She found herself in a dream. A really good dream, where she was in bed, encased in her Kitty's arms and he loved her—Marinette, and not some other amazing girl she can't live up to.
She sleepily smiled and placed a feather-light kiss on his collarbone and felt him stiffen. She giggled softly.
"I love you," She whispered, and quickly fell back asleep.
Meanwhile, Adrien, dressed in a black hoodie and black mask felt like his heart was going to explode because of this amazing woman he had the privilege of holding in his arms.
He felt her breathing even out as she slept, and placed a lingering kiss to her hair as he whispered sweet nothings and love confessions to her. He knows she won't remember them, but that doesn't make them any less genuine.
"I love you too. So much," he whispered as he pulled her flush against his chest.
"Mmm, good dream." She sleepily let out.
He just chuckled in a bittersweet manner, and snuggled that bit closer. He would relish holding her small form like this. It was in these moments that he felt like her husband, standing by her side. If only.
If you told him ten years ago that Marinette Dupain-Cheng would be the most important person in his life, rivalling even Ladybug herself, he would've brushed you off and said that Marinette was only his friend—he smiled as he remembered the fact that Marinette still has the umbrella he gave her from all those years ago—and that he was in love with Ladybug. But as the years passed, he discovered the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone.
When Ladybug literally crashed into him, he fell for her. She was brave, she was bold, she fought for what's right. She wasn't perfect but she isn't afraid of being vulnerable and she accepts her faults. But when he saw Marinette—when he really saw her, everything changed. She was sweet, she was warm, and she was unconditionally kind. She took one look at him and decided to give him a home.
Ladybug was his escape, but Marinette was his home. Ladybug was all he ever thought he wanted, but Marinette was the embodiment of everything he never knew he needed.
He was just curious, is all. Why Marinette seemed so meek around Adrien but so full of life around Chat Noir. So he kept coming back, drawn to her warmth. But with every bone-crushing hug, with every rant she listened patiently to, with every smile, every glance, his heart never stood a chance. Marinette swooped in and settled on his heart quite comfortably.
But the fear of rejection was still weighing heavily on his heart. She was already gracious enough to take him in, to make him feel like a part of a family. Does he really want to lose that? He doesn't want to lose her just because he stupidly decided to fall in love with her heart of gold.
But the more she lets him hold her, the more affectionate she acts, the more difficult it gets to hold back his tongue from saying the three words that can change everything.
He keeps slipping through his actions too. He just can't seem to get enough of her. He could be 10 minutes away from death, and her touch would extend his life by 15 years.
She just gave so freely and he selfishly took and soaked up her affections. She was too good for this world. Too good for him. But as she lay in his embrace, chest slowly rising and falling in a gentle rhythm, he couldn't bring himself to care.
He felt her stir after a few minutes and his face formed the soft smile his lips seemed to love to curl into when she's nearby.
"Good morning, Princess." He whispered as he loosened his arms around her.
"Good morning, Mon Chérie. Did you sleep well?" She answered with a yawn.
His heart pounded against his ribcage. A half-awake Marinette is a flirty Marinette. She was delightful and dangerous and it sure isn't doing his poor heart any favors.
"Yes I did," He managed to choke out with much difficulty.
She just looked up with her half-lidded eyes and smiled at him sleepily through her lashes. She was so beautiful. Her bluebell eyes, although hazy with sleep was still the deepest blue he'd ever seen. Her lips were pink and plump, and looked like they were made to be kissed. And her freckles, oh her freckles, if he can pepper kisses on all of her freckles, he would be the happiest cat in the world.
She just closed her eyes again and slipped her hand into his, entwining their fingers. He couldn't help but notice how her hand fit perfectly in his, like her hand was made to be held by him. She absentmindedly drew circles on the back of his hand with a contented smile on her face. He was hyper aware of the way she caresses his bare hand and the way she sends sparks down his spine with every brush. Oh he's got it bad.
"Penny for your thoughts, Princess?" He asked.
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I'm just really happy right now." She answered, contented smile unwavering.
"Oh? And why might that be? Good dream?" He joked, remembering what she said earlier.
"The best," He felt his heart stop at her words before thrashing uncontrollably inside his chest.
But before he could open his mouth to reply, she continued, "But I can't tell you what it was, Kitty. A dream is a wish your heart makes, so if I tell you, it won't come true."
Goodness, she will be the death of him, but he can't find it in himself to mind.
Suddenly, she perked up and pulled away. He instantly missed her warmth.
"Do you hear that, Kitty-Cat? The rain finally stopped." She smiled at him.
She jumped out of the bed and stepped out on the balcony, gesturing for him to follow.
"Look! The moon is out." She giggled.
He just looked at her with a soft smile playing on his lips as he leaned on the doorway as she turned her fairy lights on, illuminating the balcony. She was childish and adorable, and he wouldn't have her any other way.
Then suddenly, she turned around to face him with that glint in her eye. She stepped forward and offered a hand out to him.
"May I have this dance, My Dashing Knight?"
His brain short circuited at that. His whole system shut down and went into overdrive at the same time because of this amazing woman.
He reached for her hand in a daze and she bestowed a soft kiss to his knuckles, and never has he been this grateful that his mask covered his cheeks that were blushing violently at her antics.
As they got into position, she asked if he could hum the song he was humming earlier. And so he did, because what kind of Knight would he be if refused his Princess?
They twirled and spun and she giggled as he stared. She was beautiful. Illuminated by the warm fairy lights and the soft glow of the moon. He wished he could take a photo of her at this moment and keep it close to his heart. The words were out before he even noticed that he said them.
"I love you," He whispered, entranced by her.
He heard her breath hitch and he saw the blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"I MEAN—" He fumbled, not knowing what excuse to say, or whether he even wanted to say an excuse.
"Y-you do?" She looked away.
He sighed and opted for the truth, "Yes, Marinette. I'm in love with you. I have been for a very long time, maybe ever since the beginning, I don't know. I just didn't say anything because I didn't want to lose you."
"Silly Kitty, you would never lose me." She looked him straight in the eye.
"Really? We can still be friends?" He asked hoping that he didn't ruin his relationship with Marinette.
"Well, no." She giggled as his heart sank. He ruined the best thing that happened to him just because he couldn't keep his stupid mouth shut.
"Hey, hey, Kitty. Look at me. Please?" He felt her hand cradle his jaw and he lifted a hand to cover hers on his cheek
So he did, he never really had the heart to refuse her. That fact should concern him but it doesn't, after all, there's no better person to be whipped for than Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
"We can't be friends," His eyes started to water at her words, but she simply smiled. "Because I love you too. So very much, Kitty."
He stared at her in disbelief as her words sunk in, and a lovesick grin started to form on his face. She just chuckled and kissed his cheek.
He grabbed her hands and planted kisses on each and every fingertip as she giggled, "I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you!" It felt so liberating to be able to say it out loud.
She just chuckled and echoed his words.
He leaned in as her eyes fluttered shut and their lips met. He thought he knew magic before this, since he was literally a superpowered cat boy that ran around rooftops and saved Paris, but nothing could compare to the feeling of Marinette's soft lips on his.
His hands slid around her waist and her fingers found their way into his hair as they deepened the kiss. It was soft and gentle but it held the emotion of a hundred passionate embraces.
They broke the kiss once the need to breathe got too overpowering. But they just stood there, foreheads together, eyes closed in bliss and contentment of having the other in their arms.
He cradled her cheek and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead as she hummed in happiness. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a shooting star on the surprisingly clear night sky after a storm.
"Look, Princess. It's a shooting star. Make a wish," He pointed it out.
He looked back at her and he found her looking at him tenderly, her eyes filled with love for him and only him.
"I don't need to, Kitty. My dream already came true."