"Pound it!" Chat Noir and Ladybug said in usion, bumping fists together.
"Good job, Chat." Ladybug beamed, fiercely victorious. She glowed prettily in France´s setting sun, her hair and eyes shining. Her beauty made Chat´s heart ache, and he looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.
The akumatized victim was on the ground a few paces away from the superheros, and he moaned in pain as the akuma´s darkness released him. Ladybug´s triumphant smile faltered, and she turned away from Chat as rushed to the side of the elderly man, helping him stand up.
"Thank you, Ladybug." The old man said, tears filling his eyes. His hands trembled as he gripped her wrists and leaned in as she supported his weight.
"It is always a pleasure." Ladybug said, her face changing. Chat- who had studied the variations in his Lady´s expressions to the minute detail- thought she looked upset. The two of them continued to walk, one shaky step at a time, towards the bus stop.
How disgusting that Hawk Moth evilized this innocent man´s heart. But there was no room in Chat for anger. Not today. He watched Ladybug help the old man with a sigh of content. This was the girl he had fallen in love with, Lady Luck herself. He had known her for years, and she possesd one of the most beautiful souls in the world. The girl who never hesitated to help others. The beautiful, strong, clever Ladybug. The confident, funny, graceful Ladybug. He had fought side by side with her against all odds, when the world was against them.
Chat watched her forehead tighten in concern as she held the old man tightly, and he wished he could soothe those worried lines with a kiss.
Ladybug herself was burning. Hawk Moth didn't stop, did he? He would evilize anyone; from mere children, to the elderly and disabled. He turned everyone into monsters. Was her and Chat Noir even making any difference? They had no leads on Hawk Moth, it was the same battle over and over again. Her life seemed to be on repeat.
Well, not anymore, she thought venomously, as the old man got on the bus. She turned and walked back to say good night to Chat Noir.
Dammit, not anymore.
The sun was just beginning to set, making Paris glow a faint red.
As Ladybug returned, Chat Noir reached for her hand. Ladybug's eyes tightened. Her mind was still full of darkness and anger, of regret, of vengeance, of red, red, red.
"My Lady." He kissed it.
"Kitty…" she protested at his cheesiness, giggling a little when he, still holding her hand, twirled her around, and then bringing her closer to him. The Notre Dame Church was right behind them, the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance.
"My Lady." Chat Noir said again, this time holding both her hands, his eyes turned up in happiness.
Her face was bathed in red, in her hair, on her lips, glowing against her suit, making it look sewn out of satin.
"Chat Noir, it's almost dark…" Ladybug said, her ocean eyes meeting his.
Chat Noir did not appear to hear. She pulled him into a quick goodbye hug, surprised when his arms wrapped around her shoulders and he deepened the embrace, making it linger.
The sun disappeared behind the horizon, the sky darkened.
¨Ladybug...¨Chat Noir sighed contently, his head in her hair. "...I'm in love with you, Ladybug."
She gasped, and he didn't hear this either.
"My Lady, I love you." He let his arms fall, his eyes adoring as he tenderly watched her face. Just as he said this, the sky turned into a dark indigo.
"Oh, Chat…" she whispered in agony, as her eyes slid past him and at the billboard of Adrien Agreste in the distance. "You know I love someone else. I can't be with you."
Chat Noir's eyes closed.
Ladybug bit her lip. "Maybe, you should look somewhere else." She suggested. "Because my heart has already decided."
Chat nodded, opening his eyes. "Never?" Chat Noir choked out.
She understood what he meant. Would she never love him? Would her heart never change?
"I don't think so."
Chat smiled, looking utterly shattered. "Okay, I understand. I won't bother you about it again." He tried a shaky laugh, and suddenly Chat Noir found it rather hard to breath.
"I'm so sorr-" she spoke, but he interrupted her.
¨It's fine...You've got to go." He raised his hand and gestured to her flashing earrings. "See you later, my lad... Ladybug."
"Oh, Chat." She murmured. He looked like someone who had been just been shot through the chest. Still standing, eyes open, but already dead.
She had no choice, she had to leave. Now. Her earrings beeped in warning again.
So Ladybug tossed up her yoyo, and was flung throughout the sky, a dark silhouette against the fading sunset.
As soon as she left, Chat gasped and stumbled against the walls of Notre Dam, his hand clutching as his chest, before sinking to his knees, as the Lady of his heart went away with it.
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"What's up, girl?" Alya said as Marinette sat in her seat at the end of the school day. Marinette turned and looked at Alya.
Alya's eyes widened in surprise. She had seen Marinette pretty, even gorgeous, and once, borderline sexy, but she had never seen her friend look so lovely. Her face was a pale pink, all cream and roses, her lips soft and rounded. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, and she was wearing a white button up dress instead of her usual outfit.
"Today, I'm going to do it." Marinette said firmly.
Alya sighed. "It" was what had occupied Marinette for the past year, "It" had been the source of Alya's exasperation and encouragement, "It" was the ultimate goal.
"It" was confessing to Adrien Agreste.
Alya wanted to laugh, snort, and be encouraging at the same time. Yet as she watched Marinette's face, something made Alya believe her. There was a steely glint in her eye, a lifting of her jaw. Suddenly, in Alya's mind, the determination on Marinette Dupain-Cheng's face reminded her strongly of Ladybug. That, in combination with the overwhelming beauty that was radiating from her, made Alya think twice.
"Okay, girl." Alya blinked.
Marinette had chosen the wrong day to confess. Granted, the sun was shining, the roses outside were just beginning to bloom, and Ms. Bustier was teaching a lesson about the linguistic influences of the french word amour. Really, it should be perfectly romantic.
Yet in spite of this (or maybe because of) Adrien Agreste seemed to be in mourning. Usually he was a spot of sunshine in the classroom, always up for a laugh, but today, it was as if his mother had died again. He sat, his hand over his chest, eyes closed in sadness.
Nino also looked worried. He patted Adrien´s shoulder, and whispered, "Are you okay, dude?"
Adrien did not respond.
"A common misconception is that the word amour or amore is latin. Is this so, Marinette?" Ms. Bustier was asking.
"No Ms. Bustier. Amour is ancient french."
"That's right."
Alya elbowed Marinette. "Let's get our french amour on, then." She said, and Marinette laughed prettily. Damn, was she always this beautiful?
"Now, do not misunderstand me. Amour does have latin-roots, coming from the latin word amōrem…"
Alya also hoped Adrien would get his amour on too. Anything would be better then the... ancient grief that lined his eyes.
"Adrien Agreste," Ms. Bustier asked. "How would you, quite literally, say 'in love' in French, Spanish, Italian, and English?"
"I do not know." Adrien replied quietly, looking down. All this talk about love seemed to be mocking him.
Ms. Bustier looked inquiringly at the class, and Marinette raised her hand.
"Amoureux, enamorado, innamorato, and enamoured." Marinette said, her voice beautifully pronouncing the four tongues, and everyone turned to look at her. She said them like a promise, like a song, and it was a song Alya wanted to hear more of.
Everyone else seemed to have eyes for only Marinette, including most of the boys, and even some of the girls. Marinette was resplendent today, so full of life, and so obviously in love. Enamorada, amoureux, innamorata and enamoured, no wonder she knew those words so well. They perfectly described her, four times over.
Kim leaned forward on his chair, and Chloé was oblivious to her elbow sliding against her desk. Yes, everyone, including Ms. Bustier, was gazing at Marinette, in wonder, in awe. Everyone, Alya noticed, except a certain blonde sitting in front of her.
And then Chloé's elbow knocked her books to the floor with a crash, Kim fell out of his chair, and the spell was broken. Ms. Bustier said, a little faintly, "Yes… as you notice, all four of those words have the french word amour in it. Memorize all four, they will be on our grammar test next week."
The bell then rang, jolting everyone further out of their seats.
"Class dismissed! Have a good weekend!"
Adrien was the first to leave, but he was followed closely by Marinette.
"Hi, Adrien." Marinette said, as they walked outside, and when his green eyes met hers, all of her confidence soared out of her. Suddenly, she was the same old trembling, shy and endearing Marinette all over again. Well, it wasn't her fault Adrien Agreste was so… disarming!
"Hello, Marinette." Adrien said, his voice heartbreakingly sad. But Marinette, too infatuated with his looks, too hypnotized with his smell, failed to notice this.
"I...noticed you didn't know the f-four words for lovin'-- ah, I mean in love. Would you like me to help you?" Marinette asked.
"No thank you." Of course, Adrien knew the four words, he had already studied this lesson in his textbook. But saying the words "In love" four times over, out loud, when Ms. Bustier had asked him, would have been too painful. Yes, Adrien Agreste was in love, enamorado, amoureux, completely enamoured. But, his Lady had told him she would never love him back, and with those words, she had ripped out his heart, and he was still bleeding.
Students walked past them, talking about the weekend. Marinette was standing behind the just-blooming roses. They were a creamy white.
Marinette seemed to be losing her nerve. Before it was lost completely, she blurted, eyes shut, all in one breath, "Adrien-I-really-you-like!"
...
Silence.
Marinette cracked open one eye. Adrien started, confused at her.
"Oh…" She laughed nervously. "I-I mean…" she inhaled deeply. "Adrien, I really like you. As in, I like, like, you."
Adrien was at a loss for words. Marinette? Some small, very small part of his brain questioned. He would have never guessed Marinette. Cute, harmless, shy Marinette, who- he noticed for the first time- looked very lovely and sweet today. Especially standing behind those roses.
But Adrien had a gaping hole in his chest, and the edges continued to bleed. He was still in love with Ladybug, and it ached him.
So he looked at Marinette with pity, and hoped she only had a small crush on him. How could it be anything more? They barely knew each other. They had hardly had a conversation.
"Well, thank you," he said gently. "I don't return your feelings, though. I am sorry."
Marinette's smile was frozen on her face.
"W-wha…?"
"You deserve someone better." Adrien frowned. "You never used to seem comfortable around me, anyways. But I hope we can still be friends."
Marinette was motionless, her eyes still wide.
The Gorilla appeared by the curb, and honked.
"I have to go… Chinese lessons, you know…" Adrien said, confused by her silence. "Well… see ya."
He turned to leave, smiling sadly, and as soon as he got into his car, he had already forgotten about his classmate that went by the name of Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
Instead, he thought about his real best friend, the one who had stolen his heart and had gotten away with it.
His love, his life, his one and only Ladybug.
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To be continued…
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Don't be mad at me, this is just the beginning! This is my first MLB Fan-fiction, was it okay? I am actually publishing this to work on my Spanish- I will be translating my text, by hand, to Spanish, and publishing that as a separate story. Is anyone here fluent in Spanish and can help me? Give me a message if you wanna be my writing partner, let's be friends! And if you are interested in being a proofreader, DM me!
In case you are wondering; I plan this to be medium-long in length… give or take ten chapters?
To the people of France (and especially Paris) if you are reading this, my condolences about the Notre Dame church. God bless~