#vampire!adrien

“Your job is to protect Paris!” she snapped when her stomach had settled back in its proper place.

“Well, I can’t very well do that until I know you’re safe,” he argued, beginning to lose patience with her stubbornness.

“I’m not defenceless, you know,” she shot back at him. “I don’t appreciate you treating me like I’m incompetent because I’ve got news for you: I’ve survived a hell of a lot of akuma attacks without you carrying me around like an infant.”

He slowed to a stop on a roof a few blocks away from the school and gently set her down.

She was about to continue her tirade about her autonomy when the distraught look on his face took the wind out of her sails.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” he insisted. “That’s not what I think of you. Like, at all.”

She blinked in surprise at his vehemence coupled with the desperation with which he was trying to convince her.

“Marinette, I respect you so much,” he stressed. “Trust me. I know how capable you are. I mean, I can’t count how many times I’ve seen you defend yourself and others—both with your words and whatever jerry-rigged weapon you could get your hands on. There’s a reason I nicknamed you our ‘Everyday Ladybug’. I never meant to make you feel like I thought you needed me to protect you.”

She pursed her lips, looking away as she thought about how much she did need him as her partner. “…Then, what’s all this about?”

He averted his gaze, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I think I’m just kind of freaking out, honestly. It’s my fault that Lila is after you, and if she hurt you because of me…”

He shuddered and tentatively looked up at her.

“I need you to be safe so I can focus, Marinette,” he confessed, stepping forward and taking her hands in his. “Please let me take you to the Mansion. You’ll be safe there. Even if she does realize you’re there, the Mansion can go into lockdown, and she won’t be able to get you.”

Marinette winced even as she gave his hands a squeeze. “Minou…listen. I know your brain is making you think you’re in love with me because I gave you my blood, but you need to fight it. You can’t be preoccupied with me while you’re supposed to be fighting akumas.”

His ears drooped, and his tail curled self-consciously around his left calf. “I’m sorry that my feelings are inconvenient for you, but I think I’m done fighting them. I don’t want to live in denial anymore, even if you can never feel the same way about me.”

She pulled her hands out of his so she could cover her face with them as she groaned. “Adrien, it’s not like that at all. You have no idea how much I want—”

An explosion back at the school cut her off, and both of their faces blanched.

“You need to go. Now,” she urged.

“But—”

“—No buts. Paris has to come first, Chat Noir,” she insisted with an intent frown, hoping he would come to his senses.

Instead, he wilted further. “My head knows you’re right. It is my job to fight the akuma and save the day. It’s hard, though, when my heart is screaming at me to put you first.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to ignore the screams in the distance. “…Adrien, do you love me?”

He nodded fervently. “Of course I do.”

She stepped in, looping her arms around his neck.

His hands automatically went to her waist.

“Okay.” She took a steadying breath. “Well, the best way for you to prove it is to trust me when I say I can keep myself safe.”

He looked away, struggling against his kneejerk reaction to scoop her up and get her out of harm’s way.

“I need you to leave me here and go defeat Lila. Can you do that for me?” she coaxed.

“Marinette…” he tried to argue.

“Didn’t you tell me this morning in the boiler room that you’d do anything for me?” she pressed.

He winced, mentally kicking himself for his thoughtless promise.

“Well, I want you to go fight an akuma for me,” she wheedled, reaching up to play with his hair. “Can you do that, Chaton?”

He blew out a sigh, dropping his head to her shoulder. “Yes, Princess. One defeated akuma, coming right up.”

“Good boy,” she purred, leaning in to give his neck a little nip right above the collar of his suit.

He sucked in a sharp breath, sparks shooting through his veins as he held back a moan. “You wreck me, you know that?”

She pulled back with a sad smile, giving him a pat on the cheek.

She wasn’t ready to tell him that the feeling was mutual.

“Go, Chaton. And stay safe.”

He nodded and dropped her off on the street level so that she could flee if the fight came her way.

With a heavy heart, he went into battle.

 Chat Noir was a mess.

Thank goodness Ladybug was there to combine his tail, the basketball hoop in the school courtyard, and a car tire to take down the akuma and return things to rights.

“You okay over there, Chaton?” she called out to him as she made her way over for their customary fist bump.

He opened his mouth to assure his partner that everything was fine, but he couldn’t make the words come out.

Out of nowhere, his emotions caught up to him, and tears began to bead in the corners of his eyes.

“Oh, Minou,” she cooed, coming over to cup his face in her hand. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “Sorry. There’s just a lot going on. Could we meet up in fifteen and talk? There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

She nodded, lowering her hand to his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I’ll see you then.”

He took off to find a safe place to detransform and feed Plagg, and he ended up in Marinette’s room. He collapsed on her bed and buried his face in her cat body pillow while he waited for his kwami to recharge.

Her normally soothing scent made him want to cry, but he held it together.

He was just about to transform back when he got a text from the girl in his heart and on his mind: “Just wanted to let you know I’m safe. Thank you for protecting me. You did a good job, and I’m so, so proud of you.”

A bittersweet smile stretched across his lips. “She knows how to push all of my buttons, doesn’t she?”

“Not that she knows she’s doing it,” Plagg grumbled.

With a sigh, Adrien called on his transformation and headed for the roof of Notre Dame where Ladybug was already waiting.

“Everything alright?” she cautiously inquired, head tipping curiously to the side.

He shook his head, taking a seat beside her. “I should have told you right away, but someone found out my identity.”

Her mouth rounded into a small “o”.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “It was an emergency, and I had to detransform in front of someone. It was my fault for getting into a bad situation like that, but I didn’t have a choice about revealing my identity.” He took a steadying breath and blew it out. “…I understand if you need to take my ring away.”

She gave a squeak of alarm. “Well, now, hold on a minute.”

She put her hands up in protest. “I mean, do you know this person? Are they trustworthy?”

“Oh, absolutely,” he assured without having to consider it. “I trust her completely, and she cares about me a lot, so I know she’d do everything in her power to keep me safe.”

She pretended to consider this for a moment. “…Then…I don’t think there’s a problem. At least, not a big enough problem where we need to consider finding a new holder for Plagg. I mean, don’t go letting more people find out, but…it sounds like this is okay.”

He was struck dumb for a moment before he found the composure to respond.

“Of course. I won’t let this happen again,” he assured with a wink, trying to hold in how thrilled he was. “…You’re taking this a lot better than I thought you would.”

She shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “Maybe I’ve mellowed with age.”

He rolled his eyes. “Because you’re so old at seventeen.”

She gave his arm a slap. “Hush, you. Somedays, I feel ancient.”

“Mood,” he sighed.

There was a beat where they gazed out at the city thoughtfully before she asked, “…Was that all you needed to talk to me about? You seemed really upset earlier.”

He laid back on the roof, resting the back of his wrist on his forehead. “I’m kind of a mess recently. You see, she found out something else about me too, and she’s surprisingly fine with it. Like, really fine with it.”

Ladybug arched an eyebrow. “Should she not be fine with it?”

He pursed his lips. “…I don’t know. My kneejerk reaction a week ago would have been ‘of course she shouldn’t be fine with it. I’m literally a freak. How could anyone be fine with this?’ …but she’s said some stuff to me that’s really made me think and challenge those preconceived notions.”

He swallowed. “Now, I’m starting to think…maybe I’m not the monster I thought I was after all.”

“Chat Noir,” Ladybug chastised sternly. “Of course you’re not a monster!”

He winced, giving her a sheepish smile.

She huffed in frustration, shaking her head. “…So, you’re having a hard time because she’s shaken up your worldview?”

“Partially.” He looked away, cheeks beginning to flame red as he forced himself to keep going. “Mostly, I’m a mess because I…um…we…we did something that you’re only supposed to do with a romantic partner.”

She forced herself to keep her face neutral so as not to give herself away.

“Oh?” she inquired, but the syllable cracked.

He covered his face with his hands. “We basically had sex.”

“What?!” she screeched.

“I know!” he groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “It was an accident, but I really wanted to, and she seemed into it, so now we’ve got this weird friends-with-benefits thing going on.”

“Oh?” she repeated hoarsely as her brain screamed. “That’s…nice.”

“No, it’s not,” he groaned but then seemed to reconsider. “Well, I mean…okay. It’s nice when we snuggle and she hugs me and gives me little nips on the neck.”

He shook his head, trying to get back on task. “But that’s not the point. The point is, after we did that, I realized that I’m in love with her.”

“And that’s a problem?” she pressed.

“No,” he insisted, sitting back up to face her. “It’s wonderful—she’s wonderful. Of all the people I could have fallen for, she’s the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful… I’ll have you know that my taste in women is impeccable. She’s honestly out of my league.”

“Is she out of your league if she’s already slept with you?” Ladybug challenged.

Face a florid red, Chat looked away. “She did it because she’s selfless like that. I was a mess, and she compassionately sacrificed herself because she felt sorry for me and wanted to help.”

She cocked a skeptical eyebrow. “I mean, I’d hardly consider you a pity lay. …So, what’s the problem?”

He covered his face with his hands again. “She thinks I’m delusional and that I only think I’m in love with her because of what we did.”

Her eyebrow climbed higher. “And you think she’s wrong.”

“I know she’s wrong,” he insisted, dropping his hands and looking her pointedly in the eye. “I didn’t develop feelings for her afterwards. I discovered what the feelings I already had for her were. I’ve been in love with her for years. I just didn’t know that that’s what it was.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she gaped at him in shock. “You’re in love with her…for real?”

He nodded desperately. “She seriously is the best person, Ladybug. She’s wicked clever and funny and kind and brave. She always has time for others, no matter how busy she is. She’s always helping people and standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.”

A soft smile worked its way onto his face as he continued. “She makes me feel safe, and she genuinely cares about me. She always listens to me whine and makes me feel like my feelings matter. She makes me feel like not so much of a weirdo. …She makes me a better person because she believes in me and shows me how to be better by her example.”

His grin turned sad as he met her gaze again. “For the longest time, I thought she was the best friend I’d ever had…and I don’t think I was necessarily wrong. She is my best friend, but she’s something else too. She’s the person I want to be worthy of. She’s the person I want to spend my life with.”

Ladybug gave a soft gasp as the weight of his words sank in and left her feeling dizzy.

He looked away with a sigh. “It really hurts that she keeps telling me it’s all in my head. She’s so adamant that it’s not real that it’s kind of obvious that she doesn’t want me to have these kinds of feelings for her.

“And that’s okay,” he sniffled as tears caught up to him once more. “It’s okay. She doesn’t have to love me back. I mean, I’m used to that, but…I just want her to know that what I feel is real. If she could just say ‘thank you, but I don’t feel that way for you’, that would be fine. I just want her to stop telling me that my love for her isn’t valid.”

“Oh my gosh,” Ladybug breathed, mind awhirl. “Chaton, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean…”

She bit her lip, quickly coming to a decision. “Come with me. Please. There’s something I need to show you. It’s really, really important.”

He quirked an eyebrow in confusion but obediently assented. “Lead the way.”

She stood on shaky legs and yoyoed her way across the Seine, back to the bakery.

“Ladybug…why are we here?” Chat asked warily as they landed on Marinette’s balcony.

“I’ll tell you when we get inside,” she assured with a weak smile, looking like she was going to pass out.

They dropped down into Marinette’s loft, and Ladybug collapsed onto the bed.

“I’m so sorry,” she insisted, barely holding back tears. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Before he could ask why she was apologizing, she whispered, “Detransformation”, and everything became a little clearer and a little more confusing all at the same time.

He dropped his own transformation and covered his face with a groan. “I can’t believe I told you we had sex.”

She burst into hysterical laughter. “That’s what you’re focusing on?”

“It’s better than fixating on how I just bared my heart to you about how in love with you I am and how you’re going to reject me and never be my friend again because I’m a clingy, needy freak!”

She pushed herself up and took his hands in hers, fixing him with a stern look. “Adrien, you are none of those things. Didn’t I tell you last week? You’re an amazing person. You’re incredibly sweet and kind, even to the people who don’t deserve it. You make me a better person by showing me how it’s done,” she stressed.

He blinked at her, completely perplexed. “You really think that?”

She nodded vigorously. “Adrien Agreste, you really are the full package—the brains, the looks, and the personality. You’re the one who’s out of my league.”

A raging blush and a tentative smile quickly took over his face. “I… Thank you for saying that.”

“I’m not just saying that,” she insisted. “Adrien…I love you.”

He blinked, not comprehending. “You… What?”

She swallowed and tried again. “I’m sorry for all the times I turned you down, all the times I hurt you. I never meant to hurt you, Chaton. I love you.”

He continued to stare at her. “I don’t understand. Where is this coming from?”

Her face coloured as she looked down at their hands. “From my heart. I’ve loved you for a very, very long time, Adrien…ever since you were kind to me when I’d been a judgmental jerk…ever since you gave me an explanation I didn’t deserve.”

She forced herself to meet his awed gaze. “I’ve loved you since the day we met and you gave me your umbrella.”

His mouth dropped open. “You’re serious? You’re not just saying that because you’re enthralled by me because I bit you?”

She shook her head. “No. Adrien, I really, truly love you.”

“But what about that other boy?” he pressed. “Ladybug always said there was a boy she loved.”

“Adrien, that was you,” she gently informed. “You were the other boy, and I was so blindly loyal to you that I didn’t allow myself to acknowledge my growing romantic feelings for Chat Noir…maybe like how you didn’t let yourself think of Marinette romantically because of your feelings for Ladybug?”

He swallowed hard as her words hit him straight in the chest. “But you…this past week, when I told you I loved you, you were so adamant that you didn’t want to talk about it and that you didn’t think my feelings were real.”

Tears welled in his eyes yet again. “If you loved me, why would you do that?”

She winced, mentally kicking herself. “I was trying to protect myself. I didn’t want to get my hopes up in case it wore off after a while. I have spent literal years dreaming that you’d notice me as more than a friend, and I didn’t want to risk getting hurt when you inevitably realized you’d been mistaken.”

“Oh, Marinette,” he breathed, pulling her into his arms and guiding her down onto the bed on top of him. “My poor Princess. …I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” she whispered into his neck, giving it a penitent nip.

Her heart fluttered when he started to purr.

“Well.” He swallowed, voice thick. “It sounds like we’ve both hurt and been hurt by one another. I don’t know about you, but I’m bad at holding a grudge. Do you think we could try to forgive one another and move on? I know I, for one, am tired of being miserable. I’d sort of like to be happy in love now.”

She lifted her head, stroking his hair as she gazed down at him. “Yeah?”

He nodded.

She gulped. “M-Me too.”

Tentatively, she leaned in and brushed her lips against his.

She was just about to pull back when he enthusiastically began to return the pressure.

Her fingers tightened in his hair, prompting a happy rumble in his chest.

There were a number of false starts and much giddy laughter before they finally found their rhythm, trading little sucks and nips.

“Open your mouth and let me stick my tongue in,” Marinette finally demanded in frustration after they’d been kissing for several minutes and Adrien had remained woefully ignorant of her attempts to gain entrance.

A cherry blossom blush spread all the way from his neck to his ears as he blinked at her in surprise. “Isn’t that moving kind of fast?”

She rolled her eyes. “According to you, we’ve already had sex.”

He gave a startled meep and averted his eyes, blush growing in depth. “That was the only thing I could say that made sense without telling Ladybug I was a vampire! I’m not…I’m not actually ready for that kind of thing.”

“Aww,” Marinette cooed, affectionately nuzzling his jaw. “That’s really cute that you want to take things slow. I thought guys were all sort of pushy about that kind of thing.”

“None of the guys I know…that I know of,” Adrien muttered self-consciously. “I’m a little sheltered.”

“It’s okay,” she assured, giving his cheek a peck. “I like you just the way you are. …So, wanna go back to kissing?”

“Okay,” he agreed, feeling a weight lift off of him. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Of course. …Just let me know whenever you’re ready for more because I can’t wait to get my tongue in your mouth,” she confessed, suddenly not scared to be forward with him.

His cheeks went pink all over again. “Do you think that’s a good idea? You’ll probably cut yourself on my fangs.”

“Oooooh, I look forward to it,” she chuckled.

He let out a startled laugh. “You little minx. You’re just trying to trick me into sinking my fangs into you, aren’t you?”

“Guilty,” she admitted, diving in for another kiss.

“I’m going to have to keep an eye on you,” he snickered. “You’re much too clever for me.”

“I thought you liked my cleverness.” She hummed.

“I turn to goo when you’re clever, Marinette,” he confessed.

“Good to know,” she replied with a predatory smirk that left him with no doubt that he was in trouble.

The

Ever since Marinette had learned to fly at the age of eight, they’d gone up together, basking in the freedom and independence. Adrien would tease her when she took a turn particularly rough, and she’d purposefully shake them through the trees in retribution. They’d constantly shush each other when their laughter got too loud, always blaming the other for waking the neighbors. 

They’d used flying for practice. Adrien once rubbed her arms for hours as she shuddered against his chest when she’d accidentally crashed into a bird her first night doing a long-distance flight. Marinette had once flown blind on the night of a new moon, the world pitch black around her, trusting Adrien to be her eyes. They’d ended up with enough scrapes and bruises to turn their skin purple and too many raised eyebrows from her parents.

They’d used flying to find lost pets, reuniting families with runaway dogs and cats. They would scour the neighborhood, checking every nook and cranny until they found the scared animal, and coax them into their arms. Adrien would tuck them in his shirt as they flew back home, giggling as the furry pet tickled his skin. It had made Marinette sigh in a contentment she hadn’t allowed herself to show him.

They’d even used flying to escape their troubles. They took to midnight skies when Adrien first lost his mother and stayed out until the dawn forced them to take cover. They’d gone out every night for months, barely speaking as they’d twisted above the landscape, pushing farther and farther each night until Marinette couldn’t hold it together any longer. Hot tears had rolled down her cheeks and her breath hiccuped in her throat as she’d tried to stay quiet. As soon as she’d heard Adrien let out a sob behind her, she was clumsily landing on the ground, feet barely able to catch them as they’d fallen on top of each other. Breaths uneven as the crying continued, they’d held each other close until the last sobs faded into silence.

But they’d never used flying as an excuse to hold each other so close.

Adrien’s fingers drew gentle patterns against her side. His touch was light, trembling against the sweet buzz of magic that whirled atop her clothing. He pushed himself into it, hugging her even closer to press a kiss to her shoulder, resting his chin where his lips once were and nuzzling his nose into her neck.

The broom dropped in time with Marinette’s sharp inhale, a sudden but expected movement and Adrien grinned against her skin. His backpack smacked against him at the changing momentum, the contents inside clattering together. 

“Careful, bug. You don’t want to lose control and crash into a cell tower again.”

She huffed but didn’t push him away. “That was one time, and you never let me forget it.”

“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I let you forget.”

She lifted her shoulder, bouncing his chin against her in playful punishment. “And what’s your job precisely? To torture me?”

He pressed another kiss against her neck, lifting a hand from her waist to push her hair aside. “And how exactly am I torturing you, Princess?”

“You’re a minx.” She turned her head to the side, keeping her broom level as they flew above an empty meadow. “I’m a very responsible witch, top of my class. I’ve even created the most delightful little kitten the world has ever known and you will not have access to him if you keep this up. You know what you’re doing and I will not stand for it.”

He snorted. “But we’re sitting.”

“That’s it!” she yelled into the night. “I am turning this broom around right this second!”

He could tell she didn’t mean it by the way she pulled his hand back around her middle and settled more firmly against him. 

“Please, Marinette, no! I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Like I could trust the promise of a sneaky little vampire like you.” She squeezed his hand. “How do I know you’re not trying to trick me? Lure me into a trap so you can bite me?”

He laughed, letting her relax against the rumblings of his chest before he lightly nipped at her ear, tightening his legs around the broom as he knew it would shake with her surprise. “As if you don’t want to get bitten by me.”

“You mangy stray.” She shook her head at him, an eyebrow raised tauntingly. 

“How dare you,” he said, pretending to be scandalized. “I’m a very hot commodity.”

“In your head, maybe.”

“I’m outraged. You know, only good witches get kisses from their vampire boyfriends. How will you survive without all this?” he flexed his bicep in her peripheral vision.

“I think I’ll manage.”

Her words were mocking, but he could hear the laugh threatening to break through and it warmed his heart. Her happiness always warmed his heart.

“I guess someone’s not going to get this amazing picnic I packed us. What a shame, too. I had a surprise in there.”

“Unless your surprise is a boyfriend who doesn’t tease me, I’m not interested.”

He scoffed. “Like you’d want someone so boring.”

She gave up the act, turning her head quickly to press a quick kiss against his cheek and leave him a casually blushing mess. “You know me too well.”

“Well enough to earn a real kiss when we land?”

“There’s nothing fake about any of my kisses.”

“You know what I mean.” He reached for the hand holding onto the broom directly in front of her knee, their skin cold and stiff. Her grip had eased in the time they’d been flying, and she relinquished the hold easily, allowing him to bring her hand up to her shoulder so he could place a kiss on her knuckles. “I want a real kiss. One where I forget how to breathe and feel like I’m floating off the face of the earth.”

A shiver ran down her body, so small he might not have noticed if she wasn’t pressed so tightly against him.

“I think you’ve been reading too many romance novels.”

“Am I reading too many or am I just living in one?” he purred, voice low and syrup-sweet.

She wanted to roll her eyes at him, but the tops of her ears burned red as he flustered her and she knew it wouldn’t escape his notice. It never did. He reveled in making her blush just as much as she did him.

“You’re lucky we reached our spot or I just might have pushed you off.”

She landed gracefully in an empty park, tall streetlamps coating the trees and bushes in a warm, yellow hue. The long grass tickled their ankles as they walked through the open area, flowers and tiny statues lining the ground. Grabbing his hand, Marinette pulled Adrien until they were seated directly under a tree off in the corner, away from the circle of lights so they could settle in the silken darkness. 

Adrien took off the backpack, pulling out a thin blanket to drape across the ground, slightly uneven from the roots poking up through the dirt. Marinette grabbed the tupperware containers and waters, setting up their spread as if it were a tiny feast.

Their eating turned into lounging with shared pastries and crumb-coated lips as Adrien’s head rested against Marinette’s thigh. Her free hand combed through his hair, unruly and knotted from the wind as he pressed a treat to her lips. His smile was small but genuine when she lingered against his thumb in a gentle kiss, heart thumping heavily in his chest.

“I love you.”

He hadn’t meant to say it. Not when they were relaxing in a park like they’d done so many nights before, food discarded at their sides and Marinette’s cloak around them for warmth. 

He’d wanted to save it. 

He’d imagined a candlelit evening, soft music swelling around them as he pulled her close to his chest, arms circling her waist while hers wrapped around his neck. He’d tell her how beautiful she was. How her kindness and sincerity and strength blew him away. He’d tell her how he loved when she teased him, loved when she held him, loved when she kissed him. 

And then he’d tell her he loved her.

But instead he’d ruined it, let the feeling burst from his lips without thought. 

“Was that my surprise?” she asked, eyes sparkling in amusement.

His hands smacked onto his face, blocking her from seeing his embarrassment. “No,” he groaned. “It was not.”

She laughed, loud and carefree, jostling him in her lap. When he didn’t join in, keeping his hands firmly planted on his cheeks, she sobered. Marinette grasped his forearms to pull his hands from his face, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. “Hey,” she whispered. “I love you.”

“You do?”

She pulled him up from his sprawled out position, dragging him against her chest so she could pepper his face with gentle kisses. “So much, Adrien.” 

He felt weightless, stomach filling with butterflies and a restless energy that made him want to hold her tight and never let her go. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” he repeated, catching her lips with his own so she could taste his happiness. 

She met each declaration with one of her own until they were completely breathless and boneless, limbs tangled together and lips just barely apart. Their fingers swirled tiny patterns onto uncovered skin, noses tracing jawlines and collarbones. The quiet rustling of leaves and the faint sounds of cars in the distance lulled to the edge of sleep.

“Issa scarf,” Adrien mumbled blearily, eyes closed as he straddled the line of consciousness. Just as close to falling asleep as Adrien, Marinette could barely make sense of his words. “Hmm? What is?”

“The surprise. Made you a scarf. ‘S red and fluffy. Keep warm while flying.”

“You keep me warm flying.” She tried to kiss him again but missed and got his chin instead. “Love you. Love the scarf. Love you.”

He smiled, drowning in her affection, drowsy in love. “You said that.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “I mean it double.”

“I mean it triple.” 

She nipped his jaw, kissing it right afterwards in apology. “I love you infinity.” 

“I love you infinity.”

“Those wretched creatures killed your mother, son.”

The ten-year-old vampire, Adrien Agreste, stared up at his father, tears in his bright emerald eyes. “Mama’s not coming back?”

“No. She’s not. Witches are responsible. We will make them rue the day they ever crossed us. No witch will live if our clan has anything to say about it,” Gabriel growled, eyes glowing a harsh red in his anger. “We must take their lives and avenge your mother’s death. Do you understand, Adrien?”

Eyes wide with fear, the small vampire nodded. “Yes, Father.”

Gabriel ran his clawed fingers through his son’s golden hair. “This day marks the day that the Agreste Clan calls for the extermination for all witches. We will hunt down their covens and demolish them all. You will be ready.”

“But Father, I don’t know how to kill anyone.”

Casting his son a sharp glare, the elder vampire hissed. “You will. You will take over our people, and call for the heads of all witches as well.”

Adrien merely nodded. “Yes, sir.”

________________________________________________________________

Adrien tossed and turned, groaning as he flopped himself flat onto his mattress. Annoyed at his lack of slumber, he glanced at the clock. It was late in the evening, meaning his father would be waking up to lead the hunt any minute, he thought irritably. Not that he was ever allowed to go. With a disgruntled sigh and roll of his eyes, Adrien wrapped his arms across his face, muttering complaints as he did so. Between a horrible dream and knowing that his father was leaving him at home to piddle around, he was a little petulant.

“You awake, Sleeping Beauty?”

Moving his arms, Adrien cracked an eye open to see the black cat sitting on his nightstand, tail swishing cockily. The vampire rolled his eyes before frowning at the creature. “Not now, Plagg. I’m not in the mood.”

“When are you ever in the mood to do anything? All you ever do is mope around your room all day,” Plagg pointed out snarkily.

Adrien sighed, turning his head to glare at the cat. It was way too soon after waking for Plagg’s harassment. “Yes. Thank you for telling me. It’s not like I can go anywhere anyway.”

“Obviously not, since your pops keeps you locked up here like a princess in a tower. Do you think one day you’ll have a handsome prince call for you to let your hair down from the window?”

Giving the creature a flat look, he threw a pillow at Plagg. In response, the cat meowed in distress, trying to avoid the projectile shot at him. “Sometimes I question why I let you stay here.”

Plagg pushed the pillow away with his paw before answering. “We both know that you would shrivel from loneliness if I hadn’t stuck around.”

“But why? My father killed your witch. I still don’t understand why you’re willing to stay around. You should think I’m awful,” Adrien asked with a curious glance.

Plagg had been living in Adrien’s room for about a year now, much to the young vampire’s confusion and dismay. Gabriel killed the witch that Plagg was the familiar of and followed his father home. After being caught sneaking around by Adrien, he had decided to stay around, however, the young vampire is the only one who knows Plagg is capable of speech.

Licking a paw, the cat ignored Adrien’s questions, as was typical for their daily routine. Adrien was much like a cat on his own: full of curiosity. “I told you already, kid, I sensed something about you. That’s all.”

“Same answer you always give,” the vampire grumbled.

He didn’t understand why Plagg wouldn’t just tell him the truth, but he never pried. As much as it pained him to admit, he didn’t want to lose the little guy. Plagg was right when he said that Adrien would be awfully lonely without him as much as he hated to admit it. The annoying cat was there for him more than anyone else in Adrien’s life. A sad fate, he thought, when he really considered it. It wasn’t like Adrien had much choice. Ever since those dreaded witches murdered his mother, his father never let him leave the lair. Adrien was constantly under the watchful eye of someone from the clan. Typically, Nathalie or the Gorilla. Both were just as harsh on him as his father.

Adrien knew that if they would just give him a chance to fight for himself, he could do it. He wasn’t defenseless. He wasn’t a child anymore. Well, technically, he was very young for a vampire. But, he was definitely a legal adult according to human standards. How would he ever venture out into the world? Meet a girl? Fall in love? Start his own section of the clan, and maybe even take over for his father, if he’s never allowed to step foot outside of the mansion walls?

But maybe… just maybe, he could.

Maybe, if he just took an opportunity into his own hands? He could hunt down a witch himself! He could kill a witch to prove himself to his father! Then his father would have to believe him, right?

Sitting up sharply, Adrien clenched the covers tightly in his palms. He shifted the fabric in his fingers as he stared down at the foot of his bed.

“Hey, kid. I can see the gears turning in your head from here. What are you thinking?”

Adrien’s jaw tightened. He glanced up at the familiar. “Will you take me to a coven?”

Plagg’s eyes narrowed into sharp slits as he glared. “No way in hell.”

“I could easily threaten you, you know? I don’t have to keep you here. I could easily throw you to the streets. I only let you stay because I feel bad for you.” A lie. Plagg probably knew that too. He hated having to be harsh with the familiar, but Adrien had no choice.

“Adrien, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

The vampire swallowed hard; throat tight. “One witch. If I could kill one witch, maybe my father would finally respect me. I could finally leave this place.”

Plagg hung his head with sigh. “That’s a big maybe, kid. You know that’s not what you want.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Adrien hissed. “My father will never let me live a little until I can prove myself to him. So, either you take me to a coven or I find one myself. If I find one myself, I’m more likely to put a lot more witches in danger because the clan is out hunting. I won’t cause a scene, I swear. I’ll just take one.”

“That’s a lot easier said than done.”

“Yeah, well. You said I was different, right? What makes me so different? Am I as weak as my father says I am?” Adrien growled, throwing the sheets from his person. “That’s what he thinks of me! He tells me all the time. That I’m weak like my mother, so I’m an easy target. I keep hoping it’s just because I’m younger, but if I can never show him that I am strong then I’ll never have the chance to get better,” he stood, huffing a breath. He shot a look to the familiar. “Are you in or not, Plagg?”

“I’m completely against this,” the cat groaned.

“Fine,” Adrien started towards the window only to have the sound of Plagg clearing his throat stop the vampire in his tracks.

“I’m against it,” Plagg continued, “but I want to make sure you don’t do anything stupid. I can’t have you causing a panic.”

Adrien nodded and swung the window open. “I promise I won’t.”

Plagg glowed before morphing into his smaller form, much like a tiny fairy. He had a green hue that shimmered in dark sky. Adrien focused all his energy and closed his eyes, feeling his form change as well. He felt himself shrink down, arms sprouting into wings and he flapped them naturally. His bat form was never that comfortable, but he didn’t mind it when necessary.

“Let’s go,” Plagg said and took off out of the window.

Adrien followed suit, keeping a watchful eye on Plagg’s glowing form, making it easier for him to keep up. Adrien contemplated what he was really doing as they flew. Was he really going to try to hunt and kill a witch all on his own? He had no choice, did he? It was surprising Plagg would betray witches so easily in order to help a vampire he barely knew. Though, he had to admit it felt a little guilty for threatening to throw Plagg out. He’d miss the annoying cat if he didn’t have him. Plus, he’d go back to utter loneliness.

As Adrien followed Plagg, he realized they were entering territory he didn’t recognize. Not that Adrien had been many places, it was just very different than he’d ever seen before. There were so many brick buildings that seemed to be their homes, much different than the mansion estates that vampires lived in. There were… cauldrons adorning different porches. Jeez, those were pretty tacky. This must have been the coven… but there were no witches alone that he could snatch. All of them seemed accompanied by another.

Buddy system… smart.

The were all so happy. They were together with family and friends. The seemed to gather and laugh. No one was even brewing in the cauldrons at that time. Weren’t witches smarmy and evil? Not even a single one of them was green!

The sound of a screech jolted him out of his thoughts. Startled, he lost concentration on his flying and had to regain his wits. Adrien watched as a witch fumbled while flying her broom. Her raven hair was pulled back into twin tails. They fluttered in the wind as she skittered across the sky. She bumped into a building and started into a downward tailspin between two buildings screaming as she did so…

That was the one.

 _______________________________________________________________

“Damn… that really hurt, Tikki,” the witch grumbled, rubbing the newly sported sore spot on her side.

The scent of the witch’s blood hit is nostrils. He noticed a scrape on her knee which must’ve been why the smell was so strong. Licking his lips, he knew this was it. The girl was not a very strong witch from the looks of it. Obviously, not the most avid of flyers since he just saw her crash her broom on a clear night. This was the moment he could prove himself to his father. Maybe it was a little sleazy to go after a witch that was injured, but in that moment it didn’t matter.

Stepping forward, he shoes echoed off the alley walls. The witch spun quickly, eyes wide and cautious as he approached yet she stayed silent. When he saw her face, Adrien hesitated. Beautiful… She was beautiful. Weren’t witches supposed to be ugly? Like with warts and big noses?

Why did she have to be so damn cute!?

No. Focus. It doesn’t matter how cute she is, she was deadly. Evil. Witches were evil.

He had to be confident. He couldn’t be afraid. Adrien decided channeling his father’s attitude would be best for this situation. Don’t feel. No guilt. Think of what mother went through when she was attacked. Take all of that anger and make the most of it.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Adrien smarmed as he approached her tauntingly.

“Who are you?” she asked, lids narrowing and brows pinching.

With a laugh, he shook his head. “You shouldn’t be concerned with who am so much as what I am,” Adrien pulled the hood down, revealing his pointed ears. He grinned at her, fangs protruding in all their glory.

Her bluebell eyes blew wide. “Vampire.”

Taking another step closer, he smirked. “That’s right.”

For every step she took backward away, Adrien took two more closer to her. He could sense her panic and could hear every pounding beat of her heart. Good, she should be afraid in her last moments. Just as his mother was when her life was taken. Step by step, he tracked her until their little dance came to an end with her having backed herself into the corner, her back pressing against the brick wall.

With the panicked expression that etched across her features, Adrien knew the witch was aware of her fate. Holding her wand up, she sucked in a visible breath. “C-Come any closer or else I’ll turn you into a toad.”

Adrien snorted at her remark. With his enhanced speed, he had her in clutches within a moment. Hands placed on either side of her head, his body caged her in place. He was in the perfect spot to bite her and drink her dead right there. “Isn’t that what you all say?”

“Your earrings!” called a tiny voice. He glanced over his shoulder to see a red, small bug-like creature floating next to him. Her familiar, he surmised. Adrien swatted the thing away, sending it flying across the alley as it cried out.

Turning his attention back to the witch, Adrien gave her a good once over. His needle-sharp fangs protruded from his lips as he leaned in towards her neck.

“Kid! Don’t do it!”

Plagg’s protests from behind him made him pause. The desperation in the cat’s tone made him grimace, but he had to ignore him. Adrien had no choice. Proving himself to his father was all he had. When he lifted his head to silence the familiar with a hiss, he caught the frightened bluebell eyes of the witch beneath him instead. So much fear in those beautiful irises. Tears bubbled over her bottom lashes, and her entire body trembled beneath him. The wand was so close to slipping from her fingertips.

She was so afraid. Afraid of him. Wasn’t that what he wanted? To be feared? To kill witches and become powerful like his father?

…Would every witch he killed look at him like that beforehand?

Adrien’s fingers dug into the brick beside her head. With a remorseful sigh, the young vampire hung his head in defeat. He couldn’t do it. He was a weak disgrace to his family… but he just couldn’t do it. Pushing off the wall, he gave the witch an apologetic gaze before crossing the alleyway. Pressing his back against the opposite wall, his knees buckled beneath him. Adrien crumpled downward to the cold ground, resting his face in his palms as he let out a sob.

Plagg approached him, placing a paw on Adrien’s knee. “I’m proud of you.”

Adrien peaked out through his fingers, giving the cat a harsh glare. “You’re not helping,” he growled.

“Why do you have a familiar?”

He flinched at the voice of the witch, head slinging upward so quick he almost cracked his head against the brick wall behind him. She was… she was talking to him? Adrien stared at her flabbergasted. “W-What?”

The witch kept her distance and shuffled uncomfortably. Her wand was pointed straight at him as she clutched it in her quivering fingers. The tip hissed a harsh red much different than the bright glow from her empty threat earlier. He noticed the familiar had also recovered from the prior backhand he’d given it and the creature was perched on her shoulder, glowering at him with her little arms crossed. If looks could kill…

“Why do you have a familiar?” she repeated, voice much harsher this time.

Adrien was in disbelief. He just tried to suck this girl dry and now she was making conversation? “I did just try to kill you. You know that right? I wasn’t told that witches had goldfish memories.”

Her cheeks flared a hot red, brows pinching. The wand grew brighter. Yeah, maybe he was testing his luck, but being turned into a toad at this point would be a vast improvement to his miserable existence. “Shut up! I know that!” she paused, giving him a sideways glance. “But I can’t help but be curious,” she muttered.

Sighing, Adrien ran his hand through his tussled blonde locks. “He’s the familiar of a witch my father killed. He’s stuck around and harassed me ever since.”

Plagg grinned. “Yeah, well, we both know you would be lonely without me.” The cat looked at the witch, gesturing to the boy next to him. “This kid? He has zero friends. I’ve never seen someone so alone in my nine lives.”

Rolling his eyes, Adrien groaned. “Can you not share my personal information with people I just tried to murder? Thanks, okay.” He stretched his legs out in front of him, observing the witch above him. “Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know… running? Telling the entire coven ‘hey, vampire!’”

“I—I should…”

“And you’re not doing that because…?”

The witch smiled. “You don’t seem like a threat.”

Scoffing, Adrien leaned his head back against the bricks, shoulders slumping with disappointment. “Gee, thanks.” This girl sure knew how to take a jab at his self-esteem.

She moved closer taking a seat next to him, much to Adrien’s dismay. He scrambled away from her, staring the girl as if she’s grown a second head. Holding a hand up between them, Adrien points at her, completely exasperated. “W-What are you doing?”

“Sitting,” she chimed. “What’s it look like?” The witch asked with a shrug.

Placing a hand over his slow-beating heart, Adrien caught his breath. He surely thought she was going to come over and stake him. That wand was still glowing hotly in her hand, he noted. Was she really trying to be friendly with him? It didn’t make any sense. This girl was clearly insane. Boy, he knew how to pick his prey, didn’t he?

Blinking at her in incredulity, he shook his head. “You are way too calm for someone who almost got the blood sucked out them.”

She leaned back against the wall with a smile, shrugging as she turned her head to look at him. “Maybe so, but you’re different from other vampires, aren’t you?”

“D-Different?”

“Yeah, you’re different. You’re not a blood thirsty murder machine like everyone says vampires are.”

With a guilty laugh, he gave a lopsided shrug. “I guess it’s fair that your kind thinks that of us. We also have similar thoughts of witches.”

Humming, she nodded. “I figured,” she paused for a moment. “What’s your name?”

He gave her a cautious glance, eyes flicking up and down. “It’s Adrien,” he drawled slowly. He knew he shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t stop his tongue from slipping up. “You?”

“Marinette,” she said, beaming as she did so.

A very pretty name for a very pretty witch. Adrien almost slapped himself at that thought. He can’t think a witch is pretty! Witches are the enemy. Flustered, he glanced away from her. “N-Nice name.”

“So, Adrien, why are you here?”

He didn’t want to think about how nice his name sounded coming out of her mouth. Shaking his head, Adrien focused on her question. “I’m… not really sure I should disclose that information.”

“Oh? Would you rather me tell the coven you’re here? Maybe turn you into a frog? Or we can go with a rat, if you’d like?”

She sure had gotten cheeky now that she had the upper hand over him. Maybe, he should have bitten her when he had the chance. Drooping with defeat, Adrien pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine,” he side-eyed her. “You’re a real smartass, you know that?”

“I feel I have the right to be considering about five minutes ago you almost had your fangs in my neck, right?’

Adrien blinked silently, gritting his teeth. “Okay, anyway…” he paused. She was certainly feisty. He didn’t really want to tell a witch about his family drama, but he could just give her the vague idea, right? God, those blue eyes made him want to melt and spill his guts to her. It wasn’t fair! “My mother… she was killed by a witch when I was young.”

Marinette’s shoulders drooped, and she glanced away from him. “I see… You want to avenge her death then?”  

Nodding, he sighed. “That’s what started it. It’s a bit more complicated than just that… My father seems to think I’m useless, so I just wanted to show him I could actually do something. But, I guess this isn’t the best way to prove it to him.”

“I think it’s better that it’s not… But don’t vampires kill humans to feed?” she asked.

He felt like that was a loaded question, but Marinette seemed to be genuinely curious. Adrien shook his head. “No… I don’t, at least. I prefer practical ways, like stealing from blood banks.”

That earned him a laugh. God, even her laugh sounded like bell chimes… No! Bad Adrien. Stop! No thinking like that about a witch! Smiling at him, she shook her head. “I’m not sure how your moral compass works, but I guess it’s better than hunting them down like cattle.”

Adrien chuckled at her comment. “Yeah, well, I came here to hunt down a witch, but I didn’t know they could be so adorable.” The statement had slipped out, really. Fuck. He just called her adorable. Covering his mouth with his hands, he shot a sideways glance in her direction. Marinette’s cheeks pinked a little, while his own blush was so dark it resembled the blood he drank.

“Well… Th-Thank you.” Marinette said, fidgeting around where she sat. She gave a teasing smile as she glanced back over to him. “I didn’t know vampires could blush.”

Standing quickly, Adrien tried to recover from his embarrassment. He couldn’t recall ever being this flustered in his entire life. “Y-Yeah, well, I…I should go before my father notices I’m gone. I’m sorry… for what I did.”

Marinette stood too, coming closer to him with a nod. “I understand and apology accepted. Maybe… maybe we should try being friends?” she asked, holding a hand out to him.

Blinking in disbelief, Adrien’s jaw fell agape at her. “You… Really?”

A soft smile graced her features. “Yes, I mean it. Everyone makes mistakes, Adrien. You were just doing what you thought would make your father proud. Do you still want to drink my blood?”

Shaking his head, he gazed down guiltily. “Not if it involves hurting you… no.” That fear in her eyes… he never wanted to see that again.

“See, I knew I was right about you,” Marinette held her hand higher. “Friends?”

Adrien smiled with a nod. “Yeah, friends,” he replied as he took her hand. She was so warm compared to him. Could he hug her? No! That was inappropriate.

After letting go of his hand, she gazed back down shyly. “If… If it’s any consolation,” her bluebell eyes met his. “I think you’re pretty cute for a vampire.”

Plagg’s snickering did not go unheard from both parties. Adrien anxiously ruffled the back of his hair. “Y-Yeah! Well. Um. Thanks f-for saying that.”

Marinette smiled. “Will I ever see you again since we’re friends now?”

Calming himself, Adrien couldn’t help but smirk. “I’ll think about it.”

________________________________________________________________

“Friends!? Friends!? Marinette, what are you thinking!? You can’t be friends with a vampire! Especially not ones that just tried to kill you!” Tikki exclaimed as she hovered around Marinette.

Marinette sighed, sitting on her chaise. “I know I shouldn’t, Tikki, but… he was so cute though.”

“Marinette! You did not just call a vampire cute!”

She waved off her familiar with a shake of her head and a laugh. “Lighten up. I didn’t die. He wasn’t that strong of a vampire. He’s obviously very young and inexperienced.”

“Experienced enough to corner and trap you. He would’ve killed you if he had been like any other vampire,” Tikki argued.

“He isn’t like any other vampire though, right? Besides, I can’t fulfill the prophecy if a weak vampire like Adrien takes me out. I was scared, but I knew I’d be fine. It’s why I didn’t try to do anything to him. He was afraid too. I could tell. No matter how much he tried to hide it behind that asshole façade,” Marinette explained as she stared up at her disgruntled familiar.

Tikki sighed, antennas drooping. “Marinette, this whole situation is so dangerous. If it gets out that you’re the witch chosen to end the war then you’re going to be in even more danger.”

“Please, Adrien won’t find out. I’ll keep my guard up and distance when I see him again.”

“See him again!? You were serious!?”

Sighing, Marinette eyed her familiar. “Tikki, if you keep being so loud you’re going to wake my parents. This whole vampire thing has to stay a secret.”

Running her paws down her face in pure dismay, the bug familiar glowered at her owner. “Are you really going to do this?”

“Think about it. This has to be some sign that will lead me to my destiny, right? It’s not every day that you casually run into a friendly vampire. If I can get close to Adrien, I can get an in and, hopefully, learn a way to defeat Gabriel Agreste. He has to be a part of that clan, right? Or at least knows of it. This is a good thing, Tikki. I promise. I can handle myself. Besides it looks like he needs it.” Marinette said with a soft smile, glancing down at her lap.

“What do you mean?”

She lifted her head, gazing out the window. “He looked so lonely…”

_____________________________________________________________

“Ugh! ‘I’ll think about it’? How lame! I really don’t know how to talk to people,” Adrien groaned as he flopped backwards onto his bed.

Plagg’s snickers did nothing to help his bruised ego. “You need to learn to talk to girls. Especially cute witches.”

Eyes flashing red, Adrien sneered. “Shut up, Plagg.”

“Oh nooo,” the familiar waved a paw. “Those eyes are so scaryyy. Whatever will I do?”

The vampire rolled his eyes, glancing at the familiar in silence for a moment. He sat up, fiddling his fingers in his lap. “Do you really think she wants to be friends with me?”

“It’s what she said, wasn’t it?”

“But she could just be playing a trick. Witches are tricksters, aren’t they? What if she’s just trying to befriend me so she can lure me in and kill me? I wouldn’t blame her. Revenge would make sense,” the words just kept bubbling from his lips. He had so many fears at the thought of a new friend. Especially a friend he wasn’t even supposed to have.

Plagg hopped from the nightstand onto the bed beside the flustered vampire. He patted a paw on his thigh. “I think she meant it, kid. Witches aren’t as tricky as you think. I would know, wouldn’t I?”

Nodding, Adrien agreed. His chest was still tight with fear, but he knew that Plagg was certainly the witch expert in their companionship. “Yeah, you’re right.” He paused for a moment, thinking back to his moment with Marinette. His cheeks pinked a little. “Plagg… she called me cute.”