Author's note – Welcome to our first 2021 chapter! Sorry for the whole 6 year delay in any updates – I'm hoping to have this story finished by the end of 2021. Hope the suspense was worth it!
Marinette's classmates shuffled into class, but Marinette was barely noticing them. Her attention for once was not being drawn away by the handsome blonde in front of her, or by reminiscing the ridiculous antics of her partner from the day before. Today, all her thoughts were on this contest and making a good impression on her idol, Gabriel Agreste.
"How are you feeling, girl?" Alya asked. Marinette jumped, not realizing her best friend had taken her seat beside her.
"Oh, you know, just like I might vomit up the entire contents of my stomach, but nothing major!" Marinette joked, her face turning more and more green as the minutes ticked by.
"Oh Marinette, it'll be alright, I promise. You're the most talented person in our class, let along the school. There's no way that you don't win." Marinette smiled at her friend, grateful for the reassurances, even if she wasn't entirely convinced.
"Thanks Alya, I'm sure your submission is great too!"
"Oh, no, I didn't submit anything."
"You didn't?" Marinette was confused. She thought everyone had to submit. "How come-"
Just then, Gabriel's assistant, Natalie, knocked on the door to the classroom. Marinette swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in her throat. In Natalie's hands as a tablet with none other than Gabriel Agreste's face. Marinette definitely felt like vomiting now. Adrien was invited to the front of the class to stand beside his father.
"Good afternoon, all," Gariel's voice echoed out of the small speakers within the tablet. "I want to take a moment to thank anyone who submitted an entry to the contest. They were incredibly insightful, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see your work. On that note," Gabriel began, and Marinette froze. This was it. The big reveal.
"I wanted to let you know that due to a decrease in submissions, and an interest in broadening the scope of the education branch of the Agreste line, we did in fact open the contest up to other submissions from high schoolers across Paris.
"What?" Marinette thought, her confidence deflating. "There's no way that I can win against every high schooler in Paris. I'm doomed."
"Due to this shift, I wanted to personally visit your school to discuss the change. And to elaborate that due to the much larger shift in scale, I have picked a finalist from each school to have their work showcased at the next Agreste show in two week's time."
Marinette's head was spinning. Two weeks? To bring a design to life? So soon!
"I also wanted to let you know that the finalists have already been chosen, and that the finalist for the Collège Francoise Dupont is within this class."
Marinette froze. This is it. Make or break. All or nothing.
"Congratulations… Marinette Dupain-Cheng. You will go on to represent your school in the finals. Thank you to all who submitted. Marinette, we will be in touch."
Before Marinette had the chance to express her gratitude, Natalie was exiting the classroom and taking Gabriel with her.
"Congratulations Marinette!" Adrian declared, walking over to her desk with a smile, "I knew you could do it."
"Thanks Adrian," Mariette replied with a blush, unsure of what to do with all of the newfound attention placed upon her.
"Yes girl!" Alya squealed, giving her best friend a huge side hug in the process. Marinette's classmates all crowded around, congratulating Marinette on her success. Chloe and Sabrina remained seated, but Marinette wasn't fazed. This is the second time that Gabriel Agreste had picked her fashion designs out of a group to recognize. She was over the moon.
"Alright class, settle down. Congratulations Marinette, I know you will do our class and our school proud at the finals. I'll be sure to pass along anything I hear from M. Agreste. Now, everyone, please pull out your textbooks and flip to page 39."
Adrian, who had returned to his seat in front of Marinette, turned around and gave her a huge smile.
Yep. Marinette was definitely over the moon
….
Marinette's day should have been celebratory, but Ladybug on the other hand was having a hard time catching a break these days. Hawkmoth's akuma attacks were growing more and more frequent. Marinette couldn't remember the last time she had gotten a proper night's sleep.
It didn't help that she had barely gotten to see Adrian today. He had to leave early for a photoshoot and had missed half a day of school. Marinette knew she couldn't really complain after such a good weekend with Adrian, but she had really wanted to see if he would try to kiss her again. She needed him to try and kiss her again. If that's what he was doing at all. Marinette was starting to have doubts about her own memory.
But none of that mattered now as she swung above the city, battling off this akuma until Chat Noir showed.
Ladybug had just been flung by this more recent akuma, some sort of plant lady, into a brick wall and surrounded by vines. She was struggling to release herself from the ivy's grip when Chat Noir landed beside her, his claws cutting through the vines as he landed, freeing Ladybug.
"Need a paw, m'lady?" Chat Noir asked, pulling Ladybug free from the broken plants and towards his chest.
Ladybug was flustered, being this close to Chat Noir. They ended up tangled together plenty during akuma battles… so why did this feel different? Ladybug's eyes were trapped on Chat Noir's, unable to move.
"M'lady…?" Chat asked, searching for signs that she was alright, his eyes full of concern.
"Oh, yea, sorry chaton. Thanks for the save. Let's go, evil waits for no one!" Ladybug released herself from Chat Noir's arms and sent her yo-yo flying in the direction of the akumatized victim, leaving Chat Noir puzzled. With little time to analyze the inner working of his lady's brain (he would do that later) he leaped off after her.
After a fulsome akuma battle, one lucky charm, and a cataclysmed watering can, the akuma victim was released and Ladtbug was holding out her fist to Chat Noir.
"Pound it!" They said in unison, as the world returned to normal.
Their miraculouses began to beep, and Chat Noir was disappointed. He wanted more time with his lady. He needed to understand what was going on with her.
Chat was feeling more guilty than ever before. He had been able to avoid Marinette for most of today, feeling guilty for his roguish behavior the night before. He had almost kissed her! Marinette! His heart starting racing at the thought, yet again, which only aggravated him further.
Sure, he knew he liked Marinette, but this was all too confusing. He loved Ladybug, so why on earth did he want to kiss Marinette at all? His lady deserved his loyalty and he had almost compromised that.
On the other hand… Ladybug probably didn't feel the same way at all. But maybe if they could talk about their feelings, and know once and for all what was going on in her head… maybe he could move on. Or maybe, he would figure out his feeling for Marinette had just been his confusion surrounding Ladybug. Maybe she would admit her feelings and they could live happily ever after, just the two of them, and maybe a hamster-
"Chat? Earth to chat?" Ladybug called out, waving her hand in front of his face. "Are you there, Chat? Do you read me?"
"Ah!" Chat replied, embarrassed. He had let his fantasies get away from him again. "Sorry M'lady, you were saying?"
"I was just wondering… if you would maybe want to refuel and meet back up?"
Chat was surprised. Ladybug was such a stickler for the rules, he had no idea why she would possibly want to be in her Ladybug form if there wasn't an akuma attack…
"Of course, bugaboo, anything for you. Name the place."
"Our spot?" she asked. Chat could almost see a blush creeping from under her mask.
"Our spot?" He thought, his heart spiking a beat. He knew exactly what she was referring to, but couldn't stop the huge catlike grin that came to his face at her words. They had a spot.
"Be there faster than a cat on fish," Chat said with a wink, before batoning behind a nearby building to detransform.
"Plagg, claws in." Adrian appeared as Plagg came rushing out on his ring. Adrian handed Plagg some camembert. "Come on Plagg, hurry up."
"What's the rush m. model? Want to rush over to Marinette's? Say no more." Plagg said between mouthfuls of cheese.
"Marinette? No! Ladybug wants to meet. In our spot." Adrian said with a sigh. "I don't want to keep her waiting."
"Ladybug wants to meet? Seems weird with your girlfriend and all that you'd want to meet up."
"What? Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend, Plagg," Adrian replied, a blush creeping up his cheeks. Curse his fair skin.
"I mean, that's not what it looked like last night…" Plagg trailed off, earning an even bigger blush from Adrian.
"Last night was… I don't know what last night was. Maybe, maybe Marinette is more than a friend. Oh Plagg, what do I do?" Adrian groaned, sinking onto the rooftop beside Plagg and his stinky cheese.
"Listen, kid, I can't tell you what to do. But I can say that it's obvious you like both Marinette and Ladybug."
"I know, Plagg! That's the worst part! How could I be so disloyal to m'lady? And Marinette deserves better than some guy hung up on a superhero that doesn't even know his real name." Adrian lowered his head to his knees in defeat.
"Oh it's alright kid. More than you'll ever know," Plagg said, the last bit under his breath.
"What do I do? I'm supposed to go meet Ladybug and I don't know what to do!"
"Hang on, it'll all be okay. Maybe… you need to be honest. Find out once and for all where you stand with Ladybug. If she feels the same, then you have your answer! If not… you deserve to move on."
"You know, that's pretty good advice, Plagg."
"What, you're surprised? I'm not entirely made of cheese you know."
"You're a good friend, Plagg."
"Yea yea, don't get all sappy on me. Now let's go get your lady!"
Adrian grinned at his kwami. "You don't have to tell me twice. Plagg, claws out!"
Adrian transformed and leapt across Paris in search of his Ladybug.
….
When Chat Noir arrived, Ladybug was already perched on the top of the Eiffel Tower, her legs dangling. She turned when she heard a soft thud behind her, and a smile lit up her entire face that sent Chat Noir's heart into his throat.
"You came," she said, her voice soft but pleased, as though she wasn't sure if he would show. Of course he would show. Wasn't it obvious how he felt about her?
"Of course, m'lady. I'll always show." He replied, sitting down beside her, close enough that their legs were touching.
"Maybe she doesn't know…" Chat thought to himself. Had he ever been clear with her about his feelings? Maybe she didn't think his intentions were sincere. Maybe he would have to show her.
Ladybug blushed a bit at his response, and Chat was thrilled. Chat- 1.
"Sorry for asking you to meet after an akuma battle. I'm sure you must be exhausted-"
"Anything for you. Is there… something you wanted to discuss?" Chat Noir replied, eager to get a further glimpse into his Lady's mind.
"Yea, actually. I just wanted to say… I'm sorry."
Chat's eyebrows furrowed. He was confused.
"Sorry, m'lady, for what?"
Ladybug sighed. Her eyes moved across the city as she spoke. "I know I've been rude to you these past couple of battles. You don't deserve it, but I've been snappy. I think I'm tired with all these midnight akuma battles, but that's no excuse." She turned her eyes towards him and locked his gaze. "I'm sorry." She grabbed his hand and squeezed. Chat couldn't breathe. Ladybug-1.
He found his breath, but only because he needed to reassure Ladybug more than anything in this world.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, minou. It's been a tiring couple of weeks, that's for sure."
Now it was ladybugs eyebrows that furrowed, but in displeasure.
"No, chaton, I do have to be sorry. You don't deserve my attitude."
Chat Noir squirmed under her gaze. "It's really alright, Ladybug. I'm used to it."
He was hoping to reassure his lady, but his remarks only made her more upset. He didn't know what he was doing wrong, but he was kicking himself.
"Used to it? Am I always this rude?" Ladybug replied, distraught.
"Oh, no! Not from you m'lady, never from you!" Chat replied, anxious to not be misunderstood.
"Then... from others…?" Ladybug asked, her queries turning less distraught, which eased Chat Noir's concerns. Although the new direction the conversation was taking wasn't exactly comfortable territory either.
"I mean…" He trailed off, unsure how to follow.
"Oh Chaton," Ladybug replied, taking his hand in her own and giving it a squeeze. That sat like this in silence for a moment, before Ladybug continued. "You know, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to… but I'm always here if you want to talk, alright?"
Chat Noir could feel tears coming to his eyes and tried to blink them away. He remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Ladybug continued, when she realized he wasn't sure what to say. She didn't need a response.
"But also… I hope you know that it's not okay. It doesn't matter if it's me, or someone else giving you a hard time, you don't deserve that. I shouldn't have been so short with you, and neither should people in your civilian life. Chaton… you are one of the most brave, loyal, kind and thoughtful people I've ever met. I'm so incredibly proud I get to call you my partner. There's no one I would rather be working with. I truly am so sorry for how I've been treating you, and anybody who has been giving you attitude should be too. You're amazing, Chat Noir. I hope you know that."
Chat Noir simply stared at Ladybug's profile, more emotions swarming in his heart than he had ever felt. He couldn't help himself. His arms sprang up and the next moment Ladybug was wrapped in his arms while Chat Noir's face was nuzzled into her neck.
Surprised, Ladybug remained motionless for a moment, before rearranging herself to return the hug.
"Thank you Ladybug." Chat said into Ladybug's neck, his voice muffled in her shoulder.
"Thank you, Chat. I hope you can forgive me."
Chat Noir, without releasing Ladybug from his grip, brought his face up to meet her eyes. "Consider it forgotten."
The two of them sat there, their arms holder each other, their faces inches away.
Chat Noir wanted to lean in. He could kiss her, if he just closed this distance-
"Déjà vu" His brain thought, and he distanced their faces. He was about to do the same exact thing with Marinette last night. He was wracked with guilt. Plagg was right, he needed answers, communication, not more romance.
"Ladybug, I think I also need to apologize."
Ladybug furthered the distance between them so she could see his full face, her hands moving to his, grabbing them and resting them between their laps as she turned to face him, cross legged.
"You apologize? For what?"
"I…" Chat Noir started, unsure of where to take this. "I've been pretty forward, since we started working together. I just… I think you're amazing, Ladybug. You're smart, and brave, and always looking out for others. You have such a clear sense of justice, but can also be so goofy and fun when you let your guard down. Not to mention how gorgeous you are…" a blush crept up Chat's neck as he said this. He'd wanted to nervously rub his hand on the back of his neck, but Ladybug's hands were on his and there was no way he wanted to let them go.
"I mean, just all this to say, I know it's pretty obvious how much I like you, and I'm sorry for it. I know you probably don't return my feelings, but I have to let you know – I love you Ladybug. Is there any world in which you might feel the same?"
Ladybug sat there, shocked. "Chat Noir loves me?" Her brain started to rapid fire through their past interactions. She had never thought they were genuine before, but now… It was all clicking together. Her partner loved her.
No. He loved Ladybug. He didn't know her, not the real her. The klutzy, sputtering mess that was Marinette.
But Ladybug, he loved her. Ladybug's heart raced. She had never felt so loved before, so seen. Here they were, in the most romantic place in all of Paris – no the entire world, and her best friend had just professed his love to her. It must be the ambiance, it must be, because Ladybug was falling for it, hook, line and sinker. His eyes were so green. Chat Noir really was handsome, his blonde hair a tousled mess. She needed to know what it felt like.
Ladybug was obviously still in shock, not thinking straight at all, because the next moment her hand was in his hair, feeling his soft locks.
Chat Noir's eyes were locked on hers, breathless as his lady's hand played with his hair, her fingertips brushing where his Chat Noir ears met his scalp. Chat Noir leaned closer to his lady, shortening the gap between them. He had no idea what was going on, he couldn't think, couldn't breathe, waiting.
"Soft. His hair is so soft" Ladybug thought, and her hand continued to play with his hair. "But without the suit… I bet it would be even softer…" Her eyes shifted to his lips, which currently were slightly open, waiting. "I bet his lips are even softer…" She watched his eyes dart down to her own lips. She moved her hand from his hair and touched his lips gently, pausing momentarily before continuing her hand's movement down his face. "I wonder just how soft they really are…" Ladybug could feel herself leaning towards him, her mind blank, with no other thoughts than feeling those lips for herself.
If Chat Noir's heart raced any further, he would be in cardiac arrest. If this wasn't go time, he didn't know what was. Before he could question himself further, he closed the gap between then, grabbed the back of his lady's head, and kissed her.
Author's note – well, I hope that made up for 6 years of lost time! Next chapter will be out soon… until then, hope you enjoyed! xx