How to Adult
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Author's Note:
Hello, my dear readers! ~
This is my first FanFiction on this account. I might be a little rusty, since it has been a while since I last wrote a story here on FanFiction. Therefore, I'd like to apologize in advance for any grammar mistake that I might make. Keep in mind that English is not my native language. Also, I apologize for any out-of-characterness that might be shown. Don't be afraid to leave a review. Enjoy the story! ~
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Warnings: OOC-ness, AU, adult language/swearing
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.
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Chapter One: It feels like yesterday
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Marinette's P.O.V.
''Marinette!'' A distant voice sounded. I slowly awoke from my peaceful slumber and let out a soft groan. ''Not now, Tikki.''
The tiny red kwami puffed up her cheeks and flew in front of my face. ''Marinette, if you don't hurry, you're going to be late. Again.''
Upon hearing that comment, I finally let my eyes dart to my alarm clock, only to see the red-led numbers indicate it was 8 o'clock in the morning. I closed my eyes again. ''Relax, Tikki, it's only 8 o'clock.'' Then, the realization started to dawn on me. Wait… 8 o'clock…
With a yelp, I sat up straight in my bed and kicked the covers off of me. ''Tikki! Why didn't you wake me sooner!'' I shot a half tired, half annoyed look at my kwami, rushing over to my closet to get dressed for the day.
''I tried to wake you sooner, but you refused to get up.'' Tikki sighed, making it sound like this wasn't the first time this happened. And let's be real. It wasn't. I mentally slapped myself, as I hastily coordinated an outfit in my head and pulled out the necessary pieces of clothing from my closet.
''I am so gonna be late. Why did I stay up so late, last night?'' I groaned, annoyed at my own actions.
''Maybe because a certain someone finally came back from America to Paris?'' Tikki suggested, a smile playing on her lips.
''Shut up, Tikki.'' I replied, a red blush creeping up my cheeks. It was true. My middle-school crush, Adrien Agreste, had finally returned from America, where he walked in famous fashion shows as a model, now having gained some more international fame. I'd lie if I said I hadn't been keeping tabs on his adventures there, but then again, the internet only gave me a limited supply of information. It had been 5 years since I had last seen him. After middle school, his father, Gabriel Agreste, an amazing and well-known fashion designer send him off to American High School, while putting more pressure on his modeling career.
At least, that was the last story Adrien told me, before he left for America. I haven't spoken him since then. I figured I had gotten over him by now, since we now lived our own lives far apart from each other. But I'd lie if I said I wasn't excited when I heard the news of his return. I wonder if he has changed a lot… I snapped out of my thoughts and focused at the day ahead of me.
''Tikki, remind me of my schedule again?'' I asked Tikki, after I put on the final piece of clothing of my outfit, now running over to my vanity on the other side of the room to do a desperate attempt to fix my hair and apply some make-up. My red kwami sighed.
''Seriously, Marinette? After all these years, you still need me for that?'' The kwami flew up to my vanity and plopped down next to my basket full of make-up brushes, giving me a smile, shaking her little head. ''Alright. You first have to pick up Alya and Nino from the airport and drop them off at their apartment. Then, you have lunch with the head of your design team, to discuss the upcoming fall line and then you have to go to your workspace and finish that formal dress miss Beauchêne has ordered. She needs it for her formal party, this weekend.''
I shot Tikki an apologetic smile. ''Thanks, Tikki. What would I do without you.''
Tikki giggled. ''Obviously sleeping in and running late for everything.'' Her tiny voice then grew a little softer. ''Now that you don't need me for transformations anymore, it is the only thing I can do for you.''
Upon that comment, I lowered my hands in my lap and stared off into the distance. ''Paris doesn't need Ladybug and Chat Noir anymore. I guess, Paris grew up, too.'' I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding and focused back on my reflection in the mirror. ''Still, it feels like yesterday when me and Chat were up and about, saving Paris from Akumatized victims and restoring peace.'' A sad smile played on my lips. Upon thinking about the black cat, nostalgic feelings hit me, and a pang of hurt shot through my heart. ''In the end, I never found out who Chat Noir really was. Not that I think it was necessary to know. But I still can't help my curiosity. I wonder what he is up to, these days.''
Tikki let out a small smile. ''I'm sure he is doing well, Marinette.''
I gave Tikki a small nod, and then, my eyes fell on my alarm clock again. ''Crap, I really have to go!'' I jumped up from my vanity and grabbed my shoulder bag, doing a quick check if I had everything I needed. ''Car keys, sketchbook, pencil case, phone, charger, kwami holder, perfume, wallet. Okay, I think I'm good to go.''
I grabbed my coat from the coat hanger plastered on the wall, next to my front door. Now that I was 20 years old and slowly climbing my way up in the fashion designing world, my income provided me with just enough money to rent a small apartment on the outskirts of Paris. It was one big room with the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom all combined in one big space, having only a separate door for the bathroom, but it worked out for me and I felt I was quite lucky to have found such a place. It even had a balcony, something that I was extremely happy about.
''Come on, Tikki.'' I smiled at my Kwami, as she flew in my shoulder bag, and I closed the front door behind me.
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''Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you have some serious explaining to do.'' Alya grinned at me, as I greeted her in the arrival hall of the airport. She embraced me in a hug and then held me on a short distance, her hands placed on my shoulders.
''What? What is it?'' I replied, not sure what she was going on about.
''Don't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about.'' Alya grinned. ''You and I both know very well that Adrien Agreste is back in Paris since yesterday. Why haven't I heard from you and why aren't we scheming plans yet to get you two to hang out?''
I rolled my eyes by her statements. ''Alya, come on. We're all 20 now. I think we all have moved on.''
Alya raised her eyebrows and she didn't seem to buy it. ''If you truly have moved on, then why haven't you tried to date other guys in the last 5 years? You're not gonna tell me you aren't interested in him anymore, right? I know you did some snooping on the internet.''
My face instantly flushed and I turned my head away, waving my hand in the process to dismiss the thought. ''Pfft, what? No!'' Alya kept her gaze on me and an awkward silence followed, until I eventually gave in. ''…Okay, and so what if I have?''
Alya's grin grew wider. ''Aha, I knew it. So, what are you going to do from now on?''
In the meantime, Nino, our middle-school classmate and now Alya's long-time boyfriend, had joined us and his eyes rolled upon hearing we were talking about his former best friend. ''I see nothing has changed.'' He grinned at me.
I wrapped him in a quick hug. ''Hi, Nino. How was your vacation in Spain?''
''Pretty warm, mostly. But it was awesome.'' He replied.
''Marinette, don't try to dodge the subject. I want details. Are you gonna pursue Adrien or not?'' Alya demanded from me.
I sighed and avoided eye-contact. ''Honestly, Alya? I don't know. It's been so long and I kinda feel like we live our own lives now. I wonder if he even remembers us.''
''Of course he does! We are his friends!'' Alya replied, obviously not having it.
''Anyway, can we drop it, Alya? I really don't feel like talking about it now and besides, I'm on a tight schedule.'' I pleaded.
''Alright, alright.'' Alya sighed, rolling her eyes with a playful smile. ''But this isn't over yet.''
Nino sighed, but smiled afterwards. ''For now, let's go home.''
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After dropping Alya and Nino off at their apartment, I headed towards my work appointment with my design team superior. Our team has been working hard on the upcoming fall fashion line and since I was being monitored to see if I would become her successor, she wanted to speak some details through with me only. I arrived 5 minutes early to my appointment and headed inside the restaurant. From a table at the window, somewhere in the back, my supervisor, Marie Florette, waved me over with a smile. I quickly took a seat at her table and hung my jacket over the back of my chair.
''I'm so glad you could meet me here.'' Marie smiled at me.
''Of course!'' I smiled back, taking out my sketchbook.
The next two hours, we brainstormed over designs and shared our visions and ideas for the upcoming line, while eating a salad in-between. After we finished our work-related stuff, Marie leaned back a bit in her chair and shot me a meaningful glance. ''Marinette, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.''
I gave her a curious glance, leaning a bit forward and showing her she had my full attention. ''What is it?''
''You know I'm leaving the company and team soon, to move to Milan and we both know the chances are extremely high you'll be picked to be the new head designer of the team, and the new supervisor.''
I let out a sigh, giving her a small nod. I hadn't tried to give it much thought, mainly because I didn't want to assume the position would go to me. There was still a chance it would be given to someone else. But I had heard the rumors and couldn't help but wonder if this was actually going to happen.
''Before you take on this role, there's something you need to know.'' The serious expression on her face made me slightly nervous.
''Is there something wrong?'' I asked Marie, wondering if I could help her somehow.
''No, quite the opposite, actually.'' Marie started. ''Our company isn't big. It's just our design team, the big boss and the social staff. Recently, our company has been approached by Gabriel Agreste. He has shown a huge interest in us and has been contemplating taking over the company to add to his own enterprise. The big boss is getting old, almost 60 and feels like it's time for a change for the better. He is planning on taking the offer, meaning we will all work for Gabriel Agreste, in the near upcoming future. You, as new head of the design team, will be given a huge responsibility. I was wondering if you'd still be willing to take the position, now that you know all of this.''
I sat in silence for a while, processing the information that was just given to me. ''Gabriel Agreste… is planning on taking over the company?'' I couldn't believe the story Marie told me as I stared at her in shock.
''It is an amazing opportunity. It is extremely rare for Gabriel Agreste to take over a company that he hasn't started up himself. Everybody is ecstatic and dreams are coming true.'' Marie smiled. ''I just didn't want to leave you in the dark, Mari. I know you can handle it. I have full confidence in you. It's just going to get a lot harder from now on. Are you up for it?''
A smile slowly started spreading over my lips. ''Are you kidding? If this really is going to happen in the near future, then I can't wait to get started!''
Marie let out a giggle. ''That's the Mari I know. The boss will most likely discuss the details with you in one of these upcoming days. But I wanted to give you some sort of heads up.''
''I still can't believe it… Let's make sure this fall line is going to rock, so Gabriel Agreste knows for sure he's making a good choice.''
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That afternoon, I had troubles focusing on my work in my workshop. I was working on the final touches of the dress I had designed and worked out for my client, miss Beauchêne. She was an upcoming actress and being asked to design a dress for her was a huge honor. That's why I wanted to show my best work, since I knew a lot of important people would be at the party she was attending. I think it even got some media coverage... During my final touches on the dress, my mind wandered back to the news Marie had given me. If we started working for Gabriel Agreste, would that mean my chances of seeing Adrien would increase? I shook my head, trying to suppress a smile. Why was I thinking about that? He surely had moved on and wouldn't even recognize me anymore. After all, I had changed a lot in 5 years. I stopped wearing my hair up and started wearing my hear loose, its length now reaching past my mid-back. I had slimmed down and was in a fit shape, due to working out more and eating more healthy, not to mention the curves I had acquired due to aging up. I had certainly grown taller, although I was still considered quite short for a 20-year-old. I tried to forget about Adrien for a moment, focusing on the dress and worked until 7 in the evening to finish it, being finally happy with the result.
''What do you think, Tikki?'' I asked my kwami, who had helped me hold the pins for the dress and kept me company.
''I think it turned out great. She is going to love it!'' The red ladybug kwami smiled at me.
I let my eyes go over the dress. It had a beautiful sharp V-line at the top, making it so that the dress would show a subtle cleavage, followed by a flowing skirt that reached the ankles, made from a beautiful black fabric that shone when the light hit the dress. It had a split on the side, so that the client her legs would come out beautifully and it was by far one of my favorite pieces I had ever made.
''Let's go home, Tikki. miss Beauchêne will come by tomorrow in the workshop to pick it up. I am exhausted.''
The kwami suppressed a yawn herself and flew into my shoulder bag. I left my working space behind and headed to my car, when I saw a limousine drive by, stopping at the end of the sidewalk I was on. I frowned, wondering if it could be miss Beauchêne. ''We agreed on tomorrow, didn't we?'' I asked Tikki, who looked as equally confused, peeking her head above the shoulder bag. It was then that the chauffeur that got out and walked over to the passenger door at the back, made me hold by breath. I knew that bodyguard. And sure enough, a blonde young adult stepped out of the limo and made my heart stop.
''Adrien Agreste…''
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End of Chapter One
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Author Note:
Hii, it's me again! I can't believe I managed to write this much for a first chapter. For a moment, I was scared that writing would be difficult or inspiration wouldn't come, but I somehow managed to write all of this down. A little explanation: In the series, it is mentioned Marinette and Adrien are in 10th grade. In French standards, that would mean they would be in their first year of High School, and in American standards, that would mean they are in their Sophomore year, being 15-16 years old. For my story, I still wanted them to be in middle school, during their time as Ladybug and Chat Noir, since it is mentioned that they are 13-14 years old in the series, which would place them in the second year of middle school, age-wise. I hope it was okay. I still am not sure in what direction I want to take this story, but I do know I already have a lot of fun writing it. Please let me know in the comments what you thought and I will see you in the next chapter! Bye! ~
ShySnowWolf
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