I pushed open the bakery door, the scent of honeyed bread and vanilla frosting curling around my senses like a welcome. The bell above chimed with a cheerful jingle for the second time. I was back, I let myself sink into the atmosphere of the place. The hum of the oven, the light clatter of trays in the back, and the golden afternoon light spilling through the windows, it was quiet, cozy. Just how I liked it.
This wasn't the original lunch spot Adrien had mentioned initially—some overpriced garden cafe near the Seine—but I'd managed to convince him with a quick suggestion from me last night to go to Marinettes shop instead. It was much more convenient for everyone after all. No one had really argued. Adrien, unsurprisingly, had just smiled and gone with it. A
But I knew why I did it. I needed to see Marinette again. To see how far the line between trust could stretch.
"Over here!" Adrien waved from a booth by the window, his blond hair catching the light in soft glints. He had that permanently relaxed model posture, the kind that looked effortless but probably came from a lifetime of being told to hold his shoulders just so.
What I didn't expect was the quiet but unmistakable figure of Kagami' who sat beside Adrien
Kagami?
My eyes landed on her, already seated at one of the corner table. She turned her head slightly hearing me enter, then smiled. not the polite curve she gave teachers or competitors that was almost imperceivable but a genuine practiced one, She tilted her chin upward in greeting like I was the one who'd invited her.
Which I hadn't.
I gave a slight nod, covering the shift in my expression as I stepped forward.
"Didn't know you'd be joining us," I said, letting the words come out casual, no edge.
"I didn't either," Kagami replied plainly. "Adrien invited me after fencing."
Kagami arms folded with a glass of water untouched before her looked at me intensely
Of course. Fencing. I hadn't been there friday for our meet, distracted by Max's brilliant innovations for my future success. I had practiced with them for the final meet jst the other day, dulled sabers and masks that didn't quite hide their tells. Adrien's parries were textbook. Kagami's were like brushstrokes fluid, precise, laced with judgment. And mine?
I fought like I was playing a melody no one else could hear , powerful, patinet, and unpredictable. Luckily for me that wasn't the final but the semi's, I had to figue out the dates for that later but right now wasn't the time.
"Hope that's okay," Adrien added, flashing me a sheepish grin. "She didn't have plans, and I figured… the more the merrier?"
I gave a slow blink. "Sure," I said. "The more the merrier."
Her eyes met mine and lingered for a beat too long.
I crossed the room with slow, easy steps and dropped into the empty side of seats across from Adrien, when Marinette came over in a hurry
"Hey," I said with a tilt of my head. "Nice of you to host us."
Marinette blinked like she wasn't sure whether to offer a polite smile or run.
"I didn't… I mean, I wasn't expecting…" she trailed off, brushing an invisible crumb from her apron before slipping into the booth beside me.
Guess a schedule with a time on it would have been better.
With a tray in toe she set the cooled down baked good onto the table, "Sorry if there a bit messy I didn't expect you two arriving so early", She said pointed looking at Adrien and Kagami.
"She's being modest," Adrien cut in looking in my and kagamis direction. "This place is awesome. I've always wanted to try their strawberry croissants."
"They're seasonal," Marinette murmured, staring hard at the table. "We're technically between batches right now."
Kagami raised a single eyebrow. "Technically?"
"Mom's cooling some in the back," Marinette admitted. "But they won't be ready until—"
"Perfect," Adrien beamed, leaning back with a grin that could have powered a billboard.
Marinette made a soft, strangled noise beside me.
"We can talk while we wait."
We started light. Talk of school. Of fencing practice, which, in turn lead us to playfully ask Marinette to join. Her reaction was endearing, I almost wanted to tease her again, but held my tongue I needed good timing for what I was going to say Adrien joked about Kagami nearly taking his head off with a lunge last week. She didn't deny it. Marinette laughed in a way that sounded like she forgot she wasn't supposed to be enjoying herself.
I let it all swirl around me like background music.
But my mind stayed focused.
Moments like these—warm, harmless, full of laughter and clinking glasses, they had a way of loosening people's guards. I wasn't here just to joke around
Adrien was in the middle of a story about how Kim had accidentally knocked over the practice dummy and made the fencing coach cup and he somehow saved it at the last second when I leaned back in my seat and stretched my arms behind me, casual.
"You know," I said, voice just a shade lower, smoother, "with all this talk of swordplay and battle reflexes… I've been thinking about the new Queen Bee lately."
Marinette didn't freeze but stiffened slighty beside me.
Kagami gave me a contemplative look, eyes sharp. Listening.
Adrien perked up. "You mean the one from the Ladyblog? Alya did a whole breakdown on her takedown of that sentimonster last week."
"Yeah," I nodded. "That's the one."
"Queen Bee's everywhere lately," Kagami said. "News clips, live rescues, interviews. She's even started selling her own merchandise."
Marinette gave a soft huff of disbelief. "Don't forget the custom leather jackets. She wore one in that rooftop interview last week like it was a movie premiere."
Adrien laughed. "Okay, but… she looked cool."
Marinette's cheeks flushed "Y-yeah I guess your right."
I gave a soft smile, It was my idea after all.
I watched Marinette from the corner of my eye. "You like her?"
"She's impressive," Marinette admitted, grabbing a still warm croissant . "Combat-wise, she's sharp. Doesn't flinch. I'd even say she's on par with Ladybug and Cat Noir."
"She has presence," Kagami agreed. "And technique."
"But…" Marinette added, voice soft but firm, "Shes a bit aggressive. It's not all bad, just… different."
"Different can be good," I said mildly, tracing the edge of my plate with a finger. "She plays to win."
Marinette's lips pressed into a thoughtful line. "Sometimes it's not about winning fast. It's about making sure the people around you are safe. Queen Bee's results are strong, but her methods… they leave a few risks."
Adrien looked thoughtful, leaning his hand to his head. "Still, she's doing real work. outside of fighting, she gives statements. Talks to people. Builds trust for all the heroes of Paris."
No one said anything right away. Adrien looked mellowed out by our conversation, Kagami was just watching and waiting patiently for someone to speak.
Marinette…
She looked somewhat concentrated, as though she didn't want anyone to notice.
I let my gaze linger on Marinette just long enough for it to register that I was staring, then looked away again.
"I've been wondering," I continued, voice easy but deliberate, "if maybe Paris could use a few more hands on deck. People who understand what it takes to protect others."
Adrien paused his hand mid-air grabbing a croissant, sitting there with a contemplative look and raised eyebrow.
Kagami's eyes sharpened. "Do you know someone?"
"No," I said easily, "but with the city depending on just two people… it's only logical there'd be room for more."
"So you want more people like Queen bee." Marinette said slowly.
"Maybe." Is all I answered with, I'll let them come to the obvious conclusion on their own.
I'd wanted a miraculous for a while now, It was only a matter of forcing it left. I wondered which one I'd get when I enacted my plan tomorrow. The rooster, goat, snake? It didn't matter all that much but I needed it to adjust it to my fighting style.
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket.
I pulled it out, saw the name flash across the screen: Chloé.
Of course.
I stood smoothly, like it was just another beat in the rhythm of the day.
"Duty calls," I said, slipping the phone into my hand without answering it. "Thanks for lunch, sorry I couldn't stay for your moms." I said grabbing a croissant on the way out
Adrien gave a small wave. Kagami nodded once.
Marinette didn't say anything.
But before I reached the stood, I paused beside Marinette. Close enough that only she could hear me.
"If things ever get too heavy," I murmured, "you know where to find me."
She looked up, startled, but smiled gently. I Didn't wait for her response.
The door clicked shut behind me, and the air outside was cooler than I remembered.
Still, I didn't stop walking.
Not until I reached my goal.
I had a call to take and a future to shape.
One step at a time
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Author Note- considering picking up my owl house fic, thoughts?.