"Lucky CHARM!"
"Lucky charm!"
"LUCKY charm!"
Ladybug giggled and added a spotted toy duck to the pile beside her. She glanced at Cat Noir and grinned impishly, then tried mimicking his own impersonation so long ago,"LuCkY cHaRm!" Down came a folded up inflatable raft.
"I may not know a lot about Miraculouses M'Lady, but isn't that close to abusing your powers?" Cat Noir asked. He sat down on the rooftop edge beside her, the pile between them. Then, with a properly smug feline smile, pawed the lucky charms off the roof and scooted closer.
Ladybug glanced away then back, slightly abashed but defended herself,"It's not abuse, it's experimentation." She reached up, tapping her earrings,"Not a chime to be had. No countdowns." She gestured down to the pile now below them,"And, a couple of those things I actually wanted."
Cat's eyes lit up with shared victory,"So, our Ladybug has been promoted? QueenBug?" He winced as soon as he spoke. The analogy made sense, it just hit a little too dearly right now. Cat Noir rubbed the back of his head,"I mean…"
Ladybug nudged him with her shoulder,"I know what you meant kitty. Thank you." She looked out to the setting sun,"It feels so odd, it all happened yesterday; but today I went to school, almost bombed a quiz, and now I'm worried about a history essay I haven't started."
Cat's smile held a fond warmth,"Sounds rough. Maybe I could help you with it? Cats have nine lives after all. I might have lived through some of that."
Ladybug gave his silly grin a little shove,"You are too much sometimes." Then, her heart suddenly skipping a beat she dared to add,"But, you do know where I live now." It was almost an invite.
It was silly, he'd known where Marinette lived before. As Cat Noir he could have visited her at any time. But there was something different. He knew it was all her now, there was no other part hidden away. She felt open and vulnerable, but, in a good way?
His green eyes caught the setting sun as he spoke,"I do." He leaned in with a broad noirish grin,"And I think it might be time to come in the front door for a change."
He was flirting. He played with Marinette, but with Ladybug he flirted. When she'd been a secret it was easier to ignore, to deflect as unreal, but now. Her heart was responding, compounding these simple words with every joke, suggestion, and gesture he'd made over the last year. He wasn't acting ashamed. Even knowing she was Marinette, he seemed comfortable with all of it. Did that mean it was all real? She was blushing at his closeness, she hoped the sunset covered for her a little.
"The front door?" she tried to buy a little time,"My parents might not think that was the best idea after the last time." She giggled, but it was a nervous little thing.
"Oh?" Cat drew back with his grin still in place,"Then I suppose I shall have to wear a disguise. Tell me, what do you think of this one? Plagg Claws-" his pause gave him away. He was giving her a chance to stop him again. The crinkle at the corner of his eye. He was just as nervous as she was. That only made the good ache stronger. Ladybug nodded, just the tiniest of motions.
"-in."
The green light transformed him back, and there he was, Adrien, sitting beside her with a slightly softer but still recognizable Cat Noir grin,"Surprise M'Lady." A little dip of the head, his hands held together in his lap, her Cat was maybe even more nervous than she was.
The sensation was so strange. She'd known this since meeting Adrikat. She thought she'd been through the shock then. She'd spoken to Adrien now without panic. Why then was seeing the change, having him here beside her turning her mouth dry and making her stomach spin? Ladybug swallowed, her face was burning up by now. If he dared look up he couldn't possibly miss it, but he didn't. Instead in her stunned silence he brushed a hand through the hair over his ear,"I hope… you're not disappointed?"
That broke her paralysis. She snatched up his hands in hers,"No! No, no nono." she squeezed,"Kitty, no. Never. I'm happy, it's just, finally seeing you, and knowing it's you; Adrien." she squeezed again with a smile.
"It's a bit of a shock? I know it was seeing you were Marinette. The happiest surprise in my life, tied with knowing Marinette was Ladybug."
She laughed at the joke,"Yeah, more of a shock than I expected." she admitted.
He caught her wording and curiosity piqued that adoring gaze. Well, no sense in stopping with truth once you got going. She let their hands fall together against their laps,"I kind of figured it out when I ran into Adrikat for the first time." She glanced down, hoping he wouldn't be hurt,"I had to keep pretending, at least I thought so then, but I wasn't very good at it." she looked back up, searching for any pain in those eyes,"It was amazing, and freeing. I didn't have to lose one of you to love the other." Ladybug couldn't see any sting in his gaze, so she continued, tilting her head,"I thought I'd be ready for this, but I'm just sitting here trying not to fumble and explode around you like I always do."
That softness went from his smile to his eyes. Adrien gave her a tug and pulled her into a firm hug, whispering,"Fumble, explode, or lead us to another victory. You're still the girl I love, Marinette."
She wrapped her arms around him and held on, snuggled together in the mutual hug, breathing in and out as those words bounced around inside of her. When she spoke, it was with a voice shaky with emotion,"And no matter how much of the world thinks it knows Adrien Agreste, you'll always be the kitty that I love, Cat Noir."
Her words brought a tight squeeze from him. They held on for quiet minutes until he slowly pulled back, drying his eyes and flashing her a grin,"You know. I must say I'm a little jealous of him, you might know the feeling. He's been kissed several times by now and no one has a kiss for poor Adrien."
Ladybug giggled,"Well, I suppose we should take care of that shouldn't we? Tikki-"
It was his turn, he touched her lips with a fingertip,"No fair M'Lady. You are going to get to kiss your crush. It's only fair I should get to kiss mine, isn't it?" his eyes sparkled with mischief and anticipation.
Ladybug blushed full scarlet. Adrien took his finger away but she could still feel his touch. She wet her lips and swore she could taste him. He leaned in halfway, a playfully cocky grin that was oh so familiar under a mask his only reference to her embarrassment. Ladybug swallowed, and leaned in. Her mind screamed *Adrien!* She touched his chest to brace herself, then slid her hands up to his shoulders. His arms encircled her waist in return, one hand climbing her spine, drawing her the last centimeters into the kiss. This one was warm and deep. His fingers pressed, drawing her against him, her own curled around behind his neck, holding him as surely. A seconds pause for breath and the kiss resumed, hungry for time lost and eager for a new future.
They parted slowly, Ladybug's teeth keeping hold of Adrien's bottom lip just a lingering second as they drew back. Her hands slid down to his chest again and his held her waist. So different, but one thing remained constant, the soft shared giggle that followed.
Adrien spoke first, ever the eloquent one,"Wow…" another small laugh.
Ladybug lightly patted his chest,"Yes, definitely wow. Is it going to be different with every matchup?"
Adrien managed a playful grin again,"Shall we find out?"
Ladybug joined him this time,"Tomorrow, at school, we can try ourselves. Can you imagine what a stir that will cause?"
Adrien rolled his eyes good naturedly,"Just try not to akumatize half the girls at school okay?"
Another laugh between them, then Ladybug slid her hand back up to his shoulder,"In the meantime..." she drew him to her again.