#i think M is already my favourite bff route
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love you too bestie
#i think M is already my favourite bff route#also i accidentally botched my save with charlie so i decided to play LT first instead. hi#đŹ chatter
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Not a Spying, Not a Fake Date
The day Marinette met Adrien Agresteâthe hottest supermodel alive, an only son of fashion icon Gabriel Agreste, and her long-time, embarrassing celebrity crushâwas supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Instead, not only did she present herself as a total klutz, but his friend Nino had stolen Alya only two weeks later.
On a Saturday afternoon, no less!
Donât get her wrong. Marinette was happy that Alya finally was interested in a guy more than the latest scoop. And she absolutely didn't mind skipping one of their weekly get-togethers in favour of her BFF going on a coffee date with their new classmate. Marinette wouldnât be bored. She could work on one of her projects or play video games⌠if the day wouldn't be so perfectly gorgeous and sunny. Wasting it inside wouldâve been a crime. A walk around a local farmerâs market, on the other hand, sounded just about right. And if said market happened to be across the street from where her friend was meeting Nino, that was a pure coincidence.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Marinette was absolutely not spying on anyone, and if she glanced the couplesâ way once or twice, it was only to appease her morbid curiosity. No harm done. She wasnât interfering. She couldnât even hear what the two of them were talking about. Surely not about Adrien. Or her. Or her and Adrien. Nope. No way. Impossible. She wasnât curious at all.
âYou know you arenât very subtle?â
Marinette froze, her blood running cold. She knew that voice. It was ingrained in her memory by now. But there was no way Adrien Agreste was standing right behind her, whispering in her ear. It must be nothing but a product of her imagination. Yes! A hallucination of a post-pubescent girl with a crush of irrational proportions.
Still, she spun around just to check if it was time to make an appointment with a therapiâ Â
Her jaw hit the floor, eyes widening. The man in front of her sounded like Adrien, yet he barely looked the part. Most of his hair was hidden under a beanie, a pair of glasses framed his face. Baggy, black clothes covered his body. His chiselled jaw sported a light stubble, and a hippy backpack was slung over his shoulders. Not a shred of his classy self left, replaced by a sexy, casual chic version of the man.
âAdrien?â
He winked. âLooking beautiful as always, Princess.â
Her cheeks flamed despite her knowing better. Heâd given her that nickname only because she was a clumsy mess, not because he was trying to flirt. Princess, aka "damsel in distress", someone in need of being saved. In her case, frequently being caught before she hit the ground as she kept tripping around him. Stupid Agreste and his stupidly handsome face.
A movement in the cafe caught her eye, and Marinette nervously grinned. Adrien was Ninoâs best friend. There was no way he wouldn't know where Nino was taking Alya for their first date, which meant Marinette better be very careful in her words and actions, or else she wouldnât be the damsel for much longer. The title of a âCreepy Stalkerâ didn't sound the bit least appealing to her.
âYou look nice too,â she said, looking her best innocent self. âDifferent. I barely recognized you. I like the glasses. And stubble. Stubble is nice. Little of it. Not too much. Too much would look shabby. But yours looks good. Perfect. Not shabby at all.â
He chuckled, a corner of his lips curling into a smile. âIâll take that as a compliment.â
âYou should. It was one. A compliment.â
âWhy, thank you.â
Another couple left the cafe, catching both of their attention. Marinette quickly shifted her gaze to the apples at the stall she was standing by. As long as she acted natural, Adrien wouldn't suspect a thing.
âSo, what are you doing here today?â
She inwardly groaned and stashed a few apples in a paper bag. âApples. Iâm here for the apples.â
âWhat a coincidence.â Adrien picked one of the red ones and twirled it in his hand. âIâm here for the apples too. By the way⌠Nino just asked for the bill, so if you were planning to do more shopping in other places, Iâd say thatâs our cue to pay for these and get ready to leave.â
Marinette glared his way, her whole face burning up. That cocky smile, that glint in his eyes. Of course, heâd catch her. But she wouldnât give up so easily or she wasnât Marinette Dupain-Cheng: her papaâs pumpkin, her motherâs sweetheart, the future of Parisâ fashion! âIâm not spying on anyone if thatâs what youâre implying.â
âI wouldn't dare to accuse you of such a thing.â He grinned, putting the apple back. âBut⌠may I suggest a few tweaks to your disguise? You know, in case youâre still up for some non-spying activities today.â
âI donât need any tweaks. Iâve been here for an hour, and they havenât noticed me. I could tail them all day if I wanted to, and they would not notice me.â
She froze, the last of her hopes to escape this unscathed vanishing right before her eyes. Curse this man! It was his fault her brain was shutting down around him.
The corner of Adrienâs lips curled in a smile as he leaned closer. âYou might be well hidden amongst the rainbow of produce here, but, believe me, as soon as you step outside, that bright red hoodie of yours will give you away instantly.â
âIn your dreams,â Marinette huffed, folding her arms over her chest. âThis hoodie is the only thing in my closet Alya hasn't seen yet. My sunglasses cover half of my face, and I let my hair down instead of my usual ponytails. They would never recognize me.â
âWell, I did, didnât I?â
âThatâs because you came close. They are at a distance.â
âNino will notice someone trailing them in a bright red hoodie. Believe me, that man lets no detail escape him. But give me five minutes, and your own parents wonât recognize you even up close.â
She quirked an eyebrow. âWhat for? The date is over.â
âFar from it. Nino planned coffee, a walk around the city, and a movie. He bought the tickets this morning.â
Adrien seemed to be confident in what he was saying, but Marinette couldnât trust someone sheâd recently met over her best friend, even if she was in love with him. âI donât believe you.â
âThere is only one way to find out if Iâm lying.â He stretched his hand towards her. âShall we?â
Shall they what? Why was he even here? She had to get out of the house for physical rest and mental health. What was his excuse?
âAnd what are you doing here, M Agreste?â
âI told you already.â The corners of his lips curled up in a sly grin. âApples.â
âRight. And you went all out on a disguise for that?â
âPrecisely.â He grinned wider. âI also knew Nino was having a date nearby, and being the great friend I am, I didnât want them to see me and think Iâm spying on them.â
She wanted to smack that shit-eating grin off his face. But Nino and Alya were exiting the cafe, and Adrien tilted his head to the side, his hand still outstretched toward her. âSo? Want to not spy on them some more, or do you have other plans for the day?â
No, she didnât, and perhaps she should be smarter, but something inside her was melting by the second, Adrienâs smile slowly massacring any scraps of reason she still had. âIf you tell anyone, Iâll deny every word.â
âNo one shall ever know.â He grinned. âNow, may I suggest a few tweaks to your disguise? To minimize our chances of being discovered.â
âFine, but be quick. They are walking away.â
Adrien nodded and pointed to her hoodie. âTake this off.â
There was no time for questions, so she silently obeyed. The moment Marinette removed the garment, Adrien was already pulling his black sweater over her head.
âWait! What are youââ
âBlack is less conspicuous.â
âBut what about you? Itâs chilly, and your shirt doesnât look very warm.â
âIâll be fine. I wore that sweater for fashion, not because I was cold.â Stuffing her hoodie in his backpack, he looked her over once more. His face suddenly brightened. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out to the street in the direction of the nearest convenience store.
âWe donât have time for this,â Marinette protested as they neared the door of said establishment. âWeâve already lost them.â
âNo, we didn't. We might not see them, but I know where they are.â
âI know that, too,â she grumbled. âIn Paris. Where else? Europe, Eurasia. Planet Earth, Solar system. Hard to miss if you fly toward the Sun. â
Adrien laughed. Long and heartfelt, the sound of his laughter brightened the space around them. There was still a glint of joy in his eye and a hint of mischief in his voice when he recomposed himself. âNino spent hours planning their route yesterday, and yours truly was helping him. I know where they are headed. Weâll catch up.â
Hesitantly relenting, she followed him in the store, and once inside, Adrien disappeared somewhere between the rows. When he walked out, he was carrying a hairbrush, a couple of pins and hair ties, a small mirror, a plastic tablecloth, and a can of temporary hair dye. Quickly paid for, Adrien pulled her into the nearby alley. "Do you trust me enough for a blind makeover?"
A loaded question. She hardly knew anything about the man behind the carefully crafted image of his public persona. But Marinette loved surprises, and it wasnât like Adrien even had anything that could potentially cause serious damage to her appearance in his hands.
âYou arenât going to cut my hair, are you?â
âWouldnât dare to even think about it.â
âStrangle me with that tablecloth?â
âItâs to protect your clothes from the dye. And before you freak out, itâs a temporary one. Itâll wash out with the first shower.â
At least it was pinkâher favourite colour. "Don't make me regret this, Agreste."
âI promise, you wonât.â
She sent a glare his way. âIf I do, youâre dead.â
Adrien laughed and slightly bowed. âYour trust means the world to me, Princess. Now, if youâll allow me, I shall start.â
Marinette nodded, removing the sunglasses from her face. Adrien quickly draped the plastic tablecloth around her shoulders. The moment his hands ran through her hair, her brain short-circuited. It felt like heaven. Pleasant tingles cascaded down her skin at every touch as he brushed, tied, and clipped for what felt like an eternity yet was way too short of a period before he whispered in her ear, âClose your eyes and hold your breath for me for a moment.â
That would not be a problem; Marinette wasnât sure she was breathing for the last few minutes anyway. He was too close. She could feel the heat of his body, the warmth of his breath, and that was doing things to her sheâd rather not experience in a random alley off a busy street in the middle of Paris.
Oblivious to her internal turmoil, Adrien sprayed her hair with the temporary hair dye and proudly pronounced his job finished. The plastic tablecloth off her shoulders, he pushed a small mirror in her hands. âYou can open your eyes and look now.â
Her speech was gone the moment her eyes caught her reflection. Most of her bangs were pinned back in the middle, only some of the hair framing her face on either side. The rest was gathered in two cute, messy buns on top of her head that had pink highlights all over them, something the tips of her bangs sported as well. It was a look sheâd never thought of doing herself, yet somehow found herself loving more with each passing moment.
âNot bad,â she said, a ghost of a smile on her lips. âAre you secretly a stylist by any chance?â
Adrien chuckled, putting her sunglasses back on her nose. âNope. But I did grow up in a fashion tycoonâs house watching makeup artists transform people to an unrecognizable degree with simple tricks.â
âWell, you have a talent, M Agreste. I really like this.â
"Why, thank you." Adrien grinned. "I do like the outcome, too. You were always cute, but now you're straight-up adorable. Like a little mouse. An extremely lovely little mouse. â
Marinette looked away, taking a step towards a street. He wasnât flirting. He was just complimenting his own work. He wasnât flirting. âAs long as Alya doesnât recognize me.â
âShe wonât.â Adrien followed her. âHey! Maybe we should hold hands and pretend to be on a date? Theyâll never figure us out if we do that.â
Her eyes widened as he offered her his hand. âAre you⌠are you asking me on a fake date?â
âDo you want me to ask you on a fake date?â
âIâve never liked anything fake,â she huffed. âSays a lot about oneâs character.â
Adrien chuckled. âThen itâs good that all Iâm asking is to hold hands. For a better disguise, of course. Not faking. Real hand-holding.â
An earnest smile on his lips, he stepped closer, silently waiting for her reply.
Marinette swallowed, her eyes falling to his outstretched hand, one that looked more and more appealing to hold by the second. How would it feel to have her palm in his? If she chickened out now, she might not get another chance to find out. âOnly for the purpose of a disguise.â
"Only for that," Adrien assured, entwining their fingers together, his gaze on her soft and gentle. "Allow me to be your guide on this non-spying, not-a-fake-date mission, Princess."
His words fell on deaf ears as Marinette struggled to keep her composure. Big, strong, and very warm. Somehow safe and secure. Like a loverâs embrace. Holding Adrienâs hand was everything Marinette didnât know she needed up until now.
He must have noticed something was amiss, cracking a dumb joke to break the awkwardness as they started their walk. Marinette tried her best not to laugh, but Adrien kept going, each joke worse than the preceding one. Ten minutes in, and she couldn't believe she ever had a crush on this⌠man-child. Adrien was the dorkiest dork she'd ever met. A dork who asked too many questions. So many it felt like he wanted to know everything there was to Marinette. She didn't mind. There were quite a few things she wanted to know about Adrien, as well, and what better way to ask if not as a retaliation to his inquiries?
About an hour later, they spotted Nino and Alya on a promenade by the Seine, walking hand in hand just like them. Her friend beamed, laughing so hard, Marinette could swear there were tears in Alyaâs eyes. Nino looked no less happy, grinning at Alya with a satisfied look on his face. A smile found its way onto Marinetteâs face. Adrien watched them mesmerized, slightly tightening his grip on her hand.
âEverything looks good,â he said, turning to her. âTheir next stop should be a music shop a few blocks away, and there are a few cafes just across the street. Want to get a headstart and have an early lunch?â
Marinette nodded. She could use a drink or two right now. A nice large glass of the cold water because Adrien seemed to take their⌠whatever-this-was way too seriously, being all attentive and gentlemanly and extra charming, and if not for his assurance they were not on a date, Marinette wouldâve surely thought otherwise. Just as she suspected, her silly crush on this man seemed to slowly be turning into something more than a simple attraction. Something different. Something deeper and more profound.
âAwesome!â Adrien grinned, turning back to the town. âIâll buy us movie tickets once weâre there. Where do you want to sit? I prefer the middle, but Iâm pretty sure Nino got the middle row seats, so thatâs a bit risky. Shall we try for the back row?â
A pinch of guilt nagged at Marinette. Another glance at their friends in the distance and she stopped, slowly pulling her hand from Adrienâs grasp, mourning the loss with every inch lost. âPerhaps, we should stop here.â
He halted his steps, looking down. Seemed like she wasn't the only one feeling guilty about this. âYouâre right. This wasn't a good idea.â
âThey deserve more than two stalkers for friends.â
âThey do. I was just too curious. This is the first time Ninoâs been so crazy about someone.â
âSo you decided to secretly third wheel them?â
He gave her an unimpressed look. âYou donât get to judge me. Weâre in the same boat in this. Apples and all.â
Marinette couldn't hold back a snicker.
Adrien interlocked his fingers behind his head, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. âI was really looking forward to that movie, though.â Â
âYouâll live.â
âWill I?â
âAbsolutely, you big baby. Just go watch it by yourself if you want it so much.â
âBut thatâs not fun.â
âBetter than stalking your friend on his date.â
âThen perhaps I should get my own. A date, I mean. For the movies.â
Marinette fell silent, her chest tightening. A guy like Adrien could have any girl he wished. And while she didn't think herself to be worse than anyone else, what were the chances heâd want her when girls like Kagami Tsurugi openly confessed their love to him?
âI guess you could,â she said, pulling out her cellphone to get an Uber.
âThen will you?â
âWill I what?â
âGo to the movies with me? Lunch and movies. A date. A real one. Nothing fake about it.â He was looking straight at her, a trembling smile on his lips, a soft glint in his eyes.
She blinked once. Twice. Her ears must be deceiving her. âMe?â
He nodded. âYou.â
âBut⌠Why?â
âBecause I like you.â He stepped closer. âBecause ever since you fell into my arms that first day, I couldnât stop thinking about you.â
âExcuse me, but I did not fall into your arms!â Marinette huffed. Amazing or not, she wouldn't allow him to trample her reputation like that. âI just tripped, and you happened to stand in the trajectory of my fall. Or rather, you moved into it because, if my memory isnât failing meâand my memory never fails meâyou almost ran across the room to catch me.â
Adrien laughed. âGuilty as charged, but can you blame me? Youâre amazing, Marinette. Youâre smart and brave and confident and so very beautiful. A guy like me could only dream of being worthy of your attention.â
âYou kidding me, right? A guy like you can have any girl he wants.â
âBut there is only one I need,â he purred, leaning closer. âHer name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and Iâd be the happiest man alive if sheâd give me a chance. Iâm prepared to beg on my knees if thatâs what itâll take.â
Somehow, her hand was in his. He brought it to his lips and laid a lingering kiss on her knuckles. How could she say no to those eyes and that confident smoulder with a hint of childish worry behind it? The way she felt about him, she wouldn't want to say no even if her life depended on it. Marinette kept her eyes on Adrien's when she shifted her hand in his grasp, entwining their fingers together. "Only if we go to a different movie theatre. I don't want to run into Alya and have to explain things."
âSounds good to me.â
âAnd weâre getting soulmate ice cream at Andreâs before that. I want to check if weâre meant to be before I commit to anything.â
Adrien laughed, pulling Marinette into a hug. âIâm pretty sure I wonât even have to bribe the man to get the result I want.â
âYouâre way too confident, M Agreste, you know that, right?â
âOnly when it really matters.â
âAnd is this one of those situations?â
His gaze soft and loving, Adrien leaned down, his lips gently brushing against the flustered skin of her cheek. âYouâre at the top of my âReally Mattersâ list, Mlle Dupain-Cheng.â
Another kiss to her nose, he lingered for a moment before whispering, âMay I kiss you the way I know you want me to kiss you now? Or shall I wait until the end of our date?â
There was only one answer Marinette could give him. âRight now would be perfect.â
***
This is a reworked chapter from my upcoming "Dreams of You" story. If you're planning on reading it, don't be surprised to see part of this as one of the chapters. Hope you'll enjoy both of them!
#miraculous ladybug#adrienette#adrinetteapril2021#first date#fluff#they're stalkers and they know it#aged up
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