Marinette

As they strolled back to the hotel through the tourist filled streets of New York, Marinette couldn't help but feel the power of the masculine man beside her, a man she now knew she'd completely misjudged. Nothing like holding a grudge for almost a decade over nothing. She supposed when she finally had her place in London she'd have to forgo the 'I hate Adrien Agreste' shrine, though, maybe, 'I heart Adrien Agreste' would be more suitable.

Stop it, Marinette!

The streets were wild and bustling, yet Marinette couldn't help but feel Adrien was on edge. The carefree attitude he'd had as they re-introduced themselves on the rooftop — gone, along with the playfulness of their game of chase. She looked up to him, his jaw clenched tightly shut as his eyes surveyed the areas they were walking in. Marinette wasn't entirely sure why? The only valuable thing on her was the half eaten pack of peanut butter M&M's — not exactly a priceless heirloom — and her crappy phone which was about 6 years old. Though, if someone did come to take the M&M's they would have to have their ass kicked. No exceptions.

Clenching to the packet in her hoodie pouch, she continued walking beside her friend. That was weird. Adrien Agreste was actually her friend. She made a mental note to fill both Kagami and Alya in as soon as she got back to the hotel. It was big, life altering news and they all deserved to know. Though she no longer hated him, there was still a little caution as she realised she didn't actually know him.

"Are you okay?" Adrien's voice made her jump, her feet tangling and sending her at lightning speed towards the ground. Closing her eyes, she braced for impact, only for a solid body to get in the way, holding her by her upper arms.

"I've got you."

Opening her eyes, she came face to face with Adrien's masculine pecs. And dear Lord, she could have died and gone to heaven with his smell. The masculine, spicy smell that could only be once fragrance... and it wasn't his own.

"Chanel?" Marinette asked, smiling up to him from where she'd been buried in his chest. His face cracked for the first time since they'd left the rooftop.

"Yes," he said with a slight hint of amusement in his voice.

"Not 'Adrien'?"

"I smell like Adrien all the time, sometimes it's nice to have a change."

She giggled. "Not a fan of your own scent?"

"Eau d'Adrien. The award winning scent of model BO and cheese."

A snort left sounded out of her nose; she couldn't help it. Adrien was a pretty funny guy when you didn't think he was just making fun of you, so funny, in fact, she was mentally remembering the jokes to recall to Chat Noir; via text or face to face.

"I take it you're no longer carefree and radiant?" She smirked up at him. He steadied her on her feet and they carried on in the direction of the hotel.

"I'm not going to lie," he said. Once again looking around the area. "I don't think I ever have been. Photoshop was a wonderful creation. Though, I've seen the way you look at me sometimes. I think I've still got the dreamy aspect going."

She squealed, her hand loosening and letting go of the M&M's only to knock into her phone. All of a sudden it burned hard in her pocket. She hadn't Mr Unknown back, and to be honest, whilst she was with Adrien she'd never given him a second thought. Was Adrien taking over each orifice in her brain one section at a time? There was just still so much to unpack.

"Your smell goes with your jokes."

Adrien sprung in front of Marinette, stopping her in her tracks. "You're calling my jokes cheesy now? So you have been listening."

His smile could have overpowered and short circuited the area. It was wide, gleaming and enrapturing.

"You really are full of yourself, Agreste." She rolled her eyes and moved around him, continuing to walk back to the hotel, hoping he did catch the small blush firing up her cheeks.

"It's just self confidence, Marinette."

Moving beside her, they laughed their way back to the hotel. As they grew closer, Marinette noticed Adrien stiffen a little. Stopping outside the revolving doorway of the hotel.

"You don't need to worry Adrien, I don't think this one will close on us." Marinette laughed as she remembered their collége trip to New York. The one where they spent most of their time figuring out how American automatic doors worked. How could they be so different from Paris?

Adrien didn't crack a smile. It seemed as though he wasn't even listening to her.

"Are you okay?" she questioned, Adrien suddenly jumping back into motion and smiling down at her. But this smile wasn't the same.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Good. Good-fine."

She giggled. "I'm glad you're good-fine." His hand came to the small of her back and led her into the hotel lobby. She felt like she'd arrived with a member of MI6 the way he was ushering her in, his eyes surveying the area around them.

"Do you think your father's still here?" she whispered, looking up towards him, a sudden tingle crawling up her spine. Gabriel Agreste could not see her with his son.

"Naa, he would have had to go to the gala. Gabriel Agreste being spotted yet not attend the gala would be company suicide."

"In that case, why are you going all Ethan Hunt on me?"

She watched Adrien's eyes dance. "Not James Bond today then?"

"Only when you're in your suit. You're more Tom Cruise when you're wearing jeans and a jumper."

"I'm at least a foot taller than Tom Cruise," Adrien mused.

"A foot? Someone thinks highly of themselves."

They both smiled at each other before breaking into wild juvenile laughter.

"That pun definitely didn't fall short."

As they continued to laugh, she swore she was waking up from some rather bizarre dream. She was standing in a luxury hotel in New York laughing with Adrien Agreste, who once more looked as though he needed to pull out a revolver any minute and get her to safety. She knew she was a superhero but when did her life turn into the next instalment of Mission Impossible. She was worried that at any moment he'd have them rolling around on the floor, or he'd be pinning her to the wall.

Now, come to think about it... Marinette for the sake of your own sanity, and your job, stop it!

"Are you sure you're okay? You look on edge." Marinette looked him up and down, the laughter had completely died down and suddenly he was all seriousness again.

Adrien nodded in response, his eyes, once again, surveying the area. What was he looking for?

A hand shot to his head and he closed his eyes. When he opened them again and looked at her they were so soft and so green, it was like spring had arrived and she could roll around in them.

"Just checking for anyone who might be trying to spot me. I hate paparazzi."

She knew he was lying. There was no way he was just looking for paparazzi, he wasn't like this during their walk around Central Park. A noise blared between them as they waited with the crowd in front of the elevator. Adrien reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, frowning as he looked at the name. Marinette shuffled a little to the side in an attempt to see who was calling; however, before she could catch a glimpse, Adrien had silenced it and placed it back in his pocket.

He turned to look at her. His smile once again graced his lips. "So, have you had a good evening?"

"I have. I'm glad we talked."

"Me too." Adrien's phone began to ring again; his actions mirrored what he did with the last call.

The elevator signalled its arrival and they made their way in with the rest of the crowds. Another call came through on Adrien's phone, but this time he didn't even look at it. Instead, Adrien messed around in his pocket, obviously shutting the call off.

A couple of minutes later, the elevator was at Marinette's floor; the doors opened and freedom was in sight.

"So," she said. "This is me."

"So it is."

Taking her hand, Adrien led her out into the hallway, matching her down towards her room.

"Oh, door to door service. Very posh."

Adrien looked down to her, his eyes twinkling.

"Well, we've just started again on the right foot. I'm not going to jeropdise anything. You get the full Adrien Agreste friendship service."

Her own lips pulled and she had to tuck her bottom lip under her teeth to control herself.

"And how do I tip you for your service?"

They slowed to a stop outside her room's door, both staring at each other as electricity crackled around them. From the moment, she'd found out she'd been a massive idiot for believing he'd said that something had unleashed inside her. Something which felt like she'd been holding it in.

Marinette had always found Adrien attractive, there was just something about him... probably why he was such a famous, sought after model, but to her, she saw it as nothing more than a niscience. An itch she could never escape from. Everyone had seemed to fall in love with Adrien Agreste, everyone that is, except her.

But now the blinkers were off and she could see him for who he was and what he'd done for her in the past; the whole Lila thing playing on repeat in her head. No one had ever stood beside her when it came to Lila; however, it seemed someone had always got her back. The least expected person.

What else had he done for her without her knowing?

"I'm rather into night caps?"

She giggled before stretching onto her tiptoes. "I had fun tonight, thank you."

Marinette pressed a soft kiss to Adrien's cheek and lower back down onto her heels. Even something as delicate as this ignited the simmering embers in her stomach. She was entering dangerous territory. This wasn't how it was meant to go. One heart to heart shouldn't have her wanting him this badly. Had she always wanted him? Was this just the go ahead she was waiting for?

"Thank you for saving me from the gala." This time Adrien moved. His lips caught the corner of her lips sending her tummy fluttering and lips zinging. Oh!

Without saying another word, she pushed up onto her toes again, this time aiming for his lips, brushing her own against them softly and gently, hoping he'd succumb to the action and make a bolder move. Her mind was scrambled but she knew she wanted to kiss him — she needed to kiss him.

Pulling away, she noticed his eyes were closed but it was his lips which made her want to jump on his arms and ask him to trap her against the wall.

He was smiling. A smug natural grin which made her heart deflate and whoosh around her body.

"So, that night cap?"

Laughing, she pushed him away, his eyes opening and blazing. Her natural reaction was to lick her lips, only sending a sparkle through his emeralds as he watched the action.

Your job, Marinette! Think of your job!

"Goodnight, Monsieur Agreste."

The slow blink he took was joined by an exhale, all glimmer and hope from his eyes lost. His lips twitched at one side, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Goodnight, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng. Sleep well."

Feeling behind her, Marinette took the keycard out of her back pocket and held it against the door. Backing herself into the room and keeping her eyes firmly on Adrien. She kept staring all the way to the doors closure, taking the opportunity to turn around and back against it once it was shut solid.

She'd kissed Adrien. On. The. Lips. What the hell was wrong with her? He feeds her one evening of heartwarming information and she kisses him. Again.

Two days... two kisses! This needed to stop. Luckily no one had been around — apart from the creepy guy in the park. She didn't mean to play with the rules like this, she didn't think she did anyway.

So did that mean she liked Adrien? Every nerve in her body screamed yes!! Shit!

Pulling the packet of M&M's from her pocket, she tipped them in and attempted to ignore what was happening and instead focus on the tasty sweetness in her mouth. As the taste melted on her tongue she could feel herself calming. It's okay. Everything will be okay. Only herself and Adrien know about this. No one else does. It's okay. It's okay. It's not okay! It's not okay in the slightest.

Suddenly feeling very agitated, Marinette moved around the room clenching and unclenching her hands. She moved to the bed noticing Tikki was fast asleep on her cushion. Damn kwami hibernation, she really needed to talk to the small red creature.

Her hands once again became restless. She needed to do something. She needed to draw. Marching over to the table in her room she noticed her sketchbook wasn't there.

Where the hell did she leave that? Moving around the room she began to pull the covers from the bed and look around the floor.

"Where are you?" she muttered to herself. Down on her hands and knees, she searched under the bed for the book, only to side back with nothing.

Going for another look under the bed, a quick knock on the door had her jumping and banging her head off the bed.

"Ouchhhhhhh!" she whined, placing a hand to the quick growing lump moving through her hair. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Heading to the doorway, she called out. "Who is it?"

"It's Adrien." The voice said on the other side of the doorway.

"Adrien?"

"Yes!" The voice responded again. "You know tall, light, handsome and smells like cheese."

Marinette snorted, placing a hand on the door handle to open it. "Hello, how can I help you?"

"What's wrong with your head?" He pushed himself into the room and shut the door behind him, using both his hands to reach up into her hair.

As Adrien stroked, pushed and patted her head, she noticed something under his armpit.

"My sketchbook!" She hollered, pushing his hands off her head so she could reach the book from under his arm. She grabbed it and hugged it tightly to her chest. "Oh! Thank God!"

"Why didn't I get a greeting like that?"

"Maybe if you let me sketch on your face I would." She walked further into the room and placed the book on the table. Turning around, she noticed Adrien was looking at the bomb site which was her room. "I — um — I was just trying to find my sketchbook. I don't usually live in a mess like this."

Adrien's eyes were firmly placed on her bed. Bed! Oh no! She could feel prickles on the back of her neck as she turned to look at the little pillow her kwami usually slept on — it was empty.

"Isn't it a sign of creativity?" he smirked.

"Something like that. Thank you for dropping this down." She tapped the sketchbook. "Now if you don't mind I need to get some more work done."

His eyes were glittering and dancing again, her stomach spiralling and tightening in response. "Don't I get a reward?"

She crossed her arms. "A reward?"

"Yes." He shrugged. "I did make all the effort to come down here with your book."

"Well, what were you thinking? Because my M&M's are out of the question."

Adrien guffawed. "No, don't worry I'm not here to steal your contraband. I was thinking maybe something more along the lines of yesterday."

Marinette frowned. Yesterday? "You want to go to the park?"

"No, no! More like what we did at the park."

"Oh!" Marinette said, only for her eyes to widen as she fully understood what he was asking. "Oh!"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes never leaving hers.

"We can't do that, Adrien, you know we can't."

"Because of your job?" She nodded in response. "Well... does each kiss count as a separate rule break or is it classed as per session? You just kissed me out there, so maybe if we've already broken it we may as well make it worthwhile."

Marinette studied him. Did she want to kiss him again? Hell, yeah! Was it the best idea? Certainly not! Was he right? They've already broken it once so why not make it better than a peck on the lips?

She looked around the room. It was only them here so why not?

Stepping forwards, her hand fisted in his shirt as she pulled him towards her. His hands gravitated to hips, pulling her body close. She watched as his eyelids weighed down, his name getting caught in her throat. She swallowed down and tried again.

"Adrien." His name sounded out in relief, escaping her throat. Their hot breath collided between them, each exhaling roughly against the other's mouth.

There was no other permission needed. Adrien surged forward catching her neck with his lips as he walked them backwards, her own back colliding with the wall. She cried out. A cry which was quickly swallowed greedily by Adrien's lips meeting hers.

From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, she felt her whole body go limp, Adrien's tight grip the other thing keeping her up right. God, he tasted so good. So — so — good. It was making her lightheaded. Marinette was almost sure Adrien would only be tasting the M&M's and she prayed he didn't have a nut allergy.

"Stop. Thinking," he whispered in her mouth before mashing their bodies together, his tongue wrapping around hers.

Everything inside her was full of awareness. His touch. His taste. His smell. Sound could feel his anticipation. His awareness. Each only dwarfed by her own.

Never in her life had she been kissed like this. It was a dream. A dream which usually included Adrien's face on an unknown body; a body which from now on would be Adrien's. She could feel everything as he pressed himself harder against her.

Their kiss was a spontaneous combustion of urges. Nothing planned or practised — and a little messy. Everything she ever felt about Adrien was suddenly exploding in this kiss. The hate, the embarrassment, the stress, the new sprouting feelings of something more.

His lips broke from her mouth. His teeth scraped down her throat before kissing the base of her neck; his hands hooking under her butt and lifting her up.

Walking them over to the bed, Adrien placed her down before climbing on top of her. Her hands once again fisting in his shirt as she pulled him down, the weight of him sending her deeper into the mattress.

A ringing started up and Marinette couldn't help but wonder if he'd caused her prolonged damage of the intensity of the kiss.

The ringing stopped before starting up again, Adrien pulling away from her and reaching into his back pocket. He pulled his phone and rolled his eyes; and for the first time that evening she'd seen the name of the persistent caller.

Félix.

"Leave it," she said. Her chest rising and falling heavily.

Placing the phone back in his pocket, his head fell forward, lips once again finding hers as one hand moved to her head, racking his fingers through her hair. The rough kisses he'd used mere seconds ago had watered away to soft and slow caresses. Deep and passionate. It felt so natural and so right.

... and then the ringing started up again.

Adrien moved off her and ripped the phone from his pocket.

"This better be good!" he growled down the phone line.

Marinette stifled a giggle at Adrien scalding Félix. Adrien looked down at her with a small smile, before leaning forwards and placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll call you back in about 10 minutes." Adrien locked the phone and looked down at her, his eyes still filled with lust and want. "I've got to go and check some work."

Standing up, Adrien offered out a hand to Marinette pulling her into a hug and one last gentle kiss on her lips before heading to the door. "Sorry, I've got to leave."

Marinette was barely standing. What the hell had just happened? Her head was foggy and she felt very disoriented. "I — um — okay?"

"How about I come and meet you for breakfast in the morning? I know this great little restaurant."

Is he asking me out on a date?

It seemed she had lost all ability to talk as she flatly nodded in response, Adrien only chuckling in repose. He stepped forward again and kissed her forehead again.

"I'll see you in the morning, beautiful. Sweet dreams."

He opened the door and was gone.

What the hell had just happened?

With one hand to her mouth she headed back to the bed and sat on the edge, a hand absentmindedly coming to trace the soreness of her newly bruised lips.

"Marinette? Are you okay?" Her kwami flew in front of her, but she had nothing to say. She was still trying to process what had just happened.

"I... don't... know."

As she contemplated what had just happened between herself and Adrien, she failed to notice the chime coming from her phone.

Email: From: Gabriel Agreste.