This sort of turned into Adrien having an identity crisis but yeah. It's a bit longer than the last one. Enjoy Nathalie with emotions.
Chat noir grinned. He had just finished fighting yet another akuma and he was tired, but the adrenalin was not yet gone. Ladybug had been in a good mood today, god, she had even made a pun which made Chat freeze in shock and get hit. Afterwards, she had playfully tapped his nose when faced with his attempts at flirting and laughed when he kissed her hand instead of her usual disgustedness. This new side of her just made both Chat and Adrien fall for Ladybug even more.
Talking of Adrien, he was back. As Chat came through his bedroom window into his suite, he released his transformation and grinned, albeit a much less pronounced one. It seemed that Adrien just didn't have the jaw muscles to grin or smirk as wide as Chat Noir. It made no sense, but then again, what did?
Plagg came flying out demanding his cheese. Adrien pointed him in the direction of the fridge and settled down with a comic.
He did try to get invested in the tales of Spiderman and Mary Jane, he did, but it was hard when he was an actual superhero. And he couldn't get Ladybug out of his head. Her deep bluebell eyes, her dark navy hair, the confidence with which she carried herself that seemed real. Not like Chat. Adrien knew Chat Noir was a mask, almost a dress up. Being Chat was like acting a part he wished he could have in real life. And it was that. Acting. Not real.
But then what was real? Adrien Agreste certainly wasn't. Adrien Agreste was whatever Gabriel Agreste wanted him to be. Nothing more, nothing less. Adrien Agreste was the golden boy – famous, handsome, a model, heir to a fashion empire, son to the world's most famous fashion designer. He was everything his father wanted him to be. Chat was everything Adrien wanted himself to be – cocky, confident, free. The question was, who was he really. There wasn't really a balance between the two as would be ideal. The only time Adrien found himself being able to act naturally was when he was with his friends and thanks to his father, that wasn't a lot. But when he was, Alya, Nino and Marinette managed to make him forget about Adrien and Chat. He was just him.
"You look serious over there." Plagg said, interrupting his profound musings. "Did you lose a piece of cheese?"
"What? Plagg, no!"
"You sure?"
"Yes I'm sure."
"Huh, weird. Anyway," the kwami said. "you seemed to enjoy yourself today. Was it something to do with a certain spotted girl?"
"Plagg shut up!"
"You know you like her."
"No I don't!"
"The pictures all over your walls say otherwise."
"Shut up Plagg or no cheese for a week."
"No cheese like cheddar cheese or no cheese like camembert?" Plagg asked.
"Camembert."
"I'm shutting up!" the kwami cried. "Although you wouldn't do that… would you?"
"Try me." Adrien said.
"I'm good!" Plagg replied. He flew off to a corner and began to eat his way through another wheel of the stinky cheese.
Adrien giggled as he got out his homework.
"Adrien?" a voice said. "Who are you talking to?"
It was a calm female voice and the only female Adrien could think of was…
"Nathalie!"
"Adrien."
"I wasn't talking to anyone!"
She didn't look convinced. Her eyebrows raised as her eyes travelled to the bulge in Adrien's bed where Plagg was hiding and being very obvious about it too. That idiot. Nathalie threw back the duvet to reveal Plagg sitting there like a stuffed toy, his eyes bulged and lifeless. Maybe not such an idiot then, thought Adrien.
Nathalie picked him up and Plagg did very well in not scratching her eyes out. Adrien was impressed.
"Adrien?" she said and still her voice was perfectly calm. "Why do you have a kwami?"
Adrien swore he was going to choke. How did she even know what a kwami was? Wait a second… navy blue hair, bluebell eyes, always knowing what to do…
"Nathalie, are you Ladybug?" Adrien asked.
For probably the first time in history, and Adrien blindly thought that maybe he should record this, Nathalie Sancoeur looked surprised. Genuine shock was evident on her face and her mouth was open wide.
"Don't be stupid Adrien." She said, resuming her normal composure. "Where on earth did you get that idea from?"
"Well.. I – you – you knew what a kwami was…" Adrien replied, his confidence growing slowly towards the ground.
"As do you." She noted. "Adrien," she said, mocking his previous tone. "Are you Chat Noir?"
Her stern yet somehow understanding face made all thoughts of denying the fact drain from Adrien's mind. He nodded, barely perceptible but still there all the same.
"I thought so. I will not inform your father of this. Don't worry Adrien."
"Thank you Nathalie, but how did you…"
She put her hand up stopping him midsentence. "That is a story for another time. Maybe you will eventually get to hear it, maybe not. It is not mine to tell. Goodnight, Adrien."
Adrien watched her back get smaller. He jumped up from his bed and ran towards her and threw his arms over her shoulders.
"Goodnight Nathalie, and thank you."
He didn't see the tiny smile on Nathalie's face as she made her way out of the room, but he felt it.
Is disgustedness a word? idk. Microsoft word said it wasnt but I'm still using it because since when did anyone care what Microsoft word said? Why am I saying this? anyway, hope you enjoyed.