My Muse // Life Swap AU // A Kagaminette Story

~🌸 Chapter Eight 🌸~

AN - I accidentally published chapter eight first, but chapter seven is also up. Please read that first!

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Kagami smoothed down her jeans, seated outside the café and waiting patiently for her friend. She tapped at the table, admiring the scenery and the layout of the venue. Ivy was grown strategically up the side of the two-storey building, with arched red windows and a door to match scattered over it's face. Poles connected a shaded area, which had fairy lights and assorted potted flowers dangling from it. It was quiet and calm, unlike a certain bluenette who was rushing to get there on time.

Marinette lost a fair chunk of time to her little meltdown, and was running late. 'Maybe mother was onto something when she set all those ridiculous alarms...' She shook the thought from her head, skidding to a halt before she turned the corner. She took the moment to relax herself, looking down at Longg for support. He gave her a reassuring nod from her pocket, and she walked over to Kagami.

"Sorry I'm late, I had to take some extra security measures so that mother doesn't find out I left."

"Who even is your mum, the FBI?" They both laughed, settling into eachother's company.

"So, how're you finding school?"

"It's pretty cool, I'm actually socialising for once in my life. My folks are ecstatic that I have friends, now."

"I think it's great that you're getting along well with the class. Chloe hasn't given you any more trouble, has she?"

"Nah, and she couldn't touch me even if she tried. One of the positives of spending so much time alone is that I've accepted pretty much all of my faults." Kagami thought back to what the black-clad kitty cat had said about Mari, but brushed it off. 'That girl clearly doesn't know Marinette well at all.'

"Alright, but if she pulls anything with you, let me know." Mari spoke, unable to break the other's slight daze. She just stared over at Marinette, taking in all her features under the soft light. Her wide eyes, immaculate brows, her perfectly curled lashes. The faint freckled that dotted her nose, which was perfect and round, just like the rest of her face.

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'Why is she staring at me? Was it something I said? Maybe offering help made it seem like I think she can't handle herself! What if-'

Marinette was getting increasingly more stressed under Kagami's gaze, worried by how intensely focused she was. Kagami had a stare that could cut through lead, which Mari witnessed when Chloe received that chewing-out on Monday.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a hand on hers, looking down to find that Kagami was holding it, interlacing their fingers. She had a goofy, genuine smile on her face.

"Calm down, Mari! I can practically feel your brain going into overdrive. As cute as you are when you're nervous, I don't want you to be all stressed out."

"Sorry, you were just... staring..." Marinette mumbled out, looking away to hide the blush spreading across her face. Lots of people told Mari she was cute, but no-one had ever said it so casually, like it was simply factual.

"You don't need to apologise, I'm sorry for staring. Your perfect face is kinda hard not to look at, y'know." Kagami said exactly what she was thinking, for once, and immediately cringed. 'Jesus Christ, I had no idea compliments could come out so cheesy by accident...'

Mari was trying her hardest to form a comprehensible set of words, effectively unable to respond from sheer flusteredness. She was saved from trying to decipher whether or not that was Kagami trying to flirt with her, by a loud rumble from somewhere close by. Cracks appeared along the ground beside her, and she jumped up out of her chair, her hand still wrapped in the taller girl's. She sprinted off, pulling Kagami behind her, and found an alleyway a safe distance away to hide in. Marinette went to transform, but stopped just before she let the phrase leave her mouth. Instead, she fabricated an excuse to sneak off.