Chapter 15: Marinette

Marinette was Ladybug!

How could he have missed this for so many years? It's so obvious now. The beautiful, kind, caring, intelligent and brave Marinette was Ladybug, just without a mask. Put on the mask and she was still the same beautiful, kind, caring, intelligent and brave person - with superpowers. Adrien struggled to grasp at this new realization. The women of his dreams were the same woman.

Adrien's cheeks burnt from the huge grin he could not control. Both Adrien and Nino stood as Alya approached them, pulling Ladybug behind her. Ladybug had her eyes on the ground.

"Un-be-li-na-ble!" Nino was first to react. "That is the most awesome Chat Noir costume I've ever seen. And I've seen quite a few, two in this party alone. Yours is on a different level. Are you sure you're not the real Chat Noir?"

"You are witnessing the workings of Marinette's magical hands. She adjusted both our costumes to perfection. She even invented this really cool belt with some springs and metal, so it looks like I have a real controllable tail," Alya chuckled. "As good as this looks, I am as much Chat Noir as Marinette is Ladybug." She shifted to Adrien and added. "She's a stunning Ladybug, don't you think?"

Adrien's mouth opened a few times, but no sound came out, gaining him a smirk from Alya.

"She sure looks like the real thing," Nino interjected. "You got it down to the finest details. Even your hair looks the same. I'm just waiting for you to pull out that yo-yo and swing from the chandelier."

Marinette's "Thank you" was barely audible.

"Come on Marinette," Alya pulled at her arm. "You are absolutely stunning. Don't ruin the look. Show some confidence. Play the part."

Adrien looked back and forth between Alya and Ladybug. Was he wrong? Was he fooled by an extraordinary custome?

"You look amazing." Adrien broke his sound barrier. "When you walked in here, all I saw was Ladybug coming with Alya to a party. I was wondering to myself, 'why would Alya bring Ladybug to Alix's party? How does Alya even know Ladybug?'" Taking a chance, he added, "I believe you are Ladybug."

Ladybug looked at him with a smile that threatened to melt him on the spot.

"I will take that as a compliment, as I know you all love Ladybug. I am only wearing this costume because Alya forced me, otherwise I would rather not be associated with Ladybug."

Adrien felt the arrow piercing his heart. The sharp edge of the arrowhead slicing through the soft tissue, gliding through the upper and lower chambers, cutting its way out through his back. He felt pain, loss, and the return of his confused heart.

Marinette was not Ladybug. He had been so sure. Would Marinette talk that way if she were Ladybug? Perhaps it was a front to throw people off so they won't realize she is the real Ladybug. Then why wear the costume? He would not wear a Chat Noir costume, and when forced to wear one, he left off the mask. Alya could not have forced Ladybug to wear a Ladybug costume.

"That is too bad," Adrien could not hide his disappointment. "You make a great Ladybug."

"And I make a stunning Chat Noir," Alya brought attention back to herself.

"Stunning and sexy," Nino blurted. "Ah, I mean, Marinette, that is really amazing work. Don't you agree, Cheriss? Marinette is really talented. She, em, she even managed to make Alya look good."

Ouch.

All eyes turned to Cheriss, curled up on the couch, almost disappearing inside her oversized dress, her glare turning Nino into a glacier. The song playing in the background ended as the group stood in uncomfortable silence.

"Nino, you're an idiot!" Marinette's outburst surprised everyone. "Insulting Alya will not fix your relationship. It just makes you a bigger idiot. Now sit down with your girlfriend and keep your eyes on her and only her. Sit there and let her punish you however she sees fit."

All eyes now turned to Marinette. She stood straight, her legs apart, hands resting on her hips, glaring at Nino. She was the embodiment of Ladybug.

"By the way, I love your costume," Ladynette smiled at Cheriss. "How do you move around in that? At least this costume allows me to move freely. I can't even figure out how you sat down."

"Thank you," Cheriss looked up to Marinette and smiled. "Why woman ever wanted to wear this? It took ten minutes to sit down without smacking my face."

"The sacrifices women make to look beautiful. You'd think men would appreciate us. Come Alya. Let's leave Cheriss to deal with her idiot of a boyfriend."

Without waiting for a response, Ladynette turned and sauntered towards the drinks table, leaving Alya rooted in her spot. Sparing a glance at the couple, Alya turned to Adrien.

"Come Adrien. Leave them to work things out. You can hang out with us." Adrien nodded, and the two followed Marinette.

"I think the costume is growing on her," Alya mused while they were walking. "She's starting to act the part. Don't you think?"

"I do. Are you sure she isn't the Ladybug herself?"

"Oh, I am. Chat Noir is not the one Marinette wants to kiss." She gave him a meaningful look and batted her eyebrows.

Adrien looked over at Marinette in confusion. He could not understand what Alya meant or why it was proof Marinette was not Ladybug. She reminded him so much of Ladybug. The Ladybug he loves, his partner. Who, like Marinette, would have protected the kids in the lab.

They reached Marinette who has poured herself a glass of soda.

"Hey Ladybug," Alya called out as they approached. "I'm glad you're my partner. I wouldn't want to face against you."

"He was right on one point," Marinette turned towards them, "you are sexeeeeee…" the last word turned into a high pitch squeal, her hands flapping up, spilling half her drink on the floor. "A-Adrien! What doing here are you?"

"Alya suggested we leave those two by themselves." Adrien reached for the napkins on the table. "Nino has some patching up to do. He might even manage it now, thanks to you." He bent down to the floor to wipe the spilled drink.

"Oh," Marinette looked down in confusion. "Oh! Did I do that? No, leave it. I should clean it." She grabbed a few napkins as she joined him on the floor, knocking the pile over. It rained napkins all around them.

"Oops. I'll get them," she cried.

"Let me," insisted Adrien.

They both leaned in and bumped their heads.

"Ouch!" they cried simultaneously, falling back on their backside.

Alya looked down at her friends, amused.

"You two deserve each other," she chuckled. "I'm going to find Alix. Don't bother looking for me."

She left the pair sprawled on the floor, watching each other awkwardly.

"We should get up," Adrien suggested.

"Yes. I will clean up the spill, you can pick up the clean napkins. Then I suggest we stay clear of the drinks table," Ladynette took control of the situation.

Adrien led them to an empty adjacent room, where they shared a couch in silence. The couch was pine green with brown leaf pattern adorning the back and armrests. A pile of books laid on a wooden table across from them. Hundreds of books of different size and color lined the mahogany shelves spanning one wall. Adrien was attempting to visually figure out where the books on the table belong on the shelves.

Every few seconds Adrien observed Marinette as she studied the room, then looked away. At one point he turned to her and their eyes met. They both blushed and looked down.

"I think they got the couch backward," Adrien pointed out.

"Backward?" Marinette studied the couch. "Oh, I've heard of this American tree which has green bark, it's possible its leaves are brown."

"Green bark? Why would you even know that?"

"I designed a costume of a tree a few years back, so I needed to do some research about trees. It came up."

"You researched trees for a costume? That's dedication," Adrien said, impressed.

"Research is an important part of doing design. What do you do to prepare for your photoshoots?"

Adrien talked about fitness and diets, about outfitting clothing and trying out different makeup prior to the shoot before they decide on what works. After years of experience, he could recognize what was good and what wasn't, although no-one asked or wanted his opinion.

Marinette was an active participant during the entire conversation, asking for details on his diets and joining his disgust on his least favorite items. She had much to add to their conversation about clothes, styles, and fittings, wanting to know his perspective of being fitted for clothes. The conversation moved to items which Marinette has designed, Adrien prodding her for details about clothes which have never left her closet.

As the conversation continued, their bodies turned, until they were facing each other, both sitting with one leg on the floor and the other curled in with their knees almost touching. Adrien kept his arms resting on his legs, while Marinette spoke with her hands and arms. Adrien followed the path of her hands as they flowed around him in arbitrary directions.

His favorite part was watching her face. Even with her Ladybug mask, she managed myriads of facial expressions, adding extra meaning and feeling to everything she said. He's seen her expressive face before, from afar. With him she would always have a frozen, somewhat panicky expression. He was having the time of his life, following every smile and frown, every twist of her lips or the dancing of her brow. Some of those expressions around the mask reminded him of Ladybug. Her likeness to Ladybug made it hard to believe she wasn't her. He concentrated so long on the movement of her lips she asked if he was listening. He assured her he was and commented on what she was saying. From that point, he tried very hard to keep his eyes above her nose, with only a few glances at her delicious lips.

"We're going home now."

Adrien and Marinette jumped at the sudden disturbance. Nino was standing at the entrance to the room, Cheriss standing behind him.

"I didn't want to disturb. I just didn't want you looking for us."

"What? You leaving so early? Is everything okay?" Adrien worried Nino really messed up.

"Early? Dude, the party is over. Almost everyone's gone. Marinette, Alya asked me to let you know she's gone home. Enjoy your evening and do to worry about her."

"Alya left?" Marinette looked from Nino to Adrien. "The party is over? What time is it?"

"You guys have been sitting here for two hours," Nino smirked. "I wouldn't have disturbed you, except I know Adrien would have worried about us. So, we're good. We're going. We will see you next week."

"Thank you, Marinette." Cheriss popped her head over Nino's shoulder. "I'll see you at school."

"Ya, okay. See you."

"Good night, guys." Adrien turned to Marinette. "We should leave too. Can I walk you home?"

"I would like that very much." Marinette's golden smile made Adrien's heart burst.

A/N Next Chapter: "Ladynette"