written for @adrinetteapril day 3
‘Hah!’ Adrien slapped down his draw four card. But the grin was wiped from his face when Nino put down his own draw four.
And then Alya’s wicked grin made his eyes widen with worry. She too put one down.
Adrien jerked his head towards Marinette. With her cards fanned in front of her face, all he could see was her furrowed brow. She peeked over her cards and slowly met his gaze.
‘Don’t you dare,’ he warned her.
She bit her lip. 'I'm so sorry,' she whispered, and placed down a draw four.
Alya and Nino burst into laughter. Marinette giggled.
‘I hate you all,’ Adrien said. He reached for the draw pile and started counting out cards.
‘You brought it on yourself bro,’ Nino said, wiping a tear from his eye.
‘It was supposed to be payback for all those plus two’s you gave me earlier!’
‘Heh, yeah those were pretty mean of me.’
Alya grinned. ‘Karma clearly isn’t on your side, sunshine.’
‘Clearly,’ he muttered, arranging the mass of cards in his hand. ‘You, though!’ Marinette squeaked as he turned to her. ‘I didn’t expect you to turn on me like that.’ He shook his head in mock disappointment. ‘I thought I could trust you.’
Marinette squeaked. ‘Ah, I had no choice! It was either that or pick up eight cards myself--!'
'Save it!' he said, turning away melodramatically, 'I don't need to hear your excuses!'
Marinette hunched over and pressed her cards against her face so only her eyes and the edges of her pink cheeks were showing. 'Please forgive me?'
Adrien heaved a fake sigh. ‘In a situation like this, the only person I’d ever forgive is Ladybug.’
‘Good thing I am Ladybug then.’
‘What?’ Marinette replied so quickly she practically spoke over him.
'Hah hah hah!' Marinette waved her fanned cards dismissively. 'It was a joke! You can't actually believe I'm ladybug! Hah hah… hah?' She gave an unconvincing grin. The others all stared at her, mouths agape in shock.
The cards slipped from Alya’s hand. ‘Holy shit.’
'No way, bruh.' Nino's hand flew to his head, dislodging his hat.
Meanwhile, Adrien just stared.
Because of course she was Ladybug. How had he not realised? Terrible excuses for absences perfectly timed with akuma attacks aside, she was clever and creative and strong-willed, and his lady—!
'Go out with me,' Adrien blurted out.
The stares turned to him.
Adrien turned bright red when he realised what he'd said.
'Okay.' Marinette turned a brilliant shade of red to match.
'Cool beans.' He immediately cringed. Cool beans?!??!?
Adrien cleared his throat. He looked down at the Uno game. 'What, uh, what colour do you want?'
Marinnette blinked. 'Oh, um, blue.'
Adrien flicked through his cards and placed down a blue three. He turned to Nino. 'It's your turn.'
Nino just stared at him. Then, in a fit of recovery, he slapped the cards out of Adrien's hands; they scattered all over the floor with a soft fluttering.
Adrien glanced at Marinette. She raised her cards to her face and bit back a smile. He grinned back. And then they both started laughing and couldn't stop.
Alya and Nino bombarded them with questions and shook them by the shoulders, and begged them to give them serious answers. But Adrien was so giddy and happy he couldn't speak properly. Because Marinette was his Lady! He'd found her at last! And not only did he love her...
He shared a glance with Marinette; she stuck out her tongue and collapsed into giggles, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling, flooding his heart with warmth.
...but she loved him back.
