Happy (late) Birthday, @thebigpapilio! I hope I did this right, I kind of accidentally went long. <><><><><><>
âAre you sure it will work?â Adrien mumbled, squished against the back wall as he held up his phone.
âJust give me a minute.â The light of the device was the only illumination in the dark closet, and staring at the screen was starting to hurt Marinetteâs eyes. She bent the hairpins as carefully as she could, according to the instructions, and then went for the lock keeping them from freedom.  âImagine how useful this would be in an akuma attack.â
âPretty useful,â he agreed.  âIf an akuma ever locked you out of someplace and you needed to get in, picking locks would be--â
âDangit!â
âWhat!?â Adrien went to her side, immediately discarding the hypothetical.
âThe keyhole, itâs too small. These wonât fit!â Marinette threw the hairpins on the ground in frustration.  âAlyaâs really done it now! She can be so.... stubborn!â
Adrien gulped.  âSo that means...â
âWeâre stuck. Until whenever she decides to let us out.â By the light of the phone, she noticed Adrien sweating.  âOh no...â
âI-Itâs fine.â Adrien took a long, deep breath to steady his nerves.  âI can take it.â
âNo, kitty...â Marinette bit her lip. He was always like this, trying to spare her worries, no matter how much she told him to talk his feelings out. She blamed it on his father- God, he was so gonna get it one of these days. It wasnât healthy for him to be so stifled as this. Even as Chat Noir, heâd always hide his emotions for her, trying to be the perfect partner. No matter how much she told him that she didnât want perfection.
âItâs hot in here.â His hands were shaking now, as if preparing to summon Plagg in an effort to break down the door, which would be way too much unneeded attention.
Marinetteâs hand touched his.  âItâs okay,â she said.  âTalk to me.â
âI donât...â
âI know,â
Words tumbling clumsily out of his mouth, tripping over his chattering jaw.  âI donât like places... itâs dark... and small...â
âItâs okay to not like it.â
âAnd I just, I need to be strong, and--â
âYou donât have to be strong.â She gently squeezed the hand she was holding.  âNot for me.â
âWhatâre we gonna do?â
âGood question.â
âWhy would Alya do this?â
âShe didnât know. Iâll text her, sheâll be on her way soon.â Marinette took Adrienâs phone from his white-knuckled grip.
A short moment later, filled with more hand-squeezes and murmured reassurances, Marinette sighed as Alya replied.  âSheâs going to be a few minutes.â
âA few minutes... thatâs too long...â
âItâll all be fine. Iâm here.â She kissed his cheek softly, shocking Adrien back to reality.
âPromise?â
âPromise...â Marinette let a little more silence pass, and then declared, âThis is a sign.â
âHuh?â
âItâs been long enough since Ladybug and Chat Noir got together publicly. We wouldnât cause any suspicion by âgetting togetherâ at this point, right?â
âI-I guess not...â
Marinette glanced at him, suddenly ashamed.  âIâm sorry, I just thought it would take your mind off... i-if you arenât sure--â
âNo, no, I mean, Iâd like to!â He gave a short smile.  âIf you say we can, then...â
âReally? Youâd go for it?â
âWhy not?â
âI really want to.â Marinette took him by surprise with her sudden embrace.  âI want to be able to kiss you in the daytime.â
âI...â And suddenly, everything was fine. Marinette... the care she gave, the cheerful kindness that laced her every action, whether she was helping a classmate or an akumatized victim. Once touch, one love-laden declaration from her, and the closet melted away from around him. In the arms of his one, his love, oh, he could never feel trapped enveloped in her smile.
âIâd love that.â Adrien carefully returned the hug.  âI love you.â
âGreat,â she hummed happily.  âI love you, too. Iâm glad youâre feeling better, kitty.â
âYeah... youâre amazing, Marinette. I canât even believe how great you are sometimes...â
âThanks.â
âSo Alyaâs plan kinda worked then, huh?â
Marinetteâs eyes snapped open.  âOh no... Ohhh, sheâll never let me hear the end of this.â
âOh.â
âDang it, Alya, why did you have to take notes from me?â Marinette slumped to the ground.  âAnd you did so well, too.â
Adrien took another tense breath and shook his head. âI know sheâs your best friend and everything, but Iâm totally gonna get her back for this.â
âGet in line, honeybun.â










