4 days until Marinette's Birthday
I dream of growing old with you. I dream of spending every single beautiful day together with you for the rest of my life.
The Yin and Yang are two parts of a whole, but beware, a little bit of Yin is in the Yang and vice versa. When we are unconscious, our defenses drop and the strongest of souls can meet each other, but beware, things might not always be as they seem.
•••••
"I read in this magazine about how as you reach your soulmark date you begin to experience different things? Something like, the stronger the connection, the more extreme the reaction."
Luka grabbed a piece of the pepperoni pizza currently laid out on Marinette's chaise.
"So you think me becoming ultra confident, and a little bit of a cow has something to do with my soulmark?" She grabbed her glass of water and washed down her previous cheesy treat.
"I don't see why not? You're only a few days away from your birthday now. The additional hormones could be playing with your body." Marinette nodded, considering what Luka was saying.
She'd spoken to Tikki about the strange occurrences from the funfair to no real help. Tikki had explained that yes, being a Miraculous holder can make things intense in the lead up to her soulmark, however that is all she could say.
Tikki was desperate to tell her that it happened between Yin and Yang holders, so herself and Chat Noir would become unable to hide things from each other. They would always want to bare their souls and share everything with each other. Therefore, Marinette's response to Adrien would intensify over the next couple of days. Tikki feared for her holder, whereas Plagg was thoroughly enjoying the show.
"Did you experience anything?" She questioned her sort-of boyfriend.
"I didn't until I got close to her."
"You still haven't told me a lot about her, Luk, come on and spill the beans. I want to know if she's going to be good enough for my bestie."
Luka burst out laughing. If he'd had his own choice of soulmate he knew he'd choose Marinette. To know her was to love her.
"Fine. I suppose it's about time you found out something, but until we've decided what's happening my information will be limited. I don't want you hunting her down and beating her up." He said.
"What do you take me for?" She placed one hand on her heart and stared at him.
Smirking, he grabbed another piece of pizza and shoved it in his mouth.
"Well, with this new extreme Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I'm worried what will happen?"
Marinette glared at him, before grabbing a pillow and throwing it at his face. She really did get on well with Luka, he was such a great guy. He was definitely in her top three. Unfortunately he knows this and brings it up often, Juleka forgot to hide their dream lists during their most recent sleepover. Marinette, having Chat Noir as her number one, opened a whole other can of worms.
"Fine. She's cool. She went to school in New York, and is actually related to someone you know -"
"Who?" Marinette was now intrigued. She needed to know.
"Not saying, that'll give it away."
"Why so secretive? Is she a superhero?"
Luka gaffored.
"No Marinette, I'm not chasing Ladybug."
"She's way out of your league, plus you'd have to fight her partner." Marinettes words came out without any thought. Why the hell had she said that? Since when did she have a huge stick up her ass.
"As true as that is, ouch!" He took his bottle of 'Fanta' and tipped it upside down, watching the bubbles float to the top. "She's broken up with her fiancé. He's from New York, apparently since she's been over here he moved on quite quickly." His focus was on the fizz of his drink, unable to bring his eyes to meet Marinette.
"Is she going to give you a chance?" Marinette asked, hope filling her eyes, and her heart.
"At the moment, she wants to build a friendship. She's heartbroken from the split, I think it gave her a kick as he'd found his soulmate, it kind of pushed her to expand things with me. He'd found his soulmate at the airport after dropping her off. Apparently, she went to ask him directions or something and they saw each other's mark. She didn't find out until last week. Then it took her a couple of days until she mentioned it to me."
Luka looked in the depths of Marinette's eyes, and she could see the hope for him. As always, Marinette wanted her friends happy. She wanted him to be happy.
"Ouch! Bad luck there, but I'm happy for you." Marinette smiled at his friend. "Does she know about us?"
Luka nodded.
"Of course. I couldn't keep her in the dark about it. I told you, I'll always be honest and tell the truth, I couldn't lie to either of you, Marinette."
Marinette scoffed thinking about a blonde haired boy who didn't fit that description. It had been three days and she'd managed to avoid Adrien quite skillfully.
He'd waited for her outside the steps every morning, so she'd snuck into school as Ladybug. He'd brought her her favourite chocolates, however that 'lactose problem' she was having meant Nino had to eat them instead, oh, and her hayfever was at full throttle so the flowers he sent just had to go in the bin. Nobody wanted her sneezing all day.
Guilt was constantly settled in the pit of her stomach. Not so much about the way she had acted with Adrien, although if she was Kagami she'd find Marinette and kick her ass, but it was the fact she was an accomplice to whatever this was with him. It was an absolute fiasco.
She deserved a dramatic stage slap after all this, and she'd probably encourage Kagami to go ahead and do it. It might make her feel a little less of a bitch.
"She wants to meet you. She said you sound like a person she'd get along with." Marinette smiled at Luka's words. She wanted to be friends with Luka's soulmate, he meant a lot to her.
"She sounds great, Luka. I'm so happy for you."
Marinette placed a kiss on her friend's cheek, then began to clear up the plates, napkins and pizza boxes. In the midst of her tidying, both hers and Luka's phones chimed.
"Hey Mari, everyone's off to find André. Fancy some ice cream? Your not-real boyfriends treat?" He wiggled his eyebrows at Marinette causing her to laugh.
"Let's do it. Just give me a second to get changed. I've been in my workout gear all day."
"I thought I could smell something." Again, he burst out laughing and this time she dived on him, messing up his hair. "Marinette, stop! What if my soulmate is there? I can't have a messed up do?"
"No offence, but your hair is not exactly a selling point." She climbed off him and made her way over to the wardrobe, rummaging through her different outfit choices.
Over the past couple of months, in preparation for her sweet sixteenth, she began to mix up her style. No longer did she just wear crops and a tee, she began to vary what she was wearing quite often. Outside of school time that is.
"Can I choose?" Luka walked up beside Marinette and flicked through the different clothing. Skirts, dresses, shorts ... you name it, she'd made it. "This." He stated, removing the item from her wardrobe, followed by a second. "With this."
"Don't you think that's a bit fancy for sitting on the Seine eating ice cream?" She questioned, looking at the items he was displaying.
Luka positioned them on his body before spinning around.
"Could I make a model boy too? I know how much you like them," he dropped her a wink as she rolled her eyes. "I think Marinette needs to start looking like the designer she's going to be." He reached down to where her shoes had been slung. "Finishing the 'new look' with these bad boys."
She couldn't deny what he'd chosen was a fantastic choice, especially with his fashion taste, but she was worried about how it would come across.
"I don't know." She worried her lip in between her teeth.
"I tell you what, if anyone questions it, just say we were on a fancy date, and then we decided to come and get ice cream."
She looked at what he was holding again and sighed. It would look good, very good.
"Alright, I'll wear it."
•••••
Thank you for the offer, but after our last outing I'd rather our next date only be us. I need to know your attention is in the right place.
The guilt ran through Adrien as he read the reply from Kagami. Yes he wanted to tell her the truth, but he wasn't brave enough. The thought of making her mad, or disappointed in him plagued him constantly. He admired her too much to hurt her. Taking a deep sigh, he began to form his response.
How about I take you out after my photoshoot tomorrow? As an apology for being an idiot the past couple of days.
"Kid, I'm only going to say this once more then I promise to shut up, but you need to make a decision. Tell her, or make the commitment."
Plagg floated towards Adrien and settled on the table in front of Adrien's white sofa. He'd had enough, it was going on too long and if Adrien dug himself any lower he'd become one with the molten lava in the centre of the Earth.
Kagami didn't deserve to be treated this way, and the way Adrien was going he'd lose his girlfriend and his soulmate. The human let out a huge sigh, as his kwami looked at him with an intense look.
"I know Plagg, I'm just ... I just ... I wanna ... I'm a mess!" Adrien pushed his hands through his hair, fingers gripping at the roots with an intensity to match his mood. He couldn't continue with this, he had to decide.
"I need to apologise to her, Plagg. I need to speak to her and let her know what a lying bastard I am. I need to then beg for forgiveness and see if she still wants to be my girlfriend."
Plagg nodded, placing another prism of cheese into his mouth.
"You really think she'll want to stay your girlfriend? You're not her soulmate, you lied to her for months and you almost kissed pigtails the other day."
"I don't know what that was, but I'm going to choose Kagami. Ladybug didn't want me and I've moved on, I'm happy with her, she loves me." Plagg nodded at his chosen.
"There's no one else then? If Ladybug won't be with you, are you happy with Kagami? You wouldn't prefer ... I don't know? Queen Bee?"
Adrien scoffed and stared wide eyed at Plagg. Chloe? really?
"There's no one else who sees me that way, Plagg, and like I said I've been happy with Kagami for months now. If she accepts me when I've told her, then that's it, I'm staying with her.I will learn to love her the way I do, M'Lady. We get on well, she understands my lifestyle, she's strong, and confident. And everyone knows just how beautiful Marinette is." His eyes widened as he rushed to correct himself, "Kagami, Kagami is ... well ... she's a lovely looking girl."
"A lovely looking girl? Woah Casanova, slow it down."
Plagg couldn't help but laugh. His favourite part of the job was when the soulmarks appeared for his kittens and they became overwhelmed by the soul bearing phase.
Certain phrases or words would always trick their mind into saying their soulmate's name, without them realising. But, there was no way he was telling Adrien this. Watching the guy squirm after making such a mess was fun to watch. Plus, they were only a handful of days away from Marinette's birthday, and he'll understand what he's been doing.
Sighing, Adrien stood up and made his way to his closest. He'd decided he wanted to fend off attention today and took the opportunity to dress like a 'normal teen', a 'normal teen' in top of the range designer clothing that is. Placing on a Gabriel hoodie, he put some cheese in the central pocket, grabbed his headphones, and left the mansion. No questions asked. His father wasn't around and there was no chance he was approaching Nathalie.
Placing the headphones in, he pulled out his phone and checked for messages.
1 new message - Kagami
Flicking through his phone he looked for the song he wanted. Something to set the mood, something to make him think of Marinette, no ... no ... to think of Kagami! He was starting to lose his mind. Why was he thinking about Marinette?
It must be the guilt of dragging her into this mess.
He made a note to apologise to Marinette too. He'd think about taking her somewhere nice, that way she could wear one of her incredible designs.
Adrien began to search through his music, before settling on 'Thinking Out Loud' by Ed Sheeran.
I'm not free tomorrow, my next free evening is in about four days. Book it for then, please.
Four days? Something ran through Adrien's mind. Something was happening in four days. Scrunching his brows together, he pulled up his schedule and there it was.
Photoshoot with Marinette 7am-4pm
Evening out for Marinette's birthday 5pm
Kagami was coming to Marinette's birthday picnic too. What had changed? The worst case scenario ran through his head.
She's going to want me to stop seeing Marinette, and then I'll lose an amazing friend and have to split time with my other friends. Oh wow, we'll have to share them like a divorced couple. I can't do that!
His phone signalled again. Another message from Kagami.
Before you brush me off for Marinette, I have already spoken to her and she thinks it's a good idea. Something about Luka taking her out so there's been a change of plan.
Adrien fumbled a response to send, as his mind ran through that message, again and again and again. Something with Luka? But Marinette hadn't got her mark yet? Were they so sure that they were going to be soulmates?
"Hey kid, wanna play a game?"
Adrien pushed past the idea that Plagg may be channelling his inner jigsaw, maybe wanting to chain him up in an abandoned warehouse, and agreed to play.
"I'm going to say a personality trait and you're going to say which friend it matches." Plagg smirked to himself, he couldn't help himself playing with his wielder, it was just too easy.
"Fine."
"Ok, goofy?"
"Kim."
"Caring?"
"Marinette."
"Nosey?"
"Alya."
"Best friend?"
"Ladybug." Oh, Adrien thought he would have said Nino was his best friend, though this was understandable. They did have a bond unlike others.
"Oh, ok. Non-superhero best friend?"
"Nino."
"Could have guessed that. Most fierce?"
"Kagami."
"Biggest hot head?"
"Kagami."
"Most attractive?"
"Marientte." Plagg had to suppress a laugh. This was fun.
"Most awesome?"
"Ladybug."
"Who do you like spending time with the most?"
"Ladybug and Marinette."
"Who do you love?"
"Marin-" Adrien stopped suddenly on the spot. Plagg had played him and played him well. Why would he say Marinette? His life did not revolve around Marinette. He wasn't in love with Marinette. His soulmate wasn't ...
"Oh, hi Marinette."
Before he knew it, Adrien was at Andres and standing opposite the pigtailed girl. She wasn't in her normal piggy tail hairstyle and he had to stop himself from gawping. Her hair was smooth and down, gently caressing her shoulders. She looked beautiful, he couldn't deny it and he knew his face was one hundred percent showing it.
He looked over her outfit and felt like he'd been punched in the gut. She wasn't wearing her normal attire either, and it was doing things to him that he didn't think he'd ever experienced, unless it was to do with his Lady.
Marinette stood in front of the cart wearing a black high waisted skater skirt, and a maroon off the shoulder top. It clung in the right places, and froze him to the spot. She looked older, she looked divine.
"Hey Adrien." Her cheeks flushed pink as she noticed him looking over her outfit choice.
In his daze, he never noticed the blue haired boy appear next to her.
"Hey Adrien, doesn't our little 'Net look good?" Luka swung his arm over Marinette's shoulders and placed a kiss in her hair. Marinette now turned from pink to red, a fire pit red.
"Hello Luka. I didn't know you'd be here." He held out his hand to fist bump Luka, plastering on his fake model smile. He felt uncomfortable. Why had he come? When Kagami had said no, he should have joined forces with her and said no too.
"We've just been on a hot date, so we needed to cool it down with some ice cream."
Marientte burst out laughing and then looked up at Luka, folding her arms across her chest.
"Did you just pun?" She asked her not-so-real boyfriend.
"I know how much you love them." He dropped her a wink, as Adrien dropped his jaw. She liked puns? Marinette Dupain-Cheng liked puns. Adrien Agreste liked making puns. Kagami Tsurugi did not like puns. Pieces were slotting together in his head, but not the way he wanted them too.
Adrien watched as they walked away to join the others, before turning and getting his own ice cream from André. He couldn't help but keep looking back at Marinette, something was different about her, and he couldn't work out if it was more than just her outfit choice. He just couldn't stop looking.
He went to sit next to Nino, doing their usual handshake before he purposely listened in on the conversation drifting to him from behind.
"So, four days until your birthday? Are you excited?" Alix asked Marinette.
"Of course," she said.
"Any idea on your soulmate?" He could hear the amusement in Alix's voice. She was teasing Marinette, almost like she knew.
"I know you know, Alix." Adrien could only just make out the whisper of the two girls, as well as trying to remain active in his own conversation with the guys. He couldn't let on that he was eavesdropping on Marinette but now all he could wonder was what did Alix know?
"And are you happy?"
"At first I wasn't so sure." Adrien's automatic reaction was to wince at Marinette's words, a churning feeling taking over his stomach, "but it's grown on me quite a lot, I'm excited."
"When are you going to tell him?"
Adrien's ears perked up. Tell him? Who's him and what is he being told?
"I want to make sure our soulmarks match first, just imagine how embarrassing it would be for both of us if I've got this wrong. It would destroy him ... and me, I've kind of got used to the idea and really like it."
Adrien turned his head slightly and saw the faint tinge of red on her cheeks. So, Marinette had an idea who her soulmate was, but hadn't mentioned anything to anyone apart from Alix. Why would she have told Alix though? He knew they were friends but it wasn't exactly the same friendship as Marinette had with Alya.
"You know I can't really say much, but -" Alix's words were cut off quickly, "Alya, how are you? I thought you were stuck to Nino, I didn't realise you two could separate."
Marinette laughed and Adrien's heart fluttered. She sounded so sweet and carefree when she laughed, he couldn't help but wish he was the reason for such a noise.
"Very funny." Alya stated before shaking her phone at the girls, "akuma at the school. Sounds like it's Mr. Damocles, something about cutting coffee in the teachers lounge."
"Great!" Marinette sighed, as she stood up. "I best head home before my parents freak out."
As she dusted the non existent dirt from her skirt, Adrien clambered to his feet too.
"Yeah, I'd better go, too. My father will kill me if I stay out with an akuma around."
"Your old man's a douchebag!" Marinette slammed her hands over her mouth with a scream as everyone looked directly at her.
"Excuse me? Did you just say what I think you said?" Nino looked at Marinette wide eyed. This was completely against her character, though he wouldn't exactly disagree with her statement.
"Oh my God, Marinette!" Alya squealed, as the rest of their group looked dumbfounded. Luka suppressed the urge to burst out laughing, now understanding her confidence dilemma.
"I am so sorry, Adrien."
"Don't worry," he replied, "I happen to agree." He smiled fondly at his friend.
"But still, I shouldn't have said it. Please don't tell him. He'll blacklist me." She walked forward grabbing hold of his forearms, giving them a shake for a response.
"Of course I won't. I wouldn't stop the most talented girl I know from reaching her dreams. I'll only be happy if you are, Marinette."
Luka's laughing stopped abruptly as he looked between the two. Something was different between them, something more than the lack of stuttering. He thought back to what he read earlier. Luka wasn't stupid, he could piece things together quickly and clearly, and if he was right he'd just found two pieces that fit perfectly together. But she said she knew? He was sure she would have mentioned it if it was Adrien.
"Well I best be off." Marinette was suddenly running in the opposite direction to her home.
"That's the wrong way," Adrien shouted after Marinette, "What an idiot?" Despite the harsh words, the look on his face was one of fondness, no malice, just a statement, and so unlike anything Adrien would usually say.
Without a second thought, he was running too and in the same direction as Marinette.
•••••
"Watch out!"
Before she could count to five, Chat had been struck by the akuma, sending him forcefully backward and into a brick wall. The impact knocked him out cold.
The darkness suddenly turned light. It was as though a spotlight had turned on. Its beam shining brightly on a body. His eyes were still adjusting to the concussion and the change of light, but he could see the body was unmistakably female. The body was hunched up, back firmly pressed against the wall, legs pulled in tightly. She had pigtails. Two to be exact. His heart began to race. He needed to get to her, she looked as though she was crying. She looked hurt.
"It's no use, kid. She's gone." Plagg appeared alongside him and he looked down to find his outfit had evaporated. There he was, plain old Adrien, white shirt, and orange shoes.
"Who's gone?"
"I told you ... but you didn't listen to what I said!"
"What do you mean, Plagg?" Adrien had a faint understanding, yet he wanted it to be false. He wanted so much for it to be false.
"Chat?"
"You could have saved her!"
"Chaton? Please, wake up! Kitty?"
"She's part of you, you're part of her."
"My cure! Why is it not working? Chat, I'll do anything just come back to me."
"Yin and Yang."
"I swear if this is a joke, I'll kill you myself."
"Please don't, I'm too adorable."
"Chat?" Marinette looked down at her partner and sprung onto him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Don't ever do that again!"
Marinette slapped Adrien hard around the bicep before hugging him again. He settled his chin on her shoulder and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.
The vision he saw remained lingering in the back of his mind