A Masked Game

Level 1: The Statue

Flashback Cutscene: Stop and Stare

Adrien and Ladybug sat on the roof of the mansion, Ladybug once again coming to check on his mother and Nathalie, or at least that was the excuse she was using for this extra time with her boyfriend. Neither of the women were having any long lasting effects from the Miraculous wish. They both seemed fine and Adrien was ecstatic that only four weeks after his mother had returned everything was getting more comfortable. Almost as if this was normality.

"Do you play many video games?" Ladybug asked, even though she already knew the answer. She just wanted to talk to him, all day, everyday about anything. Time spent with Adrien was still precious, still meaningful.

"I'm rather fond of a couple. Why?"

"Oh, I don't know... it's just a thought, but maybe we could play sometime? You know, instead of just sitting and moping around each other." Ladybug commented. Since they'd begun dating it had become more and more competitive during their tournaments, which only made it more and more fun. It was one of her favourite chill times with him.

She saw a smile take over Adrien's face. "That sounds like a plan."

He stretched forwards and into the small picnic basket she'd brought along with her. Rummaging around a little, he finally removed his hand complete with a glass bottle of lemonade. Holding it up in front of him, he gave it a quizzical glare.

"Pink?" he questioned, Ladybug smiling and shrugging.

"Why not? It's a nice colour."

Adrien laughed, shaking his head. "Marinette would love this. She loves lemonade, rosé and pink – so rosé lemonade would be her dream come true."

Ladybug reached forward and lifted her own, unscrewing the top and placing it to her lips.

"I'm sure she would," Ladybug said, reaching into a basket again and finding another one. "Perhaps you should save this one. You can tell Marinette you saw it and thought of her."

"Slightly twisted truth there, Ladybug," Adrien laughed, taking the bottle from her hand and placing it on the other side of him.

Ladybug knew full well she would be receiving that exact bottle when she met up with him, as Marinette, later that evening. There had been so many thoughtful gifts from Adrien over the month they had been dating. Little items where he'd seen something and thought of her. It was so sweet and romantic, and it only made her love him more.

"Not really," she replied, "you did see it and you did think of her. Just because I brought it here with me makes no difference."

"Of course," he laughed. "I went to Turkey at some point last year, and I made sure I brought her back Rosé Turkish Delight. I went everywhere trying to find her the best in the area. Gorilla thought I'd gone insane."

Ladybug smiled. She remembered that Turkish Delight very well. It was delicious, but she hadn't realised he'd gone out of his way to find it especially for her. He'd given some to Alya, Nino and Kagami too. Her heart fluttered at this new revelation. As she floated into her dreamland of herself and Adrien by the sea eating the sweet treat themselves, her bubble was popped by his next question. She turned her head to look at him.

"What about your boyfriend? Do you see things and think of him?" Adrien asked.

"All the time."

He looked over to her and she realised she'd stopped and was just staring at him. Did she do things because they reminded her of him? Yes. It wasn't like Adrien did though with little trinkets and gifts. She didn't buy things, instead she made them. Things like the macarons he was currently eating.