Happily Ever After

7 - Photo session

15 years before the present day

Marinette sat on a bench and felt so nervous... Adrien had invited her to take part in his photoshoots and today was the day it was to happen. They were to meet in the park, from where he would take her to a photo session. She wasn't nervous because she'd never seen Adrien's photoshoot. She was nervous because for the first time she was supposed to be on it officially, not in secret...

"Hey!" Adrien greeted her with a wide smile. "Ready for a very boring afternoon?"

"Su-sure!" she stuttered and jumped up from the bench.

"So, let's go, I'll show you the way." He reached out his hand and she could barely control her hand from trembling when she gave it to him. "But I warn you, it really will be boring."

"You know, if I'm going to associate my life with it, it may be better to get used to it." She muttered under her breath, and Adrien gave her an amused look.

"Are you really going to associate your life with it?" he asked with the same knowing smile, with which he'd asked in the locker room whether she was lying. Marinette immediately blushed.

"You-you know... I'd like to work in fa-fashion..." she stammered.

"Oh, right." He nodded, again with that amused look. "I hope I won't ruin your plans."

Marinette didn't know what to answer. She didn't quite understand where this sudden change in Adrien's behaviour came from. After all, it was impossible that Jagged Stone's revelations were the reason of that! After all, Adrien "bought" her explanation that these photos were hanging because she was interested in fashion. And yet he behaved with her as if he hadn't. And he kept holding her hand all the time. She wasn't sure whether he did it on purpose or rather unconsciously. She walked next to him, dazed, and the more she thought about it, the more she was in the mess.

She knew that her current state of mind could lead to a catastrophe in which ruining her reputation would only be a detail. To call herself to order, she decided to concentrate on the afternoon with Adrien like on a task. Yes, she had to treat it as Ladybug.

After a short walk, during which they didn't talk at all, they finally reached the place that the photographer had chosen for a photoshoot. It wasn't particularly picturesque – just the Seine embankment. Under the bridge. Marinette looked around surprised. What photo session could take place somewhere like here? And where was she supposed to sit at this time? On a dirty wall that stank so much that she wouldn't like even to come closer?

Adrien grabbed her hand more firmly and, in a mysterious way, suddenly turned her toward himself so that they stood face to face, and she completely forgot her ideas to control the situation. Blood began to throb at her temples, not helping in focusing. Reputation! Save your reputation, Marinette!

"I told you it would be boring." Adrien sighed. "But I'll try not to let it last long."

"Don't worry, I'll see ho-how it loo-looks like." She tried to sound as being at ease.

"Young lady will leave the take!" The photographer yelled.

"The lady must sit down somewhere." Adrien replied calmly, winking at Marinette. "There's a bench over there." He whispered in her ear, and she felt a tingle on her neck. She really felt totally confused.

"Mmmm." She murmured and left toward the bench.

She didn't notice the half-smile that Adrien had with his eyes. When she sat comfortably on the bench, he turned into his professional appearance and focused on the photographer's orders, as if he really wanted to quickly finish the photo session.