Spider Adrian: (This Piece is based on an incredible artist; check out his Insta: @art_the_f_up for the Spiderman AU Series following part 3) Thank you, Art, for the inspiration, enjoy!
Marinette stares off watching the blinking lights of Paris, atop her balcony. She can’t help the lingering smile dancing across her cheeks. Enjoying the view from her balcony, she lets out a heavy sigh, it wasn’t the Eiffel Tower’s view or the Champ de Mars she’s witnessed during her time being Ladybug. No, for the first time in forever, she felt like every other teenager. Her balcony was the one place she could be herself; she didn’t have to wear a mask to enjoy such a view. A static buzzing sound interrupts the daydreams of her crush, Paris’s famous model, Adrian Agreste.
Turning around, she scans the empty balcony before her, with a slight flicker, she notices one of the bulbs on the string of lights above her head dying. Sighing, she makes her way to her skylight, falling down on top of her be,d before descending the stairs to her bed. Ruffling around her desk for a spare bulb, a red blur zips past her head.
“What are you looking for?” Tiki squeaks, plopping down on her left shoulder.
“Oh, just a spare light bulb, I thought I had one up here when my dad strung them up, but I must have misplaced it. Oh well, I’ll just go down and look in the kitchen. You want me to grab you a cookie, Tiki?” Marinette says, walking over to the trap door leading downstairs to the living room/kitchen.
“Yes, please!” Tiki squeals in delight before zipping back up to Marinette's bed. Marinette giggles softly before rushing down the stairs, only to return ten minutes late, balancing a tray full of different cookies and two spare bulbs. She set one of the bulbs down by her desk before racing up the stairs to her bed and setting down two macarons by the tiny red kwami. Tiki gleams up at her before Marinette disappears back up onto the balcony. Setting down the leftover goods on a nearby table, looking eyes on her next task at hand. Turning off the lights, she sits below the old bulb, taking the new one out of the box. Reaching up on her tippy toes, her fingers lightly graze the bottom of the hot bulb.
“Ouch!” Leaping back, she howls in pain, shaking her fingers in the air. Probably should have waited a little while longer after I turned off the lights. Setting up a chair below the light bulb before cautiously balancing atop the chair. Struggling to focus on her balance, she leans forward just a bit too far over the railing, the looming concrete below her sends her flinging her arms in a windmill maneuver backward. Focus Marinette! Your Ladybug, you can keep your balance and change one little light bulb. Tilting her head up, she feels the uncomfortable dizziness wash through her body. Her bluebell eyes stare up at the vast starry sky above her. Twisting the lightbulb on shaky tippy toes she pulls out the old one before switching hands and screwing the new one in. Twisting slowly, she feels her balance give out. She leans forward just a bit too much, trying to even it out, seemingly forgetting the distance of the ground below her.
“Nahhh!” Her foot bangs against the iron railing, the ground rising up to meet her face before a strong force wraps around her belly, pulling her up. Her eyes flutter open, and she's astonished to see her partner’s face only inches away from hers. Landing on her balcony, he lets his grip relax, but his arm remains wrapped around her waist.
“Adi-um-Spiderman?!”
“You know if you ever want to see me, you just have to ask, you don’t have to risk your life.” Spiderman smugly says, ripping off his mask and leaning his other arm against the railing. Still recovering from her near-death experience, she rolls her eyes, pushing away from him. Walking over to the chair to finish screwing in the lightbulb, Spiderman is quick pouncing in front of her and finishing twisting the lightbulb.
“Thank you, Spiderman, for saving me, but I could have done that,” Marinette says as she flips on the switch before walking over to him, trying in vain to not get hypnotized by his charming features. They were now standing in the center, and Adrian could feel his cheeks growing flushed. Jabbing her finger in the center of his fluttering chest, Marinette couldn’t help the question spilling from her rosy lips. “Besides, how did you save me so fast? I haven’t seen anything of an Akuma attack today. Were you spying on me?”
“Spying? Me!?” He throws his hand over his forehead exuberantly, trying to hide the slight tint of a blush creeping upon his model-like features. “How could you ever imply that? I’m a superhero, and I look for danger. Besides, if it wasn’t me who would have saved you?!” He says, looming over her petite figure.
“You never know, Ladybug could have saved me,” Marinette says nonchalantly, but she hadn’t even thought to change into Ladybug. If it really wasn’t for her partner, she wouldn’t be here, and the worst part would be no more Ladybug to save Paris from its treacherous villains.
Spiderman huffed, “Aww, I thought I was your number one superhero. Besides, I haven’t seen Ladybug tonight.” Spider-Man says, scanning the rooftops surrounding them, for his red and black spotted partner.
Marinette gazed up at his face, the light illuminating his golden locks was mesmerizing, her eyes traced his jawline and facial features. Wow, no wonder everyone in school wanted to date him or be him! Has he always been so handsome, even before puberty hit him like a semi-truck? Her eyes trailed down to his toned, muscular shoulders. I know being a superhero has its perks and all, but I wonder if under the super-suit he’s really that- Marinette shook the thoughts from her head as Adrian’s emerald eyes landed back on her. Feeling the heat rising up to her cheeks at being caught ogling her best friend/ “secret” partner, she turns away from him, her eyes landing on the platter of cookies.
Stumbling forward, she picks up the plate and extends it out to him, “Ugh, would you like to help me finish off the leftover pastries from today?” Adrian flashes his heart-melting smirk at her. This only prompts her to hide her face with the plate of treats before her. Without saying anything, he snatches up a few macaroons and chocolate-filled croissants. Stuffing them into his mouth before she grabs a strawberry-filled croissant herself. Setting the plate down on the floor, she sits criss-cross applesauce, staring past Spiderman’s well-toned legs. Spider-Man walks over sitting down and stealing a glance at Marinette. “Um, can-can I ask you a question?” Marinette turns her head, looking at an uncomfortable Spider-Man. “Yeah, sure.”
Smiling softly, he stares out at the blinking lights of their city. “What do you think will happen after Ladybug and I defeat all the villains?” Spiderman’s question surprised her, it’s not that she hadn’t thought the same question, but she never seemed to have the answer.
“I-I don’t know. Why are you asking me instead of Ladybug?” Marinette asks, fidgeting her fingers through her low pigtails. Spider-Man turns back towards her, noticing her sudden discomfort. “Sorry, ahh well it’s getting late, thanks for the snacks, I’ll see you tomorrow!” Before Mari could get a word out, Spider-Man was just a speck slinging away.
{The next night}
She hears a slight thump behind her, spinning on her heels, she’s met face to face-or well, “face to chest” with the red and blue superhero. “Looks like I’m not the only one who stays up late,” Spiderman whispers, looking down at Marinette with a wide, chastising grin. His eyes gleam mischievously bright green behind his mask, but something was different.
“Ahh, Spider-Man, do you ever announce yourself! You almost gave me a heart attack!” Marinette scolds him, shoving her finger against his suited chest.
Spiderman chuckles, holding his stomach before smirking down at her flustered red face. “What were you daydreaming about- or should I say, who were you just daydreaming about just a few minutes ago? I thought I saw you dancing at one point. Didn’t know you had such moves, princess! Soooo, who is it that has captured your attention? ”
“W-w-what e-ever do y-y-you mean?” Marinette debated letting the newest “Agreste” magazine, clutched in her fingers, drop to the street below. Hesitating for a second too long, Spider-Man takes the perfect opportunity to snake his arms around her back and rip the magazine out of her grasp. Letting out a gasp, she jumps up in the air, trying to grab the magazine back from Spiderman’s slick fingers. Holding it high above his head, knowing there was no way she could reach it now, he couldn’t help but laugh at her attempts to jump up. He lets his eyes flicker up to scan the object in his fingers.
“HEY! GIVE it BACK! When did you get so TALL!” Marinette tries kicking his shins, but his spidey senses are no match for her. She scans for something to stand on, but the chairs and table are over by the skylight. Leaning her back against the railing, an idea pops into her mind. Flashing the cunning superhero a mischievous smile, Marinette spins around, facing the blinking lights of their city before them. She takes in a deep breath before raising up on her tippy-toes and climbing over the railing. Holding on tight, she balances herself on the other side, barely stepping on the overlapping concrete balcony. Glancing over her shoulder at a stunned Spiderman, mouth agape, still holding the Agreste magazine in the air, she knew this was the……….
“Ohh no, I’m slipping! If only there were a superhero who could save me, a helpless citizen!” Marinette slowly plucks her fingers off the railing, leaving only her pinkies left but extending her body out and over the street. Shaking his head, Spider-Man crosses his arms, not buying her bluff. The dog-eared page of a shirtless Adrian was staring back at her under his forearm. Taking in a deeper breath, she slides her pinkies off, barely grazing the railing, when a web snatches onto her right shoulder.
“Mari! What the hell are you thinking!?” Snatching the magazine from his grasp, he pulls her up over the railing. Ripping off his own mask. Once her feet touch down safely, she backs up, throwing the magazine towards the open skylight.
“Oh, what’s wrong? I knew you were going to catch me. Besides, that's what you get for scaring me earlier, now we're even!” Marinette says, rising up on her tippy-toes and planting a playful kiss on his cheek. Just as she begins to pull away, his arms pull her closer to him, squeezing her tightly. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again.” Adrian’s warm breath brushes against Marinette’s ear, sending her heart racing. Mouth agape, a scarlet red painted across her features. Adrian’s words swirling around in her stomach, like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
