Adrien

After I had woken up, I didn't fall back asleep. I was too worried. Besides, I had been asleep for most of the day from the looks of things. I was worried about Plagg and my miraculous, but also what I would have to face at school. More like who I would have to face. Marinette was crushed when I disappeared. How awkward was it going to be seeing her now, knowing that she had feelings for me, and her not knowing that I knew? She didn't even know, when she was kissing and holding Cat Noir, she had also been kissing and holding me. How was I supposed to react when I saw her?

At 6 AM it was time to face the music. I showered and dressed quickly then made my way downstairs into the dining room. As usual, it was empty. I took a seat and waited for Nathalie.

Nathalie. That was right. She had been akumatized. Unless Ladybug found her while I was unconscious, she wouldn't be here. What would father have to say about that?

The door opened, and Nathalie walked in. My eyes widened. She was back to normal, looking at me as though yesterday never happened.

"Adrien," she started, sitting a plate of food in front of me. "After fencing, your father would like to talk to you."

"Just fit it into my schedule," I said, unable to fight back the irritability from my voice.

She sighed, looking at the table. "He also wants to know if you have a plan for how you're going to make up the work you missed."

I shook my head. "I can barely fit in my regular schedule, let alone make it up."

"He's mostly concerned about your schoolwork," she said. "Do you have a classmate who could help you?"

The face of a certain raven-haired girl popped into my head, and I nodded. "There is one who probably could. Would it be okay to invite her over during lunch?"

She nodded. "I think that would be okay."

She walked away, and I was a bit surprised. She didn't have a schedule to hand me. I knew I had fencing after school, but that must've been all. But, for father to want to see me after that must've been the reason why she didn't.

I ate breakfast, even though I didn't have much of an appetite. I headed out, meeting Nathalie and the gorilla at the car. After the events from yesterday, I was weary about going anywhere with them, but it wasn't their fault they were influenced by Hawkmoth.

I got in the car, and the gorilla drove to the school. Every passing minute, my anxiety worsened. I didn't want to deal with my classmates' questions. They were worse than paparazzi.

As we pulled up to the school, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the worst.

Emotions overwhelmed me as I stepped out. All I wanted to do was hide in a corner, but I couldn't. I could no longer throw on my Cat Noir mask and run from life. I couldn't even talk to Plagg.

Classmates stared at me as I walked past, and I kept my head down. I was used to the spotlight, but now I felt vulnerable, like I may as well have gone to school naked.

"Oh, Adrikins! I missed you so much!" Chloe threw her arms around me, catching me off guard. In all of this, I hadn't even thought about her, and really, I couldn't care less if she missed me. I politely pushed her aside. "Where were you? I was so worried about you!"

I forced a smile. "I was . . . Around." out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Nino emerging from the steps. "I need to go, Chloe, I'll see you in class."

When he saw me, he stopped walking and removed his headphones. Nino was also someone I was afraid to face, but it was easier to face him before I faced Marinette.

"Dude, leave it to you to have the entire city of Paris looking for you," he said. "Where were you?"

"I was around," I said. "I needed more excitement in my life."

He shook his head. "Next time you want to shake things up, skip a photo shoot to go to a concert. Don't run away."

I chuckled. "Maybe next time. So, what did I miss?"

He tapped his chin. "Chloe was losing her mind without you."

I nodded, though I felt that was a little over-dramatic, even if it was Chloe. "Anything interesting happen?"

He shook his head. "Not really, not that I was paying much attention."

"Good thing I'm not asking you to help me catch up," I said.

"Who will you ask, then?"

I turned my head just in time to see Marinette and Alya coming our way. They were talking, and I didn't think they noticed me yet. Upon seeing Marinette, I couldn't help the blush that spread across my cheeks.

"Marinette," I said, looking down.

Nino burst into laughter. "Dude, don't tell me you have a crush on her now."

My blush deepened, and I turned back to the girls who were now looking at us, specifically me.
Alya regained her composure first. Grabbing Marinette's hand, she pulled her toward us. Marinette just continued to stare at me with those beautiful bluebell eyes.

"Adrien, where were you? You had us all worried," she said, giving Marinette a shove toward me. She stumbled forward, and I grabbed her arms, steadying her. Reluctantly, I released her.

"You okay?" I asked her.

She nodded. "I-I am now."

I felt Nino and Alya gawking at us, but I didn't care. Memories of all the times I visited her within the last week came back to me, and I tried to pretend we were right back there again.

"Father wants someone to come over and help me catch up," I started. "Marinette, I was wondering if you could join me for lunch while we go over some things?"

She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving me.

I gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Marinette. You're amazing."

Marinette

Oh my God. Oh my God. Adrien wanted me . . . to go to his house . . . for lunch?

I tried to steady my breathing. After all, Cat Noir had been coming to my room almost every night for a week, and I didn't get this giddy when he was around. But, somehow, this was different. Adrien was the boy I originally fell in love with, the boy under the mask.

Alya pulled me into the school, as I had forgotten how to walk. "Okay, girl, how are you going to help Adrien when you can't even walk when he's near?"

"I-I don't know! All I know is I have a lunch date with Adrien."

Alya shook her head. "Girl, you're hopeless."

We took our seats in class, and I was happy not to have to stare at Adrien's empty chair anymore. His head provided a much better view.

I counted down the minutes until it was time to leave for lunch. When the time finally came, Adrien turned to me, a soft smile on his face. It was hard to believe that same face could also make the goofy grin worn by Cat Noir.

"D-Do you want to do this at your house or mine?" I asked.

"It'll have to be mine," he said. "I'm probably not allowed out of my house anymore. But, don't worry. We'll have some privacy."

My heart hammered in my chest. Privacy. I would be alone with Adrien. I kept telling myself after the last week that was nothing new, but I couldn't get that through my head.

Adrien opened the car door and bowed to me. Murmuring a 'thank you', I got inside and he got in after me. His hands rested on his lap, and I looked for his ring, only to find it gone.

I shot him a questioning look. He reached toward my face, and I stopped breathing for a moment as he touched my ear. That simple gesture was all I needed to know that he knew who I was.

I always thought, if he knew, I would be afraid. But, I wasn't. Strangely, I felt safe and relaxed.

My hand touched his and brought it down to rest in between us, entwining our fingers. We rode in silence, but we never took our eyes off each other. When his bodyguard pulled up to his home, I reluctantly pulled my hand away.

I followed him inside. It always surprised me by just how large the Agreste mansion was. It was much larger than my home, but I wouldn't want to live here. It had to get lonely for Adrien.

"Nathalie, could you send our lunches to my room?" he asked. "I want to start on schoolwork right away."

Nathalie hesitated, but then she nodded. "Very well, then."

I followed Adrien upstairs, trying to muster the courage to talk to him. Once we were in his room, he closed the door and stared into my eyes. I couldn't hold back much longer. I threw my arms around him, burying my head into his chest.

"I-I was so worried about you! Tikki tried to find you, but she couldn't. Then I transformed and went searching with Plagg, but then Plagg vanished! I knew something terrible must've happened to you. I'm just so glad you're okay."

He returned my embrace, wrapping his arms around my back. "I think Hawkmoth has my miraculous."

I pulled back, eyes wide. "What?"

Sighing, he looked away. "He akumatized Nathalie. She and my bodyguard found me and used some kind of gas to knock me out. The next thing I know I'm in my bed and missing my miraculous."

Tikki flew out of my purse. "What? We have to get it back!"

Adrien stared at her for a moment, and then I realized he had never actually met her. "Um, Adrien, this is Tikki, my kwami."

He smiled at her, but it was laced with sadness. "Sorry about . . . all of this. This wouldn't have happened if I had just gone about my life instead of running from it."

"You made a mistake. Everyone does. Do you know how many times Marinette has messed up? The list is pretty long, and -"

"Okay, Tikki, we get it," I interrupted, heat rising to my cheeks."All that matters is that you get your miraculous back."

Adrien took my hand and led me over to the couch. He sat down, motioning for me to join him while never dropping my hand.

"Marinette, I understand why you were so upset yesterday," he started. "I said some things to Ladybug that I shouldn't have, especially when I thought that she might've been you. I was confused, but I'm not anymore. I understand what I'm feeling, and I love Ladybug and Marinette, and I now know that's okay, because it just means I've fallen for both sides of you."

I took my hand from his and stared down at my lap. "How did you know she was me?"

"Because, I had the same feelings for Ladybug and you, and I figured the only way I could feel anything for anyone else was because you were the girl behind the mask."

I sighed. "It wasn't fair for me to get upset with you. I mean, all this time I had a crush on you while I ignored Cat Noir's advances. I had no idea that the flirty, punny kitty was my crush or else those interactions probably would've gone a lot differently."

"Did you know who I was before you kissed me?" he asked.

I hesitated, but then I nodded. "I did."

He turned away, taking his hand from mine. "You wouldn't have, if you didn't know."

"How do you know that?"

He shook his head. "Cat Noir was the one always risking his neck to protect you. Cat Noir was the one trying desperately to prove his love for you, yet you only love Adrien. You only kissed him because he was me."

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Adrien, what are you talking about?"

He pulled away from me. "Just forget it. I'll probably never be Cat Noir again anyway."

I looked down, fighting the tears threatening to fall. "That's not true. I wouldn't have kissed Cat Noir if I didn't love all of you. I wouldn't kiss you either if I didn't love Cat Noir."

He met my gaze. "You love me?"

I nodded. "I love you, Adrien Agreste, Cat Noir, whoever you want to be."

He placed his hand on my cheek, and for one second, I thought he might kiss me. But, then the door opened, and Nathalie walked in with our lunches.

Adrien thanked her as she placed the food on his desk. When she left, he turned back to me again.

"You don't know how it feels to not feel love from anyone, unless it's conditional." He paused. "I know your parents love you no matter what, and I've only met them a few times. My dad . . . I barely talk to him. I feel like all I am is a young, pretty face he can use to model his designs. I was waiting for the day an akuma would mess my face up just so I could see if his love really was conditional."

I touched his knee. "Adrien, it doesn't have to be like that."

He turned to me. "After our first encounter with Hawkmoth, I realized I loved you. I said it didn't matter who was under your mask, I just knew that I loved you, and I desperately tried to figure out your identity because I wanted to know who had stolen my heart. I love you, Marinette. I probably always will. But, if you don't also love Cat Noir, I want you to walk away now. I don't want another relationship made up of conditions. If you don't like the flirting or the puns, just walk away. I won't think less of you."

"I'm not walking away," I said. "It doesn't matter if you have a mask or not. I want you to be whatever you want to be when you're with me. If you want to flirt and make bad puns, go ahead. You don't need a mask to do that." I cupped his cheek, and he met my gaze. "I'll love you no matter who you choose to be. That's what unconditional love is."

He studied me for a long moment, and then he closed his eyes. He leaned into me until his head met my shoulder and his arms wrapped around me. Smiling, I returned his embrace.

"Milady, my princess, that means a lot to me," he said, nuzzling my neck. "I love you, too, whether you're wiping the floor with Hawkmoth or tripping over your own words. I love everything about you."

I stroked the back of his head, unable to fight back a smile. Yes, we needed to find Hawkmoth and get Adrien's miraculous back, but right now, this felt nice, and I wished we could stay in this moment forever, just Marinette and Adrien. But, I knew my other half wouldn't allow it, and Adrien was probably sick with worry. We needed to defeat Hawkmoth once and for all, and then we would be free to live in these moments.

Thanks for reading!