Chapter 1: Full Attention
Adrien couldn't stop reliving the moment.
"Plagg, claws in!"
His jet black pleather suit disappeared in a flash of chartreuse, leaving only Adrien Agreste, the alter ego behind one of Paris' superheroes, Cat Noir. Adrien stood just outside Collège Françoise Dupont, aching from the recent beating he took - and gave, his mind supplied - to the akuma.
"Man, I'm gonna' be sore for weeks," Plagg whined.
"You're gonna' be sore?! I took most of the beating!" Adrien countered.
"Well yeah, but it's been forever since we had a battle like that, ya know, with you off in wonderland."
"I wasn't o-, okay so maybe I was. It was a momentary pause."
Adrien had been to busy wondering about his Lady. It had been ages since he had any clues as to her identity, and the blonde wanted to know with all his heart. But I doubt it, Adrien sighed as the rain started to fall. It would have to be a miracle to get anything from Ladybug.
"Can we go," Plagg asked impatiently, " I don't want to get drenched anymore than I have to."
"Yeah, let's go-" Adrien started to turn the corner, just in time to see Ladybug.
"Tikki spots off!" In a glimmer of watermelon pink, Ladybug became M-M-Marinette!
Adrien whirled back to the wall, his face frozen in shock. Oh my god, Ladybug is Marinette! He then ran home right after the realization. Adrien rushed his hellos to Natalie and then proceeded to scream into his pillow. And now I'm here. Plagg looked at Adrien with an impassive stare.
"So Marinette, …" Adrien stated.
"Yup."
"Is Ladybug."
"Uh-huh."
"Marinette." He repeated.
"That's right."
"The girl, who's always afraid of me. Who wants to be a fashion designer. Who's so close to so many classmates, is Ladybug!"
"Yes, Adrien. Marinette is Ladybug. Which also means that you have a crush - no obsession - with her. Adrien could feel his face flush.
"I have a crush on Marinette."
How do I face her? Knowing that she's Ladybug makes it different. But the more Adrien thought about it, it began to make sense. Her sky blue eyes, her navy blue hair that was always held up in two pigtails, her confidence, even though it came in short doses. It was all so obvious.
"How could I have not noticed before?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's 'cause you're kind of oblivious." Plagg affronted. "But now, it'll be even more interesting, since you have to talk to her without letting her know that you know."
Adrien sulked.
"I just don't know how I'm going to do it. I mean, she's terrified of me. Whenever she gets near me, her face gets red, she trips over her words, and then runs away at the first opportunity she gets."
"Is that what-? Look, Adrien, Marinette's not made to interact well with people she barely knows, so you have to try to get to know her slowly, and things might change. And maybe then you can get over this schoolgirl crush and just ask her out."
"Plagg!" Adrien's face went crimson again. But he has a point, I guess these things take time.
"You know what? You're right, I'm going to do this. I'll get to know Marinette, -I mean Ladybug, - I mean her so I can finally make a move… , yeah."
"Alright kid, now get some sleep. It's late, and giving out my sage advice takes energy."
"Goodnight, Plagg."
" 'Night."
One thing's for sure, Adrien thought in the Parisian moonlight as he drifted off to sleep. Somehow, I'll get her full attention.