"Tiki, spots off."
"Plagg, claws in."
"I'm sorry, Ladybug," Cat Noir said, "Plagg, I renounce you."
"What," Marinette said, "no, Cat Noir."
"I made a mistake that almost couldn't be fixed. What would've happened if Aeon wasn't an android? If I had touched you instead? I can't risk hurting someone like that ever again," Cat Noir said, sliding the ring over to Ladybug's side of the pillar.
Cat Noir, Adrien, ran down the sewer, wiping his tears away with his now bare hand.
"Cat Noir, wait," Marinette said, picking up the discarded ring and running after the boy before she could stop herself.
She tried to shield her eyes, but it was too late. She would recognize that blonde hair and silver jacket anywhere.
"Adrien," Marinette gasped, falling to her knees.
Adrien stopped in his tracks. "You know who I am," he asked, not daring to turn around.
"Of course I know who you are," Marinette breathed, placing her hand over her rapidly beating heart.
"Oh yeah, of course you do," Adrien said, thinking back to the numerous ads he has been in over the years.
"Adrien, I... I...," Marinette said, countless memories running through her mind.
The flirting, the kiss while they battled Oblivio, the flowers. Cat Noir's endless advances. All Adrien. She told Adrien that there was someone else. She rejected Adrien because she was in love with Adrien.
"I don't have to turn around if you don't want me to, Ladybug. I'm not Cat Noir anymore. I know you'll protect my secret. It's not like you can trust me anyway," he said, starting to walk away once more.
"No, wait," she said, running up to him before her thoughts could stop her.
She placed her hand on his shoulder, the what ifs bombarding her thoughts. Would he still love her when he found out she was just Marinette? Would she put him in danger if he knew who she was?
She shook her head. It didn't matter. Cat Noir, Adrien, was leaving. Marinette couldn't let that happen, no matter the risk.
"Turn around," she said, taking her hand off of his shoulder.
Marinette closed her eyes and braced herself for impact. For rejection. For her best-kept secret to no longer be a secret.
She heard the moment he looked. Careful footsteps, followed by a small gasp.
"Mari... Marinette," he breathed, but she dared not open her eyes.
"If you don't love me anymore, I understand. I'm just me. I'm nobody. I'm not special. But, the boy I keep telling you about. The boy I'm always chasing? I just want you to know that he's you. I've been in love with you since you started school, and I've always been too scared to tell you. And I really hope that none of this ruins our friendship because I don't know if I could handle not being in your life anymore," Marinette said, sinking to the ground.
She heard him take a step forward before she felt his hands rest lightly on her shoulders, like she was made of glass.
"Marinette, open your eyes," he said, his voice sending shockwaves through her body.
She obeyed, coming face to face with the emerald green eyes of her crush, her friend, her superhero partner. All one in the same person. Whoever would've guessed?
"I told you that it didn't matter who was behind the mask. I loved you because you were strong and kind and so, so selfless. You are an amazing person, Marinette. You're the reason I'm even here in New York. I should've guessed a long time ago that you were Ladybug," he said, smiling.
He leaned forward, centimeters at a time, giving her plenty of time to back away. His cologne wafted through her senses, making her lightheaded. Her lips met his halfway, a peck at first. Adrien smiled, capturing her lips with greater enthusiasm.
Marinette wrapped her arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss. The two stayed like that for what felt like hours, Adrien pulling her pigtails free so he could run his hands through her hair, Marinette's hands snaking their way under his shirt so she could feel his bare skin.
"Okay, okay, break it up you two lovebirds," Plagg said, flying out of Marinette's purse.
The two separated, Adrien refusing to look his kwami in the eye.
"I still don't know if I can be Cat Noir again, Marinette. I've made so many mistakes. I broke your trust," Adrien said, standing.
"Adrien, I can't do this without you," she said, standing up as well. "You're the one who gave me confidence to be a superhero. Anytime I've doubted myself, you're always there to remind me that I was chosen for a reason."
"But what about Paris? If I had..." Adrien said, Marinette capturing his last words with her lips.
"Like you said, you're in New York because of me. Whatever happens, we will face it together. I love you, Adrien. Please be my kitty, again," she said, pulling his ring off of her finger and placing it in the palm of her hand.
Adrien smiled, putting the ring back on his finger.
"Anything for you, Milady," he said, capturing her hand and bringing it up to his lips.
Marinette smiled, pulling him into another kiss as their kwamis watched in the distance.