Day 21 : Rain
For the Marieltober in 2023 by @irenea666
warning : aged up, marinette is in her early 20s and gabriel is in his early 40s, fluff, mutual feelings, proffesor/student
Info : This is my first time doing such an event I hope I did everything right. Even though it's not the 21 of October anymore but I hope that is all right.
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An actual warm sunny morning had settled over Paris and lured the city dwellers outside. Warm temperatures, a cloudless sky and warm rays of sunshine were perfect. So Marinette had also thrown herself into an airy dress. A creation of her own in red tones and black embellishments, she had designed it herself over several days. Inspired by her Ladybug outfit, of course.
With her bag over her shoulder and Tikki in it, she had made her way to the Paris University of Fashion.
Not only the university, when it comes to clothes and creating, but also her opportunity to become a fashion designer. But that was not the reason why she put her bright lip gloss on her lips and a little mascara on her eyelashes in the bus. She felt so pretty too, but Friday was always her favourite day when she was with a certain someone. Gabrielle Agreste.
The fashion designer Paris. He had been a kind of substitute professor since the building and always had a helping hand over the works of his students. Which is why she at least wanted to dress up a little. What do you think he'll think of my blouse? she murmured to herself and looked out of the bus window to see the colourful university. ,,He must like it," she heard Tikki's voice from her pocket and the little red and black kwami winked at her encouragingly.
,,You're right, I'll do my best," she replied, smiling gratefully at the mystical being before hurrying to the university to avoid being late. The first hours were dry theory, colour teachers and which fabrics harmonised best with each other. Until the time finally came when the professor ended the lesson and she went to her favourite lesson with a joyous heart.
Like everyone else, Marinette had her own table, her own doll to dress up and her own sewing machine. Her little kingdom from where she could watch Gabriele hidden behind mountains of fabric. She saw with her blue eyes the little smile on his lips as his white hair bounced slightly every time he took a step.
The bright eyes behind the glasses that flew over the students. As handsome as a butterfly, she thought, smiling slightly at the comparison. But as much as she loved to dream and look at the older man, she knew she had to work too. Time flew by as she cut more and more fabric and sewed more and more.
The woman in her early twenties hardly noticed that raindrops were falling on the windows and the sun was disappearing behind rain clouds. ,,I think that's enough for today, students, before you get too wet, have a wonderful day," he announced cheerfully and the students left one by one. All except one. Marinette.
The blue-haired woman was so absorbed in her work that she did not notice how the older man looked at her. His gaze wandered over her work and herself. ,,Little Ladybird…I must say your work is phenomenal, quite enchanting. I'm just afraid you'll have to take the needle off too," he said softly and saw Marinette flinch, she seemed to have only just noticed him.
The student turned around and he saw her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, he saw her lip gloss and her accentuated eyes. He himself felt the warmth coming to his cheeks. ,,Thank you Monsieur Agreste it meant a lot to me that you are pleased with it" she replied and cleared the way to let him have a better look at the blouse.
The purple fabric with the silver ascesoirs and butterfly buttons was perfection. Maybe Marinette liked Hesperia? ,,I hope the other professors see it that way," she murmured, packing her things before swinging her purse over her shoulder.
All of a sudden she felt his hand on hers, a brief touch like the flutter of a butterfly's wings. ,,Hope is the best thing you can do Marinette" he said and the two decided to walk together to the main exit. She knew that the spot on her hand was tingling and he wanted to give her words of hope again.
The two walked together through the corridors, glancing at each other furtively from time to time. They had always understood each other well, what was initially excitement and curiosity had now become respect and love.
The creations of his little ladybug were beautiful and the endless hope and kindness of her handsome butterfly was always during. ,,Rain? Oh no…no umbrella" the younger one stated as she scurried back under the roof of the university and Gabriel stopped, a little taken aback. His eyes went to the dress and he understood what had happened.
He had brought his own large lilac umbrella with him and stepped towards Marinette. ,,Miss Cheng, may I take you to the station…or home?" he asked after a moment's hesitation, not knowing if he had crossed a line. He saw surprise, then consideration and then something like hope in her eyes. Before he handed her the umbrella and took off his coat to put it over her shoulders. ,,Misseur Agr-" she wanted to say, but he took the umbrella from her before he sat down next to her and said, ,,Gabriel please, if I may also call you Marinette" and was pleased to see the hasty nod.
Before she grabbed his arm on impulse and the two of them walked down the street together under the umbrella. The older man felt her press herself closer to him, her hand sliding from his arm to his hand. A smile crept onto his lips as he saw the flush on her cheeks as he squeezed her hand lightly. ,,The rain gives hope for another fine day," he murmured, looking at the drops around him.
He heard her agree with him and the two fell into a small conversation about hope, rain and fashion. It was only when the two arrived in front of the younger woman's flat that they fell silent. ,,I hope you didn't get too wet," he said and saw her wipe a few drops from her bag. ,,No, it's fine," she smiled and saw how the white-haired man seemed to be thinking.
But about what. ,,Marinette, I totally understand if you say no but…would you like to come to dinner and create an outfit together?" He asked, fearing that she would refuse, stay with him or even leave.
His thoughts ran amok, but when he suddenly felt her take him in her arms, he heard her say, ,,Oh, I'd love to, Gabriele, I'd love to". The younger one had embraced him so stormily and they were both standing in the rain again, the umbrella rolled to the ground and she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. In the end, the happiness of the Ladybug and the hope of the butterfly won out, because together they found love.
This wonderful artist has done me the greats favor of making this incredible drawing, unfortunately he doesn't have tumblr, but he has given me his authorization to publish it here, so you don't miss this work.
quite clearly, hesperia!gabriel is very different to hm!gabriel, and so their dynamic with (our) marinette is very different. i wouldn't expect our gabriel, even post-redemption, to be as affectionate and comforting as hesperia!gabriel. but i think there's an interesting thought to how hesperia would approach falling for maribug, compared to hm!gabriel...
for one thing, hesperia has moved on from emilie's death. he doesn't desire ladybug or chat noir's miraculous in order to bring her back, he never tries to take them in order to depower them or the supreme. perhaps he simply isn't aware of the wish? nevertheless, i think even if he knew of the power, he wouldn't use it. even alt!adrien resents him for having moved on from emilie. so i believe that if hesperia were to fall for someone else, he would accept it eventually, and with less angst than hm!gabriel, because he has accepted emilie will never return.
however, he might refuse to allow himself the happiness of moving on, since he blames himself for what happened to emilie. (it is also worthy of note, he says "i hurt the people i loved". this may refer to adrien?)
more importantly though, if the person he fell in love with after emilie was marinette, as a truly good person, who regularly acknowledges the danger kamikotization brings to the people he's allied with, i think he might be more reluctant of their age difference, where i think hm!gabriel would be more selfish and think less of it. especially if he sees some resemblance of emilie in marinette. i think he'd be very responsible about it, which would cause more conflict in their relationship. (and i would like that a lot!)
hello :) i've lurked around the ship back in 2019 and i commissioned a few fanarts and wrote some fics (deleted now), but the special re-inspired me. hesperia/marinette is cute... i'm not sure if my posts are showing up in tags, but i hope to contribute some gifs, if not fics again.
annaxmalina
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