A Delicate Balance of Flavors

A Few Faint Touches

Initially, there was no discernible change to the way in which they interacted.

To the world, there couldn't be.

Kagami's mother would not tolerate something like this, and Adrien's father had... expectations for his son's image.

They started as friends, and they spoke at length of the fact that they could not appear to be more than that, at least for now, whatever happened.

The slow-waltz of repositioning themselves to find stable ground and move forward was somewhat reminiscent of Kagami's initial interactions with Adrien. Kagami recognized that she did things quickly, pushed until things broke; if you were to apply yourself, why wouldn't you go at full speed? Engaging with Adrien and Marinette was a learning experience in many ways.

Ice cream was shared slightly more readily. Across several excursions between ... friends, who sat just a little too close together, each of them made a game of picking out a trio that "worked" for the other members. Adrien tried coffee, maple, and peanut butter, representing Kagami, Marinette, and himself, and Andre veritably jiggled in enthusiasm as he handed over the confection with a typical rhyme and flourish.

"New love can be thrilling, daring, and sweet, a medley of flavours we all want to eat." Andre held the tall ice-cream cone to Marinette, but refused to allow it to pass from his hands before he finished, his heavy-accent growing thicker in a way that Kagami almost thought was a threat. Perhaps a warning. "Just remember, tastes change over time, and needs must be met. No matter the savour, listening and talking are always a sure bet."

Tiresome, but for whatever reason, it made Marinette blush as she handed over the change after insisting that she pay this time, so Kagami countenanced the silliness.

A week later, Marinette selected Sweet Corn (she had already reached the point that, at least on occasion, she could tease Adrien for being both sweet and horribly corny; he tried so hard to be silly and set her at ease), rum for Kagami, and cinnamon. This time, Andre surveyed the three, nodded, and handed it over without a rhyme, which left Adrien only slightly crestfallen.

While they were eating it on an easy stroll, her boyfriend commented that the flavours were alright together, like a meal from the American south, but cinnamon seemed too spicy for Marinette.

A shrug had dismissed him, before with a spurt of courage their ... possible girlfriend leaned into his personal space to sweep a dollop of ice cream from just beside his lips and then suck it off of her thumb.

What a glorious little monster they were creating.

It took only a few seconds for them to break down into blushing and flustered messes while Kagami shook her head, and they walked on.

They were also slightly more tactile, and Kagami realized how much she loved it. Needed it, in a way.

The crush of arms around her, Marinette's ecstatic heartbeat racing through both their bodies as she giggled and squealed over the penguins at the zoo they were visiting together.

The subtle interplay of fingers underneath a table.

The way that Adrien could put his arm around her shoulders in the theatre and just let his weight lay there

Touch took on a whole new realm of meaning that Kagami had to study to begin to understand.

Of course, dates with Adrien were... difficult. Too often, they met at a business dinner and stood at a formal distance, only allowed to come together when they were permitted onto the dance floor and asked to perform.

Dancing did not involve a kind of footwork that Kagami appreciated, but even with the reserved distance between them, it was the only thing that made those stodgy meetings tolerable. Only then, when she allowed herself the weakness of pressing just too close to Adrien's chest, could she pick up the ugly musk of something like cheese and a fleshy odour that was like a pleasant version of his smell after a fencing match. It was comforting to smell something behind his cologne, formulated by his father's design team.