To the guest who reviewed the preceding story: I just want to thank you for your review especially. I hope you see this. Your review seemed to be written before you read my whole story, and I, knowing the ending, know that it didn't quite satisfy all the expectations revealed in your review. You pointed out some areas in my story that could have been better: showing Marinette growing empathy toward Adrien, showing Adrien's weakness and pressure, and most of all, Marinette realizing that Adrien still likes Ladybug as Marinette: when she's weaker and imperfect. Thank you so much for your review, anonymous person: it gave me the inspiration I needed to begin this sequel.
The rest of my reviewers: Thank you so much for your support, and here is the sequel as requested! Also, did I get out of character with Marinette in the last story? If so I should fix that here. Let me know!
Alya gasped as she peeked from her hiding place beside the school stairs. She couldn't believe her eyes: Marinette was walking into school hand in hand with Adrien Agreste!
"Girl, you've got some explaining to do," she muttered under her breath.
"Hey, Alya!" Nino appeared behind her.
"Shhhhh!" Alya yanked Nino down next to her. "Look!"
"Dude..." Nino looked surprised, but not as surprised as Alya thought he should.
"Did you know something about this?"
"No. But I guess that's who the secret crush he's been mooning over all this time is."
Alya smacked her head. "All this time? So Marinette's been driving herself crazy all this time for nothing?"
Nino laughed. "Guess so. Later!" He stood up and dashed up the stairs to catch up with Adrien.
Alya shook her head, then followed. Marinette was going to have her breaks full until she explained.
First break came around, and Alya met Marinette at their lockers. She strategically placed herself so there was a rubbish can between Marinette and escape.
"Explain yourself," she said, crossing her arms.
Marinette spun around. "Oh, hi, Alya. Up what's? I mean, what's up?"
"Girl, the only person who makes you nervous enough to switch your words around like that is Adrien. And I happened to see you two holding hands? Tell me the deets. And fast, breaks almost over!"
Marinette laughed nervously. "Funny story..."
"Marinette! Over here!" Adrien waved, standing at the bottom of the stairs at the other end of the room.
"Oh, haha, gotta go," Marinette said, and dashed off before Alya could stop her.
Alya stomped her foot. "Since when has Marinette been even that good at avoiding the question? And the rubbish can..."
Next break, Marinette was a little more prepared. When Alya came up behind her, she turned around.
"Um, you want the deets? Turned out Adrien likes me, has for a while. He, um, so me told, I mean told me so, and now we're dating?" Marinette spread her hands with an innocent look.
Alya grinned. "That wasn't so bad, was it? All right, this is big! Let's celebrate with ice cream after school! And, by the way, didn't I tell you he'd end up falling for you in the end?"
"You told me so... And the ice cream is a good idea!" Marinette turned, and tripped over the rubbish can. "Sorry, didn't see... Oh, you're a rubbish... I'm talking to a rubbish can..."
Alya laughed. "Back to your normal self, I see."
* * *
Chat Noir and Ladybug sat on the Eiffel Tower, holding hands. Ladybug's head rested on Chat's shoulder.
"I'm glad you're Marinette. Before I knew you were, I sometimes thought if I didn't love you, I might get a crush on her."
Marinette sat up, mock horror on her features. "Your loyalty wasn't to me alone? I didn't eclipse all other girls in your sight? Oh, wait... Why am I surprised that the flirtatious Chat Noir thought about Marinette as well as his one true love?" She laughed and gave him a playful shove.
"Hey, claws well that ends well, right?" He put his arm around Ladybug as she returned to her former position.
After a few seconds of silence, Ladybug said softly, "I can't believe you still liked me after you found out my secret identity. I mean, Marinette is nothing like Ladybug!"
"Like I said before, though you may not have been around when I said it, I love the girl behind the mask as well. Anyway, what do you mean? Ladybug: compassionate, caring, beautiful, brave, and absolutely purr-fect. Marinette: compassionate, caring, beautiful, brave, and absolutely purr-fect!" He smiled, ticking the words off on his fingers.
"Brave? Marinette? What are you talking about?"
"Hey, very few girls would be brave enough to put a design of theirs in a competition judged by Gabriel Agreste, am I right? And you were both brave and compassionate enough to give your place up in the video game competition, so Max could play."
"Silly Chaton, that wasn't brave. Anyway, I only tried out so I could play with you!"
"Why, that's paw-sitively flattering! Man, though, you were killer, m'lady. How long have you been playing?"
"I don't know. Ever since I was old enough to hold a controller, I guess."
"Well, it was also brave of you to stand up to me when you thought I put the gum on your seat," Chat said, laughing.
"Ugh, don't remind me! How embarrassing. Your apology was the sweetest thing, though."
"Hehe, and then the umbrella shut on us, and I was pretty embarrassed, too."
Ladybug giggled. "I think that's what made me start liking you, though. It was cute."
"You're cute," Chat replied with a mischievous look.
"Shoot, it's getting late! We need to get home. Sleep well, Chat." Ladybug ignored the quip.
"Don't let the bedbugs bite," Chat replied. "And, Marinette, I trust you just as much as I trust Ladybug. And I love you even more, because there's no mask dividing us."
* * *
The next morning, Adrien woke up early. He fed Plagg, then went down to the dining room to see if his breakfast was ready. To his surprise, his father was at the table eating.
"Hi, dad," he said, as he pulled out a chair and sat.
"Son. What are you doing up so early? You need to sleep at least eight hours." Gabriel wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
"I'm sorry, Father. I'll sleep more tonight." Adrien looked at the table, feeling ashamed. Even when he'd done nothing wrong, his father's reaction when he made mistakes always made him feel guilty.
"Natalie," Gabriel called. "Tell the cook to get Adrien's breakfast on the table."
"Yes, sir," Natalie replied.
She gave Adrien an encouraging smile as she passed, and he felt a little better. Maybe someday he would be able to live up to his father's expectations. At least Ladybug - and Marinette - accepted him the way he was. He didn't count the swarms of fans he knew lived in Paris, because they didn't know him. To them, he was just a pretty face on a piece of paper. A perfect face.
So this is chapter one. I hope to highlight a lot of Adrien's family life, and both his and Marinette's interactions with each other's families. Because of all the things I want to explore in their lives, this may end up being a really long fic. I hope you all like it! I'll try to update as often as possible.