Chapter Text
Marinette sighed as she went around the corner and took in the scenery before her. She only wanted to buy herself a book from the bookshop she frequented there, but somehow that became a lot harder to accomplish now.
By the looks of it, a scene from an upcoming movie was to be shot at one of the cafés bordering the narrow street. If she were to admit, the street was quite beautiful: old buildings, that bookshop that seemed a part from the Diagon Alley itself, the cafés with tables outside, the pavement, the flowers, indeed a peaceful atmosphere, just perfect for a movie.
And there… were a lot more people than usually. It seemed like everybody knew about the movie. Except her. It didn’t help that most of them were gathered in front of her bookshop. Some were busy with setting the scene and preparing the cameras, while the others, mostly middle-aged couples and children with their parents, were curiously looking around and chatting, waiting for the actors to make their appearance and the filming to begin. She could’ve probably got to where she wanted; after all, she had been waiting for months for that particular book to be released and she wasn’t about to let a bunch of people get in her way.
The only problem - she really didn't want to attract any attention upon herself…
"Damn it!" she thought, "Why now?! Why couldn’t he have waited a little longer before calling her?!”
To say she was mad at her friends’ boyfriend would’ve been an understatement, although she was perfectly aware it was not his fault. Or Alya’s, for that matter, for actually leaving. She knew she would’ve done the same if needed. But still, the girl would’ve been quite helpful; she did have quite a knack for making Marinette come to her senses and giving her courage. Thinking about how her best friend would have probably laughed at her shyness and made her walk forward to buy the book she wanted so much, the dark-haired girl took in a deep breath and made the first step toward the brick-walled bookshop.
"You!" the sudden shout startled her.
Hope always died last and maybe it really wasn’t meant for her, but she turned her head toward the set nonetheless.
And… no such luck.
A woman with a clipboard in hand and a smile on her lips had her gaze unmistakably directed at her. The girl quirked an eyebrow and pointed a finger at herself, her silent question answered by a quick nod from the woman already coming toward her.
"We need some extras for the background. You don't have to do much, just sit there, drink a coffee and talk to someone while the actors go on with their lines at a table somewhere near you. The drink's on us, by the way. So come on, what do you say?"
"Err... there are so many other people... I don't really... I was just…" yes, she was rambling. Sue her! She didn't like being the center of attention and pretty much everyone was looking at her now.
"Oh come on, it won't be for long and it's a once in a lifetime occasion being in a movie, don't you think?"
She sighed resignedly and followed the enthusiastic red-headed woman whose tone did not really leave room for denying the offer anyway.
"I'm Tikki, by the way. You were right, there is quite a crowd but we need teenagers or young adults and you seem to be… 17, 18, so just perfect. You can sit there," Tikki said, pointing over her shoulder to a table behind, not looking up from some papers.
Marinette was confused. There were three tables Tikki could have meant and which one was hers to sit at, she had no idea. Voicing the question didn’t help in the slightest. Quite distracted, the red-head threw her a quick "that one near the pot of flowers" and went straight toward a man who was probably the director.
The only tiny, little problem? There were pots of flowers everywhere.
Guess she'd have to choose then...
At one of the tables three girls were deeply engaged in a discussion and not wanting to disturb them, she chose to look at the next. There, sitting by herself, was a pink-haired girl. She seemed nice enough, so Marinette started walking toward her with a smile already forming on her lips… only for young man to reach her before she had the chance. So that left her only one other option: a table to the left where a blond boy, her age maybe, was sipping from a mug with a steaming liquid in it.
"Oh God..." she muttered inaudibly. If he was the first person she had actually spotted… well that was just a minor detail anyway.
"Let's do it!” she tried encouraging herself. "Guess it really is a once-in-a-lifetime thing... I mean, how many have the chance to appear in a movie? Maybe I'll even make a new friend today..."
Reaching his table, she put a stop to her quite mumbling and instead, indicating to the seat next to him, asked aloud, "Umm hey! Can I sit here?"
She really did hope her smile was as sweet as she tried to make it be.
"Sure!" came his answer, followed by a beaming smile. "I'm Adrien!"
"Marinette. Nice to meet you!" she beamed back, putting her purse on the table and taking her seat.
"So I suppose you were picked randomly from the street too?" he quirked an eyebrow, locking his green eyes with her blue ones and never ceasing to smile.
Marinette was no coward; yes, shy from time to time, insecure every now and then, but also, when a spurge of confidence would come, nobody would make her step back. One might even say she was a walking oxymoron. That… was one of those moments.
If anything, she’d actually managed to convince herself she should take full advantage of the occasion, so what if that guy was too handsome for his own good and what of his smile could melt an iceberg and his gaze could make you feel as if spring were there and everything was coming back to life after a never-ending winter, and what if... Ok, maybe her inner speech had started to be just a little too long, but returning to the initial point, what if all those were true? She loved making friends and thoroughly living every moment, therefore she would not miss the opportunity!
"Yeah... Looks like nowadays one can't even go buy a book without being chosen to appear in a movie." she said chuckling, gathering all the confidence she knew she had inside. "Tell me, monsieur, how come you are here?"
"You know... The usual. Taking a break from some work, going for a stroll with a friend, him suddenly remembering he had some huge thing to sort out and leaving, bumping into this fuss, getting dragged at a table by that red-headed that makes it impossible for you to refuse her..."
"Oh! You mean Tikki?"
"Guess that's her name."
With a giggle, Marinette continued, "Yeah, she knows how to make you give in, but I guess we should take advantage, right?"
"The truth has been spoken!" he said with a dramatic tone. "Let's begin with the usual: tell me something, relevant or not, you decide, about you."
"Well, I'm almost 18, my biggest dream is to become a fashion designer, I love reading and I'm one of Jagged Stone's biggest fans... And I live in a bakery. And I don't know why but I have the feeling I have seen you somewhere before…?" she concluded rising an eyebrow.
"So pleased to be your friend! Can we go visit that bakery of yours now?" You could hardly make the pause between the two sentences, his eagerness seeping through every word, a hint of amusement just as obvious. He even made a move as if to stand up, but when Marinette started laughing, he burst out as well.
"Look who's got quite the sweet tooth!" she said, still smiling.
"What an understatement." His fits of laughter were barely interrupted by the (obvious) statement.
"Oh, but that's not fair! You haven't told me anything about you yet, beside your name, of course," she pouted mockingly.
"We shall fix that then, m'lady!"
He hesitated a little before continuing, though. Adrien was a little surprised she didn't recognize him, close call and all, even more so considering she’d said she was into fashion. Not that he was upset.
On the contrary.
She could have been a good friend for him, he had seen it in her, and he wanted her to see him for who he really was, not what he pretended to be more often than not: the perfect son, the perfect model, the perfect everything... Now he was not that Adrien Agreste. He was only Adrien.
"I'm 18, I love physics, I love cats and I have an amewzing sense of humour."
Their expressions were total opposites. While Marinette was incredulous, he was sporting a huge, shit-eating grin.
"Tell me… that was not a cat pun..."
"But why, m'lady, it was purrfect!"
"That's it! Now I'm the one leaving."
"What a pity you are supawosed to stay here until the filming is over," he said feigning desolation, but immediately starting to grin again. "Looks like you're stuck with mew."
"Don't push it, chaton!"
"I deserved that! The pet-name. It simply fits! If I'm a kitty, then you're ma minette!" Her groan only encouraged his cheerful laughter.
"I can't believe you've just made a pun from my name!"
"You asked for it!"
"I thought you said you loved physics. Puns and physics simply don't work together!" Her tone was both amused and exasperated, and her words were accompanied by wide gestures made with her hands. Adrien was sure he already liked that girl...
"Oh and how well they fit together, though! The two of them combined make a force to be reckoned with!"
"Urgh... What did I ever do wrong to deserve this?!"
"You're hurting me, m'lady!" he said, putting a hand over his heart.
They were acting as if they had known each other since kindergarten. Playful banter and little nothings about who they were blended together all through their conversation. Nothing but the person in front of them mattered, thus the two of them didn't even realize when the actors took their places at a near table. Both him and her were widely gesticulating, laughing out loud and teasing each other to no end, all the while telling stories and answering silly questions.
"Why would your friend wear such a costume for a secret party?!" asked Marinette giggling just after Adrien finished telling her about a somewhat secret surprise birthday party his best buddy had thrown for him when they were 14 and his father didn't allow him to have one - as for the reason why he was not allowed to have a birthday party, Adrien brushed it off as soon as it came up.
"It's been more than four years and I am still unaware of his reasons! He's pretty crazy, but to say he's a good friend would be an understatement. I wouldn't change him for the world!"
"I know what you mean. I have a crazy journalist for a best friend and she can annoy the hell out of me sometimes, but also comfort me and make me laugh and understand me better than anyone else. Alya is just the best when it comes to being a best friend!"
"Wait, Alya? Why, but that does ring a bell! Journalist? Runs the ‘Ladyblog’? Brown hair? Red streaks? Greenish eyes? Glasses? A mole near one of her eyebrows?"
Now… Marinette was just confused. She was pretty sure Alya and Adrien had never met… but she’d take what she had - at least he didn't seem to know who 'Ladybug' was...
"Yeah..." at her hesitant answer Adrien let out a laugh.
"I think I know how come fate made it possible for us to meet today. Doesn't she have a boyfriend named Nino, for any chance?"
"Yeah, she does, but what does it have to do with…us?”
"Nino is the best friend I've told you about and he had been telling me about his girlfriend and this blue-eyed beauty that's her best friend and why she would be such a good match for me. He's also the one I came here with, but he had left just before you arrived here. What a coincidence..."
Marinette didn't really take in the compliment Adrien had payed to her, for revelation dawned on her and the next words came out of her mouth before she could actually think about them.
"You're 'hot stuff'!"
A slight blush made its way on Adrien's cheeks, but it was not even close to the fierce red adorning Marinette's. Her mouth was agape, eyes as big as saucers.
"...Shoot!" she said mortified; Adrien snorted.
"I get you've been told about me too, then?"
She hesitated, still horrified by her slip-up.
"...Yes" Hesitation now gone, breathless stammering took its place. "She wouldn't tell me your name, just that you were a sight for sore eyes and that you're very very very smart and a dork and now I'll just shut up!"
The only thing she needed was a hole to die in...
"And was she right, princess?" he quirked an eyebrow, enhancing the playful tone present in his voice. He couldn't help teasing her. Though… he wouldn’t deny he truly was curious what she thought about him.
A brand new blush appeared on the dark-haired girl's face, but she told herself she wouldn't let herself be intimidated by his teasing. So she started teasing him too.
"Hmm... I don't know about it yet. Maybe y-yes (damn it, I stuttered!), maybe not..." keeping her face straight and the thoughtful expression still on, she continued:
"I'm more interested in where that nickname came from, though."
"Well, I thought of you as a veritable lady when we started talking, but now that I know you're the sweet girl Nino's been telling me about, I know you sure are more of a princess than a mere lady." Although his bold statement was followed by a wink, the fact that he brought a hand to scratch the back of his neck proved that he was somewhat nervous.
"Would that make you my prince, then?" If he wanted to flirt, flirt would he get, inexperienced as she was. Two could play the game, even more so now that her confidence was back.
"But as I've already told you, I would've pegged you for a sweet kitten rather than a prince. Blame it on that happy gleam in your eyes, and that ruffled hair of yours, and let's not forget the cat puns now," she said with a cooing voice and Adrien started thinking of himself as a dead man, because Nino was so damn right, and he knew it was him and Alya that made it so they could meet there. Fortunately he had just the right remark regarding his princess' comment, and that would give him enough time to regain his composure.
"Maybe I'm the kitten that would be transformed back into a charming prince by his beautiful princess with a sweet, loving kiss!" he suggested, already leaning forward.
Marinette, too, was on the verge of dying. She would find Alya, kill her and her boyfriend, then resurrect them and kiss them and thank them for giving her the chance to meet that boy. In spite of her inside screaming at the oh so cheesy pick-up line - but sweet nonetheless - she bopped his nose, making him stay straight in his chair once again.
"I think it wouldn't hurt if you stayed a kitten a little longer, mon chaton. Enough ego-boosting for you today," she added with a giggle and Adrien was sure enough close to being killed her.
Their flirting would have continued, had they not been so rudely interrupted by a tap on Marinette's shoulder. The same red-headed woman was staying beside them, now accompanied by a black-haired man with green, piercing eyes and a scowling face. He was the one to speak first:
"See those two over there?" he pointed to a couple sitting at a table beside them, both the girl and the boy looking their way and barely holding in their laughter. Adrien recognized them on the spot and Marinette had a pretty good idea about who they were as well.
"They are the ones supposed to look like they’re falling in love, not you two. You only had to stay there and talk. Talk. That's all. Now please get out of my set and continue your date somewhere else!" continued the man almost shouting.
A giggle escaped the girl who was more than certainly the actress, and Marinette, although mortified, was ready to start giggling herself.
Tikki, on the other hand, shrugged and, with a gentle smile on her lips and a knowing look in her eyes, said, "Excuse my husband. He's forgotten what's like to be young and in love. Have a nice day, you two!" and she started going back to the annoyed man. "By the way," she added, looking once more at Marinette, "I pointed at the table to the right."
"...Oops" thought Marinette. She returned her gaze to the boy beside her who was smiling widely, his cheeks slightly red and his hand stretched toward her.
"What do you say if we followed the man's advice, princess? Would you like to go on a date with me?"
"I might have to consider it a little. I mean, it's kinda your fault that I lost the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be in a movie..." she tried staying serious and Adrien almost believed her, had she not let the corners of her lips twitch up into a smile, but it was too hard to say no to him, so she continued, finally taking his hand: "Oh, who am I kidding, are we going or not, kitty?"
Unbeknownst to them, in the young actor’s eyes flickered a mischievous gleam.
"Don't forget to invite us to your wedding, Adrien!" he said laughing, returning to facing his partner. Fiercely blushing, neither Adrien, nor Marinette couldn’t help but laugh as well, and if both of them were secretly hoping they’d actually get the chance to… well… details.
The book Marinette wanted was long forgotten, for who needed to read about a love story when you could live your own, and both their phones had received two almost identical - still unseen - messages from their best friends who had indeed met in the crowd and watched the whole thing from the first row. The only difference - one called dibs on being the best man, while the other on being the maid of honor.
Locking gazes with Marinette, Adrien thought that being a model sure had its perks. He knew both actors and both Tikki and Plagg, the infamous director who had thrown them out. Inviting them at their wedding would be a piece of cake.
"How come that guy knew your name, by the way? He was the lead actor, wasn't he? Félix Agreste."
Marinette's voice woke him up from his reverie.
"Yeah, that's him, but that's a story for another time. Now what do you say about some ice-cream?”
"I heard André's is the best."
"Only the best for my lady."