Part 26: Spots On and Claws Out

Mari nodded soundlessly. Marionetta took them all the way across Paris, back to a little park she and Nathaniel frequented. It was small, and out of the way. A small metal table surrounded by four chairs sat directly ahead of them, some swings off to the right. Marionetta giggled with glee.

"Oh, this...this is just perfect! Oh, this'll be so romantic! And just look at that sunrise!"

Marinette nervously chuckled, but no sound came out. Adrien exchanged a worried glance with Marinette.

"Kat! This isn't how you would want me to go on my first date, is it? Let me decide, please!"

Hawkmoth interrupted.

"Marionetta, don't let him fool you. They are meant for each other. Make them fall in love before Ladybug and Chat Noir get here or it'll never happen!"

Marionetta smiled at Adrien. Deep down, she knew that if she just waited long enough… She sat down cross legged in the grass, pulled out the scarf, and began crocheting again. Hawkmoth blinked with incomprehension.

"What...what are you doing?"

"Just wait, Hawkmoth." Marionetta took away the string forcing Marinette to stay quiet. "Patience is a virtue."

Meanwhile, Marinette was blushing while trying to figure a way out of this. Adrien was doing the same, minus the blushing.

"Marinette, I am so sorry about this," Adrien said.

"Oh, don't be," Marinette replied nervously.

"I'm not sure where all this came from."

"Don't worry about it."

They squirmed in their seats until Marionetta tightened the strings.

And there they sat, seconds dragging into minutes, minutes to hours. Even Hawkmoth began to grow impatient.

"What are you waiting for?" He angrily asked.

"Patience," Marionetta said softly. Her stomach growled. She addressed Adrien and Marinette. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere, Marinette, you either, Adrien."

She left to get food from a nearby bakery. While she was gone, the two heroes brainstormed.

"Maybe we should yell for help," Mari suggested.

"It's no use," Adrien responded, "she told me about this park. She and Nathaniel are the only ones that come here. Just look at how rusted this table is."

Marinette groaned. If they couldn't get out of this soon...she didn't know what would happen. She began to think about what Marionetta said before she left. Mari wondered aloud.

"You know, Kat specifically said our names…"

"And?"

Dread built in Mari's stomach. A way out was beginning to emerge, and she didn't like what it was.

Even beneath the akumatization, Kat was trying to help. She had left a back door of sorts, to let them cheat their way out, to protect them.

"Adrien?"

"What is it, Marinette?"

"I don't want to do this, but it might be the only way. Kat's fighting the akuma, and left us alone for a reason. I'm sorry. This might put you in danger. I can't think of anything else."

Adrien has come to a completely different conclusion than Mari had.

"Yeah, we have to fall in love with each other."

Marinette shook her head.

"That won't work. You love me as a friend, and nothing more. She wants us to be in love with each other. Really and truly in love."

"We'll pretend."

"Adrien, do you really think we could fool her? She knows us, probably better than we know ourselves." Marinette sighed.

"Then what should we do?"

"I don't want to do this but…" Mari closed her eyes and put her head down. "Tikki, spots on."

Adrien's eyes widened. Sweet, caring, clumsy Marinette, his friend, his good friend, transformed into Ladybug right before his eyes. She stretched out, able to move now that she was Ladybug and not Marinette.

"Marinette, you're...Ladybug?"

"I know, I'm not much, but this is how I make a difference in people's lives. The Ladybug miraculous was given to me, and I use it to fight evil. I'm so sorry, but this might put you in danger."

To her surprise, Adrien smiled.

"Don't worry, my lady, I'll never tell your secret," he said softly.

"Did you just call me 'my lady'?" Ladybug asked just as softly.

"Plagg, claws out," Adrien said. And then he was Chat Noir. Ladybug's eyes widened.

"Chat? You...you're…" Ladybug covered her mouth. And smiled. Adrien, her perfect, beautiful, amazing, kind, Adrien, was also her amazing pun making partner. And he loved her. She dropped her hand, and took his instead. "I-I don't know what to say."

Chat Noir was frozen on the spot. She was holding his hand. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

"Chaton." Ladybug smiled kindly, loving eyes gazing into his. And suddenly all the words came out at once.

"I had no idea, if I would have had any idea I would have...I know I'm just a silly model and I know I'm not much of a hero in real life but—"

"Shh...this is real life, Adrien." Ladybug couldn't believe that she wasn't stuttering. "And I know who you are, both sides of you now. And I love them both."

Did she really just say that? The words slipped out before she could stop them. Surprise at her own words faded to happiness as she realized that she truly meant what she had said.

"Now, let's go free Kat," she said. A look of surety and determination returned to Chat's face. This was the Chat she knew.

Marionetta chose that moment to return and stayed hidden for a moment. She silently licked the crumbs off her fingers and took out her crocheting. Hawkmoth worriedly spoke.

"What are you doing? Get their Miraculouses!"

"I don't think I will." Marionetta stepped out into the park. "Ladybug!"

The heroes assumed fighting poses.

"No, no. Here." Marionetta ripped the scarf in half, much to Hawkmoth's chagrin. Ladybug hurriedly de-evilised the akuma. She turned to the now normal Kat, who somehow remembered everything (hint hint: she's from another dimension)

"So I assume you know who the other is now?"

Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged a smile.

"Yes, we do."

Let me know what you think about this part! I really enjoyed writing it, and I hope you all enjoyed reading it! (BTW I totally wrote parts 24, 25, and 26 in a three day period. Hope it makes up for the months of inactivity!)