You're home. [Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction] (Completed)

Chapter 29 - One step closer.

"Thank you so much, sir." Adrien smiled widely as he shook the hand of the gentleman selling him the building.
"No problem, kid! Treat her well now." The old man, who simply couldn't afford to take care of the what was once a print house, looked over at the building one last time. He handed Adrien the paperwork regarding the bills and other important documents to keep track of now that he owned the building.

"I will, sir!" Adrien called to the man as he climbed into his car, and drove off, honking twice. Adrien watched the car roll out of sight and then looked up at the brick and mortar structure. It was almost move in ready, with all the pipe systems renewed and bathrooms renovated, the floors replaced as well. All that needed to be done was to paint over the red brick with white on the inside, and a light grey that was required on the outside. The city forced him to paint it the same as all the other buildings on the block, which connected to the old print house; separated by walls.

Adrien called his friends, Alya and Nino and told them the good news. They agreed to meet him there right away. He also called in the painters to get started. Adrien wanted this done as soon as possible.

Adrien was as careful as possible not to get paint on himself. Marinette would grow suspicious if he did. It took a couple hours but the bricks on the inside were painted, and looked amazing. They would leave it to dry overnight, as well as the gray paint on the outside. Adrien payed the painters and then locked up the building. He had a couple more errands to run before returning to Marinette, who was spending her day working. He imagined her now, surrounded by sewing materials and scraps of fabric, boxes and packing tape all around her as well.

Adrien chuckled to himself. Once he completed his errands he'd pick her up a coffee. She was probably exhausted.

Adrien hurried along collecting the last of the things he needed; colored tule cloth and fairy lights. Nino and Alya met up with him, explaining that they got the flowers and were ready. Adrien smiled brightly and thanked his friends.
"Can you hide these as your place?" He asked, standing outside the craft store with the couple.

"Of course, dude! Anything else?" Nino asked, taking the materials away from Adrien.

Adrien shook his head. "No, I can take care of everything else. But if you can start setting up around 10 am that would be perfect." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Gotcha. We'll be there!" Nino smiled, taking the spare key from Adrien as well.
"Thanks guys, I'll see you tomorrow."

~

Adrien waited for his order of two lattes, one light for Marinette and other dark for him.
"Adrien..!" A familiar voice called out to him.
"L-Lila?" He asked, watching as the figured young woman walked over to him with a smirk.

"Long time no see, Agreste." She smiled. Adrien sighed.
"What do you want, Lila..?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Lila faked a hurt expression. "What? I can't catch up with an old friend?" She popped a hip.

Adrien sighed. "Lila, we both know-"
"Adrien, I'm here because I helped you once. Now its your turn to help me." She got straight to the point. Adrien furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he took the two lattes off the counter.

"What do you mean?" He asked cautiously. Lila shrugged. "My ex has a new girlfriend. The new bitch thinks she is all that because she is famous and is dating a rising artist." She said nonchalantly.

Adrien narrowed his eyes, but Lila continued.
"I need a scoop. You and I both know exactly how big it would be if certain identities were compri-"
"No way. Forget it." He said sternly. Lila wasn't one to take "no" easily, however. She followed him outside.

"Don't you forget that when Ladybug left you were the one that came to me."

"And I won't forget that. It was the biggest mistake of my life." He spat and began walking away.

The day Ladybug announced she had to leave, Adrien was an emotional wreck. Lila was the only one there to talk to him. He would've visited Marinette as Chat Noir, but when he got to her house she was packing things into boxes, sobbing. He didn't want to make things worse for her, and he certainly couldn't comfort his friend in such state. So he went to Lila as Adrien.

He made the mistake of telling Lila everything. His identity as Chat Noir, how he felt about Ladybug, everything. Now he regretted it.

Adrien hurried back to Marinette, forcing the negative thoughts out of his head. Marinette's secret would never get out. Not like his. He'd protect Marinette because her life depended on it. Lila may be a master manipulator, but he knew better than to stoop as low to let her get under his skin.

"My lady, I'm home." He called, carrying the coffee over to the bluenette. She was carefully folding clothing and setting them neatly into plastic packages and then stacked them into the boxes. She looked over her shoulder and smiled brightly.
"Welcome home, Adrien." She said happily. Her eyes turned down to the coffee in his hand.

Adrien chuckled and brought the drink over to Marinette, who eagerly took it from him.
"Don't overwork yourself, princess." He ruffled the top of her hair. She took a sip from the cup and sighed in relief.

"I know... I'm trying not to, and thank you." She leaned close to him when he sat next to her.
"Your welcome, princess." He smiled, taking a sip of his own drink. "How are you managing with all this?" He asked. Plastic cover slips for the clothes were strewn about, packing paper and everything in-between looked like they could bury her.

"It's a lot... but I'm managing." She said, taking another sip of coffee. She set her cup down. "Can you hand me that label machine?" She asked. Adrien grabbed the label maker and handed it to her. She began printing her logos out, sticking them to letters and boxes. Adrien sighed. "There is no way I'm letting you do this all on your own. What do you want me to do?" He asked, setting his cup down as well. It was only then he noticed the black circles under Marinette's eyes. He felt bad. She had been probably working non-stop all day.

"Can you fold those blouses and pack them up?" She asked, pointing to neat stacks of separate people's orders/commissions.
"Of course." He crawled over to the rows of piles.

Together they folded, packed, printed and taped boxes up, ready to be shipped out. Adrien couldn't wait for the day Marinette could move her business into the building he purchased.

Ah well... that was for next days events that were sure to come.

~

I bROUGHT MY SEXY FOX LADY BACK INTO THE STORY WHOOOOO. And don't fret~ she'll be back again~ hewhewhew.
(You author-chan absolutely lOVES Lila/Lila as Volpina so adding her to the story really makes me happy.)
Im sorry this is a short one again, I'm working on it you guys!

This made me smile, tbh. Im glad I can keep you all on the edge of your seas! Just so you know, you'll want to be on guards soon~ shit about to go down 👀.
🐞 out.