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Adrien took a deep breath as his boots hit the rooftop. Running as a superhero was easy, but still required some effort. And he awlays ran as fast as he could when it was time for patrol. He just couldn't wait to see Ladybug again.
However, there was no sign of her at their spot. This was no surprise since she was often late, so he wasn't worried. But as he whistled casually and looked around, something caught his eye. It looked like a ball, but had a tail.
He moved closer to inspect it, prodding it gingerly with a claw. It yielded and in fact caught on it. He stared at the ball of yarn in confusion. Because this was what it was. It was a very small one, with the end disappearing behind a chimney, but he could say without a doubt that this was what it was.
What was a ball of yarn, unrolled and with very little left of it, doing on the rooftop? It was hardly possible that someone busy with knitting had left it there. In fact, they didn't really meet anyone up there during patrol or otherwise, except for other superheroes or villains.
And while it could have been a ploy by a lurking villain to lure an unsuspecting kitty, Adrien found it hard to believe that this would be the case. It wouldn't hurt to be careful but he didn't risk much by following the thread to the end and maybe finding out who'd left it there. He was a superhero after all, he could take care of himself.
I'm off to follow a suspicious lead, he texted Ladybug and then picked up the ball of yarn and started winding the loose thread to it, while ducking behind chimneys and jumping rooftops. She could always find him with her tracker.
Now, he couldn't completely ignore the possibility that it could have been her who had left this for him. She knew very well that he couldn't resist going full cat sometimes. Maybe she was in a playful mode and this was her way of lending variety to patrol.
He couldn't know until he got to the bottom of this. Meanwhile, the ball in his hands was getting bigger and bigger and he sometimes dropped it on a rooftop and pawed at it before gathering the slack length. It was so much fun, he sent a silent thank you to whoever had arranged it.
Even busy with enjoying himself, he soon noticed that he was moving in a specific direction. It would be foolish to once again hope that he'd figured out Ladybug's identity but he couldn't stop the way his heart leapt in his chest when he saw Marinette's balcony, all lit up in the dark, with a thread hanging from the railing. It was the same one he had been following, he confirmed once he was close enough to tug on it.
The initial joy he felt was nothing compared to the swarm of butterflies in his stomach when he found the other end of the yarn tied to her sunlounger. There was no doubt about it - all this had been designed to lead him there. This was his final destination. This was the moment of truth.
Weighing the ball of yarn in his hands he took a deep breath before he knocked on the skylight.
"I'm here," he heard a voice from the inside. Her voice. There was no surprise in her tone, as if she was expecting him.
So all Adrien could do was to jump inside before pushing the ball of yarn down the ladder and following it on all fours. He heard her laughter at the demonstration.
"I found your yarn... " He said as he straightened up with the ball in his hands. "M'lady," he finished when their eyes met, hers smiling and knowing.
"And you found me, kitty," she declared as she got up from her chair. "I hope you had fun."
"I did," he grinned. His heart was no longer threatening to jump out of his chest. He felt so happy but also so relieved to have his suspicions confirmed.
He stepped closer and handed the yarn to her.
"Thanks, I'm rather fond of it so I'm glad to have it back," she smiled as she took it from him but he couldn't help noticing how quickly she left it to the side. "You deserve a kiss for bringing it back," she added, her voice low as she completely closed the distance between them.
"Just for a ball of yarn?" he swallowed, suddenly nervous. It was the best kind of nervous.
"You're right. You deserve it for so much more."
She was already so close, her arms draped around his neck, prompting his to close around her. He could have asked if she was sure about this, but he read the answer in her eyes and the way she pulled him down just as she pushed up on her tiptoes. He followed her lead more than willingly.
And then - bliss. Their lips met without fanfare, except for the loud pulse in Adrien's ears. But the rest of his senses were completely overwhelmed. She smelled like cookies, the vanilla and sugar on her breath as well as in her hair. Her lips were as soft as satin against his, but much warmer. She was everywhere and he couldn't get enough of her.
Adrien surrendered to her completely as her kisses enveloped him in a happy haze. In fact, he didn't feel or hear the loud vibration low in his throat until she giggled and their lips separated.
"You made me purr," he whined, feeling embarrased.
"I wanted the full cat experience," she beamed at him and there was no way to resist her bright eyes. Purring all but forgotten, he kissed her again and her enthusiastic response was all he needed. He was in heaven.
"Let Plagg go," she whispered eventually, her words taking a moment to penetrate the rapt fog around his brain. She seemed to know just how to make him that much happier.
Murmuring his transformation phrase felt as freeing as he'd expected, albeit a touch daunting. He waited a beat before opening his eyes to see her reaction but his uncertainty proved unwarranted. She looked elated and wasted no time before kissing him again.
Adrien had already felt happier than he'd ever thought possible, but this, her ready acceptance, was everything. His exhilaration knew no bounds.
"I love you, Marinette," he said when they came up for air. He couldn't have stopped the words even if he'd tried. He needed to say it.
Her eyes fluttered open, a content smile on her lips.
"It will certainly be easy to explain your presence here if my parents caught us," she giggled, as if high on him.
"Now?" He chuckled.
"Well, maybe not now," she blinked, clearly just remembering the late time. "But you becoming my boyfriend would surprise no one," she shrugged.
"There is something here that I'm missing," he said slowly. He wanted to know it all and he was going to, eventually. But for now, he was easily distracted by her fingers playing with his hair. Also, he absolutely loved the way "my boyfriend" sounded out of her mouth, in reference to him. He wasn't going to object.
"Do you mind, when you have this now?" She breathed as her lips brushed his teasingly.
"Not at all," he replied readily, diving straight into another kiss. God, he was addicted to her. He really couldn't ask for more.
"Oh, and... " she exclaimed suddenly, trying to evade the eager touch of his lips for a moment. He reluctantly let her speak. "I love you too, Adrien."
Ok, interrupting the kiss had been worth it. There was a risk of him floating away on cloud nine now, but she was holding him firmly, not letting go. And then she kissed him again.
Now this was impossible to top. Best moment ever.