After helping her Dad out in the bakery, and then checking on Tikki (who had finally woken up, and was busily munching on some cookies), Marinette escaped out to her balcony to keep an eye out for Chat Noir...only he had already beaten her there!
She spotted him laying on her recliner with a paw pressed against his forehead. It was as if he was fighting a massive migraine, and even with his enhanced cat-like senses he hadn't noticed her right away.
She silently crept toward him, and watched him with concern. "Chat Noir?" Marinette leaned over, and lightly touched his shoulder.
"Eow!" he jumped a foot in the air.
Marrinette herself was so startled by his sudden yell, that she jumped back and her legs backed into the make-shift round wooden table that held her favorite teapot. The teapot clattered with a wobbling spin, threatening to spin too close to the edge. Chat Noir jumped forward, over Marinette to catch it just before it fell. Successfully saving the teapot from it's fate, Chat Noir suddenly came to an acute awareness of his proximity to Marinette. Chat Noir turned his head and Marinette turned her head. They were now nose to nose with each other, staring back at each other with startled eyes.
"Chat Noir," Marinette addressed with a hesitant voice.
"Marinette," Chat Noir greeted tensely.
They stared at each other like deer caught in the headlights, and then both broke down into peels of laughter.
"You jumped so high I thought you were going to hit our oning!" Marinette giggled.
"You scared me!" Chat Noir gave her a mock pout, that made them both laugh even harder.
They both flopped back onto the deck chair, while they caught their breath. Marinette raised an eyebrow at Chat Noir, "You seriously were surprised to find me here? What had you so deep in thought that I spooked you on my own balcony?"
"Well, there's really just been one thing on my mind all day..." Chat Noir rubbed his neck, and looked off over the rooftops.
"Which is?" Marinette asked, bringing her knees up to her chin, and crossing her arms across them.
"You," Chat Noir turned back to her, meeting her eyes.
Marinette's eyes rounded, and she let out the air that she had been holding in a short "Oh!"
They were quiet for a moment, and they looked down at their hands. The energy between them was too charged to make eye contact for longer. Chat Noir felt if he lingered any longer in a beauty of her eyes, he would short circuit...either that or sweep her up in his arms and kiss her senseless. Yes, eye contact was much too risky. He had to think, and not let his heart run away with the rest of him.
"Do you think things might be weird between us...you know...now that you know?" Marinette asked self-consciously.
"Wh...what? No. Of course not!" Chat Noir responded in surprise.
"You're kindda being weird right now," Marinette countered.
"I'm...I'm just...okay, it feels a bit weird, but that is only because there is something I've got to ask you, and I'm not quite sure how," Chat Noir rubbed his left arm.
"O...kay," Marinette said carefully, mentally preparing herself for whatever question had made Chat Noir so on edge. "Just...just get it over with. I'm sure you've got lots of questions, so go ahead. What do you want to know?"
Chat Noir's throat tightened, and he took a deep breath as if he was about the plunge into the ocean, "Are you still in love with that boy?"
Marinette was taken aback. That was not what she thought Chat Noir was about to ask her, so she froze, her mind tallying possible responses. She looked over at him and her heart melted. She wanted him to know that he was the one she cared for now, but she would never hide things from him again.
"I think I will always love the person that he is, but there is someone else who I have realized has won over my heart," she said softly, putting her hand on his paw.
"Me?" Chat Noir asked hesitantly.
"Of course you, you goofy cat!" Marinette shoved him playfully.
"You said before that you didn't think of me like that...that you couldn't imagine being without this other guy. It's really me that you want?" Chat Noir fiddled with the claws distractedly.
Marinette sat back stiffly, "You have always wanted me to return your feelings before, and now that I am, you're doubting me? Or is it really because now that you know who wears the mask you're the one with second thoughts..."
"No...not at all!" Chat Noir exclaimed passionately, and gathered her hands in his, edging his knees up to hers. "I've never wanted you more!"
Marinette's face glowed red, and Chat Noir reddened himself as he realized how true this statement was. "Marinette, I only asked because I don't want to mess up what you have with this other guy, if he is the one your heart is truly set on...if your happiness, your relationship is broken because of me...I...I couldn't bear to destroy that kind of love you share."
"Oh Kitty," Marinette squeezed his paw affectionately, and shook her head. Here was her Chat Noir still trying to look out for her and save her, even at the cost of his own heart. He really was too self-sacrificing for his own good! He probably figured out (now that he knows I'm Marinette) that Adrien Agreste was the one I had always held out for she thought to herself. He had afterall seen all the GA ads featuring Adrien all over her room, plus she had confessed that she was in love with another boy the first time Andre the ice-cream maker had become akumatized into Glaciator. Of course he put two and two together, and figured it out. "You don't have to worry about getting in between anything between us. As much as I loved him, we've always been just good friends. He doesn't feel the same way about me, and as much as it was hard to admit it to myself, that will never change."
"You don't think he loves you?" Chat Noir blurted out in disbelief. "Marinette! How can you not see how crazy he is about you?"
"Crazy about me?!" Marinette blinked at Chat Noir with a hint of annoyance, "he's not..."
"As much as this hurts my case, you have to know...he is!" Chat Noir threw up his hands, and got up frustratedly. "Just when I thought maybe, just maybe things could change between us...but now I find out that that there is no chance!"
"You are giving up on...on...us, before we even had a chance, just because you think the guy I was head-over-heels with for this long just might possibly have noticed me?! That's not the Chat Noir I know!" Marinette squared off in front of him emotionally.
"How can you be so blind not to see what is right in front of you?! You think I don't want to step in and take any chance to be with you before you realize the one you're in love with cares about you too?! I'm no saint, but I can't do that...not to either one of you! I love you too much!" Chat Noir's voice broke.
"I think if Adrien Agreste was in love with me I'd know it!" Marinette crossed her arms, and glared at Chat Noir.
"Adr..." Chat Noir's face blanched, and his pulse hammered in his ears. "Wh...why...why would you mention A...Adrien Agreste?"
"What do you mean why would I mentioned Adrien Agreste? He's the boy," Marinette stared back at Chat Noir, with her arms still crossed, unnerved by the twitchy look in her partner's face. What was going on with Chat Noir?! Why was he acting so bizarre and irrational?!
"The boy?" Chat Noir repeated in a daze.
"The boy I've been in love with!" Marinette finished for him with a annoyed lift in her voice.
"You're in love with Adrien Agreste?!" Chat Noir blurted out so loudly, Marinette slammed her hand across his mouth.
"Gheez! Don't yell it out to all of Paris!" she warned ("As if all of Paris don't know already," she muttered to herself). She looked up at him, and found him grinning widely underneath her hand, making her pull it away. "What?!"
"You're in love with Adrien Agreste!" Chat Noir giddily whispered, as soon as she had removed her hand.
"Wasn't that what we were just talking about? Why do you seem so shocked...why...no...you mean you didn't know? Wait, who did you think I was in love with?" Marinette had a whole new flash of panic sink into her whole being.
"I was sure it was Luka...but who would have thought Ladybug has always been holding out for Adrien Agreste!" Chat Noir's eyes sparkled with cat-like glee.
"I'm starting to remember why you drive me crazy," Marinette glared at Chat Noir.
"No, no...don't take this the wrong way. I think it's great that Adrien has been on your mind!" Chat Noir held up his hands in surrender, but he couldn't help the smile that he couldn't wipe off his face. "I can promise you without a doubt that Adrien Agreste is even more enamored by you, than you have ever been for him!"
"Stop teasing, it isn't funny!" Marinette responded. "There is no way that is remotely possible...plus it doesn't matter any more..."
"What?! Why?!" Chat Noir yelped in surprise.
"We're better off just being really good friends," Marinette shrugged, and walked over to the edge of the balcony, leaning over the rails.
"But...but...you never even gave him a chance!" Chat Noir paced after her, and perched up on the edge of the rail next to her. "Just give him a chance!"
"A chance! You have no idea how many times I've tried to tell him. How many ridiculous plans and strategies I've embarrassed myself with, just trying to get him to look my way," Marinette shook her head again making her ponytails flick side to side.
"But I...I mean he never knew!" Chat Noir urged, "Once he knew, he could tell you how much he loves you too!"
Marinette whipped her face around, but what startled Chat Noir was the hurt and anger written across her face. "Why are you so insistent that I confess my love to anyone but you?! Huh?! First you thought Luka was the one...and now Adrien! This isn't about anyone else...this is about you and me! You wanted Ladybug to love you, but now Marinette is not the one for you!" she accused.
"Marinette, you've got this all wrong!" Chat Noir desperately tried to catch her eye.
"Then what is it?!" she asked with a tear streaking down her cheek.
Chat Noir lifted himself off the railing, and stepped down beside her, pulling her in towards him. She let her body surrender as he held her tight, and rubbed his cheek against her's affectionately to brush away the tear that had escaped. "I love the way you stand up for your those around you, and drop everything to help someone in need. I love the way you give people more chances than they deserve. I love how you fail your arms and kick up your feet when you are talking with your friends, and say the most bizarre things when you get nervous. You are generous, fearless, sweet, brilliant, and creative. I love every freckle over your nose, and your eyes that I always get lost in. Marinette you are Mi'lady, My Princess, with or without a mask. No matter what happens never doubt that I will always, always love all of you."
"Really?" she whispered, moving her face, so she could look him in the eye.
"Always," he confirmed with a sincere smile that met his eyes.
She sighed against him, and raised herself up on her toes, leaning into his chest. His heart beat wildly feeling her body press against his, and nearly swooned at the intoxicating smell of her sweet cherry lip gloss. He backed up, with her pursuing him till his back hit the wall. She gazed at him through her dark eyelashes, and her light pink lips parted slightly. Her hands trail to the blonde hair at the nape of his neck, and tilted her face towards his. She was so close, he was panting, each breath coming fast. The first contact of her lips were a light brush against his, that made his knees buckle beneath him. His arms drew her in closer, and he brought her back again. This time her lips lingered on his, and everything about her short circuited his brain. She loved him, she really loved all of him! He smiled into their kiss, and hummed happily, making Marinette giggled against his neck.
"Whoah!" Chat Noir breathed, making Marinette flick his bell teasingly. Such a Ladybug-like impulse made his ears perk up, and he lifted her up, spinning her around only to kiss her again.
"Whoah!" Marinette gasped as soon as he returned her feet to solid ground. "You were right!"
"Ah...right about what?" Chat Noir raised an eyebrow, and quirking his head to one side, making him even cuter than usual.
"This does change everything!" Marinette looked up at him adoringly. How had she waited so long to open up her heart to him? ...and wow! How was she going to be concentrate on anything but wanting to kiss this boy!
"You are incredible," Chat Noir gazed at her in a pink-bubble-haze. "I've wanted this so long!"
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting!" Marinette drew her hand down his face affectionately. "I'm glad I decided to move on."
Her words were like a cold pail of water over his head...she was moving on from Adrien Agreste to Chat Noir. How was it possible to loose her love, and yet also gain her in a single moment? What was he doing? Stealing her away from himself? He could tell her couldn't he, that he was actually Adrien. Wouldn't she be shocked to discover that he had been pursuing her all along!
Revealing her identity to save him today was a sacrifice she had been willing to make, but to threaten the safety of the Miraculous' and Marinette's safety so that he could date Marinette out in the open...it seemed selfish and reckless in comparison. Marinette was Ladybug. He had sworn to himself that to protect her he would stay level-headed and separate his feelings while in costume...they were superheroes and Shadowmoth was still out there! Getting too close could leave them both vulnerable.
His heart swore at his brain and told him to shut up with a string of expletives. How could he resist the fulfillment of all his dreams unfolding right here with her? She was so near, and he could still taste her kiss. If only his Adrien-self had not been so clueless to Marinette's feelings. They could have been together, totally removed from the pressures of their superhero personas. He could have held her hand, gone to the movies, or kissed her as much as he liked, without putting her in danger! ...This was the solution! Get her to be willing to give Adrien another chance. If she would accept him in civilian form, he would be able to keep her out of harms way, and there would be nothing tying her to Chat Noir. Surely it wouldn't be so hard. She had been in love with the Adrien side of him this whole time, and if Adrien actually reciprocated her feelings, maybe she would go back to loving that side of him.
"My Kitty, what is it?" Marinette nuzzled against him, and traced her fingers back and forth across his neck.
Chat Noir quivered under her touch, and he couldn't help the rumbling in his chest, that sprang up to his throat in a contented purr as his resolve crumbled. Marinette giggled, and her mouth collided with his, making his purr only get louder, tickling her tongue.
Just one more kiss Chat Noir promised himself...but as one kiss led to another and his reasons for keeping her at bay became impossible to remember.
ooooooooooooo
Thank you so much to those readers who have been leaving me reviews! They make an impact on the story, and encourage me to write more. Marichat fans I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and follow or favorite to see what happens between our two heroes next!
Phoenix203
