Prompt: Cuddling

So the next attempt at just trying to kiss Marinette had been a complete disaster! After spending a good proportion of the evening scrubbing the burnt chocolate milk from the bottom of the saucepan, Marinette had managed to do another helping of hot chocolates whilst Adrien was a distance away.

As the burnt smell of orange radiated around the cabin, Adrien was almost 100% sure he'd never be an enthusiastic orange eater again. The smell overwhelmed his senses and made him feel borderline sick.

They'd completely avoided talking about the near kiss, instead conversing about the most mundane of things: the weather, her parents, Alya's recent Instagram post wearing Adrien's jumper and Marinette's skirt (the girl had no shame) and what movie they should watch before going to bed. He couldn't believe that only twelve hours ago they were battling an akuma with a panic of missing the mini bus. Low and behold, they missed in any way and were now in what he could only describe as a cheap Netflix holiday movie.

He felt a buzz in his pocket, reaching around his back to pull out his phone. A well timed distraction from Marinette questioning him on what was better: Home Alone or Home Alone 2? Only to vigorously disagree with him about his answer. Why couldn't she just accept that the first film was the best?

Nino

Hey dude, have you done it yet?

Adrien

No 😫

Nino

Dude, seriously? Snowed in at a romantic log cabin and you haven't admitted your eternal love for the girl?

You're a disgrace to all romcom lovers everywhere!

Adrien

This is real life, Nino!

This isn't how it works.

I'm not Ryan Renolds.

Nino

I don't think he's Marinette's type.

Adrien

I promise, when the time is right I'll speak to her about it.

There just hasn't been a chance yet.

Nino

Excuses, Agreste, excuses!

Adrien

I promise.

Now stop interrupting me!

Btw, is Ayla with you?

Nino

She is.

Why?

Adrien

Please, tell her that I want her to take my clothes off!

"What are you doing?"

Marinette's voice almost had him dropping his phone as he fumbled to put it away in his pocket.

"Oh, um, just responding to a couple of messages. Nothing important."

He attempted to smile in Marinette's direction, praying she hadn't been looking over his shoulder or noticed the texts.

She huffed, turning away from him and moving towards the sofa. "It must be more than nothing if you want someone to take your clothes off."

He felt himself pale. She had read the messages. He needed to cover his tracks quickly, he couldn't have her finding out about his undying love for her this way. He'd done so well to keep it hidden it would be awful to just blurt it out, that's what André the ice cream man would do.

"It was just to some girl." Adrien attempted to brush it off before gathering his own mug and making his way to the sofa. Sitting down beside Marinette and cradling the cup in between his hands, he attempted to act as though he wasn't madly in love with the girl beside him. This would be a terrible time for a love declaration. If he let he know he was talking about Alya then she'd straight away want to know what it going on, and he wasn't stupid enough to believe Nino hadn't told Alya.

"Just some girl?" Marinette questioned. Her eyes were staring at him quizzically. One eyebrow almost disappeared into her hairline.

"Yep." He smiled. "No one that is important."

There, he thought, the crisis averted.

"Hummm..." Her response didn't fill him with too much joy, her reaction to seeing his messages not quite what he hoped, and just more proof she wasn't overly fond of his continuing lust for her. Damn Nino! The guy just had to send that through, like it wasn't bad enough being in this close proximity to her in the most romantic place he'd ever been — and that was coming from someone who lived in the City of Love.

She leaned forward grabbing the remote and turning on the TV, not giving Adrien a second glance. He couldn't have this tension, this wall between them if they were going to be stuck here for a few days. They'd broken down so much of what had been placed there by masks, he didn't want to be in a position where it was beginning to be rebuilt. They both deserved more than that!

"So," he coughed. "What do you want to watch?"

Marinette shrugged and pressed down on a couple of the buttons. "I don't think we're going to be spoiled for choice," she claimed, "none of the stations seem to be working." She flicked from black screen to black screen each announcing no service available.

Looking over at the TV stand, Adrien noticed there was a rather ancient looking DVD player which must mean there were DVD's somewhere within the cabin.

Placing his cup down on the coffee table in front of them, Adrien stood and began to snoop around the room. He looked in cupboards and storage spaces all around the room, hoping that at least one would unveil a selection of DVD's and maybe something else, like a board game, he could just go for an intense game of Monopoly right about now.

Two or three rounds of the room later, he'd managed to find two things: The Game of Life and The Holiday. Excellent.

He smiled towards Marinette only to notice her tongue was hanging out the side of her mouth as she frantically text on her phone. He walked back over — game and DVD in hand and smug, victorious smile on his face — setting them both onto the coffee table and turning towards Marinette.

"I've found —" before he could say anymore, Marinette's phone launched into the air, spiralling around a number of times as it made its way back down — straight onto Adrien's head.

He was used to her clonking him on the head with her yo-yo whilst he was transformed, but having a rather weighty device land on his head whilst still being only Adrien... well... he's had to say it kinda hurt.

"Oh my goodness!" she screeched. The sound was not great for the new found throbbing pulsating through his head.

Was his blood rushing to the joyous tune of Mary's Boy Child, or was he just going delirious?

"Adrien! Please talk to me! How many fingers am I holding up?"

She waved a hand in front of his face, three fingers positioned widely and obviously there for him to count.

"I'm fine, honestly. Not going to lie and say it doesn't hurt though, because, truly, it's really quite painful."

Her hands slammed over her face as Adrien rubbed his head where the phone had landed before trailing his eyes down to the offender who was attempting to lay innocently on the floor.

And there it was, all lit up in its smug glory! His own face smiling back at him as though knowing what had just happened as he hung an arm around Marinette's shoulders. It was a great picture of the two of them from one of their random summer excursions. However, the joy of seeing them together on her phone was interrupted by the name of another male in Marinette's life...

Luka

Adrien bent forward and grasped the phone, offering it out to Marinette and looking away. "You —" he coughed, "you have a message."

She slowly moved her hands from her face and reached out to take the phone, noticing the name and widening her eyes.

"Oh, it's not—"

Cutting her off, Adrien smiled and stood up. "It's okay. I get it." But, oh, he wished he didn't! There was still something there, one sided? Two sided? He didn't know, but the guys name still managed to place lingering doubts in his mind, his usually sure and confident personality deflating like an old balloon.

Taking the DVD from where he'd dropped it on the coffee table, Adrien walked over to the cabinet and looked for the remote for the DVD player, ignoring Marinette's little whimpers behind him. He didn't know why she was acting that way, she was free to do what she wanted; but that didn't mean that it didn't hurt. (The thought of her with someone else that was, not just his head).

Opening the box, he carefully took the ancient disc from its home and slotted it into the machine, taking the time to refocus and remember where he stood — as long as he got his time with Marinette he was happy. He wanted to be there for her, and many a time, he had to give himself the talk that she might, one day, get a boyfriend. But that didn't mean the boyfriend would stick — he always would. He would always wait for her.

Finally regaining some sort of composure, he stood and turned to face Marinette, placing some sort of smile on his face before heading to the sofa and settling down beside his partner.

"I'm sorry about your head," she whispered. Adrien's focus was on the remote in hand and attempting to find the right channel to access the DVD.

"Don't worry about it." He didn't mean to sound so curt, but unfortunately the words left his mouth with a slight hint of harshness. "I mean, it's fine, Marinette. You've thrown me in a bin before and I've survived. I'll be okay."

Once more there was a whimper beside him, quickly overrun by the opening of the Universal soundtrack.

Reaching forward, Adrien swapped the remote for his hot chocolate, settling back and placing his ankle upon his knee taking time to savour the sweet taste of the Christmas elixir as it slid down his throat.

"Luka just wanted to check we were safe. He said he'd tried calling you but there was no service."

"Calling me?" Adrien frowned, leaning to one side to pull his own phone from his back pocket. He must have missed the messages as he was looking at Nino's as right in front of him he could see 6 messages from Luka all at different times.

"He said it's easier than messaging me." Maribette responded with a small smile. He placed his phone on the coffee table and moved back against the chair. He'd jumped to conclusions like an idiot.

Feeling a whole lot calmer, and optimistic, Adrien settled back on the sofa. Even with the movie playing, the log fire burning and the soft, cold flakes of snow melting against the window, he couldn't help but keep looking over to Marinette. She looked lost, and almost like she used to when they'd first met. She was tense and closed off, nothing like the Marinette he'd come to know and fall more in love with.

Finishing the drink, he placed the mug back on the table and shuffled towards her a little. They never watched movies like this. Usually they were under a blanket, her head resting against his shoulder or chest as they just settled aside each other.

Remembering what he'd seen in the bedroom, Adrien abruptly stood up and left the room, his intention set on grabbing the throw on the bed and bringing it back.

Maybe he could get her to cuddle with him, and finally the time would be right. Nino was correct with what he said, they were in a romantic setting and it was just the two of them.

As he studied the bedroom door, looking through the gap from where he'd left it open, he set his attention to the bed wondering... no... those thoughts, even if he proclaimed his undying love to her, were too premature. He wouldn't make her uncomfortable. He'd sleep on the sofa, it was only fair.

Adrien made his way back into the main lounge area, walking around the sofa and placing himself back into the same position. Flapping the blanket in front of them, he placing it over their laps.

"Would you mind if I cuddled up to you?" Marinette asked, her fingers playing nervously with each other as she looked at him. "It's just I'm a little cold, and I'm still feeling bad for hitting you on the head."

"Sure." His head was spinning with joy. She wanted to cuddle him, she wanted it! She'd asked! If he didn't have to play it cool he would have dropped down on one knee and proposed to her there and then.

She shuffled in and he twisted himself around, placing an arm over her shoulders as her head lay against his chest and his back against the arm rest. The manoeuvre had marinette settled between his legs, one hand on his heart and her head on his chest. He was overpowered by her scent as her hair rubbed under his nose, the floral fragrance sending him into a hypnotic daydream about dancing with her in a field of Buttercups... wait...

His mind flicked back to the conversation with Granny mere hours ago. There was seriously something he was missing.

"Adrien?"

Something about the Buttercup nickname and what she pictured the guy to look like.

"Adrien?"

What did she say? Golden hair? It may not have been those words but wasn't that what she was implying... someone who looked like him?

"Earth to Adrien?" A sharp pain went through his ear as he blinked out of his summer daydream and was brought back crashing to the winter storm.

"D-d-did you just flick my ear?"

She giggled in response, cuddling into him a little more and sending his heart on a trip around the world. It shouldn't be possible for one person to have this much of an effect on another. The sudden heat from her body against his had him on the verge of spontaneous combustion.

"You were completely out of it. Where did you go nice?"

Dancing with you in a meadow which failed in any way to compare to your beauty.

"I was just wondering if Nino was wearing my boxers." Out of everything he could have said, it was beyond him why he'd come out with that, but in his head — at that moment — it felt better than telling her the truth.

"That's an image I don't want before bedtime."

"Bedtime?" Adrien questioned, moving his wrist to free his watch. Almost strangling Marinette in a headlock so he could see the time piece, he looked down at the small hands and recoiled in shock, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets as he noticed the time. Ten o'clock! When did that happen? "I didn't realise it was that late."

"It is, and I'm getting tired." A yawn escaped Marinette's mouth as if evidencing the fact that she needed to go to bed, and to be honest he could probably sleep too... if he wanted to move from this position that was.

"Oh, sorry. Please don't let me keep you up. You go to bed if you want, you don't have to watch this with me." The words left Adrien's mouth quickly and almost without pause; rambling in place of covering his last sentence.

She looked at him, her eyebrows frowning in response. "I thought we were going to cuddle for a bit."

"Oh, I thought..." Adrien looked at Marinette, he couldn't say no to her, even if he wanted to. He shuffled a little more into the corner of the sofa, Marinette following easily with his movements.

They both turned their focus to the movie, Adrien hoping Marinette couldn't feel the erratic beat of his heart from such close proximity. His hand moved automatically to Marinette's thick, luscious locks, gliding through the strands as they laughed together and watched as Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz found their true loves.

His fingers began to absentmindedly massage her scalp, the feel of her hair between his fingers calming and intimate. This was it! Having her relaxed and in his arms. This was the perfect moment.

"You know, I've been lying to you Marinette."

A soft hum left her lips, his nerves becoming more of an edge as he considered what he was about to do. But, it had to be done — Nino was right.

"I should have told you this a while ago, but I've been too scared. Your friendship means everything to me and it's something I couldn't bear to lose, but I need to know if I have a chance. Ever since the day we first met you've been a constant on my mind. Everything I do, and have done, reminds me of you. I know we've grown closer but I can't keep pretending I'm okay with the way we are. I want more Marinette, I want to take you out on dates and to snuggle with you like this. I want to take that next step with you and become something official and amazing. I know we have challenges with who or what we are, but if anyone can work through it, it's us. I love you, I love you with every inch of my heart."

It was out. He'd finally declared his love and now all he had to do was wait...

And wait...

And wait...

Suddenly, he noticed Marinette's breathing had evened out; the gentle up and down of her chest a regular movement as they remained cuddled together under the blanket.

"Marinette?" he whispered, his hand trailing from her hair down onto her shoulder, the back of his fingers leaving feather light touches down her arm.

She didn't move, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She was completely out. Fast asleep and dead to the world.

Dammit!!!

Moving himself around, with great difficulty, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom placing her underneath the duvet and her head onto the pillow. Pulling the duvet from underneath her, he replaced the blanket for the cold material, hoping it didn't wake her up.

Finally, happy with how she was lying in the bed, Adrien moved his way to the door and back to the sofa — blanket in hand.

"Stay." He barely heard her voice as her mouth was half muffled by the pillow. He didn't respond out of fear he'd misheard what she'd said. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable; the last thing he wanted was for Marinette to wake up and feel like her boundaries had been over stepped.

"Stay," she said again.

A smile graced his lips as he placed his hand on the door. "I'll just turn everything off and come back."

"Be quick," she said, her voice full of sleepy, thickness.

And who was he to argue?

Moving back to the lounge he turned off the TV before heading to the fire and putting it out. The black smoke bellowed up the chimney and for the first time since they'd arrived back at the cabin he missed Plagg, his little companion always being there when he needed advice, even if the kwami didn't want to give it to him.

Adrien looked out the window and hoped they were safe, wherever he'd taken Tikki at least they were together — just like him and Marinette. He looked to the bedroom doorway, gulping down the anxieties as he moved his way back to the bedroom and to the bed.

Closing the door behind him, Adrien searched for the pyjamas Granny had given him and slipped them on; the cold night air hitting against Adrien's bare arms as he made a quick shuffle back to the bed and under the covers.

This wouldn't be the first time Adrien had spent a night sleeping in the same bed as Marinette — the two falling asleep together multiple times over the past year, but something about this time just seemed different. Like things were changing. Turning onto his side and facing his soft, sweet Angel, he cupped his hands under his head and moved to place a gentle kiss against her forehead. Smiling as he closed his eyes and settled into the pillow.

"Sweet dreams, Princess." he mumbled, rolling over and moving the duvet to cover him. The rustling of the sheets sounded loud in his ear causing him to miss the warm words that left her lips.

"I love you, my Prince."