Ladynoir July 2021

Day 1 - Older

Summary: A fluffy one-shot of post-reveal aged-up Ladynoir. 

Ten years.

It had been ten years since they first met.

Since they got tangled up in her yoyo and she'd introduced herself as madly clumsy. She was so brave and kind that he couldn't help but fall in love. She was like sunlight in the darkness of his life and she shined so brightly that every inch of him was filled with it.

Seven years since they revealed their identities and five years since the defeat of Hawkmoth. Yes, it had been an appalling and gut-wrenching revelation to find that his own father was Paris' biggest criminal but she had helped him get through it. Just like she always did.

He thought back to all the times they had together. How they had revealed their identities under the moonlight, to find that they loved each other all along, with or without the mask. How they'd shared their first kiss in the rain, under the umbrella that held such importance in their life. How he'd asked her to be his girlfriend and how over time, Alya and Nino had started calling them, "The couple that looked like they were on honeymoon all the time." He thought about how he'd never get tired of the feel of her soft lips on his. He'd never get tired of making her blush and waking up to find her snuggled into him. There had been a few quarrels of course, but their love for each other had always prevailed in the end. They'd even joked about getting married a couple of times and sometimes he couldn't help but daydream about having kids one day.

So here 24-year-old Adrien was, standing in the bedroom of their shared apartment, looking at the small black box in his hands while unable to stop smiling. He'd already asked her parents for permission who had laughed at his nervousness and said that he was practically already part of the family. Alya and Nino had replied with a simple, 'About time, dude' and he had taken their help to plan the perfect way to propose to his lady.

He tucked away the box safely in his pocket as he went downstairs. He gave Marinette a quick peck on her cheek and said, "Up for a quick race across the rooftops, m'lady?"

"Why, wasn't yesterday's defeat enough for you, kitty?" She asked teasingly, standing from the couch nevertheless and calling for Tikki. "Hey, that doesn't count! I was distracted!" He said, smiling as he thought about how she had surprised him with a rooftop picnic at midnight for their '10 year meet-a-versary' as she called it. He followed her up to the bedroom balcony, calling for his transformation as she did the same.

They ran across the rooftops at inhuman speeds and any doubts he had that she would reject him vanished as they laughed trying to get ahead of each other in their little competition. "Not fair, you always win!" The blonde half-heartedly pouted as he landed behind Ladybug on their usual spot on the top of the Eiffel Tower. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the fleeting colors of dusk began to fade away. The sky was painted purple presaging the start of the night. "Sunsets from the top of the tower are so beautiful," She said in awe, gazing over the city. "Yeah, but it's not nearly as beautiful as you, Bugaboo," He said, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

"You flirt," She giggled. "You love me anyway," He said, grinning playfully. She hummed in response as they both once again turned their gazes towards the city they protect. They settled into a comfortable silence and Adrien thought about her importance in his life. He couldn't even imagine not being by her side. So, steeling his nerves, he turned towards her and got down on one knee, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng," He started, watching as her hands flew up to cover her mouth, a soft gasp escaping her lips. "It's been ten years since you literally fell from the sky and into my life. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I know that we've had our share of trying times, but our love always stood against the odds in the end. So, will you make me the luckiest cat in the world and marry me?" He said, his expression hopeful as he opened the box in his hand to reveal a princess-cut pink diamond ring.

"Yes!" She cried, tears of joy flowing freely. He barely had time to slip the ring on her finger before getting tackled into a kiss. He poured all the love that he couldn't put in words into the kiss as she deepened it. She pulled back when the lack of breath caught up and set her forehead against his, their breaths mingling. "I love you, m'lady" he whispered, panting slightly. "I love you too, my kitty" She replied, before pulling him in for another kiss.

Ten years now, and many more to come.

Because no matter the time he knew that she would always be by his side.

Always.