Marinette
"Hurry up with the lights."
Alya called from across the courtyard, and Marinette struggled to wrap them around the handrail faster. She hadn't questioned why she had needed to cover for her, so Marinette assumed she had already guessed that she had gone home with Adrien. They had a small fountain in the center of the area, and several tables and chairs set up on the sides. It was starting to look like prom, she finished the lights, turning and coming face to face with Alya.
"Jesus, don't sneak up on me like that."
She snapped, and Alya grinned, grabbing her hand.
"Come on. We've got an appointment."
"What? Where?"
Alya drug her back through the school, towards the parking lot.
"Alya! Where?"
* * * * *
She slumped down in the chair, eyeing the hairdresser warily.
"Oh relax Marinette, she isn't cutting it. We're just sprucing it up some for tonight."
The hairdresser nodded, and Marinette glanced at her name tag. Beth. Short for Bethany maybe. She sighed, looking over at Alya.
"I was just going to wear it down."
"I know, and it's so beautiful when it's down. But I think you would look gorgeous with some curls. It would really frame your face and make those eyes pop."
She closed her eyes, leaning back against the chair.
"Just curls?"
"Yep."
"Fine."
*Another scene skip im so sorry*
"All done."
Beth chimed, though Marinette could barely see her through the cloud of hairspray that hung over them like fog.
"I can't breathe."
Beth turned on a fan, probably on the lowest setting, letting it dry some of Marinette's hair.
"You look fabulous girl!"
Alya squealed, and turned the chair to face the mirror. She was right. Apparently curls did look good on her. They weren't too big, but they weren't ringlets either. Marinette couldn't help but smile, turning her head side to side. They bounced with her movement, and Alya grinned, squeezing her shoulders.
"I'm so excited."
Marinette wanted to pretend she was, but she wasn't. Tonight was prom, tomorrow was graduation, and Monday... monday she was giving up everything that had defined her. Alya blotted her eyes behind her, and Marinette turned to look at her.
"Why are you crying?"
"You grew up so fast."
Marinette laughed, pulling Alya into a hug. They both did. High school was over, and they were adults.
"So did you."
She whispered, and Alya squeezed her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're my friend Marinette. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Another sharp pain in her heart. She was giving up Alya too. She swallowed past the lump forming in her throat, shaking her head.
"I love you too Alya."
They pulled away, and Marinette handed Alya some cash, who disappeared with the hairdresser to ring them up. Marinette looked into the mirror again, her heart sinking further into the hole she had dug for it. Why did moments like this matter so much, when she knew they would disappear? Why was her heart trying so hard to cling to moments that didn't matter?
"Alright, I'm gonna drop you off at your house to get dressed, then me and the boys will come pick you up."
Alya slid her arm into Marinette's, walking her out the door. As they approached the car, she could feel Alya watching her, so she met her gaze.
"What's going on with you and Adrien?"
"It's complicated."
She answered instantly, because it was the truth. She was quick to answer what she could with honesty, because it seemed those times were growing fewer and farther apart.
"Well. I was right about one thing. You shouldn't give up on true love, and I'm proud of you for not doing that."
Marinette forced a smile, one that pained her to her core. If only she knew.
*Forgive me for this time skip*
She stood in their livingroom, wearing the black ballgown she had designed. It had green swirls coming up from the bottom of the skirt, spreading out like tree branches. On her hip was a small green paw print, to signify who it was made to resemble.
"You look so beautiful!"
Her mother commented, snapping another picture. Marinette struggled to keep her smile in place, practically blind from the flash.
"She's so grown up."
Her father whispered, wiping a stray tear from his eyes. She laughed, shaking her head.
"Don't cry papa, then I'll start crying."
He walked over to her and gave her a bear hug, her mother snapping pictures the entire time.
"It just happened so fast."
He sighed, and she grinned, hugging him back.
"It's been years in the making."
Adrien
"I can't believe your old man got us a limo!"
Alya squealed, looking out of one of the windows. Nino sat next to her, and Adrien could hear the music blasting from the headphones around his shoulders. Alya turned to look at Adrien, pointing at the wrist corsage on the seat next to him.
"Is that for Marinette?"
"Yes. Why? Is something wrong with it?"
He picked it up, looking over the green flowers. It looked fine to him.
"She'll love it. Are you two... how do I put it? A thing?"
He chuckled, feeling heat springing onto his cheeks. That was the first time Alya had ever asked about that.
"It's... complicated."
"That's what she said too. Either way, I hope things work out for yall. If it does, I'll get to tell you all of the missions we went on to get her to confess her feelings for you."
He laughed, because that was something he could picture Alya doing. Nino nodded in agreement, and Adrien sat up a little, looking at him.
"You knew too?"
"I would have told you. But Alya made me swear not to."
The limo stopped, and the chaperone opened the door for them. He stepped out last, looking up at the bakery. He wanted to put everything on hold for a while. Just have a nice night with friends. After all, prom only comes around once. He followed them inside, the bell chiming loudly.
"In here!"
Sabine called, and they made their way to the livingroom, Alya gasping loudly.
"Holy shit Mari."
"Language."
Sabine snapped, and he stepped around Nino, to figure out why she said it. His eyes landed on Marinette, and he completely understood. She was gorgeous. Her hair was down and her dress screamed Chat Noir, his heart suddenly racing.
"Sorry, she looks great. And that dress? Amazing."
Alya practically circled Marinette, looking her up and down. Her cheeks were flaming red, and she looked so unbelievably sexy. He instinctively reached up to loosen his collar, and flinched when Tom looked in his direction. He almost laughed, it would have been an obviously nervous laugh, but luckily Sabine stopped him.
"Everyone together for pictures."
Nino and Alya moved next to Marinette, and he pulled the corsage out of the container, his hands shaking slightly. Why was he so nervous? She held out her hand to him, and he slid it onto her wrist, glancing up into her eyes. Something was different. What was it? Marinette grabbed his arm, pulling him closer for the pictures. They all smiled into the camera, while Sabine snapped photos of several different angles. He wrapped his arm around Marinette's waist, his gaze diverting from the camera to Tom, who looked to be in pain. He was shaking his head, tears in his eyes and a grin on his face.
"I remember all of you when you were just youngings. They grow up so fast Sabine."
The room erupted in laughter, and Adrien wondered if this was how a normal father would react to a child going to prom.
"Okay, we gotta go."
Alya insisted, giving Sabine and Tom a hug, before heading to the limo with Nino. Marinette followed Alya's actions, giving them both hugs before turning to him.
"You coming?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
She walked through the bakery, and he looked at her parents. Sabine grinned, walking up to him and giving him a tight hug.
"We always hoped it would be you."
He felt himself smile, and Tom nodded, extending a hand.
"Ten thirty. Have her home by then."
Adrien shook his hand, looking between the two.
"Of course."
He walked out to the limo, his chest aching. Maybe he would be a part of their family someday. He slid into the seat next to Marinette, looking her over carefully. What was different? Was it just because she changed her hair?
"Let's all take a selfie."
Alya moved over to their seat, Nino sitting with her. They all crowded in, and he felt Marinette brush her hair behind her ear, smiling for the picture. That was when he noticed. Her earrings were silver. Not red. She had taken off her earrings. Alya snapped the picture, and everyone separated, Adrien's eyes locked on Marinette. Why had she taken them off? Was she through with Ladybug? She wouldn't have taken them off just to wear a different pair. His stomach churned violently, and he held his breath, trying to keep from getting sick. She wouldn't have given up Tiki. If their relationship was like his and Plagg's, sure her kwami irritated her, but she loved it. The car stopped, and he looked away from her, trying to come up with an explanation. The door opened, and everyone filed out of the limo, heading for the school.
"Our last official party together guys. Exciting, and sad."
Alya pulled Marinette to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He knew her hand was on the stitches, and he could see Marinette tense.
"Alya be careful."
He mumbled as they gave their tickets to Mr Damocles, and Alya removed her hand.
"Sorry Mari."
"It's fine."
She smiled, but it wasn't fine. None of this was. Where was her miraculous? Was she going to give up Ladybug, because of him? The courtyard was filled with their classmates, dancing, laughing, and talking. But suddenly he didn't want to be there anymore. His best friend was going to abandon him as well as her job.
"Adrien?"
Marinette's voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked over at her.
"Did you want something to drink? Alya and Nino are getting it."
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
He nodded at Alya, who left with Nino. He was going to be sick. Marinette couldn't give up Ladybug. She was perfect for the job. She always knew what to do.
"Adrikins!"
Chloe called, racing up to him with Sabrina hot on her tail. She was wearing a yellow dress that clung to her, with stripes circling around the bottom.
"Chat Noir huh? You're doing the guy justice."
He glanced down at his suit, the only thing that made it Chat Noir was the green pawprint on the tie. Other than that, it was just a black suit.
"Thanks Chloe."
He watched her expression sour once she looked at Marinette, and he sighed.
"Marinette!"
Rose called her, and she glanced at Adrien before she walked off, wearing that smile she had gotten so good at presenting.
"Chloe, do you like seeing me in pain?"
He asked, his gaze slowly leaving Marinette to turn to her.
"What? Of course not Adrikins! Why?"
"I've been friends with you for a long time. But I'm in love with Marinette. When you hurt her, it hurts me.. I won't put up with you being rude to her any longer. If you want to remain friends, then you need to start being nicer. To everyone. Not just her."
Chloe stared at him in shock, her mouth agape. He didn't wait for a response, heading over to where Nino was with the punch. He held it out to him, and he took a small sip, his gaze searching the crowd until he found her again. She was dancing with Alya and Rose, and her smile looked real. He sighed, and Nino clapped a hand over his shoulder.
"Everything okay?"
"Women are complicated."
He admitted, and Nino laughed loudly, nodding in agreement.
"They definitely are."
The song playing ended, and Alya jogged over to them.
"Have you guys voted?"
"What?"
"For prom king and queen."
Adrien made a face, and when he glanced at Nino, he saw he wore the same expression.
"Come on boys. It's part of the experience. Go."
She gently pushed them in the direction of one of the tables, which held a ballot box and several sheets of paper. He scribbled Marinette's name down, dropping the sheet into the box. The song ended, a slow song coming on.
"I gotta find Alya."
Nino groaned, setting off into the crowd. Adrien leaned back against the wall, looking around for Marinette. She was already making her way to him, and he pushed off of the wall to meet her halfway. She smiled softly, and he held out his hand.
"Dance with me?"