All roads lead to Paris… or something along those lines.
I do not own any of the world or characters created for Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. I just own this fanfic.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Chapter 11: People know
After her confession Adrien grinned to his insides. 'Finally' He thought. "You're… dating… someone." He repeated.
For some reason Marinette was behaving sheepishly again. As if all the confidence she had built up so far decided to hide again. She bit her lower lip and looked everywhere but his eyes.
He put a hand over her shoulder to make her look at him and then leaned closer to her to whisper.
"It is Chat Noir, isn't it?
Her eyes widened immediately. He knew? How?
As Adrien saw the bewilderment in her eyes he laughed, but then proceed.
"Well, I never ditched the idea of you feeling something for Paris' hero since that video appeared, plus you've been acting differently, secretive even, I just put two and two together and…" He explained.
"You- you certainly understand…"
"Sure, Marinette. I understand why you were so secretive… And also why you don't want to be seen with me being so friendly. He might misunderstand, right?"
She nodded and gave her a sheepish laugh and the smile remained.
Oh, how far from reality she was. He could never be jealous of himself, could he? He just laughed internally at the absurd thought.
"So, you and Chat Noir." He repeated. "Hmm there's something hard to believe, I never took you for the celebrities type". He said and chuckled.
She didn't find it funny at all. Her smile faded as memories came back of how hard she had fallen for him, a celebrity. 'I guess that IS hard to believe, huh?' She thought suddenly nostalgic, sad or even… angry? Even now, the boy would have never thought she had seen him as more than a friend. No, she definitely felt offended.
"You must know, I do not see him as any kind of price. I do care about him, the person, not just the hero." She said trying not to sound indignant but failed.
"Of course, Mari." He blinked at her reaction. "I could never doubt your good intentions." He tried with an honest smile which she didn't reciprocate.
She looked…upset?
He noticed and asked worried. "You ok?"
"I ummm… yeah, I´m good."
"Wait, Marinette. What did I say? If you want me, I will never ask about the matter." He was genuinely concerned. Just when had his plan go wrong? He just wanted to hear from her own lips about her relationship with his alter ego, out of sheer curiosity. Was he being so invasive?
He suddenly stood up. And put a hand on his nape.
"Please, don't mind me. I was curious, that's all. I- I can let go of the topic."
Marinette nodded with her head. "Yeah, let's do that."
A few seconds after she smiled suddenly aware of how harsh she had been to the boy. "You're my friend, Adrien. I'm actually… relieved that you know. It's all easier having people who understand me, and… I'm sure you do." She gave a weak smile. "Now- I… really need to get going." She stood up, said goodbye, and off she went. She even forgot to change her shoes.
She didn't glance back. He slapped his hand to his face.
"What did I do wrong?"
Plagg might have an idea, but he was also clueless.
"Girls are always complicated. I- gave up on trying to understand them." He had peered up at him from his jacket and his voice void of all humor. "You'll learn a whole lot of ways to apologize, kid."
"I can apologize, Plagg. It's just… that doesn't fix anything, I wish I knew what upset her."
'Maybe she'll talk to Chat Noir?' He concluded hopefully.
…
Marinette put all her belongings aside and sank in the comfort of her bed. "He would have never noticed my feelings for him, Tikki. He never took me as the celebrities' type because as far as he knows I never set eyes on one before. That still hurts." She sighed. "I thought it was over, Tikki. I truly believed I wouldn't mind how Adrien saw me."
"It's hard to get over such a long and strong sentiment, Marinette. It's totally understandable that you're still affected by his actions."
Marinette saw her hamster and shook her head. "But now I have Chat Noir, I shouldn't!"
Tikki suppressed the urge to slap her forehead. They were as clueless as ever.
…
Night fell and patrol was approaching. Good news to Marinette who could finally see her favorite cat after a long week. She took the Miracle box-sphere carefully but eagerly. She really needed to see him. It was the first time since they confessed and she missed him immensely. That mere feeling meaning that whatever her heart had felt for Adrien wasn't as strong to make her doubt. Chat was all she wanted now. No more thinking about models and past crushes, no. This… was real.
She left home with an excuse and finally met with the feline themed hero. She greeted him a little too excitedly, for a moment unaware she was Ladybug by the time. He smiled too, but not as widely. She cocked her head and put a hand on his shoulder till he shook his head smiling a little more upbeat.
"I'm sorry. It's nothing." She nodded in understanding but tightened her grip on his shoulder to let him know she was still a friend to count on.
"Something happened at school today. Got me thinking. That's all." He added dismissively.
"Anything you want to talk about?" She honestly wanted to help.
"Noooo- Not about that least but… Uhh I have a confession." He trailed off suddenly remembering there was something he had to talk to her about. He immediately turned nervous. "I- Remember my issue with Marinette and my closeness to her?"
"Yeaaah?"
"Um… Well… Now…"
"Chat…" She pushed, even though she knew exactly what he was going to explain. "Now. We're. Even. Closer." He said with a very low voice as if anticipating her irritated reaction.
"Oh. That! I'm… well… It's ok, Chat." Then she giggled. "I recall you saying you were just friends?" She added teasingly.
"No way! For too long she has been definitely more than a friend." He looked at the sky in thought. "I was blindly walking by the edge, when I did notice, I was already falling, hard, for her. She's, she's… Anyway, when we talked, everything finally cleared up for me, how stupidly blind I had been. And Marinette's even more special than I had anticipated."
She was touched but couldn't act on it. She let him continue. "Sorry- I- I shouldn't have… you know, make this more complicated but… well… Oh and don't worry about our identities, I mean, you know her too. She won't put us in danger."
Ladybug giggled sweetly, her kitty sure got nervous talking about her and that made her all fuzzy inside. She gave a happy sigh and reminded him, "Sure. Again, just be careful."
They went back to business and finally decided on which Kwamis they would get for the week. She had a planner made and everything. Always the organized lady he knew too well. He would get Sass since he had already worked with him once (twice actually, but the first time had been as Adrien), also he would get the horse Kwami. She would stay with Longg, the dragon and Wayzz knowing he would be of great help and guide being the former kwami of her own master.
"This… looks… organized." Chat Noir commented trying to understand her schedule.
"It is, I'm pretty sure this is the best order, plus-"
"Wait!" He interrupted silencing her.
"When are we going to exchange our miraculous?"
First, Ladybug laughed. "You're kidding, right?" He shook his head and looked kinda disappointed she never took him seriously. "Oh, mmm. I simply didn't think we had to. I mean, we work so well with our own miraculous and next to each other so…"
"Yeah, I get that. But we could never be too prepared. Once we already had to work with each other's miraculous, remember? What if Hawk Moth creates someone who swaps us, or I dunno."
She took her hands to her earrings… "I'm not sure Tikki would agree." But she didn't dismiss the idea either. "How about Plagg?"
Chat Noir shrugged and added. "I don't think he'd mind. As long as you have his cheese." He chuckled.
She chuckled too. "Ok. Let's discuss it with them first. Next week we'll come dressed in another Miraculous just in case, does it seem right?"
"Thanks, Milady." He smiled widely. It wasn't often when she liked any of his bold ideas, he was glad she finally considered one. It wasn't a bad idea, so…
They took their miraculous for the week and said goodbye. Ladybug rushing at high speed since probably he would come to her place afterwards. Chat Noir also rushed to her girlfriend's place.
…
She called her transformation off a number of blocks near her house and walked for a while. Alerted she turned to a sound from behind only to be lifted by two strong arms. She yelped but relaxed when she saw him. She smiled tenderly as they landed in a nearby and park, probably to have privacy.
"Hey there, Chat."
He didn't reply immediately and instead he hugged her and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "I've missed you terribly."
Although he definitely saw her through the week, there was nothing as holding her close and knowing she had no eyes for anything but him.
She hugged him back, not tightly but lovingly. She had missed him even more. His scent, his warmth, his voice, even his jokes. "And I've missed you." He finally let go and flashed a lopsided smile at her. She loved it so much. "Though I have to thank you for the hamster. He's keeping me company reminding me of you every day!"
He winked. "That was the idea, Princess."
"And also thank you for that message." She played with her hair shyly. "That was, in all honesty, one of the most wonderful presents I've gotten. I was really touched."
He had seen it all. Her reaction as she read those lines. Her blush and dancing eyes. He had seen how much she truly had appreciated it. He was proud of himself. He smiled wider at her.
"You- you made me happier than I'd been in a long time." Why had she been so blind before? It was as Chat Noir had described before. 'I was blindly walking by the edge, when I did notice, I was already falling, hard, for him.' She agreed.
"Hey, we don't get to meet every day. I had to make sure you wouldn't forget me." He chuckled.
She chuckled as well. "Never." The she looked around. "Wanna go for a walk?" She offered pointing at the park.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. They say it's a very dangerous area, you know?"
"Oh well, I happened to be close to a certain hero that would gladly help."
He pretended to be jealous. "Is he a good one?"
"Yup. Though a little clumsy at times."
He glared at her playfully. "Brave?"
"Some say, more than he should." He pretended to think about it.
"Well, is he smooth?"
"As a cat."
"Is he handsome?"
She rolled her eyes but she secretly adored that way of his. How easy it was talking to him, even as the overconfident hero he was, "I just know I love his eyes and I'd do anything, anything for that charming smile of his."
"Seems like a lucky guy." He said reaching out for her hand.
She remained quiet and turned a little shy. "I think I'm the lucky one."
He stared at her endearingly. That look, those words, that honesty, those ayes and those lips suddenly drawing him closer to her. 'Wait, no, no. It's too soon. I-' He pulled away widening his eyes. "So… amm. Wanna walk?" He asked instead clearing his troath..
She blushed at the almost kiss and nodded. They started walking still holding hands and started an entirely different conversation. The awkwardness slowly fading away.
"… Anyway. I think it's time I take you home." She nodded agreeing with her boyfriend. Oh how happy that word made them both.
But then she looked down in thought and said. "Be- before that… Umm…" She suddenly turned anxious and started messing with her words. "I- have something to tell you." She started and he nodded. "Well, you see. My two closest friends… not that I had planned it but- See, they're from school and they see me e-every day..."
He came to a stop and walked in front of her. "You can tell me anything, Marinette." He encouraged tightening his grip on her hand.
She sighed and said, "I had to tell them about you and me." She blurted out. "I- I'm sorry."
He blinked. "Oh, it's ok. I mean, they're your closest friends, so…" He internally smirked in triumph. She considered Adrien one of her best friends. Then he sighed in resignation. "I can only talk about you with Ladybug. And Plagg of course, but he's probably fed up by now." He added with a heartfelt laugh. She giggled and asked, "So? No problem?"
"Problem? If anything, I'm flattered. Besides, you trust them, I trust them."
"I trust them both with my life. They're amazing friends." He was so glad that she had called Adrien that. It meant she wasn't mad. Maybe he was overthinking.
When they were out of the park they had to let go of their hand reluctantly and walked the rest of the way to her home at a safe distance. They were still chatting and smiling unaware of the world around them, that was just before…
"M-Marinette?" A door abruptly opened revealing her father who then noticed who she was with in utter anger. "And… you!"
A/N: Oh-Oh. Bet you didn't see that coming, Chat Noir. Let's just hope her protective father isn't angry anymore…
Guys, I decided to post this today no matter what. And I did it! I hope everyone's already enjoying life as it is this New Year.
2021, here we come!