Reunited (A Miraculous Ladybug Romance)

An Unexpected Surprise

I recently rewrote the ending of the previous chapter. Make sure you have read the latest version. 1/6/18

     "Plagg, I am such an idiot," I groaned as I stared blankly at the vast empty ceiling of my room. "Why did I act that way around Marinette? Why couldn't I control myself just a little bit?"
     Plagg rolled over on my pillow and his stomach rumbled. "It's too early for this kind of talk, Adrien," he complained. "In fact, it's never a good time for this kind of talk." The little Kwami flew over and thudded onto my chest. Even without eating today, he still reeked of his favorite indulgence. "Look, kid. You're a complete fool whenever your around a girl you like. That's never going to change. Either she will like you for it or she won't. Don't change yourself just to impress a girl. Just be yourself, and if being yourself means you act like the idiot you were as Chat Noir then so be it."
      "Thanks Plagg, I think."
      He was right. I shouldn't be ashamed of myself for being true to who I am. Marinette had impressed me so much that evening, that I just could not hide that from her. She seemed to think that was okay. At least that's what she said. She definitely took my advance better than Ladybug ever would have.
     A loud ringing from my cell phone caused me to nearly jump out of my bed. I answered it quickly to stop the incessant noise.
     "Bro," Nino greeted me, "I need your help."
     "Okay, buddy, what do you need?" I was happy for the interruption and something to take my mind off of Marinette.
     "I need to you to talk to Marinette for me." So much for not thinking about Marinette.
     "Uh..... okay. Why?"
     "She is Alya's best friend," Nino stated eagerly. "I need to know how to make a perfect proposal. Everything I think of is too lame. Marinette will know what I should do."
     Nino was right. Marinette would know what to do. But how was I supposed to talk to her about something like this? Asking a girl that I am interested in about marriage proposals did not sound like my idea of fun.
     "Why do you need me to talk to her? Can't you just do it yourself?" I asked hopeful that he would change his mind.
     "You eat lunch with her like every day. You have a reason to be talking to her. Besides, I feel like I would get too nervous. I'm sweating just thinking about it right now."
     Nino was my best friend. How could I not do this for him? Even if it might be incredibly awkward for me, I would just have to suck it up for Nino.
     "Sure thing," I replied not as confidently as I would have liked. "You can count on me."

"Hmm," Marinette sighed, "This doesn't seem right."
     During lunch, I had asked her where she thought Nino should propose. We agreed to meet after work and check some places out. We were currently standing on the Lovelock bridge, one of the most romantic places in Paris. The evening sun glistened off each of the locks reflecting their brilliance within the depths of Marinette's eyes. I couldn't help but to think about Marinette's eyes as she placed a lock on this very bridge with her own lover one day, which I secretly hoped would be me. (A/N I know that in real life the locks are being removed from the bridge. However, this is a predominate place in the cartoon, so I will go on as if nothing has changed)
     "This place is just too cliche for Alya," she continued. "We need to find somewhere that is special to her."
     "Of course," I grinned, "maybe we will have some better lock at the next place."
     Marinette giggled, "Again with the puns? Are these going to be a common reoccurrence with you?"
     "Only of the key fits my little lady," I smirked.
     "I'll take that as a yes," Marinette huffed. "This is going to take some getting used to. You're not quite the Adrien I remember."
     "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, my feelings a little hurt.
     "Well," Marinette said as closed the gap between us and peered up at me. "Seeing as how I would have never dared do anything like this..." she grabbed both of my hands and intertwined her fingers within mine sending a wave of electricity through my body, "I think that it's a good thing. As you become more comfortable with me, I can become more comfortable with you."
     My heart felt as if it were about to explode out of my chest. Everything within my being yearned to draw closer to this beautiful girl in front of me. I gently slipped my hands out of her grasp and wrapped one of my arms around her waist pulling her flush against my body. I used my other hand to gently brush back her loose hair behind her ear.
     "I could get used to that," I hummed.
     Marinette's face turned beat red, but she didn't say anything. She didn't even flinch or act embarrassed like I thought she would. Instead, she boldly stared deeply within my eyes not even daring to blink. She didn't look surprised or even annoyed. It was a look that I had never seen before and I couldn't quite place it. I'd like to think that it was a reflection of my own gaze that I was seeing because I knew that my own stemmed from a place of curiosity and pure wonder at the person that I was beholding.
     After an eternity, Marinette reached her hand up to scratch my hair. "Okay, silly. We should go to our next stop." I begrudgingly released my hold on her waist, but laced my fingers in her hand once again.
     "Where to next?"