7 days until Marinette's birthday
Find one person to trust—there need only be one. With them, share every shame, every secret and listen to theirs... with love. Bare hearts and souls until there is understanding. Of a certainty, such honest exposure is the first step toward happiness.
— André Chevalier
Miraculous holders will inherit new powers leading up to the day of their soulmark. These will increase the bonds of the Yin and Yang holders, starting with the ability to bare their souls.
•••••
Marinette had finished her homework, finalised the design for Kagami's dress, spoken to Luka, and was now on the way to meet up with her friends. She loved it when the funfair came to town, she always saw it as the start of her birthday week. On the same date every year the fair would appear in the city centre, always exactly seven days before her birthday. It wasn't massive, but it was fun. Games, bumper cars, a ghost house and a Ferris wheel, plus all the 'bad for you treats' she could eat.
As she reached the entrance she noticed two extras to their little gang. Adrien and Kagami. In the three years she'd known Adrien he'd never been allowed to attend the funfair, something about his father seeing it as below their standards. After all, it wasn't like VIPing around Disneyland.
"Marinette, over here." Placing on her battle face, and taking a deep breath, she made her way over to Alya and the gang. Giving a quick round of hello's before finally making eye contact with Adrien.
She was still cross about what he was doing to Kagami, and now, worst of all, she felt like an accomplice. Kagami was one of her best friends, yet here she was being deceitful and dishonest, avoiding the conversations and lying through her teeth. She wouldn't be surprised if Kagami never forgave her after this, and she hated herself for going against her better judgments.
Adrien was trying to get her attention, she could tell that much. Obviously he wanted to make sure she didn't drop him in it, the fear on his face said as much.
They moved forward and all paid for their tickets before entering the arena. Marinette held herself back, feeling ever so much the fifth wheel. Luka was rehearsing that night so couldn't come along with her, so there she was. Just her and the 'happy' couples.
Placing her purse back in her bag, someone grabbed a hold of her lower arm. In fright that the person might be about to take her bag, or that they might see Tikki, she slammed the bag shut and turned towards her attacker. Grabbing their wrist, she twisted it around and pulled it behind their back. She couldn't be Ladybug without learning a few tricks of the trade for her civilian life.
"Don't take what's not yours!" She commanded before recognising the ring on the hand of her hostage. Quickly letting go, Marinette let out a squeak and her face went into competition with a fire hydrant.
Adrien stood in front of her, rubbing his shoulder where he was quite sure it had been forced out of the socket.
"Firstly, I'm not trying to take anything, and secondly, ouch! Where the hell did you learn to do that? That hurt."
Marinette looked into Adrien's eyes, full of hurt manly pride and felt a change in her body. Suddenly she felt full of confidence, different to her Ladybug confidence, one that purely seemed to be aimed at Adrien. But why had Adrien triggered it off? She couldn't help but want to tell him the truth, as if he had some right to know about her deepest darkest secrets.
"Didn't you know," she moved forward and stretched up on her toes to reach Adrien's ear, "I'm a superhero." She dropped a wink as she lowered back to her heels and sauntered off towards Alya and Nino. Leaving a stunned and speechless Adrien behind. Where had her stuttering gone? He liked when she stuttered, it didn't cause his body to react in uncontrollable ways.
Kagami stood watching the interaction between her two friends and folded her arms across her chest, frowning as she noticed the change in Marinette. The girl had never been that straightforward with Adrien. Where was her stuttering? And where was her hesitation?
"Mari, wait!" Marinette heard Adrien's big feet pounding the floor behind her, as he ran to catch up.
She turned around and raised one eyebrow, halting her steps to wait up for him. He slowed his run into a jog and stopped when he reached her.
"Look, Adrien, I'm not going to say anything to Kagami."
"That's not what this is about. I can't keep having this divide between us. I was working on the script earlier with Pla-, with my cat, and we need to be at least friendly." Adrien was so close to naming his kwami, and worst of all is he wouldn't have minded if did. Something inside made him feel warm at the prospect of Marinette knowing. He caught Kagami standing away from the group and wondered if he'd feel as open to telling her.
"You were practising with your cat?" Marinette pulled him back to their conversation with her eyebrows disappearing under her fringe. She had said some strange things over the years, but this almost topped every single one of them.
"He's very much into Shakespeare," he turned back to look at Kagami, "and plaguing me." Before quickly turning back, the 'model smile' firmly in place. Marinette was staring at him and he was quite sure she was considering the need for a sectioning.
"Anyway," Adrien continued, coughing to cover his mortification, "my father is on my back about being Prom King, and for that to happen we need to nail this script."
"Sometimes I just want to kick your father so hard up the a-" she quickly placed her hands over her mouth, eyes widening to an unnatural state. What was happening? She'd almost let on to Adrien that she wanted to kick Gabriel Agreste up the derrière. It's a good job they weren't soulmates, this feeling to destroy Gabriel Agreste would become awkward.
Adrien stood dumbfounded for a couple of minutes before he started to howl with laughter. Once the shock had worn off, Marinette joined in too. He was happy, and it felt as though they'd finally mended the cracks which had formed in their relationship. Adrien couldn't remember the last time he laughed so much, he suddenly felt lighter and happier than he had in years. He felt the same way as when he was with his Lady.
"You're a blast Mari, I don't know what I'd do without you." Adrien had an impulse. He wasn't sure why he had the impulse, and why he felt like he had no choice but to act upon said impulse, but he bent down so their faces were level, and pressed his lips to her cheek.
Both sets of eyes mirrored the total shock and confusion of what just happened, along with the red blush streaking across their faces. They were friends, but they weren't close enough for kisses, were they?
"Sorry Mari, I didn't mean -" he stopped himself before he could continue. The sentence wouldn't finish. Why? Because it would mean he was lying to her. He wanted to kiss her cheek. He wanted to see her blush. Another mess to add to his collection. For some reason she was causing urges in him, compulsions he couldn't deny. Being with her felt natural, but what confused him most, was he'd never felt like this before - with anyone.
Whilst the two heroes were trying to figure themselves out, Kagami had made her way over. Wrapping her hands around Adrien's arm possessively. She had nothing against Marinette, but Adrien was her soulmate and he'd never behaved this way with her. Something felt off. Kagami was quite sure something wasn't linking, and she thought it was them. She knew she was jealous, but she wasn't quite sure yet about what.
She looked down towards Adrien's arm, to where she believed his soulmark was hidden. She hadn't seen it yet, he was avoiding every opportunity to show it to her. She wasn't stupid, she knew something was up, something Adrien, and maybe even Marinette, weren't telling her.
"Ok dudes, basketball, cotton candy and then the ghost train." Nino made his way back to Marinette, Adrien and Kagami holding onto a fist full of tokens, and handed them out. Finishing with a cheer, before turning on his heel and stalking toward the carnival stand.
Marinette looked at Kagami's face and had to suppress a smile. She'd never seen a girl so out of place before.
"You can both go if you want?" Marinette had made her way to Kagami and wrapped her arm supportively around her waist, causing Kagami to release Adrien.
"No, I have to compromise. He is my soulmate and, obviously, this mustn't be as bad as I think. After all, we are assigned together because we are so similar."
Marinette looked over Kagami. My, oh, my Kagami had no idea. Marinette's anger towards Adrien suddenly escalated and she couldn't help but stare at him.
"Well, your soulmate should be willing to sacrifice himself for your needs too?"
Adrien narrowed his eyes at Marinette, if she was going to interfere he'd make sure his point was put across too.
"Perhaps Kagami's boyfriend has decided he needs to show her exactly how much fun they can have when not under strict orders." Marinette looked at Adrien before turning back to Kagami.
"You see, soulmates understand that keeping their other half happy is key to relationship success, even if it means sacrificing their own desires."
"Marinette, it's -" Kagami went to speak, but was interrupted again by the squabbling pair. She felt like she was in a bad nineties sitcom.
"Now, that's where you're wrong, Princess! Both halves should be happy, and be able to show their personalities. Soulmates will accept them however they're behaving."
"Unless they're behaving like a tool." Marinette slammed back.
Alya made her way over to a startled Kagami, completely perplexed by what was happening in front of her. Not only was Marinette talking to Adrien, they were arguing. The tension building between them was getting thicker by the second.
"How did this happen?" Alya asked Kagami, who replied with a non-committing shrug.
"It just seemed to happen." Alya led Kagami away from the two. Away from whatever weird relationship they'd just crossed into.
"You know what else is important? Telling the truth. The whole point of soulmates is that they can tell each other everything. They never lie!" Marinette had moved closer to Adrien, both still firing truths at each other as Marinette's nose became level with Adrien's chest.
"What are you trying to say shorty? You know I would never lie to my soulmate, you know I'm not that sort of person."
"I don't know what type of person you are anymore," Marinette turned her voice down to a whisper as she looked up into Adrien's eyes. "You're hurting her."
"I don't want her to hate me, but right now I'm more angry at myself for making you feel that way." Adrien said, just as quietly.
"I don't hate you, Adrien." They were close, so close only the two of them would be able to hear each other.
"I couldn't live with myself if you did."
"Just please, make it right."
Marinette could feel the hot breath of her friend gracing across her face, as a soft smell of mint hit her nose. They were staring, eye to eye, and Marinette couldn't help the thought of what it would be like to kiss him. All she had to do was push up onto her toes and their lips would meet.
"You have pretty bluebell eyes."
They maintained eye contact for a short while before Alya's voice broke them out of their trance. Nino was up at the shot line, ready with his first ball.
A magnetic feeling ran through Adrien's body as he followed Marinette to the others waiting at the basketball game. He approached her from behind and began to reach out, wanting to place his hands on her hips. He was centimetres away, when someone else was touching him first. He looked next to him, only to see Kagami wrap an arm around his waist. He smiled at the petite girl standing next to him, who answered him with a kiss on the cheek.
He turned his head back to his friends and caught eye contact with Marinette. He looked away, guilt radiating over his body. The only problem was, he wasn't sure what he was feeling guilty for. Was it aimed at Kagami, or at Marinette?
Nino was jumping up and down. Five for five, meaning he could treat his lady to a prize. As he chose, he made a big deal presenting it to his girlfriend causing the girls to both swoon and laugh, Marinette couldn't help the envy taking over her face. It must be so good to be with your soulmate, just knowing you are to be together forever.
For the first time that night her thoughts ran to Chat Noir. She just knew he would have loved to be here this evening, it was very much his scene. She could imagine him making some random comments and puns, winding her up and winning her friends over with his charm and charisma. A smile spread over her face, and she couldn't help wondering what he looked like under his mask. He would be handsome, she knew that, but his personality would just make him ten times more attractive.
"Marinette, you're up." Alya grabbed Marinette's hand and pulled her towards the game, a giant stuffed Ladybug under her arm. Marinette was pulled out of her daydream and practically thrown to the start line.
Adrien stood silently as he watched Marinette shoot the first two balls, only to completely miss their target. He couldn't help the laugh escape his lips, as he watched Marinette full on tantrum at her bad luck. Kagami was watching curiously as Adrien's face showed pure joy and jubilation. She'd never seen him look so carefree.
"I've usually got good aim," Marinette screeched, throwing the next three balls short of the hoop.
"The only way you'd go to the NBA is if you bought a ticket." Adrien stated through his laughter.
"You're too short, Mari." Nino couldn't help the laughter over taking him as he watched the pout appear on her lips. "Come on man, your turn."
Nino pushed Adrien forward and next to Marinette. Their arms brushed past each other and a shock went through him again. Very similar to what had happened at school the previous week, an image shot into his mind, it was so powerful. She was lying on the ground, pale and cold, he reached out but she wasn't moving. He could see red and his heart pitched, a sharp pain shooting through his body.
"Adrien." He could hear her voice. It was exactly how he remembered, yet her mouth wasn't moving. She was just sitting there, tear tracks streaking down her face, and hands over her leg, her very bloody leg.
"Adrien, are you ok?" He suddenly shook his head and the image faded. A small hand was placed on his forearm and he looked at its owner. Marinette looked worried, her eyes softening in care of her friend.
"Yeah, sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts," he looked at Marinette and smirked, "hey, I've got a job for you."
"A job?" She questioned with a giggle, resulting in an enthusiastic nod from Adrien.
"Yeah! You can be my Cheerleader, after all, I'm going to score." Dropping her a very exaggerated wink.
He watched as the giggling stopped and a loud squeak left her mouth. He heard a sharp intake of breath from Kagami's direction. What was the big deal?
"Dude! You've broken Marinette!" Nino looked at Adrien, the latter just shrugged. He was completely oblivious to what he'd said.
Ignoring the way the conversation had turned, Adrien picked up a ball and took his aim. Unsurprisingly, the first two entered the net clean. For a guy who had a basketball net in his room, he was showing just how many hours of practise he had put in.
"Show off." Marinette scoffed, the third ball again entering clean, no rim. She folded her arms across her chest and looked away, a small smirk on her face.
"Come here." He called out to her, his voice laced with amusement.
It seemed that Marientte had been glued to the spot. She couldn't get her legs to work. Alya placed a hand on Marinette's lower back and pushed her forwards towards where Adrien was waiting, ball spinning on his index finger.
She took a deep breath and grabbed the ball from him, a loud slap echoing as she hit the edges of the leather coated ball. Adrien smirked at her again, and she was starting to become unsettled by the look. It was so familiar yet so different.
Stepping behind her, he used his feet to help spread hers apart.
"Step one," he said, "feet hip width apart."
Marinette nodded, making sure her feet were in the correct position.
"Step two; hands firmly on the ball," he positioned her hands, placing his own over the top, "there, and there."
Marinette was trying to understand what was happening, her head was processing that she was learning how to shoot a basketball correctly, whereas her heart was melting having Adrien touching her. Actually touching her; skin to skin.
You have pretty bluebell eyes.
"Step three; relax your shoulders."
Marinette swooned. Adrien's hands were now positioned on her shoulders, rubbing and squeezing at the tension, currently, holding them in place. There was something too intimate about this, something she knew she shouldn't be doing. Like the forbidden fruit of Eden, he may look good but he is not hers to take. As his hands continued their caress on her shoulders, she began to get lost in the moment. Thoughts flashed through her head. Adrien defending her, Adrien with some sort of black triangles in his glorious golden hair, cuddles with the boy on top of the Eiffel Tower, a feeling so warm and safe that she never wanted to feel anything different.
"Adrien?"
The voice questioning their motives pulled Marinette's concentration back to the present. She swatted Adrien's hands from her shoulders and as the connection broke, so did the warm feeling. Her heart went from feeling so warm and full, to cold and distant in the matter of seconds. She felt guilt over taking her.
What about Chat Noir and Kagami?
"Watch your mitts, Agreste?" She snapped, shooting an apologetic smile towards Kagami. She was quite sure the guilt would eat her alive. Even if Kagami wasn't Adrien's soulmate, at the moment she was still his girlfriend, and her friend. This was not how friends treated each other.
Adrien laughed as he moved to stand next to her. Her face was pouty and he couldn't help but find it adorable. He wanted to continue touching her. It felt so warm and natural, he couldn't help wondering what it would feel like to wrap his arms around her and bring her body close to his.
As Adrien watched Marinette take her aim, he found himself staring at her. He'd looked at her many times before, but today there was something different. Something he'd never noticed before, something that he needed to get off his chest.
"Your hair is glowing in the moonlight like a halo."
Nino stopped his conversation with Alya to look at his buddy, then Kagami.
"As smooth as that was dude," Nino said uncomfortably before slinging his thumb over his shoulder, "you're girlfriends right over there."
Kagami had crossed her arms over her chest as she watched the scene in front of her. She was at the end of her tether. One more move from Adrien to Marinette she was gone. He promised there was nothing there. How wrong was she?
Completely embarrassed by what he'd just said, Adrien attempted to continue coaching Marinette through the shot. Marinette, on the other hand, was about to spontaneously combust. Adrien had never complimented her like that. Her face blushed as their two friends continued to laugh at them, however she could feel the burn of Kagami's stare in the back of her head. Adrien let out a cough and prayed he wouldn't say anything else stupid.
"Bend your knees slightly, Mari, and then focus on the sweet spot. Though that should be easy for someone like you."
"Someone like me?" She responded, legs still in position ready to shoot. She cocked an eyebrow in Adrien's direction, and, seeing it as a challenge, he placed his chin on her shoulder. Whispering for her ears only.
"Of course, sugar and spice, and all things nice."
Marinette felt her breath hitch in her throat.
"Now, bend your knees and push. Keep focus, keep calm and aim high. You've got this."
Marinette, still shocked by his words, began to react, mirroring every instruction he was telling her. She bent down slightly before spring off her bent knees, straightening her arms and releasing the ball. Right hand on top, left underneath, making sure she had the perfect follow through.
It sailed up towards the top of the netted fence, and just as she thought it would, straight towards the target. They watched in slow motion as the ball struck the upper left corner of the rectangular sweet spot before falling back onto the rim. It circled around the rim; once, twice, before falling through the net.
"Oh my, I did it! I actually did it!" Adrien cheered and clapped Marinette as she jumped up and down. She turned to face him, a wide smile plastered on her face as she launched herself into his arms. Wrapping herself tightly around his neck and thanking him.
"I knew you could. You just needed to believe in yourself." Adrien patted her on the back, whilst taking in deep breaths, sucking every inch of perfume from her neck. She smelt delightful, like a picnic on a summer day, like ice cream with strawberries, like home.
"Now try the next one." Adrien pushed the final basketball into her hands. He spoke quietly, wanting this moment to just be the two of them.
"But if you do it, you could win a prize. I don't want to stop you from that. I'm sure Kagami would love a teddy from you, you'd be her prince if you won her one." She mirrored his volume, placing the ball back with him.
"How about if I can be your prince? Take the last shot and you can choose whichever you want."
Marinette, finally realising the monstrosity of the situation, stepped away from Adrien shaking her head. She was digging herself into a deep hole and needed to escape. This was wrong. Really wrong.
"Sorry everyone, I need to go and water my clothes, I mean plants. I've had a great time but I've got to go."
She hugged Alya and Kagami before waving to Nino. She looked back at Adrien, before stepping away and hurrying to the exit. His eyes remained on her back, as she fought and stumbled through the crowds.
Kagami made her way to her boyfriend, placing her arms around his waist.
"I don't appreciate your behaviour tonight, Adrien. I must admit I am not feeling good about this date."
"Yeah, I understand." Adrien timidly smiled at his girlfriend. She stretched up on her toes and kissed him on the corner of his mouth, as he absent mindedly launched the final ball towards the net. A bell rang out signalling he'd scored a perfect game.
Looking up into the crowd, he couldn't help but search for the retreating Marinette, but it was too late. She was gone.
"What prize would you like, Sir?" The Carny asked Adrien.
"Oh," he looked back between Kagami and the game, "my um- ... my girlfriend can choose."
Adrien scratched the back of his neck as Kagami chose a Ladybug plush matching Alya.
"At least with this I know you still love me." She hugged the Ladybug before kissing Adrien again.
"Yeah, we're a perfect match." He smiled awkwardly as he looked down at the Champion fencer.
The gang of now four began their trip to the next activity whilst Adrien battled every ounce of control to not run after Marinette.