Pride June is upon us! With a whole new month of prompts ❤️ and today is Coming Out
@maribatserver
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When Marinette had insisted on moving halfway around the world to open a bar Adrien had been nonplussed and Chloé had sighed and started planning. It had seemed like a crazy idea, impossible to realise in the short time Marinette had been considering it, but between Chloé's know-how and Marinette's unwavering ability to plan her way through anything a suitable bar was found and purchased before the end of the month.
Looking around the dreary place, Adrien grimaced. He had broken up with Luka roughly a week before the idea was hatched and it hadn't been enough time for him to get over it. He wanted to chase after the teal haired man and beg him to take him back but he knew it wouldn't work. Luka hadn't seemed surprised when Adrien had suggested they no longer be a couple and had thanked Adrien for a wonderful relationship. It was the perfect break up and it had spawned many a drunken, tear-filled night where Marinette would hand him passionfruit macarons and stroke his hair.
“Americans like pool tables, right? We should put a couple over here in this corner,” Marinette was saying, eyeing the grimy tables that had been left by the previous owner. “And I want to buy all new tables and seats, maybe refresh the actual bar while we're at it too. We can use some of the ACM funds for this, right?”
“It's literally our company, we'll just say we're branching out into hospitality,” Chloé shrugged. Taking over Gabriel's brand after he was outed as Hawkmoth had been a wild ride, but between Chloé and Marinette's money and Adrien's claim to the business they had no opposition in taking control. “Besides, we can turn one of the offices out back into an international branch of the company. And we can look at buying another building when we've been here long enough.”
“You're perfect, Chlo! When's Kagami coming to visit, or stay, you never told me what her plans were,” Marinette asked as she pulled out her sketchbook and started designing a new floorplan.
“Why, planning to steal her away?” Chloé snarked, making Adrien pause and turn to look at them both. Marinette was giggling, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth while she drew.
“I mean, she was my friend first,” the tiny woman said mischievously. “And honestly I think I should get to kiss her once, just so I can live the dream. Not everyone gets a shot with their bi-awakening.”
“Wait, hold on, what?” Adrien asked, jaw dropping open. Marinette turned to him, brow furrowed as she gave him a confused look.
“Adri, you knew that Chloé and Kagami are dating, right?” She asked, apparently drawing the wrong conclusion as to what he was surprised about.
“Obviously I knew that, but since when are you bi? And why didn't you tell me?” He said, fighting not to pout at her. Because it wasn't about him, obviously, but the fact that she apparently hadn't felt comfortable telling him was a major blow. Did he come across as the kind of guy who would think less of her because she liked both men and women?
“...you didn't know that Marinette ‘oh my god did you see Kor'i Anders' biceps in last month's issue’ Dupain-Cheng was just a smidge hella gay?” Chloé asked, voice coloured with amusement. When Adrien spluttered, she gave a sigh and shook her head fondly. “Adrikins, I adore you, but what the hell.”
“Wait, what about Claire?” Marinette interrupted, looking at Adrien with utter confusion. When he just looked back at her with dawning realisation, she started giggling uncontrollably. “Adri, I lived with her for a whole year.”
“I just thought you were roommates!”
If there was ever a sentence he regretted, it was that one. He would go back and relive the hundreds of hours over performing his apparent love for Ladybug if he could just undo that one, horrendous mistake. Unfortunately, Bunnyx didn't appear to offer such a luxury.
“J-just gals, being p-pals,” Marinette gasped when her laughter finally subsided enough that she could speak. Adrien flushed bright red as Chloé wheezed against the bar, her hands braced as though for impact.
While it was a relief that she hadn't kept it from him because she was afraid he would think less of her, he was thoroughly embarrassed that he really was as oblivious as Nino always said.
_ _ _
It had taken far too long for the two women to calm down, their laughter echoed by the group chat they'd all shared since collége. Because even more mortifying than his assumption that Claire and Marinette had been a very close, platonic relationship was Nino's admittance that Adrien hadn't noticed his raging crush on Chat Noir.
It had been the final straw for his dignity and he was going to be screaming into a pillow that evening when they got back to their four bed town house. Until then he endured the teasing comments and Chloé and Marinette's inability to look him in the face. Which…okay, he could see why they were laughing so hard. It was like if they'd thought Luka was just a super close friend even though it was obviously more.
He'd live it down…eventually. But maybe not for a while, and he had no way out of it. Chloé and Marinette would tease him relentlessly, then Marinette would do something silly and they'd move on to her. Maybe whoever she chose to pursue next would be funny, Adrien really should put a bet on who she might grab the attention of.
He felt less like screaming when they finally made it home, the manual labour they'd all done by way of tearing out old booths and rotten wood leaving him tired and happy. Marinette and Chloé were also too exhausted to keep teasing him relentlessly which made things even easier.
They'd set up their home the week before and he collapsed onto the exceedingly comfortable couch in their living room with a groan. Chloé was ordering food and Marinette was preparing snacks for their Kwami before she shut down for the night.
Over Chinese food, they chatted about the changes to the bar and argued over a name for it, in good spirits. After all, it was hardly as though it really mattered in the grand scheme of things and Adrien was just excited that they were trying something new.
When they were full of takeout and the exhaustion had crept past his usual threshold for needing to be in bed he let his eyes drift closed and smiled when Marinette slumped against him, snoring loudly. He was excited for this new adventure and thrilled that two of his closest friends would be there with him.
Whether you read our comic or not, we hope your Pride month, and all months after, are filled with self-love and support! Embrace who you are, encourage diversity, and end the hate. You are valid!
Have an awesome and cryptic Pride month, everyone!
- The Owl Nest crew <3
