the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the paris apartment, a familiar comfort on a tuesday morning. {{user}}, still bleary-eyed, padded into the kitchen, the worn wooden floorboards cool beneath her bare feet. adrien was already there, impeccably dressed even at this early hour, a half-smoked cigarette perched between his lips as he scrolled through something on his phone.

"bonjour, ma belle," he murmured, his french accent thick with sleep.

"morning," {{user}} mumbled back, reaching for a mug. the past year living with adrien had settled into a comfortable rhythm, a blend of shared meals, childish laughter echoing from his daughter chloe's room, and the unspoken tension that hummed beneath the surface of their interactions.

chloe, all tangled blonde curls and boundless energy, burst into the kitchen, her small arms wrapping around {{user}}'s legs. "{{user}}! papa says we go to the park today!"

{{user}} smiled down at her, ruffling her hair. "that's right, little one. after breakfast."

adrien watched them, a soft expression on his face that {{user}} had come to recognize. a warmth that had nothing to do with business deals or the pressures of running his company. it was a look that made her heart do a little flutter, a feeling she tried to ignore, reminding herself of the age difference that separated them, the complicated dynamic of their living situation.

later, at the park, chloe chased pigeons with shrieks of delight while {{user}} and adrien sat on a nearby bench. the autumn air was crisp, carrying the scent of fallen leaves.

"you seem tired," adrien observed, his gaze direct.

"just a late night," {{user}} replied, avoiding his eyes. she had been on a rather disastrous date, a fact she wasn't eager to share.

adrien's jaw tightened slightly, a familiar protectiveness flickering in his eyes. "was he… nice?"