Book 1: Found
Adrien's Point of View
A few years have passed since Hawkmoth's defeat, and Adrien Agreste feels lost without his beloved, Marinette Dupin-Cheng. The ex-model is now living on the outskirts of Los Angeles, California, and tonight he is celebrating his twenty-fifth birthday with his best friend Nino Lahiffe and his fiancée Alya Césaire. As the three friends celebrate his new age at a nearby bar in East Los Angeles, Nino decides to surprise his friend Adrien with a birthday gift that could change his life.
Will Adrien Agreste be willing to accept Nino's gift and be found again?
Or will he be lost forever in his misery?
Book 1 of the Found Series is inspired by the song Found from the Jonas Brothers' Unreleased album called V (Five). The art book cover was drawn in 2016 by Tumblr user Yunyin
Additionally, I have posted a link to her art blog below.
Yunyin: Here
Chapter Index
Book II
When does it go away?
Chapter 1: The Birthday Surprise
Adrien is the Son of well-known Parisian fashion designer Gabriel Agreste. This supermodel teenager was once the face of "The Gabriel Brand" and he had everything at his fingertips. Although this statement may be true, there is one catch to this statement; Adrien hasn't been able to find love until he turned thirteen.
You are probably wondering: How is it possible that I know this fact?
Well, the answer to your question is simple; I am Adrien Agreste, and this is where our story begins.
After taking a summer trip to Tibet in 2014, Mrs. Emilie Agreste had been reported missing for several days by her husband, Gabriel Agreste. Several police officers wanted to solve her case, and the family was hopeful for her return. As months turned into years, the police department had been forced to stop all investigations on the case due to the lack of finding her body. Within the same week, "the invisible woman" case had become a cold case and the news of their results hit the family very hard, especially for my father.
After hearing the results of her case, Mr. Gabriel Agreste began spending most of his days, working at his home office, and he became the next prodigy designer. No one has seen the genius man since her disappearance. However, many Parisians do believe he may be involved with her disappearance and still do today.
Growing up in Paris was lonely.
There were only a few people I knew very well.
The first two were my father's secretary, Miss. Natalie Sancoeur, and my bodyguard, Mr. Gorilla.
After losing my mother, Natalie had been given the role as my second legal guardian. Later on, she had become my father's primary representative of the company, and in recent years, she was my homeschooled teacher. Meanwhile, Gorilla was hired to make sure my father had an eye on me. After working under my father's watch for some time, he was given the task of accompanying me to all my photo shoots and he drove me everywhere.
Whenever Natalie and Gorilla were required to interact with me, they were expected to act professionally by my father's orders, but they always made sure I had some free time for myself.
The last person I knew was Chloé Bourgeois.
Ever since we were five, Chloé and I had become the best of friends. At a young age, we grew up with no mothers around, and we were always there whenever we needed someone to talk to. This bratty girl always knew what to say to make things better, and I taught her to be kind to others.
I am grateful for having them in my life. However, I wanted to be free from my father's grasp.
On the other hand, being the heir of the biggest company in Paris wasn't that easy.
Like every famous child in the world, I wanted to receive some sort of affection from my father. For as long as I can remember, my father has had me model his fashion designs, given me fencing lessons, and taught me to play the piano. On the sidelines, I had to learn Mandarin, and I was expected to be a perfect child in the public's eyes. My achievements were the best way to get a positive reaction from my father. Nevertheless, he still never showed me any love.
The first year of attending public school was the best form of freedom that my father had given me. I gained my first real best friend, Nino Lahiffe. This music-loving friend of mine had always found ways to cheer me up whenever I was feeling down. Plus, he would always find time for us to hang out whenever I had time.
Within the same day, I was given the opportunity to escape from my father's grasp when Plagg, the kwami god of destruction, came into my life. This small black cat used to transform me into Chat Noir, and I would help my partner Ladybug protect Paris from Hawkmoth. Along with the great adventures of being Paris' beloved guardians, I found myself falling in love with Ladybug.
This brave Asian girl found me, and after defeating Hawkmoth, the hero revealed herself to me as my old classmate, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
The revelation of this clumsy girl being Ladybug was a bit of a shock for me. However, my expression wasn’t as bad as hers.
Till this day, I find it a bit funny how Marinette stood there in front of me in a frozen state of mind as her light blue eyes grew wide in shock from seeing her partner Chat Noir transforming into me.
We then confessed to each other about having crushes on each other, and then we decided to take a chance on dating.
When I was living in Paris, Marinette and I were so in love. Sadly, we had to break up on bad terms.
The memories of my past begin to fade away as I start to remember the main reason as to why I am here.
Yesterday night, my best friend Nino Lahiffe called me up on the phone and he asked me to meet him here. I wasn’t sure as to why I came, but I did.
Upon entering the bar, I felt like I was back in Paris.
The narrow walls of this ten by twenty space holds several copies of historical artifacts from my hometown. The furniture looks like the owners have gotten from an old exhibit in Louvre, and rustic tables are laminated with several famous art pieces which come from the nearby gallery on Pine Street. Above the bar section is some gothic lamps, which are giving the darkroom a bit of light as the table booths and chairs are seen covered with soft red fabric and black ladybug spots.
The whole scene makes me miss Paris, but California is slowly becoming my home.
“Adrien my man, Happy Birthday!” A deep voice of a young man says from behind me.
My dark wavy blond hairs flap around on my head as I turn around and I find a short brown hair man coming towards my direction with open arms and a huge grin upon his lips. My brain recognizes him as Nino, and soon afterward, a smile forms across my face from seeing him. I then stand up to greet him as I patiently wait for him to approach me.
My friendship with Nino hasn't changed since we left Paris together. The second we settled down here, Nino started working as a DJ at nearby bars while I picked up a new career in baking. Gradually, Nino’s music skills have improved and he became one of the top ten celebrity names in the music industry. Meanwhile, I was able to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts before the school closed down, and I am now living in a small apartment above my bakery, which I have named after my passed alter ego, Noir.
By 2025, Nino moved out of our first apartment complex, and he was ready to move into a new home with his girlfriend. I helped him with selling the place and soon afterward he found himself a home nearby my bakery. Recently, Nino has replaced his old glasses with his new set of clear contacts. As for his attire, he has received a new wardrobe from the newly released boutique name Tikki.
Tonight, his dark blue jeans are a bit baggy around his hips, but his upper torso is lined up perfectly with a light green polo shirt. A small smile forms upon Nino's blushing face as a few women from the bar area start checking him out. At this moment, I could tell the DJ is flattered by all the attention he was receiving, but he doesn’t give these females the time of day. Instead, he begins texting his girlfriend while we wait to be seated.
“Hey, Nino. so why are we here, man?” I ask with curiosity behind each of my words.
Nino and I do a fist pump before hearing him respond back, “Dude! This night is going to be epic! Plus, I even got you a little surprise.”
As soon as I heard the word “surprise" coming out from his lips, a frown forms across my face as I try not to groan in frustration.
The thought of spending another night in a horrible situation is not the way I want to spend my twenty-fifth birthday.
The last time my bud gave me a surprise, we ended up at some girl’s house, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Nino woke up naked with his wrist handcuffed to the bed, and no clothes around. Meanwhile, I was found sleeping on the front doorsteps of a small rundown apartment structure.
The whole commotion gave the paparazzi one hell of a field day. There were many pictures taken of me with a bottle of rum in my arms. Amidst with all of the images going around; there were also some nasty rumors which were about me getting some woman knocked up, and before I could do anything to fix the situation, the news started to spread rapidly throughout the U.S.
It took my old modeling agent, my old publicists, and my father a lot of work to fix the situation. The second I called them, I've received endless lectures from the three of them as I explained to my father about Nino’s grand idea of going to the West of Los Angeles.
My agent Ron, and Natalie have told me that I was lucky to have survived without getting mobbed. As for my father, he can't be in the same room with Nino, or else Nino would receive cold glares of disapproval from him. From time to time, he has ordered me in Mandarin to cut ties with Nino, but he hasn't been able to convince me.
Till this day, my father still hasn't forgiven me for accepting Nino's surprise, and I wish that day never happen.
Oh, Nino! If you pull a stunt like that today, how on earth am I going to convince my father that you are not a bad influence on me?
“Nino, I don’t want to be rude, but I think, I'll pass on the big surprise.” I calmly state towards him with an uneasy smile upon my face.
“Dude! What happened last time won’t happen again! I promise!" Nino remarks back in a reassuring tone before quietly adding on, " Plus, this surprise is one you would definitely like. Trust me!”
I was about to warn Nino of my father's wrath. Only to stop talking when I see a male employer coming towards our direction, and he greets us with a smile upon his face.
“Ah, Mr. Agreste! Your table for four is ready.” The host declares in a professional tone.
I turn around to face the twenty-year-old man with a shock expression from catching my name until I hear Nino acknowledging his statement on my behalf.
“Awe yes. I requested a booth in the back.”
The red-headed host nods in acknowledgment to his statement before declaring back, "Can you please follow me, I will be taking you to your seats, and Gorge will be coming soon to take your orders. I hope you enjoy your night at La Coccinelle, and let us know if there is anything needed to make your visit more comfortable.
We smile at the host before making our way towards the back of the bar.
As we are walking, I give Nino a teasing smile which says "nice try' while my left eyebrow rises up in a cocky gesture. Nino just rolls his hazel brown eyes from seeing my response as we follow the host to the back of the bar. Once we are seated down in the back corner booth, I look over towards my best friend from across the table, and I start our conversation off with a taunting remark.
“Well Mr. Agreste, you have change. I never knew you were the type to steal someone's identity.”
Nino just lets out a chuckle from my remark before responding back, “Dude, you may no longer be a model. But you still get the perks whenever your name is mentioned at a restaurant. Plus, I am still a bit surprised that your body hasn’t gained weight from all the pastries you try out daily.”
I tease back by saying in a sarcastic tone, “Nino, it is called working out! You should try it sometime.”
Nino just shrugs off my comment as we wait for our waiter.
As we wait for Gorge to come over, Nino was going to ask me about my boring life when he suddenly catches sight of someone he knows, and he smiles at them with an awestruck expression. I turned around to see where he was looking, only to find a woman with red dreadlocks coming over towards us with an innocent smile on her excited face.
The second I notice her, my breathing pauses as I recognize this dark-skinned female as Marinette’s best friend. From seeing my reaction, her left eyebrow goes up in a surprise gesture as she waits for us to greet her. My mouth opens up a bit before closing down on some air as I try not to get too excited at seeing Nino's fiancée.
“Alya Césaire! You are here! I exclaim in an unexpected tone before adding, "I thought you weren’t going to make it tonight.”
Alya gives me a smirk of a smile before replying in a sassy tone, "I wasn't going to until I realized that Nino and I still haven't given you our birthday surprise.”
A confused expression develops across my face while I recall our conversation from earlier today.
Alya called me to inform me that my father has chosen to enter into a partnership with Marinette's fashion boutique, Tikki.
A heartfelt smile spread across my face upon hearing the good news, yet I also felt somewhat disappointed that my ex-girlfriend had not told me.
At that moment, I was going to ask Alya why Marinette hadn't made any contact with me about the news. Only to remind myself that Mari and I aren’t together, and we've decided not to have any contact with each other unless Mr. Fu needs help from Ladybug and Chat Noir.
The reality of not being in each other's lives pains me with grief, and yet I can’t stop thinking about how I would have handled the situation differently if I were in Marinette's position. Nevertheless, I allowed her to set the boundaries after our breakup, and I need to accept her wishes.
Our breakup was hard for both of us. Marinette was a wreck because I was leaving her. Meanwhile, I told her to take the opportunity of her lifetime because she deserved it.
The memory of that night still haunts me as my mind lingers on our last year together.
The night when Hawkmoth was forced to surrender his miraculous, Tikki and Plagg left both of our lives, and the bond between Marinette and I had as Ladybug and Chat Noir was shattered.
A few months earlier, I found out that my father had secured Marinette a scholarship in California. She told me she didn’t want to leave me behind because I was her dream and she wanted to stay with me in Paris.
In my heart, I truly wanted to accept her choice. However, I also knew how much fashion meant to her. So I did the most selfless act I could give her by breaking up with her. Within a few seconds, Marinette's sob enters my mind, and I shake that last memory away by making some space for Alya to sit down.
At the same time, Nino moves over, and she decides to take a seat next to her boyfriend before sharing a small peck with him on the lips. The loveable gesture between the long-lasting couple doesn't usually affect me. However, today I found it hard to stay inside this booth without thinking about Marinette.
Nino and Alya have two things I wish I had.
Being found, and Being Loved by my soulmate.
Sadly, I don't have either Marinette or Ladybug, and I find myself wanting to drink.
“Hum. Can somebody find a waiter? My lips are dry.” I ask them.
"I will." Nino and Alya reply in unison before giggling over their response.
I mentally roll my eyes in annoyance before hearing myself say, "On second thought, I am going out."
I get a nod of acceptance from both of them before leaving them behind in the dust.
Chapter 2: The Alley Advice
The bright neon lights from outside the bar's front window begin to fade into little pecks of light as I check my surroundings for a small place to be alone. I continue to walk away from the tall grey brick walls of the bar in silence before starting to think about the recent events which I've received.
What am I going to do if the birthday surprise from Nino and Alya is about their plans on getting married, and they ask both Marinette and me to be their best man/best bridesmaid?
If this is their surprise, then that means I will be left behind.
Should I call upon my long-lost love to meet up and fix our relationship?
Or should I continue living as a single man and advancing my career at Noir's bakery?
Guh, I just don't know which one to choose!
Both choices sound like great decisions, but which one should I take?
At that moment, I was going to make a list of pros and cons for each decision, when all of a sudden, I stumbled into the nearby alley. Within seconds, my body tenses up as I feel a small, painful sting coming from my right ankle while I try to balance my upper body with my arms out from my side in flying motion. As luck would have it, I am able to regain my balance by leaning against a nearby blue-brick wall. However, I find myself wanting to cry as a new sense of pain enters my right shoulder.
A gasp of frustration escapes from my lips while I try to restrain all of my emotions. I stay still in this position as the last emotional conversation I had with my father comes back into my mind. I can still remember my father stating in a firm, cold tone," Don't you dare, Adrien! Crying makes you look weak. We, Agreste men, should never be seen as weak individuals. Focus all your emotions on your appearance, not on your thoughts. Do I make myself clear!"
A shudder of disgust spreads from the tip of my toes to the top of my head as I erase all those ruthless thoughts from my mind. I then allow Marinette's father, Mister Dupin, to resurface in the back of my mind. I can still picture his worried expression as he tells my teenage self, in a reassuring tone," Son, people don't cry because they are weak. They cry because they've been strong for too long. It is a sign that not only shows our deepest emotions to other humans but also shows that we aren't afraid to be ourselves. Adrien, you must be willing to accept yourself as a human and cry. For you alone can know what is best for you. Not your father. Or his name. But you."
A small smile forms across my face as I push away the last amazing memory from my thoughts.
A small cold breeze from the north brings me back to the alley. However, I can't seem to find a good enough answer to my previous questions.
I guess the only way I can find the answer is to analyze my past and my present time as a whole and see where I should go from there.
Okay, so in my teenage years, I came to the realization that there wasn't anything I could do to fix my broken relationship with my father. Young Adrien was wasting his life trying to please his father, and I don't think he realized that he needed to be found and loved until Ladybug came into his life and he became her partner, Chat Noir. It was with her that he was found, and she was the one who saved us. So, calling up my long-lost love for a meetup would be a good choice. However, would she be enough to fill the hole of being alone?
I don't know...
A sigh of defeat escapes from my lips as my eyes look up towards Earth's only natural satellite, the moon.
The crescent-shaped light is gorgeous tonight, but it isn't the only thing I find precious in life.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
This girl-- no woman stole my heart when I first met her, and I still believe she may be the number one person I love with all of my heart.
Forever and Always.
Those were the last words of Love which I said to her when we were together.
The only question I have left in my mind is: Will she want to get back together with me?
I brush the last question away from my thoughts before thinking about my life as a baker.
Over the past year, I have learned a new recipe each month, and it has helped me stop thinking about Marinette. However, my daily morning runs would always end with me running past her boutique, which is near my home. Just seeing her pulling an old nighter from outside her boutique makes me want to try again with her.
I stop on my last thought as I whisper towards myself in sarcasm, "So much for keeping myself from thinking about her."
After finishing my last comment, I realized that I have an answer to all my questions. I take a sigh of relief, and I am about to exit the narrow alleyway when I hear someone walking towards me. I can't see the person very clearly, but when they start to speak, my heart drops into the pit of my stomach.
"Are you alright?" I hear a woman ask me, concern behind each of her words, as she stands in front of me.
That high-pitched voice... it sounds so familiar to me.
Do I know her?
I'm not so sure...
"No-- No, not really," I reply with a small smile on my face as I wipe my tears away.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks in a sweet tone.
"I don't know. Talking to a stranger about my feelings isn't something I should be doing. Don't you think?" I reply in a teasing tone.
The second I hear my response, I am reminded of all the conversations I used to have with my princess/ladybug as Chat Noir, and I find myself nodding my head in disapproval.
Hearing the sassiness behind each of my words causes me to cringe, while I find myself hoping that the woman doesn't see my comments as anything else but as friendly banter. Nevertheless, I think it sounds more like flirting than I intended. Oh well, let's hope for the best.
Silence fills the awkward atmosphere between us before hearing her chuckle. The sound of her laughter lightens up the alleyway, while I couldn't help but give her a smirk of a smile back.
Soon after hearing the last of her chuckles, she then comments back in a sassy tone, "Oh, you would be surprised! Talking to a stranger about your feelings is easier than keeping all your emotions inside. Plus, it's not good to bottle up your thoughts, Kit--sir."
A comforting smile forms upon my face from hearing the slip of her tongue before deciding to let my guard down and opening up to her.
The first topic I brought up to her was about my father and how he treated me like an employee rather than a son.
This then brought up the confession that I was homeschooled until the final stages of my college years, to which she replied only with a hum, letting me know she was listening.
The second thing I told her about is my best friend, Nino, and all of our adventures.
Every other story would make the woman laugh, while I would admit to her the messed-up situations, which either Nino or I would get ourselves into.
Truly, I never thought that sharing a part of myself would lift the sadness from my mind, but it does.
Our one-sided conversation was going great until I decided to bring up Marinette. I tell the lady about my bittersweet love story, and she keeps quiet while I rant about my feelings for Mari. With her silence, I was able to tell her what I loved about our relationship, and I was grateful for her listening. The more I talked to this stranger, the more comfortable I found myself talking to her about all the good memories I had with Marinette. I am not sure why I was comfortable, but in some strange way, I felt like I was talking to an old friend rather than a stranger.
"So what I'm getting from your tale is that you are feeling like you should be with her, but you don't know if she would want you back?" She asks with uncertainty behind her words.
'Exactly," I exclaimed in relief at her understanding of my dilemma.
"How are you so sure about her feelings?" She asks with no emotion behind her words. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe she would have wanted to secretly be with you, too!"
A confused expression comes across my face as I reply in a shocked tone, "What?"
Silence comes between us again until she states in a puzzling tone, "Over the past years, you have admitted to yourself that you have become lost without her. Right?"
I nod yes before realizing she can't see my response. So, I reply "yes" before hearing her add-on in a sad whisper tone," A part of you wants to run back to her and yet at the same time... you want to move on."
How on earth does she know how I feel? It's like she can read my mind.
Who is she?
She then asks me, "Have you ever thought that maybe she feels the same way?"
I let a gasp from her statement as I wait for her to continue on.
Another sigh comes out from within her lips before hearing her confess in a vulnerable tone, "Strange as this may seem... I am going through the same type of situation as you. The only difference between our stories is that I believe that he and I could have made it work. Instead, we broke up before we could have fixed the problem we were facing."
A sad expression crosses my face as I reply in a pitiful tone, "I am sorry to hear about your situation, Miss..."
The woman doesn't say anything about my statement. Instead, she continues on by stating in a sorrowful tone, "I am happy with how things turned out for us. I just wish we could find a way to work things out. Now, our friendship is ruined, and I don't have the courage to contact him, and I wait every night hoping for his phone call or text."
Her last statement has me thinking about my breakup with Marinette.
Could this woman be telling me something that I am not understanding?
Is she telling me that Mari felt the same way as this woman felt when her last boyfriend broke up with her?
"Why are we still talking about this?" I ask myself.
"I don't know why, but I have to ask her that one question that I wanted to ask Marinette when Nino became friends with Alya again.
"May I ask you a question?" I state in a cautious tone.
She pauses for a second before replying in a soft whisper, "Yeah."
"How did it happen- I ask before breaking off my statement as the rest of my mind catches up with my brain, "If you don't feel comfortable... You don't have to tell me!"
"No!" She shouts out in a panicked tone.
My body jumps up from her unexpected comment before hearing her state back in a soft tone, "Telling you would only be fair."
"Are you sure? You really don't have to," I reply in a gentle tone.
"You are too kind." She states in one breath with a bit of a smile behind her words before adding on," However, I think maybe we can help each other out."
"Alright"
"Start when you are ready."
She takes a deep breath in and out while I find myself focusing on her silhouette.
"I met my soulmate in Junior High. When I first met him, I thought he was a spoiled rich brat. My thoughts of him were like this for the day until he made a kind gesture towards me outside of school. A guest whom I would never forget.
At the time, he did not realize he had stolen my heart until later.
Two years later, we confess to each other about our feelings for one another, and we decide to date."
As she finishes her last sentence, a dreamy tone enters her voice until the very end of her second sentence.
"For about two years, we stayed together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Everything we ever wanted was coming true. However, our relationship didn't last long. After graduation, we had to break up because he thought a long-distance relationship wouldn't work for us. The whole breakup has left us devastated, but I've never stopped believing that we belong together. Till this day, I would jump into a relationship with him if he still truly wants one with me."
A small smile comes across my face from hearing her speak with such adoration for her lover. Meanwhile, my heart becomes filled with happiness until my mind starts picturing Marinette's tearful face.
"What would you have told him if he did come back into your life?"
The stranger doesn't respond to my question. Instead, she lets out a sob while her upper body collapses onto the concrete floor.
As soon as I hear her sobbing, a guilty emotion forms in the core of my heart while I scold myself for asking her such a question.
At this moment, I could tell she was still suffering from the pain of the breakup, and I felt myself wanting her to know that I was here for her. So, I comfort her.
Slowly but surely, I sit down next to her body before finding my hands reaching out towards her. My body then sits cross-legged beside her head on the floor as my hands pick up her head. The soft hair from her head tickles my arms, but I ignore the sensation as I wrap my arms around her upper waist.
The stranger's body tenses for a moment until she realizes she is in my arms. Once I feel her small body in my embrace, she then leans her head upon my right shoulder, and she continues to weep a little while longer until she can find herself calming down.
Once the tears stop, she decides to reply with one word.
"Yes."
For a second, I catch my breath as I ask her in a soft tone, "Why?"
"Is there any other way to answer your question without saying I love him?" She stops on her reply before rephrasing her answer, " Yes, I would forgive him. The reason is that this man has given me something no one else has. He was there when I needed someone to believe in me. The man may not know it, but he gave me all the confidence I needed to achieve my dreams, and in return, I gave him back the happiness he deserved."
At the end of her statement, her voice cracks from crying, but she keeps her focus on finishing her explanation by stating in one breath, "My man told me that I found him when he was close to giving up on life. Yet he doesn't know that he did the same thing for me."
My throat closes up from her explanation, while I try to make sense of the response. She takes my reaction as a good silence, and soon after her confession, I am astonished again by her next statement.
"I'm still not okay with us breaking up", she says in a harsh tone,
"What do you mean?" I ask in confusion. "You just said you were okay with the aftermath."
"Yes, that is correct." She states off in a weak tone before continuing on in a stronger tone,
"After our separation, I came here, and I became lost in a world where I tried to use my passion for the arts as a way to cope with the pain. However, I am not okay with his reason for breaking up. In those final moments, alone together, my love thought he wasn't enough for me. So he let me go so I could achieve my dreams. Sadly, my man didn't realize that he had become my future dream, and I just wanted to be with him forever. I didn't care about breaking up with him. I cared for what he thought of himself, which is something I regret deeply because he was enough for me. He just didn't see it."
A gasp comes out of my lips from hearing her response, as my mind goes back to my last conversation with Marinette before our final farewell.
"Please don't do this." She begs while a few tears run down her slim cheeks.
I shout back in frustration, "This is your dream, Mari! Take it because there isn't anything I can give you; if you stick around." I state in a stern tone as the pain in my eyes expands towards my now cold expression.
Three small tears went down her face before she heard her respond back in agony, "No, Adrien! Don't you realize, kitty! You are my dream!"
"Mari," I comment softly in hopes that she would stop talking, but she doesn't.
"WHY CAN'T YOU SEE! YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!' She shouts back in pain.
Another gasp comes out of my lips as the memories of that night fade away.
Maybe this woman is right.
If so... then that means Marinette didn't want me to leave her.
Oh, those distraught bluebell eyes of hers.
Back then, I didn't understand why she didn't want to come, but now our conversation makes sense to me. All she ever wanted was me, and I let her go.
My train of thought ends as I feel the stranger pull away from my embrace. At the same time, we both decide to get up from the floor and say our goodbyes.
"Thank you for listening to my dilemma," I say with a smile.
"You're welcome, and thanks for doing the same, but before I go, there is some advice I would like to give you." She replies in a kind tone.
"What is it?" I ask with curiosity.
"No matter how far you run away from love, your lost soul will be found."
"Thanks, I will keep that in mind," I state with a smile upon my face as we walk towards opposite ends of the alley.
Once I reach the bar, I take one last look towards the alleyway's direction before going back into the small building and celebrating my birthday with my friends.
Chapter 3: The Truth
"No matter how far you run away from love, your lost soul will be found."
The woman's piece of advice has been on a constant loop in my mind as I make my way back to the right-hand table at the back of the bar.
The instant I sit down inside the worn-out scarlet booth, my forest green eyes wander up towards the dark blue brick wall, which is located behind Nino's head, and I sip on my sixth glass of red wine for the night. As I pretend to be listening in on their conversation, my mind goes back to the previous thoughts of that mysterious woman and her advice.
For goodness sake!
Why does that strange advice feel so meaningful to me?
It is just a phrase that speaks to me, and I don't know why.
Right now, there are so many questions swirling in my brain, and I want someone to answer them.
Though I could have gotten my answers from the stranger in the alley, I took too long pondering over my thoughts, and before I could turn around to face the female's direction, she was gone!
As I pretend to be interested in their conversation, Alya starts to catch on to my habits and begins to watch my actions.
In these five seconds, Nino doesn't seem to notice my absence in his conversation, which I am grateful for, as he is so dense.
However, Alya's odd behavior has caught my interest.
Ever since the announcement of their birthday surprise, I've noticed that the reporter's attention has not been on our celebration but rather on me, or on glancing over her right shoulder. Her eyes would gaze over towards the front entrance of the bar before coming back into our conversations.
Huh, I wonder why she looks so excited?
It has been five years since I last saw Alya looking this excited about something or someone. The last time she had this look on her face was when Nino asked her to move in with him, which was an amazing sight to see, and yet, she is wearing that same mischievous smile, and I am going to find out why.
The idea of her smiling with carefree eyes isn't dangerous.
It's just that, for some odd reason, her excitement has gotten me curious, and I wonder who or what has gotten her so excited that she cannot stay still. I was about to ask Alya about her odd behavior, but before I could say a single word, Nino decided to distract me by telling me about his latest project, and it worked.
"Let me tell you about Diana Jean?" Nino starts with a frustrated tone in his voice.
Ah, Diana Jean!
The twenty-two-year-old pop singer, for whom his label has him working for the next Gala in Baldwin Park, and my best friend can't stand her attitude.
Tonight, Nino declares, annoyed, "She just wouldn't stop acting like some sort of spoiled toddler; whenever a person didn't obey her command!"
As DJ Nino explains to me how much of a diva his co-worker is, a smile comes across my face from hearing one of the many crazy experiences he had to take on at his new job. I soon forgot what I was going to ask his girlfriend, and I listened in to his rant about the sweetheart of TJ's News. As Nino continues the tale, he starts using his big hand gestures, and his aggravated tone grows louder, which then causes the small smile on my face to grow wider, as I try so hard not to laugh at seeing him mimic the diva's voice, and Alya just rolls her eyes in disapproval.
"I am telling you! She is worse than Chloé Bourgeois, and I never thought I would know someone who can overrule that title, until now!" Nino shouts out in defeat.
Alya joins in by stating back, "Dam! If this female artist is getting compared to Chloé Bourgeois, then I feel bad for you, honey."
"Thanks, Renia!" Nino says to her as he coos toward her.
Again, Alya rolls her eyes at hearing his nickname for her before giving him another kiss on the lips.
Again, I think towards myself; these two people are the most important in my life. They went out of their way to be here, and it isn't fair for me to ruin their night by telling them to stop with the PDA. They deserve better from their best friend, and I am grateful for them.
Marinette's face comes back into my mind, and soon afterward, I find myself thinking about the many times Nino and Alya had tried to bring her back into our group of friends.
The first month after confessing to my best friend that I still had feelings for my ex-girlfriend, Nino brought up Marinette and me. Five times out of ten, he had to switch the subject because she would break down sobbing in front of him, and Nino didn't know how to comfort her. As for Alya, she has invited Marinette to all of our plans to hang out. However, if she were to hear my name, the fashion designer would shyly decline any of her invitations before explaining to her best friend that she wasn't ready to see me.
With all the attempts to contact her through our friends, I have decided to give her space, and I am losing control of ambushing her. I blink those thoughts away from my mind before focusing back on Alya and Nino's conversation.
It isn't long before I find myself looking over the bar's scenery.
At this moment in time, the dark lighting causes my eyes to flutter, and I find myself at the Agreste mansion. Those fierce indigo eyes of my father's retired secretary would be glaring at me for closing my eyes before elbowing me in the ribs. A small chuckle almost escapes from my thick lips until I realize that I am sitting here alone with Nino and his girlfriend Alya as they demonstrate their love for each other.
Again, my shoulders slump down more into a booth as I try to stay awake by ordering a few more drinks for our table.
"Can somebody call the waiter?" I holler out loud towards Nino in a sluggish tone."
Both of my friends seem to notice the slur in my speech as they exchange two different facial expressions. Alya has a concerned look behind her hazel eyes. Meanwhile, Nino is looking at her with an amused expression on his face as we wait for our waiter
A telegraphic conversation passes across their eyes and lips before they look in my direction with anxious expressions behind their concerned smiles.
Soon afterward, I hear a chuckle coming out of Nino's lips from seeing my state of mind before hearing a hiss of pain come out of his lips. His hazel eyes squeeze shut from receiving a harsh hit in the shoulder by his girlfriend, and the song "Rose" starts to play in the background.
Silently, Alya scolds her boyfriend with a deadly glare for encouraging me to drink, and he just shrugs off her warning with a teasing grin.
A hiccup escapes from my mouth as a sloppy smirk forms across my lips.
Chat Noir is ready to play.
A few seconds later, my torso starts leaning upon the booth's seat as I wave for our waiter's attention. Slowly, the shots of alcohol from earlier are warming up my core, and soon my brain can finally stop thinking about her, Marinette.
"Adrien! You need to slow down with the drinks tonight, or else you are going to get sick." Alya states with concern behind each of her words.
My head nods in disagreement with her statement while Nino adds his two cents to our conversation.
"Dude. Alya is right! We may be here to celebrate your birthday with shots, but you gotta be a little bit sober for our surprise." Nino states in a teasing tone.
A frown forms across my face as I comment back in a deadpan tone, "Buddy, you proposing to Alya isn't a surprise. You two have been together since high school. Besides, it is about time you pop the question."
Nino's and Alya's faces turn bright red from hearing my last comment as I give them a Chat Noir wink.
"That would be awesome! However, that isn't our surprise." Alya responds in a gleeful tone.
I sobered up from hearing her reply before seeing our previous waiter walking towards us in a hurry.
"Yes, Sir?" He asks in a professional tone.
A kind smile comes across my face before kindly asking, "Our lips are dry. Can you please send another round for the table? And this time hold the ice."
The man was about to go away with my nineteenth order of the night when Alya stopped him. She then puts her right arm around his white blouse shoulders before whispering into his left ear. I see the concern look behind her thick black glasses before watching the young man nod to her request. A smile of relief came across Alya's face, and I knew exactly what she did.
Alya just told the waiter not to bring anything back except a cup of water, and I bet he agreed.
Gosh, Alya, can you stop trying to be a mother hen and let me live?
Ever since Alya arrived in the United States, she has been the mothering figure in our group.
Over the years, she has helped Marinette, and I find a bit of closure by reminding us that the happiness we once had in our passions, and I adore her...
But My Gosh!
For once, I wanted to forget about this messed-up world without Marinette, and Alya isn't letting me.
"Aw, Come on, Alya. Don't be like that! Let me enjoy this night with Jack Daniel's." I state is a playful tone.
Within seconds, she responds to me by putting the index finger of her right hand up in front of my nose before wiggling it in a "no way" gesture.
"Nah-uh, Adrien. You aren't spending your birthday drinking yourself to death. Especially when it took us two years for us to get this person to finally come tonight."
A gasp comes out from within my lips as I take in Alya's confession.
Nino then looks over at her with the same shocked expression, and she gives a guilty expression towards him.
Instantly, I spring up from my seat, before finding myself speaking in a harsh tone, "A person is my birthday surprise." I pause for a second before asking in a curious tone, "Who is it?"
"No! It is a surprise, Adrien! I already said too much." Alya states in a guilty tone.
Oh no, it better not be Lila Rossi, the liar!
"A-L-YA!!!! It better not be that Liar; you call a friend!" I state through my gritted teeth.
A few veins on my neck start to pop out as I start to think of that woman!
When I first met Lia, I didn't like her because she kept trying to be alone with me whenever she was around, and I now despise her.
Last year, she tried to seduce me.
Luck was on my side for one, as Alya caught her in the act. However, I can't help but notice sinister olive-green eyes.
Oh, the horror!
Alya looks back at me with hurt eyes while Nino gets up from his seat.
A second before I could overturn my response, I was moving into attack mode, and I almost hit her until my eyes caught a glimpse of Nino's body going into protective mode from my left side.
Once I realized my actions, a mix of emotions washed over me as my friends just looked at me with fear on their faces.
The embarrassment of my actions hits me in my face, and soon, I find myself wanting to flee the scene.
Alya seemed to notice my reaction, and she held me back before I could make another move out the door.
Within seconds, she sees the pain of guilt behind my eyes, and she gives me a forgiving smile before silently begging for me to stay.
For one second, my mouth opens before closing it up again.
All three of us stay quiet, and my mind takes me back to the beginning of our friendship.
When Alya first arrived at our apartment's doorstep, she realized how lonely I was without her best friend, and she did everything she could to bring happiness into my life.
Over the past months of hanging out together, Alya saw the faraway look I wore when Nino announced he was moving in with her, and she never got in the way of our friendship. She, like everyone else, knew how important Nino's friendship is to me, and so does Nino.
Last year, she asked Nino what was wrong with me, and he was torn between telling his girlfriend and keeping his best friend a secret.
The following day, Nino asked me again why my relationship with Marinette hadn't worked, and I couldn't tell him the truth.
Chat Noir's identity must remain a secret.
No matter what.
Hawkmoth may be gone, but this doesn't mean there aren't other monsters out there.
This conversation then takes me back to my last conversation with Marinette.
If an unexpected attack happens soon and we need to help save the world, the new guardian promises to bring the miraculous back to us.
The new guardian then asked us what our answer would be if the time came again. Right away, I told her yes. Meanwhile, Marinette didn't say a word about being Ladybug again.
The fact that she barely survived our final battle with Hawkmoth took a toll on her body. Plus, she didn't want to go back to living a double life. Especially since her father unexpectedly passed away.
At the beginning of her freshman year of university, Marinette had become Miss. Sabine Cheng's only living family member, and so, for her mother's sake, she is willing to step aside. She has told me, as Ladybug, that her response was no and that the new guardian would have to find somebody else to take her place. It was heartbreaking to hear her response, but after declining the role of Ladybug, I have also decided to let go of Plagg, and I have not been the same since I lost that cheese-eater.
I shake the thoughts of my past away, and I find myself letting go of my anger.
For the moment, I couldn't utter another word to them without wanting to scream. So I find myself sitting down in the booth again.
Both of my hands come across my dark blonde hair locks before feeling my fingers pulling each wavy hair on my head with frustration. I keep them there a bit longer before picking up on the sound of other customers shouting in excitement as they celebrate the end of the week.
A few heavy breaths come from my lips as my head moves down towards the table.
Right away, I hear Alya and Nino's bodies settle down in the booth before feeling someone's hands upon the back of my shoulders. Instantly, my body tenses from the gentle touch.
The warmth of the small hand spreads through my tan skin before I could tear away my hand from their reach.
"Adrien... Please tell us what is wrong?" Alya asks, trying to hug me again.
Nino joins in by adding, "Come on, dude, you can tell us anything."
"Yeah," Alya comments back.
A deep breath comes in, and out of my lips as my thoughts start running at 100 miles per hour.
Tell them. Don't tell.
Nino and Alya don't know what you are going through. They might be able to help me.
"Oh, for goodness ' sake, stop!" I yell out in anger before finding my head snapping up to look at them with a deathly glare.
Alya and Nino look at me with concern as they wait for me to say something more about my random comment.
"Sorry." I shamelessly state as my face starts to redden with embarrassment.
Alya doesn't say anything. Instead, she looks at me with a hurt expression while Nino responds on her behalf. "Dude, we are your friends. We want to help you."
My head looks down again as I respond in a whisper, "I know. And I wish it were easy to say how I am feeling".
Alya joins in by commenting in a soft tone." Oh, Adrien! Nothing in life is easy for everyone."
"Yeah, dude. Alya and I always find it hard to compromise. But we work through it because we have each other." Nino states, a smile on his face.
"We will talk about that statement, later on, tonight," Alya comments back in a harsh tone through her teeth as she adds on in a calmer tone," Adrien. You can't keep everything inside of you. It isn't healthy to bottle everything up. Nino and I are here for you whenever you need someone to talk to."
A sigh comes to escape my lips as my head snaps up in their direction with a vulnerable expression. Alya gives me an encouraging look through her glasses while Nino looks at me with concern.
"Alright," I whisper.
Alya, Nino, and I sit up straight as they wait for me to start talking.
"The truth is... I became lost when Marinette left." I state in one breath.
For a second, Alya opens her mouth, but she shuts up while they wait for me to continue.
"Everything I am doing right now, I owe it to her, and her parents..." I pause to take a breath in and out before adding on, "The moment I started spending more time with Marinette, I wanted to become part of their family, and I am sure they wanted the same thing for me as well... Mr. Dupain and Mrs. Cheng taught me to embrace my love for physics, to accept gestures of love, and to accept myself for who I wanted to be. If it wasn't for their impact on my life, and Marinette's infinite love for me... I wouldn't be here. And now, whenever I make a cake, all I can think of is hoping I can repay her for everything she has given me. But..."
I stop talking. Each word has become hard for me to say. And soon, I find myself trying to keep my tears from coming out, but one slides down my warm cheek.
"You don't feel like she could never love you again," Alya responds on my behalf with tears in her eyes.
My right hand goes down onto the table in defeat as I allow myself to open up to them. Nino gives his girlfriend, Alya, a side hug of comfort as he pats me on the arm. His small gesture tells me that he is here for me. The comfort of his actions did nothing but make me feel numb.
"Yeah," I comment back. "And I may have to accept it."
"Don't you dare say that, Adrien!" Alya states in a harsh tone.
My eyes look down at the table before I hear myself ask her, "Then why hasn't she reconnected with me. Alya?"
Alya doesn't have an answer, and so I decide to continue on my rant. "Within a year, she has connected with everyone in our college classmates, and don't say she hasn't because I saw her at Ivan and Mylène Bruel's wedding- looking so stunning in that light blue evening gown--"
This time, Alya cuts me off before defending her best friend by confessing back, "She tried!"
I was about to ask another question, but she stopped me and started yelling a confession that Marinette must have given to her.
"GODDAMIT, ADRIEN AGRESTE! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SHE TRIED. EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE DECORATING A PASTRY, MARI. WOULD PASS BY YOUR BAKERY, LOOKS INSIDE, AND TRIES TO GAIN THE COURAGE TO GO UP TO YOU, AND TALK TO YOU-- BUT SHE CAN'T! BECAUSE SHE STILL FEELS INSECURE! PLUS, YOU DON'T GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO FIND HER! WHY HAVEN'T YOU?"
A few staggered breaths come out of her lips as she polishes off her rant with a few curse words under her breath. I wait for her to quiet down before speaking up about her doubts about my love for her best friend.
"I have," I state in a hoarse cry.
Alya looks at me in the eye with a shocked expression on her face as she attempts to understand my statement.
"What!" She asks in disbelief.
"Every morning at four am, I go running, and I finish in front of Marinette's boutique store. I would then take a few seconds to see if perhaps she is still working there on her latest fashion piece. There have been some times when I see her still in the shop, and before I can find the courage to stop staring at her reflection through the display window, another part of me gets too scared to approach her, so I leave before she can discover me."
Nino stares at me in astonishment before commenting, "Dude, you never mention this to me! Why didn't you tell me?"
A bitter smile comes across my face while I respond in a sheepish tone, "Nino, there are certain things a friend must keep to themselves, and this one is just a few of the secrets that I couldn't tell you because it is still a bit personal for me."
"Understandable, dude." The DJ says with a smile on his face.
Alya nods in agreement with my confession, and I decide to change the subject.
"So how long are we waiting for my surprise birthday gift?" I ask in a teasing tone.
Alya looks back towards the entrance, and Nino was going to answer until Alya replies with glee, "You don't have to wait any longer. Our birthday surprise is here."
A confused expression comes across my face before turning my head around towards the front door.
My green eyes widen while I hear both Nino and Alya shouting out loud, "Surprise! Happy Birthday"
Chapter 4:Found
In one glance, my world has stopped spinning.
In one second, my heart starts to speed up.
Soon, a disbelief expression comes upon my sorrowful thin face while I turn my whole body around to face the one person I never thought I would ever see again.
Oh my goodness!
She is Here!
An awe expression forms come upon my face as I stare at the front entrance of the bar.
Wow. Life has made her more beautiful than the last time my eyes caught sight of her.
Instead of the once childlike face, she had, I see a confident woman with tense shoulders and the shy smile forming across her pink lips.
From afar, her gorgeous eyes stare at me with fear, I find myself walking towards her direction, and she just stays frozen in front of the door. My shock green eyes catch the sight of her lovely red dress, and I am blown away from her attire appearance. The ruby red color of dress wraps around her petite body like a glove, and soon I find myself wanting to show her how much I still love her by touching and kissing her pale white skin.
A pink blush spreads across her face as I catch her looking at me with those thick long eyelashes I love.
A mixture of emotions comes across her eyes. Awe, pain, and concern.
She takes in my whole appearance in awe, and I become vulnerable in front of her. The woman of my dreams continues to gaze at my drunken self with happiness as I sig-zag through the crowded bar and embrace her into my arms.
Marinette Dupin-Cheng is my universe, and tonight, she has left me speechless.
The second she is in my arm, she gets on her tippy-toes, and whispers in my right ear, "See I told you... No matter how far you run away from love, your lost soul will be found."
My eyes go wide in shock from her statement as I recognize that advice from earlier. I was not certain why it sounded so familiar to me until my mind starts thinking about the conversation I had outside in the alley, and that is when it comes to me, she was the one comforting me outside the bar. That dark petite silhouette wasn't a stranger. It was the woman who has stolen my heart years ago, and she just confessed to me that she still loves me.
My lips get dry from the realization as my heart becomes fulfilled with content. At this moment, I feel so many mixed emotions from inside of me again while a few tears of relief escape from my eyes.
All those sad emotions from before have vanished, and soon the feeling of hope of having a future together replaces every single one of those depressing feelings. With these new feelings inside of me, I pray to the man above that this isn't a dream, or I will die.
My mind is telling me that I should be upset about her hiding from me. Yet, how could I?
Marinette Dupain-Cheng just admitted to me that she also feels so lost in this messed up world without me, and we were both running away from love by working on our dreams until now.
"Wow. Look at us right now..." I state in glee before pausing for a second and looking at her with disbelief.
"...Finally, we're found"
A loud sigh of relief escapes Marinette's lips as a chuckle of happiness escapes from mine, She then wipes the tears away from my eyes as a smile forms across her face.
My strong arms then wrap her small physical structure into a bear hug, and she buries her head into my chest. I then hear Marinette crying into my black dress shirt, and I became concerned.
At first glance, I thought she was sad because I would be upset with her, but by the second glance, I realized she wasn't sad, but that she is happy. Each one of her tears is showing me how broken up she has become without me, and I feel the same way. My long buffy arms bring her closer to me while I pepper her with a small, gentle longing kiss around her forehead. Marinette lets out a laugh from my reaction, and my heart just melts with adoration.
Within the few seconds of being in each other's arms, Marinette lifts her head to look at me with delight upon her bluebell eyes. Slowly, I take my left hand up while our eyes reconnect for the first time in a long time. As gently as I can, my long fingers come in contact with her check, and we both shiver from the longing of skin interaction. My fingers, then brush away her tears as her bluebell eyes stare at my green eyes with remorse and love.
"Just kiss her already," Alya shouts out from across the bar.
Marinette, and I smile at each other from hearing Alya's statement before hearing everyone in the bar chant back" Kiss her! Kiss Her."
A full-on red blush color forms across both of our faces as I leaned my forehead down against hers.
"Should we give them what they want, Purrrrrincess?" I ask in a teasing tone.
Another chime of laughter comes out of her lips before seeing a huge smile forming across her small sad face.
"Silly Kitty. What makes you think I would want to kiss you.?" She states in a teasing tone.
A fake pout comes across my lips while I playfully comment back, "My lady, you wound me. Cat-won't you please give me just one kiss. I wish not to ask for another."
Marinette rolls her eyes from my bad pun before responding, " Oh Adrien! I cannot believe you are still using those terrible cat puns to flirt with me. I thought you had gotten rid of those old habits."
"Never Purrrrriness. My puns are Claw-some!" I exclaim with a smirk on my lips.
Marinette lets out a groan from my comment, and I let out a chuckle.
Again, my mouth opens up to make another one pun, but she stops me from saying anything by grabbing me by both of my cheeks, and then she gives me a full-on kiss on the lips.
A whooping sound comes from everyone inside the bar which causes me to want to shut them off. So I put my right hand up in the air and flip everyone off before feeling Marinette pull away from my lips.
The second her small lips leave my lips, I allow her to take a few stagger breaths in and out before capturing her small lips again with my medium size lips. A gasp comes from her as my teeth softly bit down upon her lip. Marinette's small mouth opens up to get another breath in, and I take advantage of the situation by slipping my tongue into her mouth.
For a few seconds more, I continue to explore her mouth before hearing a person casually walking towards our direction.
"Damn boy. Settle down. She isn't going anywhere." Alya states in a teasing tone.
A dumbfounded expression comes across my face as Marinette takes advantage of our distraction by pulling away from me and takes several huge staggers breathes in and out.
From hearing Alya's reaction, a goofy smile comes across my face before feeling Marinette's head resting on my chest again. I let out a few staggers of breath in, and out before turning my attention back on Alya.
"Adrien," Marinette whispers in a soft tone.
I look down towards the blushing woman in my arms, and I reply, "Yes, bugnette?"
She looks at me through her thick mascara eyelashes before stating in a cheerful tone, "Happy Birthday."
A love-struck gaze comes across my green eyes while her blush tones down a few shades.
"Yes indeed," I respond in happiness. "It sure is."
Again Alya interrupts our moment to say, "The two should hang out a little bit longer, and get to know each other again. Nino, and I can catch up with you guys next time."
Marinette and I remove ourselves from each other's warm embrace while Nino walks over towards our direction and he joins in on our conversation.
"Alya is right, dude. You both haven't talked since our high school years. There are so many things you guys need to relearn about each other," he states with a smile upon his face.
A frown comes across my lips as I politely ask, "Are you sure?"
"I agree with Adrien on this. We don't want to leave you out on his celebration." Marinette declares back with a concerned expression upon her face.
"Yeah. Oh, and don't worry about paying for drinks tonight, Adrien. Alya and I have the bill cover. Right, Alya!" Nino asks his girlfriend.
"Yeah! Besides, Nino, and can feel the sexual tension from here. And we don't want to see two making kids in front of us."
"Alya!" Marinette shouts out in horror.
Nino and I chuckle while Marinette puts both of her hands in front of her flush red face, and Alya gives her a smirk smile.
"What! It is true! Every one of our old classmates saw the way the two of you were eye-fucking each other at the wedding. Dam! You both put Ivan, and Myléne to shame with all of your loving stares. Tell them, Nino!"
This time, I choke on my laughter as my face turns bright red from her statements while Marinette turns back around into my embrace before covering the horrified look upon her embarrassed face from behind my shirt.
Nino joins in by teasing, "Dude, the way two were acting at the wedding, I don't suppose anyone in the reception knew if they were there for the bride, and groom, or for the both of you. Kim thought you were going to freaking going to jump Marinette when you first saw her enter the mansion, Adrien. And Rose thought it was cute whenever Marinette would stare at you in awestruck thought out dinner while she glared at Lila for being your wedding guest for the occasion."
Marinette lets out a groan from their comments, and I decided to save her from turning tomato, red by asking, "Alright. If we go, would you two stop with all your teasing comments?"
Alya pretends to think about our compromise before responding, "Only for tonight, birthday boy. Oh, and one more thing! If you need any condoms, we put some in your homes."
From hearing Alya's last comment, Marinette lets out a high squeal before feeling her small body pushing us towards the door and waving goodbye to our friends. Nino and Alya just give us teasing smiles as they return the gesture.
"Oh my gosh," Marinette comments towards me as we exit the bar.
As we made our way out of the area, I could help, but ask her. "So you were Jealous of Lila?" before giving her one of my famous Chat Noir smirk, smiles as my eyebrows move up, and down in a, I got ya gesture.
Within seconds, Marinette rolls her eyes in annoyance as she replies, "Shut it, Kitty!"
I just let out a chuckle from hearing her Ladybug comment as we made our way to the bar's exit.
From this point on, Marinette and I kept the conversation light until we reached Noir. Once we were inside the warm bakery, I asked her if I could make love to her.
By the death of the night, we were left with only our bare bodies within the bedsheets of my bakery home, and there is no one else I would have wanted as my birthday gift, besides her.