Chapter Twenty-Six

"All you people thinking you're better than us. Talking down to us, yelling at us over things we have no control over just because you know we have to remain silent. We'll see how you like it when you're the one who has to remain silent and listen to me."

A boy, maybe 17 came waltzing out of a clothing store. He was wearing white shirt with a striped vest over it and a hat with the stores logo on it, he was carrying a clip board. Over his eyes was the translucent butterfly mask proving that he was akumatized.

Adrien and Marinette wasted no time finding a place to transform. They ducked into the nearest bathrooms and emerged in their superhero personas. It was a little bit of a shock to both of them to see the other emerge in superhero form. In that moment Cat Noir came to a horrifying realization. Marinette and Ladybug were the same person. If Ladybug got hurt so did Marinette. If he failed to protect Ladybug…he would lose both of the people he loved in a single moment. He knew he couldn't let it get to him but the thought alone was making him panicked.

Cat pushed Ladybug out of the way just in time but got hit by the vase himself. This akuma had telekinesis, he could move objects with his mind. He had used it to tie up a bunch of customers in the clothing store and since then had been using it to throw all sorts of mall displays at the superheroes.

"Cat, what are you doing?" Ladybug hissed.

"Protecting you like I always said I would M'Lady." He said rubbing his cheek.

"First of all, don't go putting yourself in danger like that. What am I supposed to do if you get hurt? Fight the akuma alone? Secondly, I was going to hit that back at him to distract him. If I wanted to dodge it, I could have. You know I'm just as capable a superhero as you are." She said.

There was an edge to her voice but she couldn't help it. He had been spending all his energy protecting her this whole battle, treating her like a glass doll. She was starting to think that now that he knew she was Marinette he no longer thought she could handle herself in a fight. Once again her fears were validated. The reveal had always been a bad idea and she wished she had never seen Cat Noir transform back into Adrien.

"It's not that I don't think you're capable." Cat started.

He was going to say more but he was sent flying backwards. He had been hit, and was now pinned under, a recliner that the akuma was forcing down onto him.

Ladybug turned a cold glare onto the akuma. She noticed he could only actively control one item at a time so she was free from the fear of being hit by flying furniture for the moment. Either she was going to be able to fight him and beat him now while he was busy trying to crush Cat or he would have to turn his focus on her which would free Cat Noir. She rushed towards the akuma, her eyes on the clip board he had with him.

After the akuma was defeated there was no fist bump. Just a shared look, they both had a lot of things to say to one another. They really needed to talk. Both of them knew this needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, they both realized their talk was going to have to wait a little longer when they detransformed and their phones went off with all the texts and calls they had missed.

"I got a text from Alya, they're outside the mall waiting for us. They're worried sick." Marinette said as she met Adrien outside the bathroom.

"Yeah, I have a few frantic texts from Nino too." Adrien said.

"I know we need to talk and technically our day at the mall is over but we can't keep them waiting and worried. Would you be okay with coming over to talk later?" Marinette asked.

She was fresh out of the costume at felt lucky that some residual confidence seemed to have stuck with her. She didn't know how long that confidence was going to stick with her but she felt it was safe to assume it wouldn't last all the way until their talk later.

"You okay if I stop by via balcony?" He asked.

Though he was giving her a smirk she could hear the sheepish hesitance in his voice and she saw the uncertainty in his eyes. It was as if he was unsure of how he was allowed to act around her. She wanted him to know that she liked how they were acting before. Smirking was a start.

"I wouldn't have it any other way silly kitty." She said giving him a reassuring smile.

If you had told Adrien that his heart had stopped at that moment, he wouldn't have doubted you. The look she had given him, the affection in her eyes and her sweet smile. He would give anything to see that look all the time.

"You guys were in there the whole time?" Alya asked rushing up to them and checking them for injuries.

"Yeah, we were on our way to you guys when the fight broke out. There were bathrooms nearby so we ducked inside of those until the fight was over." Adrien said running a nervous hand through his hair.

"And you guys couldn't respond to our worried texts why?" Alya asked.

"WellIwantedtobuttherewasjustsomuchgoingonandIwasjustkindafreakingoutandyouknowIdon'tknowhowtoproperlyreactinthosesituationssoIjustwasn'tthinkingrightand…I'm sorry." Marinette said.

Alya and Nino stared at Marinette while they tried to decipher what she had just said.

"Yeah, it's like she said." Adrien said calmly.

"Uh-huh. Well, just don't do that to me ever again. I swear ya'll are gonna put me in a very early grave. I'm going to have a heart attack over you two." Alya complained.

Marinette felt bad but had to admit she was relieved that they all separated shortly after that. She had to prepare for the talk she and Adrien were going to have that night. She was nervous but as it got darker outside there was a strange sense of calm that settled in her chest. This was it after all. Whatever happened tonight it would be the end of her anxiety. She and Adrien would say everything they had to and then they would figure out what to do from there.

She went out to her balcony with two cups of hot chocolate. She set one on one of the stands and sipped on the other while she looked out over Paris. No matter what happened she and Cat Noir were going to have to find out a way to continue to save their home. While she worried about what this could mean for their relationship their team work as superheroes was what was most important. This wasn't an important conversation just for them but for all of Paris.

She heard a little thud behind her and turned to see Cat Noir. She gave him a shy smile. It had been a while since they had seen each other like this and it warmed her heart.

"How're you doing, Princess?" He asked.

His sentence was a little awkward, there was a pause before Princess as if he was unsure if it was okay for him to use the nickname now.

"I'm doing okay. How're you?" She asked.

"Um, I'm okay I guess." He said.

They stood there shuffling their feet and looking anywhere but at one another. Neither one was really sure how this should start. Then Marinette saw the mug of hot chocolate she had brought up for Cat.

"Oh, I made you some hot chocolate." She said picking up the mug and holding it out to him.

"Oh, thank you. That was sweet of you." He said taking the mug with a grateful smile.

"So, um, did you want to go inside or should we stay out here?" she asked.

"Oh, uh, I guess which ever would make you feel most comfortable." He said awkwardly.

Some more silence and awkward glances.

"Are we being stupid about this whole thing?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know." Cat said "It's kind of a big deal isn't it?"

"Well yeah, but we've both taken some time to think it through and…we've both come to terms with who we are in and out of the suit…haven't we?" she asked looking at him nervously.

"Yeah. And you're okay with me being Adrien?" He asked.

"Of course. I can't believe I've been this close to you this whole time. I'm such good friends with you in both your forms and I can't think of anyone I trust more. I wouldn't want to save Paris with anyone else. Knowing you're Adrien I feel like I understand you so much better too." Marinette said and hesitated before she continued. "And…you're okay with me being Ladybug?"

"Of course I am. You're the best possible person to be Ladybug!" He said.

Marinette looked up at him completely shocked. After everything that had been happening she was sure he was disappointed. That he didn't believe that she could do the job. He…he was really happy that she was Ladybug?

Author's Notes

Hey guys, I hope you all are doing well. I'm so thankful for the overwhelming amount of support I've gotten from you all. It's truly amazing and as we come to the end I want you all to know how much I truly appreciate you guys. The comments and follows and favorites have just been the highlights of my days on so many occasions. It's encouraging to see how much people love something I've written even if it's a silly fanfiction. It's reinvigorated my enthusiasm for writing even when it comes to my original works. So thank you all so much.

Oh, also my birthday was on the 12th. 20 points to anyone who can guess my age correctly lol. Because I think you all would be surprised to know my real age.