Adrien spent the next few days thinking of one thing: Marinette and her impression. When she'd been Ladybug, it had been like he was hearing his Lady's own voice. And when she'd been Cat Noir…it had been like he'd been hearing his own voice. Only more…well, female.
'Yeah, it was a great impression of you,' said Plagg when Adrien mentioned it to him. 'Terrible jokes and all. She could even fill in for you and nobody would know the difference.'
'Very funny. And did you hear the way she portrayed Ladybug? It was perfect.'
Interestingly, Plagg didn't quite meet his eyes.
'It was okay, I guess.'
The blond cast his mind back to the way Marinette had played out their interactions together; his puns, his flirting, and all the things Ladybug said during their akuma battles. The whole thing about them saving people instead of defeating them definitely sounded like something his partner would say. She'd downplayed her admiration of the heroes, saying that Alya was a bigger fan than she was. And then later, she'd dashed off the moment the akuma had struck. The thought that had been stewing in his mind came tumbling out of his mouth.
'Plagg…you don't think…I mean…there's no way Marinette could be…'
'Uhhh Adrien!' Plagg flew up into his face. 'Now don't go getting any ideas, young man. You're not supposed to know who Ladybug is. I mean…not that you're even close to guessing. But still.'
Adrien saw the panic in his kwami's eyes, and his world seemed to stand still. Had he really just guessed Ladybug's identity? If he had, then…his elusive Lady had been right under his whiskers the whole time and he'd had no idea. His heart leapt as he pictured Ladybug – Marinette – sewing a little doll of him, taking the time to get every stitch just perfect.
'It's time to pay a visit to Marinette,' he decided.
'What!? Adrien Agreste…are you listening to me?'
'If Marinette isn't Ladybug, then it shouldn't be a problem, should it Plagg?'
Adrien tried not to laugh at Plagg's expression. He looked like he would very much like to cataclysm him. Plagg quickly changed tack.
'You…you might be setting yourself up for disappointment,' he said.
'I'm willing to take my chances,' his owner replied cheekily. 'And if she isn't, it'll still be fun to tease her about it.'
Plagg grabbed his cheeks with his tiny paws in exasperation.
'Don't you dare transform. If you do I'll…I don't know what I'll do but it'll be bad!'
'Very scary,' said Adrien. 'Consider me threatened. Plagg…Claws out!'
'NOOOoooooo…' Plagg protested as he was sucked into the ring. Adrien leapt out of the window and set off for the Dupain-Chengs'.
The sun was peeking over the edge of the horizon. Marinette was on her balcony writing in her diary when a thump stirred her out of her thoughts. She snapped her head up to see that she had been joined by a very smug-looking feline superhero.
'Cat Noir?' She quickly snapped the diary shut and glanced around to make sure Tikki had hidden. 'Is…everything OK? Is there an akuma?'
'No akuma, Marinette. Everything's fine.' He swung his tail in his hand, smirk already in place.
'Oh. Then…can I…help you?'
'I just have something I want to talk to you about. If you don't mind.'
'Um…not at all. I mean…depends on what it is, obviously.' Marinette began to feel nervous. Was he onto her?
What came out of his mouth was something she had not expected.
'I've been talking to your good friend Adrien.'
Marinette blinked.
'You and Adrien? You guys are friends?'
'Oh, yes. In fact, he's part of my fan club.'
'Oh. I…didn't know that.'
Marinette hadn't realised Cat Noir had a fan club, let alone that Adrien was apparently a member. An image flicked into her mind of the two of them hanging out together, exchanging autographs and taking selfies. Perhaps she could join this fan club in order to get closer to Adrien, and hopefully ask him out.
'Huh. He's never mentioned that. We were actually talking about you the other day. You and Ladybug.'
'Oh, I know. That's exactly what I wanted to speak to you about.'
She raised her eyebrows in confusion.
'Oh?'
'I have been informed,' he took a few steps closer, 'that you do an excellent impression of me.'
For a moment, she stared into his green eyes. Then she folded her arms.
'Adrien told you that? Are you kidding me?'
'He sure did. He said it was hiss-terical. Very a-mew-sing.'
'He said it in those words, did he?'
'Okay…maybe not. But along those lines, yes.'
Marinette flopped back down into her chair.
'I would kill that boy if he wasn't so…' She stopped herself.
'So…what?'
Marinette had been about to say handsome.
'Nothing.'
'What were you about to say?'
She looked sternly up at him.
'And why should I tell you? Since you and Adrien apparently tell each other everything.'
'I won't tell.'
'Nope. Not happening.'
'Suit yourself.' He crouched down so that he was on the same level as her. 'But anyway…your impression of me. I'd very much like to hear it.'
She scoffed.
'Not a chance, Kitty.'
He pouted.
'Awww. Why not?'
'It's embarrassing enough that you know.'
'Oh, and another thing. Adrien said that you use your special dolls. Which I already knew about, of course, from fighting Puppeteer.'
Marinette ground her teeth together.
'That's it – I am going to kill that boy.'
He chuckled nervously.
'Please don't.'
She huffed.
'Look, I was babysitting, OK? I had to keep Manon entertained. I wasn't just playing with dolls for fun.'
'Oh, I know. I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm very flattered that you're such a big fan of mine. I mean…that's how you know me so well, isn't it?'
Marinette tensed. His cat-like eyes seemed to be boring into her, burning with curiosity.
'Why…yes. Of course, I am. Why else would I be able to impersonate you so well?'
'Why indeed.'
She didn't like the way his lip curled. It sent her heart hammering against her chest. And his next statement only made things worse. Much, much worse.
'Adrien also said you do an even better impression of…Ladybug.'
'D-did he?' She swallowed hard.
'Oh, yes.' He stood up to his full height and walked around the back of the chair, lightly trailing a clawed finger across the back of her shoulders, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cool night air. 'He said it was perfect. Spot on. Or should I say…spots on.'
He seated himself on the wall, leaning back on his hands. Marinette wrapped her arms around herself to keep from trembling.
'That's…what Ladybug says to transform, isn't it?' Her voice had risen to a high-pitched squeak.
'Why yes it is. Which you would know, of course, being such a superfan. He even said it was as if the real Ladybug was in the room.' At this point, he was grinning from ear to ear. Which was saying something, since his cat ears were on top of his head.
'Oh. Um…he seemed to think it was very good, then.'
Marinette couldn't believe this. Something in his eyes told her that he knew. But he hadn't even heard the impressions, so how could he? Had Adrien guessed that she was the real Ladybug and told Cat Noir? Why would he do that? One thing was for sure – she was not going to let that nosy cat hear her impressions. She'd tell him to go home at once. But then Tikki's voice spoke up in her head. That'll look even more suspicious. Maybe she could distract him.
'Look, um…did you want to maybe grab some pastries while you're here?'
Yes, distract him with food. He liked food. That would work.
He considered her offer with narrowed eyes, seeming to guess what she was up to. He looked torn between his sweet tooth and his potential desire to work out if she was Ladybug.
'Um…'
'We have lots of croissants. And macarons. And perhaps…a dish of cream?' she teased.
'Oh, well, I guess I can't say no to that. You know the way to my heart, Marinette.'
'Great! Right this way!'
She climbed down, praying that the room was devoid of all signs of kwami activity. Thankfully Tikki had gotten everyone into the Miracle Box. She'd just have to deal with him seeing the excessive amount of Adrien posters which she'd replaced after taking them down earlier. Sure enough, he commented on them.
'You seem to be a pretty big fan of Adrien, too.'
'Yes, he already knows about that. Those pictures are for fashion research purposes.'
As they climbed downstairs, it became apparent that her parents had gotten an early night. Which saved her having to explain why she had a superhero over at this late hour.
A few minutes later, she watched with amusement as he devoured pastries.
'You're a hungry cat, aren't you?'
'Mmmmm-hmmmm.'
'Maybe we should hire you to taste-test for the bakery.'
He swallowed a huge mouthful and licked the cream from his lips.
'That sounds like the best job in the world. Besides being a superhero, of course. Which you'd know, wouldn't you?'
Her blood ran cold.
'What…are you talking about?'
'Enough trying to distract me, Marinette. Or should I say…m'lady?'
Her face paled.
'M-what? Y-you surely don't think I'm Ladybug?' She gave a nervous laugh.
'I would recognise your voice anywhere. And your expert knowledge of everything we say, and the way we say it, just opened my eyes, Bugaboo.'
She gave a deep sigh. It was time to admit defeat – her cover was blown.
'I don't understand, Kitty. I mean…you didn't even hear the impression.'
'Oh, but I did. I was right there.'
He gave her a devilish grin. Marinette stared at him.
'You…what?'
'Think about it, Ladybug.'
She racked her brains. Had he been spying on them somehow? Or…the only other explanation was…
She leapt up off the sofa in total shock and disbelief.
'Adrien?'
'The one and only.'
She glared at him for a few moments, her left eye twitching, and then shook her head.
'You know what. I should have known.'
He was cracking up with laughter under her glower. This girl was definitely Ladybug.
'You should have seen your face just now, Marinette!'
She gave him a huge eye-roll.
'I can't believe I fell for your tricks. There is no Cat Noir fan club, is there?'
'Unfortunately not, m'lady. But maybe we could set one up. I'd expect to see your name at the top of the list.'
She grabbed a cushion off the sofa and aimed it at his head. He ducked, thanks to his cat-like reflexes.
'Not after what you've put me through tonight, Agreste. I might even have to cancel my subscription to your real fan club.'
His ears perked up.
'You're a member?'
'Um, duh? Have you seen my bedroom?'
'But you said those pictures were just for fashion research.'
'Oh, sweet kitty. When I said I was in love with a boy…who do you think I was talking about?'
He blinked his green orbs a few times.
'Me?'
'Of course, you.'
Before she knew what was happening, he had leapt up, lifted her off the floor and was spinning her around.
'Kitty!'
'Oh, my lady!' He set her back on her feet and she swayed dizzily, arms flailing. He caught her effortlessly in his arms. 'This day just keeps getting better.'
'Ugghh.' Marinette buried her head in his chest to stop the room from spinning. 'If you say so, Adrien,' came her muffled voice.
He gently guided her to the sofa and sat her down.
'I'm so glad it's you.' He kissed the top of her head.
'Me too, Adrien,' she admitted. 'Who would have thought we'd find out because of me and my dolls and my silly impressions?'
'I meant what I said about it being very entertaining. You had no idea you were impersonating me right to my face!'
She shrugged.
'Well, now you know how ridiculous you sound.'
He put his hands on his hips and grinned cheekily.
'Tell me, m'lady. When have I ever said, 'I'm the cat's meow – Rawrr!?''
'Uhh, all the time?'
He folded his arms.
'I do not!'
'Okay, maybe I got a little carried away.' She laughed. 'So, do you want to come and meet the rest of the kwamis?'
'Of course I do!' Adrien decided it was time to reunite Plagg with his friends. 'Plagg, Claws in.'
His costume disappeared and an irritated kwami zoomed out of the ring.
'I'm sorry, Marinette. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen.' He threw Adrien a death glare which was met with a sheepish grin. 'You owe me some seriously good Camembert, young man.'
'It's okay, Plagg,' said Marinette. 'Come on up. I'll let everyone out for you.'
Marinette grabbed some cheese for Plagg, then they hurried up the stairs, trying not to make too much noise. She took the Miracle Box out and released the kwamis.
It was instant chaos. They whizzed all over the room, flying in circles around Adrien.
'Hi Adrien!'
'Hello, Cat Noir!'
'It's nice to meet you!'
'Hi, Plagg!'
'Hi, everyone,' Adrien said. 'Wow, Marinette. You have your hands full here.'
'Yeah, I do. They behave themselves now, most of the time.'
'What are you talking about? We always behave ourselves,' said Fluff.
'I'll believe that when I see it,' Plagg retorted with his mouth full of cheese.
Adrien scanned the room.
'So, you have everyone except…'
'Nooroo and Duusu, who are with Shadowmoth. And Trixx, who is with Rena Rouge. It's a long story, I promise to explain it to you.'
'That's okay, m'lady.' Adrien was now laughing as he was surrounded by kwamis who were giving him a group hug. Marinette's expression softened. As much as her partner had annoyed her, seeing him happy warmed her heart.
When they had released him, she sat down on the chaise and patted the seat next to her. He sat down and draped an arm over her shoulders.
'I'm babysitting Manon again next week. Want to come and help? You can be Cat Noir this time.'
'I wouldn't portray him half as well as you, Marinette.'
'Um, I think you would. You are Cat Noir.'
'But you know me so well, Bugaboo.'
She gave him a playful elbow.
'Do you want to be Ladybug, then?'
'I would love to.'
A few days later, Manon sat and watched in awe as Adrien and Marinette bantered back and forth as Ladybug and Cat Noir. She didn't know why they had chosen to do it that way round, but they were very good at it. The Timebreaker, Reflekta and Bubbler dolls lay forgotten on the floor as Marinette made cat puns by the dozen and Adrien told his 'partner' off for being so silly in the middle of a battle. Glancing around the room, she noticed Marinette hadn't taken her posters down this time.
'Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend now?' she asked.
They both snapped out of it, seeming to have forgotten she was actually there.
'Yeah, we are,' said Marinette. Then they both went back to playing dolls, leaving her open-mouthed.
