Sneaking Away
Marinette
"Are you insane?"
Marinette stood looking down at the fire escape, Adrien already scurrying down like a cheap imitation Spider-Man.
"Oh, come on, Marinette! Live a little."
"I've seen the drop Agreste, and if I want to 'live a little' I need to stay on solid ground."
The laughter coming from him carried itself through the night sky with only the angry sounds of car horns battling against it.
"Marinette, I swear it's safe."
"So is the elevator!" she stated, rolling her eyes before swinging a leg over the bar and making her way onto the steel frame.
"That's a girl!" Adrien cheered, continuing his descent down the scaffolded object.
Tentatively edging down the ladder, Marinette was fully aware one look up and Adrien would be eye to eye with her ass. Every now and then she couldn't help but clench, making sure it looked its finest.
"So where are we sneaking off to?" Marinette whispered, walking across the metal grid and onto the next set of ladders.
"Just trust me, okay? It'll be worth it."
That's all he'd told her; that where they were going was amazing and would be worth it. He'd made her leave the sketch pad in his room, promising it would be safe before ushering her out of the window.
She felt like a teenager sneaking out the house again, yet this time it had nothing to do with superhero business.
Finally reaching the last ladder, she noticed there was a drop to the ground; one high enough that she wasn't entirely sure she'd come off unscathed.
"I'll catch you," Adrien whispered-shouted up to her; until this moment she didn't know such a sound could be made. She looked towards him and noticed his hands cupped around his mouth.
"No you won't!" she huffed back, looping an arm around the metal bar and twisting her body out, away from the ladder; each arm hooking backwards and keeping her secure.
"Marinette, please, I'm not going to drop you."
Every part of her wanted to scream at him, to tell him she'd trust a hungry lion more... However, that was before her life changing kiss and conversation with him. Pursing her lips, she wiggled her nose as she considered her options. She could either stay up here for the rest of her life, or take the plunge and jump, praying that Adrien's muscles were actually from good old fashioned bicep workouts, not just good genetics.
The look on his face was adorable and Marinette was on the verge of combining this colossal fear of heights with full blown laughter, only for the feeling to increase as he motioned his hands towards her in the most adorable way. She was tethering on the verge of tears.
"Okay, but on my count."
Adrien nodded, looked out to the street and then motioned with his hands again. He wasn't saying it but she could tell he thought they were about to be caught. Her own eyes scaling the area too.
When Adrien had told her about ditching the gala, it didn't matter how much he thought he'd get away with it, she knew differently. Gabriel Agreste would not take this lightly. Instead, after 12 ignored calls and a banging on his hotel room door, the fire escape had been the only option, Adrien manhandling her out before starting his great escape.
"Ready, steady, jump, or 1, 2, 3?" Adrien questioned, his arms still out ready to grab her.
"What?"
"Well you said on your count?"
"Counting is numbers you, dipshit! Why would it be ready, steady, jump? And FYI I'm not jumping, I'm dropping!!"
"That's still falling!"
"Yes, but it's not a jump!"
"Marinette!" Adrien's voice was spat out to her, her eyes rolling in response.
She examined the drop again, wondering if she could hang from the bottom bar and have a smaller drop. Then again it was her, and a smaller drop probably would injure her more than falling from the roof.
"Fine then, Miss Bossy Pants. 3 or 1, or are you going to say the number and then drop," Adrien said.
"Oh my God, Adrien. Just hold your arms out and get ready."
"But you haven't —"
Before he could finish his sentence, she let go. Falling through the air and completely missing his arms — landing on his face instead and taking them both down to the ground.
Her body suddenly started to volt violently up and down. First thoughts leading to the possibility she was murdering Adrien Agreste. Rolling off him, she noticed that she wasn't in fact suffocating him to death; he was laughing — a lot!
"10 out of 10 for the landing."
A quick slap to an incredibly toned and incredibly flat stomach had him wincing before continuing with his laughter.
"Oh, come on Marinette, that was funny! You fell on my head! I cushioned your fall with my head!"
Before she could control herself, she sat beside him and started giggling, the two of them changing from a small chuckle to a full laugh within seconds.
"Come on," Adrien said as he stood and offered out a hand. "Let's get going before someone finds us and either arrests us or sends me back to that awful gala."
Marinette smiled. "I take it your father didn't send you a dial-a-date this time?"
A twitch pulled the corner of his lips, his hand coming straight to his mouth trying to hide the growing signs of a smile.
"Actually," Adrien began, "he did!"
"She must have been a brilliant conversationalist." The sarcastic tones in her voice made him smile again. Her head tilted to the side as she examined it. "You look good when you smile. Like properly smile, that is."
"Thanks." His smile grew wider along with the fluttering in her chest. Oh no! No! No! No!
Remember he's pretentious, mean and most importantly YOUR BOSS!
"And FYI, these bad boys are all real," he said, tapping his teeth. "No veneers here." He began to make his way out of the alley, stopping at the end and peering out around the side of the wall.
"I was only joking, Adrien. You know... friendly banter and all that." The sudden realisation hit her that she'd used his first name. Not Agreste, not Jackass... his real name. Well, wasn't that a turn out for the books.
"Shhhh!" Turning to face her, Adrien placed a finger to his lips and pointed around the corner.
"Don't you shush me!" Hands placed on his shoulders, she poked her head around him and looked out onto the street.
"Adrien Agreste!" she teased. "You've been a naughty boy."
They both stood looking as a tall, grey haired, powerful man stepped out of a town car, assistant at side and bodyguard waiting by the door.
"What's your father doing here? I didn't think he was in New York at the moment." Marinette couldn't take her eyes away from the scene in front. As far as she was aware, Gabriel wasn't meant to be in the country at the moment. He should still be in London.
Adrien shot an arm out and pushed them both back against the wall, turning his head down to look at her. Had she always only reached his shoulders?
"He wasn't meant to be. I didn't even know he was."
"What the hell do we do now?" Could your heart burst out of your chest? Because she was quite certain hers was about to escape and start tap dancing to Broadway. If they got caught – together – she would be losing her job.
"Do you trust me?" Adrien asked.
"Who do you think you are? Aladdin?"
A glare was aimed in his direction as he rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrist. "Come on, Princess ."
Swiftly moving out of the alleyway, Adrien dragged Marinette in the opposite direction to the hotel and down through the crowds on 5th Avenue. This was the first time she'd been down this street and she was tempted to tell Adrien to stop so she could look in the window displays. They were stunning !
However, her teenage immaturity came back flooding back as suddenly she was yelping and giggling as Adrien dragged her around the streets and towards the Rockefeller Center, moving between the crowds like a pinball.
Finally, coming to a halt in front of the grand building, Adrien and Marinette stopped to try and gather their breath; the sounds of a brass orchestra filling the surrounding area.
"Woah! This is beautiful!" Marinette's eyes glimmered as she stood to her full height and looked around the courtyard. "I always knew it would be amazing, but this is just..."
As Marinette trailed off she felt a hand connect with hers; a hand pulling her around to face him.
"Dance with me."
Without waiting for an answer, Adrien had Marinette pulled tightly into his chest and began to sway them to the music circulating the area. His large, masculine hands were holding her like she was made of glass and she was tempted to tell him to stop treating her so delicately.
The sudden stroke of his thumbs on her hips sent electric bolts up her spine, and when he placed his head on top of hers, a hum vibrated through her hair and down to her heart. He was so carefree and peaceful. You wouldn't think his crazy father was chasing his ass around New York City.
"Can you remember the last time we were here together? We danced like this in the moonlight."
Could she remember? How could she ever forget? The moment had almost swayed her into the 'I heart Adrien' fan club. She'd been completely absorbed in him as they floated above the rooftops soaking up the rays of the moon, Adrien keeping her calm and holding her tight.
That moment held a special place in her heart and suddenly an intense pressure behind her eyes came from nowhere making them prickle and her nose burn.
"That's because we were stuck together floating into space."
Adrien didn't respond. Instead he continued to move them in a gentle sway, and she swore she could feel the erratic beat of his heart. The song finished too quickly, Adrien letting go of her to join the gathered crowd as they clapped.
"Let's carry on," he said, taking her hand once more and leading them down a couple of streets and into the heart of Times Square.
The sight was beautiful; tall towers and glittering lights filled the area around them. Marinette was lost in 'the moment'. The crowds shouting, horns blazing and flashes going off everywhere. It was so different from when she was punching villains down the street.
Adrien continued to drag her along with him, her eyes every now and then glancing at different things she wanted to come back to. The sudden realisation that the change in scenery had taken her attention away from the previous aches and pains in her stomach.
It seemed Adrien Agreste had been a period miracle cure.
Finally, they came to an abrupt stop outside a fantastic, modern looking apartment block. The skyscraper towered over the smaller buildings in the area; the large panels of glass shining lights out from the occupants of the vicinity.
"In here," Adrien said, pushing her in before him. The foyer was filled with people in top class suits and outfits. Long Gabriel dresses and Audrey Bourgeois suits, then there were the two of them.
Jeans, hoodies and, if Marinette wasn't mistaken, she had a chocolate blob in the middle of her top from where an M&M had fallen out of her mouth.
"We can't be in here," she hissed at him, "we look like hobos."
Before Adrien could reply, a rather enthusiastic male in a crisp midnight blue suit appeared in front of them.
"Adrien, darling, you made it. What do you think? It's fabulous, isn't it?"
Marinette's mouth opened and closed as she recognised the man from a reality real estate tv show. Adrien knew this guy. They knew each other. Even after being friends with Adrien for all these years, this here was insane. Sometimes she forgot exactly how popular and famous Adrien was.
"Good to see you again." The two clasped hands in a friendly handshake, before Adrien placed a hand behind Marinette's back and pushed her slightly forwards. "This is Marinette."
The guy's thousand watt smile was turned on her as he greeted her with a hug and cheek kiss. "Oh, aren't you just pocket sized! Nice catch here, Adrien."
Marinette couldn't believe the genuine interest in this guy's face, chocolate smudge be damned, he looked at Marinette as though she was a crowned Princess.
"Oh, I definitely did good." Adrien beamed; the hand that had pushed her forward slowly slipped around her waist.
"Yep," Marinette said. "I'm with him for his charming personality, not the massive bank account." She tapped him on the chest causing the realtor to burst out laughing.
"I like her. She's feisty."
Adrien's eyes burned into hers as he said, "You have no idea!" He turned back and smiled. "I was telling Marinette about the rooftop garden. Any chance of getting up there this evening, she doesn't believe me about the views?"
Beckoning to them, the man led them to an elevator and placed a keycard in Adrien's hand.
"For you? Anything."
A quick thanks to the relator and they were once more left alone. Adrien held the card to the button, his eyes in front of him and a sudden tension in his shoulders. As the elevator arrived he ushered Marinette in before holding the keycard to the button once more and selecting the top floor.
They rode in silence. The doors opening broke the thick tension as the sights of New York City came into view.
"Oh, wow!" It was amazing.
She wandered from left to right, looking at everything from the Empire State Building to the One World Tower; her eyes only stopping as she saw Adrien move to an edge and lean his arms on the brick ledge.
For a moment, she studied him. Adrien was quite a sight, one she couldn't help but warm to. He was beautiful. Strong masculine features but with an air of friendliness, one she'd always thought was a way to con people into doing his bidding. Her heart picked up speed as she thought about what might happen next. They were alone. They had to talk. And she had to stop herself from falling, because right now everything about Adrien Agreste was calling to her and she couldn't help but want to know more.
Moving forwards, she rested herself beside him. Studying the chiselled jawline of a face which both plagued and satisfied her dreams.
"Let's start from the beginning."
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