Apparently, Marinette does have shoji screens as of Reflekdoll 2, which explains why I was so confused when I didn't find anything on the wiki. I distinctly remembered her having one, but when I looked at Marinette's room, it wasn't there. Therefore, I am right and the wiki is wrong.

Anyway, I hope y'all are staying safe. The world is a scary place right now (for you, at least. I do not experience fear) so please try to relax with some shitty fanfic. I promise we'll get through this.


"You look just gorgeous, dear. You'll turn heads!" Marinette's mother gushed.

Marinette stared at her reflection, forcing a smile. She'd spent every moment before the festival working on both of her dresses. She was utterly exhausted, but she tried to be enthusiastic for her mom, at least.

"You look fancy," Tom said, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "but aren't you going to be cold?"

"I'll have a jacket," Marinette assured him.

Sabine Cheng and Tom Dupain, in contrast, were wearing outfits just a bit fancier than usual, and if she was being honest, Marinette was a bit jealous. Of course, she herself relished any opportunity to try out a new design, but Sabine's jeans and sandals looked so comfortable compared to her own dress and heels.

Marinette's phone buzzed on her desk. She checked the screen. "They're on their way." She kissed them both on their cheeks. "I'd better head down."

"Before you go, Marinette, wouldn't those earring your father gave you go perfect with your dress?"

Marinette hid her grimace. "I...I lost them."

"You lost them?" Sabine repeated, anger rising in her voice. "You lost your father's priceless earrings that have been handed down--"

"Calm down, Sabine," Tom said, resting a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Where did you see them last?"

"On my desk," Marinette lied, her eyes turning glassy in spite of herself. "They were there yesterday, but now they're gone."

"Could they have fallen? Or got caught in your dress?"

She shrugged, hugging herself. She hated to lie to her parents--especially since she was so bad at it--but she didn't have a choice. She could never wear those earrings again. Not as long as she was Ladybug.

"Don't worry, dear. I'm sure you'll find them the next time you sweep," Tom said kindly.

Marinette's phone buzzed again. "They're here." She dabbed at her eyes, careful not to smudge her makeup. "I have to go."

"Love you," Sabine called after her.

"We'll see you there!" said Tom.


"OOH YOU LOOK SO GOOD!" Alya squealed.

Marinette piled into Adrien's car, taking a seat next to Alya and Nino. Adrien looked back at her from the passenger's seat, and Marinette nearly shut her foot in the door.

Glittering green eyes stared at her, framed by a matte black mask. She caught a glimpse of a pure-black suit with an emerald green tie.

If she'd been drinking something, she probably would have choked on it. "Wh-what are you wearing?" she squeaked.

Adrien visibly wilted. "My dad's newest creation. Is it that bad?"

"The mask's a little much," Alya commented, eyes on her phone.

"You guys are just haters," Nino said. "I think you look epic, dude! Like Chat Noir!"

A little too much like Chat Noir, in Marinette's opinion.

Adrien pushed the mask up onto his head, sweeping his hair back in the process. "It's supposed to be based off of him. Marinette, you're a designer. What do you think?"

Marinette stopped hyperventilating over Adrien with his hair slicked back long enough to answer. "I'll have to look at your legs," she said, her voice an octave higher than usual. "Wait, I mean--I can't see your legs, so I can't get the full picture. Not that I want a picture of your legs! What I mean is, from a designer's standpoint, I would need to see the full outfit in order to, uh, properly judge it."

He stared at her, cheeks turning pink. "Uh, okay..."

"Yeah, Adrien," Alya snickered. "Show her your legs."

"Are we there yet?" Marinette asked, fanning her face.

The Gorilla grunted.

"We should be there any minute," said Adrien, glad for a change of subject. "I have to make an appearance at the dance. You guys will come with me, right?"

"'Course, dude!" Nino leaned over Alya's lap to clap him on the shoulder. "We wouldn't make you face that mess all by yourself."

"'That mess,' huh?" Alya said, crossing her arms.

"We've been through this, Als. They never play the right music at those things!"

"Looks like we're here," Adrien cut in.

He got out of the car, and Alya and Nino quickly followed after him. Before Marinette did, though, she caught the Gorilla's eye in the rearview mirror. He winked. She blushed and got out.

"LOOK AT ALL THAT LADYBUG MERCH!" Alya screeched, pulling Nino toward the maze of booths and stands laid out before them.

The entire street was decked out with fairy lights and colorful booths. The smell of fried food reached Marinette and Adrien, tugging them like a siren's song toward the vendors.

"You look beautiful," Adrien said, looking fondly at Marinette. "Like a princess."

"You look beautifuller! Oh, uh, not fuller--you know what I mean." Marinette laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know why I said that."

Adrien grinned. He looked toward Nino and Alya, who were already far ahead, glimpsing the treasure trove of Ladybug merchandise that lie ahead. "Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.

Marinette thought she might die. She bit her lip and linked her arm in his, grateful for the cool evening air. Her face was beginning to feel like someone had dropped a vat of hot oil on it.

"So, what do you think now that you've got the full picture?"

She blinked, giving him a once-over. "Pretty good," she said. "Not much like the real thing. Uh, from what I've seen of it, that is."

He laughed, and the sound was like music to her ears. "Would it help if I put the mask back on?"

"Depends what you mean by 'help.'"

"You're not a fan of my father's sense of style, then?"

She blanched. "Of course I am! He's a very talented... Er... You're messing with me."

"A little bit," he chuckled. "It's okay, though. I'm not exactly a fan of his recent work myself."

"Come on, you guys!" Alya called, waving her arms at them enthusiastically. "The dance is this way!"

At the center of the festival was a large, grand pavilion packed with people, all of them wearing fancy dresses and suits. Lights hung down over head, twinkling brilliantly as the people danced below. A live orchestra played in one of the corners.

"This is way fancier than I thought it would be," Marinette said, unsure whether to be nervous or impressed.

"That's because we're on the rich side of town," Alya said, taking Nino's hands in hers. "Don't just stand there, dance!"

"Oh! Uh..."

Adrien bowed before her, offering his hand and looking up at her slyly. "My lady."

Marinette's heart jumped in her chest. She took his hand, reminded suddenly of the day he'd lent her his umbrella. He pulled her close, his hand finding her waist, and smiled at her.

And just like that, something clicked.

The boy she was looking at--the boy she'd sat behind for months, who she'd dreamed of ever since he gave her that umbrella, who she'd known as a friend, a partner, a crush--this boy was her true love.

And in that moment, it became crystal clear that she was looking at the same boy who'd kissed her on the roof of her house, who'd visited her in the middle of the night, who'd saved her countless times and who'd been saved by her just as often.

How had she not seen it before?

"Are you alright?" Adrien asked, concern etched into his perfect face.

"Yes," she said breathlessly. "Of course. I...I just..."

Her mind was reeling. What did this mean for them? They weren't supposed to know each other's secret identities. She knew that, yet the only coherent thought in her mind was this: Adrien kissed me.

"Are you sure? You look pale." Adrien frowned and led her out of the pavilion. "Let's find you something to drink."

He bought her a soda.

She sipped from the can, eyeing Adrien as she did. Not just Adrien, she reminded herself. Chat Noir. I rejected Adrien for Adrien. I rejected Adrien for Adrien. I rejected Adrien for Adrien.

No matter how many times she thought it, it still made her angry.

"Ladybug's not here yet," Adrien commented offhandedly, concern in his stupid beautiful eyes.

He's probably waiting for her to show up so that he can go slip off and transform, she thought. Only she's not going to show up, because she is me!

"Hey, we saw you guys leave. Is everything okay?"

Alya and Nino approached them, hand-in-hand.

No. No, everything is not okay. But I can't tell you that, so it doesn't matter!

"I just overheated, I think," Marinette said instead.

"That's okay," Alya said. "There's still a lot to see. Wanna go look around some more?"

"I should probably stay here," Adrien lamented, "at least until I see my dad."

"We'll wait with you," Nino offered.

"That's okay," Adrien said, managing to look like a lonely puppy. "I don't want to be a drag. I'll catch up with you guys."

What a little actor! Marinette thought. You just want to be alone so you can transform, don't you?

"C'mon, Marinette. We saw these awesome stuffed animals..."

Marinette followed Alya and Nino, glancing back at Adrien just once before the crowd closed around them.


Yes, it was a Frozen reference, and no I don't think I'm funny.

I think I'm hilarious.

Doesn't Marinette remind you of Anna a little bit, though?

Anyway, I'm going to try to finish this fic up, since I'm not really feeling it anymore. It's dragged on for long enough, I think. I predict maybe three more chapters. Five at the most. Time will tell.

Thanks for reading!