Chapter 3: Realizations

Marinette oversleeps on Friday morning. She runs into class ten minutes late. "Sorry I'm late Miss Bustier!" Marinette bows her head apologetically.

"It's okay, Marinette. It's work time right now, take your seat."

Marinette slides into the booth with Alya. "Girl! You missed the announcements! We're having a school dance!" She squeals from excitement. Marinette doesn't have a chance to respond, Alya goes on, "And guess what? It's Ladybug and Chat Noir themed! A masquerade ball!"

"Wait. Everyone will be wearing masks?"

"Yes! The school district is pretty serious about it, we're not even supposed to buy dresses together. Nobody is supposed to know who each other is!" Alya's excitement is too much to handle in the morning, a couple classmates shush her. She shout whispers to Marinette, "It's to honor Ladybug and Chat Noir's responsibility of keeping secret identities."

Parisians never cease to amaze Marinette. They really love her, or Ladybug rather. "That's so thoughtful to Ladybug. I can't wait!"

Miss Bustier interrupts their conversation, "Do you girls need to leave the classroom? I know you're excited but you're distracting other students."

Alya apologizes and goes back to whatever she was working on. Marinette gets busy with her own school work. At the end of the day, Luka stops Marinette on her way out of the school. "Marinette!"

"Oh hi Luka."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out two movie tickets. "There's a ten o' clock showing for the new movie tonight! If you wanted to go with me."

Marinette loves spending time with Luka but Chat Noir is on her mind. He said he'd stop by her house again. "I'd love to Luka, but I'm really busy tonight. I'm sorry."

Luka's excited expression fades quickly. "It's okay, another time." He leaves her and goes home.

Marinette is about to head home too when she's stopped by another voice. "Hey Marinette!"

"Hi Adrien!" she smiles.

"Can I walk you home?"

Marinette is taken aback. "Oh- um- yeah sure!"

They walk quietly for a little bit before Adrien starts the conversation. "I couldn't help but overhear. Why are you busy tonight?" He knows it's because Chat Noir is visiting but he likes seeing Marinette flustered.

Marinette's face heats up while she thinks of an excuse. "Oh ya know- just a lot of school work and stuff." She awkwardly giggles.

"I can ask Nathalie if I can come over and help if you'd like?"

"NO!" she shouts, "I mean no thanks, I already have a tutor and I don't want to bother you. Thanks anyways though." They arrive at the front doors of the bakery. "If you'd like you can come in for a croissant or macaroon."

"Thanks but I have fencing lessons in ten minutes. I'll see you on Monday!" As he walks back to the school he can't help but laugh. She looks so cute when she's flustered like that.

Kagami sees Adrien laughing as he approaches the school. "What's so funny, Adrien?"

"Marinette. She was stuttering a whole lot."

Kagami smiles at the thought of her clumsy friend, "Marinette does seem to stammer quite often."

Kagami and Adrien head into the school. The two are evenly matched, they only compete against each other. Dueling anybody else would be too easy. Today Adrien seems to be excelling more than usual. By the end of class Adrien had won more matches overall.

"Good job today, Adrien."

"Thanks but you were amazing as always, Kagami."

"Would you like to come over tonight to practice more? I want to at least tie our matches for today."

He promised Marinette he'd see her again. "Sorry Kagami, I already have plans. Next time."

That night after dinner, Adrien can finally transform. Plagg savors his camembaret so he can pester Adrien. "So you're going to see Marinette again?"

"Yeah, her and Chat Noir have become really good friends."

"Good friends hmmm?"

"Yes, Plagg of course. She's occupied with two other boys and me with two other girls."

Plagg can't resist helping speed things up. "Luka and who else?"

Adrien's getting annoyed. "She hasn't told me who. It doesn't matter, I don't have a chance with her!"

"Oh so you want a chance with her?"

"Shut up, Plagg."

"What? I'm just trying to helpppp."

"Plagg claws out!"

Adrien thinks about what Plagg said on his way to Marinette's. Does he want to be with her? How could he possibly want three girls, Ladybug, Kagami, and now Marinette? It's greedy.

He arrives on her balcony and knocks three times. Marinette lifts the trapdoor. "Come in, Chaton."

That nickname again. Chat Noir's stomach erupts in butterflies. He jumps down on her bed and leans back next to her. She's already wearing her pajamas. "How are you this evening, Princess." He dramatically kisses her hand and she giggles.

"Better now that my Prince Charming arrived."

Chat Noir comes up with an idea. "Hey what do you say we go somewhere tonight? When's the last time you saw Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower?"

Marinette is surprised but accepts. "I guess it's been a while." That's a lie, Ladybug and Chat Noir end up there probably once a week.

Chat Noir jumps up on her balcony and gives her a hand. He holds her at her waist, "May I?" Marinette nods and he scoops her legs up so he's holding her like a princess in a fairytale. "Hold on tight okay?"

Marinette leans her head into his chest and closes her eyes before he launches them into the Paris night. Chat Noir bounds over rooftops with Marinette in his arms. She truly makes him feel like a knight in shining armor. He ascends the Eiffel Tower keeping Marinette close to his chest, trying not to jolt around too much. At the top, he sets her down gently.

She opens her eyes to see Paris glowing under the night sky. You can see a few faint stars despite the blinding city lights. Marinette rarely stops to take in the view anymore.

Chat Noir doesn't even glance at the city. Instead, he admires Marinette. Her bluebelle eyes reflect Paris in them. Hey dark hair blows in the slight breeze. Her glossy lips are parted in awe as she takes in the scenery. "Maybe, Plagg is right," He thinks to himself.

Marinette notices his stare. Chat Noir asks the question he's been avoiding, "Marinette, who's the boy you're trying to move on from?"

Marinette admire's Chat Noir's model-like features. "It doesn't matter, Chaton. I think I've found what I needed to get over him."

Marinette doesn't know what her Kitty is thinking but she's too invested in her own thoughts to try and figure it out. Right now she wants Chat Noir and she can't believe it. Why am I falling for him now?

Chat Noir is speechless, Marinette breaks the silence. "Let's go back. We still have time to watch a movie if you want."

Chat Noir swoops Marinette up and carries her back to the balcony. Marinette grabs her ipad and gets comfortable on her bed with Chat Noir. "What movie do you want to watch, Marinette?"

"Hmmm… Have you seen Studio Ghibli movies?"

"I think Ponyo and Spirited Away," Chat Noir watches anime but not a lot of movies.

Marinette gasps dramatically, "What? You've never seen Howl's Moving Castle!?" Chat Noir laughs. She's like a totally different person with Chat Noir. Marinette starts the movie and whispers, "This is my favorite movie, you're going to love it!"

Adrien has always loved seeing what people are passionate about and Marientte is passionate about so many things. He admires her for it. He thinks about what she said during the starting credits. "Does she mean me? Am I what she needs to get over him?"

The movie ends close to midnight. "You're right, Marinette. I like that movie." He looks over and sees that Marinette fell asleep. Chat Noir stealthy gets up and sets her ipad back on the desk. He leans over her and brushes her bangs to the side, "Goodnight, Princess."

Chat Noir quietly crawls onto her balcony and shuts the trapdoor. He gets home and collapses onto his bed. "Claws in."

"I was right wasn't I?" Plagg flies into the cabinet for some camembert.

"Marinette is so perfect I can't believe I didn't see it before. She's beautiful and talented and funny and passionate and-"

Plagg cuts him off, "Finally! But talk about this with someone else I don't want to hear it. Yuck!"

Adrien laughs at his kwami. He's been alive for billions of years but is still so immature about love.