Chapter 18: Mistakes

Chat landed on the roof next to Ladybug.

"I was expecting a tough fight with an akuma called 'rabid dog'," Ladybug said.

"Its bark is worse than its bite," Chat got the expected eye roll from his lady.

Ladybug's Miraculous sounded a beep.

"That's our cue. It was fun. Let's do it again." Chat gave the two-finger salute and headed for the edge of the building.

"Chat, don't go yet."

Chat halted. His ring beeped, leaving him another three minutes.

"What is it, my lady?" He faced his beautiful partner.

"I am sorry, I made a mistake." Ladybug was never this nervous.

"You? A Mistake?" Chat moved back to stand within arm's reach.

"Yes. I did. I thought it was safer for us and our families to keep things the way they were." Ladybug took both his hands in hers. "You have been trying for so long and I have refused you. You have always believed in us, trusted that we would be even better if I accepted your affections. I thought I was protecting us, but I realized, I was just scared."

"Scared?" Chat never pictured Ladybug scared. What was going on?

"You were right, Chat. We're made for each other. We're two halves which fit perfectly together. I have been ignoring my feelings, pushing them to the side, rejecting you when what I really wanted was to embrace you." Ladybug took a step closer, moving her hands up to his shoulders.

"Are - are you saying you care about me?" Chat held onto her waist, not believing this was happening.

"Care for you? No Chat, I love you. I'm in love with you. More than I have ever loved anyone in my life." She crossed her arms around his neck, bringing her within inches of his face, blue eyes filling up his vision.

Ladybug's Miraculous gave another beep.

"My Lady. I . . . I love you." Chat whispered, inching closer to his love.

"I love you too," Ladybug breathed into his mouth as their lips met. Her lips were soft and familiar, warm and sweet and full of passion. Her hands cupped his head, fingers tangling in his hair. Chat's hands moved up her back, embracing Ladybug and pulling her to him, feeling her chest press against his own.

The kiss was all-consuming he almost missed the beeping.

"My Lady, we're running out of time." Chat pulled out the kiss.

"I don't care. I want you. The whole you and I need you to love the whole of me."

Their lips joined again.

"Chat," she mumbled into his mouth.

"My Lady."

"My love," the sound of her voice caressed his ears.

"Mari."

Ladybug froze. She pulled away with a puzzled look.

"Chat? What did you call me?"

Chat looked back sheepishly. "Sorry, I kind of knew already."

"Knew what? You think I'm Mari? What? Marinette?" A look of shock spread over Ladybug's face.

Chat was no longer sure of himself. It was too late to back out now, as his ring gave a final beep. With a green flash, Adrien stood in front of his lady.

"Adrikens?"

Adrien's eyes flew open.

He was lying in bed.

This was not his bed.

He was not alone. There was someone lying on his arm, cradling into the crook of his neck.

Recollection of last night's events hit him with full force he got whiplash.

He studied the girl sleeping next to him, slipping his hands between the silky stands of her blue-black hair, brushing it away from her face. Her head rested on his arm as if it belonged there. His heart fluttered. This felt comfortable, the way things should be. This sweet, fragile girl has found her way into his heart. The red domino mask that remained on all of last night, has ridden up her face onto her forehead, revealing the unmasked beautiful face of Marinette.

Marinette! Marinette, who was not Ladybug!

What have I done?

Pushing down the panic, Adrien slipped out his arm while turning over Marinette. She uttered a few unintelligible words, spiking his heart beat even higher. His arm free, he slid off the bed without waking its occupant. Outside was a false dawn, her parents would come wake her up soon. Adrien gathered his possessions, then stood watching the sleeping beauty.

Ladybug could be anyone. Even Chloe, he thought with a shiver. She just wasn't Marinette. He has seriously messed up. How could he do that to her?

He needed to slip out unseen.

"Plagg," he whispered. "Plagg, where are you?"

A black blob few over from the chaise longue.

"Why so early? I want to sleep."

"Shh. We're leaving. Plagg, claws out." In Adrien's place now stood Chat Noir. "I'm sorry Marinette," he said under his breath, "I never, ever, meant to hurt you."

He climbed out to the balcony and snuck out into the brightening sky.

Adrien paced the length of his room, wearing only his pants and shoes. The rest of his clothes, including his phone and wallet, he dumped on his bed as soon as he arrived. Plagg went searching for cheese after begging Adrien met deaf ears.

"I don't recognize myself," Adrien accused for the hundredth time. "How could I do that to her? I'm a no good, two-timing, hormone driven, woman abusing, poor excuse for a man."

"Stop pacing, you've worn a trough in the floor. I still don't understand what you're upset about." Plagg was back with a fresh wedge of cheese. "I didn't see her putting up any resistance."

"For sure not. The way I ambushed her. I was so smooth about it. 'I'd like to see your designs'. Who was I kidding, as if I didn't know the desire she stirred up in me? I didn't even realize I was doing it." Adrien rummaged in his closet and picked a random t-shirt.

"So you hated it."

"Hated it? Are you kidding? It was amazing. She's amazing. I can't believe it's taken me so long to realize just how amazing Marinette is."

"So what's the problem?"

"She isn't Ladybug. I saw Ladybug, and I acted as if she was Ladybug. Ladybug always pushed me away, always resisted me. Then suddenly she doesn't. I go along with it, all my desire for Ladybug, all the years of wanting her and now she is not resisting me, she isn't fighting me or stopping me. I didn't hold myself back. Marinette is not Ladybug. She isn't a fighter. She couldn't have stopped me. I took control and took advantage of her."

"Adrien, you did nothing wrong. I'm telling you. She wanted this."

"No! You don't understand. You can't understand." With his shaking hands, Adrien pulled on his t-shirt. "I'm tired of listening to you. Claws Out."

"Adrien No. . . "Plagg cry stretched as the ring pulled him in.

Chat Noir grabbed his phone and wallet, threw them in a backpack muttering to himself, "this suit needs pockets," and left through the window.

Chat spent hours running along rooftops, attempting to burn out the anger. His body gave in long before his anger. He sat, exhausted, at the top of the Eiffel Tower, anger replaced with frustration, then transitioning to depression. He pictured Marinette waking up in the morning, realizing what he has done to her, and breaking down. Would she share it with her parents when they came to wake her up and find her crying on the floor? Or would she be too embarrassed to tell them of her humiliation?

She would tell Alya. Her friend will come over and make her feel better. They would tear Adrien apart, calling him names, dragging him through the dirt, and for good reasons. If he was there, he would help them at it. He hoped Alya would do it, and it will help Marinette through her pain. Pain he caused.

By mid-morning he could not ignore his phone any longer. The number of missed calls and messages was alarming. He was glad to see they were all from Natalie, which meant she has not yet alerted his friends to his disappearance. Natalie has seen his clothes and wanted to know when he got home and when he left. She reminded him of the photo shoot.

Photo shoot be damned. He cannot deal with that today. He sent Natalie a message so she won't raise the alarm and shut down his phone.

Adrien spent the day as Chat, avoiding a confrontation with Plagg. Plagg didn't understand. Women weren't like men. They were not beasts which let their desires control their actions. And they did not appreciate overbearing men taking advantage.

Late in the day, Chat sat on the roof opposite the bakery. The best course of action was to apologize to Marinette before things got worse. How to salvage their relationship was beyond him. Running away in panic was a mistake he did not intend to repeat. He must face her and live with the consequences.

He watched the house for two hours, seeing no movement in her room. She said something last night about helping at the bakery, so he focused there instead. Customers would enter, leaving with a box or two of delicious baked goods. His mouth watered from the sweet aroma rising from the bakery. Frozen in place, his decision to apologize has not reached his body. The sun had already set and the number of customers dwindled. Soon it will be too late.

He moved down to an ally across from the bakery, turned on his phone and checked his messages. Maybe Alya sent him a message to confront him and give him an idea of how bad things were.

Many messages from Natalie, and even from his father. Nino asked about last night and why was his phone off. He doesn't know yet. Alya hasn't updated her ex-boyfriend. It is now up to him.

"Claws in."

"Now listen here . . ." Plagg flew out of the ring with a ready speech.

"Not a word, Plagg. Or I will take the ring off." Adrien should have burnt to a cinder with the glare Plagg gave him. He didn't care.

He walked out of the ally and stood in front of the bakery. He froze, his feet glued to the ground. Those last few steps to the door were a million miles. The door opened and there she was, standing in the doorway, surrounded by a halo created by the bakery's light.

He walked out of the ally and stood in front of the bakery. He froze, his feet glued to the ground. Those last few steps to the door were a million miles. The door opened and there she was standing in the doorway, surrounded by a halo created by the bakery's light.

He walked out of the ally and stood in front of the bakery. He was stuck, feet glued to the ground. Those last few steps to the door were a million miles. The door opened and there she was standing in the doorway, surrounded by a halo created by the bakery's light.

She's an angel.

And I'm the devil.

He crossed the street, keeping his eyes on the ground. He couldn't bring himself to look at the pain in her eyes, the hate she must hold for him.

"I'm sorry, I've made a mistake."

I couldn't control myself you are so attractive and beautiful and amazing and . . .

"I didn't realize what I was doing. I got confused. You looked just like Ladybug." Ladybug is so strong and in control, and I forgot you are not.

"And Ladybug, well, you know Ladybug. While you, well, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I… I think…" I think I love you. "...I didn't want to." I never wanted to hurt you, ever. "... And, and I never wanted to, not you," not hurt you then and never again. "I couldn't. Not ever. You are important to me."

A door shut. Adrien looked up, finding himself alone. Marinette was back in the bakery, running into her house. That did not go well. He was sure he messed up the same as he messes up everything else. Plagg isn't the god of destruction - Adrien is.

"Adrien, you're an idiot," Plagg muttered from his backpack.

"For the first time today Plagg, we're in agreement."

A/N Next Chapter "Advice"