Unedited as of 2018-04-21. Sorry guys! I was going to use these last few days to edit but instead was trying to write it. Tomorrow I will start! Please excuse any stupid grammar and spelling errors. I was falling asleep while writing.
Chapter 3
Adrien jumped into his computer chair the moment he sat got home. Plagg was satisfied returning to his hoard of cheese while Adrien opened Alya's Ladyblog. He knew what he needed to know about kwami's, and he definitely knew what Plagg looked like when he pretended he couldn't move, but it could still be coincidence.
Surprisingly, for him at least, he found himself hoping it was not.
Adrien pulled up a photo of Ladybug from the Ladyblog and pulled up a photo which Alya had posted of her and Marinette. He stared at both photo's intently but realized something about the photo of Ladybug seemed unclear. When he tried to compare their features, he seemed to continuously forget what Ladybug looked like almost like it had been blurred in his memory. For reference, he pulled up a photo of himself and Chat Noir and experienced the same problem.
"Plagg!" He called.
"I'm busy, kid." Plagg replied as he ate his way into the center of a cheese ball.
"It's an emergency." Adrien tried.
"Is all the cheese in the world going extinct?" Plagg wondered.
"No?" Adrien replied.
"Then it is not an emergency, is it?"
"Come here." Adrien snapped, rolling back in his chair to pick up Plagg who let out a small "Hey!"
"Can it be her?" Adrien asked.
"What evidence are you basing this question of?" Plagg inquired curiously.
"Marinette had something in her room that looked like a kwami." Adrien explained. "But not a cat, a bug. A red bug... Like Ladybug."
"Or it was just a toy." Plagg suggested.
"No, I know what it was Plagg, I saw it!" Adrien argued.
"Are you sure you're not just hoping that Marinette is Ladybug?" Plagg wondered.
"What do you mean?" Adrien wondered.
"I mean that you're in love with Ladybug but also with Marinette, and it would just be easier for you if they were the same person." Plagg explained.
"I'm not in love with Marinette." Adrien defended. "She's just a friend."
"So is Ladybug, kid, labels don't change feelings." Plagg groaned.
"There is only one way to find out if Marinette is Ladybug." Adrien decided.
"Please don't." Plagg tried but knew it was pointless. Adrien had stopped listening.
"Next time there is an akuma, I will stay with Marinette until Ladybug arrives." Adrien announced.
"And when does the heroic Chat Noir make his appearance?" Plagg asked with heavy sarcasm in his voice.
"After Ladybug." Adrien answered.
"And if Marinette is Ladybug?" Plagg wondered. "You're going to prevent her from saving the day to satisfy your curiosity?"
"I won't let Paris suffer." Adrien rolled his eyes. "I'll just be keeping an eye on Marinette and if Marinette can't be found when Ladybug arrives, then I will be sure."
"I think it's a bad idea but hey, when do you even listen to what I think?" Plagg wondered.
"I listen to you, Plagg." Adrien informed him before returning his stare to the photo's of Ladybug and Marinette. "Why doesn't her hair change? Or her eyes?"
"What?" Plagg wondered.
"My eyes change. And my hair. But if Ladybug and Marinette are the same person, why doesn't she change?"
Plagg sighed in exhaustion. He spoke quickly and with little interest as he answered, "I don't know, kid. You change because I bring out who you really are and not who you act like for you father. If Marinette is Ladybug... I guess they're the same person or similar, I don't know and I never cared to ask anyone."
"Maybe that's why I can't recognize her." Adrien breathed. "Or myself."
"Yeah, maybe, where's the Swiss?" Plagg flew towards the small counter of cheese and started digging again.
Adrien sighed with a small smile and stared up at the two photos admiringly. He rested his chin on his hand and his elbow on his desk. He didn't stop until Natalie called him for dinner.
"Why didn't you hide, Tikki?" Marinette wondered. She didn't blame Tikki for Adrien running away, but she did worry that Adrien had seen her Kwami.
"I thought you were alone." Tikki replied just as surprised as Marinette that she hadn't been fast enough. Normally, she could hear people, or at least sense them. "I guess he's really light on his feet."
"What if he knows what a kwami is?" Marinette asked suddenly. "What if he makes the connection?"
"Kwami's aren't common knowledge, Marinette." Tikki reminded. "What are the chances he will be able to identify one?"
Marinette hesitated but decided, "You're right. He probably thought you were a cute little toy."
Tikki giggled and returned to her cookies.
Since her homework was done, Marinette found herself on her balcony drawing until late into the night. She didn't realize until she decided to go to bed that she'd been waiting for him, and was a little disappointed that he hadn't return. Adrien had run out so suddenly that she could almost feel her heart snap back into her chest when it wasn't able to follow him. Still, she had expected Chat to come back.
She thought maybe he'd decided to gone on parole. She considered joining him but knew it was too late. Nothing bad should happen at this time of night. It was a little after midnight and most of Paris had gone home or was going home if they'd stayed out.
"Goodnight, Tikki." She sighed as she crawled into her bed.
"Goodnight, Marinette." Tikki responded, cuddling into her chest over the blanket.
Just as she closed her eyes, Marinette heard a small thud outside. Then a small tap on her window.
She groaned in some annoyance as Tikki moved to hide, complaining about "poor timing".
Marinette didn't get out of bed as the window opened and the dark figure jumped in.
"Marinette?" He called quietly.
"I'm sleeping." She grumbled.
"Should I go?" He wondered.
"I don't care what you do, Chat." She groaned. She'd waited up for him. Now she wanted to sleep. Maybe, she thought, she would get to school on time.
She heard the window close and wasn't sure where he was until she felt him crawling into her bed. He wasn't grabby which, if she were being honest, disappointed her a little. He simply got under the covers and lay down next to her.
"Sorry for being so late." He whispered. "I got distracted."
"It's fine." She mumbled.
"I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you." He added.
"I would never think that." She said in an almost joking tone.
He smiled and looked at her through the dark. Being right in front of him, he thought it was clearer. He knew she was brave enough to be Ladybug, and definitely creative enough to come up with all the uses for the lucky charm. He tried to remember how they spoke-they didn't share the same speech patterns, but neither did Adrien and Chat Noir.
She was often late for school, which was strange because she lived right next to the school. And she would leave with an excuse whenever he did. But he'd seen Ladybug and Marinette in the same place at the same time-but he'd also seen two Ladybugs at the same time and no Marinette. He also knew illusions existed. It made sense, though, why she would have trusted him so quickly last night. He'd assumed it was because he was a hero. Like it was some girls fantasy to spend the night with him. Maybe she simply trusted him because she knew she could always depend on him. The thought made him want to smile. He'd always wanted a friend he could trust unquestioning, and he was sure Ladybug was that kind of friend, but Marinette too? He wasn't sure he had that much luck.
As he watched her sleep he realized that this was all he wanted. To be close to her. To comfort her when she needed him. To protect her and keep her safe. Not only encase she was Ladybug, but as Marinette. And not only as a friend. A small smile played across his face as he thought of them being the same person. His chest bubbled with pride and hope. He'd always known Ladybug was a good person under her mask, without needing to know who she was, but Marinette? He couldn't think of a better person.
His heart skipped a beat as he realized Plagg had been right. He wanted Marinette to be Ladybug. He wanted it bad. He'd thought of it once or twice in the past but ignored his intuition because he thought he was being ridiculous.
Maybe it was, though. Maybe he was just getting his hopes up. Ladybug had no romantic interest in Chat. She wanted someone else. She'd told him this many times. But so had Marinette.
Chat thought about earlier. When he'd come into the bakery hoping for Marinette to ask him out. He'd hoped to help her practice going on a real date, while also thanking her for the night before. Now he realized he didn't want to help her practice. He only wanted to do a real date. With her. Would his father even let him though? Could he possibly give her the time she needed as himself when his father expected so much from him?
And what if she didn't like him back? The look on her face when he walked in was more like panic than excitement. Maybe she only thought of him as a friend. The idea caused him to tense uncomfortably. Would she be happy finding out that he was Chat Noir? Or would she be disappointed? Would she hate him for not telling her before they... No, because he tried to tell her and she didn't want to know.
Maybe it was irrelevant to even consider. What kind of a boyfriend could he even be? Rarely seeing each other outside of school, unless she was actually Ladybug in which case also saving Paris together. He wouldn't bother her with a small pang of interest which he knew could very well be from her being his first. She was his friend. A good friend which is something he needed much more than any love interest.
Chat kissed her forehead and did not take his lips of her when he was done. He maintain the small connection, closing his eyes to better enjoy the moment because he didn't know how long it could last.
"I love you." He breathed as he pulled away and put his head on his pillow.
Adrien was beginning to feel disappointed when he woke up in his own bed at home. He liked falling asleep next to Marinette, he wanted to wake up next to her, and with her. So far he'd been waking up at three or four in the morning and running home encase anyone came to check on him or wake him up in the morning.
He showered and prepared for school which he made it to just before the bell rang. When he saw Marinette in his first class, his heart stopped. There she was. His Ladybug-or at least he believed she was.
"Hey, Nino." Adrien greeted as he went to sit beside him. "Hey Alya, Marinette."
"H-hi." Marinette waved excitedly but her face was blank of almost all emotion and colour.
Wow, Adrien thought, as he'd never realized how good she was at hiding her Ladybug confidence. It was not that he ever thought Marinette was less confident than Ladybug, only different.
He suddenly understood why she was always fumbling over her own words. It was an act. She was intelligently separating herself from Ladybug. He wondered how much different he seemed compared to Chat Noir. He'd always assumed it was obviously him but apparently she hadn't figured it out. With that being said, he thought Ladybug had always been much worse at recognizing people when compared to him.
"My dad said we could go to that movie if it's right after fencing." Adrien smiled. His father had given him a list of approved movies and had prepaid for those tickets which limited the groups choices which Adrien hoped they didn't mind. Last time he went to a movie alone with Nino, Nino had been nice about it so he hoped for the same response this time.
"Awesome, man." Nino somewhat cheered as he pat his best friends shoulder.
"Great." Alya smiled. "We've invited Rose and Julika too. Max and Kim might come too, but they were uncertain."
"Oh-okay." Marinette smiled a little. It didn't look as genuine as Adrien had seen her smile be in the past. He noticed Alya and Marinette share a couple knowing looks before settling in their seats.
Adrien sat and withheld his smile. He was finally going to a movie with his Ladybug-or the girl he was sure was Ladybug.
The day went fast for Adrien and Marinette who were both, unknowingly, excited to be going to the movie with the other. Adrien debated whether he should or should not sit near her. He'd always been able to in the past but he didn't know how much Chat Noir would come out if he was in a dark room with her. He debated asking her out after the movie but decided against it. They were just friends after all and if they wanted to see a movie together, it would be a mutual decision.
After school Adrien was able to lose himself in fencing practice. This was a nice break from fantasizing about Ladybug and Marinette. The practice was not long, but today it felt like forever. He wanted to spend more time with Marinette as himself and not just Chat Noir. He wanted her to like him, and not just her masked partner. During the small water breaks, Adrien's thoughts ran to Marinette. What was she doing? Was she going to be happy to see him? Adrien tried to calm his nerves by repeatedly asking "How much could happen just because I'm not with her?"
His bodyguard was waiting outside for him after practice for a little longer than usual since Adrien decided to shower and fix his hair. Adrien had never cared what he looked like after a practice. With that being said, he usually went straight home after his practices.
His bodyguard silently drove him to the theater while he texted Nino to receive an update on who had arrived.
To Adrien
I came with Alya and Marinette. Rose and Julika just arrived and she brought her brother, Luka.
From Nino
.
To Nino
He was in that band, right?
From Adrien
.
Adrien had not remained in Luka's band for long. His father had stopped his participation shortly after it had started due to its affect on "valuable practice time".
To Adrien
That's him. I don't know him well but he seems nice and he's been keeping Marinette busy. They haven't stopped talking since he got here.
From Nino
.
Adrien decided the comment was only relate-able to having a fiery arrow pierced through his stomach. He took deep breathes and decided not to think about it since he was around the corner from the theater anyways. This did not help. His mind started racing with unrealistic fears of how Luka might be attracting Marinette. Then he reminded himself that she was only a friend, and she was free to do whatever suited her best. Still, each second felt like five minutes and he couldn't explain his anticipation. Was seeing a movie with friends really this important to him?
Yes, he decided as he rested on the edge of his seat waiting for the car to reach its destination.
When they finally arrived, Adrien thanked his bodyguard for the ride and rushed into the theater. He found them with ease. They were waiting near the concession. Rose was ordering something while Nino, Julika, and Alya all talked, and while Marinette and Luka stood a few feet away talking. Adrien saw Marinette laugh as felt both happiness for her amusement and the instinct to bite Luka.
"Hey guys." Adrien greeted approaching Marinette and Luka first since they were standing closest. Luka turned to greet him while Marinette stared. Adrien couldn't understand why, but the slight height difference between the two bothered him. Luka was taller than Adrien than a little bit due to him being a couple years older. "What move are you going to go see?"
"The new comedy." Alya answered as she approached. "Hey Adrien, glad you could make it."
"Hey, Alya." Adrien smiled. "Me too."
"Are we still all getting dinner after this?" Rose wondered as she returned to the group with popcorn and chocolate.
Adrien felt himself freeze. He felt sudden envy for all of them. His father had only allowed to movie, and he doubted he would be allowed to skip his Chinese AND his piano lesson. He'd only been allowed because he convinced his father that Marinette spoke Chinese and that they'd speak Chinese the entire time, which was of course not the case. He doubted a similar excuse would work again. He watched them all get excited about the idea all the while knowing he wouldn't be able to attend.
"I think I should be getting home right after the movie." Adrien said after everyone else had agreed to go.
"Why not?" Alya wondered.
"My dad will want me home for my piano lesson." Adrien explained. He didn't want to let them think he was unhappy about leaving early so he added, "I already ate on the way, anyways."
"That's cool." Nino smiled. He was just happy Adrien had been allowed to come to the movie.
"The real world is the best place to practice your music." Luka interrupted. "Music is the soul of experience."
Adrien didn't know what what that meant and he wasn't sure he cared to. All he care about was how Marinette seemed to swoon at what he was saying. What did he care? He asked himself but couldn't avoid the bubbling feeling deep inside himself.
Marinette was about to return to her conversation with Luka, who had started talking to his sister and Rose, when she felt a hand on her shoulder keep her back.
She turned and saw Adrien smiling at her. Marinette's heart stopped for a moment as she stared up at his nearly sparkling eyes.
"Marinette." She almost screamed when he said her name. And he was touching her shoulder. She felt a moment of guilt for having been just thinking about Luka is if her were Adrien. But he wasn't Adrien, this was. Chat Noirs words replayed in her head, though. Maybe she would benefit from moving on. But Adrien was talking to her at a movie and touching her shoulder so maybe there was still hope! "I'm not really hungry since I already ate, so would you like to share popcorn with me?"
Marinette struggled to regain her breathing. Adrien-her Adrien-wanted to shared popcorn with her... Which means they would sit together... and maybe touch hands. She wanted to scream but instead she laughed awkwardly and loudly answered, "I just got popcorn with Luka but maybe later, kay?"
"Oh." He removed his hand from her shoulder and smiled, which to her felt like he was taking her heart, as he scratched the back of his neck. "It's okay, then, I'll just get my own and Nino can take what he wants."
Internally, she was screaming at herself. What if she'd lost her chance to be next to him?
"Hey Adrien," Luka walked over and smiled. Adrien wondered how much longer until the doors to the theater would open, but he smiled as warmly as he could at Luka. Luka was carrying popcorn and a tray with two drinks and a chocolate bar. "If you want, I can drive you home after the movie."
"You can drive?" Adrien gasped.
"He just got his licence on his birthday." Marinette smiled with a little pride.
"I already have someone who can dr-" Adrien started as Luka continued.
Luka said, "There isn't enough room for everyone in Alya's mom's van so Marinette agreed to come with me."
"What about Julika?" Adrien asked and Marinette thought there was something strange in his voice. It was sharper, harder. His tone reminded her more of when Ladybug and Chat Noir addressed villains and bad guys. "Wouldn't she be a better choice?"
Marinette must have missed Chat because she would have sworn Adrien sounded exactly like him when he said that. Yes, she decided, Adrien is nothing like Chat Noir. If he sounds like him, it is only because I want him to.
Marinette realized why she probably wanted him to sound like Chat pretty quickly. She wanted Adrien, and Chat wanted her and she was pretty sure he didn't look at her as just a friend, so if Chat Noir and Adrien were the same, then that would mean Adrien wanted her too. She was realistic, though, Adrien thought she was just a friend. He'd made that clear many times.
"I thought it would be fair." Marinette answered. "Plus, I don't mind."
"Sure, Luka." Adrien answered after a small moment of hesitation. "Why not?"
"Cool." Luka smiled as he handed Marinette the small tray and turned away from Adrien with his hand around Marinette's shoulder.
Adrien took a deep breath seeing that the theater door had opened and turned towards the concession. In his mind he repeated, une amie, mon amie, mon amie, mon amie, Marinette est mon amie, mon bien amie, une bien amie, Marinette est une bien amie.
"Tough break, kid." Plagg said from in Adriens jacket. "Get cheese."
The theater was filling as Adrien arrived. Marinette had taken a seat between Alya and Luka. She watched Adrien smile as he sat beside Nino on the other side of Alya.
"You got a lot of food for someone who isn't that hungry." Alya noted.
Adrien beamed a large, tooth filled smile at her and began eating.
When the movie finished, and they gathered in the foyer Alya asked, "Where do you guys want to go for dinner?" Her focus was on Marinette first.
"Anyplace works." Marinette answered with a small shrug.
"There is a place down the street with the most amazing pasta and I haven't had spaghetti in so long!" Rose cheered.
"Sure, if that works for everyone." Nino nodded and so did everyone else.
"My mom will take us, do you know where it is Rose?" Alya wondered.
"I do." Rose answered.
"We'll text you the address after we get there and after you drop off Adrien." Alya said.
"Okay." Marinette smiled.
Adrien felt a small pinch of panic. He'd forgotten to tell his driver not to come.
"Do you guys mind waiting a second?" He asked. "I just want to use the washroom."
"Sure." Luka smiled. Adrien turned a corner and called his bodyguard to let him know he was getting a ride home from someone else and asking him to meet them at home or follow a couple cars behind. Gorilla was not a man of many words but Adrien thought he agreed.
"I'm ready." Adrien announced when he returned.
Adrien wasn't sure what to expect of Luka's car but he determined, after he saw it, that Luka was probably boring his mom's SUV. Luka opened the front passenger door for Marinette to enter and motioned for Adrien to get into the back.
"This is a nice car." Marinette noted when Luka got into the drivers side.
"Thanks." Luka smiled. "It's my mom's."
Knew it, Adrien thought with a small smug smile.
"She only uses it in emergencies, though." Luka finished. There were only three seats in a row in the back of the car and Adrien sat in the middle so he could clearly see both people in the front of the car. "Or for when we are practicing or playing away from the rivers."
"It's so cool that you can drive already." Marinette smiled. She wondered if it was inappropriate to have a small crush on your friends older brother and debated whether or not to ask Julika for permission.
"Can you change the station?" Adrien asked.
Marinette immediately felt guilty for having almost completely forgotten Adrien was in the back. How could she ever forget her beautiful Adrien?!
"Sorry!" She gasped as she changed the music playing to Jagged Stone which she knew they all liked.
"It's amazing how he plays." Luka praised momentarily closing his eyes to enjoy the music. Adrien almost yelled at him to watch the road but Luka opened his eyes again before he could.
At least, Adrien thought, if Marinette was Ladybug like he thought she was, Luka would be the only one injured by his poor driving safety. Adrien positioned himself in his seat so that, on the small chance he was incorrect or that she was too surprised to transform, he could easily pounce and save her from injury. Because she's a good friend and he didn't want to see her hurt, he told himself.
"It can be really hard on your hands." Luka continued taking Marinettes in his own and opening her fingers so he could begin drawing into the lines of her hands with his fingers.
Adrien wasn't sure exactly what emotion he was feeling but the word "cataclysm" was itching at his tongue.
Marinette smiled as Luka drew soft little lines on her fingers, palm, and forearm.
"It cramps in here." Luka explained, "And your fingers get rough here."
"That tickles." Marinette giggled.
Luka chuckled to himself. "Do you want me to stop?"
"No." Marinette smiled. "I like it."
Their touch was broken by Adrien throwing his arm between the two with his palm facing up. "Do it to me." He demanded. "I want to know what it's like, too."
"Oh." Luka blinked in surprise. "Okay." He put his hand over Adriens with much less intimacy than what he'd had with Marinette.
"This does feel nice." Adrien commented, though he didn't actually feel much since Luka hardly touched him.
"Is this it?" Luka asked as they pulled up outside the house.
"Yes." But Adrien didn't move to leave the car.
"it's a nice house." Luka commented.
"Thanks." Adrien responded.
"I'll see you in class tomorrow, Adrien." Marinette smiled.
Adrien looked at her for a moment with eyes she couldn't understand. She wondered for a moment if he wanted to get out of the car or if he wanted to stay with them. She was about to offer, again, to bring him to dinner but he spoke first, "Want to work on math in the library tomorrow?"
"Oh." The question surprised her. She wasn't always bad at math, but she wasn't always good. And she thought he understood it perfectly. Why would he want to work on it with her? Still, she knew she could use the help if she wanted a perfect score in the class so she smiled and answered, "Yes."
"Great." Adrien smiled as a black car pulled up behind theirs. "That's my cue to leave, I guess. See you tomorrow, Mari."
"See you tomorrow." She smiled.
"It was great seeing you again, Adrien." Luka called.
"Yeah!" and Adrien disappeared behind the gates.
Most of the drive back to the restaurant was quiet. They listened to music but didn't say much until they parked out front the restaurant Alya had texted them.
"I think you're really cool, Marinette." Luka said suddenly. "And I really like you."
"Oh." She gasped. She'd hardly even removed her seat belt. Her hands froze in the process.
She watched him as he started leaning towards her, frozen in shock and confusion. Did she want this? Didn't she? She couldn't tell and it was happening too fast!
BOOM!
BANG!
"I'm an idiot, Plagg!" Adrien wailed after running to his room, ignoring Natalies interest in the movie, and throwing himself on his bed.
"You're not an idiot, kid." Plagg tried, having flown out of Adriens shirt before he hit the bed.
"I thought she might like me." Adrien moaned into his sheets. "But she only has feelings for him."
"I wouldn't say that." Plagg disagreed. "And what does it matter anyways? If she's just a friend?"
"She's my friend, Plagg." Adrien snapped.
"You don't ever get this bent up over who Nino dates." Plagg mused.
"That's different!" Adrien wailed. "Nino... won't forget me when he dates other people."
"And you think Marinette will?" Plagg wanted to laugh but kept it as a chuckle.
"I think she has more people wanting her attention." Adrien decided. "All the girls, Nathaniel, Luka, even Nino, and I'm pretty sure Max had a bit of a thing for her for a little while. How can I compete with all of that?"
"Come on, kid!" Plagg tried. "You're a super model, rich boy, highly intelligent, and you have me! What more could a girl want?"
"It's what more I want." Adrien moped. "I could be-friend any girl in Paris who just saw a model with a rich dad. Marinette sees me-or I think she does, anyways. I don't want to lose her friendship for anything." Adrien took a deep breath then snapped his eyes open. "But you do make a good point."
"Obviously." Plagg bragged but didn't understand exactly what he'd said that impressed Adrien.
"I am Chat Noir!" Adrien announced. "No one is more loved than I am! Well... except the love of my life."
Plagg saw many issues to this logic but decided to remain quiet. So long he wasn't pouting, Plagg was happy.
The TV rose to life suddenly with an emergency broadcast about another akuma attack.
"Time to find out if Mari is my Lady." Adrien decided.
The akuma victim was moving downtown quickly, shooting sound waves so strong that they punched holes in things. Chat Noir was easily able to follow the victim because of his trail of deep potholes in the road. Catching up to the victim was still difficult because he was leaving people in his holes and Chat found himself pulling everyone out despite his desire to see Marinette before she turned into Ladybug.
It was far too late, he decided. Ladybug had probably already arrived.
As he got deeper into town he passed the restaurant all his friends were at and felt a slight ping of panic that they might be hurt. He could see Rose and Alya safely inside the building looking out. Alya had her phone out. Nino was trying to bust open the front door with a couple others but it had been shut with cement.
Chat was about to help by cataclysming the door, until he heard a semi-familiar voice calling for help form one of the holes. Then another more familiar voice that forced his body into action before he could even consider moving.
Marinette and Luka were trapped in one of the holes but there were so many that he wasn't sure where to start. He moved a few cars and fallen signs until he looked into the restaurant window and saw both Alya and Rose pointing. He followed their gaze to Luka's moms car which had been tossed on its side. Chat pounced quickly but they were not inside the car.
He forced the car off the hole and looked inside. Marinette and Luka were more than ten feet down staring up with bright, wide eyes. Although the sight of them together bothered him more than he would like to admit, he was glad Luka was there because it prevented Marinette from transforming into Ladybug without Chat testing his theory.
"Hey guys," Chat beamed at them from above. "Mind if I drop in?" He asked as he dropped into the hole and landed between them. Chat was unsatisfied by the tight space forcing Marinette and Luka to be closer together.
"Oh, Chat Noir, thank goodness you're here!" Marinette cheered the way she always did-almost sarcastically-when he arrived. Chat responded with an large toothy smile and with his hand on his hips.
"Looks like you two were in a tight situation." Chat continued. "Mind if I lend a hand?" He offered Marinette his hand. She giggled and accepted it. Chat then pulled her close and advised her to hold him tight as he wrapped an arm around her and used his staff to free them.
"Are you okay?" Chat asked placing her behind the fallen SUV so she was out of sight lines of Alya or Rose.
"Yes." She smiled. "Thank you so much, kitty."
Chat grabbed her face gently and laid a hard kiss on her surprised lips. Her mouth was as soft as he remembered. Her eyes were wide when he opened his.
"What was that for?" She breathed.
"I was just trying something." He replied.
"What?"
"Stay here, beautiful." He winked and flipped back to sit on the top of the hole.
He extended his staff so it would reach Luka. With one last punny comment, he pulled Luka up on the staff.
"Okay, Little Lady, you have your attention agai-" Marinette was gone. Chat felt the sudden desire to scream as Ladybug swung in.
"Hi, kitty, what did I miss?" She wondered.
Chat Noir turned to her slowly and asked, "Did you just get here?"
"Yes." She answered. Before she could speak again, Chat Noir pulled her face to his own and kissed her perfectly red lips. He did this softly once... twice... then he sighed "Hmmm" and pulled away.
Ladybug blinked in surprise and asked, "What was that for?"
"I was trying something." He muttered and smiled up at her. His dream had always been to have his Lady and now he was within the box of happily ever after.
"We have work to do." She groaned and took off.
The fight did not last long after both heroes were on the scene. Chat was his normal, flirtatious self again and Ladybug wanted to be serious. She remembered him saying he only had eyes for one. Maybe she really was that one. After, the split ways and Adrien went home quickly since his father hadn't known that he'd left.
Marinette had a wonderful day. She was organizing which chairs she wanted inside and outside as it was moved around when she felt the wind change behind her and a hand on her shoulder. She needed to maintain her scream as she slowly turned.
"Chat." Marinette breathed when she saw his masked face. It was a hard breath followed by small attempts to maintain her breathing once again. "You scared me."
"My apologies, My La-Purrincess." He kissed her hand as he had earlier and this time she didn't pull her hand away. "I am happy to see you got home safely. How was your evening?"
"It was good." She smiled. "I saw this funny movie with my friends-it wasn't my first choice but it was still good. I wouldn't have given it a chance if Nino hadn't requested it. Then all that akuma stuff started happening and I still got to enjoy dinner with friends."
"I see you finally managed to ask out that boy you liked." Chat mumbled kicking the leg of her couch softly.
"The boy I... No, that wasn't Luka." She shook her head. "But I heard what you said, Kitty, and I am trying to move past him."
"To Luka?" Chat wondered, sitting on the couch and crossing his legs casually watching her pace small circles into the floor. "I wouldn't think he was your type."
"Why not?" She almost demanded which surprised him.
He returned to his feet and slowly closed the distance on them, leaning her into her desk so that they were almost completely chest to chest. "He seems... dangerous."
"Dangerous." She repeated in a laugh while pushing him away with a single finger. "Luka's not dangerous."
"Anyone can be dangerous." Chat insisted, "Even me." He brought his face inches away from hers but she didn't flinch.
"You are not dangerous, Chat Noir." She told him before stepping away from him. "Impulsive and reckless, maybe, but not dangerous."
"How old is he?" Chat continued.
"About two years older than I am." She answered.
"But you and I are the same age." Chat noted without thinking. "Meaning he is not a good match for you."
"That is not what that means," She disagreed. "And we're the same age?"
"We are." He nodded with a small smirk. "What is it about him that you like?"
"He's nice, and attractive, and super sensitive. He loves music and Jagged Stone." She started.
"I'm all those things." Chat noted proudly.
"But he's not complicated." She grinned.
"How am I complicated?" Chat demanded.
She smirked, "Asked the boy in the leather suit and cat mask."
"Maybe it's his dark and colourful hair that has you so intrigued." Chat suggested.
"Of course not."
"What about someone like him, then?" Chat pointed to one of the man posters of Adrien. "You must not find him completely unattractive if you're willing to hang so many posters of him in his fathers designs."
Marinettes face bleached white before turning cherry red. "Adrien?!" She gasped. "He's more than just attractive? He's the nicest person I've ever met!"
Chat felt a smile pulling across his lips. "Do you know him, then?" Chat wondered.
"He's in my class." Marinette nodded. "He is the most beautiful person both inside and out! And he's so much more than a pretty face! He's intelligent, and caring; he speaks at least three languages, French, English, and Chinese, and he's one of the best fencers at our school, of not then he's the best, he can play the piano, and he's always willing to help his friends when they need him-assuming, of course, his father lets him. He's nice to everyone he meets and is just so... perfect."
Chat could feel that his large smile was not going away anytime soon. I never want to lose you, Marinette, he thought. Aloud he asked, "It sounds like maybe he might be a good boy for you."
"Psh, I wish." She spat in complete denial. "I mean, you wish."
"Why don't you ask him out?" Chat Noir wondered.
"He thinks of me as just a friend." She mumbled.
"Maybe he would think differently if given the chance." Chat wasn't sure why he said it. He'd already decided that he wasn't in a good position to date anyone. He'd be wasting their time completely.
"I doubt it." She sighed. "Besides, I sometimes think he has a bit of a crush on Chloe."
"Chloe!?" Chat gasped in surprised.
"She's this super snobby girl in my class-wait, you know her. Her and Adrien have been friends forever and no matter how mean she is, he's still friends with her!" Marinette explained. "But he's friends with everyone because he's just too perfect not to be. Still..."
"I will guarantee you right now that he does not have a crush on Chloe." Chat stated.
"I'm sure, but sometimes it seems like he could." She sighed.
"He doesn't." Chat finalized.
"How can you be so sure?" Marinette wondered.
"I wouldn't call her annoying," Chat shrugged. "But I'm sure someone has, and I may or may not step in if someone called her clingy. But that's mostly because of her mom, I think."
"You seem to know a lot about Chloe." Marinette mused then giggled, "I might think you were interested."
"Psh, I've only got eyes for one girl." He sang then closed his mouth tight and stared blankly ahead, preparing himself for her reaction. Marinette stepped awkwardly from one foot to another. She was fairly confident that in some form or another, he was talking about her.
"Ladybug?" She whispered, unsure of which answer she wanted to hear. She was Ladybug, and she loved Ladybug, and she was both hopeful and fearful that Chat did too. He didn't answer, though. He watched her for a moment before grinning and pouncing towards her.
He took her by the hand and spun her in a circle before catching her in his arms and tilting her back so her face was only an inch away from his own.
"I want to show you something, Marinette." He purred.