Here is a oneshot from the Miraculous Fanworks Tumblr500 event! Its Snekmouse Truth or Dare! Because really, what could go wrong?
A Different Mask
Multimouse had her hand over her frantically beating heart, bent over at the waist trying to catch her breath.
"I'm so sorry! I thought you heard me coming up behind you." Aspik had his hands up, paused between reaching out to try and comfort her, and pulling back in order to give her some space.
"I'm, I'm okay I just got a little… it's my fault." She wheezed, knowing her face was ablaze with color.
What in the hell was she thinking giving Adrien the snake miraculous again? This was already such a disaster, and he'd only been in front of her for two minutes!
She took a deep breath, rising from her half crouched over state and glancing at him shyly. His arms fell to his sides seeing her stand, but he couldn't hide the nervousness on his face. It made her heart fall, and she stared at him straight on, smiling softly.
"It's okay, really. Chat Noir said someone would probably join me. When no one showed up after the first hour, I figured I'd be solo." She held out her hand to him, introducing herself, "I'm Multimouse, nice to meet you."
He relaxed, a smile gracing his features, "Aspik. It's nice to meet you too." They shook hands, both of them feeling an unnatural burn from the brief second of contact. They turned away from each other nervously, trying to sneak glances at their unmarked hands. What was that feeling?
Aspik cleared his throat, flexing his hand behind his back so she wouldn't notice, "So you, you were patrolling right?"
Multimouse startled at his sudden voice, but nodded, trying not to panic knowing it was Adrien under the mask. She knew she could do this, she just, had to keep herself together and not get lost in the forest of his eyes. That open, pure forest, filled with life and light, and so, so green. How could anyone's eyes be THAT green? It wasn't even fair.
She shook her head, realizing he was staring at her expectantly. A question! He had asked her a question. She groaned to herself.
This was going to be a long night.
"R-Right. I've already done two laps, but we can go t-together if you want." She said, trying to keep herself from stuttering anymore.
"I can do a round by myself. You are probably tired after running the patrol on your own." He said sheepishly, hating that he'd had to endure an extra hour of piano practice under Nathalie's watchful eye just for staying an extra 15 minutes at school.
"I don't mind!" She said quickly, already pulling her rope tail from around her waist, "Patrol is always more fun with two people anyways."
She stopped, frozen mid-smile as his eyes widened, "You've… done patrol's before?"
"Uhh… maybe. Once or twice." She fiddled with the ends of her jump rope, not meeting his eyes. He tried to smile, but already questions began to stir.
"Then how about you lead, and I'll follow you?" He bowed with a flourish and she giggled. He watched her expertly fling herself across to the next rooftop, and couldn't help but smile at how at ease she looked. He leapt after her on autopilot, his mind refusing to let him enjoy the freedom of running after her.
Ladybug had told him that Multimouse was a one-time thing, that she wouldn't be able to give the Miraculous back to Marinette because Chat Noir knew her identity. It was only after practically singing Marinette's praises to Ladybug that she'd even agreed to let him give her the Miraculous again on trial. After all the other heroes were revealed, Marinette was one of the only ones who hadn't been seen by Hawkmoth.
Identities were important now more than ever, he knew that, so why was Marinette-Multimouse moving as though she'd been doing this for months? It didn't make sense. He and Ladybug were the only ones who ever patrolled. And Ladybug had been against giving her the miraculous again… so why was she moving so effortlessly?
"Uh, Aspik?"
He blinked, turning to look at her and his face flushed. She was staring at him worried, and he moved back from where he was, waving his hands flustered, "Uh, sorry, sorry, I kind of zoned out there little mouse."
Her face flamed, "L-Little mouse?"
"Sorry, is that weird?"
"NO!" She yelled before covering her mouth and saying it softer, "No, no, it was just unexpected."
He smiled softly, seeing her get flustered around him the way she always did.
Wait.
The way… she always did…
Could she… could she know who he was under the mask?
But… Ladybug was the one who gave him his Miraculous, the first time and this time. Ladybug did trust Marinette enough that time with Kwamibuster, though. Marinette had some of the most powerful Miraculous with her, including his own. Ladybug wouldn't reveal her identity to Chat Noir but… would she have told Marinette…
No. No she would have never done that.
He guiltily looked away from Multimouse just for thinking it, but how could he not? How else could Marinette react like this to Aspik, when she was usually only this way around Adrien?
He could feel the tension around them beginning to thicken, making the silence suffocating. The last thing he wanted was to make her start stuttering again. He forced a smile, not noticing how her smile fell when she saw it, "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."
"You don't have to do that."
He froze his smile in place, keeping his voice pleasant, "What do you mean?"
Her voice turned slightly harsher, "You don't have to fake a smile like that."
He let the smile fall, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. The determination he'd only seen in her a few times, but that he saw in another set of bluebell eyes during every akuma fight.
"How did you… know?"
She jumped back, flailing her arms in front of her wildly, "I-I could just tell!" She chuckled nervously and he turned to stare out into the city.
"Not many people can read me so easily." He muttered, turning to her as the pieces started connecting without his consent. The picture was becoming clearer. The outside frame had been assembled, and the person in the middle was coming together.
"Hey, little mouse." He smiled more genuinely, "Truth or dare."
Her head tilted to the side, "What?"
"Truth or dare. Let's play a few rounds." He baited her lightly, "Unless you're sss-cared to let me have the upper hand?"
The fire behind her eyes blazed to life and she smirked, "You're on!"
He chuckled to himself, "Truth or Dare then little mouse."
"Dare." She said, no hesitation.
"I dare you to scream out the best pun you can think of."
Her face paled for an instant, but she took a deep breath and turned, stalking to the edge of the roof they were on. His eyes widened in joy as she screamed it out at the top of her lungs, "BREAD PUNS ARE A PAIN!"
He broke out into a peel of laughter, grabbing his middle as she turned to him with a glare, "Oh it was so worth that look." He wiped happy tears from his eyes as she asked him.
"Truth or dare."
"Dare, by all means. Give me your best shot." He said proudly.
"I dare you to leave a romantic voicemail on Chat Noir's baton." She crossed her arms in triumph and he smirked, seeing the worry in her eyes.
"Easy." He pulled the lute from his waist and pulled one of the cords, turning it into a screen. He found the symbol for the Black Cat miraculous and knew that no one would answer as he dialed.
Hearing the voicemail pick up, he grinned, staring at her the entire time, "Chat Noir, this is Aspik. I'm temporarily using the Snake Miraculous. I'm sorry to bother you but I have to let you know." He grinned, watching her jaw drop, "You are the bravest, most courageous hero I've ever seen. You are stunningly handsome and charming, and seeing the bright green of your eyes always makes my heart melt. I don't just adore you," his voice softened, "I love you, and all your hilarious puns. SSS-Sorry but i've gotta go now! Bye!"
He hung up and grinned, "HOW WAS THAT?"
She facepalmed but then started giggling, "He's not going to know what to do with himself when he hears that."
"Who knows, maybe he'll fall in love with me." He said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Multimouse rolled her eyes, and his heart jumped as she muttered nearly unintelligibly, "Are all blonde boys this way?"
He laughed anyways, "I hope not, or I'd definitely have some competition." He smiled at her before asking, "Truth or dare."
She hummed, "Dare."
"Ooo, feeling brave are we?"
She leaned into his space, the smell of honey and lavender making him dizzy, "Do your worst."
She stayed where she was, their noses nearly touching as he swallowed hard. "Kiss me."
She stepped back nearly ten feet, "WH-WHAT?!"
He grinned, trying to keep his cool, or at least give his heart a chance to stop racing against his chest, "I dare you to kiss me."
"I can't do that!" Her face took on a shade of rouge he'd never seen, and he told her quickly.
"If you don't take the dare, you have to answer any truth question I give you."
"I know how it works!" Multimouse squealed, clawing at her face as she groaned, "Ugh, fine, truth."
"You sure about that?" He stepped closer to her, a predatory instinct kicking in. His only thoughts were, don't look away. Keep her trapped in your gaze.
Even keeping his eyes locked on hers, he saw every move she made. How her hands had the smallest tremble, how her pupils blew wide, the way her breath came out in short pants as though she'd just run a marathon. He saw everything, could practically feel her desire travelling through the air around him. He knew she wasn't scared of him. Not in the slightest. It was the only reason he continued forward, predatorily stalking her as he inched his way closer.
She let out a soft sound of surprise as her back hit the chimney roof, and he lifted a hand, touching under her chin lightly. Her eyes were already glued to his, but he could hear her heart accelerate at the light touch. His finger barely brushed her skin, and yet that same blast of intense heat radiated from her into his hand. It reached all the way through his arm, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
She was dangerous to him, this little mouse.
She had his heart in her grasp, wrapped in an unbreakable chain, and she didn't even know it.
"Truth then," he held her chin lightly, rubbing his thumb lightly against her skin, wishing more than anything his hand wasn't being gloved by the miraculous. She shivered under his touch, and the world around them began to fade away.
"Why do I make you so uncomfortable?"
"You don't." She responded quickly, not a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
"Then why do you stutter?"
"I'm not." She straightened herself slightly, but his hand followed, never losing the light grip he had on her chin.
"Why is your heart racing?"
"Why is yours?" She asked instead, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"It's your turn ma petite souris." He purred, "And you didn't answer my question." He stepped closer at the same time she did, "Why is your heart raci-"
Her lips pressed to his in a featherlight touch before she pulled away, putting her hand on his chest and putting just the lightest pressure. "There. I kissed you. Dare done."
His eyes widened and he took a small step back realizing he had her pressed up against the wall with his body. "I-I'm sorry I,"
"Truth or dare." She asked, her hand clenching into his suit and holding him in place. He could feel his heart kick into overdrive, and knew she felt it too.
"Truth."
Her hand tightened, "Why… Why did you dare me to kiss you?"
He swallowed, "Dare." She closed her eyes, her hand shaking against his chest.
"ANSWER!"
"That's not how the game works little mou-"
"Stop calling me that!" Her hand fell from his chest, standing there for a second before letting her head fall against his chest. "Stupid… You couldn't even hide it for a minute."
"Wh-what are you,"
"I dare you tell me the truth!" She looked up at him, glistening tears falling from her eyes, "You stupid cat!"
His heart fell to his stomach. He had been so careful, to make sure he hadn't acted in any way Chat Noir would have. How did she know, how could she even suspect…
"Answer me," she sobbed, begging for an answer. "I know you know,"
"M'lady," he whispered, his heart breaking at the hurt in voice.
"you're the one who gave me the Miraculous idiot!"
"M'lady,"
"So why… why force me into a corner, why."
"MARINETTE!" He grabbed her by the shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze and forcing her to meet his eyes. The depth of pain he saw there as she stared at him in shock squeezed his heart in a vice grip, bringing tears to his eyes before he could blink.
He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her up tightly as his tears left a burning trail down his face, "Because I love you, I love you so much I can hardly stand it. I feel so heavy all the time, like i have this immeasurable weight on my chest and at the same time," he hugged her tighter, "You make me feel like I can fly, and do anything. I feel like if you weren't here, smiling at me and finding ways to make me fall in love with you more and more every day, I'd fade into nothing."
He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, feeling the way her arms tightened around him at his words, "You mean everything to me m'lady. You always have, you always will. Whether you are the courageous Ladybug that everyone can see for themselves, or the everyday Ladybug who no one can compare to. I've told you before, haven't I?"
He pulled back, blinking away the tears and not bothering to wipe away the rest. Seeing her cheeks stained with tears too, he reminded her, "You are the lady of my dreams."
She let out a short sob and he cupped her cheek, "Truth or dare?"
She shook her head, but he asked again, "Truth or dare?"
"I don't want to,"
"Please, indulge me this once." He pleaded.
"Truth." She whispered, biting her bottom lip.
He let his arms drop, knowing he should have never given her that kissing dare in the first place. The second he suspected her, and now knowing that he was right about Marinette being his lady, he should have backed down. He should have realized that he never stood a chance.
"Do I even… do I even come close… against the boy you love?"
He took a step back, feeling the night air brush against his skin as it mercilessly stole her warmth away. He felt like an idiot for ever hoping that she'd see, that she'd understand just how much-
"You stupid cat." She whispered lovingly, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "You ARE the boy I love." She smiled brightly, "I've been in love with you from the beginning Adrien, and then Chat Noir made himself a home in my heart," she stepped closer, touching his arm before placing her hand on his neck, "and I guess Aspik slithered his way in too."
Before he could respond, she was pressing her lips to his again. Only this time it was different. The spark he expected turned out to be a raging fire, an all consuming heat that would leave nothing behind in its wake. It burned his very soul, forever branding him as hers.
As her hand moved to the back of his neck she pulled him closer, and their kiss deepened.
Nothing would ever make him forget this feeling, the rush of emotions that so easily crashed over him like waves breaking against the sand. They were all linked to her, constant and unequal, unbroken by any natural force that could ever be.
"I love you," she whispered against his lips, both of them panting trying to catch their breaths.
He rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as his smile widened happily. Getting lost in their own world, in her arms, he kissed her again simply because he couldn't help himself. Kissing her were the only words he'd ever need.
Thanks for reading! I have a few more one shots lined up to get posted, so more is coming soon, don't fret!
As always feel free to leave comments or reviews if you want!
Au Revoir for now!