Adrienās first dinner with Marinetteās parents since they officially got together. A lot of puns ensues. As usual, you can read it on Ao3 here.
This was the fic I wrote for my application for the Totographs zine, but I didnāt get picked, but Iām proud of myself for applying! Once again, beware, lots of puns ahead.Ā
P.S. I wonāt be writing fanfics during November since Iām attempting Nanowrimo for the first time! It might not have been the best idea since I still have my classes, but Iāll manage.
Ā Ā As Adrien stands in front of the door to Marinetteās home, the bouquet he got for her feels heavy and useless. He has already given so many roses to her, but they feel meaningless compared to how grateful he is to still have her in his life. Her parents must know how amazing she is ā theyāll be disappointedā¦
Ā Ā Heās hit by flashbacks to the events that led to Tom being akumatized into Weredad. Coming to the bakery after a lonely breakfast. The grey gloomy sky. The awkward kissing Marinette on the cheeks. The pink rose. Admitting he loved Ladybug, Ladybug and not Marinette, an irony Plagg kept teasing him about now that he was fully aware of her identity. Marinette being too good of an actress at being hurt. The enormous tower of vines with the angry beast on top protecting his princess. Ladybug only appearing at the end when everything was crumblingā¦
Ā Ā Even though Nino assured him it was casual enough, yet fancy, and that Marinette would like itāa light green buttoned shirt, with only the top two buttons undone, and dark jeansāAdrien feels like heās underdressed. Plagg phases through his shirt and looks him in the eyes.
āJust press the doorbell! Iām starving and I canāt wait to see Sugarcube!ā
āPlagg, what if I mess up again? What if they hate me?ā
Ā Ā Adrien starts fidgeting with the bouquet in his hands. He wipes his sweaty palms on his pants.
āHow could they hate you? Iām pretty sure Pigtails couldnāt hate you.ā
Ā Ā The kwami presses the doorbell and returns to his warm pocket while dread fills Adrien. He hears the steps creak lightly as someone comes down to open the door. Is it Tom? No probably notāheās heavier and the steps would creak more. Maybe Sabine? She can also be very scary when she wants toā¦
Ā Ā The door opens and relief floods his body at the sight of his lady, princess, and girlfriend. Marinette is wearing a pink dress with a black jacket. He didnāt fail to notice the small cat paws and the kitty she embroidered on the jacket. The dress is fairly simple to the casual eye, but having been raised in the fashion industry for so long, he recognizes all the hard work she put into the hems and her trademark flower motif. Her black hair, free from the usual pigtails, cascades in waves over her right shoulder. Ā
āYou look⦠beautiful,ā are the only words that escape his lips.
āThank you, you look great too!ā
āSo⦠These are for you!ā he says, extending the flowers to her.
āThank you! Theyāre prettyā¦ā She leans her head into the bouquet, smelling its perfume. āThey smell amazing too! Letās go upstairs so I can put them in some water.ā
Ā Ā Adrien follows her as they enter the apartment over the bakery. Delicious scents hit him as they step inside. Except for the usual sweets from the bakery, he can smell a plethora of aromas he is not familiar with. An overly excited Tom practically bounces to him, followed by Sabine, who looks more calm and composed. Adrien swears the man is about to burst from how much he is shaking and buzzing with energy. He kisses Sabineās cheek and extends his hand to shake Tomās, who gladly accepts.
āWelcome, Adrien, weāre glad you could make it! We could not wait to meet the young man that stole our little daughterās heart.ā
āThe pleasureās all mine! Thank you for having me for dinner.ā
Ā Ā Once Tom let go of his hand, it instinctively went to rub the back of his neck, his usual tic when heās nervous. Fear fills him as the manās eyes grow big like saucers when a ray of light hits his ring, making it shine a little. Does he recognize him as Chat Noir? Marinette looks at him, unsure of what to make of her fatherās reaction.
Ā Ā He then turns and picks up Sabine. He whirls her before doing a pirouette himself.
āOur little daughter is engaged! She proposed to Adrien! We need to prepare the wedding cake, itāll be the best Paris has ever seen!ā
āTom, dearā¦ā Sabine says, trying to bring back her husband to Earth, with no success.
āWhat?ā is the only word that escapes Adrienās mouth.
Ā Ā āIs it another case of Oblivio?ā Adrien asks himself. āLast time I checked, we were only datingā¦ā He realizes at the same time as Marinette what gave Tom the idea, but sheās quicker to react. He thought that Adrienās miraculous was an engagement ring. Though, itās not on the correct handā¦
āWeāre not engaged, Papa!!ā shouts Marinette, calming her father. āThe ringās, umā¦ā
āIt was from my mother, itās not a wedding ring. Not that I would mind being engaged to Marinette, sheās amazing and any guy or girl would be crazy to turn her down. I mean, Iād gladly propose to her, but I donāt want to go too fast and Iād rather have your blessing beforeā¦ā
Ā Ā He is stopped by a hand on his arm. Sabine looks up sweetly at him, just like she did with Chat Noir all those years ago.
āItās okay, dear, we know you love our daughter very muchāitās obvious in your eyes. Tom just tends to get ahead of things. That poor Chat Noir, I hope he wasnāt too traumatized.ā
āI donāt think he isā¦ā Adrien shyly replies.
Ā Ā Since he arrived a bit early, Adrien offers to help make dinner. Considering his lack of ability in the kitchen, he gets vegetable duty, since itās pretty straightforward and he wonāt risk ruining the meal with a beginnerās mistake by putting in too much spice or causing a fire.
āYou know, I canāt believe no one ever taught you to cookābut at the same time, knowing your father, it does make sense.ā
āYeah, I Ā carrot Ā believe it either. I guess he expected me to Ā stew Ā in the mansion and have a cook for my entire life.ā
āEven for you, that was pretty bad,ā she says, rolling her eyes. āFinish slicing them, itās nearly readyā¦ā
āI donāt know about that, young ladyāthereās always Ā thyme Ā for puns,ā replies Tom with a smirk, a fire lit in his eyes. āOnce youāre done Adrien, Iāll Ā knead Ā some fruits for dessert
āOf course! Would you help me, Ā gourdgeous Ā princess? We make the perfect Ā pear , after all.ā
āI think youāll be Ā apple Ā to do it yourself, my prince.ā
āAh, you leave me Ā floured Ā ! You know I only have Ā pies Ā for you.ā
āYouāre such a weirdoā¦ā
āMaybe, but Iām your Ā weirdough Ā and you Ā loaf Ā me.ā
āSee, Sabine, they were Ā baked Ā for each other. Iām sure Ā muffin Ā could break them apart.ā
Ā Ā A little bit later, once they are all sitting at the table, plates set and food served.
āThis is so delicious! I donāt think my chef has ever made me something this good!ā
āI doubt your chef would have cooked thisāitās not really suited for a modelās diet,ā Sabine says. āBut thank you. I could show you some recipes if you want.ā
āIād love that, Mrs. Cheng! Well, Iām Ā bacon Ā track now, Iām no longer following a diet as strict as before: no more drumsticks and crumbs. Ā Dough , I have to admit that I would have been Ā toasted Ā if my father had found me eating a meal like this.ā
āYou can call us Sabine and Tom, dear, no need to be so formal.ā
āIām glad to hear that! You sure could add more meat to those bones of yours,ā Tom adds jokingly.
āThe Ā yeast Ā he could have done was to let you see your friends more often,ā Marinette replies drily.
āItās okay, itās all behind us now. The Ā bread Ā of akumas, the Ā pain ā¦ā He adds, giving Marinette a slice of bread. She shakes her head, but still takes it.
āDoughnut Ā worry, son, youāll always be welcome here. I could show you the ropes of a bakerās job! I Ā croissant Ā your talent.ā
Ā Ā The rest of the main meal goes wellāmore puns, talking about their future and hopes. Adrien loved the fact that Tom and Sabine didnāt expect him to follow in his fatherās footsteps and take the reins of Gabriel, unlike almost everyone else in his life. Instead, they encouraged him when he said that he would need some time to figure out what he really wants to do with his life, to forge his own path.
Ā Ā As Marinette ices the cake, Adrien finishes slicing the fruits and placing them. His fingers are all sticky and stained from the juices, but heās the happiest heās ever been. He feels like heās part of a family, in a house filled with love, warmth, and fun. He dips his finger in some cream that has fallen from Marinetteās pouch. Sheās fully focussed on the task at hand, just like when she was figuring out an especially complicated lucky charm in a face-off with a strong akuma. He gets an idea. Itās a bit mischievous, but a good one.
Ā Ā Smirking, he carefully sneaks behind her, channeling his inner Chat Noir. Once heās close enough, he pokes her nose with his cream coated finger. She jerks back into his arms and squeezes the icing bag, making it explode. Their faces and clothes are covered with icing.
āSee, mā lady, I always told you that youāre Ā la crĆØme de la crĆØme Ā . Getting my miraculous was an Ā ameowzing Ā day in my life, but meeting you was the Ā icing on the cake ,ā he whispers in her ear.
āShh! Theyāll hear you!ā
Ā Ā Her scolding expression lingers for a bit longer, but she soon bursts out laughing.
āI canāt believe you! All this for puns?ā
āI felt like I needed to remind my girlfriend of how amazing she isā¦ā
Ā Ā Tom and Sabine turn the corner to the kitchen, taking in the mess the two made.
āWhat are you two Ā loafing Ā about⦠Oh, thatās quite the mess, isnāt it?ā Tom asks, stopping in his tracks.
āGo change into your pyjamas, Iāll finish icing the cake in the meantime,āSabine sweetly adds, opening the fridge to get more icing.
Ā Ā As they walk past the counter to go change, Marinette picks a cherry and perches it on Adrienās nose.
āYou donāt need to remind me, Adrien, Iāll always Ā cherrysh Ā the Ā koalaty Ā time I get to spend with you.ā