Hey guys!

Welcome to my first one shot! It's my very first one in english - so please be nice and don't expect anything too grand, alright? Let me know about any mistakes I might have overlooked, okay?

I know this must read a bit stiff, but I hope I'll get used to writing in english pretty soon.

Anything else you might need or want to know is in the "first Chapter".

Now...without further udo... here we go. I hope you'll enjoy it.

The Lady right next to me

Once more he was looking at the picture of him and Ladybug kissing at the top of the Montparnasse tower after they've defeated Oblivio. As usual, this picture made the young teen sad and happy at the same time.

„Plagg, what could have made Ladybug kiss me?" Adrien Agreste looked at his black Kwami who was munching with obvious delight on a particular smelly piece of Camembert.

„How would I know? I can't read her mind." With this, Plagg swallowed the rest of cheese whole. "Delicious! Thanks for this treat, kid!"

„You're welcome. It took a while to convince Nathalie to order it but you really deserved it. At least once in a while, so don't expect more of this anytime soon." The blonde model fell silent for a moment, then he spoke again: "Couldn't you talk to Ladybugs kwami about this? Tikki? She might have an idea…"

„Sugarcube isn't going to tell me anything and would probably skin me if I bring this up. Besides that would compromise your secret identities, right?" The black Kwami yawned and curled up on Adriens bed. "Stop whining about Ladybug and eat some cheese. Much easier than trying to understand girls, in my opinion. Wake me up when it's time to patrol…"

With that, Plagg started to snore softly. Adrien shook his head about his sleepy and cheese addicted little friend. He looked once more at the picture then he closed the computer screen and sighted heavily. 'I wish I knew what made her kiss me back then. It's driving me crazy.' Adrien thought and wished he had someone to talk about the mess his love life was right now. But he couldn't, really. Not without giving away that he was actually Cat Noir – and admitting his feelings for Ladybug as plain old Adrien would be too mortifying.

„I would be the laughing stock for every one", he mumbled while walking over to his gigantic DVD rack to choose something to watch. "Everybody would make fun of me for weeks… even Chloe… argh…"

Adriens eyes travelled from DVD to DVD until he choose the first season of 'How I met your Mother' again. He has just settled down on his couch and pressed play when a knock at the door startled him. Plagg woke with a start and hid himself in the pocket of Adriens shirts as usual.

„Come in, please", the teenager called and Nathalie, his fathers assistant, entered.

„This show, again? Isn't it boring already? I mean, you must know it by heart by now", she asked with a glance on the TV and smiled slightly. "No, but I'm working on knowing it by heart", Adrien replied and chuckled. "I can't help it, this show makes me feel like I'm coming home… I can't quite explain it. But no, it's not boring at all."

„Then enjoy it." Nathalie consulted her tablet a moment, before she spoke again. "I just came in to talk quickly with you about your schedule for tomorrow. Your Chinese lesson is moved forward from six pm to four pm. Mr Wang has some family business to attend. Your father cancelled the appointment with 'Sweet fragrance' and rescheduled it for the following week. I hope that's okay?"

„Like I have a say in it", Adrien mumbled, but nodded. "Of course. Does that mean I have the rest of the afternoon off? Or has father planned anything else for me?"

Nathalie shook her head. "No. As far as I know there aren't any other plans for you. Fencing won't continue for another month as you know."

Adrien nodded and after a few seconds he asked: "Can I go and spend time with my friends then? Please, it's been so long since I hung out with any of them!"

Nathalie hesitated a second then she proceeded to make a quick call. Adrien waited on tenterhooks until the assistant finished the call. Finally, after five minutes that felt to the model like five hours, Nathalie ended the call and smiled. „Your father agreed. He just have two requests: First, he wants you to tell us where you are going. Secondly, he wants you back at home by no later than nine pm. Is this alright?"

Adrien nodded excitedly. "Yes, that's absolutely fine with me!"

„Good. So… where are you planning on going, then?"

The model thought only for a few seconds. "I'm going to visit Marinette."

„Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng?" Nathalie raised one eyebrow, but made a note and nodded curtly. "It's written down. Your bodyguard will drop you off right after your chine lesson at the Dupain-Cheng Bakery. Give him a call when you are ready to go home, Adrien."

The blonde model nodded in agreement and Nathalie wished him a good night and left him, not without reminding him not to stay up too long.

„You want to visit Marinette?", asked Plagg and zoomed out of his hiding place as soon as the door closed. "Why? Did you finally give up on Ladybug?"

„Don't be silly, Plagg! Marinette is just a friend! I want to see her because I think I need a little help from her", said Adrien, and added, when his kwami looked confused: "Female help."

„What for?"

„My problems with Ladybug, of course. What else?"

The kwami zoomed around in agitation. "You are going to tell her that you are Cat Noir? Oh, kid…Ladybug will be so furious about that!"

„Firstly, Ladybug won't be angry because I'm not planning on telling her. She isn't the only one who can have a secret." Adrien smirked. "And secondly: I'm not going to tell Marinette that I'm Cat Noir, don't be so silly! That would endanger her only further. I wouldn't do that to her. However, Marinette is the most trustworthy person I know, apart from Ladybug. She won't laugh when I confess I'm in love with Ladybug."

„And how do you think she could help you? That girl isn't able to utter one sentence without stuttering or mixing up words!"

„I know… but I trust her as much as I trust Ladybug. She's one of my closest friends, a girl and as such she might enlighten me in the ways girls think."
„So… how are you going to tell her you're dropping by without her getting a stroke or something before?" "

„Plagg!" Adrien shook his head and sighted. „I'm not planning on telling Marinette before. Knowing her, she'd come up with an excuse why she won't be available. I want to surprise her. And even if she might not being able to help me with my love life, I still get to spend time with one of my dearest friends. Something I haven't done in a while."

Adrien started the DVD again and got himself comfortable at the couch."Now relax, Plagg. We have two hours until we meet Ladybug for our patrol. So, eat another piece of cheese or take a nap. Otherwise you'll be complaining again how hungry or tired you are."

Plagg resigned and started nibbling on a small piece of cheese. He didn't feel particularly hungry, which was a unsusal for the black kwami, but something weighted in his stomach and made it hard to enjoy the delicious cheese. It even kept him from dozing off. 'I wish I could contact Sugarcube…this is bound to go tremendously wrong… Marinette needs a warning so she can hide the box and the other kwamis. But on the other side I'd really love to see that boys face when he learns that his 'just a friend' Marinette is his Lady.'
„Plagg, come on. It's time. Are you ready?"
„You know the answer, Adrien…"

The blonde boy laughed and uttered the words that would transform him into is alter ego and went out to meet his partner.

„What a boring night." Adrien de-transformed and fell right onto his bed. „No sighting of an akuma. Not even M Ramirez..."

„And here I thought you'd enjoy the break at the Seine with Ladybug", teased Plagg, who was already grabbing a piece of cheese.

Adrien grinned stupidly. „Yeah… that was actually nice. We didn't even argue, we just enjoyed the moment. And the macaroons she brought were so delicious! I bet she bought them at Marinettes."
„Like the rest of Paris, probably." The black kwami yawned. „Let's go to sleep. You've got a busy day ahead, if you really going to talk to Marinette."
The teenager agreed and changed into his pyjamas. But it took a little while till he fell asleep. His mind were full with thoughts on his meeting with Marinette. 'She'll be all flustered', he thought and an amused smile appeared on his face. 'It's somewhat nice having this effect on her, I just wonder why only I seem to make her behave that way…I really hope she can help me with Ladybug.'
Plagg was already sleeping. He had planned on sneaking out of the house after Adrien fell asleep to go and find Tikki, but his own tiredness caught up with him much quicker then he expected while he waited that his owner fell asleep. When he woke up shortly in the middle of the night, Plagg decided it would be enough to warn Tikki when they'd be in school together. With that, the black kwami turned around and slept on.

But Plagg didn't get a chance to talk to Tikki and warn her the entire day. Whenever he thought the cost was clear, someone either wanted to talk to Adrien or Marinette and there was no way he could sneak into Marinettes bag to talk to her kwami. And he would never follow Marinette to the toilette. That was gross and decidedly indecent.
So the black kwami had no choice then to keep quiet and watch what's going to happen. 'Marinette is smart, she will have hid the box and keep the others in there – otherwise her parents would know about them', thought Plagg finally with a little shrug and settled for another nap in Adriens bag. 'Nothing is going to happen anyway. Except that Marinette is getting the shock of her life when Adrien appears. Should be fun.'

Adrien hopped out of the car and said to his bodyguard: „I'll call you when you can pick me up. See you later." The gorilla just grunted and nodded curtly before driving off.
Adrien smiled. It may be a nuisance to have a bodyguard shadowing most of his steps but he liked the silent giant of a man more than words could say.
„Remember, Plagg. Stay hidden, not a single peep!", warned the blonde model while entering the bakery
"Do you think I'm dumb?" Plagg snorted. "Don't worry, I'll be a good kwami and stay out of sight while you enjoy your date."
Adrien rolled his eyes and went to the counter where Marinette's mother, Sabine, served some delicious looking petit-four to a middle-aged woman in a strange hat with a huge vulture on it.
"Hello, Madame Cheng."`Adrien bowed slightly. "You might remembering me, I'm Adrien Agreste and go to the same school as Marinette."
"Of course, as if I could ever forget you." Sabine chuckled. "Do you want to buy something, my dear?"
"No, I wanted to see Marinette. She's home, right?"

"Oh. She didn't say you'd come over." Mme Cheng looked confused. "I doubt that I would forget if she have mentioned it."
"No, no." The boy laughed. "Marinette has no idea I'm here. It was pretty spontaneous... You see, I have a little problem and I was hoping, Marinette could help me. So... is she at home?"
"Yes, she is. You want me to take you there or do you remember the way to her room?" The woman smiled warmly.
"Thanks, I remember. But thanks!"
"If you two want anything to eat, just tell Marinette to come to me, my dear."
Adrien nodded and went up to his classmates room.

"You are absolutely sure about it, kid?" Plagg poked his head a bit out Adriens pocket. "What if she's laughing at you?"
"This is Marinette. She would never make fun of me. And now, please be quiet and stay out of sight."
With this the young teen raised his hand to knock at the trapdoor when he heard a soft murmur of many voices.
"Strange. Mme Cheng didn't say anything about Marinette having visitors already." Adrien frowned. "Or is it just the tv?"
"Maybe we should go? I mean Marinette is obviously busy right now", whispered Plagg urgently. "Lets come back another time, kid."
Before Adrien could say anything, the voice of his classmate could be heard over the ongoing buzz of multiple voices. "Guys, could you be quiet for a bit? I have a lot of homework to do before it's time for patrol... so please tone it down or you'll have to go into the miracle box, got it?"
The buzz grew louder despite this warning ,while Adrien stood frozen on the steps. Did she really just said 'Miracle box'? How did she know about something like this? Who did she want to put in there? And most importantly how did Marinette get hold on the miracle box? Adriens heart started to beat very fast while he tried to decide what he should to next.
"Tikki!" Marinettes desperate voice floated out once more. "I'm going insane! Aaaaaaaaaargh..."
Tikki... that made Adriens heart stop for a few seconds before it beat even faster. Tikki... that was the name of Ladybugs kwami. Does this mean his lady was here? With Marinette? But... would Ladybug really tell her big secret to someone she barely know? Wouldn't it be her partner, himself, that she would tell first? If she would tell anyone at all?
The model couldn't take it anymore, opened the door and watched at the scene unfolding before his eyes. Marinette sat at her desk, head buried in her hands, while a group of kwamis flew around, chatting loudly. But no one else was here.
"Marinette...", Adrien began but didn't know what to say. Tikki, Ladybugs kwami stared in utter horror at the boy. And suddenly, he knew the truth.
Marinette got up to her feet so quickly she fell back on the chair. "Adrien... what..."
"That's what I was going to ask." Slowly, the model got his composure back and he climbed into the room. "What is this?"
Adrien made a gesture to the kwamis, frozen comically in mid air. "Why are so many kwamis in your room?"
Marinette went from red to pale within seconds, while her brain tried to process what was happening right now. "I … uhm … kwami-sit?"

Adrien crossed his arms and tried not to laugh. "So... since when do you know what a kwami is, anyway?"
Marinette stuttered a few seconds before her brain finally caught up.

"And since when do you know what a kwami is?", the girl asked breathlessly. Of course she knew how but she had to try to control the damage. "I mean..."
Adrien crossed the room and kneeled down in front of his friend. "I think you know the answer, bugaboo..."
Marinettes hands flew to her mouth. "Bugaboo? But... NO!"
"I'm sorry, I really am! I just came here to talk to you about Ladybug." Now Adrien let out a soft laugh. "I never expected to find my actual Lady."
Plagg came out of his hiding place. "I'm sorry, too. I should've warn you."
"Yes you should!" Tikki glared at her counterpart. "This is all your fault, stinky sock!"
"Listen, sugarcube..."
"It's okay", interrupted Marinette and held up one hand. "This one is entirely on me. I should've put all the kwamis in the box and not let them roam freely in my room. But I didn't expect any visitors and mum would be busy in the bakery for at least two hours and dad isn't even here, he went to the market."
The girl let out a sigh. "But I guess, it was bound to happen. One of these days something like this must happen."
"And you're the guardian... so it makes sense to know who's holding the cat miraculous, right?" Adrien smiled encouraging. "I wouldn't say that it's such a big cat-astrophy, right?"
Marinette laughed out lout. "No... you are probably right. Apart from me I am you are the only steady holder of a miraculous, It is really better you know it. Just in case. I mean I knew Master Fu. Sure, you wouldn't need to contact me for backup like I did with Master Fu, but still..."
"Are you absolutely sure, Marinette?" The red kwami looked worried. "This could endanger both of you."
"I am sure. You know I've thought a lot about it since becoming the guardian and that I wanted to tell Cat Noir."
"You did?" Adriens face lit up like the sun. "For real?"
"For real. You ARE my partner, the person I trust most, The only one I think has the absolute right to know my identity. But... I never thought that it would be you, Adrien. That was..."
"Rather unexpected." The model nodded and grabbed another stool to sit. "Believe me, I know exactly what you mean. I mean, there was a short moment I thought you could be Ladybug... but after I saw you being Multimouse, I've put it out of my mind."
To his surprise Marinette burst out into a laughing fit that lasted several minutes. Finally she got herself in check. "That was exactly the plan. To cover my track. The same reason I've told Cat Noir I'm in l..." The girl broke off mid-sentence and her eyes widened in horror. "Oh no."
Adrien put a hand onto his partners shoulder. "I think we have a lot to talk to."
Marinette nodded weakly. "You are right. So.. you start, what did you want to talk to me about Ladybug?"

So... how did you like it? Any suggestions? Any wishes? I really hope my english isn't too bad.

I don't know when I'll post the next One Shot as I've got a very busy schedule at work over the next few weeks. But I'll do my best. Big promise.

Anyway... I bid you a good night (in Germany it's past midnight)

Until the next time, take care!

Love, Claire

PS: Geeze that's pretty complicated to upload anything hahaha. But I'll get the hang of it.