Chapter 1
The towering glass doors of the movie studio shimmered under the bright Parisian sun as Marinette Dupain-Cheng stepped inside. She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, a sketchbook peeking out from the top, and tried to steady her breathing. Today marked the start of her first official job as a fashion designer, and not just any job- she was tasked with creating outfits for one of Bob Roth's upcoming films. It felt like a dream.
A kind looking woman in her late forties, dressed in a chic yet professional ensemble, greeted her with a warm smile. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng? Welcome! I’m Claire, the head of costume design. It’s a pleasure to have you on board."
Marinette returned the smile, her voice a bit breathless. "Thank you so much! I'm really excited to be here."
"Let me give you a quick tour before we settle you into your office," Claire said, leading Marinette through the bustling corridors of the studio. They passed soundstages where set pieces were being assembled, makeup rooms filled with actors getting prepped, and design workshops. Marinette's wide eyes took in every detail, the atmosphere igniting a spark of inspiration within her.
Finally, they stopped in front of a sleek office with a large window overlooking the studio lot. Inside, a spacious desk was neatly arranged with fabric swatches, sketchpads, and a sewing kit. A mannequin stood in the corner, ready to be adorned.
"This will be your space," Claire said. "We have a tight schedule, so you'll need to start working right away. The director is expecting a first round of sketches by the end of the day. Think bold, modern, but with a touch of timeless elegance."
Marinette nodded, already imagining designs swirling in her mind. "I won't let you down."
As Claire left, Marinette sat at the desk, flipping open her sketchbook. Pencil in hand, sketching graceful silhouettes and detailed patterns. The only sounds being the soft scratch of her pencil against her paper.
But just as she was putting the finishing touches on one of her glamorous designs, a familiar voice from the hallway made her freeze.
"Adrien, they want you on set in ten minutes."
Her heart skipped a beat.
No way.
She peeked through the slightly ajar door and there he was- Adrien Agreste. Older, even more handsome than she remembered, and still possessing that effortless charm. He was laughing at something one of the crew members said. His smile could brighten up a whole room.
Mari’s mind raced. It had been years since she last saw Adrien. Not since graduation. He had disappeared without a word, leaving everyone confused and worried. Nino, Alya and all their other friends… no one knew where he had gone. Kagami once mentioned something about London, but even she seemed unsure. Marinette had been heartbroken.
And now, here he was.
Taking a steadying breath, Marinette straightened her sketchbook and forced herself to focus. She had work to do.
Even if her first day just got a whole lot more complicated.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Marinette finally packed up her things. The studio had quieted down, and the buzz of the day had faded into a peaceful stillness. She slipped out of her office, her mind still a whirl of the unexpected shock of seeing Adrien again.
But this evening, she had other plans.
Marinette made her way across town to a cozy apartment, one that belonged to Luka. He had his own place now, a reflection of his calm and artistic spirit- soft lighting, guitars lining the walls, and the scent of tea lingering in the air.
"Mari," Luka greeted with a gentle smile as he opened the door. "Long day?"
She nodded, stepping inside and letting the familiar comfort of his presence wash over her. "You could say that."
Luka studied her face for a moment. "Something's bothering you," he said softly.
Marinette forced a smile and shook her head. "It's nothing. Just... first-day nerves, I guess."
He didn’t press further, simply offering her a cup of tea and a spot on the couch. The unspoken understanding between them was enough.
Which was all Marinette needed.
The evening wore on gently. They talked about Luka's latest music projects, his upcoming gigs, and the new songs he was working on. Marinette listened intently, grateful for the distraction. Still, her mind kept drifting back to the studio- and Adrien.
At one point, Luka strummed his guitar softly, a mellow tune filling the air. Marinette leaned back against the couch, her hands wrapped around the warm mug of tea. "You know," Luka said after a long pause, "you don't have to tell me what's wrong... but I'm here if you need to talk to someone."
Marinette's gaze dropped to her tea, her heart heavy with unspoken thoughts. She bit her lip, the words lingering at the edge of her mind, until finally, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I saw Adrien today," she blurted softly. "At the studio. He... he's back."
Luka's fingers paused on the strings, the soft music fading into silence. His expression didn't shift much, but there was a subtle tension in his jaw- concern, maybe something else- before he gave a small nod.
"Adrien?" he echoed quietly. "After all this time?"
Marinette swallowed hard, her emotions a tangled mess. "Yeah... I don't know why he's here or what he's been doing all these years. He just... disappeared after graduation, and now, he's suddenly back like nothing happened."
Luka's gaze softened, his voice calm. "That must've been a shock."
Marinette let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through her hair. "You could say that."
After a beat of silence, Luka tilted his head slightly. "Does he know you saw him? That you're aware he's back in Paris?"
Marinette's lips parted, but no words came out right away. She blinked, realizing she didn't actually know the answer. "I... I don't think so. I didn't talk to him. He didn't see me."
Luka nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "So he doesn't know."
The silence between them was both comforting and heavy, the weight of old wounds and unresolved feelings settling in the room.