Je t'aime: Chapter 1.

Hello, readers! I started watching Miraculous Ladybug over a month ago and I finally worked up the nerve to try my hand at fanfiction for them. After reading a lot of fanfiction myself, I find I like the somewhat sinful pair of Chat x Marinette the best. It's very tantalizing and quite the tease when it comes to romantic tension. (Even though Adrien/Chat Noir and Marinette/Ladybug are one and the same, paring single, specific sides of their personalities is fun)

The story is rated T but keep in mind it's an edgy/steamy T (basically in a romantic regard as well as language). May even have some sections of future chapters be M-rated, just a warning to any readers. If you are only here for fluff and innocence I fear you'll have to search someplace else. Sorry! It's just the way I roll. (EDIT: That's technically somewhat void in a way now)

Anywho, if chapters end up having anything more than edgy T, I will highlight those sections with a warning so you can skip if you so choose.

I'm somewhat winging it, so the plot is a little bit underdeveloped, my apologies.

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She's tired, very tired. Marinette drops her stylus and rubs at her forehead. It's not physical, the fatigue she feels, but rather a mental form of fatigue. She's tired of being like this, tired of chasing after someone who won't notice her. Tired of pouring her heart out and yet never have him return it. She's tired...and she doesn't want to say it, but she's tired of Adrien Agreste.

She's been after him for a while, since a year before high school, and a year since then. She still remembers when she fell for him. After that misunderstanding during his first day at school, and her novice saving of the city with Chat Noir. Adrien Agreste, the model, the rich kid, the guy who should have been as much of a brat as Chloé. He gave her his umbrella just out of the kindness in his heart so she could walk the short distance home without getting soaked. She remembers how her mind went blank and all she could think about were those dazzling, emerald eyes.

It was then that she realized just how amazing the boy was. Perfect both in looks and personality, she couldn't believe her luck in finding such a magnificent young man. Though, finding him was the easy part, getting his attention, on the other hand. She has never been able to speak to him without stuttering, and even when she can, she has never been in a situation where she can bring up her feelings. And it seems effort after effort to try and earn his affections have failed miserably.

The memory of their first meeting makes her heart clench painfully, and she sniffles as tears fills her vision. And she makes no effort to soothe herself, but rather hangs her head and cries. She lets it all go, she doesn't want to hang onto this crush anymore. It's brought her nothing. And despite how much she believes love is all about giving and expecting nothing in return, she understands now that this isn't love. This is obsession. She's just finally realized it.

Hell, she even dug a valentine he had written out of a trash can and foolishly replied to it. Even despite the fact that he obviously had, or still has, some unknown girl claiming his heart already. She knows now how stupid it was of her to think she could get him to return her feelings. Every time her hopes are raised, he does something unwittingly to bring them crashing back down.

She watches a tear splatter upon the screen of her tablet, observing how the pixels ricochet color through the salty water and spread tiny rainbows. She sighs, her gaze wandering to her curled hands in her lap. Despite her poor luck in Adrien's case, she knows many young men who have tried to earn her attention. But in honesty, she knows she's never going to feel anything like that for any of them. Best not encourage it.

There is one boy who does, however, catch her attention in a somewhat romantic regard. A boy who seems to do for her exactly what she's been trying to do for Adrien.

Chat Noir.

She scoffs lightly and hiccups on her latest wave of tears. That sly, flirtatious cat has done nothing but make passes, attempt to kiss her or sway her affections for as long as she's known him. And after a time, she's realized she's not sure if all he does is in jest, or if he genuinely cares for her in a regard bigger than a simple crush. She briefly ponders if she should reveal herself soon, for both their sakes.

"Marinette?"

She jumps, sniffling loudly as she sits up in surprise. Ahh, there he is: her Kitty. He comes every so often, she supposed it's because he's found her to be a good friend. And she also thinks he needs someone to talk to sometimes. "Chat! I-I'm sorry...I was just-"

"Crying." he finishes before she can try to worm her way out of questioning. "Why are you crying, Marinette?"

She spins in her chair to face him, "I..." she begins, grimacing as her eyes well unbidden with yet another wave of tears. She can see his brows knit together in concern as he starts walking towards her from the window. She hunches over and inhales deeply, waiting for his inevitable touch. And when his hand gently rests upon her head, she gives into her need to cry. She lets out a quiet whine and wraps her arms around his waist when he approaches, sobbing wholeheartedly into the black, latex suit. He's somewhat surprised, but he places his clawed hands upon her shoulders and pats her softly.

He doesn't speak, he knows she'll talk when she's ready. But to be honest, he's never seen her like this before. So vulnerable, so sad, so unhappy. The Marinette he knows is usually upbeat, positive, sweet, cocky, even. He feels his heart twist in some unknown direction as he looks down at her shaking shoulders. He doesn't like it. Seeing her unhappy. He wants to fix her problems, make them disappear and be there to hold her whenever she needs it.

Her arms tighten, and she exhales long and low, nuzzling her face into his stomach before she seems to come to her senses. She looks up at him and blushes as she pulls away, "I-I'm sorry for that." she says with a shuddering breath. "I just-" she sniffs, pulling a tissue from a Kleenex box nearby, "-just needed to accept something for a long time now. And it was hard to do." she finishes as she discreetly blows her nose.

He shakes his head, "No, no, I understand. Don't apologize for it, I'm happy to be here for you." he kneels down to look into her sapphire eyes. "So what did you need to accept that has you so downtrodden, Princess?"

She scoffs at the nickname, looking down at her fingers as she twiddles them together idly, "I...gave up on my childhood crush." she murmurs.

He wasn't really expecting that. And he has no idea who it could be. Certainly not him, after all, she's always a stuttering mess around his civilian form, as if she's afraid. It's the only side of her that he finds to be confusing and somewhat irritating. Irritating in the sense that he can't exactly act friendly without her behaving as though she's having a panic attack. He cocks his head to the side, and he realizes he hasn't responded to her, "Gave up? Why?"

"Because I'm just...tired. I don't want to chase after his affection anymore." she leans back in her chair and wipes at another new tear.

"Sounds like a pretty blind guy if he can't acknowledge you." he huffs, entirely unaware that he is - in a sense - insulting himself.

She frowns, "I suppose. But I don't want to think negatively of him. I just don't want to feel anything for him anymore. Y'know?" she asks as she stands and moves to her bed, flopping down upon the comforter. "How long will you stay?"

"I see, I'll attempt to refrain from insulting the guy...whoever he is. And I can stay for a while." he says as he sits on the end of her bed.

She nods and rolls onto her side, her fingers picking absentmindedly at the fabric of her comforter. She curls in on herself and rubs her arm with her free hand. She's feeling lonely, despite her company. She bites her lip as something she honestly never imagined she'd want to ask pops into her head. "Hey, Chat?" she murmurs.

"Yeah?" and she can practically see his ears perk and his eyes brighten in curiosity, despite the fact that he's out of her line of sight.

"Can you..." her teeth dig deeper into her lip, and she stops so she won't break the skin, "-I mean..." she sighs, resolving to simply pat the mattress beside her form and lift her head to look at him. "If you don't mind?" He catches her drift rather quickly, and he hesitates, as if he's arguing inwardly with himself. But she sees his hand twitch, his body move unbidden before he halts. He actually wants to come and lay beside her. "I don't mean anything by it." she assures.

And it does the trick, at that he seems to give in, she feels so awkward when he carefully lays his head on the pillow beside her. "Okay." he whispers, a hand moving to cover hers as it lays upon the mattress.

She peers down in embarrassment as she shuffles closer, never noticing his alarmed expression as she cuddles into his chest. She just needs someone here. Someone warm, real, touchable, and she'd be lying if she said he isn't lovable as well. A soft smile makes its way into her face as he tentatively moves his hand to her shoulder. "Thank you." she breathes, and despite herself, she finds the utmost comfort in his presence.

"You're welcome, Princess." she hears him whisper back. His voice sounds pained, almost, and it makes her look up at him in curiosity. His eyes dart nervously around the room, and his makeshift, leather cat ears twitch in what can only translate as anxiety.

"Are you okay, Kitty?" she shuffles to be at eye-level with him.

He nods swiftly and looks down, unable to meet her bright blue gaze.

She knows exactly why he's so uncomfortable, and she didn't mean to make him feel this way. So she'll assure him, "It's Ladybug, isn't it?" she smiles when he jumps at the uttering of the name.

He looks at her in surprise before his faux ears flatten and he looks downwards again. "Y-Yeah." he mutters. "I know this means nothing, what's happening now. I mean, I'm only keeping you company...comforting you, but it feels like...like-"

"Cheating?" she supplies. She's had her fair share of that feeling, especially during that Valentine's Day little less than two years ago. "It's not cheating, Chat."

He looks uncomfortable for a moment, as if he fears his next words, "I think it is." he says, and she peers down in confusion when he takes her hand. "You know-" he begins with a small chuckle, "-I never thought I'd say this: but I think I'm falling out of love."

She blinks, uncertain if she should speak and interrupt him, but a tiny "You are?" pushes its way past her lips anyways.

He nods, "I'll always have a special place in my heart for Ladybug. But she's too...perfect, too surreal. I can't seem to touch her or get on her level, you know?" his face droops, and his eyes lid in a melancholic way. He looks rather sad now, and she wants nothing more than to envelope him in a crushing hug. But he continues on, "Marinette, seeing you all these times, getting to know you, it's made me realize something..." he quiets his voice, and she has to shuffle closer to hear him.

"Yes, Chat? What have you realized?" she asks in intrigue.

He peers up at her through those messy, blonde bangs and gives a small, insecure smile. "That I might have misunderstood what love is...and that I-I find more fulfillment in talking to you than I do Ladybug." at that he frowns, "I don't want to feel like this, I always thought my heart would belong to her alone...but, I think you unwittingly stole it away...piece by piece."

She feels a little cruel on the inside for not revealing herself here and now. But she can't seem to move, her eyes widen and her breath is stolen away, she doesn't know what to say. Funny how the thing she feared most when it came to revealing herself isn't happening. Rather the opposite, Chat seems to have fallen for both sides of her.

"I won't say I'm in love...that wouldn't be fair to say, and I don't think I'm that far yet. But...I just wanted you to know. Because I don't think I'll stay 'just friends' when it comes to you." he adds, and she feels her breath hitch when he pulls her hand up to gently plant a kiss upon the back of it. He smiles in a scoff, as if scolding his own words, "I should go now." he says.

She holds his hand tighter when he moves to get up, and in honesty she herself doesn't know why she does this. But she ignores the pounding of her heart and moves to grasp his face. "I wouldn't mind that." she murmurs, and she sees his eyes widen before she does something unthinkable. If someone told her a few months ago that she would willingly take Chat Noir in her arms and press her lips to his in a passionate embrace, she would have them put in a mental asylum. But here she is, purposely kissing the one person she never thought she'd feel this way about.

She sees his eyes widen in that split second before she closes hers. And she feels his hands tentatively move to her waist and pull her closer. She threads her hands through his hair as she tilts her head to deepen the kiss. She pulls back in embarrassment at the light moan she gives when he begins to return her fervor. Eye contact is made only briefly before they come crashing back together, hands moving desperately and lips furiously battling for dominance.

'Stop...stop now.'

Her mind raises a red flag as she swipes her tongue along the seam of his lips, and his own joins the fray, intensifying their passionate duel. She ignores the warning and pushes rational thoughts aside, her hands tugging at his suit as they try to find purchase somewhere in the tight fabric. He gradually becomes more bold, and she gasps when he flips her onto her back and moves to hover over her.

She doesn't know who is more surprised when she arches upwards as his fingers lightly brush the thin hem of her pajama pants. And she feels dizzy when that same hand starts inching underneath her shirt. She can't believe this is really happening, she's never even considered that it might happen. But she is surprised that she still doesn't want him to stop. Hell no!

Even with the cold latex covering his skin, he is still leaving burning trails of electricity everywhere he touches on his way up her stomach. And she bucks her hips upwards at the most unfamiliar sensation of warmth swirling and pulsing down in places one doesn't talk about.

She wants him to touch her, wants to touch him, even wants to take a step across that one boundary that should never be crossed so quickly. Oh gosh...his hands are sliding under her bra, and in her distraction his lips have moved to her neck. She pants heavily when he lightly suckles at her pulse point, and she is honestly aching for him to start touching her somewhere far more lewd when-

*Beep!*

They both part in a gasp as his Miraculous beeps loudly. He sits up, straddling her legs as he runs his hand through his hair. The same hand he was just fondling her breast with, and she gulps as the sight sends more molten heat to pool within her stomach. "I-I'm sorry...I've got to go." he sighs.

She nods and props herself up on her elbows. "I understand."

He hesitantly removes himself from her bed and walks to the window, looking back at her over his shoulder. His brow furrows, and he glances down at the ground as he speaks. "I don't regret that...but I think it was wrong. We shouldn't use each-other like this to heal our hearts..." he murmurs.

She stands on shaky legs, still somewhat weak from the adventurous activity she's just participated in. She approaches him carefully, walking somewhat sideways, "But, that wasn't just meaningless, mutual comfort...there is something there, Chat. I wouldn't instigate anything like that unless I felt it was right. Unless I...had feelings for you." she assures, albeit hesitating slightly on that last statement. She isn't entirely certain yet, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't have feelings for him.

He bites his lip and turns to face her completely, and she gives a quiet yelp when he pulls her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Princess." he says, pulling back with his characteristic grin before he leaps from her window and dashes home across the rooftops.

She watches him go and shuts the window with a wistful smile on her face. "And what was that about?" she looks up at the red kwami, who's hovering with a raised brow and her arms crossed.

"Is that disapproval I hear, Tikki?" she pushes off from the wall and walks over to her bed to lay down again.

"No, not really. But you'd really give up on Adrien? Then you'd immediately start kissing another boy? And you don't even know who Chat really is, after all." Tikki reasons.

"I was fooling myself with that schoolgirl crush, Tikki." Marinette throws her arm over her eyes and inhales deeply. "I'll reveal myself in due time, at least Chat gets his dream girl out of all this. And I meant what I said to him...I'm not using him for comfort." That's right, now that she thinks about it, there is something. Something buried deep within her heart that only just awakened after feeling Chat's roaming hands and blisteringly sinful lips upon her skin. "I really do feel something, and it feels more raw, real...less fantastical. More than I thought I felt for Adrien." she explains. Though the words tear at her heart, they are true, and she feels a weight lift off of her shoulders after saying them.

Tikki lands on her lap and nods, "I understand, and I think, when you and Chat reveal yourselves, that you'll both be pleasantly surprised at your identities." she says with the slightest smirk in her smile.

Marinette notices and frowns, "Tikki...do you...know who Chat is?" she questions.

Tikki gives a light shrug, "I have my suspicions. After all, I can sense other kwamis, just as his kwami can probably sense me. I'm sure Plagg and me both have our suspicions of who you two really are."

"Plagg?"

"That's Chat's kwami. His name is Plagg. I've known him for eons." Tikki explains, "It's hard not to notice him, he always smells of Camembert." the kwami wrinkles her face in disgust.

Marinette chuckles, "So that's why Chat asked for cheese that one time. I must say, Plagg has very refined tastes, not many people like cheese, especially Camembert. It stinks like mold." she says as she sits back. "Granted it's a little out of character, I mean, a cat that likes cheese? I would think a mouse was more suited for those preferences." she giggles when she thinks about it. "Can you imagine Chat being a mouse?" at that she breaks into full-on laughter.

Tikki chuckles along, "That would be funny."

Marinette's laughter is cut off by a yawn, and she pulls her covers up with only one lingering thought on her mind as she falls asleep. 'I think I'm in love with Chat...'

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"Good grief!" the little black kwami groans as he tumbles out of Adrien's transformation and into the distracted hands of said boy. "And I thought impromptu visits were bad, you really had to make out? That's not what the suit is for, Adrien." he scolds, giving a slight yelp when his owner drops him onto a plate of Camembert.

Adrien sits on the chair to his desk and looks up at his Ladybug poster with pursed lips. "Why did we do that?" he murmurs. Granted, he knows exactly why, it was the spur of the moment, acting on instinct...it was...pure, real affection. To be entirely honest with himself, those words he spoke, preaching that he may be in love with the girl, weren't false in the slightest. And he digs his palm into his forehead as he tries in vain to reason away what he just felt with Marinette of all people.

The memory of her soft lips agains his and the gentle writhing of her body beneath him is still vividly fresh in his mind. Even through his gloves he could feel her heated skin and soft breast...it's the first time he's ever touched a girl like that. But the way she acted, it was as though she didn't want him to stop. And he hadn't intended to until his Miraculous began to warn him that his time was running out.

He makes a decision as he gets into bed, he's going to see her again, and again, and again. And he can't help but wonder what she'd feel like without his suit on...

"I should probably get to know her in my civilian form as well." he murmurs just before he falls asleep.

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A.N.

Yeah just jumping right into things lol. There will be plot but you gotta start somewhere I guess.

(Story is being posted on Archive of our Own as well)