#Alyadrininette Week

[mari-cherri]

Some Ot4 cuddles!! I wanted to give them some love for @mlshipfleet‘s alyadrininette week but I’m a day late, whoops...  I’ve never drawn them all together like this so it was fun! I love them so much

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Confessions

Written for the Alyadrininette Week event at @mlshipfleet <3

This story is the sequel to Bread Makes You Fat. Marinette, Nino, Alya, and Adrien have been together five years at this point and it picks up around two years from the epilogue of BMYF. During the last story, the group dealt with figuring out their feelings for one another so they could all be together. This story will explore their lives now that they've been together for a while and what happens when some of them start wanting different things.

Marinette took in a shaky breath. She wasn’t going to cry. She was going to gather the rest of her things and she was going to thank Joseph for giving her the opportunity to work with his team and then she was going to go home and make a new plan.

She was not going to cry.

“This is so unfair,” Michelle said softly, helping pack the last of Marinette’s sketchbooks and tools into the company-provided box. “You’re the most talented junior designer here.”

Marinette didn’t know how to respond. She’d never been fired before. Perhaps fired wasn’t the right term for this situation. She was being “let go due to financial strain on the company”, but it certainly felt like being fired.

“Maybe when things turn around for us, they’ll be able to hire you back on. That’s what Joseph said, right?”

She nodded numbly in reply and placed a stack of folded fabrics she’d personally brought in to work with for the spring line on top of the box. “I think that’s it.”

Michelle pulled her into a tight hug. “Don’t worry. You’re going to land on your feet. You’re so freaking talented. I bet we won’t even get the chance to get you back. Some fancy fashion house is going to scoop you up before we can.”

Marinette offered a tight smile. “Thanks.”

“Keep in touch. We’re wishing only the best for you.”

The sympathetic look Michelle was giving her was enough to make her eyes sting and she swallowed against the lump forming in her throat. Not trusting herself to speak she gave the other woman a stiff nod and picked up her box of personal items.

Three years living her dream working in fashion and this box was all she had to show for it. She wasn’t even sure what she was supposed to do next. After a few minutes, she found herself crossing the street and heading towards the small park down the block. She would have to wait a few hours for Alya to get off work but she didn’t feel like she could go home.

What was she going to say to Alya, Nino, and Adrien? They were always bragging on her but she wasn’t even good enough to hold onto the only job she’d managed to land. It wasn’t as if there had been fashion houses knocking down the door when she’d finished her internship. She’d been lucky Joseph and his team had hired her on at all. Gabriel Agreste had been right. She wasn’t cut out for this. ______________________________

“It’s freezing out here,” Alya said in greeting, rubbing her arms for emphasis as she neared the park bench her partner was sitting on. Her smile wilted when she took in the sight before her.

Marinette looked up at her, her eyes red and swollen from crying and her nose and cheeks pink from the cold. She was clutching the cardboard box of her possessions from work. “I got fired,” she whispered.

“What?”

“They let me go. They weren’t making money and they let me go,” she explained in a numb voice.

“Oh, Marinette…” Alya sat down beside her and pried the box out of her hands, setting it on the ground. “Your hands are ice. How long have you been out here?”

“I don’t know. I was waiting on you. We were going to go get drinks after work.”

“Are you even up for drinks now?”

She shook her head miserably. “Not really.”

“Come on,” Alya instructed as she stood and pulled the other woman with her. “Let’s go home.”

“My box…”

“I’ll get it.” She struggled to balance her purse and get the box up into one arm but she didn’t want to let go of Marinette’s hand. ______________________________

“From what I can gather, they were making budget cuts and since she was one of the few junior designers…” Alya trailed off with a grimace. She tasted the sauce she was making and frowned as she reached for the garlic seasoning.

“Budget cuts happen.” Adrien looked back towards the living room where Marinette was curled up in a blanket, her head resting on Nino’s lap as she stared blankly at the television. “It isn’t like she was fired for not being good enough. She’s great.”

“Well, yeah. I know that and you know that and Nino knows that but Marinette isn’t taking it that way. She said if she’d been better, they wouldn’t have been able to let her go. Taste this.” She held out the spoon and let him taste the improved sauce and he gave her a thumb up. “I’m not sure what to do now. She needs time to sulk but I also know her. If we give her too much time, she’ll get in a funk. Last time something happened with designing, she didn’t touch her sketchbooks for years.”

“Ah, yes, my asshole father was responsible for that one, right?” Adrien leaned against the counter. “Maybe she just needs the night to wallow.”

“Yeah.”

“She’s worked so hard. This sucks.” His eyes lit up. “Hey, I’ve had a few offers from agencies trying to get me to model again. Maybe I could use one of those to find her another job in fashion.”

Alya gave him an uncertain look. “Maybe…”

“It’ll be great. Leave it to me. I can be Marinette’s personal cheer squad.”

“You might want to save your cheering for tomorrow.” Nino joined them in the kitchen and sat down on a stool by the counter. “Mari said she wasn’t hungry and is going to bed.” He glanced back past the living room to the hall. “She’s going to sleep in the other bedroom tonight.”

Adrien frowned. “By herself?”

“She said she wanted some time alone to think.”

“Yeah, but—“

“That’s why we have that bedroom,” Alya reminded him. She took the saucepot off the burner and set it on a warming plate. “We’ve all slept in there alone at one point.”

“Yeah, but that’s usually when we are working late or getting up early or sick or something. I don’t want her to be alone when she’s sad,” Adrien argued.

“Believe me, I tried to talk her into letting me sleep in there,” Nino sighed. “I think she just needs some time. This was her dream and she feels like it’s gone.”

“But it’s not! This is just a bump in the road.”

“We’ll just be supportive and shower her with love and she’ll be feeling good and ready to send out her resume in no time,” Alya said, voice firm. “Dinner’s ready and you may as well enjoy it because I’m not cooking for you lot for another week.”

“You’re too good to us, Al.” Nino kissed her cheek and reached past her for a plate.

“You better believe it,” she winked. ______________________________

“Have either one of you seen her today?” Alya whispered. “She hadn’t come out of the bedroom by the time I left for work.”

Adrien shook his head. “We were only ten or so minutes behind you.” They both looked toward the closed master bedroom door. “Do you think Nino is in their with her? We split up after the event and he said he had something to do.”

“Go knock on the door.”

There was the sound of the front door opening and Nino appeared at the edge of the living room seconds later. “Am I late?”

“That answers that question then.” Alya gestured to the bags he was carrying to the kitchen. “What’d you get?”

“Marinette texted me and asked me to pick up champagne for a big announcement. You guys don’t know what’s going on either?”

They shook their heads.

“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

As if on cue, Marinette walked down the hall. She wore a pretty pink dress and had her hair pulled back, the ponytail curling softly down to the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were slightly red as she took a seat in the armchair across from the couch Alya and Adrien were sitting on. “Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I didn’t realize the time.” She smoothed her skirt down before looking up. “Do you want to sit, Nino?”

“Oh, uh, I have the champagne.” He lifted one of the bottles awkwardly. “Should I get glasses or wait?”

Marinette’s blush intensified. “We can go ahead and pour it if you want.”

“Come on, girl, the anticipation is killing me.” Alya moved to the edge of the cushion. “And you’re all dressy. Are we going somewhere? I might need to take a shower.”

She took in a deep clarifying breath. “We don’t have to go anywhere. I just wanted to look nice for this.” She waited for Nino to bring the glasses and champagne over to the coffee table and take a seat on the arm of the couch before she continued. “Okay, so I know yesterday was a pretty miserable day for me but I don’t want to let it get me down.”

“You shouldn’t! You’re an awesome designer,” Adrien smiled. “We all believe in you.”

A small frown pulled at her lips but it was hidden when Marinette ducked her head slightly. “I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me. I know it was a sacrifice for us when I wasn’t getting paid much as an intern and I never really reached a great pay level as a junior designer anyway.”

“We don’t care about any of that,” Nino interjected. “We’re doing fine. We wanted you to be able to do something you loved.”

“I know and I’m so thankful that I have partners who love me that much.” She looked at each one of them in turn. “You have always been so encouraging about me going into fashion and it really means the world to me but I…” She trailed off and twisted her fingers into the fabric of her skirt, wrinkling the material. “But I think I’ve decided that it’s just not for me. I’m not going to try to get another design job.”

“Marinette…”

She released her skirt and held up a hand. “Please let me finish. I don’t think I’m the worst at it or anything but I was just mediocre and I don’t want to keep pursuing something I’m only okay at.”

“There are a lot of avenues other than designing if you still want to do something in fashion,” Adrien offered. “I have contacts I can get in touch with.”

“I have another idea that I’d like to share if that’s okay.” The blush that had been receding came back in full force and she dropped her gaze to her lap. “I know we’re doing well with money and we can be honest that I wasn’t helping much anyway.” Her fingers twisted into her skirt again and she took a visible deep breath before looking up. “So I think I’d like to try doing something else. It won’t make us any money but I think it will be so much better than any other job I could find.”

Alya spoke up first after the long pause. “Well, don’t leave us in suspense, M.”

Marinette’s eyes shone brightly. “I want to have our baby.”

The sound of shattering glass diverted everyone’s attention and Nino looked down at the fallen champagne glass for a moment before he met Marinette’s eyes. “You’re pregnant?” he asked, voice hopeful.

She laughed nervously. “No, uh, not yet, but I’d like to be.”

Silence fell between them and Adrien shifted uneasily.

“I thought we talked about this and all decided that maybe a baby wasn’t a good fit for us,” Alya began, keeping her tone even. “I even remember you saying you didn’t think children would be a good idea. We all agreed we were content with the four of us.”

“I know, but I changed my mind.” Marinette’s jawline tightened. “I’m allowed to change my mind.”

“I’m not saying you aren’t, but…”

“You wanted a baby! You said you did,” Marinette countered angrily. “You even told me if anything ever happened with all of us and you still had time, you would try to have one with someone else.”

Nino frowned at Alya. “You said that?”

“I was upset and Marinette promised she wouldn’t tell you guys because you say all kinds of stuff when you’re upset.” Alya glared at her girlfriend. “I know what I said but maybe I changed my mind too. I would much rather be with the people in this room than have a baby with a stranger.”

“Then what’s the problem? I want to have a baby for us.”

“I’m the problem. We talked about this last time.” Adrien’s tone was laced with frustration. “I don’t want to be a dad. You guys know that. I can’t…I just can’t be a dad, okay? And how would we even explain this to a kid?” He gestured to all of them. “It wouldn’t work, Mari.”

“You don’t know that,” she argued.

“It’s not something we can exactly trial run!”

“Calm down, dude.” Nino placed a hand on Adrien’s shoulder, his fingers digging in slightly. “Don’t yell at her again.”

“I wasn’t…” Adrien’s face clouded over. “I didn’t mean to yell,” he said softly.

Marinette swallowed against the thickness in her throat. “This was supposed to be happy news.”

Alya sat back against the couch and crossed her arms. “It just feels selfish. And it seems like you’re scared to try again with fashion because you got burned. You don’t want a baby; you just don’t want to face reality.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Marinette hissed, anger overriding her hurt.

“The last time things didn’t work out with design, you decided you never really want to go into design in the first place and we started doing the food truck,” Alya pointed out. Seeing the stricken look on Marinette’s face, her expression softened. “I promise I’m not trying to be a bitch but a baby isn’t a bandage for what you’re feeling right now.”

There was an awkward pause and then Marinette huffed as she wiped at her eyes. “You were trying to be a bitch a little bit.”

Alya let out a little laugh of surprise. “Maybe a little bit.” She stood and went to the armchair, wedging herself in beside Marinette. The other woman stiffened as she put her arms around her. “I love you more than anything. You know that, right?”

Marinette relaxed fractionally. “Yes.”

“And if you really want a baby, we can talk about it, but not like this.” She kissed her cheek. “Not while you’re upset about something else and just trying to make it better. Okay?”

She swallowed loudly and nodded. “Okay.”

Alya smiled and wiped at a stray tear that fell down Marinette’s cheek. “Why don’t you go clean up a little and I’ll jump in the shower and we can go get something really good to eat?” She looked across at their boyfriends. “Does that sound good?”

“Yeah.”

Adrien and Nino watched the women get up and hug each other as they made their way to the bedroom.

“I can clean this up,” Adrien offered, already kneeling down to pick up the broken pieces of the fallen champagne flute. “You can go get freshened up if you need to.”

Nino sat down heavily on the couch. “I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I really want a baby,” he confessed.

AO3

Buy me a cherry coke?

[chelleaslin]

Alyadrininette Week Day 7- Domestic

@mlshipfleet

“Why are we doing this again?” Nino groaned as he waited in line to wash his hands. Alya shot him a glare that could freeze hell itself, Nino instantly stop whining.

“Nino, Adrien has never had the chance in his life to do something like this.” Marinette said as she dried her hands on a tea towel and moved away from the sink. Alya, Nino and Marinette were at the Dupin-Cheng Bakery, at the ripe hour of 4:00AM ready to help Mr. Dupin prepare the baked goods for today’s sales. Nino and Alya had slept over the night before but unfortunately Adrien wasn’t allowed to.

“When is Adrien going to be here?” Alya asked as she tightened her apron. Nino pulled out his phone one last time to check it before washing his hands.

“He text about 5 minutes ago saying he was leaving.” Nino said as he clicked into the message. “So, He should be here very soon.” He locked his phone and put it away, ready to wash his hands.

“Marinette, Adrien’s here!” Sabine called from the front of the shop. Marinette shot your two partners a small grin before bounding off towards the shop to greet her other boyfriend. After minutes later and Marinette appeared back in the shops kitchen with the blonde male.

“Okay, guy, ready to bake!” Tom cheered getting everyone’s attention. Nino flinched slightly at the big mans loud, cheerful tone. Alya and Adrien stifled a giggle as Marinette blushed, at tad embarrassed.

“We’re ready sir.” Adrien and answered back, apron already on as he washed his hands.

“Okay, well first we’ll start will the loafs and rolls.” He annouced, rubbing his overly large hands together.

...

“Nino, help.” Alya grunted out as she struggled to lift a fresh bag of flour. Nino quickly stop what he was doing and rushed by her side. He bent over and grabbed the bag while trying to help you lift, hey hand just gotten the bag off the ground when Adrien hissed a little.

“Ah, what are yous doing, lift with your knees!” He yelled worried, his loud tone surprising Alya making her accidentally letting go over the flour bag. Nino wasn’t able to handle the weight and let go too, they both frowned.

“Here.” Marinette said as she walked over to the bag and squatted, getting a good grip.

“Mari, babe, be careful, I don’t think you’d be abl-“ Alya started before being cut of in shock. With one grunt and a strong heave, Marinette lifted the bag up and off the ground. She grunted a few times and he rearranged it over her shoulder before walking towards the large, metal, industrial table. Her three partners just stared at you in a mixture of shock, awe and pure disbelief.

“That was unbelievably hot.” Adrien muttered, blushing a little.

...

Many hours later the four teens were covered in white powder and sticky dough. Their clothes still slightly soiled dispite the aprons.

“Argh, my arms are killing me.” Alya groaned as they hung lifeless by her sides. Nino nodded in agreement as he weakly reached for you hand.

“Well done, kids.” Sabine softly smiled, “I’ve made some lunch upstairs and your all welcome to have a nap in the lounge. I’ve set up beds.”

Marinette, Nino and Alya’s faces light up as Adrien frowned.

“I’m sorry Ma’am but my Father wouldn’t allow it, thank you for letting me experience this all first hand but I must be getting home.” Adrien politely said, he was used of knowing the proper way to speak to his superiors.

“Nonsense.” Sabine sharply cut in.”I rang you Father and already sorted everything out, your allowed to stay till tea.”

“What?” The teens gasped in shock, they all knew exactly what Gabriel was like.

“How did you get him to agree?” Adrien blurted out.

“He wasn’t happy with the idea ya first but I have my ways of persuasion.” She smirked.

Adrien stood there shell shock untill his partners all tackled him in a hug, their warms embraces being him back to reality.

“Let’s go have some breakfast.” Marinette suggested as she turned and lead the way upstairs to their kitchen. The other teens followed her happy to fill their stomachs have a romantic day in full of cuddles.

[adrienscroissantx]

stop stealing your boyfriends stuff challenge (they all failed)

[ladynoirist]

ot4 headcanon

post reveal, adrien pulls up what does the fox say from his dark dank youtube history. he and nino proceed to make a remix and burn it on a cd. it’s wackier than the original and LOUD. mari finds out and first they’re fuckin freaked but then she hands them a fake album art mockup with a shit eating grin

they gift it to alya claiming that it’s this cool indie band which nino’s superior music taste approves of, and make sure she’s wearing headphones on full volume while they tape her reaction

[megatraven]

Tagged by @starscrumbling!!!! :D I never do tags anymore and i need to start doing them again so here i go rip

Relationship status: Single and ready to flamingle

Favorite color(s): Yellow, silver, turquoise

Lipstick or chapstick: Ok so I tried lipstick for the first time like a month ago and I’m in love w/ it I bought 4 within a week. So, Lipstick :D

Last song I listened to: Uh.... It was the ML theme song sung by NateWantsToBattle and Cristina Vee

Last movie I watched: Shoot, um... It was either.... Bambi 2 or Home

Top 3 TV shows: Miraculous Ladybug, Bones, Trollhunters

Top 3 characters: Alya Cesaire, Hunk Garrett, Lance Sweets

Top 3 ships: Alyadrininette, Booth/Bones, Jaehee Kang x MC (eyes emoji)

Books I’m currently reading: None atm, but I did order some!!!

Tagging: any1 that wants to do it!!!!

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Blogging

Written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2, 3. 4, 5:

“Okay, I have my appointment today at eleven-fifteen,” Marinette whispered, leaning close to Alya as the other woman poured creamer into her mug. “Can you come with me?”

“Of course I can.” She gave her a quick hug and turned back to her coffee. “And you’re sure we’re not saying anything yet?” Alya kept her voice low as she glanced over Marinette’s shoulder at Adrien and Nino sitting at the breakfast table. “You know they will come if we ask.”

“I think I just want to know from the doctor to be sure first. I don’t want to give anyone false hope or…” She trailed off and dropped her gaze.

“Five tests aren’t going to be wrong,” she warned.

“I know, but…” Marinette bit her lip and her eyes grew shiny.

“Okay, hey, okay.” She pulled her into another hug and spoke against her hair. “Everything’s going to be fine, Mari.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Nino set his plate in the sink and picked up the bottle of turtle treats beside the large aquarium set up at the end of the counter. He shook two out and reached his hand in to offer them to Wayzz. The old turtle studied the hand for a moment before beginning a slow creep towards it while Nino patiently waited.

“Just girl stuff.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Girl stuff?”

“Yep. Girl stuff.”

“As in ‘mind my own business’ girl stuff,” Nino nodded. “Got it.” He frowned when he caught Marinette’s worried expression. “But you’ll tell me if you need me, right?”

“Yep,” Alya repeated firmly.

Adrien squeezed past Nino to drop off his own dishes in the sink and he started running the water to wash them. “Hey, Marinette, do you want to grab lunch today before Nino and I go to work? I’ve been thinking of that little deli we found when we were by the park a few weeks ago. It’s been a while since you and I got to go out alone.”

Marinette covered her mouth and looked at Alya with wide, panicked eyes.

“We’re already doing lunch, Sunshine, but how about a rain check?” Alya leaned in to kiss his cheek and then quickly led Marinette out of the cramped kitchen and back to their bedroom.

“Is it just me or are they acting weird?” Nino dropped the second treat into the aquarium for later and thrust his hands under the running water before he grabbed the soap. “They’ve been like this for days now.”

Adrien’s shoulders sagged with relief. “I thought it was just me still. I’m kind of glad they’re treating you that way too.”

“Thanks, dude.”

He shot Nino a sheepish smile. “You know what I mean.” ______________________________

Marinette held her breath as the doctor slid the ultrasound wand along the goo covering her stomach.

“Sometimes it takes a minute to find,” the doctor said in a reassuring tone. “It’s a really small target.”

Alya squeezed Marinette’s hand and they both softly gasped when a fast thumping sound came through the speaker on the machine at the side of the bed.

“There we go.” The doctor adjusted slightly and watched the screen. “That tiny little blip right there.” He used a tool to make a circle around a grainy blur against a background of black to the left of the screen. “That’s your baby.”

“And this is the heartbeat?” Marinette breathed. “It’s so fast. Is…is that normal?”

“Perfectly normal. It will even get a little faster before it drops back down. Sounds good and healthy.”

She blinked back tears. “That’s our baby.” She looked up at Alya and her bottom lip trembled. “They should’ve been here for this. This is all my fault.”

“I’ll get a picture printed off for you and be back in a few minutes. There are wipes on the counter,” the doctor said, giving Alya a knowing nod before he excused himself.

Alya immediately went to the wipes and handed one to Marinette. “Get cleaned up, M. How do you feel?”

“Guilty.”

“We got to hear our baby’s heartbeat. Wasn’t it amazing?”

She swallowed hard. “It was beautiful.”

“And the doctor is going to bring us the first picture we will ever have of them.”

Marinette gave her a teary nod. “Yeah. We should get a frame.”

“We can do that when we leave here. And tonight, we’ll show it to Nino and Adrien, okay? As soon as they get home from work.”

“What if Adrien’s mad at me?” she whispered.

“Did you trick him into having sex?”

Marinette blinked. “No, of course not.”

“Did he fight you about not wearing a condom?”

“Well, no…”

“Okay, then.”

“Yeah, but Alya—“

“Nope.” She held up a hand. “It’s very possible this baby isn’t even biologically his and we aren’t going to do eight months of drama. If he wants to be a father, he can be. If he doesn’t, he won’t be. We’re still going to love Adrien. And I’m going to be right here beside you and you know Nino will be too. That kid is going to be covered in love.”

Marinette sniffled but started wiping the ultrasound goo off her stomach. “You’re right. We’re going to love this baby so much.”

“Damn straight.”

“And Nino is going to be the sweetest daddy.” Marinette sat up and swung her legs over the side of the exam table. “And we’re going to be good moms, right?”

“We’re going to do the very best we can.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh! We can go shopping now!”

“There’s my girl,” Alya grinned, pulling her close for a kiss. ______________________________

“Okay, so this blog says something totally different from the other one,” Alya groaned. “Why can’t everyone just agree on the foods to avoid during pregnancy?”

“The doctor gave me this list.” Marinette searched through the stack of papers she had on the dining room table and lifted up a sheet. “It’s pretty easy to follow, I think.”

“I know but I wanted to check the blogs too.”

“Listen to you,” she teased. “Checking ‘the blogs’. You’re going to be a mommy blogger, aren’t you? You’re going to be a Pinterest mom with perfect Instagram photos.”

“You will take that back or we’re breaking up right here and right now.”

“I wonder what you’ll call your mommy blog,” Marinette continued. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Since your other blog is ‘Bread Makes You Fat’, you obviously have to play with ‘Bun in the Oven’.”

“I’m ignoring you now.” Alya opened up three new blogs from a recommended search.

The other woman quieted down and shuffled the papers in front of her. “They should be home soon, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you nervous?”

Alya gave her half a smile. “A little. How about you?”

Marinette worried her lip. “I really don’t want to lose him.”

“We aren’t going to lose him.”

“We could.”

At that moment, the door opened and both women jumped in surprise. Alya quickly stood and moved into the living room with Marinette following a little behind. “You guys are home early.”

“Yeah, we were scouting out two possible venues for one of the events I have to plan in a couple of months.” Adrien dropped his soft briefcase by the door. “One of the venues got booked before we could put in our dates so it made the choice really easy.”

“We were talking about how hungry we are. Did you guys have something planned for dinner or should we order in?” Nino walked past them all to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He slowed on his way back as his gaze fell on the papers covering the dining table. “What is all this?”

“Um, well, we actually need to tell you guys something.” Marinette wrung her hands together anxiously and Alya touched the small of her back.

“Maybe we can sit down for a minute before we talk about dinner?”

Nino looked at them with wide eyes. His mouth worked but no sound came out as he looked back down at the papers.

“Come sit, Nino,” Alya urged, patting the armchair by the couch.

Adrien dropped down beside Marinette as Nino moved to join them. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

With an encouraging nod from Alya, Marinette began. “Um, well, I’ve been a little off lately.”

“Yeah, we were worried about that actually.” Adrien took her hand and shot Nino a concerned look but the other man’s eyes stayed on Marinette and Alya. “Is everything okay?”

“Well, yes.” Her voice wavered. “Everything’s really great actually. I’m…I’m pregnant.”

He froze beside her. “I…”

“That’s amazing.” Nino knelt down in front of the couch so he could see all three of them. “Tell us everything.” He shifted to the side and pressed his shoulder against Adrien’s knees as if keeping him in place.

Marinette glanced anxiously at Adrien. He still held her hand limply in his so she left it. “Well, Alya’s the one who realized actually. I’ve been moody and had food aversions and stomach aches and then we saw that I was over a week late for my last period.”

“You guys were working late that night so we went out and got pregnancy tests,” Alya added.

“Late?” Nino frowned. “Wait, last week?”

They nodded in unison.

“I didn’t want to say anything until I saw a doctor though,” Marinette continued. “I wanted to make sure it was real. That’s why I’ve been a basket case the past few days.”

“Even though I told her five positive pregnancy tests were definitely real,” Alya said as she rose off the couch. She went to the table and shifted around the papers and books until she found a picture frame and brought it back to them. “But we were able to listen to the heartbeat and get our first picture.” She offered the frame to Nino and he swallowed loudly as he looked down at it.

“This inside the circle? That’s the baby?” he asked in a shaky voice.

Marinette nodded. “I’ll be nine weeks on Tuesday. The doctor said the heartbeat sounds good and healthy.”

“Nine weeks,” Adrien murmured.

“Yeah, around the time of your little unsafe threesome,” Alya replied cutting her eyes to him. “Marinette told me all about it and I have to say that I’m jealous and hurt.”

“Alya,” Marinette groaned, covering her face.

“What? I deserve a striptease too. It’s been so long.” She smiled at Adrien but he didn’t look up from the ultrasound photo Nino was still holding.

“That was…you were still working for Joseph then,” he said, tone too even for the situation.

“Yeah.”

“Oh.”

Marinette blushed. “So when I had my whole unemployed and need to be pregnant breakdown, it turns out I already was.”

“That means the baby could be either of ours…if it was from that night that we...”

“It can be both of ours either way.” Nino held out the picture frame and Adrien took it with visibly shaking hands. Nino stood and pulled Marinette into a hug. “I’m so happy, sweetheart. I’m so…I don’t even know what to say.” He pulled back to look down at her. “How are you feeling about all this?”

She felt herself melt under his touch. Things were so easy with Nino. “I’m really happy,” she smiled, feeling tears prick her eyes. She’d been so tired of crying but seeing the look on his face and shine in his eyes, it didn’t seem so bad to do it again. They stared at each other for a few long seconds and then Nino opened his arm to pull Alya into the hug. “And how do you feel?”

“Like we’re about to get a whole lot busier.” Alya rested her head against Marinette’s and let out a happy hum. “I’m excited. I can’t wait to meet our baby.”

The trio turned their attention to Adrien who was still sitting on the couch and staring down at the framed ultrasound. Marinette said his name softly and his head whipped up, his expression unreadable. Nino and Marinette opened their arms and he jolted up and buried his face against her neck, whispering words no one could quite make out.

Buy me a cherry coke?

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Modeling

Late but written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6:

“Thanks for coming out alone with me tonight.” Adrien stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks as they walked along the storefronts. “I have something I need to tell everybody but I wanted to let you know in private first.”

Marinette tried not to let her mind run wild with the possibilities. It had been a little over a week since her pregnancy had been made official within their group and everyone was still trying to navigate how to act around Adrien. He hadn’t been acting differently but he also never seemed to want to stay around when they talked about the pregnancy, which was becoming very often.

“You know you can tell me anything,” she prompted.

He gazed at her anxiously before dropping his eyes to the ground before them again. “Maybe we could go sit somewhere? Are you supposed to be on your feet this much?”

A little of her tension eased away and she laughed. “I’m fine right now but we can go somewhere to sit if you want.”

Adrien blushed. “Sorry. I really don’t know the rules for this kind of stuff.”

“I don’t either. I’m kinda learning on the job.” She gestured to a small café as they passed it. “Want to go in here?”

“Sure.” He nodded and grabbed the door, holding it open for her. They each ordered drinks and got a large sticky bun to split.

Marinette let Adrien fill in the time between bites with unimportant small talk until the suspense became too great. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”

He grimaced but the expression was quickly wiped away and replaced with a pleasantly blank look. “Right. Um, so I’m going to be leaving for a little while.”

The mug of hot cocoa Marinette was bringing to her lips paused between the table and her face.  “You’re leaving us?” she whispered, feeling her heart start to race.

“No!” he exclaimed loudly and then flushed. He tried to ignore the other customers whose attention he’d caught and leaned closer across the table. “No,” he repeated in a lower voice. “I’m not…this isn’t a break up.” He ran a nervous hair through his hand as he sat back. “Gabriel offered me a temporary modeling contract and I’m going to take it.”

“You can’t.”

“It’ll only be a for a few months. It’s a trial run for both of us. Nathalie’s reached out to me a few times over the years to come back and I think this might be a good opportunity.”

Marinette’s bottom lip quivered. “Because of the baby?”

He was quiet for a few seconds as he stared down into his mug. “Because I’m not the kind of person you need around right now,” he finally corrected. “And because I need to figure out some stuff for myself. I want to come back in better shape than I am now.”

“And you really think being around your dad is going to make that happen?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I don’t think I can stay here.”

Marinette put a hand to her stomach. “This could be your baby,” she said softly.

Adrien looked pained and he sat all the way back in his chair, putting more space between them. “I know that. And…and I’m sorry.”

“You really want to leave me right now. Like this.” She swallowed hard. “I need you here.”

He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “You aren’t alone. You’ve got Nino and Alya.”

“Well, I need you too.”

“You really don’t. They can take care of you much better than I ever could.” He reached across the table for her hand and she pulled it back into her lap before he could touch it.

“If you leave now…” She shook her head as if she was arguing with herself and finally looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “If you leave now,” she began again, “I don’t know if you can come back. I need you. I…I can’t do this without you, Adrien.”

He let her words sink in and the heartbreak was evident on his face. “You’re one of the strongest people I know.” He looked down at his hands in his lap, twisted together in anxiety. “I wish I had half your strength, Mari. I know I should be happy about this. I know I should be here and take care of you, but I’m broken. I’m broken and the last thing I want to do is break you too so I have to go, okay?” He dared a quick glance up at her. “I don’t want to go; I have to. Please tell me you understand that.”

Marinette picked up her napkin and used it to dab at her eyes. “I’m really mad at you right now.”

He nodded miserably. “That’s fair.”

“Yeah.” She ignored her fork and picked up what was left of the sticky bun and started to tear it into shreds on the plate. “But if you really think this is what you need to do, then do it.”

He watched her and briefly wondered if she was imaging his head as the mangled sticky bun. “And when I’m ready to come back?”

She let out a long exhale and looked across the table at him with tired eyes. “I don’t know,” she admitted. ______________________________

“I’m going to take a shower,” Marinette announced as she breezed through the front door and past a snuggling Nino and Alya on the couch. “By myself.”

Adrien trailed in behind her and closed and locked the door. “Okay.” He winced as the bedroom door slammed and then there was another muted slam from the bathroom.

“What did you do?” Alya asked, attempting to disentangle herself from Nino and the blanket. They both sat up and looked at Adrien expectantly.

He slumped into the armchair. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell you guys together or separately but I may as well get this over with so you can hate me too.”

Nino’s hand found Alya’s under the blanket and he gripped it hard. “What’s going on?”

“I’m leaving to go work for Gabriel for a while,” he said, not bothering with a preamble. “I need some time and space to get away and work on myself and he’s wanted me to come back and model for years now so…” He trailed off with a shrug and picked at the hem of his shirt.

“You can’t be serious, dude.”

“I am.”

Alya leaned forward. “Timing aside, why are you going back to him? He’s awful to you. You said you’ve been getting other offers. Why not take one of them?”

“Because it has to be him.”

Nino scrubbed at his face and dropped his hands with a groan. “Why? Why does it have to be him? What reason could you possibly have that you think you need to leave us right now to go spend time with your dad? The same dad who fired you and cut you off without a thought. You remember that, right? The man you hated so much that you drank yourself stupid almost everyday?” He stood and paced the length of the room in frustration. “These past few years have been the happiest I’ve ever seen you and you have to know part of that is being away from him.”

“I never hated him,” Adrien said softly. “I still don’t hate him. That’s the problem.”

Alya gave Nino a wary look before returning her attention to their partner. “What’s the problem?”

“What if I end up treating the baby like he treated me and it still loves me? It’s messed up. I don’t want to do that.”

Nino stopped in front of the armchair and glared down at the other man. “You’re nothing like him. You have to know that.”

“You’ve never really seen who I am, Nino. You love me and it makes you blind to stuff.”

“That’s bullshit. I know exactly who you are. I see your flaws. You’re not perfect, Adrien. Believe me, you’ve never been perfect and I still love you. I see you better than you do.”

They glared at each other for a long second before Alya began to speak again, breaking the tension. “What exactly are you hoping to achieve here?”

Adrien dropped his gaze and Nino backed up a few steps to fall back down to the couch. “I need to know how he feels about me.”

“What’s that going to do?”

“I just need to know.” He pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll sleep in the other room tonight. My flight leaves on Saturday but I can get a hotel room near the airport until then. It’ll make things easier.”

Nino let him get to the bedroom door before he spoke. “When are you coming back?”

Adrien paused with his hand on the doorknob. “I don’t know if I am yet. That might be up to Marinette.” Then he escaped into the bedroom and locked the door. ______________________________

Adrien packed up the last of his toiletries and did the customary walk around the hotel room to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything. One of Alya’s hair bands was on the nightstand and he picked it up and stuck it in his pocket. She’d spent the last few nights in town with him and had wanted to see him to the airport but he’d asked her to go. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to go through with leaving if she was standing there.

Nino had come by once to try to talk him into staying but he didn’t spend the night. He had given him a goodbye kiss though and Adrien still couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He hadn’t seen Marinette since the night he told her he was leaving. She’d remained scarce as he packed up the things he wanted to take on his trip. Every Saturday morning for the last five years, she’d sent him a message with a picture of some ridiculous cat she’d found with the greeting “Happy Caturday!” even when they were lying in bed next to each other. He had them al saved in a special folder on his phone. It was well past noon and there was still no message.

He had the sinking feeling that he was about to lose the only people that had ever made him happy as soon as he stepped on the plane but he couldn’t turn back now.

With a heavy sigh, he picked up his suitcases and left the room. ______________________________

Marinette stared at the picture of the fluffy cat with a gelled mohawk on her screen. She’d been looking at pictures of cats for hours but hadn’t been able to bring herself to save one to her phone to send to Adrien.  She just couldn’t think about it any longer.

“I think we should turn the second bedroom into the nursery,” she announced as she dropped her phone on the couch. “We probably need a bigger place but I don’t think we can afford that right now with only two of really us working so maybe we should go ahead and use that bedroom.”

“I thought we were going to use the office as the nursery and move our work stuff to the dining room since we don’t really use it to eat,” Nino replied from the kitchen as he made a sandwich. “That way we can keep the other bedroom if we need it.”

“Adrien used it more than anyone and he’s not here anymore,” she said simply. “Besides it has better lighting for a nursery, I think.”

“What has better lighting?” Alya came into the living room with her hair wrapped up in a towel.

“The other bedroom. I want to make it the nursery, I think.”

“Are you sure? We use it a lot.”

“We just went over this.” Marinette gave her a careless wave. “Adrien is gone and the three of us are fine. I’m thinking maybe a green? It’s a nice neutral color.”

“Back up, sweets. Adrien is on a trip. He isn’t gone forever.”

“I’ve been looking at different themes,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard Alya. “I kind of want to do an animal related one but I’m not sure what yet.”

Alya shot Nino a worried look and he returned it. “Sweetheart, we’ve got plenty of time to figure all of this stuff out. The baby still needs to grow for a bit before it needs a nursery.” Nino rounded the counter and joined Marinette, pulling her back against his chest so he could frame her small belly with his hands. “We can talk about where to put the nursery next month maybe.”

She pulled away from him. “No! We need to do this stuff now! It has to get done!” She looked between them frantically. “Alya, please tell him. We have to make a space for the baby. He needs to know how much we love him.”

“He?” she asked softly.

“Or she. I don’t know.” She deflated slightly. “But everything has to be perfect. And we need to start working on stuff now before we run out of time.”

“Maybe we can just wait a little bit,” Alya offered. “Like Nino said, maybe next month we can start planning.”

“But…”

“Do you want to take a nap?” Nino gathered his pregnant girlfriend to him again and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “It might make you feel better.”

“No,” she huffed. “Aren’t you making lunch?”

“I can eat it later. I’ll even lay down with you.”

“We both will,” Alya added. “I know I could use a nap. It’s just that kind of day.”

Marinette let them lead her down the hall and she felt her heart clench as they passed the empty bedroom that no one had been sleeping in all week.

Buy me a cherry coke?

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Sewing

Written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2, 3:

“No resumes today?” Adrien settled down beside Marinette on the couch and immediately picked up the fabric in her lap to rub between his thumb and forefinger. “Soft.”

“I’m thinking of using it to make a sundress.”

“For you or Alya?”

She bit her lip and straightened, keeping her gaze on the fabric. “Neither actually.”

“I gotta be honest, I don’t think Nino’s going to wear a dress but if you really want to make me one, I’ll give it a shot.” He was relieved to see her smile.

“I’ll make you a dress if you want one, but this one’s for something else.” She finally looked at him. “I don’t think I’m going to send out any more resumes. Three weeks of job hunting and turning up nothing feels like a sign. I think I’m going to try to start my own thing.”

“Like your own line?”

“Kind of, but not nearly so ambitious.” She ducked her head. “I thought I would get a few pieces done and then see if Nino will photograph me and Alya in them and then set up a website.” She chewed on the edge of her thumbnail. “I’m thinking of maybe doing ‘inspired-by’ type dresses? Like dresses that look like superhero costumes and character designs and that sort of thing.”

“That sounds really cool.”

“Really?”

Adrien grinned. “Yeah, I think it’s awesome.”

Her eyes lit up. “And it wouldn’t even be limited to characters and stuff. I could do outfits based on seasons and foods and anything really!”

“You’re excited,” he said, fondness evident in his voice.

“I am.” She nodded and draped the fabric over her arm. “I was feeling a little lost but I think doing my own thing for a bit is really going to help me figure out what I need to do next. And with you and Nino booking so many events lately and Alya getting that pick-up for her blog, if I’m ever going to try to do it, now’s the time.”

He slid his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad. I’ve got to admit you guys were scaring me with all the baby talk. I’ve been holding my breath all week since no one has brought it up again after it felt like that’s all we talked about the last two weeks.” He felt Marinette stiffen under his hold and immediately realized his mistake. “You still want that, don’t you?” he asked softly.

She took a deep breath and pulled away from him slightly so she could look at him. “Can we talk about it, just me and you?”

He shifted uneasily. “It’s not going to change anything, Mari, and I really don’t want to make you cry again.” He eyed her stricken expression. “But if you really need to talk about it, I’ll listen.”

She took his hand and gave it a grateful squeeze. “I guess I’m just wondering why.”

“Why?” he echoed.

“Why are you so sure you’re going to be a bad dad?”

“Did you really have to start with that?”

She gave him a small smile. “Figured I may as well get to the heart of it. This might be my only chance.”

Adrien ran his free hand into his hair. “You remember me when we first met, right?”

“Of course I do.”

“I was a wreck and that was me in a better place than usual for that time.”

“We were all different. We’ve grown and changed. That’s what happens,” Marinette explained gently.

“Yeah, but you guys are what keeps me sane, you know? If it weren’t for you…” He shook his head. “Look, if none of this had ever happened with us, I don’t even know if I would still be alive.”

Marinette swallowed hard. “Don’t say that.”

“I was drinking so much I rarely sobered up for very long,” he continued. “I was sleeping with anyone who would take me.” He let go of her hand to wring his together. “I thought about ending it a few times but then I would think about how upset it would make Nino and…” He took in a shaky breath. “It felt like he was the only one who cared about me for so long and I know I have you guys now and it’s better but sometimes I still worry that I’m going to fall back into that mindset.”

“Maybe you could talk to someone,” she offered. “We all could, if it would help.”

“I don’t do therapy. My mom forced me into it after the divorce and it just…it wasn’t for me.”

“Adrien…”

“Please don’t push this, Marinette.”

She felt her eyes sting and tried to hold back the tears she knew were coming. “So that’s it then. If it’s not something you want, it’s not worth working through.”

Adrien clenched his jaw. “And what happens if I say yes and go through therapy and still don’t want a baby? Is that when you guys dump me?”

Marinette pulled back as if he’d dealt her a physical blow. “Of course not!”

He stood stiffly. “Then it doesn’t matter because that’s not going to change.” He hung his head. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to make you cry again and now look.” His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. Please don’t…” He shook his head. “Your dress idea is really great. I hope I didn’t bring your mood down too much. I’m really excited for you.” With that, he moved towards the hall and let himself into the other bedroom.

Marinette watched him go, feeling frustrated and heartbroken. ______________________________

“I thought I would find you here after I talked to Marinette.” Alya easily slid onto the open barstool next to Adrien. “How are you?”

“I’m an asshole.”

“You’re not an asshole.” She looked up as the bartender moved in front of her. “Whatever’s on tap.” He nodded and moved to the side and Alya returned her attention to her boyfriend. “Seriously, how are you?”

“Scared and a little drunk.”

“How many drinks have you had?”

“More than I should’ve,” he admitted, finally looking over at her. “More than a little.”

She noted the glazed look in his eyes but he was still responding to her questions so he wasn’t so far gone. She’d only seen that Adrien a handful of times and she had no desire to see him again. “Can we get a coffee over here?” she asked as soon as her drink was set in front of her.

The bartender gave her an approving nod before he eyed Adrien. “Maybe some food?”

“Yeah, a burger would be great,” she agreed.

“I’m not hungry,” Adrien muttered.

“Well, you’re going to try to eat. Besides, I’m hungry and a burger sounds good.” She reached over and put her hand on the top of his thigh. “But we don’t have to talk about anything if you don’t want to.”

He seemed to sag in relief. “Thank you for being you, Alya.”

She laughed quietly. “You know I love Marinette and Nino with all my heart but they could talk a person into an early grave.”

“I love them so much,” he whimpered as he laid his cheek on his crossed arms. “They hate me now.”

“They don’t hate you. They would never hate you,” she soothed. “This is just a rough patch we’ve got to work through.”

“Nino hardly talks to me and I keep making Marinette cry.”

Alya winced. She’d noticed the way Nino had been acting around Adrien but hadn’t brought it up in the hopes that it would smooth itself out. He wasn’t outright hostile but he was ignoring the other man when he could manage to do it without seeming openly cruel. And as far as Marinette went, she had been unusually sensitive since being let go. Any little thing seemed to send her to tears lately. “When you’re feeling up to it, maybe we can talk about some other options.”

Adrien lifted his head and propped his elbow on the bar to keep himself upright. “Options?”

“Now might not be the best time for a talk, Sunshine.”

He gave her a slow blink. “What kind of options?”

She groaned but turned more towards him on her stool. “Well, I know you said you don’t want to be a dad but are you opposed to Nino being one?”

Adrien frowned, brow puckering. “No, not really. Nino would be great with kids.”

“What about me and Mari? Would you mind us being moms?”

His expression was already soft with drunkenness but somehow it softened even more. “No, you’d be perfect.”

“Then maybe it would be okay. You don’t have to be anything you don’t want to be. Do you understand?”

“That would be weird though.” He scrubbed at his face.

“We aren’t exactly normal.” She offered him a gentle smile. The burger and fries was set in front of them and Alya gave the bartender a nod of thanks. “No decision needs to be made right now, but it’s something to think about.” She cut the burger in half and slid the plate between them. “Now eat and then we’ll go home.”

“I love you.”

She winked at him. “I know you do.” ______________________________

“Hey.” Alya shook Nino’s shoulder gently. “Wake up.”

He rolled and blinked groggily at her. “What’s going on?”

“I want you to go sleep in the other room with Adrien.”

Marinette grumbled in her sleep and curled in closer to Nino. He frowned up Alya. “I was already sleeping in here. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“You’ll go in there with him tonight. You don’t have to talk but you’re sleeping with him. Come on.” She pulled up the edge of the blankets and Nino yanked them back down.

“You’re going to wake up Marinette.”

“A hurricane wouldn’t wake her up right now,” Alya countered. “Out of bed, Lahiffe, or I’m dragging you out.”

He narrowed his eyes. “No.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Fine.” She went to the end of the bed and reached under the blankets, quickly finding his ankle and pulling.

Nino kicked out and scrambled upright before she could yank him off the bed. “Damn it, fine,” he swore. He picked his glasses up off the nightstand and slid them on. “This is a crappy thing to do though.”

“The way you’ve been treating him is crappy.”

He glared at her but quickly dropped his eyes. “I just don’t know how to deal with him right now.”

“Well, he doesn’t know how to deal with you either so it’s a match made in hell,” she huffed. “He’s probably already fallen asleep.”

Nino finally stood and reached for his robe. “Has he been drinking?”

“What do you think?”

His shoulders sagged. “Did you get him water and aspirin?”

Alya felt her irritation give way at Nino’s thoughtfulness. “No, but that’s probably a good idea.”

“I’ll get it.”

She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Nino. I hope you both sleep well.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He turned away but then turned back to kiss her. “I love you even though you can be a pain.”

“Right back at you, babe.”

He shuffled out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen. He ran a glass under the faucet and grabbed the bottle of aspirin. The temptation to sleep on the couch was heavy but he pushed through the door of the second bedroom to find Adrien still fully clothed and curled in on himself on top of the blankets. “Are you awake?”

There was a long pause and then Adrien whispered, “Yes.”

“I brought you some water if you’re thirsty.”

“I’m okay.”

Nino set the glass and bottle on the nightstand and sat down on the edge of the bed. The heavy bar smell of cigarette smoke and stale alcohol floated up to his nose. “Come on, dude. Undress and drink some water.” He tugged on Adrien’s shoulder and the other man rolled into him easily with a sob, curling around him.

“I’m so sorry. Please don’t leave me, Nino. Please don’t leave me.” His words slurred and Nino felt his heart break as Adrien began to shake. He held him as close as he could in the awkward position.

“Never,” he promised.

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Miraculous

Written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2, 3. 4:

Nino scratched his fingernails lightly against Adrien’s scalp. He’d been letting his hair grow longer again and Nino had to admit he preferred it that way. While Adrien could pull off handsome with any style, there’d always been something about him with longer hair that he really loved. Maybe it was how it looked when he first realized how he felt about his best friend.

“Can we talk about it?” he asked quietly and felt Adrien go very still beside him.

“I’m so tired of talking.”

“Yeah, I guess there’s a lot of that with four people involved in a relationship,” Nino sighed. He began to scratch at Adrien’s scalp again and the other man relaxed in his arms. “Do you feel any better after some sleep?”

“I feel like I need to brush my teeth.” Adrien turned to press his face against Nino’s chest. “And take a really long shower.” He enjoyed the rumble he felt when his boyfriend laughed in response.

“Yeah, you don’t smell great,” Nino agreed even as he held him tighter.

“Did you sleep at all?”

“Not much. I was thinking.”

“About the mess I keep making?”

Nino let out a loud sigh. “Dude, this isn’t all on you. I think we all kind of messed up. It’s a touchy subject. I know I haven’t been acting the best around you lately and I’m sorry.”

Adrien swallowed and his throat felt scratchy. He’d overdone it with the drinking. It’d been a while since he’d had that much in one sitting. “I’ll do whatever you guys want,” he finally said. “I can’t lose this. I can’t stand the thought of losing any of you so if…” He trailed off and closed his eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of Nino’s heartbeat.

“I don’t want you doing anything you aren’t comfortable with. We’ll figure something out.”

They fell into silence and the sound of the shower coming on in the master bathroom floated in to them. Alya was getting ready for work. There was the sound of humming as Marinette passed by the closed bedroom door and then music began to play from the kitchen.

“Alya would be such a good mom,” Adrien said, voice low. “She takes care of us already and she’s so patient.”

“Yeah, she’d be pretty amazing,” Nino agreed. “I bet she’d have us reading every baby book ever written to prepare.”

“Nah, only the ones with the five-star reviews.”

“Ah, true.”

“And I bet Marinette would absolutely glow,” Adrien added. “You know how they say pregnant women have a glow sometimes? I think she’d have that. They’d both be so beautiful and happy, I think.”

Nino felt cautiously hopeful. “I’m kind of surprised you’ve thought about this kind of stuff,” he admitted.

“Of course I’ve thought about it. I just…” Adrien pulled back enough to look up at Nino but found he couldn’t quite hold eye contact and dropped his gaze to his chin instead. “I just never see myself when I think about you guys as parents.”

He considered that for a long moment. “If we said that we still wanted to have a baby and wanted you to stay?”

“I couldn’t ever bring myself to go anywhere else,” he confessed. “But I think you guys would regret me staying.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I do.” Adrien sat up and rubbed at his eyes. “But I don’t want to talk about this anymore right now. We need to get showered. We’ve got that birthday party tonight and they want a big set up. I’m supposed to meet the dance floor rental people at the venue at noon so I really need to get going.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Wanna take a shower together?” He stood and stretched and Nino watched the action with appreciation.

“Sure, if Alya didn’t use up all the hot water.”

“Even more reason to share,” Adrien grinned. He dipped his head coyly, letting his hair fall in front of his eyes so that he was blinking at Nino through a curtain of blonde. “And you know I can be quick when I need to be.”

Nino felt himself rouse at the implication and pushed off the bed and into Adrien’s arms as the other man laughed. ______________________________

“How’s it going?” Alya asked, hooking her chin over Marinette’s shoulder as she worked.

“I think I’m almost done with this skirt which will give me three finished pieces. I want to try to get to ten before we do the shoot.” She lifted the skirt up and held it at arm’s length, tilting her head. “It’s kind of boring.”

“I like it. The little darts give it character.”

She frowned. “Maybe, but it still feels plain.”

“You could always come back to it later. You might like it more or you might know what you want to add. That’s what I have to do with my pieces sometimes.”

Marinette tilted her head back so she could kiss Alya’s cheek. “You have the best ideas.”

“I know,” Alya grinned. “Looks like we have the night to ourselves. The guys are working a birthday party.”

“Kid or adult?”

“Adult, I think. Rich too. They went all out. I think this one was booked by some people who were at that big event they did at the zoo so you know it’s got to be expensive.”

“Yeah, they definitely won’t be back anytime soon then,” Marinette agreed. “I hope they get to bring home some of the food like that last big party. Those cheesecake bites were so good.”

“Yeah.” Alya walked over to Nino’s desk and looked down at the large planner taking up most of the surface. “He has so many gigs lined up. Crazy to think this all started with that small truck at the festival.”

Marinette straightened up the piles of fabric on her desk. “I miss that truck. So many good make out memories.”

Alya laughed. “So true. I miss our truck too.”

“Yeah, it was really nice. Sometimes I want to go back to it and then I remember that we were younger and didn’t mind being in a hot truck in the summer with only a fan to keep us cool.”

“I’ve definitely grown accustomed to a more pampered lifestyle.”

“Me too,” Marinette giggled.

“You want to take a break and watch a movie with me in the living room?”

Marinette worried her lip. “I should probably keep working.”

“Compromise and you can sketch while we watch?” Alya offered.

“I think I can live with that.”

“Popcorn?”

“Ooo yeah.” Marinette grabbed her sketchbook, pencil, and kneaded eraser. “And do we have any chocolate? I think I’d really like some chocolate with popcorn.”

“We might have some leftover from Valentines.”

“Excellent.”

They made the popcorn and Marinette melted chocolate over her bowl and they finally settled down to find something to watch. Marinette grabbed a few pieces of chocolate covered popcorn and hummed happily as she popped them in her mouth. She chewed for a few seconds and then grimaced, jolting upright and going to the kitchen trashcan to spit them out.

“Everything okay?” Alya turned to watch as Marinette straightened and wiped at her mouth.

“Yeah, I think maybe the chocolate was just old or something.”

“It didn’t look old.” Alya reached for Marinette’s bowl and scooped up some of the popcorn to try. “Hmm, this is actually pretty good.”

Marinette grimaced. “You’re welcome to it. My tummy doesn’t feel good now.”

“Poor Mari.” Alya offered her the bowl of plain popcorn but Marinette’s lip turned up.

“No thanks. I think I lost my appetite.” She settled back on the couch and pulled the blanket over her lap.

“You’ve seemed a little off lately.”

“I guess I’m feeling stressed about these designs.” Marinette erased a stray line in irritation. “If this doesn’t work, I’m not really sure what to do.”

“Yeah, but you’ve been crying a lot.”

“I’ve always cried a lot.”

“Not like this.”

“I don’t feel like I’ve cried that much,” Marinette shrugged.

Alya studied her as she began to sketch again. “Have you had your period this month?”

“What?”

“Your last period. When was it?”

Marinette’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Not that long ago.” She fished her phone out from beneath the blanket and opened up her calendar. “Oh.”

“You’re late,” Alya said without needing to see the calendar for herself.

“Only by eight days.”

“That could be nothing. You said you’re stressed and mine’s been late before when I’ve been stressed.”

“Yeah.” Marinette worried her lip. “Except…”

“Except?”

She smashed her cheeks with both hands and brought them forward to pucker her lips.

“Marinette,” Alya prodded.

She dropped her hands. “Okay, so there was a night last month when you worked late and Adrien was in that goofy kind of sexy mood he gets in sometimes and wanted to do a strip show for us.”

“Uh-huh…” Alya had a sinking suspicion she knew exactly where the conversation was leading.

“So he got started and you know how you end up laughing at first but then he actually starts being all sexy and it’s a big turn on? He was grinding up against me and I was sitting on Nino’s lap and then he started grinding and I was in the middle and our clothes just kept falling off and…”

“You slept with Adrien without a condom, didn’t you?”

“Don’t say it all judgmental like that! It was in the heat of the moment and I was feeling weak and needy.” She shrank in on herself. “And it wasn’t just Adrien.”

“You didn’t use a condom with either of them?!” Alya threw her hands up in the air. “No wonder you’re knocked up!”

“I’m not knocked up! We ran out and I thought it would be okay,” she winced. “I showered right after and picked up some condoms the next day. You know I’m always so good!”

“I don’t think you get to use ‘always’ anymore.”

Marinette’s eyes widened. “You don’t really think I’m pregnant, do you?”

“Well, yeah,” she scoffed. “I’m pretty sure you are.”

“Oh no…oh no…” She shook her head. “This isn’t good. Alya, this isn’t good!”

“I thought this is what you wanted.”

“Not like this!” She covered her face. “I’m such a slut. I don’t even know who the father is.”

Despite watching her girlfriend melt down and the small jealous feeling nagging at her, Alya couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t think that counts when it was your boyfriends. It could only be one or the other. It isn’t like you slept with all of Paris.”

Marinette huddled in on herself. “Yeah, but what if it’s Adrien’s?” she asked weakly.

Awkward silence settled between them and Alya closed her eyes, trying to think. “Okay, first things first, we go get a pregnancy test.”

“Or ten.”

“Yeah, the more, the merrier.”

“And then?”

Alya brushed Marinette’s hair out of her face and cupped her cheek. “And then we go from there.” She noted the worry still evident on her girlfriend’s face. “We could be having a baby, Mari. A sweet little version of you running around here.”

Marinette melted with her words and touch. “Is it really going to be okay?” she whispered.

“It’ll be miraculous.” ______________________________

“Okay, maybe I should take one more just to be safe.” Marinette chewed on the edge of her thumbnail.

Alya pursed her lips. “I think the five sticks you’ve already peed on are proof enough. You hardly got enough on the last one. You’re running dry.”

“I could drink a juice.”

“Marinette.” Alya knelt down in front of her girlfriend, clasping her hands in hers. “How do you feel about this?”

Marinette swallowed audibly. “I feel…I feel…” She swayed slightly and Alya steadied her. “I feel like I need to go lay down.”

“Come on, sweets.” Alya helped her to her feet and led them back to the bedroom.

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Music

Written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2:

“Say something, dude.”

Adrien stared at the broken slivers of glass he’d already carefully placed in his hand. “I’m not sure what to say,” he admitted. “Since when have you wanted a baby?”

“I think I’ve always just seen myself having kids when I got older,” Nino shrugged but it was more of a nervous gesture than careless. “When we talked about it a couple of years ago, it seemed crazy but now…” He trailed off with a frown. “I’m going to be thirty soon. By my age now, my parents already had me and Chris. I don’t want to reach a point where I regret not doing it.”

“Yeah, but you can’t possibly think it’s a good idea. How would it even work?”

“I doubt we’re the first poly group to want kids. We can’t possibly be.” Nino went to the kitchen and grabbed a paper towel to run under the faucet. He tapped the glass of Wayzz’s aquarium on the counter in greeting before he returned and joined Adrien, sliding the folded damp towel against the tiny slivers of glass left on the hardwood. “We could look stuff up just like we did before. We got a lot of it wrong at first anyway. Not all relationships work like ours.”

It’d been a shock to find out that not all polyamorous relationships required each person being in love with each other. The only other group they personally knew insisted that’s the way it was and that’s what they’d decided for themselves too. It had been a bit of stress but it all worked out in their case, and when Nino looked back on it, he was glad things had gone the way they had. He’d been unsure if he and Alya could work within their group and now he loved her more than he thought possible. He loved them all so much.

“But this is a kid.” Adrien stood and dumped his handful of glass shards into the trash bin, cursing as a few edges snagged the skin of his palm. “We were adults figuring stuff out. It’s not fair to bring a kid into something like this and I’m not going to.”

“Why are you acting like we have some dysfunctional deal going on here? The four of us love each other and what we have may not be traditional but it works. Is that not enough for you anymore?”

“You know that’s not it,” he muttered.

“You’re not the only one in this thing, man. Marinette wants a baby and—“

“And you two are just going to go have one? What happened to the four of us are in this together?”

Nino crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “That’s not what I was trying to say. What’s this really about?”

“I don’t want kids and it’s stressing me out that you’re even talking like this. I thought it was decided and in the past.” Adrien clenched his jaw and felt his heart rate jump. “I would be an awful father and what happens when this all ends, huh? It’s hard enough being split between two parents. How do you think four is going to feel?”

“Adrien…” Nino reached for him but the other man stepped back, scuffing the toe of his shoe against a floor tile.

“You know Nate and Chloe and Sabrina split up, don’t you?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the ground. “They couldn’t make it work anymore. They didn’t even somewhat stay together. They’re just all three alone now.”

“That’s not going to happen to us.”

“You don’t know that. And I know how it would go, okay? I’ve known since we started this that I’m the odd one out.” He hugged himself. “I don’t want to be alone again.”

Nino reached for him once more and this time Adrien let himself be pulled into an embrace. “I love you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss into blonde hair. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. You know you’re never alone. This could be a good thing for us.”

Adrien was quiet in his arms for a long few minutes before he spoke again. “I don’t want kids, Nino. That’s not going to change.” ______________________________

“Do you really think I’m being selfish for wanting a baby?” Marinette stared at her reflection, noting the smudged mascara under her eyes but not bothering to wipe it away yet. She wasn’t sure if she was done crying.

“I guess it depends on why you want a baby.” Alya stripped down and tossed her clothing in the hamper outside the bathroom door. “Do you really want a baby or are you looking for a purpose?”

“Why do you suddenly sound like a self-help book?”

“Because you need help, I guess.” Alya stepped into the shower and let out a content sigh as the water hit her skin. “You seemed pretty sure the last time we talked that you didn’t want one.”

“I know.” Marinette sat down on the closed toilet lid. “And I thought I didn’t. But to be fair, that was a couple of years ago. I guess as I’m getting older, I’m starting to feel a little differently.”

“If it wasn’t for the job thing, would you want one?”

She twisted her skirt into her fingers. “I don’t know. I think so. It would make it harder though, I guess.” She looked up, catching Alya watching her through the glass stall door. “But did you see Nino when he thought I was already pregnant?”

“Yeah, I did.” Her voice had gone softer and she turned away to reach for the shampoo. “I also saw how agitated Adrien got.”

“I think he’s just scared. He would be a great dad. Don’t you think so?”

“This isn’t something we can force on him, M.”

“I know, but…” She trailed off and smoothed her skirt out. “He never gives himself enough credit. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. He would do such a good job with our baby, I just know it.”

“Marinette.”

“What if we were pregnant together?”

Alya groaned. “You can’t do this to me, girl.”

“So you do want a baby?”

“You know I do. I’ve always wanted kids, but I really love you guys and I really enjoy my job so I was okay with us not going that route though.”

“But we could go shopping for little clothes and decorate the nursery and pick out names. The guys could put together the furniture and pick us up funky food combinations and—”

“You can’t let this idea run away with you,” Alya warned, mostly to Marinette but a little bit to herself. “We should all sit down and talk about it again but don’t get ahead of yourself, okay?”

“Sure, okay.” Marinette nodded in agreement but could already feel herself falling deeper in love with the idea of expanding their family. ______________________________

“Been a while since we had the bed to ourselves, at least for a little bit.” Nino grinned as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it in the direction of the hamper. “You want music?”

“Yes, please,” Marinette beamed, crawling into the bed. Alya had a hard time falling asleep to noise so it’d been too long since she’d gotten to listen to one of his bedtime playlists. She cuddled down under the thick blanket and watched him fiddle with the speaker on the dresser. Gentle music began to pour out and he gave it a nod of approval before rounding the bed and climbing in.

“Are you feeling better since dinner?” he asked, pulling her towards him.

She fit herself into the space between his arm and chest and let out a happy hum. “I am. Sorry for the freak out earlier. I guess losing my job messed with me a little more than I realized.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You’ll figure something out. You always do. And we’ll be here to help you however you need. I wouldn’t be upset about you starting up the food truck again. I miss brurtles.”

She giggled and poked his side. “We could make brurtles anytime you wanted.”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same.”

Marinette listened to the music play for a couple of more bars before she cuddled in closer to his chest. “How did you feel earlier when you thought I was pregnant?” She felt him go very still and held her breath as she waited for his reply.

“It would’ve been a really nice surprise,” he finally said. “But it’s probably for the best that you aren’t.”

“Oh.”

He rolled onto his side so he could face her but still kept an arm around her. “I think Adrien needs some time.”

“Yeah, I know.” She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. “I know I get kind of crazy when I get an idea like this. Once it’s in my head, I can’t seem to focus on anything else.”

“It’s okay.” He tightened his hold on her. “Believe me, I get it.”

She pulled back enough to meet his eyes. “What if he’s never ready?”

Nino didn’t try to hide his worry. “I don’t know.”

The bedroom door opened and as if summoned, Adrien stood in the doorway, shifting his weight anxiously. “Do you guys want me to sleep in the other room? Alya’s going to stay up to work for a while.”

Marinette could feel Nino waiting on her to answer and she pulled away from him enough to prop herself up on her elbows. “Of course we want you in here.” She offered Adrien a teasing smile. “I get to be in the middle though.” She was relieved to see his own smile spread across his lips.

“That sounds fair.” He closed the door behind him and started shedding his clothes. “New playlist?”

“I made it a few weeks ago but I don’t think I’ve played it for you guys yet.” Nino curled around Marinette, pulling her closer to him once more.

Marinette let herself be cuddled closer with a note to self to pull Adrien to her once he got in the bed. She could feel Nino’s possessiveness starting to build. It tended to happen in some form or fashion among them. They all had certain buttons that got pressed sometimes and the other partners managed them the best they could. They were all only human after all.

“I really like it.” Adrien dropped his briefs and got under the sheets, reaching out for Marinette’s hand. She grasped it and he gave her a relieved smile.

The trio laid in the dark room, the only light and sound coming from the small speaker on the dresser. Adrien moved closer until he was bumped up against Marinette but she could sense how awake he was even as drowsiness started to pull her under.

“Are you guys mad at me?” he whispered, voice so soft that his question could easily be ignored.

The music continued to play and Marinette could feel herself being pulled under by the heaviness of impending sleep.

“Not mad,” Nino answered and his voice forced Marinette back up to awareness for a few seconds. The statement lingered on the air as if it was unfinished and then the music stopped.

Buy me a cherry coke?

[seasonofthegeek]

Love Keeps You Warm: Domestic

Late but written for Alyadrininette Week at @mlshipfleet <3

Parts 1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7:

“The proofs came in from the formal shoot at the Diplomat.” Gabriel poured a thin stream of cream into his coffee and stirred it in. “I think they showcase the new line well.”

Adrien scooped a wedge from his grapefruit and ate it. It had taken a few weeks to get accustomed to a model’s diet again but he didn’t mind it for the most part. He did miss Marinette’s fresh baked bread though. And Alya’s pancakes. And the way Nino fried up sausage. He glanced down at the grapefruit sourly.

“I’m glad,” he replied after a long pause. “I liked a lot of those pieces.”

“They were created with you in mind so I suppose that can be counted as a success.” Gabriel pursed his lips. “The contract we set is coming to a close soon.”

“It is.”

“And I’m sure you’re aware that Emilie would like to offer you one under the same temporary conditions as ours once this one ends.”

Adrien took his time scooping out another wedge and chewing it thoughtfully. The grapefruit was no piece of sausage but it was still decently good. “Mother reached out to me, yes.”

He’d spent the last two months working with his father. When he’d taken the contract, he knew it would involve more than simply showing up to shoots like any other model would’ve been expected to do. He was brought into meetings and included in planning and it had turned into quite the show. Gabriel was showcasing him as his heir apparent without ever asking if that’s what Adrien wanted.

It was almost comforting in a terrible and twisted way. At least he didn’t have to make any of the decisions.

He’d come here to figure out things about himself but it’d been so easy to fall back into the old way of things. He let Gabriel and Nathalie run his schedule and he fielded phone calls from his mother who wanted him back now that he was returning to the fashion world. He was hearing from her multiple times a week now as opposed to the few times a year from before. He spoke to Alya and Nino almost everyday and that kept him from drinking himself stupid most of the time. They kept him updated on everything going on but they were both always careful not to mention Marinette or the baby in much detail and he could never bring himself to ask for more. Their conversations felt superficial and fake and he knew it was his fault.

He’d been gone two months and wasn’t any closer to fixing himself but he missed the three of them like one of his limbs had been ripped away and he was bleeding out.

He wanted to go home.

He needed to go home.

Why was he even here?

“Why was I your only child?” he blurted out.

Gabriel’s brow furrowed and he set down his coffee cup. “What?”

Adrien dug the tip of his spoon against the rind of the grapefruit and didn’t look across the table at his father. “Why didn’t you ever have any more kids after me?”

“We didn’t want any,” he answered simply. “Later this afternoon, we’ll be meeting with a possible high-end distributor in the States so I’ll need you showered and presentable.”

Adrien ignored his obvious misdirect. “Did you want me or was I an accident?”

Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. “If we didn’t want you, we wouldn’t have had you, Adrien. What’s this about? You’re twenty-nine. What does it matter?”

“I don’t think I want children.”

“They can be quite a handful.” He eyed the younger man warily. “To be honest, I never wanted children either, though my father pushed for it to continue the Agreste name. You weren’t exactly planned but it seemed…fortuitous timing when you were conceived.”

Adrien scrunched his nose. “What’s that mean?”

“Your mother was heir to a hefty fortune from her grandmother held with restrictions. She was the first one of her siblings to marry and have a child so she became the benefactor.”

A sick feeling settled in his stomach. “You and Mom had me so you could get money?”

“Don’t be so crude. Your mother and I loved each other once upon a time. Having a family wasn’t an entirely unpleasant idea.” Gabriel eyed him over the frame of his glasses. “Don’t tell me you are entertaining the idea of having a child now. Your career is just beginning again. They’ll be plenty of time for you to have an heir later.”

“I don’t care about an heir. Why would I?” Adrien pushed his plate away and stood. “I think I’m going out for a walk.”

Seeming relieved to end the conversation, Gabriel nodded. “Don’t be late for our meeting.” ______________________________

“Excuse me, but you are not supposed to be in here.” Alya put a hand on her hip and pointed the white tipped paintbrush in Marinette’s direction. “This is a no pregnant woman zone right now. Fumes!”

“I’m just peeking! It’ll be okay for a second.” Marinette stepped further into the room with a wide smile. “I love the green! Don’t you think it’s perfect?”

“Of course it’s perfect. It’s the shade I picked,” Alya teased, admiring the freshly painted trim around the window. “Now scoot. If Nino gets back from the store and catches you in here, you know you’re in trouble.”

“Fine, fine.” She stepped through the door and into the hall. “Is this better?”

“You’re walking a thin line there, Miss Thang.”

Marinette rubbed her thumb along the doorframe. “So, uh, have you talked to him today?”

“My arms are getting sore and I’m tired and I’m not doing this with you right now. You have Adrien’s number. Call him.”

“I don’t want to talk to him. I just want to know if he’s okay.”

“Then call him.”

“Alya.”

“Marinette.”

Marinette huffed and crossed her arms. “I still don’t like that he left.”

“Then be mad but don’t ask me about him if you aren’t willing to call him yourself.”

She worried her bottom lip. “Does he ask about me?”

“I’m not doing this,” Alya sang as she sat down and dipped her paintbrush back into the paint. She ran it along the edge of the floorboard. “Didn’t you want to work on that dress today? Maybe you should go do that.”

“Yeah, I guess I should,” she replied but didn’t move away from the door. She lightly skimmed her nails along the frame. “Do you still want to have a baby? I mean, not the baby I’m carrying right now, but like one you get to be pregnant with?”

Alya paused in her painting and then began again. “Yeah, I’d like to if we can make it work.”

“I’d really like that too.”

A little tension visibly eased out of her shoulders. “Our kids are going to rule the world.”

Marinette laughed softly and folded down to the floor with a grunt, leaning against the hallway wall and putting one hand on her slightly bulging belly. “I guess I just wanted to bring it up so you knew as far as I’m concerned, I would be happy for that to happen anytime.”

“You trying to tell me you want me and Nino to get it on tonight?”

“I mean I’d like to help too! I can’t exactly do the getting you pregnant part but I can be fun in other ways.” She flashed Alya a smirk and the other woman laughed.

“Still feeling horny, huh?”

“So bad! Why did no one tell me I was going to get super horny in my second trimester?!” She stuck out her bottom lip but it quickly transitioned into a genuine smile. “I mean it though. I’m on board with you getting pregnant whenever you’re ready. If it happened soon, the babies would be pretty close together so we could be doing most stuff at the same time.”

Alya dropped the paintbrush in the pan and scooted to a dry part of the wall she could lean against and still see Marinette through the door. “I think I want to wait until Adrien comes back to talk to him about it.”

“Oh.” Marinette scratched at the nail polish on her thumbnail. “You really think he’s coming back?”

“I do. I even think he’d come back sooner if he heard from you.”

They stared at each other for a long minute. “I may have been a little irrational with him,” Marinette admitted. “But he really hurt my feelings by leaving.”

Alya nodded. “I know that. Believe me when I say I’ve heard my share between the two of you and you’ve both hurt each other.”

“I guess we kinda put you in the middle,” she winced. “I’m sorry.”

“Well, Nino’s in the middle with me so at least I’m not lonely.” Alya offered her a tight smile. “We want things to be okay between you guys again though and I feel like if you just talked, it would really help.”

“Can I come in the room for a quick second?”

“Why?”

“I just want to kiss you.”

Alya smiled and pushed herself up and went out into the hall to kneel in front of her girlfriend. “How about this instead?”

“Thanks,” she whispered as their lips met. They kissed for a few seconds more and then Alya pulled back.

“You okay?”

Marinette considered it a moment before she answered. “I think I might go for a walk. The fumes are getting to me a little bit.”

Alya nodded and stood to help Marinette up. “Take your phone and rest if you get tired.”

“I will. I’m just going down to the park, I think. Love you.” She kissed Alya’s cheek and went to the kitchen to scoop up her keys and phone. She made it down to the lobby where she ran into Nino, his arms laden with bags from the hardware store.

“Hey, sweetheart, where’re you heading?”

“Just for a walk. I’ll be back in a little while. I’ve got my phone.” She held it up as proof.

His expression was torn. “If you let me run these upstairs, I can go with you.”

Marinette went up on the tips of her toes and cupped his cheek to pull him down for a kiss. “I’ll be fine. Alya needs a break from painting anyway so go help her.” Her fingers lingered against his hairline behind his ear and then she released him.

Nino frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she promised. “Really.”

“If you’re sure.” He still didn’t seem convinced but Marinette gave his arm a quick squeeze and continued out of the building before he could argue.

She crossed the street and walked the short block to the small park near their apartment. It was getting close to dinnertime but there were still kids running around and dogs chasing Frisbees. She made her way to a bench she frequented and sat down with a small groan. Every day seemed to bring new aches and growing pains to her body and things that never bothered her before— like walking the block to the park— wore her out.

Marinette looked down at her phone screen and contemplated what she could possibly say to Adrien after not speaking to him for two months. How did one even start that conversation? She didn’t feel like she was entirely in the wrong but telling him he couldn’t come back wasn’t her call to make, not alone anyway. The four of them were in this thing together. And she really did want him to come back. She missed him. Their relationship was completely different from the one she had with Alya and the one she had with Nino. They had their own special thing.

Before she could think herself out of it, she scrolled to his number and hit send.

Just because the event is over, it doesn’t mean the story is! More will be coming soon. Thanks so much for reading. <3

Buy me a cherry coke?

[chelleaslin]

Alyadrininette Week Day 1- Confessions

@mlshipfleet

Everyone in the poly relationship were pulled to one another through their different emotions.

For Marinette, it was her jealously. She hated being third-wheeled by Alya and Nino when Adrien had to cancel plans. She hated watching them hold hands and kiss, hated they way Nino would touch Alya’s hair randomly throughout the day. She hated the way that Alya would hug Nino’s arm and lean into his side. She knew her hair wasn’t much but why wouldn’t Nino touch her hair, she washed it every night and she thought it was incredible soft! Why couldn’t Alya hug her arms, since becoming Ladybug, her arms have toned nicely as she new she could easily handle the weight on Alya on her side! Then with Adrien finally being her’s, her life would be complete! The bluenette froze mid thought, her eyes widening. Did she just say she wanted to be with all of her best friends?

For Adrien, It was his loneliness. He hated being alone, ever since his Mothers death he has been alone. The harder he thought about it, he didn’t really anyone even when his Mother was alive. Chloe was his only friend for most his childhood and even then, she never really was much of a friend to him. All of that changed though once he went to school and meant Nino. He was amazing, he instently became friends with Adrien without a second thought that he was a Agreste. He was protective and kind and Adrien was so, so, so greatful for him. Nino starting dating Alya then suddenly her and a girl called Marinette, started to hang out with them. Adrien didn’t feel lonely anymore, he had the bestest friends in the world. Without meaning too he found himself becoming very dependent on his friends, he hated going anywhere with at least one of them by him side and even then he never felt completely whole without the 4 of them together. If he had to cancel plans with his friends and they still went out together he felt an overly depressingly sense of loneliness that usually ended up in tears, he needed them.

For Alya, it was her protectiveness. She was the new girl in school and desperate for friend call her own. Suddenly a cute blue haired girl started to get bullied out of her seat, Alya felt an over whelming sense of protectiveness and came to her aid, they have been inseparable since. Suddenly Nino and Marinette were on some weird date that was supposed to be a ploy for Marinette to get closer to Nino’s best friend. Everything went south when Marinette started to throw her under the bus and Ladybug literally threw her in a cage with Nino. The poor boy was terrified, Alya felt that fierce protectiveness bubble inside her cheats again, she needed to protect him. She spend the next few hours, talking non stop to distract him and ended up to really get to know the boy. He was completely incredible! It wasn’t long before the two fell in love and made it official. Her life felt set she had her boyfriend and her best friend in arms reach of her at all times, she could keep them safe. All of that changed the Day Nino got a phone call mid Date and had to leave claiming it was an emergency. Alya, trusted him, she really did but his lack of detail was very suspicious, so she followed him. She was shocked to say the least when she found him in the park holding a sobbing Adrien to his chest. Her heart broke as she watched him scream about how lonely he is, how no one loves him, as he shook violently. There was something dangerous and dark in his eyes, something that made her heart break. She felt that primal sense of protection start to bubble in her stomach, this was the real Adrien Agreste she could see it as clear as day, the boy that came to school every morning was a perfect, fake product of his Father and she would do everything in her power to protect him, protect all of them.

Lastly, for Nino, it was love. He loved them all pure and simple, he was the first one to further it out but he always kept it hidden, forced his over whelming love to be nothing but a platonic friendship. He had loved Marinette for as long as he could remember she was his original childhood crush, always such a sweet and caring girl that stood up for other but never had the confidence to stand up for herself. He finally had a chance to be with her, but an Akuma ruined his date. It may have torn him from Marinette but it opened a whole new door for him, to Alya. Alya was perfect, strong,p and confident in herself and Her beliefs. She knew who she was in the world and was a force to be reckon with. She was everything he wanted in live and more but he still couldn’t get Marinette out of his head. He knew it was wrong, disgusting even, the two girls were best friends, he shouldn’t do this to Alya but he really couldn’t help himself. His heart belonged to both girls and he knew because of it, he didn’t deserve neither of them. He loved each day with the guilt of feeling like a cheater and it made it harder and harder to spend time with Marinette or Alya. He decided he just needed someone to talk to, he needed bro time. He started hanging out with Adrien more, the two already had a good bond but it the last week they had gotten so much closer. Nino started to feel the familiar butterflies he got around the girls, around Adrien and it honestly scared him. Sure he always thought he was straight and this was a massive surprise but he was more scared of the fact that his heart had more room to love another. Love. Holy shit he was in love with Adrien Agreste!

It was Nino’s birthday and he was freaking out. He stopped hanging around the girls to clear his head but he only ended up falling for Adrien too! He needed a break from all of them he thought so for the last two weeks they have barely hung out. He couldn’t avoid them for long, it was his birthday today and he woke up two a group text made by Alya demanding they celebrate.

That lead him to now, setting up his bedroom for his friends to come over and have a movie night. He asked his parents about it earlier and they agreed that it would be a great idea since they haven’t seen any of his friends recently. He was secretly hoping they said no, so he had an excuse not to see anyone. Matters only worsened when his Mother suggested the kids sleep. The girls could have Nino’s room and the boy the living room. Nino thought it was the worst idea in the world but it was too late, his Mother was already ringing his friends parents and organising the night.

A firm knock on the door, broke his train of thought. He quickly reached over himself in the mirror, he wanted to look good regardless of who was on the other side. He opened the door to see his girlfriend, Alya. A massive smile stretched across her lips as she tackled him into a hug, her face pressed into the crook of his neck.

“Hmm, Happy Birthday Baby.” She muttered, her slightly damp lips fluttering across his neck causing him to blush furiously. He gently pried her off and he tried to calm he raging hormones.

“Thanks Alys.” He smiled softly at her before cupping her soft cheek with his hand and leaning down to give her a passinate kiss. She gasped at the contact before melting into his embrace, she missed this.

“Ahem.” A small voice snapped slightly. The pair broke apart to see Marinette standing at the door with a rather annoyed expression on her face. The girl seem very upset yet her freckled cheeks were slightly dusted with a pink hue.

“Sorry.” Nino apologised sheepishly as he took a step away from Alya who look equally as guilty. Marinette took a deep breath trying to control her unwarranted jealously befrpore smiling at Nino.

“Happy Birthday!” She cheered, feeling more like herself again, she marched towards him with open arms. Nino felt a strange sense of Déjà vu as she wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace and nestled her face in the crook of his neck. His face started to burn as he blushed over the thought of Marinette and him making out like Alya and him just did.

“Don’t forger me!” Alya teased, making the hugging pair jump apart. Nino had forgotten his girlfriend was standing right next to them. By the blushed cheeks and shocked expression on the bluenette face, she had also.

Marinette feltan over whelming sense of guilt, she had just intimately held Alya’s boyfriend in front of her! She hesitantly raised her face up towards Alya’s, expecting to see her sending her death glares! She was shocked to find the girl smiling softly at her with so much adoration in her eyes that it made her heart skip.

“What are you waiting for?” Alya laughed as she opened her arms for the smaller girl. Marinettes heart started to flutter like crazy as she tackled Alya into a hug. She rested her head against Alya’s chest and just listened to her heartbeat, it was beating so hard and fast that Marinette question if Alya had butterflies too.

Nino stood of too the side and watch as the two girl’s melted into one another’s embrace. His fingers itched to reach out and hold both of them, some apart of that love and affection. Suddenly like she read his mind, Alyaopened her big honey brown eyes and smiled at him.

“What are you doing way over there? Come here.” She demanded as she let go of Marinette with one Armand stretched it out towards the tan boy. He laced his fingers with hers, herpulling him closer until he was flush against Marinette’s back. He melted into their warm bodies a sigh escaping his chapped lips. He didn’t understand entirely what was going on but he knew that he wanted this and was t going to let over thinking ruin it.

“This would be perfect if Adrien was here.” Marinette whispered from betweenher two tall friends. She felt the rumble of their chest as they hummed in agreement.

“Guy’s.” A cracked voice whispered. The trio pulled apart and looked towards the open door to see a very tired looking Adrien. He had bags under his eyes and his skin was rather pale. A gasp left Marinettes mouth as tears threaten to spill from her bluebell eyes.

“I..l” Adrien stuttered as tears welled up in his own eyes. “I’ve missed you all.” He cried as the dam broke and his salty tear fell freely from his sad green eyes. Alya felt that protectiveness again at the sight of his tears and pushed past the two to hold Adrien. He collapsed in her arms as he started to muttered and mumble incoherent sentences into her shoulder.

“Adrien, Honey, what’s wrong?” Alya softly whispered as she rubbed soothing circles in his back. He finally calm down enough to remove his face from her now soaking shoulder and face them.

“I love you, Alya!” He cried as guilt hit him hard. He glanced at Nino who stood frozen in place from his confession. “Nino.” He whispered as he removed himself from a shocked Alya to step towards his best friend. Nino flinched away and Adrien heart broke in two.

Nino didn’t know why he flinched away from Adrien’s touch, he craved it but he was in shock. His best friend just emmitted that he was in love with his girlfriend but he was only jealous because he wanted Adrien to love him. He wasn’t upset at all that Adrien loved Alya, in fact it made his heart swell, knowing that two people he loved could love each other. He looked up at Adrien who hard curled in on himself as he cried quietly, Alya was still frozen in place and Marinette had the darkest look in her face, he pitied her.

“Adrien.” Nino called out, his voice shaky. He needed to get this out before their friend group was destroyed forever. He look a deep breath and made eye contact with the blonde that froze at the mention on his name. He straightened his should before marching up the the boy and placing his hands softly on his face.

“Nino?” Adrien asked questionly as his cheek heated up.

Nino ignored him, closing his eyes and leaning in. Their lips meant in a short but loving kiss. Adrien’s lips were awfully soft in comparison to Nino’s chapped ones. After a few quick seconds the kiss ended all to soon. Nino stepped back and opened his eyes curious of everyone’s reactions. Adrien still had his eyes close, his face bright pink, Alya had a look of hope on her features and Marinette just looked worse then before. She noticed Mino looking at her so she quickly turned her head, he was about to reach out for her as well when Alya decided to speak.

“So what does this mean?” She asked in confusion as she stared at the two boys. Nino decided to take the initiative, this has been something he had been dreaming about for a long time.

“I love you both so much and I want us all to be together, if you’ll both have me.” He confessed, mumbling towards the end sheepishly. Alya and Adrien just stared at him making him feel uncomfortable, he opted to look at his bare feet instead, while he awaited an answer.

“Yes.” Is all Adrien choked out before tackling Nino in a hug and kissing him again. Nino smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around th shorter boy. They broke apart and turned to Alya and each held out a hand too her. She blushed as she shyly place one of her hands in each of theirs. They pulled her in between them and hugged her tight. The Aurban hair girl found herself blushing madly between the taller lads. Their sweet confessions were interrupted by the front door slamming shut. The trio jumped apart in surprise swinging their heads towards the now just door.

“Mari’s gone.” Alya whispered before the whole scene really hit her, with out her love goggles on. Adrien Agreste, Marinette’s crush, just confessed his love to her, Marinettes best friend. To make it worse he has room in his heart for Nino as well, Marinettes childhood friend. Then they all said they loved each other and established a sort of three way relationship, in front of Marinette! Alya felt her heart break into pieces, Marinette must be feeling so unloved right now and so betrayed by her friends. “He have to find her.” She turned towards her boys to see similar worried and guilted looks on their faces.

Outside Marinette had collapsed on the pavement as she balled her eyes out. Tikki flew out of her purse and quickly tried to comfort her chosen.

“Shh, it’s okay.” Tiki whispered as she mused Marinettes pink cheek. “I know it hurts but he’s not worth it.”

Marketers head snapped up from her hands, finally allowing Tikki to see the fire in her eyes. Marinette wasn’t sad, no she was mad, furiously.

“He is worth it Tikki, that’s the problem.” She snapped as she stood up and started to stalk down the street. “They’re all worth it, Alya, Nino and Adrien.” She sighed as she reached an alleyway three houses down, she sat against the wall at the mouth of the entry, just out of sight from the street view. Tikki sat on her shoulder, sighing sadly, she didn’t understand.

“I’m the one not worth it.” Marinette choked out as the tears started to fall from her blue eyes. Tikki gasped feeling her own tears threatening to spill, why would Marinette ever think that?

“No, no, no, Marinette! You are enough.” Tikki flew in front of the bluenette face. “You were chosen to be Ladybug that should be enough proof.”

“I don’t know Tikki.” She sighed once again, “I’m good enough to be a protector but for love?” She sighed as she squeezed her eyes shut trying to not let her emotions take the better off her, she didn’t need to get Akumatized.

“Love?” Tikki whispered under her breath in confusion. She was about to voice her complaints but Marinette decided to open up.

“I love them Tikki, all of them, not just Adrien.” She whispered with a small smile on her face. Sunddenly her face fell again as she shook her head violently as it was trying to rid it of her previous loving thoughts. “No, it’s wrong.” She hissed to her self. Tikki felt a sense of dread overcome her, Marinette can’t think negatively about love, especially this kind of rare love.

“It isn’t wrong, Marinette.” The small goddess sternly said. “All love if magical, even more so then your Miraculous.”

“I know Tikki, but my love isn’t real, you can’t love more then one person!” Marinette growled out as she tugged at her hair roots in frustration.

“Marinette!” A tiny red hand slapped her across her cheek. In any other circumstances she would have laughed but the murderous expression on Tikki’s face reminded Marinette that she was, in fact, dealing with a god. “All love is magical, even yours, especially yours, if you have a heart bigger enough to love three different humans then you truely have something magical.”

Marinette turned her face away from Tikki, it wasn’t that she didn’t believe her, she did, it was just what the other three had was special, what she had was just depressing.

“I’ll check up here!” She heard a familiar voice say. Tikki looked at Marinette with wide eyes, quickly ducking out of view just as Alya ran pass the alley way. Marinette held her breath as she counted the seconds in her head, waiting for Her friend to notice her. After a minute had passed she breathed a sigh of relief, but she may have replaced too soon.

“There you are!” Alya cheered happily as she headed back towards Ninos house and spotted Marinette. She carefully approached the girl who looked very off guard. “Marinette, Listen, I-“

“It’s okay, Alya.” Marinette cut her off, holding up her hand. “You can’t help who you fall in love with.” She tried to give her a smile of courage but ended up bursting into tears. Alya quickly pulled the girl into a hug, just wanting to take the pain away from her.

“I’m sorry that I fell in love with Adrien, I’m so so sorry.” Alya cried, as she patted Marinettes blue hair. “He wasn’t the only one Mari, I love you too so much.” She squeezed the girl as tightly as she could not wanting her to see her reaction to her confession. Marinette had other plans though as she squirmed and fought her way out of Alya’s grasp.

“Y-you love?” She gasped her eyes watering, not quite crying anymore.

“Yes.” Alya breathed as she started to close the distance between the two. “I have loved you for a while Marinette, the way you stand up for others, you’ve come along way since we first meet. You couldn’t even stand up for yourself then, remember?”

“You taught me how?” Marinette quietly replied as she recalled the events of that day. “You better me.”

Alya laughed at little in joy as she placed their foreheads together.

“Can I kiss you?”

Marinette didn’t reply she just pressed her lips against Alya’s in a much over due kiss. She tasted like salted Carmel chocolate which made no sense to Marinette but at the same time everything made sense because it was so Alya.

“Ahem.”

The two girls broke apart and looked up to see the two boys now standing above them as they sat on the alleyway floor.

“What did we miss?” Nino asked as his eyes keep drifting to Marinette with an unknown expression. Marinette put her head down in shame, her dream like bubble popping as she remembered that Alya wasn’t hers.

“I’m sorry boy, I love you both with all my heart but I also love Marinette.” Alya begain speaking, “I’ve loved her for as long as I’ve known her and I want to be with yous but I can’t do that to Marinette.” The boys looked at the two girls then each other, having some kind of unknown conversation, Marinettes heart broke in two.

“It’s okay.” She quickly said as she stood up and faced her three friends. “I love you all out I don’t want to be a problem in your relationship.” She quickly turned her head down as she went to make her leave, embarrassed at her confession.

“Marinette, Wait.” Nino blurted out, grabbing her wrist to stop her from running away. “I love you too, since our first date, before I even knew Alya.” He realised what he said and cringed,sending the brunette an apologetic smile. Surprisely Alya wasn’t made, she actually understood what Nino meant completely. “Adrien,” Nino suddenly spoke up, straight into his back and turning to the model. Adrien who was half zoned out quickly stood up straight in surprise.

“I love you, Alya loves you but we both love Marinette.” He explained, “I would love for nothing more then having all of you to call my own and view versa but it would be unfair for us to force you in a relationship with someone you don’t..” He trailed off as he once again realised he had said something wrong. His light brown eyes quickly skimmed over Marinettes defeated form, asking him wish he could take it all back.

“But, you wouldn’t be forcing me to do anything.” He quietly said, everyone herd him anyway. The trio snapped their heads towards Adrien, all three of them had hope in their eyes.

“What?” Marinettes voice broke unevenly as she stepped towards the boy she had longed for for so long. Alya protectiveness took a step behind her, in case what Adrien said wasn’t good news.

“Marinette, I love you too. You all have helped me through so much, thank you.” His eyes teared up as he tackled Marinette into a hug. Nino and Alya joined the pair as they all finally had each other in their arms, they were finally complete.

“I love you.” They all said at the same time making them giggle.

“As much as I hate labels, what are we?” Alya suddenly spoke up.

“Boyfriend’s and Girlfriend’s?” Adrien asked.

“Yes, Yes, please!” Nino smiled as he held them tighter.

[chelleaslin]

Alyadrininette week Day 2- Music

@mlshipfleet

Nino gripped the sink tighter as he tried to pull himself together. He had DJ’d in front of the gang before, just never as they’re boyfriend. It was exactly the same thing, he had prevented a DJ as Alya’s boyfriend, what’s two more partners? It’s just triple the pressure. A strangled noise came from his throat, he wasn’t making himself feel better.

“Nino, you’re up.” A stage hand called as he knocked on the dressing room door. Nino sighed, closing his eyes as he calmed his heartbeat. This talent show meant everything to him, he wasn’t about to let his nerves ruin it for him. He opened his eyes and glance back at his reflection in the mirror, he was still a little pale but his eyes held determination that pleased him. He grabbed his signature red cap and walked out the room.

The stage was dark as he walked to his set up. He had already premixed his mixtape for the show weeks ago, he remembers Adrien begging to listen to the every single day, but the taller lad refused, he wanted tonight to be a surprise for his loves. He reached into his pocket and retrieved his green USB with a love heart squibbled on it with permanent marker. This was it, his playlist with all of his feelings on it for Marinette, Alya and Adrien. He plugged it into his laptop and waited for the signal from the crew to start. The director gave a count down as the cameras booted up and the bright stage lights light up. This was it he was live on television for all of Paris.

“Hello, folks and welcome back to Talent Quest” the overly cheerful host cheered as she strutted on stage, She turned to Nino and gave in a massive, fake grin. “Our next contestant is a high school student going by the name Nino.” The love crowd cheered loudly and he heard a couple wolf whistles that sounded suspiciously like Alya.

“Okay, Nino, when your ready take it away.” The host cheered as she geastured to my equipment as she existed off the side of the stage. Nino closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, exhaling as he opened them before hitting play.

—

Alya, Adrien and Marinette were all standing in the front row of the crowd, waiting for Nino to start. The foursome had been dating for 4 months now in secret, they weren’t ready to let people in on their relationship yet.

“It’s this excited!” Alya whispered to her girlfriend and boyfriend as the hostess introduced a very nervous looking Nino. Everyone around them clapped their hands wildly as they cheered, Alya letting out an obnoxiously loud wolf whistle.

The hostess gave Nino permission to start as she left the stage to the tan boy.

“This is it!” Adrien cheered quietly, “after months of secrecy!” The two girls hummed in agreement as Nino pressed play.

The music started with just the audio of a small cute sneeze. Marinettes ears tinted red as she realised that it was HER sneeze. Alya and Adrien whipped their heads in shock towards their brunette girlfriend. Marinettes eyes widened slightly as he started to remix a basic backtrack sound with her sneeze, Adrien and Alya started to laugh at her reaction. Suddenly more familiar sounds got added in, Alya squealing, Adrien laughing etc.

After a few seconds a full blown beat was blasting through the speakers. The crowd cheered as they all danced around the three dumbstruck teenagers. After the song ended the hostess came back on stage with a genuine smile spread across her bright red lips.

“Wow, that was just amazing wasn’t it?” She cheered out into the crowd, the crowd responded with a loud cheer, one that Alya, Adrien and Marinette joined in with. Nino emerged from behind his turn table deck and stood beside the host for a mini Q&A.

“So first question, Nino?” The host asked into the microphone. “Does that song have a name?”

Nino smile as he leaned in to answer into the microphone she had extended out towards him.

“Ah, yeah, dudenette, it’s called ‘The Sounds of Love.’” He blushed as he made direct eye contact with all three of his partners in the crowd. Adrien and Marinette both dug their blushing faces into Alya’s shoulder and she herself covered her face with her hands.

“Idiot.” She smile happily.

[chelleaslin]

Alyadrininette week day 5- blogging

@mlshipfleet

Adrien, Nino and Alya all stood outside Alya’s bedroom discuss a ‘game plan’ under their breaths.

“It’s been 3 days!” Nino exclaimed, his voice raising to normal speaking levels. Adrien and Marinette both hissed as him to shut up.

“We know, that’s why we’re all here.” Adrien sighed as he rubbed his face in frustration. “Has anything like this happened before?” He asked, green eyes fluttering between Marinette and Nino. The pair thought for a second before Marinette shrugged, she had zero clue, with everything going on in her life it shamed her to realised that she didn’t know if you friend has locked herself away like this before.

“Once before but it was only 24 hours.” Nino replied, breaking Marinette from her guilted thoughts.

“What happened?” Marinette asked, curious. Nino sighed as he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

“Lady Wifi.” He answered, making everyone’s breaths hitch. “She wanted to concentrate on trying to remember what happened during her Akumaization.” He explained.

“And?” Adrien asked. Nino furrowed his brows in confusion.

“And what?”

“And how did you stop her?” He asked, sounding slightly desperate.

“I didn’t.” Nino sighed sadly, “She gave up on her own.”

Everyone felt a sense of hopelessness. No one had seen or heard from Alya since the exposers Akuma attack. She had instantly locked herself in her room after the event to update her blog. Marinette was proud that her girlfriend was such a dedicated journalist but she was also incredible worried about her self destructive tendencies. The fight with Exposer was a challaging one, an Akuma that could draw out the fake personas of an individual and give them a solid form. Chatnoir and herself struggle to fight the Akuma that was rapidly firing shots at them, so after Chatnoir got hit, Ladybug got back up.

The four superheroes fought strong and defeated the Akuma in the end, but not before Ladybug was hit too. Chats shadow form, his fake self, was an obedient puppet, someone how followed the akumas every will. It was heart breaking and shocking to discover that about her kitten. Ladybugs shadow though, shocked everyone.

Marinette vividly remembers being help up of the ground by Carapace, after she was hit. Looking up as the black mist formed into a shadow version of herself. She remembers the pure fear she felt knowing that her team, Alya and Nino especially, were about to witness the fake her. In absolute fear she waited for a perfect model of Ladybug to appear, since this isn’t who she really was. The shadow fully appeared, shadow bug standing tall, her grey eyes flitted over the group, emotionless untill they landed on Chatnoir, she suddenly did a very over the top smile.

“Uh, guys..” Chat whispered, pure panic in his voice. He started to take a couple steps backwards, Carapace and Rena moving in front of him for protection.

“Oh, Chatnoir, THE Chatnoir!” Shadow Bug squealed. Ladybug felt her blood run cold, Uh no, anything but this. The shadow bug continued to obviously fake fangirling over Chatnoir.

“Attack them!” The Akuma screamed as he pointed his hand towards the superheroes. Chatnoirs shadow ran straight for them, Carapace blocking an attack straight away with his shield. The ladybug but stayed where she was though. “Ladybug, attack, bring me there Miraculi!” Exposer screamed. Shadow Bug simpler turned towards him and frowned.

“I can’t hurt a amazing super heroes like Chatnoir!” She cried out in distress, Ladybug felt her cheeks heat up, this was mortifying...

“Marinette!” A voice called, breaking her from her thoughts. She blinked back to reality to see Nino shaking her shoulders a little.

“Huh?”

“Are you ready?” He asked as he put in on Alya’s door nob.

“For what?”

Adrien and Nino sighed in frustration causing Marinette to blush.

“We’ve decided to just be here for her.” Nino explains as he looked towards his boyfriend to fill in the rest.

“Cuddle her and let her vent to us. Discuss theories if she needs, make sure she eats and drinks, anything she needs.” Adrien explained. Marinette felt her heart beat hard, she loved her caring boyfriends.

“Okay, lets do this.” Marinette whisper, taking in a deep breath as she prepared herself.

[chelleaslin]

Ayladrieninette Week Day 6- Modeling

@mlshipfleet

Adrien sat in at the end of his kitchen table all alone, picking at his lunch. He didn’t feel partially hunger, expecially not after butchering an important photoshoot this morning. He jumped as the two large doors were pushed open and Nathalie came strutting into the dinning room followed by his Father. Adrien sat up straighter in his seat at his Father icy glare.

“Adrien, we need to talk about the photoshoot.” His Father sternly said as he walked towards the other end of their ridiculously long table. His Father sat down, folding his fingers and placing them under his chin. “The photographer said that non of the photons are going to work, That you were unable to complete the shoot?”

“Correct, Father.” Adrien numbly replied, trying his hardest to avoid eye contact.

“What happened?” His Father snapped. Adrien jumped slightly at the vicious tone before composing himself.

“I had trouble adapting to the theme, sir.” Gabriel lifted an eyebrow, he didn’t seem to convinced.

“The setting for the photoshoot was teenagers hanging out, Adrien.” Gabriel stated as he rolled his eyes. “You are a teenager aren’t you?” He mocked. Adrien felt awful, his stomach started to churn and more then ever he wished he had his Mother here.

“What was the problem?”

“Huh?” Adrien breathed, confused.

“What was the specific problem with the theme? So I can fix it.” His Father explained. Adrien sat quietly as he thought, it was a very rare occasion that his Father actually valued his opinion.

“The models were difficult to work with.” Adrien finally spoke up. Mr. Agreste was quiet for a moment as he thought, steel like eyes never leaving his sons face.

“How so?”

“They’re strangers and I struggled to make the bonds between us look realistic.”

“Okay.” Mr. Agreste said before sitting up straight and beckoning Nathalie over. The dark haired women’s heels clicked against the tiled floor as she approached her boss.

“Sir.” She nodded as she stood by his side, her face expressionless as always.

“Please, fire the models for the shoot.” Adrien felt completely shocked and a tad guilty. his face must have betrayed his emotions because Gabriel glanced at him and rolled his eyes. “Adrien, don’t look so mortified.”

“But Father you can’t just-“

“I can and I will!” Gabriel snapped before regaining his cool once again. “I own this company, Adrien these are my designs. You are the face of this company and if models don’t agree with you then we don’t need them.” Adrien, didn’t agree at all but he knew it was best not to argue. “Now, is there anyone you would like to work with? They don’t need experience but just this once.”

Adrien’s whole face lit up as excitement filled his veins. Was his Father being serious? Was he actually giving him a choice?

“I have the perfect models.”

...

“Ah, perfect!” The photographer gushed as he rapidly took pictures. “Now everyone laugh like Adrien just told the funniest joke.”

Marinette and Alya giggle amount themselves as Nino threw his arm over Adrien’s shoulder and cackled in joy. Adrien put his hand on the back of his neck, giving the camera and shy smile.

“Perfect!” The photographer cheered, “Okay we’re done!” He announced, as he stretched his sore back, camera now hanging around his neck.

The four teens all huddle up as they talked among themselves.

“Wow, I can’t believe old man Agreste actually let this happen.” Nino laughed. Marinette and Alya nodded in agreement as they leaned against each other.

“I was just as shocked, but whatever his reasoning, I’m glad I got to show you this side of my life first hand.”

The group disbanded as they got drinks and refreshments. Adrien was wiping away his neck sweat when his Father approached him.

“Adrien.” He said to get his attention, Adrien jumped slightly not expecting him, he never attended shoots.

“Hello, Father.” Adrien greeted, “was the shoot satisfactory?”

“Yes, the shoot was a success. Good choice of models, you all work well together, I approve.” Adrien felt his heart soar, Adrien knew in his head that his Father meant nothing about his relationship but Adrien couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly proud.

“Thank you, Father.”

“I...” His Father started before cutting himself off. He frowned to himself before turning his back to Adrien, Adrien frowned, assuming he was leaving. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in a while, if your friends are interested, they may be temporary models with you, if the situation is suitable.” And with that he marched towards the existing doors where Nathalie was waiting.

Once he was out of sight, Adrien’s face split into a massive grin before calling out to his partners, excited to tell them the great news.