Hi everyone, thanks for reading. Got bit by the bug and wanted to see where this goes.
This is how it started:
The sun had yet to rise over most of the 7th Arrondissement, though the beautiful Eiffel's topmost struts already shone like burnished bronze. When Tom Dupain opened the Boulangerie's door to the street, he noticed none of it as a gust of warm air invited itself in. Today was promising to scorch the hair off of his mustache, which would be the least of his worries if the delivery truck was any later than now. After a glance down each of the streets that converged in front of the bakery, he sighed and closed the door once more.
Sabine's curious expression poked up in the kitchen window, but he shook his head. They had enough ingredients to make it through another week, but the trucks were already two deliveries behind even though he had paid in advance for both shipments. Wedding season was on them, and today was the day he had promised himself he would begin calling clients to tell them to cancel their orders. He would rather lose their business honestly than through deflection. What good would it serve if they were disappointed and angry?
No, that anger he reserved for himself. He had switched to a new provider three months ago after ten years with a previous company, and now this! His not-hastily-made decision was coming back to bite him in his substantial ass. They were going to lose money for sure if the two backlogged shipments didn't come today. Worse, even if the stock came in he didn't know where they were going to put all of it. The house would be full to Marinette's loft.
Sabine's floured hand popped into view of the kitchen window, beckoning him back, and he pulled his apron back into place. A moment later, he opened the door for her as she drew a lacquered tray of warm croissant into the front of house.
"Nothing yet?" she asked softly.
"Nothing," he sighed. She clucked her tongue, not looking up from the whirling spire of pastry she was arranging.
"Well, I can call Collingnon at the market to see if he won't give us a discount on some stock- just enough to get us through a few days."
Tom frowned, "We did that last week, and-"
Husband and wife looked up to the house door in tandem as Marinette stumbled in, still in her pajamas. Sabine looked to Tom, who blinked wide eyes and looked back at his daughter. She seemed to be only half-awake, one pigtail lost and her forehead scrunched as she shuffled towards the front counter. She looked like an extra in one of the zombie flicks she and Alya had been watching lately.
"Mrgfgn," she garbled.
Her hand clawed haphazardly for a buttery croissant while Sabine chuckled.
"Good morning to you, too, darling," she offered, holding out one of the warmer rolls. When Marinette leaned forward to take it, Sabine snuck a kiss against her daughter's crown and then pushed the zombie back towards the house. How she had made it down three flights of stairs in such a state was a mystery that was better left to the teenage mind.
They watched her go, both of their moods brightened as their best work of art worked herself back upstairs.
Then their spirits dampened once more as Sabine turned back to Tom, "I'll call Collingnon?"
He sighed, pushing off of the countertop as he moved toward the kitchen. The last thing he wanted was his wife calling the grouchy, arrogant man, but he had the best prices in a pinch.
"Sure, dear. Thank you."
Marinette licked the last flaky crumb from her thumb, feeling almost human as she swallowed it down. She had a few final touches to put on her English essay before it was due this morning else she would never have been up so early.
Even Tikki was still sleeping, and the little sprite was more of a morning person than Marinette herself.
More charged, she turned to her desktop and began clacking at the keys, right where she had left off last night before giving up. Normally she would have only quit on homework after tete-a-tete with an Akuma, but she felt a little sheepish to recall that there had not been a victim to rescue in several days. After so many nights off, she had fallen into a steadily developing habit of live-streaming movies with Alya. Last night's Mummies Maul Marseilles had been even better than Tarasque Takes Toulouse.
Somehow the exciting memories of those monsters and their costumes seemed less appealing in the rosy morning light, and with only... She chanced a glance at her phone- urgh- four hours of sleep under her belt was the woooooorst.
By the time she finished the essay and submitted it online, it was already half an hour past her normal wakeup time. She scooted away from her desk and began to dress for class.
Jeans! Shirt! Sweater! Hair...!
"Eeee," she groaned, fingering the thick strands into something more recognizably Marinette.
Tikki was up with the sunlight, her Kwami adorably cheerful. "Ready for breakfast?" she asked with a grin.
"I can't believe you're so awake!"
"Ha, 'awake'. Riiight."
Both girls descended the stairs to the kitchen where Mom was pouring a cup of fragrant, red tea. Tikki zipped into her hiding place as Marinette accepted a cup and saucer.
"Good morning!" she said with a smile of thanks.
"Ah! She speaks!"
"Hey, I spoke before!"
"Grunting doesn't qualify as words, dear."
Marinette grinned at the teasing and took a bolstering sip of the tea. Rooibos and... "Maple?" she distracted. Mom, though was already on the phone, and Marinette took the opportunity to slip a few jam cookies into the pocket of her backpack. They disappeared in a whisper of fingers and a hidden smile.
She finished her tea quickly, grabbing another biscuit for her guardian before taking the rest of the stairs down to the bakery's front door. No one was watching front of house, and Marinette quietly cleared her throat. Nothing to see here. She took a fruit tart in one hand and surreptitiously sneaked an eclair into the other. Her parents thought too much sugar was for you. Marinette thought that parents who thought such things probably shouldn't own a bakery.
Throwing a wave to the kitchen window, where she supposed Dad was working, she bolted out the door and into the empty street.
She passed the eclair to Alya, who took it with a cry of, "Lifesaver!" One hand held a short coffee that she brandished while saying, "Now this is a palette cleanser." Alya was clearing the last dregs of her double espresso, when Nino swooped by and grabbed for the eclair.
"Hey!" Alya objected sharply, clasping a hand around his wrist before he could finish the ascent to his mouth. The motion jarred him enough that the eclair tilted sharply and made a swift plunge to the ground.
All three gasped in terror.
Then sighed in delight as Adrien Agreste's long fingers plucked the pastry from certain doom.
"Bro!" Nino cheered, while Marinette smiled.
"Hey guys," Adrien greeted, twisting around Nino to offer the sweet back to Alya.
"Brooooo!" Nino booed, while Marinette smiled.
Alya only shook her head, "Now that everyone's touched it, I think I'll pass." She laughed, tossing her cup into the trash as she headed towards their classroom. Marinette watched Adrien shrug and then his eyes turned to her like magnificent spring trees pulled by a western wind.
"Marinette?" Adrien offered, turning to the girl who was staring at him with wide eyes.
"Uh, yes- that's me!"
"...and would you like some eclair?" he clarified, laughing gently. His eyes were crinkling around the corners.
Nino caught her eye behind Adrien, making such sad puppy dog eyes that she grinned, an expression that turned slightly manic as she resumed looking up into the eyes of her crush.
Oh my. What?
No! The eclair! Right.
"Tart!" she said in one clear syllable, shaking her head, hands waving.
"Not normally," he assured her, frowning at the pastry.
Alya made a second pass through the courtyard and swung her arm through Marinette's, pulling her flubbing friend away from eternal embarrassment.
"She means she already had a tart," the spectacled teen explained.
"Th-thanks, anyway!" Marinette said with a wave. They took the stairs at a sedate pace, giving her time to recover.
"Why are you thanking him?" Alya whispered. "You brought that!"
"I'm damaged!" Marinette exhaled, hanging her head.
Alya snorted, "And not at all dramatic."
When Marinette giggled, Alya smirked and the two girls made their way arm and arm into English. She took her seat, gently setting her backpack on the floor. When she sat up straight, she saw Adrien sitting, half of an eclair hanging from his mouth.
Her hand shot out, grasping Alya's wrist. Her best friend turned and saw what had captivated Marinette's attention. Then with a grin she cleared her throat.
"So I see you're enjoying my breakfast, after all, Adrien." The blond glanced up and had the good manners to look a little sheepish.
Nino, however, quickly rose to his defense, "Hey, he tried to give it back!" Of course, the words were half lost as he talked around his own mouthful of bread.
"After you took it, you mean?" Alya demanded, her words a mixture of sweet heat. "I'll have you know Marinette brought that all the way from her house for me." Marinette blinked as both boys slowed their chewing to verify this. Of course, she had brought the sweet treat, but the only thing that had stopped her from eating it was her own full stomach. Alya's needs hadn't quite been at the front of her thoughts. Her face flamed as she caught Adrien's surprised stare, and she remained silent. Yes, such a good friend she was!
"Oh, I remember. Your father's a baker, isn't he?" he asked, recalling parents' day from months before. She blinked at him, knowing full well he had not been in the class at the time her father had been speaking. How did he know?
"Y-yeah!" she smiled, and added, "That's right!" It was possible Nino had told him at some point, and Marinette was just happy that some space in the perfect boy's brain was devoted to remembering something about her.
"This is really delicious," he offered, holding up the last bites and still smiling.
"Yep!" she agreed. The combination of sweet cream and silky chocolate was one of the reasons she had chosen it.
"Well," Alya sighed theatrically and crossed her arms over her chest. With a tilt of her head she pinned Nino under a stare that made him smirk. "That settles it. I guess you two will have to take us out to lunch today to make amends."
Adrien's mouth fell open. Marinette saw because she was watching him, watching so intently that she could not see her own mouth doing the same.
Alya, no!, her fear whispered.
ALYA, YES!, her heart roared.
A meal. A whole hour of lunch! With Adrien!
She had gone to the movies with him before, what felt like months and months ago, but had ended up sitting between Alya and Nino after the two refused to stop talking during the show. Besides, it had been in a dark theater and she had barely seen him.
Nino opened his mouth to refuse when their teacher entered the door and closed it behind her, signaling the end of their good-natured bickering. Marinette's eyes flashed to Alya, who threw a thumb's up at her before primly tucking herself back into her seat. She grinned and turned around in her chair. Nino's shoulders were shaking, though with anger or humor, she couldn't tell. And Adrien...
Adrien winked at her and then faced forward as if it were nothing, as if a rocket hadn't just flown its way through her heart and down to her fingertips and toes. She watched the back of his head while her whole body tingled not sure if she wanted him to turn around or remain facing front. He made the decision for her and dutifully paid attention to the lesson while Alya slid her tablet toward her.
"Right," she murmured.
By the time lunch arrived, Nino had mellowed to the idea of treating the girls, and his good cheer had bled over to Adrien, who offered to chip in as well. Marinette was gathering her courage to suggest a nearby cafe when her mobile rang.
Still buzzing from the idea of sharing a whole hour with the coolest boy on the planet, she pulled it out and answered immediately, "Hello!"
"Hi sweetheart, it's Dad."
"Hi Dad," she replied, turning her back to her friends for a measure of privacy. "I'm so glad you called! I need to tell you and mom that I was invited to lunch today with friends so I don't need her to make anything today."
"Oh… well, actually, I was calling to see if you might be able to give us a hand. The late order finally came in, and it's double the usual size. We could use an extra set of hands to get everything put away."
"Oh... I..." She paused and glanced back to see the trio waiting for her. "Do you really need me? I mean, I only have a short break before I have to go back to class." Dad sighed on the other end of the call. "I promise I'll help a lot tonight with inventory and everything!" she rolled through in a rush. Alya's expression slipped with concern and Marinette turned back around, sighing softly. Dad had not yet spoken. She already knew what she had to do. The bakery was everything to her parents, and really to her, too. Literally, the ground beneath her feet- but why, today of all days?!
She opened her mouth to agree when a short tussle over the phone broke her concentration, and suddenly Mom's voice spoke out, "Marinette go have lunch with your friends. We have this covered."
This time she did not hesitate, "Really?"
A quick laugh and, "Yes, but we will need your help tonight! Now go!"
"Going!" she said with a laugh and hung up. She turned back to her friends with a spring in her step. Essay done! Shipment good! Lunch with friends, starting now! What a great day!
"Everything OK?" Alya asked, and she shyly took her bag as Adrien passed it to her.
"Yeah, a big shipment came in," she explained as she slipped her bag over her shoulders without looking at him. "So it's good we're going out so I don't slow them down." Alya nodded knowingly, a grin breaking out in her lips.
Bolstered by her mother's encouragement and Alya's quick thinking, Marinette glanced up at Adrien and smiled brightly, "There's a good Thai cafe near here if you guys are interested." She blinked at him once and then turned to Nino, willing her warm face to cool. "If you like Thai."
"Loooove Thai!" Nino crowed, waking backwards through the door.
"I like it," Adrien agreed.
"Me Thai!" Marinette tried. "I- I mean. Me, too." She threw her face away from him and rolled her eyes. Obviously she and Adrien were destined to be together, but it was going to be hard for him to see it if she couldn't speak more than a few seconds without putting her foot in her mouth.
"So what's your favorite dish?" he asked, still by her side, still looking down at her.
Rah! Had he seen her being weird?!
"Uh, rice noodles," she managed, her heart racing, "And, uh, there's a spicy fish head soup that's really delicious." But when she looked up at him, his face was blank, eyes wide.
Oh. Oh no.
Fish head.
No, no, no- that was gross! That was-
"Cool!" He said with a grin. "I can't think of a lot of girls who would try something with a fish head floating in it." She flushed all over again. It was already hot today, and she was wondering if she might faint. "Do you think they'll have it here?"
The cafe was open air and the teens sat inside and out of the sun while they ate. Despite Adrien's curiosity, it was really too hot for the soup and Marinette had the pleasure of steering him toward a cooler entree. That he ordered! Alya and Nino made amends over the breakfast disaster (miracle!) and everyone was enjoying the refreshing breeze of an overhead fan while a radio played in the background.
Marinette ate noodles like a pro, showing the others how to use their chopsticks. Adrien was the next best of the bunch, and she remembered he was also taking Chinese lessons. Maybe they included culture in the classes? Of course, he would be good at whatever he did. He was so kind and polite, and his grades were always really good, if Nino's teasing could be believed. Adrien never bragged on himself. And he was sooo handsome!
Marinette smiled at his grip and turned back to her chilled noodles. It really was a perfect day. Well, despite the small hiccup with Dad, but he would understand. It didn't make sense for her to work all through lunch for such a small contribution. Unloading a delivery never took a whole hour. Even with a double load it wouldn't take that long. Inventory always took longer, anyway.
The music in the background cut off, and Marinette reached for her mobile to send a quick message to her parents, thanking them for understanding. She was surprised to see she had a text from Mom already.
She inhaled sharply.
stay with Alya. do NOT come home!
She blinked once. Both hands gripped the edges of the phone tightly reading the words once and then twice more. They did not change. They were from Mom.
"Marinette?" Alya asked, and she looked up sharply.
"...lots of white at the scene. Police are on their way, but they have yet to arrive." Her eyes leapt to the corner where the radio was plugged in. Their waiter was turning up the volume. "A bakery near the edge of the 6th and 7th Arrondissements seems to be the starting point of the mayhem we're seeing play out."
Her heart sank even as her throat tightened. She scooted away from the table hurriedly, reaching for her bag. As she stood she slung it over her shoulder, the others gaping at her.
"That's my house!" she said, pointing at the radio. She did not wait for Alya's recognition, for Nino's confusion, for the way Adrien stood from his chair. Her feet were already carrying her out of the cafe at a dead run.
This is how it all started.
What do you think? Next chapter should be up soon :)
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