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12) Waiting Game

- The Past -
Adrien's (older) POV

The next day was Monday, and unfortunately that meant my wife and younger self were going to school.

"Ready for a day out on the town m'mini-lady?" Of course, given the fact that 15 year old Marinette still appeared to be 23, school wasn't currently an option for her. We had a room at the Grand Paris, though we spent most of our time at the bakery.

"Yup!" She chirped as she joined me in the hall. "But... um... what exactly are we going to do?"

"I... have no idea! We'll make it up as we go." I decided.

This was Marinette's life. Being in the future must've felt like a vacation, but ultimately this was her home. The difference: no one would recognize her now. Her life could never go back to normal until we caught the akuma. Therefore our relationship would be thrown off track and then the rest of our futures.

No. I didn't want to think about that right now. We would find Tok, we would fix this all, we just needed to be patient. Time was his specialty, after all.

"Would you like to stop by Andrés, m'lady?"

"Sure!" She grinned as she began to check her phone, looking for clues to where he might be hiding.

After almost an hour of walking through town, we eventually found the cart.

"Aw, a couple of lovebirds. What can I get for you today?" I shrugged as Mari did the same, waiting for him to present our options. "Oh! I know! Mint on the bottom and blackberry on top, opposites can attract and they cannot be stopped!"

I chuckled at the little verse, remembering a very similar one over eight years ago. Apparently Mari recognized the familiar combo too, her shock turning into a soft smile as she reached out for the cone.

"Have I... met you two before? You remind me of a young couple around town, one that I'm waiting to see get together. They have the exact same flavors as you, I can guarantee they're meant for each other much like the two of you."

"Well, actually... we have been here before. It's been almost a decade, but I remember getting this exact combination and then looking into her eyes, knowing that we were made for each other." I cheekily grinned.

"Oh! Well this is splendid news! I must take your picture," he decided, gesturing towards the photos of couples on his cart that had found their way together. "Smile!"

I pulled Mari in tight as we grinned for the camera, watching the Polaroid print out as he hooked it alongside the others.

"Wonderful! Love can do amazing things to a person, as I'm sure you have discovered. Take care Mlle Dupain-Cheng! M Agreste!"

We froze as he used our names, unsure how he knew considering that we should be teenagers in this time.

"Shh." He whispered, pressing a finger to his mouth. "I won't tell. I don't know just how this happened, but I never forget a face. Take care you two!"

We waved back, both in shock, as he began to move his cart to a new location, unsure how he figured us out.

"He... how?!" Mari stuttered.

"Unsure. I guess ice cream really is magical."

"Well his, at least. Let's not question it." I chuckled as we took a seat together over the Seine, watching the water glisten under the morning sky.

"So, how did your reunion go? You know, with my future self?"

"Purr-fectly," I grinned as she began to cringe, "it felt amazing having her back in my arms, even if she did look almost a decade younger. How about you and mini me?"