Saucy ^

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[Adrien's POV]

Hanging out with the gang is always fun but I'm running out of time and no one has been akumatized. I'm starting to stress. If I don't seal this kiss with Ladybug, my new year will be just as unsuccessful as the last. Our love will surely be cursed with bad luck!

I look down at my watch anxiously. "Half an hour till midnight... I should get going guys."

Nino clasps my hand and pulls me into a bro hug. "See ya dude."

"Yeah, bye." Alya says with a sad wave.

My eyes rest upon Marinette, who is shuffling her feet with a hanged head. She notices that I'm looking at her and bolts upright.

"S-See ya...Adrien." Marinette says.

She might be trying to smile, but her eyes look sad. I've probably let everyone down by leaving so early. Am I so in love with Ladybug that I would let this wild goose chase interfere with my personal life? I'm certainly in love with her enough to cause an innocent person to be akumatized...

"Er, bye...Marinette." I reply sadly.

I turn my back on them before I can feel any guiltier.

I search the entire park for an akuma opportunity. A fight, a quarrel, anything that I can stir up or make worse. But do I really want to ruin someone's night just to see Ladybug? I've been bumping into people 'accidentally' to make them drop their food but even something as little as that makes me feel bad every time I do it. Maybe I really am a selfish person. Plagg comparing me to Hawk Moth cut deep. I used love to reason my actions, claiming that Ladybug is worth it. But what about the person who gets akumatized? What if they are just in love as I am and I take away their chance at a midnight kiss? Ladybug might not even kiss me. I assumed she would out of curtesy because it's just a fun little tradition people do at midnight, but what if she is so turned off by me that she refuses? Then I would have sacrificed someone else's perfect night just to get rejected.

The Eifel tower suddenly lights up as a giant holographic clock is projected onto its surface. It's a countdown to midnight...I've got five minutes. I'll never make it.

I can't get Marinette out of my head. I hate seeing her down. I should have just stayed with my friends instead of going crazy and wasting my night. Maybe it's not too late to just change back into Adrien.

I use my staff to vault towards the closest alleyway to me.

What?

I see a familiar figure sprinting into the darkness. Marinette...what is she doing all by herself? Concern twists in my heart.

I land on the roof above and look down to see Marinette hastily bump into a large man, causing her to fall backwards onto the ground.

"Hey, hey, little girl. What chya doin' here all on your own?" The man asks with a sneer, reaching towards Marinette.

He is masculine and gruff and clearly drunk. The moment is foot shifts forward I immediately leap into action.

"Get your filthy hands away from her!" I roar as I smash my staff down onto his outstretched arm.

I swing my foot round and kick the man hard in his side. While he is stunned, I grab Marinette and shoot off onto the rooftops.

[Marinette's POV]

I could have handled the situation myself but before I got the chance, Cat Noir came and swept me away. He is holding onto me so tightly.

I look up at Cat Noir as he carries me up and away. His gorgeous golden locks flow in the breeze. His gleaming emerald eyes are glistening with some kind of passionate anger. He looks so strong and protective. Heat prickles at the surface of my cheeks. Admittedly, I don't mind being saved by him so much...

Cat Noir lands on a rooftop a couple blocks away from that wretched alleyway. He puts me down gently, but his hand remains around my waist.

"Mari...are you okay?" Cat Noir asks, his voice deep and intense.

"I-I'm fine..." I answer before a sudden realisation has me worried. "What are you doing here? Has there been an akuma attack?"

Cat Noir lowers his head slightly as he looks away. "No...there hasn't."

[Adrien's POV]

Marinette reaches out and gently lifts my chin. I look into her calming, bluebell eyes and instantly feel at peace. Blurred in the distance behind her, I can see the Eifel tower and the large holographic clock projected on its surface. But that is all it is—faded in the distance. All of my attention is focused on Marinette.

I might have failed to find Ladybug but now I don't feel as though my time has been wasted anymore. If I hadn't transformed into Cat Noir, I wouldn't have been there to save Marinette. I feel so happy just being here with her. I don't need some stupid New Years tradition to feel loved.

"Are you okay?" Marinette asks.

"I am now." I answer.

I wrap by arm around Marinette tighter, pulling her in closer. Our bodies are inches apart. I close my eyes and rest my forehead against hers, relaxing to the sound of her rhythmic breathing.

"Thank you...for saving me back there." Marinette whispers. "You seem to always be there for me."

Voices erupt from the crowd down below. Looks like the countdown has started, I can hear the people hollering each number as they pass. But I don't care, I've had enough of this. I just want to rest in the comfort of my princess.

I smile to myself. "Some people say that kissing someone at midnight brings good fortune to your new year. What an unlucky cat I must be..."

"Being an omen of misfortune, you must really need some of that huh?" Marinette says.

"You wouldn't believe." I reply with a soft chuckle.

I think back to all of the times Ladybug has rejected me. It doesn't hurt so much now. It all seems so distant, just like the muffled countdown in the background. Here, in this little bubble of warmth that is Marinette's presence, nothing else matters.

Marinette shifts, pulling me from my thoughts. She is so close I can feel her hot breath on my lips as she speaks. "Then, allow me to pay you back."

"...THREE! TWO! ONE!" I hear the crowd scream. "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Marinette presses her lips against mine. My eyes flutter open in surprise. It feels as though my heart has exploded in a flare of colourful fireworks to match those lighting up the night sky above us. The happiness swelling up inside me is so overwhelming it causes the corners of my mouth to curl. I close my eyes and pull Marinette in tighter, pressing my body against hers as I deepen the kiss. This causes Marinette to breathe a small gasp. I use the opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth. Marinette responds by tugging my hair slightly, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine. Midnight passes but we continue our passionate make out. My mind is going crazy. Never would I have imagined this happening but now that it is, I never want it to stop.

[Marinette's POV]

My phone suddenly starts ringing, yanking me back to reality. I had gotten caught up in the moment. This isn't at all how I planned my night to go but it just seemed right...It feels so right...

I feel every inch of Cat Noir with my hands, absorbing every detail until my phone rings out again. This time I really snap out of it. This is Cat Noir I'm embracing!

As I pull away from Cat Noir, he leans in after me. A deep moan escapes his lips, almost in frustration or hunger.

"M-Marinette..." He groans.

My heartbeat quickens, heat rising to my face. I look down at my phone to see a couple missed calls from Alya and one message from my mum.

"I...sh-should be going." I say.

Cat Noir strokes my head and rests his hand on the back on my neck, gazing into my eyes intensely. "I can drop you home." He says, his voice low and hushed.

"No, it's okay." I reply, taking a step back. "Alya's already giving me a lift."

Cat Noir nods. He takes my hand and helps me down from the rooftop.

"I...I guess I'll see you." Cat Noir says, getting lost in my eyes once more.

"Bye." I give a gentle wave before turning to leave.

I reach up and touch my lips as I walk away. That was...amazing. There is no use lying to myself. My mouth has stretched into a smile and I can feel myself blushing. I have butterflies in my stomach and my chest feels all warm and fuzzy.

"Marinette..." Tiki says, peeping out from my purse. "I thought you wanted to kiss Adrien at midnight."

For some reason that idea feels so foreign to me. Adrien's name doesn't ring a bell like it should, my mind is screaming for Cat Noir.

"That look...You've fallen for him, haven't you?" Tiki says.

I clutch the fabric over my heart worriedly. "Oh boy...I hope it's a soft landing."