re good so long as we both understand that tonight was a one-time deal and don’t let it get in the way of our friendship.”

He held up his fist, offering it to her. “Bien joué?”

Slowly, she looked up, taking in his patient smile.

Suddenly, the embarrassment left her, and she knew she hadn’t ruined their partnership.

“Bien joué,” she confirmed, smiling wide as she tapped her fist against his.

Her earrings gave a telltale beep, bringing them both back into awareness of their surroundings.

“Well. Looks like I need to jet before I turn back into a pumpkin,” she chuckled, fighting a grimace at the fact that her Miraculous still ran on a five-minute timer after all this time. “Have a nice rest of your evening with Marinette and Adrien. Tell them I say hi.”

“Will do.” He grinned as he gave her a salute. “Good luck with your hot date.”

About fifteen minutes later (after giving Plagg and Trixx a quick break to recharge), Adrien and Chat Noir found Marinette leaning on the gallery’s railing, gazing down at the crowd milling on the dancefloor below.

“There you are,” Adrien sighed in relief, running over to his girlfriend and pulling her into a tight hug.

“We were worried, Princess,” Chat informed, letting the doppelgänger have a minute before he cut in to take a turn hugging Marinette. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied tiredly, slumping into his hold. “I found a hiding spot and stayed put until it was all over, so nothing to report on my end. Are you two okay?”

Adrien and Chat both nodded.

“I hid out in the coat check with a guy who was convinced he was the next Jagged Stone,” Adrien invented of his own volition, further cementing Chat’s hypothesis that in creating the Adrien doppelgänger he had accidentally tapped into some dark, eldritch power which allowed a wondering soul trapped on the earthly plane to inhabit the Mirage whenever Chat summoned him into being.

Because there were times when the Mirage did and said things that Chat definitely hadn’t instructed or intended, and sometimes he got the feeling like there was a real person in there and not just a projection of his own consciousness.

…At least he seemed to be a friendly, benign wondering soul with a sharp sense of humor. He just said some bizarre things from time to time, but Chat couldn’t fault him for that.

“Was he the next Jagged Stone?” Marinette giggled, already guessing the answer.

“He most certainly was not,” Adrien laughed. “But he was really funny, so it made for an interesting akuma attack experience.”

And then Adrien turned to Chat Noir, eying him knowingly. “How was your akuma attack experience, Nyan-chan?”

Chat mentally recanted the “benign” part. This was definitely an evil spirit he was dealing with.

“Interesting,” Chat allowed, trying to play it off as totally not a big deal. “I ended up kissing Ladybug.”

Adrien gasped, pretending to be scandalized. “You what?!”

Marinette’s eyes widened, surprised that Chat Noir was so forthcoming about it.

Adrien turned to Marinette, feigning hurt. “Are you hearing this? He’s finally leaving us for a superhero.”

“I’m not leaving you, Bishi,” Chat sighed, shaking his head at the double’s theatrics.

Was he always like this when he was Adrien? Marinette didn’t seem to think that Adrien was acting out of character.

“So you’re just cheating on us, then?” Adrien snorted.

“Adrien, it wasn’t a big deal,” Chat coaxed in an attempt to calm his other self down. “It wasn’t even a real kiss. It was a fake-out make-out.”

Marinette quirked an eyebrow. “A what?”

Chat and Adrien stared at her for a beat and then turned to one another to share a meaningful look.

“We’ll make her watch Danny Phantom later,” Adrien decreed, and Chat nodded resolutely in agreement.

“For her own good,” Chat added solemnly.

“Because we’re good boyfriends,” Adrien assured. “Except for some of us who apparently make out with Ladybug?”

“It was a rouse,” Chat explained, rolling his eyes. “The akuma was making everyone kiss, and the attacks would have been really hard to evade. I kissed her because I thought it would make the akuma lower his guard because he would think he already got us. It worked, and now you two are safe and fewer civilians got forced into making out with people against their will. I’m sorry, but it was a good plan.”

“Minou, it’s okay,” Marinette assured, stepping in and resting a hand on his shoulder. She turned to look at Adrien. “It’s okay.”

Slowly, Adrien began to nod. “I guess…if it was an akum kiss, it doesn’t count.”

Marinette nodded, turning back to Chat Noir. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. Good job keeping Paris safe.”

Chat’s expression softened as a small smile slowly spread across his lips. “Thanks. …But you know I chose you, right?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“I chose you, Marinette, because with or without a Miraculous, you’re a true hero and the bravest, most amazing person I know. Never doubt that I’d choose you again and again, given the chance.” His voice lowered as he confessed, “I want to keep choosing you every day for the rest of my life.”

There had been a few minutes earlier as she leaned against the railing and waited for him to find her again after the akuma battle when she had reflected on the kiss between Chat Noir and Ladybug and wondered about his feelings for her.

He’d really been kissing Ladybug just like he kissed Marinette, and she’d wondered what that meant, so hearing his earnest reassurances that she was the one he wanted to spend his life with cleared away her doubts.

She surged forward, catching his lips in a quick kiss, pulling away before anyone could see.

“I believe you,” she assured. “…And I like the sound of a future where we both keep picking one another every day.”

“Yeah?” he chuckled, unable to contain a wide grin.

She nodded, beaming back at him. “Yeah…. Would you want to head back to the bakery? I kind of feel up for snuggling…and maybe watching Danny Phantom?”

She looked back and forth between Chat and Adrien.

“Sounds good,” Chat confirmed easily.

“I’m in,” Adrien agreed, “but, earlier, Chat Noir said that he thought you were amazing with our without a Miraculous. When did Marinette have a Miraculous?”

“I wish I had pictures of Multimouse,” Chat sighed, giving Adrien’s hair a playful tussle. “You would love her. Two words: twin buns.”

Adrien’s jaw dropped, and he whipped his head around to gape at Marinette. “Could you maybe wear your hair like that just for fun sometime?”

Marinette arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk twisting up the corners of her lips. “You have a thing for twin buns?”

Adrien looked away, blushing as he gave a nonchalant shrug and quickly changed the subject, “So, now that two-thirds of our members have kissed Ladybug, I guess we need to update the rules of our polycule to include that we each get one freebie kiss with Ladybug?”

Marinette gave a surprised snort of laughter, taken aback. “No thanks. As the only one who hasn’t kissed or gotten kissed by Ladybug, I don’t think it’s necessary to update the rules for my sake. I’m good.”

“Really?” Chat waggled his eyebrows. “Don’t you want to kiss Ladybug, Marinette?”

“Nope,” she chuckled.

“You’re not even a little tempted?” Adrien teased.

She shook her head, rolling her eyes fondly. “No, I am seriously good. My boys are enough for me.”

“Aww,” Chat cooed.

“That’s sweet,” Adrien completed.

“Come on,” Marinette giggle-snorted. “Let’s head back to my place so we can all three kiss away from prying eyes at midnight. We’ve only got about thirty minutes.”

“She drives a hard bargain,” Chat snickered, turning to lead the way.

Adrien, as Marinette’s official date, held out his arm to her with a smile. “Shall we?”

She nodded. “Let’s.”

#Lady Noir #Marichat #Adrinette #Adrienette #Adrichat #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Ladybug #Chat Noir #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste #Kissing #Akuma Attack #Writing Prompts #Mikau's Writings #Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses

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mikauzoran · 3 years

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Marichat: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: Kiss Forty-Seven

Read it on AO3: Serendipity: Fifty Marichat and Adrienette Kisses: ...out of spite.

“Could you hand me the coriander, please?” Marinette requested as she measured out the cumin and added it to the pan.

She and Chat Noir were making an early dinner together and would be joined by Tom and Sabine once they’d finished tidying up the bakery after closing time. Marinette, however, was unusually quiet and seemed distracted…and Chat was pretty sure he knew why.

Earlier that day, she and Adrien had snuck off together for one of their storage closet trysts. She was ready to take things further physically, but he hadn’t gotten around to explaining the whole asexual thing yet because he was pretty sure that the quickest way to get a horny partner to break up with you was to confess that sex really grossed you out, so it probably wouldn’t be a thing that happened very often, even though you were willing to try for their sake.

So Adrien had turned down Marinette’s advances and instead tried to get her to go on a date with him that Saturday to see a fashion exhibition. She’d refused, citing her relationship status as the reason why she couldn’t go on a date with Adrien.

Adrien had called her out on being a bad friend to him lately, and he could tell how much it stung her.

Part of him hated to hurt her, but the ugly part of him really was feeling used and neglected and wanted the source of his pain to suffer too.

He knew deep down that Marinette wasn’t just physically using Adrien. They’d been friends for years, and she had always been the sweetest, most devoted ally and confidant. She always stood up for him, was always thoughtful and kind and supportive. He knew that a couple months of bad choices and heated makeout sessions hadn’t erased everything they’d ever meant to one another over the years.

But it still hurt to feel rejected by the one person whom he expected to be on his side no matter what.

It wasn’t just that she didn’t want to hang out with Adrien alone because she didn’t want to be tempted to stick her tongue down his throat. It was her not letting Chat Noir reveal his identity, her unwittingly keeping them from being everything Adrien had ever dreamed about having in a relationship.

Most of the time he was able to logically sort through his feelings and be reasonable, but, in that moment, he didn’t feel like taking the high road and being a good person. He was hurting, and he just wanted to be petty.

“So, how was school today?” he inquired conversationally, handing Marinette the coriander and taking the cumin to screw its lid back on.

“It was okay,” she replied distractedly as she attempted to level off the teaspoon. “How was yours?”

“Educational,” he answered lightly. “Science was interesting…. Did you do anything fun on lunch break?”

Marinette dropped the measuring spoon into the pan and, cursing, fished it out with a spatula. “Uh…lunch was…fine. I mean…I hung out with a friend.”

She focused very intently on moving the spices around in the pan with the onions and garlic so that they were well mixed. “How about you? Did you have a nice lunch?”

“Not really,” he confessed with a sigh, leaning back against the counter. “I’m having a rough time with one of my friends. She and I had a fight today.”

Marinette looked up from the stove to give him a soft, compassionate look that almost made it impossible for him to stay mad at her. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry, Minou. Do you think you guys will make up? Was it a bad fight?”

He averted his gaze, pretending to study the spice containers on the countertop. “We kind of already made up. On the surface level, anyway. She probably thinks we’re relatively okay right now. She knows we still have a problem, but I don’t think she actually gets how hurt I still am.”

Marinette’s face crumpled in empathy. “I’m so sorry, Chat Noir,” she cooed, resting a gentle hand on his elbow. “I know how much it sucks when the people you care about don’t see how much you’re hurting. I’m sorry your friend doesn’t seem to get it.”

He immediately felt like a bad person for trying to guilt trip her. Here she was listening to him talk about his problems like no one else in his life besides Nino, Luka, and Plagg bothered to do, sympathizing with him and giving him the attention he yearned for, and…

He pointed to the pan. “You might want to stir that. The onions are getting a little burnt.”

“Oh!” She snapped back to the task at hand. “Thanks. Sorry.”

“No,” he sighed. “Thank you. For everything. You’re really great, Marinette.”

She winced as his words went through her like a knife between her ribs.

“I’m not that great,” she mumbled, and he found that her guilt brought him no pleasure.

A silence fell between them as Marinette continued to sauté the onions and garlic.

“…Maybe you should tell her,” she suggested almost a minute later.

“Hm?” Chat tipped his head to the side. “Sorry?”

“Your friend,” she clarified. “You should tell your friend how much whatever your fight was about is still bothering you. She cares about you, right?”

“Very much,” he confirmed, knowing it was true. Even if her present treatment of Adrien didn’t reflect it, Adrien had always been an important friend to Marinette.

“Then she would want to know that she’s hurting you,” she reasoned. “Tell her and give her a chance to fix it.”

“You’re so good,” he chuckled self-deprecatingly.

She turned to cock an eyebrow at him.

He shook his head. “And here I was just planning on being all pouty and passive aggressive.”

She sighed, giving his bell a playful tap. “That’s not going to solve your problem, Minou. It’s not even going to make you feel better.”

“I know,” he grumbled, carding a hand through his hair, repeating resignedly, “…I know.”

She smiled softly, reaching up to scratch behind his ear. “Good boy.”

He leaned in, stealing a quick kiss, humming, “Good girl.”

She looked away, pretending to concentrate on cooking as she muttered, “Not that good.”

“Hey,” he sighed, slipping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “Don’t be so down on yourself. No matter what your shortcomings, you’re still an amazing person, Marinette.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, adding the tomato sauce and kidney beans to the pan, stirring them in. “Thanks. I just…don’t really feel like a good person lately. I’ve been letting others and myself down a lot.”

“Wanna talk about it?” he offered softly, ghosting a kiss to the back of her neck.

She shook her head. “Sorry.”

He deflated, resting his forehead against the back of her head. “No, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me,” he hurriedly assured. “I just want you to know that you can…that I’m here for you, no matter what…. So, whatever it is, you can tell me.”

She turned in his arms, looping her own around his shoulders as she whispered a tearful, “Thanks…. And sorry.”

“Shh,” he comforted, wiping away her tears. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

Suddenly, making Marinette feel guilty was backfiring hard, and he felt sick at seeing her suffering.

“I’m sorry,” he stressed, pulling her in close, nuzzling her hair and pressing butterfly kisses to her ear, cheek, jaw, lips. “I’m sorry.”

Her arms tightened around him, and she hid her face in his neck, whimpering barely audible apologies.

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