A/N: Hello! I know I keep posting a ton of Miraculous Ladybug stuff in rapid succession, but I can't help it! This show really has its claws in me after less than a month since seeing the pilot. I've been writing fic after fic about it. My love for Miraculous Ladybug is too strong. This is shamelessly Marichat and has some serious sin later on. They're children, so no smut here, but there are some makeouts. Unnecessary disclaimer: I don't own this show, nor do I own these characters, even though I think of them as my babies. They are precious cinnamon rolls too good for this world and their real parents, especially Thomas Astruc, should be proud.
Prologue: Something About Mari
Chat Noir crouches on a rooftop across from Marinette's balcony, trying to convince himself that he isn't a stalker. He's just... interested. Where was the confident, level-headed, feisty Marinette he saw tonight when she talked to Adrien?
When his Lady had asked him to keep her safe from the Evil-istrator, he had treated it like a routine "watch over the helpless targeted victim" job, but it was anything but standard. Marinette had defied his every expectation. She thought of a solution to the problem of the box long before he did, and even though she hadn't kept it for long, she had gotten the pen away from the drawing akuma exactly as planned. She was a crafty one. How had he missed it? Has he truly been so blind to the amazing girl in front of him?
Well, if he has, it's hardly his fault. Chat Noir knows that she is good at thinking quickly and calming people down in emergencies. He's seen it in action. He has seen Marinette be charming and funny and friendly with people, but it is never directed at him.
He has never gotten the impression that she dislikes him, but every time he attempts to make contact, she stammers, mutters excuses, squeaks like a frightened mouse, and runs away. Could it be that she really is afraid of him? He's never given her a reason to be that he can remember. Maybe she's just intimidated by his celebrity status? It wouldn't be the first time someone had been scared to talk to him because of who his father is.
Suddenly, he sees a flash of movement in the window. Marinette has walked past to get something on her desk. Chat blushes furiously and glances away when he sees that she's only wearing a sports bra and a pair of shorts. Not that he minds what he sees, but he was raised to be a gentleman. Those lessons don't always stick, but he is pretty sure he has crossed the line into creepy territory at this point.
He stands and stretches his back until it pops, arms lifted over his head. It's getting late anyway. Time he was getting home and giving Plagg a rest. He vaults over the rooftops, revelling in the feeling of the wind raking through his hair as he alternates between a sprinting and rolling parkour and high leaps aided by his telescoping staff.
Chat Noir lands on his own balcony, lets the transformation fade, and suddenly Adrien Agreste stands in the place of Paris' second favorite superhero. Plagg floats over to a pre-prepared plate of cheese and starts munching in silence. That's unusual. He typically won't shut up.
"What are you thinking, Plagg?" he asks, stripping off his street clothes to exchange them for an undershirt and some boxers.
"Oh, nothing, really. I was just thinking about how your heart only ever pounds that hard thinking about Ladybug," the kwami replies with a shrug and a big bite of Camembert.
"That- that's ridiculous," Adrien scoffs, voice cracking. "I'm in love with Ladybug. Marinette is just a friend. I mean, not that she isn't great. She's brave and kind and smart and selfless and really pretty..." He shuts his mouth shut with an audible snap.
Plagg levels a look at him. "Hmm. Sounds like quite the friend..." he trails off suggestively.
"So what if she's amazing? So what if I like her? She can't even look at me when I'm Adrien," he sighs.
"She looked at you plenty as Chat Noir," Plagg points out, still absorbed in his snack.
"But I can't date her as Chat Noir," Adrien counters.
"Why not?" the kwami drawls carelessly, finishing the last crumbles of cheese.
"Why not? Like, million reasons. Because she- Because I- Because we can't- Because it's too..." he falters. "You know what? Yeah. Why not? If there's anything the ladies love, it's a man in uniform. I might actually have a shot as Chat. She doesn't seem to have a problem talking to me when I'm wearing the mask. You're completely right, Plagg. I'm gonna do it!" he exclaims, eyes shining in anticipation.
"You use the term 'man' awfully loosely," Plagg chuckles.
"Shut up, Plagg," he laughs. "Not even your malicious attitude can ruin my mood right now."
She already thinks of me as a cool hero. It's not far from there to friends and not far from there to asking her out. But I'll lead with the flirting anyway. Gotta make my intentions clear from the start. One day, hopefully soon, Marinette will like me back, he thought to himself with a sappy smile.
Meanwhile, as a certain alley cat plots to woo her, Marinette is snuggling down to sleep plagued by confusing thoughts.
When Chat Noir flirted with her, complimented her skills, she had been too much in Ladybug mode to really notice beyond the usual annoyance, but reflecting back on the evening, even remembering the moments is enough to make her blush.
She is in love with Adrien and had been for ages. She can't have a crush on that amorous tomcat! No matter how good he looks in his form-fitting suit...
No! She has to stay strong! No more dangerous thoughts of Chat Noir. Besides, it's not like he'll see her as Marinette too often, if ever again. Mixing her personal and professional lives is risky. She's always rolled her eyes at his advances as Ladybug because they're partners and have to stay professional. It is bad enough that he lets his emotions rule his actions and throws himself in front of danger to protect her all the time. She can't let herself fall into the same habits. For Paris.
I am not going to let myself fall for Chat Noir, she vowed.
Little did the heroes know, one of them couldn't be more wrong.