The last chapter, I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 9
Marinette's brain shut down.
All she could do was stare at Adrien as he stared back, neither one of them saying anything. The loaded silence was broken by Tikki's high pitched voice.
"Marinette, you really need to get to school," she spoke apologetically.
"She's right, kid," Plagg spoke up, snapping the blonde out of his stupor. Wordlessly, the teens turned to run out of the alleyway and head to school, both sneaking glances at the other when they thought they weren't looking.
MLBMLBMLBMLB
They made it with moments to spare before the bell sounded. Marinette was back in class, sitting through the last lesson before lunch, and her first lesson of the day. It was maths, which was by no means her favourite subject but she could barely focus on what was happening around her anyway. All she could do was stare at the back of Adrien's head.
This didn't strike Alya as unusual, her best friend was always daydreaming about the blonde model. What the auburn haired girl did find unusual was Adrien's behaviour. The boy kept sneaking covert glances at Marinette, blushing and looking away. Then, about half way through the lesson, Alya watched as he stretched, making an exaggerated move with his arm, and then dropping a piece of folded paper onto the desk behind him. Alya was astounded. Why was Adrien Agreste passing notes to the girl who was crushing on him? What does the note say? she wondered to herself, barely managing to contain her bursting curiosity.
Marinette wasn't sure yet what to make of this latest development. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wasn't sure she would believe it. Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir. Then again, it made a perfect kind of sense, didn't it? They were different and yet so alike. It made her happy that her best friend and her crush were the same person. But at the same time, what did it say about her that she hadn't realised the two boys were one and the same? She eyed the note like it was a snake but noticing her best friend looking at it, she decided to slide it under her arm and out of harm's way. Glancing around herself surreptitiously, she opened the note within the protection of her arm.
Mari, please. We need to talk. Stay after class?
- A
Marinette focused her attention back on the teacher for a moment, making sure that she hadn't been discovered passing notes. After being as late as she was, she didn't want to invite any more reprimand.
Then she quickly jotted down a reply and hissed quietly at Adrien to get his attention. He casually stretched a cupped hand behind his back and she dropped in the folded note. His hand swiftly withdrew, their teacher none the wiser.
Adrien's heart was racing as he pulled the note in front of him, not as casual as he was making himself out to be. Thank God for years of modelling. He felt as though his whole life would pivot on today, good or bad, things would be different now. It had started back in the alleyway when he saw Ladybug detransform into Marinette. Maybe it started before that, when they faced off against the silent akuma and he started to get to know Ladybug better. If it was even possible, he loved his lady even more now he knew she was the shy girl who sat behind him in class. There was no one else he would rather she be.
A -
You're right, I'll stay.
- M
Adrien couldn't hold back the smile from his face.
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Marinette got out of her seat once everyone had left. Alya had tried to stay behind as well. The journalist in her was desperately curious as to what was happening, but the bluenette begged her to leave, promising details later. Marinette walked forward before stopping in front of Adrien's desk. She nervously played with her fingers, staring at a spot in front of him where someone had doodled on the wood. Suddenly, two large, warm hands covered hers, stopping the uneasy fidgeting and causing her to look up at his face. He pulled her onto the bench to sit next to him.
She was surprised to see that he was smiling. No, not smiling, he was practically glowing. The look on his face couldn't help but warm her heart and bring a smaller, but no less happy smile to her own face.
"We need to talk about this," he started, reigning in his joy to think rationally.
"I know," she nodded. The two of them stared at each other, both at a loss for what to say.
Adrien released one of her hands and rubbed the back of his head, an action Marinette recognised as being a nervous gesture that he sometimes showed as Chat Noir. She took this brief moment of silence to reflect back on their time together as partners, putting Adrien's face in the memories. Adrien had been thrown into walls, jumped off of rooftops and nearly died at the hands of Timebreaker. Adrien was also the one who had flirted with her as Ladybug, protected her from attack and... oh God, she had kissed Adrien. When he had been hit by Dark Cupid's arrow, she had kissed him to break the spell. Chat Noir, Adrien. They were one and the same, and the implications of that were only just hitting her.
"Listen," Adrien began, clearing his throat. "I know that this whole situation is a little overwhelming. It's a lot to take in, but I need to say something, something I've wanted to say to you for a long time now," he inhaled heavily, mustering all of his courage.
"I love you," he said, and her head snapped up, her eyes piercing straight into his. Her heart skipped at hearing those words coming from his lips, but then her brow furrowed.
"You love Ladybug," she corrected, casting her eyes back down again.
Adrien paused, collecting his thoughts. He didn't want to run his mouth about how much he loved her before he made it clear exactly what he meant to say. He knew that as Chat Noir, he displayed different traits than he did as Adrien, and he knew that Marinette did the same as Ladybug, but he needed her to understand exactly how he felt.
"Yes..." he agreed, "I do," he gripped under her chin and forced her to look at him. "I loved Ladybug almost straight away. She was brave and selfless and everything I wished I could be, but she was unsure and a little clumsy too. I loved everything about her." Adrien gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"This last week I visited a friend of mine, a princess, and got to know a side to her that I'd never been allowed to see before. She was sassy, funny and strong-willed, and I couldn't help but start to have feelings for her as well," Marinette blushed deeply at his words.
"I love you, Marinette. All of you."
Marinette was overwhelmed by his confession. He was right before when he said that there had been a lot for them to take in. She didn't know how she was even still upright at this point, but she knew she couldn't stand there in silence after everything he had just said.
"Chat Noir is my best friend. He stands by my side and he protects me, but I never saw him as more than that," Adrien's smile slipped slightly.
"I disliked Adrien Agreste from his first day at school. He was rich, and pretty, and friends with Chloe Bourgois. I thought he was shallow and vain and conspiring with her to make my life miserable." Marinette took a deep breath and then smiled.
"Then I was caught out in the rain. I had no choice but to walk home and get wet. And then, there you were, showing me you weren't any of the things I thought and offering me your umbrella. And I fell in love with you." Adrien looked up into her eyes, unsure if he had actually heard what she just said.
"And then I got to know my best friend better. I already knew how loyal he was, how kind, how handsome," at this she blushed some more. "But I don't think I ever really saw him until this last week. I was too blinded by my love for the shy model who sat in front of me every day." Marinette released a breath as she finished what she had to say.
"Adrien, Chat, I... I love you."
Adrien's smile could have split his face in two it was so wide. He laced his fingers through hers and pulled her closer to him.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that," he whispered, their faces coming closer together.
Then there was a loud bang and the two sprang apart, whirling to the source of the noise and glared at the intrusion. There, sprawled on the floor in the doorway were their two best friends looking sheepish.
"Umm... hey guys... how's it going?" Alya stuttered, embarrassed at being caught snooping.
"So... do you dudes wanna get some lunch?" Nino queried, his face tomato red.
Adrien and Marinette rolled their eyes, chuckling over their friend's antics and headed towards the door.
"Come on then," Marinette said, reaching her hand down to help up the auburn haired girl. The four friends headed out the door.
As Alya and Nino headed out of the school, bickering between each other and lightly flirting, Adrien hung back slightly and wound his fingers through Marinette's again. Then he pulled her quickly to the left to duck behind a wall.
"A-Adrien, what are you..." Marinette began, a flush once again creeping up her cheeks.
"I wanted to ask you something before we go," Adrien looked down shyly before looking up with a small, sweet smile. Marinette's heart stuttered before resuming its beat at an accelerated pace.
"Marinette," he exhaled, "would you be my girlfriend?" Adrien had barely gotten the words out before he was stumbling slightly under the force of the bluenette launching herself into his arms and wrapping hers around his neck. The blonde was slightly stunned by this show of affection before he warmed in her embrace and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her shoulder and breathing in the scent of bread and cookies and something that was distinctly Marinette.
"Is that a yes?" He laughed, his voice muffled by her coat.
"Yes, yes!" She pulled back and beamed up into his face. They froze when they realised just how close they were. Then a smirk crossed Adrien's lips, the expression so self satisfied, it was pure Chat Noir. He looked like the cat who got the cream. He slowly lowered his face towards hers, pausing briefly as if to ask permission. Marinette blinked slowly up at him, lips slightly parted. Then she brought her hand up and gripped the front of his coat collar, pulling him the rest of the way down to her lips.
It was some minutes before they caught back up with their friends.
Fin
Thank you so much for reading the first thing I have actually finished. I have lived for the favourites, follows and reviews. If you're interested I have started an epilogue to this which I will post tomorrow. I wasn't going to do anything more for this but I got inspired. It won't be very long but it will be fluffy, semi-sinful MariChat (which is my primary ship).
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you read more from me that I plan to write in the not so distant future.
Thank you again.
