Marinette had been staring out the window the entire plane ride, her mind drifting to her days as ladybug. It had been five years since she was in Paris, five years without fighting alongside Chat Noir- or as she had found out, Adrien. She missed him, a lot, but he probably lost all feelings for ladybug when he found out who she was, and even if he didn't she wasn't around to find out.
Her mind kept playing their final bitter-sweet moment together.
"Hello my lady, how are we on this fine evening?" Chat noir cooed, leaning down to kiss her hand.
She pulled away, giving his arm a playful hit, "I think you're a little too close kitty cat."
Although she meant for it to come out as playful, her voice wasn't as light-hearted as usual.
"Ladybug, what's wrong? You know you can confide in me." He rested his hand on her shoulder reassuringly, a small smile on his face encouraging her to talk.
She took a deep breath, her gaze shifting downwards, "I'm moving to America, Chat. This is the last time we will see each other."
His hand slowly dropped from her shoulder, "T-this can't be true! You're just playing me, right?"
Ladybug just stood there, looking down.
"R-r-right?" As if the more he denied it, the more likely this was a joke.
She looked at him, tears rolling down her face, "If only this were a joke," Marinette had told herself that she wouldn't cry, that she would tell him and then leave, but how could she? Now that she was here, she couldn't leave. She didn't want to leave. Chat was special to her, why did she think this was going to be like ripping off a band-aid? At the least it was like getting her heart ripped out.
"Ladybug" Chat whispered, "Let me show you who I am."
Marienette's eyes widened. Was this okay? Did she even want to know? Well, she did want to know, but was she ready?
"You don't have to show me who you are. I only want to know who you are when you're ready." He cupped her chin and tilted her head up so their eyes could meet. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. That sent her heart racing, what was this feeling? How come with every word he spoke it was getting harder and harder for her to walk away? Was he really going to show her who he was? It wasn't fair for him to be the only one.
She decided.
"I want you to know who I am too." She took her hand in his, and gave it a tight squeeze, offering him a small smile.
"R-r-re-really!" A light blush spread across his face, and he used his free hand to scratch the back of his neck, " are you sure?"
She couldn't help but laugh, she loved making him flustered, " yes I'm sure, but let's hurry before I change my mind."
"Okay, on the count of three," he paused, squeezing her hand even tighter, "One...Two...Three."
There was a giant flash and suddenly it was just them. No mask or costume for them to hide to behind, just them.
Marinette opened her eyes, she couldn't stop the gasp from escaping her mouth.
"Adrien!" She did not believe it. For the past year she had been fighting alongside her biggest crush. As ladybug, she shared a deep bond with him, and even shared some of her secrets with him. No wonder they never suspected each other, as Marinette she couldn't form a complete sentence in front of him.
"Marinette!" The shock evident in his voice. This was bad she had to leave.
"Tikki transform." The faster she left the better, she didn't want to hear his disappointment.
She had to get home, "Bye Adrien, it was nice fighting with you."
"Marinette! Wait-" Adrien called after her, but she was already gone. She didn't want to hear what he had to say.
"Marinette!" She heard someone calling her name, but she was so lost in thought she didn't respond.
"Marinette!" Someone was shaking her shoulder now, maybe she should turn around.
"What," She turned to face Alya, her best friend, who when Marinette left vowed to attend university in the states with her, "Have we landed?"
"Hardly," Alya scoffed, "You were mumbling stuff about Adrien, so I got worried. We may see him this weekend you know. Are you okay with that? You kind of seemed to leave on a bad foot."
"Yeah," Marinette recalled how the next day, after the reveal, at school he tried to talk to her but she just ignored him, she wanted the day to be over, she just wanted to go to America already, "I'll be okay."
That seemed enough to satisfy Alya, because she turned her attention back to the magazine on her lap. Marinette decided took out her design book and started sketching new designs, and soon they had landed.
"Waaaaahhhh, Paris is exactly as how I remember it!" Alya screeched, she started running around buying this and that. If Alya wasn't already twenty, Marinette would have been a little concerned about letting her wander around by herself.
Marinette rolled her eyes when Alya came back with a handful of candy bags. She grabbed her friend, "Come on we have a hotel to get to."
"awwwww fine, but just so you know I bought your favorite candy too." Alya pouted, letting Marinette lead them to their taxi.
After about a half hour ride they arrived at their hotel.
"I will check us in." Alya offered, leaving Marinette to sit on the couch and watch their bags.
Bored she took out her phone and started playing some games she downloaded before her flight. Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone walk up to her, glancing up she met a pair of familiar eyes.