Chapter 23: First Date

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the safe house. Marinette sat at the kitchen counter, nursing a cup of tea and trying to calm the nervous energy buzzing in her chest. She had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the previous night like a favorite scene from a movie.

Felix had kissed her.

She still couldn't believe it. Part of her had expected things to be awkward between them the next morning, but when Felix strolled into the kitchen with his usual unflappable demeanor, she felt a wave of relief.

"Good morning," he greeted, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Morning," Marinette replied, her voice a little too high-pitched for her liking. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Did you sleep well?"

Felix glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I did. And you?"

Marinette fought the urge to roll her eyes at his knowing tone. "Fine."

"Fine?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You seem a little... jittery."

"I'm not jittery!" Marinette protested, though her hands betrayed her as they fiddled with the hem of her sweater.

Felix chuckled softly, taking a sip of his coffee. "Good to know."

The silence that followed was surprisingly comfortable, though Marinette's heart was still racing. After a few moments, Felix leaned casually against the counter, his green eyes fixed on her.

"So," he began, setting down his mug. "About tonight."

Marinette's breath hitched. "Yes?"

"Where are we going?" he asked, his tone light but his gaze serious.

"Oh," Marinette said, realizing she hadn't thought that far ahead. "Um, I thought maybe... dinner? Something simple?"

Felix nodded thoughtfully. "Dinner works. Casual or formal?"

"Casual," Marinette said quickly. Then, realizing she might sound too eager, she added, "I mean, we don't have to make a big deal out of it."

"Right," Felix said, though the amused glint in his eyes suggested he saw through her attempt at nonchalance

As the day wore on, Marinette found herself growing increasingly anxious. It wasn't just any date—it was their date, and that made it feel monumental. She spent an embarrassing amount of time debating what to wear, finally settling on a knee-length navy-blue dress with a delicate floral pattern. It was elegant but not overdone, exactly the balance she hoped to strike.

Felix, meanwhile, seemed entirely unfazed. When Marinette emerged from her room, he was waiting by the door in dark jeans and a button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked effortlessly put together, as if he hadn't given his outfit a second thought.

"You look lovely," Felix said, his voice soft but sincere.

Marinette blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Oh, um, thank you. You look nice too."

"Shall we?" Felix offered his arm with a slight smirk.

Marinette couldn't help but laugh, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm. "Let's go, Mr. Smooth."

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They walked, until Marinette pulled Felix inside a quaint little bistro tucked away on a quiet street. The soft glow of fairy lights strung along the windows created a cozy atmosphere, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.

The host led them to a small table near the window, and Marinette felt a flutter of nervous excitement as Felix pulled out her chair for her.

"Thank you," she said, sitting down and smoothing her dress.

Felix took the seat across from her, his sharp green eyes scanning the menu. "Any recommendations?"

Marinette glanced at the menu, her lips curving into a small smile. "The ratatouille is amazing here. And their desserts are to die for."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Desserts, you say? Now you've piqued my interest."

The playful banter continued as they placed their orders and waited for their food. Marinette found herself relaxing, the earlier tension melting away as Felix's dry humor and quick wit put her at ease.

"So," Felix said after the waiter had left, "what made you decide to ask me out?"

Marinette nearly choked on her water. "I—I didn't ask you out! I just asked if you were free tonight!"

Felix's smirk widened. "Semantics."

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are," Felix said, his tone teasing but his gaze warm.

Marinette lowered her hands, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "Fine. Maybe I did ask you out. But you didn't have to say yes."

Felix leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "True. But I wanted to."

Marinette blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. "Why?"

Felix met her gaze, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Because you intrigue me, Marinette. You always have."

Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Fortunately, the arrival of their food provided a welcome distraction.

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Halfway through the meal, Marinette's gaze wandered to the dessert menu. Felix noticed her distraction and raised an eyebrow.

"Planning your next move?" he asked.

She grinned. "You could say that."

When the waiter returned, Marinette ordered two desserts—one for each of them—and declared it a contest.

"The challenge is simple," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Whoever finishes first wins."

"And what does the winner get?" Felix asked, intrigued.

Marinette paused, tapping her chin dramatically. "Bragging rights. Or... the loser has to pay for dinner."

Felix smirked. "You're on."

The duel commenced with both of them diving into their respective plates of decadent chocolate cake. Marinette, ever the strategist, employed a mix of speed and precision, while Felix took a more deliberate approach, savoring each bite.

In the end, Marinette emerged victorious, throwing her hands up in mock triumph. "Looks like you're covering the bill!"

Felix shook his head, amusement flickering in his green eyes. "You planned this from the start, didn't you?"

"Maybe," she admitted with a playful shrug.

As they sat in companionable silence, Marinette found herself studying Felix's profile—the sharp line of his jaw, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, catching her gaze.

She blinked, heat rising to her cheeks. "Nothing. Just... this has been nice."

Felix nodded, his expression unreadable for a moment before it softened into a rare smile. "It has."

When the waiter returned with the bill, Felix didn't let Marinette protest. "A deal's a deal," he said, sliding his card across the table.

After dinner, Marinette attempted to hail a cab, much to Felix's quiet amusement. As they finally settled into the back seat, she kept her destination a secret, offering only cryptic hints whenever Felix tried to guess.

"Going home?"

"Maybe."

"A movie?"

"Perhaps."

"A classified meeting to save the world?"

Marinette burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Not tonight. Tonight, we're just two regular people, having a nice time."

The cab wound its way out of the bustling city, the noise and lights fading into a quieter, softer backdrop. When they arrived at a small, secluded park on the city's edge, Felix raised an eyebrow.

"A park?" he asked, his tone curious but not unkind.

"Not just any park," Marinette replied, taking his hand and leading him down a narrow, winding path.

The moonlight filtered through the trees, guiding them to a grassy clearing that opened up to the vast night sky. Stars glittered like diamonds scattered across a velvety expanse, and the world seemed to hush in reverence.

Marinette unrolled a blanket she'd brought along, spreading it on the ground with care. She gestured for Felix to join her.

"Stargazing?" Felix asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Trust me," Marinette said as she sank onto the blanket. "You won't regret it."

They lay side by side, the cool grass beneath the blanket grounding them as the sky stretched endlessly above. Marinette pointed out a few constellations she remembered, her voice filled with wonder as she traced invisible lines in the air.

Felix, for his part, listened intently, occasionally offering his own dry commentary that made Marinette roll her eyes and laugh.

"You're terrible at this," she teased, nudging him lightly.

"I'm not the one who thinks that's the Little Dipper," Felix retorted, smirking.

Marinette groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Fine. Maybe I'm not an expert."

"Maybe," Felix said, his tone softening as he looked at her. "But you make it fun."

Marinette turned to him, her cheeks warming under his gaze. There was something disarming about Felix tonight—less guarded, more open.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the stars pressing down on them in the most beautiful way. It felt as though time had slowed, granting them a rare reprieve from the chaos of their lives.

After a while, Felix turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow to face Marinette. His expression was unreadable, a mix of thoughtfulness and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Marinette," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

"Hmm?" She turned her head to meet his gaze.

"Will you dance with me?"

Marinette blinked, utterly caught off guard. "Dance? Here?"

Felix nodded, his lips curving into the faintest smile. "Why not? There's no one around to judge, and the stars are as good an audience as any."

Marinette hesitated for only a moment before sitting up. "Okay," she said softly, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Felix stood first, then offered her his hand. She took it, her fingers tingling at his touch, and he helped her to her feet.

The clearing was quiet except for the gentle rustle of the leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Without music, they moved to a rhythm only they could feel, swaying slowly under the open sky.

Felix's hand rested lightly on Marinette's waist, his touch steady and reassuring. Her other hand found its way to his shoulder, and for a moment, they simply stood there, their eyes locked.

"You're not half bad at this," Marinette said, a teasing lilt in her voice.

Felix smirked. "I aim to impress."

They began to move in slow, deliberate circles, their steps matching in perfect harmony. Marinette couldn't help but laugh softly, the sound bright and infectious in the still night air.

"What's so funny?" Felix asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just this," Marinette said, gesturing around them. "I never thought I'd be waltzing in a park at night with you, of all people."

"Careful," Felix said, his tone light but his eyes warm. "You might make me think you're enjoying yourself."

Marinette smiled, her laughter fading into a more tender expression. "Maybe I am."

As the moments stretched on, their movements slowed until they were barely swaying. Marinette's head rested lightly against Felix's chest, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart.

Felix, uncharacteristically, found himself at a loss for words. The weight of the moment was unlike anything he'd ever experienced—so simple, yet so profound.

"Thank you," Marinette murmured, her voice barely audible.

"For what?" Felix asked, tilting his head to look down at her.

"For this. For... being here," she said, her cheeks warming.

Felix's expression softened, and he tightened his hold on her slightly. "I should be thanking you. Tonight's been... perfect."

Marinette tilted her head back to look at him, her eyes shining in the starlight. "Really?"

Felix leaned down, his voice low and sincere. "Really."

For a moment, neither of them moved, the world around them fading into a quiet blur. Then, Marinette stepped back slightly, breaking the spell but keeping her hand in his.

"We should probably head back," she said, her voice soft but steady.

Felix nodded, though he made no move to let go of her hand. "Lead the way, Dupain-Cheng."

They gathered the blanket in companionable silence, the warmth of the evening lingering as they made their way back to the cab. As they sat side by side during the ride home, Felix couldn't help but think that tonight had been more than just a date.

It had been the beginning of something he didn't quite have the words for yet—but he was more than willing to find out.

Aww, they are so cute! Just so you know, this story is coming to an end soon, but only after maybe 1 or 2 chapters. Thank you guys so much for reading!

ILY!-Nattie!