Marinette leaned against the railing and stared blankly into the distance. Her eyes drooped, and her neck was bent down. The soft thud behind her didn't escape her ears. "Hi Chat." Marinette said without turning around.
"Princess what's wrong? today's your birthday?" Chat leaned on the railing next to her.
"Today, the boy I like gave me a present."
Chat felt an ominous feeling in his chest, before he mumbled under his breath "Stay focused you like Ladybug." He looked at Marinette seeing her distant gaze he knew she was distracted, "That sounds like a good thing?" Chat urged, it wasn't often he could get the girl to open up to Chat. She was always competitive with him around.
"It is a good thing. But when he gave it to me he smiled."
"That doesn't sound like a problem?" Chat looked at her his eye's showing confusion.
"You should've seen that smile, it was filled with sadness. Like he couldn't betray his real emotions. I wanted to help him." Marinette's face blushed red as she thought back to what she done. "So I kissed him."
Chat started to put two in two together, "You like Adrien?" he had to confirm although in his heart it didn't feel right. To do this as Chat felt like cheating.
"I thought you knew, everyone seems to know I act like such freak when he's around?"
"It must be nice to be in love with a model." Chat's mind started spinning, he was mad at himself for doing this. But he couldn't quench his curiosity as his eyes stared into Marinette's trying search out every emotion.
"Actually, I hated him for being a model. I thought he was just like Chloe." Marinette's eyes were full of sincerity "but he proved me wrong. He gave me his umbrella during a rainy day, when he needed it" Chat's gaze encouraged her to say more. "He always helps out Nino, their best friends, just like me and Alya…" Marinette continued telling stories of Adrien's exploits to Chat noir through out the night. Chat stared intensively, egotistically clinging to every word.
"I've never seen someone talk from the heart like you Marinette." Chat was entranced by Marinette, his face revealed a full hearted soft smile. it was feeling he hadn't had since his mom died. the feeling of someone who cared for him. Someone who truly wanted to spend time with him.
"Thanks, Chat. Maybe Adrien can learn to smile like you one day." Marinette said her eyes looked watery with the moon's reflection.
"If anyone can make Adrien smile that way, you can Marinette." Chat felt a shiver go up his spine. It was how Plagg commented on the situation. Chat choose to ignore it, for once he agreed with Plagg.
"Thanks Chat." Chat jumped from the roof, "You're not so bad yourself Kitty." She mumbled as she clambered in through her skylight. before she could press her head to the pillow, her alarm blared. Marinette muttered some intelligible word's that started with chat as she got down, from her bed.
Adrien had sat down for class, but his eye's were glued to the door.
"Hey, Adrien dude, what are you looking for?" Nino walked up to him, noticing his strange gaze.
"Hi Nino, actually I'm looking for Marinette." Nino stared blankly at Adrien.
"You.." Nino pointed at him gasp leaked from his mouth before he ran off. "Alya!"
"Nino? What are you doing?" Adrien called out, but Nino was out of earshot.
"You're looking for Marinette?" Adrien jumped back in his chair, nearly hitting his head on the desk behind him. Alya stood in front of his desk she had appeared like a ghost. Nino came running up behind her.
"Alya! How did you?" Adrien gasped.
Marinette ran into the classroom, interrupting the conversation, the bell rang immediately following "Just barely Marinette." The teacher smiled.
Everyone sat down to begin class, but slowly Nino noticed Adrien's eye's start to drift back before snapping to the front.
"Dude you okay?" he whispered under his breath, talking in the front row isn't easy to get away with but somehow Nino had always managed it.
"Me? Why would you ask that?" Adrien said a little too fast. "Other than that, did Marinette put on some new makeup or something?"
Nino glanced back, "Nah, looks the same to me." Adrien began to fidget with his hands. "Do you need to go to the bathroom or something?"
"No I think, I…" Adrien lowered his voice making sure Marinette couldn't hear him. "I may have fallen for Marinette, and she's right behind me watching me."
Nino glanced back at Marinette, she was indeed watching Adrien. "Because you look better than the frog guts." Nino chuckled has he pointed out the projector's image.
"Adrien, Nino, I don't like biology any more than the rest of us. So please don't make me teach it again."
"Sorry!" Adrien pulled out a pencil and paper to keep his fidgeting hands busy.
"Alya, do you think Adrien is acting weird today?" Marinette muttered under her breath. "He's been fidgeting the whole class."
"Maybe he's nervous because the girl that likes him is staring intensely." Alya covered her mouth holding in her laughter.
"Alya!" Marinette said as sternly and quietly as she could muster. "I'm serious."
"What if he fell for you?" Alya could clearly see Adrien's lips from her angle. She had been reading his lips.
"Please don't make fun of me!"
Alya simply responded with muffled laughter.
When the bell rung, Adrien faced Marinette. "Marinette, can I talk to you in private?"
"Sure!" Marinette said and pulled him away from Alya. She ran towards the art room. Which was empty during this time. She didn't turn back to face Adrien as it just dawned on her what she had done. Her face was flushed red and she was sweating like crazy.
"Marinette, I like you, But…" Adrien held his breath. "There's another girl I like. But she won't accept my feelings, even so I want to try one last time." Adrien said staring at the girl she seemed so small and fragile in front of him. he resisted the urge to hold her. "I know this is cruel of me… it must seem like I'm just going out with you because she said no." he once again rubbed his neck. "But I truly like you both."
"Chloe!" a sound reverberated through the building. "Come here, Chloe Bourgeois. I have a sound solution to your little temper tantrum."
Marinette was filled with confidence she turned to face Adrien. "Let's get to safety first." As if she was a different person.
Adrien thought she looked like Ladybug for a moment before smiling to himself. "No wonder I fell for her, she's just like Ladybug." Marinette began pulling him out of the room.
"We should split up it's safer." Marinette glanced around for a place to transform.
"Okay, stay safe Marinette." Adrien said as he ran off.
Chloe and the akuma stared each other down. "I can't believe you got akumatized over this!" Chloe was standing in the middle of an intersection. "What would my Adrikins think! Utterly ridiculous!
"I'm Soundboard, I will make it to the competition on time!" Soundboard had tied up black hair with a purple streak. She wore neon yellow headphones, and a yellow jacket. With her purple hued skin she had a mesmerizing aura. And her intricately designed surfboard that had a ladybug picture on it completed the look. "Don't worry you'll make it to the competition to."
Chat noir jumped out in front of Chloe. "Don't you think you're going overboard?" he asked with a grin.
"Ughh, Chat!" Ladybug groaned appearing from the opposite side.
"I've got time to spare." She said eyeing a clock nearby. "I can take your miraculous and still make it to the competition on time." She tossed a small purple orb behind her as she got onto her surfboard. A loud crack reverberated, and she vanished.
"So fast!" Soundboard didn't escape Chat's eyes. he turned around, to see Chloe missing. "Uh oh."
"What?" Ladybug turned around, with a loud crack she flew back into a wall. Soundboard stood in her place.
"Don't worry, miss Bourgeois, is out of the way. I wouldn't want her to escape while I'm dealing with you two."
Ladybug coughed as she got up. Chat ran towards Soundboard and spun his baton, he leapt and swung down. She dodged and dropped another purple ball. Chat was in no position to stop it and watched as it sparked, hitting the ground. He flew back harshly and crashed into a building.
"Careful kitty, it's dangerous in the streets." She taunted.
"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug recuperated enough, and now held a spotted rope. After quickly scanning around she noticed she could take advantage of the traffic lights. "Chat, I need time."
"Of course, Mi-Ladybug." Oddly Chat stopped himself. He shook his head and faced Soundboard. "What's the matter cat got your tongue."
She looked at him blankly. "That was the best you could come up with?" she tossed a purple orb. Chat moved before the orb hit the ground, his eyes allowed him to see her lean into an attack, that barely missed him.
"Strike one, three strikes and you get a prize." He teased. Before he smoothly transitioned to limbo passed her next attack. "Two down one to go!" Chat extended his Baton vaulting into the air and looked down as she passed.
"Ready Chat!" Ladybug had taken apart the traffic light's and created some sort of strange bola. She held in her hand. Chat leaned towards her and she handed him the bola. "You got it?"
"Anything for you." Chat said smiling, he faced soundboard. "Three strikes come up and claim your prize."
"You- you -you cat!" Soundboard was enraged and immediately threw another orb. Chat held up the bola to capture her. A loud crack was quickly followed by a heavy thud, and soft plink. Ladybug handed chat the surfboard.
"If you would."
"Cataclsym!". He destroyed the board quickly followed by the akuma escaping. Ladybug lassoed it with her yo-yo.
"Bye Bye, little butterfly." She turned to chat, "Can you wait a bit Chat, we need to talk." She helped up the victim. "What brought this on?"
"Chloe blocked my way to the charity surfing event. now I'll never make it on time." She groaned.
"I'll take you there." Ladybug said before holding out her arm. "Chat, could you find Chloe? We'll meet up on the school roof."
"Sure."
Chat watched Ladybug's figure as she swung onto the roof. "Ladybug, will you go out with me?" he asked his eye's far more serious that she's ever seen him.
"Chat, you know."
"You like another boy." He repeated her line, to explain it to himself. "I've fallen for another girl."
"That's great Chat." Ladybug felt a twinge in her heart.
"It's Marinette, If she says yes, I'll reveal my identity. I don't think I could hide my identity from the girl I love." Chat felt a sense of déjà vu. He stood up and vaulted away.
Ladybug stared blankly trying to process. She started speaking aloud to try and clear her head. "Chat noir, and Adrien fell in love with me?" She felt a shiver in response "Right, I'm sorry."
Ladybug jumped off the building letting her transformation wear off in a hidden place. She walked lifelessly, lost in thought back to her seat. Alya couldn't get a reaction out of her for the rest of the day.
"So, you finally confessed to Marinette." Plagg said as he floated into the cheese cabinet a stinky explosion burst into the room, one Adrien had long since grown used to.
"Yeah, but she seemed weird after the confession Plagg." Adrien laid back on his bed, gently closing his eyes.
"Why don't you check on her as Chat?" Plagg swallowed a piece of camembert, as if trying to demonstrate he was ready anytime.
"No way! Especially not after what I did last time. Besides I don't want to mess with her decision to go out with me!" Plagg burst out laughing in response. "Plagg!" Adrien scolded.
"I-I- can't!" Plagg said out of breath, "You're killing me kid."
"Tikki?" Marinette asked. The kwami had been silent the whole time. "What's the matter Tikki?"
"Marinette? Can I go visit master Fu?"
"Umm, sure Tikki. Just be careful of an akuma attack." Marinette felt worried, remembering the last time Tikki had taken off.
"I just need to ask him something. I'll be quick!" Tikki said, as she flew out the window.
Marinette, looked at her skylight. "I wonder if Chat will be here tonight." She quickly felt tiredness overtake her and closed her eyes, to finally get some sleep.