A Perfect Match for Adrien Agreste

Fencing

"Okay girls, we need everyone to line up here in the entry way, Adrien is going to be making his way down the stairs shortly for the rose ceremony. Marinette, you can sit here to the side, since he gave you a first impression rose yesterday, you are safe until next time," Cynthia, told her, having her sit on the bench of the white baby grand piano to the left of the other girls.

"Action," was shouted from the far corner as Adrien came into view at the top of the stairs.

Making his way down the wide marble staircase, the blonde's tailored suit fell on him perfectly, making every girl watching him swoon. The smile on his face widened when he looked to the side seeing Marinette, there was a glint in his eye that suddenly felt familiar to her, making her brow crease, but she shook it off as he looked back to the rest of the girls.

"Good morning, ladies!" Adrien called out grabbing his jacket collar and straightening it, then winking.

"I hope you all slept well because today is going to be On Point! But first we must sadly say goodbye to one of you." He pulled a rose from the container behind him, "Juleka, will you accept this rose?" he asked, a mumble and nod were her reply as she grabbed the rose, moving back to her spot in the semi-circle in front of Adrien.

Next, he named of the other girls, all accepting his rose, without hesitation, Kagami, Rose, Alix, Lila, Stephanie, Tara, and Fei.

"Samantha, I am sorry, but I felt that our connection was lacking, I'm sorry, it was nice to meet you though," Adrien took her hand, bowing and kissing it. Then turned back to the girls with roses, as Marinette made her way over to join them.

"Alright girls, because of the Akuma last night, we missed out on the rose ceremony so, we will be having another one later tonight and one more of you will unfortunately be heading home," he pouted his lips, then brought back his gorgeous smile, "but until then, we are going to have some fun with my favorite sport. Fencing! So, don't let your guard down, because you'll be dueling to win a date Moi, so show me what you got!" He chuckled at his second fencing pun, turning around and leaving the room, without another word.

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Marinette hadn't been to Francois Dupont College in five years, even though she lived right across the street, but here she was standing in a white fencing uniform, awaiting her turn to duel one of the girls for a date with Adrien. Fighting as Ladybug yesterday was difficult, but she had better balance, fighting as Marinette, she just hoped she didn't face plant every time she tried to parry her opponent.

"Tikki, anyway I can get a little luck here, so I don't embarrass myself on tv and in front of Adrien?" she whispered to her Kwami who was patiently waiting, snuggled in Marinette's pigtailed hair.

"Ahhh," Tikki yawned, "I don't know Marinette, you know you shouldn't use Miraculous Magic for personal gain."

"You're right, I'm sorry, Tikki."

"Who are you talking to, Princess?" Adrien came up behind Marinette, causing her to nearly hit him with her helmet as her arms flew upward.

"Woah, careful there, didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to check in and see if you have any experience fighting," he paused, watching her face, "you know since you are up next." He whispered in her ear, making her shiver.

Shaking her head, no, Marinette moved toward where she would have her first bout.

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Stepping onto the mat and gripping her foil Marinette lowered her face mask readying herself for the match. She was up again Rose first. As the judge started the match, Marinette shouted, "En Garde, Allez," and lunged forward, Rose not moving as the foil touched her, touché the judge called.

"I give up!" Rose threw off the helmet, I'm not a fighter, I love everyone and everything, please don't make me do this," she dropped the foil and ran to the locker room crying, Juleka following after her.

"Well, that was odd," Marinette said out loud, feeling Tikki nodding in agreement in her hair.

By the time Marinette was ready to fight again, she was once more automatically advanced, the other girl having gotten sick and unable to continue. Leaving her to fight in the championship round, against Kagami.

"Our two-finalist are, Kagami Tsurugi, Japanese National Fencing Champion and Marinette Dupain-Cheng," the referee said as Marinette gulped looking around at all the other girls. "You can do it Marinette, you are Ladybug," she heard the little red god in her hair cheering her on.

"Okay, Tikki, I'll do my best."

Marinette moved to the center of the hall to the awaiting fencing mat as a fencer in a bright red fencing uniform advanced upon her, standing on the other side, moving into her fighting stance. Marinette, looked over to Adrien, who gave her a thumbs up, then looked back at Kagami, the red suit looked incredibly similar to the one the fencer she had fought the day before had worn. Pushing the thought from her head, Marinette, moved into position, the next sound she heard was Allez, then the foil pushing into her suit.

"Touché, point to Kagami Tsurugi. Reset."

A chuckle was heard from under the red mask, as she moved back into her starting position, this time Marinette would be ready.

"En Garde."

"Allez."

Marinette parried the first attack, then moved to riposte, spinning into a guard and recovery. Kagami immediately moved into a flunge, being angered by Marinette's defensive ability, leading to engagement of their foils, continuing the engagement with multiple blows until Marinette backflipped, into a lunge, catching Kagami off guard, yelling touché as her foil hit the center of Kagami's chest.

"Touch, point, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Reset."

Marinette could hear the growl coming from Kagami's mask, as the points continued back and forth until the last point that would decide the bout.

Kagami began by initiating a point-in-line, attempting to intimidate Marinette into submission, waiting what seemed like hours to Marinette, before moving to beat, then feint to the right, as Marinette attempted to dodge by falling to the floor, engaging their foils as Kagami stood over her. Marinette kicked up pushing Kagami away. The referee shouting to stop the bout when Adrien pulled him aside, asking him to let them continue.

Using her momentum Marinette flung herself to stand, lunging into her next attack, as Kagami regained her bearings and parried, then counter-attacked, pushing Marinette back. As she moved backward, she tripped, attempting to rebalance causing her foil to swing wildly. Kagami stood unsure what to do about the scene in front of her, when Marinette's hand came down, hitting Kagami's and disarming her, then falling straight into her with the foil landing in the center of her chest, giving Marinette the point and the bout.

Without a word, Kagami threw off her helmet, looked angrily at Adrien then Marinette and stomped from the hall into the locker room. Adrien, coming over to Marinette to help her stand. "You okay there, Mari?" he asked a light chuckle escaping his lips.

Looking down with her cheeks blazing red, she nodded, then she felt his finger pressing under her chin to lift her eyes to him. "I've been fencing for about ten years now and I've never seen a bout end quite like that," he finally let the laugh out, "that was quite an impression Marinette, even with the clumsy ending," he said grabbing her hand to pull her up but leaving his finger under her chin. "I guess we are going out tonight, huh, Princess," he whispered to her, as he leaned in his lips touching hers in a sweet, kiss. "A winner always deserves a kiss," he winked, walking away from her, "see ya later Mari." His hand up I the air as he walked away from the frozen raven-haired, part-time superhero.

Touching her lips she said, "see you tonight, my prince."