Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug And Cat Noir- Season 4, Ep. 18.7 Mister Noir

Both: part 4

Adrien had a handful of memories in Marinette's family home. He normally couldn't enjoy his favourite one while with Marinette, but seeing as grown up Marinette knew he was Cat Noir, he allowed himself to recall it more fully tonight.

It was an odd event, really. He'd just been through worrying that he'd gotten Marinette akumatized, only to find it was the excitable Tom Dupain, her father. She must get a lot of her super-charged, odd sweetness from her dad, he realised. However, it was her mother's wonderful words that really came back to him from that night.
"Never apologise for your feelings," she'd told him, smiling up at him warmly. He'd told her about his love for Ladybug, rather than her daughter, and Sabine insisted he not apologise for it, even in the moment with her husband lost to Hawk Moth's selfish plot.
Marinette was a lot like her mum too.

Adrien had a seat at the dining table. It was a larger set of table and chairs than he'd remembered. It could seat eight now.

The house had a warm sweet smell. It made him feel welcome.

"I've always liked your family's place, Marinette," he confessed. Marinette stopped at the fridge, with her hand stretched on top, reaching something. She smiled, "Yes, you've said that before. Go on, what's so nice about it then?"

Adrien looked around at the small living space, everything fit together as efficiently as possible. "I think it's that you can tell people actually live here."

Marinette's smile changed tone and her movements became more thoughtful.

"My house always feels like I'm the only one there. Even Father's office feels empty, and he's almost always in there."

"Mmm," was all she could trust herself to say. Plagg eyed her, but shrugged indifferently as she glanced over at him.

Marinette picked up a wooden board and covered it in various cheeses, vol au vents, breads, and jams. Her little pumps made gentle clack clacking on the floor as she walked around, finding nice little things to eat and share.

"Marinette, you don't have to go through so much trouble for us!" Adrien stood to help her.

"Speak for yourself! I for one am very grateful for someone who knows how to put out a proper spread!" Plagg rubbed his greedy little paws in excitement.

"Oh, don't worry, Adrien, I was going to do this tonight anyway. You see I--" and suddenly Marinette remembered what tonight was going to be. "OH! Oh no! Adrien! I'm having a party tonight!"

Adrien laughed, "Well, that's not a problem. I'll help you set up if you like?"

"No, I mean..." and Marinette looked down at her cute outfit, especially designed to be flirty and fun. She looked around at the room, with twinkling lights strung up earlier to make it a little more festive. She looked at the tray of snacks she was holding. There was wine in the cooler and ice in the box for everyone to bring their own drinks.
By the time she looked back at Adrien, his young face had lost some of its sparkle, but none of its fortitude. "It's okay, Marinette. I can't stay for the party. I might learn things I shouldn't know yet. We have a lot of the same friends because we're in the same class. It'd probably freak them out to see me like this, wouldn't it?
"I can hide out upstairs until Bunnyx gets here."

🐞🐈‍⬛

Mister Noir approached the boat on the Seine with unintentional silence, his skills as a superhero being long ingrained by now.

The sight of the family on board, engrossed in their own company, made him smile. He pulled out his Cat phone and took a photo before hopping down to approach.