The beeping in Marinettes ear made her nervous. "It's dark out and my I'm about to change back..."
"So is mine. Always lovely to see you milady, let's do it again soon," Chat Noir saluted and started to turn to run.
Ladybug reached a hand out to stop him, "No- Chat - wait!"
Adrian couldn't resist. He flashed her a cocky grin. "I knew you couldn't get enough of me."
"Have you got any food?" she asked.
"Worked up an appetite huh? Me too! I think I have some camembert," he grinned.
"Is that what the smell is?" she smirked.
"I might not smell as sweet as you bugaboo, but at least I have food," He cooed.
"Hurry up!"
Adrian reached into his pocket, to find it empty other than a few crumbs. His bag was just as empty. He had nothing to give.
"Ah! Plagg you pig!" Adrian complained.
"Plagg?" she repeated.
"He's eaten everything!"
"Then I can't feed my kwami! I'm going to be stuck walking though the bad end of town alone!"
Chat scratched the back of his neck and gave her a small smile to try and ease her. "Don't worry, I am too!"
"You don't understand! I... I don't want to go home alone..." Marinette muttered.
Chat nudged her playfully. "I knew you'd see things my way one day Ladybug! Of course I'll go home with you!"
"Not on your life Chat Noir!" she argued.
"Alright now I'm confused," he said.
"I have to walk home through the bad end of town in the dark and..."
"You're scared?"
Marinette bowed her head. She didn't want to admit that he was right or that she was afraid. She was ladybug. One half of the bravest - and only - crime fighting super duo in Paris, and she was afraid of walking home alone at night.
As Chat put so eloquently when he cried, "But you're ladybug! You're the strongest person in Paris!"
"But I'm not ladybug! I won't be, at least, when I change back. And when I'm me I'm just... me..."
Gently, he lifted her chin with his claws, so she had to look at him. "I'd have to see you. The real you. And you'd see me. Are you ready for that?"
"No. But what else can I do?" She asked.
Chat Noir glanced around for something to give him any ideas of what to do. That's when he spotted the costume shop across the road. He smirked.
"Purr-fect."
She tilted his head as he set off marching towards the costume shop. Before she could ask what his plan was, Tikki beeped in her ear again. She had seconds left. Marinette darted into the janitor's cupboard behind her. Minutes later she was holding Tikki cupped in her hand, and Chat was calling from outside.
"Ladybug?"
"In here."
The handle jiggled, but she pinned the door shut. "Let me in."
"I can't. I already changed," she said.
"Oh. Then give me your arm."
She stretched her arm around the door, staying firmly behind it so he couldn't see her if he tried. He didn't try. He kept his eyes firmly on the box as he handed it to the arm. She slammed the door between them when she got it.
"Really?!"
she laughed when she realised what she had.
Chat shrugged, "It was the best I could do."
Marinette thought this idea was the worst one Chat had ever come up with - and he'd had some terrible ideas! But she didn't have a choice. Tikki was already starving.
"I have to go find somewhere to change. Unless I'm allowed in with you?" Chat said hopefully.
"There's a cupboard over there," Marinette pointed even though he couldn't see her.
He glanced around the foyer he was standing in, to see the supply cupboard across the room.
Adrian couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice. "Thanks."
Safely hidden away in the cupboard, surrounded by toilet roll, Plagg declared, "This is the single dumbest idea you have ever had."
"I know," Adrien agreed as he tried to pull the catsuit over his shoulders. "But what could I do? I'm not going to let ladybug - or whoever she is when she's not ladybug - walk home alone!"
"You're a gentleman Adrian. Let's hope she sees it too," Plagg said.
Adrian smiled affectionately at him. "Thanks Plagg. I'll feed you as soon as I can."
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"Chat? You in there?" Ladybugs voice was a little softer than it usually was.
"Yeah, just give me a minute!" He called.
"Oh hey!"
Adrian frowned at the new, strange voice on the other side of the door. It wasn't familiar to him in any way. It clearly wasn't familiar to ladybug either, because she sounded confused and surprised when she replied.
"Um, hi?"
"Oh... you know if you were a little shorter, you would look just like the real Ladybug," the stranger said.
"Oh, really? Um, thanks?" Ladybug said.
"It still looks good though. Keep up the good work!" they said.
Marinette smiled and waved as they wandered away. From the other side of the door, she heard Chat Noir chuckle. Her smile was a little warmer to hear it.
"Maybe it's not such a terrible plan," she admitted.
"You can thank me later," he said.
He adjusted the cat ears in his messy hair to sit where they usually would. They were slightly bent out of shape and lopsided, and the alice-band dug into his head behind his ears, but they were better than nothing. Plagg dove into Adrian's pocket to hide.
Adrian took a deep breath, and opened the door. Ladybug was hovering outside. She glanced him up and down. His catsuit was a little too tight to be comfortable, and hers was a little too baggy here and there. His ears were crooked, her shoes had heels. His ring flashed the pads in a pattern, her earrings flashed the spots all at once. They looked like themselves, but budget versions of themselves.
"Looking good as always milady," Adrian grinned.
She smiled back and shook her head, "always the joker."
Adrian kept grinning, but it felt a little more awkward now. He scratched the back of his head and tightened the knot holding his mask up. Marinette felt it too. Out of costume there was a chance their masks could fall at any moment, and they'd be forced to reveal who they really were. They felt a lot more vincible now.
Adrian cleared his throat and held out his arm for her to link hers through. "Shall we?"
She smiled sheepishly and linked her arm through his. Her arm against his made his stomach twist. Sure, he'd joke about them being intimate, kiss her hand, or lean in for a kiss that would never come, but that was him having fun. Now she was choosing to touch him. it made his heart beat a little faster. They wandered down into the city streets together.
"So-o-o what do you do when you're not Ladybug?" Adrian asked, casually.
"I run a blog dedicated to the brave and handsome hero of Paris, Chat Noir," she teased.
"Really?!" He said, hopefully.
"No!" She laughed.
"Oh," Adrian hung his head a little sheepishly, smiling that he got her so easily.
"No, when I'm not Ladybug I'm busy helping my friends. At least I try to. It's hard to keep a promise to help a friend with her blog when someone gets akumatized," Marinette explained.
"I hear that. There's this girl in my - um, a girl I know, and she's always trying to take up as much of my time as possible, even though I made it clear I didn't like it!" Adrian thought of Chloe in annoyance.
Once upon a time she'd been the only person he'd consider a friend. Now he could barely stand to be in the same room as her, since she'd go off on one about something insignificant. Most of the people that got akumatized were because of her! Then Ladybug leaned a little heavier against him, and he could feel the warm of her against his side. All thought of Chloe vanished. He had his lady right here.
"why don't you like it?" she asked.
"It takes away from the time I have with my friends. That time is really important, y'know," Adrian shrugged.
"Yeah I know. But my best friend is amazing. She has no idea why I'm always AWOL but she accepts it anyway. I don't deserve her," Marinette sighed.
She thought of everything Ayla had ever done for her. she wouldn't have ever had the guts to become Ladybug if Ayla hadn't been in danger. The least she could do was support the blog that supported her so relentlessly.
From her bag on her side, she felt Tikki nudge her scoldingly. "You deserve everything! You're awesome!"
Marinette reached into her bag to run her hand along Tikki's head, affectionately.
"Did you say something?" Chat asked.
Marinette panicked. "What?! No! It was my - err-"
"kwami?" Adrian's eyes sparkled knowingly.
Sheepishly, Marinette pushed her hair behind her ear and gave a nervous laugh. It was tinged with relief.
"Oh, right. I forgot who I was talking to for a minute. It's too easy to talk to you."
"You can tell me anything Ladybug. I'd never lie to you, and I only have one secret," he promised.
She smiled and nudged him playfully. "I know. I know everything about you. You never stop talking!"
Plagg, however, had a problem with this. sure, Adrian was keeping his identity secret, but he wasn't being open and honest about how he felt, was he?! He wasn't telling her that being close to her made his heart race. That touching her took his breath away. That she was on his mind all the time. That he dreamed of defeating someone with her, pulling her close against him, and kissing her so deeply and so passionately that he would be all she could think about. That he would do anything to know who she was, so he could finally tell people he had a crush on a girl and not have them give that stupid never-gonna-happen-but-good-luck look when he told them it was ladybug.
He wouldn't tell her he was completely in love with her, would he?!
"Two," Plagg corrected, firmly, "You literally just lied when you said you only had one secret."
"Shut up Plagg," Adrian hissed.
Plagg poked his tongue out at him, but dove out of sight when Ladybug turned her head.
"You said Plagg a lot tonight. Is he your kwami?" she asked.
Adrian gave an awkward chuckle, "Err yeah. He likes cheese. Particularly camembert."
"That's funny, the boy I - a boy I know likes camembert too. I think. He always smells of it. It's kind of distracting," Marinette may have been able to tell Chat anything, but she wasn't ready to talk about Adrian with anyone but Tikki or Ayla.
Chat glanced over at her. she was so close he could smell her perfume. She always smelled of baking. Something warm and sweet that would make his mouth water.
"I know the feeling," he said.
Tikki and Plagg had known since the first day Adrian entered the classroom that they were together again. It hadn't taken either of them very long to find the other. Both knew that they were talking about each other, but were too blind to see it. They gave the other a knowing look.
Suddenly Marinette cried in alarm. Her heel caught on an uneven step, and she tripped. Adrian latched onto her to keep her on her feet. Tikki peeped out of the bag to see what had happened.
"Are you ok?!" Tikki and Adrian asked in concern.
"Yes I am, I am. Its these shoes, I can't walk in heels!" Marinette growled in frustration.
Adrian thought back to the photo shoot he'd done a few years ago on a twist of gender. The heels that they had made him wear had broken and sent him across the room. He opened his mouth to tell her this to help her feel better, then remembered it would reveal too much. Adrian sighed. It was a good story. Always got a laugh.
"Yeah," he said as he helped her to her feet, "I've heard that."
Marinette tried to put her foot on the ground, and it sent a red-hot pain straight up her leg so she cried out in pain. Adrian reeled back in alarm.
"You are so not ok," he said.
"I am!" Ladybug insisted, "I'm ok!"
"Then walk," Adrian challenged.
She tried to take a few steps, holding onto his hand for support, staggered, and fell into his arms. He smirked.
"Told you you'd fall for me," he winked.
She tried to push away from him, defiantly. "It's not funny Chat, I can't walk!"
Adrian held her hand as she tried again. When she failed for the second time, he gulped.
"There's a simple solution," he offered.
"There is?" Plagg asked at the same time as Marinette.
Chat shrugged. "Sure. I'll carry you!"
"What?!" Marinette laughed.
Seriously, Adrian said, "Ladybug you can't walk. It's not far to the park where our statue is, I'll take you there, and we can figure out how to get you home without me knowing where you live."
"That sounds-"
"Marinette, what choice do you have? You have to get home and feed me before your parents realise you're gone," Tikki warmed.
Marinette sighed. "That sounds fine."
Holding her hand as she tried to walk was enough to give him goosebumps. Carrying her, having her whole body pushed against him, even as whoever she was and not ladybug, that sent a shiver through him.
Chat Noir forced himself to smirk and pretend he was ok. "hop on little bug."
He bent down slightly so she could climb onto his back. Adrian was not expecting her to be quite so light, and Marinette wasn't expecting him to be so strong. He hoisted her up, making her cling on in alarm. Adrian blushed as she wrapped her arms around his chest. It could have been her hands squeezing him, but he felt his chest tighten. Her breath was warm on his cheek as she got herself into position, and it made him feel queasy. Very queasy. Almost lovesick. He changed his grip so he both his hands on her lower back to keep her up, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to stay upright. They fit together almost perfectly.
"Comfortable bugaboo?" he forced himself to smile, even though his insides were screaming to kiss her, here and now, while her head was still close enough.
"Just walk kitty cat," she smirked.
"You're the boss," he shrugged.
As he wandered down the street, she rested her head on his. Now she didn't have to walk the exhaustion of their latest adventure was catching up with her. The glow of the street lights and the bump of him walking were the only things keeping her awake. As he walked the long tail kept winding itself around her leg, like a real chat wagging its tail. It made her smile.
"Hey, you awake still?" He asked.
"Uh huh," she yawned.
Adrian chuckled affectionately. "Comfortable as a bug in a rug huh?"
She didn't reply. She nestled her head against his. He was warm. Like a blanket. His hair was soft. It smelt like shampoo. Familiar shampoo. She couldn't quite place where she'd smelt it before though. When she moved her head, the ears slipped forward. They slipped down his head until they fell over his eyes. He chuckled. Adrian paused for a moment in the middle of the street. With one hand on her leg to keep her upright, he pulled the ears off and held them out for her to take. She put them on her head so she didn't have to carry them.
No one else was around. No one else saw a teenage girl dressed as Ladybug, dozing on Chat Noir's head, wearing his ears for convince. If Ayla had been around, she would have undoubtedly taken a picture for her Lady-blog, because it made her smile. But she wasn't.
It was just Adrian and Marinette, together, in Paris. Alone. With no idea who they were actually with.
Even though neither said anything while they were walking, it was a comfortable silence. An affectionate silence. Tikki and Plagg smiled at one another, knowingly. Things were going to plan for them. By the time they got back to the park, the moon was high, the Eiffel tower was all lit up, and the string lights between the street lights were glowing like fireflies. Adrian's back was beginning to ache, but he didn't want to wake her. It was the first time they'd spent time together outside of fighting to save Paris. He didn't want it to end yet. He didn't want to leave her. Adrian didn't want to ever leave her side again.
"If your father finds out you're missing he'll send a search party for you both, and you know it. And I'm starving! I haven't eaten in hours!" Plagg complained.
"I'm sorry Plagg, I'll find you food as soon as I can... but just a minute more? She trusts me to keep her safe, I can't let her down!" Adrian begged.
"she will be safe, she's ladybug! And if you think I'm hungry how'd you think Tikki feels?" Plagg insisted.
"Tikki?"
"Ladybugs kwami! They worked harder than we did, I bet she's starving!"
Plagg had felt himself getting hungrier and hungrier and weaker as he did. Even so his mind was completely and entirely on Tikki. He had searched Adrian's pockets and bag as thoroughly as possible while avoiding being seen to find any scraps of food, to make sure she could eat. Food for him could wait. Adrian would have plenty later. Tikki needed something now.
"You're right Plagg. I'll have to wake her up," Adrian sighed.
it ached to have to let his lady leave so soon, but he didn't have a choice. Adrian bounced Marinette gently, until she was shaken awake. She groaned as she woke up.
"What time is it?" she yawned.
"Time to part ways unfortunately," he said.
He helped her to climb down from her back, and held her hand as she rubbed her ankle.
"Can you walk?" he asked, concerned.
Marinette winced as she tried to put her foot down. She glanced around to try and figure out where they had ended up. She could see her house from here.
"Home isn't far. I'll make it."
"Good. Be safe ladybug," Adrian urged. Plagg cleared his throat pointedly, so Adrian added, "and feed Tikki soon."
"Of course I will," Marinette said.
Adrian nodded. He lingered, watching her for a moment, taking in the baggy outfit and the bent ears and the blue eyes bathed in moonlight. She was beautiful. His chest ached to have to say "Goodnight."
Marinette reached out to stop him again." Chat Noir!"
She held onto his arm. Adrian's arm. it was, again, just Adrian looking into Marinettes eyes, as she smiled at him. warmly. Affectionately. Like there was something unspoken between them. not as heroes, but as people.
"Thanks," she said softly. "For everything."
Adrian took her hand in his, and raised it to his lips.
"My pleasure, milady," he said, and kissed her hand again.
They parted ways back to back so they neither could see where the other went. Marinette snuck into the bakery, stole an almost stale croissant, and snuck up to her room to feed Tikki. Tikki had never been more grateful for something so stale.
Everything was a rush in the morning. Marinette missed her alarm, so she had to throw on some clothes as quickly as she could, and snatch up a baguette from the bakery for breakfast on her way out the door. She was halfway limping down the street before Tikki caught a glimpse of what she was wearing.
"Marinette! you're ears!" she gasped.
"My ears?" Marinette's hand went from her ears to the alice-band behind them. She tapped her head, and found Chat Noirs 's ears. She gasped. "Oh!"
Marinette pulled them off and dropped them into her bag, next to her history book.
"Thanks Tikki."
Marinette hurried as far as she could drag her limp with her, to school. Ayla was lingering outside the doors waiting for her. when she spotted her coming, Ayla ran to her side.
"What happened to you?" she chuckled.
Marinette realised she hadn't had time to think of a lie. She panicked as she was put on the spot.
"I, err, tripped! On, err, my - bag! Yeah! And then I - fell down the stairs! And I twisted my ankle!"
There was a moment where Ayla frowned at her, and Marinette's chest tightened in fear. If she didn't believe her, no one else would. Marinette could only breath again when Ayla burst into laughter.
"Girl you gotta stop being so clumsy!" Ayla rested her arm on Marinette's shoulder warmly.
Marinette sighed with relief that she was believed. "I know."
Ayla put her hands on her hips, but her phone was in her hand, so her ladybug phone charm hung across her fist. Marinette smiled at it. she really was lucky to have a friend like Ayla to support her, as Ladybug and Marinette, even if Ayla didn't know it.
"Well as long as you know, I forgive you. Because I have to help you walk, we're both going to be late to lesson!" Ayla declared.
Marinette's eyes widened as she looked up at the clock on the top of the school. "oh no!" she cried.
"let me take your bag, and you might be able to walk faster," Ayla said.
She swung Marinette's bag onto the shoulder that wasn't carrying her own, and linked her arm around Marinette's shoulders to help her walk.
"nice and slow now. you can't be late twice, but you can be injured worse. And we all know how clumsy you are girl!" Ayla giggled.
Marinette gave a smile and the two of them walked together, slowly but steadily, very late to class. Their teacher was less than impressed when they finally walked in, the last two to arrive.
"Marinette, Ayla, do you have a good excuse for being late?"
"err…" Marinette stammered.
"Marinette hurt her foot, I was helping her to walk," Ayla stated.
The teacher folded her arms. "Well can you walk to your seat?"
"err, sure," Marinette shrugged.
Ayla put Marinette's bag next to her seat and took her own. Marinette leaned on the side as she climbed the step up to her seat. Adrian tilted his head, which made his hair brush against her slightly, and she realised when she'd smelt Chat Noir's shampoo before.
In her surprise, she took a misstep, caught her foot on her back, and tripped, causing her bag to spill open. Tikki dove deeper into the pocket she was hiding in, to stay hidden. The ears, however, fell out onto the floor in front of Adrian.
He tilted his head to look at them, and his eyes widened. Adrian glanced at Marinette. She was sitting on the floor rubbing her ankle in pain. Ladybug had hurt her ankle. And she still had his ears.
Could it possibly be?
Adrian knelt down to gather up Marinette's things as Ayla helped her to her feet and into her chair. She smiled, awkwardly, at Adrian as he held out the bag.
"Nice ears. Chat Noir is my favourite too," he grinned.
"he's nothing compared to Ladybug," She said.
"Whatever you say… milady," Adrian said, pointedly.
Marinette stared at him in surprise. He stared back, with his huge green eyes and soft yellow hair. That smelt just like Chat Noir's…
Could it be?
Their hands brushed slightly as she took her bag back. Both kept an eye on each other, suspiciously… hopefully.
"can you both sit down and get ready to learn please?!" their teacher snapped.
Adrian gave Marinette a wink that set her heart racing as he sat back down. Marinette stared down at her paper, feeling hot and flustered and pink. Under her desk, Tikki peered out from her back. Across the room, Plagg waved from Adrian's bag, with a triangle of camembert in his hand. Tikki smiled at him, and he winked, and she blushed. Not that you could tell under her pink cheeks anyway.
Oh yes, their plan was going along just fine.