Archive of Our Own

 Ladybug's big blue eyes practically bugged out of her sockets (no pun intended), her jaw fallen into an astonished yet comical gape and her face super close to her partner who internally sweatdropped from the sudden proximity (not that he minded seeing her super pretty face up close at all). Tilting his head cutely to the side, he attempted to explain himself better, still pondering over her extreme reaction to what he originally thought was just a mundane opinion for idle chatter.

 "I'm not saying I hate it. I'm just not crazy about it either...it's just...c'est juste un légume, non?" He winced when his Lady let out an unholy screech that sounded like a dying banshee, sensitive faux ears plastered to his hair from the verbal assault and brows raised under his dark mask. He knew his Lady could be super passionate and vocally strong when it comes to what she loves and protects, fiery debates and ranting about injustices and so on. 

 .

 He just didn't ever expect that his nonchalant feelings about some measly potatoes would arouse such blazing fire within her beautiful blue eyes as if he just claimed that the Jagged Stone wishes he was as amazing as the talentless XY or that the moon landing is a mere conspiracy theory to make America look good.

 "I knew you were a bit sheltered and naive with the bits and pieces that you shared about yourself with me, but I didn't think that you were this bad to the point of having...having wrong opinions!?" She was back to pulling on her hair with an intensity that worried her partner, the boy reaching forward with his arms with the intention to grasp her hands away from the poor midnight strands. Thankfully, her hands went to squish her face with frustrated groans seeping out of her mouth and her mind still scrambled from his supposed ridiculous thoughts regarding the despicable potatoes.

 Chat Noir couldn't help but scowl, wondering whether his taste buds really were quite insane or if his Lady was overreacting (which was more common than one would think). His mind wandered back to all his very lonely and very tasteless meals that featured les pommes de terre. Either boiled with little to no salt with a measly leaf of parsley as a garnish, mashed with a texture so dry that he has to drink at least five glasses of water to get it down his throat or roasted to the point where his teeth have trouble sinking in through the tough skin and all that he could taste was bitter smoke.

 Even the occasional crisps that his wonderful best friend Nino shared with him at le collège didn't capture his fancy. Far from it if he was entirely honest. The feline hero really didn't like the way the extremely savoury flavourings assaulted his tongue nor the way that the crunchy snack would stay stubbornly glued to his teeth, making him way too self-conscious to even open his mouth let alone talk or even smile-

 "That's it!"

 Chat Noir was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts when Ladybug finally stood up from the rooftop they were seated on, snatching his hand without a beat and vaulting him to his feet in a manner that made his entire world spin. His heart leapt to his throat from the way her twin blue flames bored into his larger frame and he could have sworn that if had fur, they would have stood on their ends just like his iconic belt tail behind him.

 She may be oh-so-tiny...mais, mon Dieu, she was also a huge force to be reckoned with. 

 "Screw our secret identities. I'm taking you to my house right now right this second and you're gonna eat the best damn potatoes you ever had." She admonished confidently, leaving no room for arguments or even a semblance of common sense, hauling his boyish body over one of her tiny shoulders and swinging away (blind to the way his eyes were wider than an owl's in both shock and elation of them finally, finally unmasking).

 .

 Adrien Agreste continued to remain entirely bamboozled and ridiculously dumbstruck with his hands clenching the denim of his jeans and his big green eyes wide open. Yet, whilst his mind was a windows error notification spamming the screen, his body was on autopilot and played along with his Lady's whims. Oh yeah, did he forget to mention that his Lady is also his loveable, cute, illegally talented good friend Marinette Dupain-Cheng? And that she didn't even blink twice when he was unravelled as shy model, awkward Adrien Agreste at the kitchen table? Even seating him down on one of the chairs without missing a beat and babbling about all the amazing dishes that he was going to get to try and finally change his opinion?

 "These are just a bunch of simple dishes I quickly whipped up since I don't have time to make anything extravagant...and it is way past midnight. But here, dig in," Marinette nudged the numerous plates of deliciousness to him on the table nonchalantly, as if she wasn't presenting a buffet of some of the most enticing cuisines he's ever seen, his emerald greens dilating from the scent of the food alone and he was deaf to the way she was huffing in impatience.

 Arranged on the table were all sorts of meals that definitely didn't look simple at all and were practically begging for him to eat them all up in one go. Ranging from fresh sweet potato fries coated generously in paprika, garlicky and creamy mashed potatoes (with a jug of steaming gravy and sliced sausages to the side), gnocchi in a yummy looking cheesy sauce that even had Plagg hovering over it with amazement and gluttony, piping hot Gamja Bokkeum (Korean sweet soy glazed potatoes) that was covered in toasted sesame seeds and spring onions and just so, so much more dishes he could barely describe.

 A meal fit for a king.

 Was a silly teenage boy like him even worthy of having a taste of the abundance of beautiful treasures that was set before him? Handmade by the love of his life, the very same girl he fell for twice (or at the very least thrice; with how he's fallen in love with her all over again because of the food she decided to cook just for him)?

 "Ugh! Staring at them isn't going to get them in your stomach!" Restlessness won over and Marinette quickly fetched a pair of chopsticks from the side, picking up a piece of the scrumptious, steaming hot soy sauce glazed potato and placing it in his obedient mouth as she cupped his cheek firmly yet tenderly.

 .

 Adrien's entire being was suddenly pummelled with an indescribable sensation of absolute pleasure and sheer ecstasy as if he was knocked through three buildings and landed in one of the seven heavens. The savoury sweet taste of the sauce was like fireworks bursting in his mouth, the slight heat and kick from the red chillies that tickled his palette warmed up his entire body and the soft, soft fluffiness and crispiness that was the potato turned his entire being into melted butter.

 "This...this is what potatoes really taste like...?" He couldn't help but murmur dreamily, eyes closed in pure bliss and peachy pink lips curved up into an adorable beam as he savoured the taste of his Lady's amazing, spectacular cooking. He barely caught her victorious smirk playing on her mouth and the way her baby blues glittered with pride and achievement, her heart pounding in her chest with delight as the vicinity was filled with her Chaton's happy purrs.

 "And all this time, you thought they were just a silly little vegetable~" She teased endearingly, placing another piece in his waiting mouth without wasting any more time. "These were made on a whim so just imagine how amazing they'd taste if more effort and time was put into it,"

 Adrien watched her anew with admiration, his emerald greens softening with affection as his Lady happily treated herself to a sweet potato fry. His heart beat a thousand times faster against his ribcage, his cheeks emitting a rosy pink flush with love and contentment and his eyes continuing to shimmer with devotion. Using a finger to not only wipe off some of the paprika that lingered on the corner of her lips but also to gather her attention, Adrien couldn't help but speak. 

 "You're amazing, Marinette. Thank you. Thank you for this delicious meal and for trusting me enough to share your identity." Before he knew it, he timidly leaned forward to place a tender, gracious kiss on her forehead, his cheeks continuing to blaze in colour and his heart hammering inside his chest like crazy.

 "What? Share my identity- OH! ...Oh..." All of a sudden her pale complexion instantly changed to a hot red colour, concerning her partner who readied his hands in case he needed to do something to alleviate her emotions. "I was so fixated on potatoes that I didn't fully realise that you're my Chaton- I MEAN! My Chat Noir- no, no! I mean! I mean! Aaaaaa..."

 Luckily, Adrien was more than accustomed to Marinette's iconic babbles and flustered actions since it was a regular occurrence at school or whenever he manages to sneak out of his prison-like house to hang out with her and their close friends. He grinned patiently, giving her time to manoeuvre through her scrambled thought process and regather her bearings, all whilst gently holding her hands and squeezing the hardworking appendages gingerly.

 His sweet touches lead Marinette out of her word soup dialogues and brought her mind back on track. Her watery and nervous baby blues peered into his content, sparkling greens, the dark-haired girl now piecing together just how ecstatic she's made him. How incredibly happy she's made her Chat Noir.

 Her Chaton.

 .

 "You could've stopped me you know. You're strong enough to break out of my hold and run off." She couldn't help but darlingly pout, averting her gaze from his radiant smile and clinging to her shred of stubbornness and pride. Her cheeks coloured anew from his warm laugh, eyes back on him as he brought her skilled hands to his chest just so she could feel how hard and fast his heart was racing at this moment. How thoroughly affected he too was with the revelations the night brought them.

 "And miss out on the chance of trying out my Lady's handmade cooking? Not a chance~" He was pure Chat Noir right there and then, lips upturned into a silly and lovesick grin and cheekbones blooming in an adorable red. "Do you regret it? Revealing yourself to me?" He was playing dirty, eyes wide like a kitten's (like the beloved nicknames she has for him) and his forehead resting on hers. He knew that she was far from dissatisfied, especially with how she remained relaxed and comfortable within his grasp. 

 Mais aussi, il n'est pas un ange.

 "Not the eyes! That's cheating!" Marinette snatched one of her hands away, trying to shove his face far from hers and practically growling at his quiet, mischievous snickers. It was really starting to settle in that the love of her life who she assumed was a bashful yet dear Prince was also a cheeky and obnoxious jester.

 "You know I don't regret it, you ridiculous cat! I just wish it wasn't this anticlimactic!" She blurted and then was taken aback by the sudden gleam in his spring-green eyes.

 "So you have imagined us revealing ourselves? Tell me, tell me all about them~" The grin he wore was borderline shit-eating, a finger poking one of her puffed-up cheeks annoyingly. "How many of them were romantic and full of kisses, ma Buguinette~? How many of them have me swooning in your arms as you lead us down the aisle for our happily ever after~?"

 .

 He was met with silence and for a split second, Adrien worried that he may have pushed too far with his teasings. However, that thought was quick to be replaced with one of reverence and wonder. Her eyes were averted once again, sky blues barely peeking under her long, thick lashes and her cheeks a beautiful sakura pink. One hand was clenched against her chest (which was starting to hurt from the rapid way her heart has been battering it) whilst her perfect teeth tugged on her soft lips.

 Lips that were illegally kissable, plum blossom pink and just so, so, so perfect.

 He's been kissed by those very same lips a handful of times too, now that he noticed with a loud gulp.

 "All," Marinette decisively confessed, determination now lacing her beautiful features as she faced him with cheeks continuing to colour. "All of them. So what?" She narrowed her eyes, daring him to tease her again. Little did she know how much air was punched out of his body from her words alone and now he was barely unable to comprehend any thoughts, let alone talk.

 .

"...Then you should kiss me now...right?" His voice was quite hoarse and his remaining courage was on a scarily thin tightrope. "We wouldn't want your dreams and plans to go to waste...right?" His tone delved lower and lower until it was nothing more than a pleading, wanting whisper, unable to mask his raw feelings and thundering emotions.

 .

 He was answered by the press of her soft shy lips upon his.

 .

 "There...happy?" The aspiring designer pulled away far too quickly, not even letting him kiss back and cherish the moment. She received a lightly irked look from him, one of his hands now clasping the back of her neck whilst the other dug its fingers into the fabric of her shirt. Emerald greens now darkened with sheer want.

 "Oh, no. Not even close," He fibbed, a devious smirk being the last thing Marinette saw as Adrien crashed their lips together clumsily with all the pent-up love and feelings that has been building up within him ever since she crash-landed into his life.

 Literally.

 .

 And thus, potatoes became his favourite vegetable.