Marinette was never really into holster tops and skirts, but she quite liked how this one flattered her body shape. She wasn't entirely sure if Adrien was awake, but Marinette took a mental note to prepare dinner and hope for the best.
She tried to scoop out as much salt as she could, but she didn't hang on to that pipe dream. If none of them were able to stomach it, they'd grab a bite to eat on the go as long as they got something before drinking, in case that would happen. The last thing she wanted was to have someone get sick or suffer from alcohol poisoning. Marinette wasn't sure if Adrien went out of even touched a drop of alcohol, but Marinette would rather be safe than sorry.
The blunette grabbed her heels, gripping on to the straps as she tiptoed down to the first leverage of the home. She placed her heels by the staircase and hurried over to the kitchen to serve the stir fry. She pursed her lips, placing the plate on to the table.
She tiptoed out of the kitchen and back up the staircase. She returned to her room, and dug through her suitcase for her makeup. She hummed, digging through her makeup bag for some foundation, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. She pulled back, admiring the work she did in the mirror before deciding to head back downstairs before Adrien woke up.
The female tiptoed back down to the first floor. She leaned down at the spot beside the staircase, picking up her flats. She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest as she spotted the model faced away from her, picking at his plate in the kitchen. It was always a mystery to Marinette how Adrien kept his hair nice and tidy. Even the night before while Kagami had her hands tousled throughout his strands, he still managed to look good. His gold locks sat in perfect placements on top of his head like a work of art.
The blunette was quite impressed with his choice of attire. He wore a Prussian blue button up collared shirt which was folded neatly at his sleeves, revealing his nicely toned and tanned arms. His black jeans hugged his legs and backside in all the right places, it was quite a pleasing site to Marinette which she'd never admit out loud. He topped off his outfit with a pair of completely white low top achilles sneakers.
"I guess I'm not surprised that you know how to dress being in the fashion industry." Marinette murmured towards his back as she began to approach him.
Adrien paused, glancing back at her, a few strips of the stir fry she had prepared for him earlier hanging from his lips.
Marinette froze, her heart aching slightly as she was a bit scared to find him eating the dinner she had prepared, especially after having dumped almost the entire container of salt on the top of it.
Adrien glanced down at himself, his brow furrowing as he wasn't exactly sure what Marinette's intention was by her comment.
"I can't tell if that was a diss or a compliment..." Adrien retorted, narrowing his eyes at her.
Marinette shook her head, getting a nice hit of the aroma that emanated from his skin. She reached up, smoothing out the lines on his shirt with a flacid expression.
"Take it how you will..." she smiled, gazing up at him. "You look great though. Is it the model in you that keeps your hair looking on point at every moment?" She taunted with a smirk.
"Hmp-" Adrien prompted, reaching over to pick at his food as Marinette focused on fixing up his attire.
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually wake up like this-" Adrien countered.
Marinette tsked, satirically nodding as she stepped back, her eyes catching the food he was consuming. She inwardly cowarded away. She was afraid to know how his taste buds were holding up. She wondered whether they were shribbling up or holding off well because he actually enjoyed the meal. Marinette was almost too afraid to ask.
"So..." she commenced, teetering on the edge of trepidation. "H-How was the dinner?" She inquired with an imperceptible splutter in her words.
Adrien glowered down at her, his green eyes scrutinizing her tone of voice and the expression she concealed on her features.
"Salty..." He deadpanned, his eyes then moving from her face to the plate of food he retrieved.
Marinette furrowed her brow with a scowl. She knew that the dish was going to be salty, that she expected. What she didn't expect was for him to rise out of bed with a rib missing and slither downstairs with such a meticulous motion, that it was nonviable for anyone to hear or realize that he was already up and ready on the first floor. It may have seemed inconceivable at first glance, but Marinette also had to admit that she didn't expect him to start eating the food that she prepared.
Granted, she did tell him that she was making dinner before he had his nap, and she did serve the plates in particular for him to enjoy. She just didn't expect for him to exist in her blind spot and reach the plate before she knew of his whereabouts.
The female took a step back, a dry smile on her face as it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Well..." she prompted. "If you feel that it's too salty; why are you still eating it?" She retorted, perking a brow before she tucked a part of her fringe behind her ear.
Adrien shrugged.
"Because...food is food. I'll eat anything regardless" he replied, returning the smile. "Warm meals is a genuine rarity where I live. Salty or not."
Marinette snorted, smacking his shoulder gently as he teased her.
The blonde cowarded away with a grin, a little bit relieved that Marinette was showing a side to her that he was afraid didn't exist.
"Anyway-" Marinette interjected, walking away from him. "I'm not entirely sure how your night life goes, but the bar that I work at is more of a nightclub than a traditional bar. I'm not sure what kind of dance classes that... people of your wealth attend..." she turned on her heels to glare at him. "No offense..." she added before she dropped her flats to the floor and continued. "But the dances that happen at nightclubs are really just bump and grind..." she pursed her lips.
Adrien simply gawked at her, his brow furrowing as it slowly registered in his head what she was motioning to him. At that point, Adrien couldn't help but laugh. He leaned his head forward, rubbing his eyes as he attempted to make the gesture as inconspicuous as he possibly could.
"Marinette, do you think I've lived in a box my whole life?" He laughed softly. "I think I've got the basic logistics of how public bars and nightclubs work." The blonde explained, shaking his head.
Marinette held her hands up in defense, her heart sinking as she was worried that she offended him.
"I-I'm just saying!" The bluenette exclaimed. "I'm not sure if they taught you basic waltzing classes. I mean... I dated someone who was in the lifestyle..." she cleared her throat, suddenly feeling self conscious talking about her past relationship with Felix. Marinette had doubts that Adrien was aware that she courted his cousin a long time ago, and she didn't have any intention of disclosing that information to him either. The female looked down, rubbing her elbow softly.
"Erm- all he did was complain that they taught him boring waltzing stuff..." she shrugged, quickly looking back up at him.
Adrien shook his head.
"Honestly, whoever sold you that information is full of shit-" he replied. "Considering my situation, dance classes was probably the most interesting thing that's ever happened in my whole twenty-four years of living."
Marinette pressed her lips together, crossing her arms at the note of him utterly dismissing what Felix had told her unbeknownst to him.
"You mean to tell me that basic waltzing was fun for you?" Marinette asked, perking her brow with a taunting gaze. A small smile tugged at the corner of her plump lips, and it did not go unnoticed to Adrien.
Adrien knew that the tiny bluenette bakester was only trying trying to get under his skin. She seemed like the impetuous type of girl. She liked to press buttons to gauge a reaction. Adrien had the impression that she was going to give him a run for his money.
"Not all dancing is waltzing, Marinette," he disclosed, a relaxed expression on his features. "You can add your own things to it. You can modernize it! It's not a stiff puzzle piece like you've preconceived it to be."
Marinette glanced at him, a perplexed expression painted on her face as she parted her lips.
"Really?" She murmured, her tone of voice more of doubting disapproval than a notion of surprise. "Modernizing and improvised waltzing..." the blunette pressed her fingertips to her lips. "Sounds like a pipedream..." her voice trailed off, her blue orbs sought for him briefly.
Adrien remained obdurate, he wasn't going down without a fight. He brought her wrist up to focal view.
"I can guarantee it." He glanced back at her, his green eyes connecting with hers. "The world is actually a bigger place than what you're made to believe."
The two remained silent, their eyes locked on to one another as neither of them desired to acquiesce.
"Prove it..." Marinette pressed, catching Adrien's attention instantly.
The model blinked, his heart nearly hammering its way out of his chest at the challenge. She really wasn't letting up, and Adrien had to admit he liked a good challenge.
"You want me to show you?" Adrien asked, stuffing his hand in his pocket and rocking back and forth on his heels.
The female nodded, reaching for her bag and grabbing her phone. She pursed her lips as she opened her spotify app, and scrolled randomly through one of her playlists.
"Yep-" she replied briefly, pressing the play button on any random song on her suggested playlist. Marinette balanced her phone on the edge of the steps and she walked back to him with a mischievous grin.
"Put your money with your mouth is..." she murmured, circling him slowly.
Adrien kept his gaze locked on her, his eyes following her as she circled him. The smile never faltered from his lips and he simply nodded.
"Only if you let me lead..." he bargained, taking his bottom lip between his teeth with a soft bite.
Adrien listened to the beat of the song, it wasn't unfamiliar to him, but in his mind he could already point out what he wanted to do and what steps he could take that coincided with the music she played.
♡ So you say you wanna get away
We don't need a plane
I could be your escape
Take you to a place
Where there's no time, no space
I could be your private island
On a different planet
Anything could happen
Listen to the waves
Let them wash away your pain ♡
Marinette pursed her lips and she looked up at him. She remained silent, drawing out the suspense purposely and even then, Adrien refused to touch her until he had her consent.
"Deal."
It was the only words Adrien wanted to hear, before his hands caught her by the hips. The pair circled against one another, Marinette's chest pressed against his. Her cheek lightly brushed against his shoulder and Marinette was in awe. She was not intimidated by the height difference between the two of them.
♡ I could be your fantasy
I could be your fantasy ♡
Adrien's fingertips lightly danced up her sides, and within moments he spun the tiny blunette into his arms. He kept a more firm hold against her frame as he led a well thought out path. Marinette followed his lead, her legs moving in tune with his legs.
♡ Underneath the palm trees
You could leave your worries
Listen to the waves
Say you wanna get so high?
Breathe me in like air tonight
Listen to the waves
Listen to the waves
I could be your fantasy ♡
Marinette gasped, feeling Adrien's hand on her waist as he tugged her closer. His free hand reached down, lacing his fingers into hers. The goosebumps rose on to her skin, and Marinette couldn't help but to feel bashful. It wasn't like she had a sort of affection for him, but it had been so long since Marinette had ever been this close with a male, or anyone for that matter.
♡ So you say you wanna get so high?
Breathe me in like air tonight
Let yourself unwind, get lost
In the garden of my mind
I could be your private island
Underneath the palm trees
You could leave your worries
Listen to the waves
Let them wash away your pain ♡
Adrien gently spun her around, pressing her back into the front of him where he wrapped his arms around her. Marinette blinked, a deep blush coating her cheeks as he was entirely too convincing. If Marinette didn't know he had a girlfriend and probably saw her as a taunting asshole more so than a wife, she would have mistaken his hold on her as a gesture of affection. He was a damn well good actor, and Marinette couldn't help but to wonder if he took acting classes alongside dance classes. He was already a model, and he was already proving to be a good dancer, much to her dismay. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least if it turned out he was an actor as well.
♡ I could be your fantasy
I could be your fantasy ♡
The duo swayed side to side against one another. Adrien kept her in a comfortable embrace that felt so intimate it was almost inconceivable. Adrien leaned down, taking another step and guiding her along with him. He was able to keep the dance intimate, but respectful. Adrien made to be sure not to cross any lines, although Marinette was already impressed.
♡ Underneath the palm trees
You could leave your worries
Listen to the waves
Say you wanna get so high?
Breathe me in like air tonight
Listen to the waves
Listen to the waves ♡
Marinette leaned into him as Adrien released her hips and guided her into a turn. With his hand on her hip, he guided her back against his form, allowing her to lean into him. If she could, Marinette could have fallen asleep right then and there, but Marinette was still hiding behind her walls. She knew this wasn't Felix, this man who held her belonged to someone else, and even though he was a great dancer, Marinette felt no connection. He was not the one that she loved.
A small gasp escaped her lips as Adrien spun her one last time, landing her in a dip. She was faintly aware of his hand on her thigh, and she glanced up at him with a deep blush. Her hands gripped onto his shoulders, her heart hammering away as her brain struggled with the fear that he might drop her as some sort of prank. She was quite relieved when the song drew to a close and he pulled back, guiding her back on her feet with a smug look on his face.
Marinette slowly pulled away from him, quickly fixing herself up before he could catch that she was feeling bashful.
"So...?" Adrien mused. "It was good, wasn't it?"
Marinette cleared her throat and she quickly composed herself, masking her surprise with a sly grin and a simple chaste shrug of her shoulders. "It was alright..." she disassembled, turning so that she could retrieve her phone from the steps.
Adrien rolled his eyes, stuffing his hands into his pockets with ease. Already gathering that Marinette was as stubborn as a mule, he kept his gaze away from her.
"You're terrible at concealing. You have to admit the dance classes paid off. It wasn't just boring waltzing-"
Marinette paused, taking a moment to contemplate before she turned over to face him.
"It wasn't boring," she conceded, shrugging again with a bashful smile. "But definitely too sexy. I mean, I thought boring wedding waltzes would be something we'd have to do on our wedding night, but I've got to admit I'm on a whole new perspective."
Adrien snorted, feeling a bit of a triumph that she set her ego aside and admitted it.
"Nah, I'm sure we'd have to do boring waltzing at our wedding..." he replied, feeling a little strange at the sound of his own voice talking about a wedding. About his own wedding.
Marinette hummed with little interest as she swiped through the messages on her screen of Alya ushering the two out the door.
"As much as I'd like to stay around and talk about how awkward this wedding is going to be, we should probably get going..." Marinette sighed, locking her phone and placing it back into her bag with a grimace. "Alya wants us to be there within fifteen minutes. You got your running shoes?" She asked, walking beside him.
Adrien chuckled half heartedly at her joke.
"Ah, so you're making the jokes now." He commented dryly, glancing at his watch.
Marinette tittered, feeling the same as he was feeling.
"Don't worry." She commented, patting his back as she tried to will away the feeling of dread and reluctance to leave and join whatever event Alya had planned for the both of them. "I have a strong feeling we'll live-" she murmured sarcastically.
"Trying to make the best out of an awkward situation?" The blonde mused as he fumbled with the keys in his pockets.
Marinette sighed with an uninterested nod.
"Well... someone has to..."
__________________________________________________________________________________
"Alya! I didn't ask for a bachelorette party!" Marinette gasped, her eyes scanning the scenery.
Adrien stood beside her awkwardly, his green eyes glancing upon the many people he didn't actually quite know. There were balloons that decorated the drinking booths, and the music played behind them, shaking the ground underneath them.
Alya rolled her eyes, dismissively waving at her friend who was possibly more stubborn than a mule. There was no way in hell Alya was going to allow Marinette to keep herself cooped up inside all day.
"You can't have the full bride to be experience if you don't have the bachelorette party. I couldn't get the boss to agree and keep the entire place reserved for us, but he's allowing us to have free drinks in celebration of your marriage. He's a huge fan of Adrien Agreste, I think that may have persuaded him a bit." She conceded.
Marinette pressed her lips together, her eyes glancing over at Rose who began waving at the two of them. Marinette could spot Rose's girlfriend, serving jello shots on the tray that Rose had prepared for the party.
Adrien spotted Nino approach Alya from behind. He placed his hand on Alya's shoulder and lightly tugged her close. The model furrowed his brow, his shoulders slumping forward as it dawned on him that his comrade was in on it. Adrien truly felt betrayed. It wasn't that he didn't like hanging out with friends, but he knew that if Kagami found out that he was out on a night partying with his soon to be bride and their mutuals, she would have a cow. Perhaps if she was angry or suspicious enough, she'd possibly rip his balls off completely.
"I see you were in on this..." Adrien uttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets as Nino replied with a light chuckle.
"I...thought it was a fun idea. I thought it would be nice if we all got to know each other better." Nino explained, his eyes looking down at Alya.
"You look great by the way..." Alya commented, her gray eyes looking at the couple. "A couple of fashion. Can we get a camera and put this on a cover somewhere?" Alya asked, snapping her fingers. "Cause I am truly in love."
The blunette shot daggers at her audacious confidant.
"I...suspected that bachelorette parties would be for just us girls?" Marinette mused, her brow perking.
Adrien was sat beside himself, her comment only making him want to isolate himself. He had a strange feeling that Marinette was uncomfortable around him or didn't like him much. He suspected they were making progress, but Adrien found himself taking several steps back. He knew it was going to take some time to get used to one another, but Adrien didn't like feeling like such a burden. It was incredibly hurtful. He had felt like a burden to everyone his entire life. It was like no matter what he did, he always found himself living in the same household as someone who wanted nothing to do with him.
"We don't do gender roles." Alya tsked, her eyes rolling. "I think I prefer to do co-ed kind of gatherings. I think its more fun that way. We have a larger amount of people to meet and get to know."
"Does this mean you and Nino are good friends?" Adrien interjected, approaching from behind Marinette's shoulder. "I think he had his eye on you the other night." The model teased, his eyes moving in on his friend with a teasing lilt of his voice.
Nino swallowed hard, fixing the collar of his shirt as Alya shook her head.
"Icksnay on the watchinsay..." Nino cleared his throat. "I just thought she was pretty and decided to talk to her when you and Kagami had that thing to do..."
Adrien nodded, his eyes narrowing at his friends explanation. He wondered what else was going on between Alya and him that he didn't know about.
"Enough talk about the awkward party that we all had weird experiences at. How about you and Marinette enjoy some drinks? Have as many as you want. As I said before they are on the house." Alya interjected, impertinently shoving both Adrien and Marinette to the bar that Rose had set up for them.
"O-oh... u-uh... thanks?" Marinette stammered as she awkwardly stumbled to the bar stool. Adrien walked with her, leaning against the bar with a grimace. He looked at both Alya and Nino as he got the gist of what they were planning. As if they didn't already spend enough awkward time alone, his friends wanted him to continue the charade with his bride to be. Adrien wanted to tell them not to, but he already figured it would have been fruitless at that point. No matter what he said, his friends were always stubborn. His words often fell upon deaf ears, they always have been ever since his mom disappeared.
"You two sit and enjoy each other's company..." Alya suggested. "The dance floor is still open to the public, but that doesn't mean you two can't enjoy yourselves and dance. Get to know one another better. If you need us, Nino and I will be sitting at the booths." Alya began to jab Nino in his side's.
Marinette felt the blood run to her cheeks as she realized her friends were going to leave her alone with Adrien again. Marinette knew she could tell Alya until she was blue in the face that her marriage was nothing of romance but of a contract that had to be fulfilled. It was as if she only had selective hearing. Marinette had to walk on eggshells when it came to Adrien. He had a girlfriend for nearly four years, and she was already wrecking their homes because she had to marry him. She didn't want to step on Kagami's toes anymore than she already was. Marinette reached out, her eyes wide as Alya began to usher Nino away from the duo.
"Alya-wait!" Marinette called out. "D-Don't leave me alone with-" her voice cut off as Alya already whisked herself away across the dance floor. "Him..." She sighed, her shoulders slumping forward as she was already defeated.
Adrien frowned, looking down at the tray of jello shots.
"You know... I do know you hate being around me. I'd just hate that I have to ask you if you can make that a little less obvious." Adrien sighed, glancing up at Marinette. "It's actually very hurtful."
Marinette gulped, not intending for him to hear that. She felt like such a jackass.
"N-No-" she breathed out, immediately scurrying over to him. She climbed on to the bar stool, her heart racing as she was quick to justify what she had meant. "It's not that I don't want to be around you. It's just... that they obviously want us be alone romantically, but you have a girlfriend. I don't want to step on anyone's toes, and again... there's nothing between us. The marriage isn't really a happy thing we are looking forward to. This is like a job that we have to do." Marinette rambled.
Adrien nodded subtly, not entirely buying her explanation. He looked down, fiddling with his fingers.
"I swear..." Marinette frowned, gathering his expression. The last thing she wanted was to fuck up yet again. Marinette made a mental note to lecture Alya when the night was over, but if she left the bar now, it would only prove Adrien's suspicions that she wasn't comfortable around him.
"I want to be friends. I think it's a good idea we are taking our time. I just don't want us to get into compromising situations, that's all..." her voice trailed off as the beat of the music vibrated throughout her chest.
Adrien shrugged it off, allowing her explanation to roll of his shoulders. His heart dropped as his phone vibrated in his back pocket. Knowing his girlfriend was the one ringing, Adrien knew it wouldn't be smart to answer it in the noise of the music. He was terrified of all the things she'd be screaming at him.
"That's alright, Marinette." Adrien offered her a weak smile, standing up straight and glancing at his watch. "I won't force you to stay alone with me. I've said it the first night we spent together, I'll do everything I can to keep your peace of mind. You enjoy the drinks. I'm going to step out"
Marinette frowned, her heart feeling heavy as she knew she fucked up.
"Adrien-" she started, cut off as he held his hand up, pausing her.
"I'll see you tonight." He assured, turning his back on her and rushing to the front doors. He pulled his phone out of his pocket as he exited the club. He was never dishonest with Kagami before, and he wasn't going to start now.
Marinette sat at the bar alone, her head falling forward as she was kicking herself internally. Marinette tried to keep herself away from the self deprecating thoughts that threatened to take over her. She played with her skirt, her thoughts condemning her, shaming her, reminding her why Felix left in the first place. Marinette was confident when she had to be, but often found herself severely insecure. She always ran away from her problems. She was terrified to confront them. Her breath quivered and she reached over to grab a shot. She pressed the glass to her lips and threw her head back, gulping it down in one quick swig.
She shivered at the strength. It was incredibly bitter. She reached for another shot, and another and another until the music turned into a hum, and the voices in her head finally faded away.