Future Tales of the Miraculous

Chapter 7

The party had proceeded as planned; Alya's family members and close friends shared gifts, cake, drinks, and laughter with the newly minted 18 year old.  For most of the evening, Adrien and Marinette stayed busy socializing with other guests, relegated to exchanging brief glances at each other from afar. Adrien, who was initially lounging next to Nino before he was stolen away by the birthday girl, found himself continuously occupied and conversing with new female faces that night. He politely entertained the flirtatious women, but regularly scanned the room to keep track of his indigo haired princess.

Marinette would be lying to herself if she said watching Adrien schmooze with all the girls hovering around him didn't sting. She tried to swallow down the envy bubbling up in her. Why did this bother her so much? Of course women would flock to him; Adrien was not only a good person with an amazing persona, but he was also heart-stoppingly handsome. On top of this, it wasn't like she'd lay claim to him.  If anything she was the one asking for more time to decide about their future after he'd confessed romantic feelings to her.

While sharing a good laugh with an attractive blonde and her two friends, Adrien glimpsed up to find that Marinette was no longer in the room. After waiting a few minutes for her return, Adrien excused himself to find her at the bar, ordering a round of drinks.  He also found a young brown haired man, probably emboldened by alcohol and his group of male friends on the other end of the bar, not so inconspicuously approaching her as well.

Marinette took slight notice of his closing proximity and slid a little further away.  Thankfully, the bartender was about to finish with her drink order.  She flinched when a heavy, clammy hand touched her forearm.  The man slurred a greeting and invitation for Marinette to join him at the other side of the bar.  She politely declined, pulling out a 20 euro bill from her small clasp in exchange for her drinks. 

The man seemed persistent, keeping his hold on her forearm and leaning in closer to try making a convincing appeal to Marinette.  The unimpressed girl sighed, forcefully removing his hand by suddenly grasping his and twisting it back to almost touch his forearm. He lurched back in agony, leaving her free to collect her drinks.  When she returned to her group, she spied Adrien now alone, standing on a small balcony extending from the side of the hallway.  She felt she owed him some gratitude for his help with Nathaniel and for saving her life in the crosswalk. The weight of guilt for keeping him waiting for her answer about their feelings for each other felt heavy too; she needed to make up her mind now.

"Is everything alright?"

Adrien eyed the cocktail in Marinette's extended hand.

"Why thank you, Mi'lady," he said with a wink, reaching for the glass.

Suddenly, Marinette was jerked forward and found herself right in front of a mischievously grinning Adrien, trapped between him and the balcony he was leaning over.

"And I'm much better now, princess," he purred into her ear, sending a chill up her spine.

"I thought I was going to have to save you again at the bar.  You are proving too enticing to be left alone."

The blonde lightly chuckled as the familiar scorch flared across her cheeks, which was probably made more severe by her slightly inebriated state.

"No fair, kitty.  I do recall a few times over the years that I've saved you from certain danger?" the blushing girl teased back, softly giggling and gently flicking her finger under his chin.

She watched his green eyes brighten in welcomed surprise to her flirting back. Then they flickered down to her lips, and like before, his expression changed into an enigmatic one, if only for a moment. But what she did understand was him slowly biting his own lip when watching her.

"You know," she added in a chiding tone, "I can handle myself. I don't always need a certain prince coming to my rescue all the time. But thank you for having my back nonetheless."

Adrien shrugged, releasing her from his hold so that she could join his side along the balcony. He bent over and gave her an unexpected kiss on the forehead.

"I know you are fully capable of handling anything that comes your way.  It's part of what makes you amazing, Mari. But don't forget that I'm here for you to depend on, whenever you need. As Adrien or as Chat Noir. I have been and always will be, regardless of what happens."

Mesmerized by his sincere words, Marinette watched him gaze out at the starry night above. Her heart was beating in her ears, pouring over with a sense of longing for the boy beside her. The rekindled flame of hope was now a healthy, roaring furnace in her core.

And in that moment, she allowed realization and clarity to settle in. Deep down she knew what her feelings were trying to tell her along. But she didn't realize three whispered words had escaped her lips until Adrien's wide emerald eyes snapped back onto hers.

"I love you, too, Mari."

Tikki and Plagg looked on as their holders shared a long, deep kiss.

"Not bad, it only took them 4 years.  That is quicker than some of their predecessors," Plagg noted.

"Well, I hope they have a long time to cherish it," Tikki prayed. "It never turns out that way, but maybe this time will be different."