Harbored

Cherish

When Adrien awoke, he was startled to find their limbs tangled, to the point of pure embarrassment. His cheeks burned as he attempted to slowly slip away from Marinette's iron grip; all to no avail.

Who knew such pale, dainty arms could muster so much power?

Deciding to raise his white flag and surrender to her succumbing unconscious request, Adrien gave up and went limp. He noticed her long, dark eyelashes as they tickled the apples of her cheeks. Her sweet breath warmed Adrien's face up, increasing his ruddy face.

With no warning sign or heads up, she opened her eyelids, pupils catching just how close they were. Two seconds seemed as if they last millennials.

He sprung up, saying, "Gee, I am sorry, Marinette, I just woke up a little bit ago and..."

"Shhhhh."

Marinette ignored the rational part of her brain yelling at her to push him farther away, as she yanked him closer than before, side by side, chest to chest, nose to nose. She placed a light kiss upon the center of his cheek and tried to fall asleep once more.

Adrien did not understand what it was to function as a normal human being at that point in time. 

Was breathing a thing? What about blinking or swallowing saliva?

"Relax. I cannot sleep to an erratic heartbeat."

Adrien was never one to disobey coherent orders.

***

The sun shone at high noon, illuminating the second, and hopefully last, leg of their journey. Wind rustled the crisp leaves, almost like a natural wind chime, acting as light background music to a deep, tough conversation among two well acquainted peers.

"I am sick to death of you asking to take me out. I just lost someone important to me and I am not in the right headspace yet. I would only drag down your incredibly promising future. Leave. Me. Alone," Marinette stated, continuing her exhausting trek. 

She advanced in front of him, not wanting to look at his sunken, sullen face.

Adrien shrunk within himself. It was true how he had been boldly persistent in his regards and feelings. It was peculiar really, how he was unsure of so much, yet so proactive when it came to pursuing her.

He had a hard time understanding why Marinette was so insecure about dating him. Sure, he comprehended her great loss but, she needed to move on and leave the past in the past.

"I just do not get why-"

For the second time, Adrien brashly tripped on a tree root and hit the ground yet again.

With a heroic slam, his body landed in the midst of a nearby trickling stream, accidentally tackling Marinette along with him. The clumsy act was soaking his core and dampening his unfinished counter argument. Adrien propped his frame up slightly, resting on his elbows, directly above Marinette.

Midnight hair flowed liberatingly amid the water, giving her a look rivaling angels themselves. The height of the river was immaculate, raised enough to her mid brain, but not yet high enough to clog her ears.

Her bright eyes facetted with Adrien's, providing a visual standstill. "You are the only one who can make me unrecognizably happy by the perspectives of Father," Adrien rasped, not able to refrain from observing her entrancing beauty.

Almost like an impulse or rash instinct of some kind, Adrien gradually leant closer to Marinette, exhilarating chills pestering him. Just the sheer idea of getting to relish this tender moment once more was enough to thrill him beyond measure.

"My word, you are slow," Marinette vexed. She agitatedly tangled her fingers in his blonde locks, practically jerking his face into hers. The sheer greediness caused a lubberly clank of their noses, causing great pain to both parties.

"Dammit, Marinette. I went slow for a reason," he rubbed his nasal passage, hoping for relief. "You know I am inexperienced when it comes to properly romancing a girl," Adrien muttered under his breath. Due to proximity, she heard every word and turned quite somber.

"Then let me handle the hard work."

And with that, Marinette heaved Adrien over, pushing his back into the water of the rushing stream. She situated herself flat on top of him, drenched clothing clinging to their frames. This made the moment even more blissful. Marinette thoughtfully bit her bottom lip, fingers outlining the shells of his ears.

Lowering her face, Marinette's mouth finally encased Adrien's, applying heated pressure. She wriggled her lips around his top lip, kissing him with sluggish fervor. Her kiss was passionate, yet lovingly performed. Adrien picked up motions and movements from Marinette, trying very hard to make it just as pleasant for her too, as he captured her bottom lip.

With a loud smack, their lips broke apart. "Relax," Marinette voiced in a husky way. She hungrily dove back in, not being able to stand their synapse. Her hands fingered his sturdy shoulders. Fiery explosions glimmered behind their eyelids, fueling their sweet administrations.   

Adrien's hands came to rest upon her hips, rubbing circles with his thumbs around her lower back. Both bodies were racked with innocent pleasure, simply enjoying each other's lips.

As soon as she tilted her head, Adrien released a satisfied sigh, wanting to forever live in this moment. He never understood just how one person's mouth could be so euphoric when avidly perusing his.

Marinette was the one who pulled away again, frustrating Adrien to no limit. He vocalized his annoyance with a whine, making Marinette giggle. As she gazed down at Adrien, her dark hair attached to his cheeks, clinging from the water.

She could not help herself as she stuck her tongue out from her mouth, licking a languid, swipe across his kiss bruised lips. The notion startled Adrien, his green eyes widening cutely. What amazed Marinette was how his tongue grazed over the salvia still embalming his own lips. 

While his pink tongue was still poked out and savoring, she pecked a quick kiss to it.

The longer Marinette stared at him, the more flustered his face grew. Slightly chilled water from the stream did little to subdue Adrien's incessant blushing.

Eventually, she climbed off of him and offered a hand out to assist him upright. She preened her sloshed coat, smoothing wrinkles with her palm, crafting careful distance between their warm bodies.

He cleared his throat, catching her figure from his peripheral. "Ready?" Adrien quizzed.

"Ready."

Their increasing discomfort steadily grew as they neared their destination. Neither were particularly daring enough to talk about the raw display of passion; the moment seemed to have washed away with the stream. Every so often, Marinette would cough or Adrien would sniffle, as both proceeded with no change of clothing.

"So..." Adrien started, unable to finish as a certain person with high authority caught the two.

"Halt all movement!" One voice surprisingly rang out.

"By the order of the Royal Guard, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste, you are under arrest."