Marinette

Marinette felt horrible! Well and truly horrible, and for once that wasn't from being too close to Adrien. If anything she'd had a pleasant time with him the previous day, they got along surprisingly well after the incident at Central Park... one she knew she wouldn't get over soon and one they'd agreed never to talk about again.

She'd kissed him.

Gave him a full on smackeroo in the middle of Central Park.

Panicking about the guy following her, she thought the ideal thing to do was pucker up and smooch with her boss. Her boss who she'd agreed to keep her paws off! Groaning, she slammed her hands over her face and fell back into the fancy hotel cushions. Goose feathers — if she wasn't mistaken. The thought of the pillow directed her thoughts straight back to Adrien. She just couldn't seem to shake him. He was everywhere she looked and entwined with everything she thought about.

Even something as mundane as a roll of toilet paper led back to Adrien Agreste. Mainly because she still saw him as a piece of... well, you get the point.

But back to the previous day, there was just something about his face as she'd approached him. A face which told her 'I'm here, do what you want with me.' So she did! She'd decided to call him 'Honey' and snog him. Seriously, what the hell was running through her head?

"You know, I'll listen if you want to talk about it?" A sleepy Tikki floated over, her eyes half open and movements slow. The lack of akuma's recently and not transforming seemed to have really affected her little kwami. The creature was barely able to stay awake for more than an hour.

Tikki dropped into Marinette's waiting palms as the designer moved them towards her lips and pressed a kiss to the top of the kwami's head.

"It's ok, sweetness. You rest up! We never know when you might be needed again."

Tikki snuggled into Marinette's cheek, nuzzling gently before letting off a little yawn. "I know you don't want to hear it, Marinette, but I think Kagami's right. I think it's time you let whatever this is with Adrien go. It's annoying everyone around you."

Shocked at the revelation, Marinette pulled the kwami away and studied her little face. Tikki had once again departed from consciousness and had begun to snooze in her hands. She placed the kwami on the cushion next to her and smiled. She loved this tiny goddess so much before moving her eyes to her phone charging on her desk and she couldn't help but wonder if Chat had the same relationship with his kwami. Everyone knew Plagg was the hardest to get along with. He either loved you or hated you.

Absent-mindedly, Marinette's hand reached for her lips. The kiss with Adrien had done things to her she didn't know was possible. It was like paint bombs had exploded behind her eyelids making her see the world suddenly become more colourful and vibrant. She hadn't meant to make it more than just a little peck, but as soon as he'd kissed her back she just couldn't help but search for another. He was addictive... and she hated it. She'd never felt like this when she'd kissed someone before. The first kiss with Chat Noir had been quick and a means of survival, the following forgotten and almost imaginary. This kiss though had rocked her resolve and altered her brain chemistry. Suddenly, she didn't seem to hate Adrien as much anymore.

After that kiss she just couldn't stop searching him out, each tiny flicker of a look had her heart racing and a warmth spreading to her cheeks. His smile had suddenly become something she wanted to see, something she wanted to cause.

"No! No! No!" Attempting to busy herself, Marinette shook her head and grabbed her sketchbook again, opening it up to see...

The first design was on a male model. A male model with perfectly styled hair and high cheekbones. Dammit!

Slamming it closed, she sat up straight and rubbed her eyes hard, little black dots left in the wake of her fierce action; however, a sudden pain in her stomach had her almost doubling over.

The day had started really successfully: she'd gotten up early, only replayed the kiss twice and then headed to the venue. She'd managed to sufficiently alter Adrien's outfits without groping him too much (damn, his abs were tight) and everything was going swimmingly right up until the point that her body sent her, her monthly womanhood subscription gift. The only freebie she'd ever gladly refuse.

With the interview and then boxing up to move, she'd completely lost track of her weeks which ended with her doubled over and almost throwing up. She'd forgotten her pain killers, and if it wasn't for modern day Hercules Agreste, she was quite sure she'd still be curled up in the pile of fabric in the corner of the dressing room.

Sometimes she really hated being a woman.

After Adrien had carried her from the building like Superman from a fire, he'd placed her in the car and sent her back to the hotel; orders to take the rest of the day off 'sick'.

Well, not completely off.

It was seen as an opportunity to continue the designs for Gabriel, ready to present back in England.

After the outing to the park yesterday she had been incredibly inspired. Unsure whether it was from the kiss or the views, all she knew was her head was back on top form; idea after idea rolled out and inspiration came to her in droves. She'd even emailed a couple of snapshots over to Nathalie already.

Tapping out around the bedsheets, Marinette searched for any remaining chocolate laying on top of the covers, only to come up empty handed and extremely emotional about it. The bed was already full of wrappers. Chocolate being the choice of meal for the day.

Sighing she knew there was only one option; she had to venture out to the vending machines... more chocolate was a necessity to her survival! And maybe something fizzy and full of sugar.

Ripping the duvet from her body, the coolness of the air conditioner hit her and made her want to crawl straight back in. What was it with America and air conditioning? It was warm out but not enough to warrant the freezing temperatures in the rooms.

With a slight dither, Marinette grabbed the hoodie from the top of her unpacked suitcase, and slipped it over her head. Grabbing the keycard, she pulled the hood up and over her head to protect her ears. Too cold. Too cold.

Taking her phone from the nightstand, she unplugged the charger and slipped the phone into her pouch — not without a glance to check if Mr Unknown had resurfaced. She was so angry with him, and after a lot of internal debates, she'd decided once she was back in Europe she would be meeting with her superhero partner and questioning him to the nth degree. Arsehole!

Plodding through the hallway, in her socks and PJ bottoms, Marinette followed the signs to the vending machine. Removing her phone and setting up her next message. After the encounter with the guy in the park the previous day (not Adrien) she was fed up with guys shit! If Mr Unknown wasn't going to bother messaging her back, she was going to light up his phone until she at least got some attention.

Miss Dial (6:42pm): Sooooo, I'm guessing you're dead now but I'm going to need some confirmation.

Miss Dial (6:43pm): My horrendous period pains are making me wish I was dead.

Miss Dial (6:44pm): Who decided that women were the ones to go through this pain monthly? I feel like there was definite favouritism to men.

Miss Dial (6:44pm): Perhaps each month women should have the opportunity to kick a guy in the balls — hard! You know, equality and all that.

Miss Dial (6:45pm): Also, men don't have to deal with pushing a basketball out of their ass if they want a baby. Think yourself lucky!

Miss Dial (6:46pm): Chocolate is my go to comfort food, BTW #crispym&msnotpeanuts #peanutbutterm&msareanexception

Miss Dial (6:47pm): Also FYI, I don't care about the time difference and if this wakes you up. You deserve it for ghosting me.

Not feeling at all better from the messages she'd sent him, she continued her way down the hallway, pocketing her phone in the front pouch of the hoodie and praying nobody had taken all the crispy M&M's. If she was feeling adventurous she might choose a pack of peanut butter ones too.

"Nice ears."

The smooth, male voice had her freezing in her tracks; her eyes closing and quiet curses leaving her lips. Why, oh why, did Adrien have to appear now? Shouldn't he be on the top floor or something away from the peasants? She glanced down at her outfit and sighed, of course he'd appear now.

Turning around slowly, she came face to face with the guy she'd kissed yesterday and all she could think about was his lips and how soft they were on hers? She licked her own unwillingly as Mr Delicious stepped forward all suited and booted for the gala being held at the Plaza.

Why were his lips shining so much? Stop staring, Marinette! Have some dignity girl!

"Nice suit," she said instead. "Savile Row?"

Way to go Marinette, start an argument again.

Jaw clenching and nose flaring, Marinette could see she'd once again caught him off guard. There was always something so satisfying about winding him up.

"EBay?" he responded, nodding down to her own mismatched outfit and causing her to laugh.

"Touché, Agreste." She turned to carry on walking, only for Adrien to stride alongside her; keeping up easily regardless of her speed. Damn his long legs.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. Her eyebrow raised as she tried to validate his reason for asking.

"Oh, I'm fine. Just going out for a walk actually, you know, see the sights and all that." She carried on walking past the vending machine (heartbreaking) and towards the lifts, Adrien remaining beside her as they waited.

"You're going out for a walk in a Chat Noir hoodie, Ryuko pyjama bottoms and Ladybug fluffy socks?" The amusement in his tone turned her cheeks pink, a soft confident laugh leaving his lips and making her cower into her hoodie, mentally imagining it was her partner's arms. She reached for her phone subconsciously, holding it for support.

"Why do you always do that?" she asked quietly. "Why do you always make fun of me?"

Adrien stopped laughing and turned back to her. His eyes were serious and face, somewhat, distraught.

"What?"

Marinette shrugged. "It's just, ever since we've known each other I always seem to be the butt of your jokes. I just..." she sighed and shook her head, she wasn't sure why she was saying all this to him, it wasn't like it was going to change anything.

'I think it's time you let this with Adrien go.' Tikki's words played through her mind, was she asking to finally end this feud between the two of them?

"Marinette, I just thought this was the way we were. I didn't realise you didn't like it. I'm so sorry."

Frowning, she tried to make sense of what he'd just said. "You thought I liked it? Adrien, that isn't how you banter with someone. You've made me really angry over the years."

The elevator dinged and Adrien looked torn between whether to get in or not; Marinette's feet were firmly planted to the ground making it obvious she wasn't going anywhere.

"Are you coming down too?" he asked, a funny dance happening as he moved in and out of the elevator.

There was so much to uncover... so much she didn't understand. After all this time, the digs he'd had at her and the way he'd always made her the joke was nothing more than banter. BANTER!!! He was even more of an idiot than she'd previously thought.

"Um - no," she replied, her hands joining in front of her body.

"No?"

"Yeah, no! See you later, Adrien, have a good night."

Still seemingly unsure what to do, he eventually nodded and made his way into the elevator, their eyes remaining locked as the doors slid to a close and she could finally breathe again.

Moving backwards, Marinette needed the vending machine now more than ever. Her mind was all in a tizz as she tried to understand what the hell had just happened. Had their whole relationship been just one huge misunderstanding? Confusion didn't even begin to uncover how she felt — it was like suddenly coming out of the Twilight Zone and back into a distorted reality.

A buzzing in her pocket alerted her to her phone, but all she could think about was getting her chocolates, heading back to her room and reevaluating her life.

Pressing the buttons on the machine, she watched as three delicious packets of crispy M&M's dropped down into the tray, followed by another two peanut butter packets. Shoving them into her pouch, she began to make her way back to her room, grabbing her phone and sighing. Who was it going to be this time?

Mr Unknown (7:07pm): Everyone knows plain chocolate ones are the best!

Though she was happy he wasn't dead, she was still furious that he had gone awol for the past couple of days. How dare he make her worry like that!

Part of her was certain she'd be getting a message from Plagg giving her his funeral details and finally revealing his name. Grabbing the key card from her pocket, she went to open the door, only then realising she had completely forgotten to buy a drink.

A quick decision had her darting into the room to change her pyjama bottoms and socks for jeans and trainers. The ache in her stomach was still there and the thought of a peppermint tea was quite a treat at the moment. Once changed into jeans she grabbed her sketchbook and headed for the door again. A break from the room would do her good and she was sure the hotel bar would have a wonderful selection of herbal teas.

As she reached the elevator a second buzz came through.

Mr Unknown (7:11pm): Unfortunately, can't talk right now. On a date.

On a date? Any other time she might have let this go, but nope she wanted to keep lighting up his phone until he was stuck in a full blown conversation with her. She'd missed their chats and she needed him to talk to her dammit.

Miss Dial (7:13pm): On a scale of 1-10 how attractive is your date?

Stepping into the elevator and selecting the ground floor, she ripped into a bag of peanut butter M&M's and waited for a reply, and if one didn't arrive she'd just keep texting him until it did.