All Around the City

Place de Concord

It was easy enough to pull out her phone and search up the largest square in Paris. It was slightly harder to get there. Paris was a crowded city, and Zoe still didn't fully understand the bus system. In New York, it was easy. You barely understood what the conductor said, so you checked the route maps to find which track you needed to get on. Buses were more complicated. Zoe was wishing she had asked Ladybug to take her to the next place before saying goodbye to the superheroine.

Also, despite Ladybug's reassurances, Zoe was afraid Marinette wouldn't understand. She had set up this whole hunt for her, which was so considerate. And now Zoe was being ungrateful. She complained about touring Paris with a famous superhero! She worried she was turning into Chloe. Unappreciative and disrespectful.

Taking a deep breath, Zoe stepped off the bus and into the Place de Concorde.

"Zoe!" Immediately, someone called her name. She turned her head to see who it was just as Marinette crashed into her, wrapping her up in a big hug.

"Woah, Marinette," Zoe said reluctantly, though she wrapped her arms around her friend.

"I am so sorry," Marinette cried. "I shouldn't have left you by yourself, that was so rude of me. All I wanted was for you to have a good time, and I should have been there with you to make sure you were happy."

Marinette stepped back to look Zoe in the eyes. Zoe saw she really was sorry, if her pouting lip and teary eyes were anything to go by.

"Hey, it's alright," Zoe said. "I did have a good time. I can't believe you actually got Ladybug to come. I mean, I knew you were persuasive, Marinette, but that is incredible."

Marinette started to laugh, then shook her head firmly. "No, it's not okay. You were probably really scared without me."

"I was fine," Zoe said. "Of course I wanted you there, but I wanted you there because I like you." She flushed as she said the words. She didn't necessarily mean them in a romantic way, but she wouldn't be against Marinette interpreting them like that.

"I like you too," Marinette said, her cheeks a little pink. She linked her arm with Zoe's. "Now, let me show you the Place de Concorde!" They started walking through the square, passing several tourists as they did so. Zoe couldn't help but feel like on herself as Marinette showed her around, everything was so new to her.

"It's very beautiful," Zoe said. "Does it have any historical significance?"

"You could say that," Marinette said, laughing. "Marie Antoinette was actually beheaded here."

"Oh, wow," Zoe said. Her eyes widened as she looked around, as if she could actually witness that moment of the French Revolution.

"There's a lot to see here, since it's so big, but I figured you might enjoy seeing a little bit of it."

Zoe smiled. Marinette was so thoughtful. That was one of the things that made Zoe so infatuated with her.

"I'm happy just walking around with you," Zoe said. Feeling quite bold, she reached for Marinette's hand and interlaced their fingers. They were cold to Zoe's warmth, and she loved the thrill that raced up her arm from touching them.

Marinette flushed. "That sounds like something I can get behind."

They walked around the big fountain for a while before Marinette turned to her curiously.

"So, how did you like Ladybug?"

Zoe blinked. It wasn't a question she had expected, and she felt a little embarrassed to be caught off guard. She really liked Ladybug. If Marinette wasn't around, she might even say she had a bit of a crush on her. But Marinette was right here, and oh so real. Zoe would choose her everytime.