Marinette squealed and fell out of her chair. "Tikki! It was Adrien! This whole time, all the stupid puns, and the throwing himself in front of me, and the flirting…" She trailed off and started planning what to do next. Adrien had looked devastated after school. She couldn't wait until tomorrow to talk to him, he would think she was rejecting him again.

She couldn't go as Multi-Mouse though. Every time she had been seen in public, she was in the company of Chat Noir. Going to Adrien's house would practically be a billboard announcing he was Chat Noir. If she went as Ladybug…

She flinched at that thought. The last time Ladybug had gone into Adrien's room, Chat Blanc had killed her and almost destroyed the world. So maybe not Ladybug.

She didn't even bother to think about going as herself. His caretakers would never let her in.

Marinette considered other options. She had been the guardian for months, and she had been trying to get to know all the Kwamis. Even letting several of the Kwamis out to chill in her room while she did homework almost every night, she didn't feel a connection with many of them yet.

Subconsciously, she reached out to touch Wayzz's miraculous. Lately, she had been running all her ideas by him, and he had had a calming effect on Marinette's life.

He had guided her through self-calming techniques and taught her to (more quickly) dismiss unrealistic worries for the future so she could focus on the truth. He had also helped her navigate trust issues with Chat Noir and herself as Ladybug. She had been a wreck after Master Fu had left, and when nothing else could reach through her panic, Wayzz had found a way to bring her back to sanity.

The turtle Kwami nodded his head, agreeing to act with her even though she hadn't asked yet, and Marinette called for "shell on".

As the magic enveloped her in armor, she caught a glimpse in the mirror and absolutely loved it. Her armor was a reptilian green tunic with intricate darker green accents and a golden turtle-shell patterned belt. She had on matching dark green leggings and gorgeous brown booties with pink accents. To finish the ensemble, she whipped the pink mask across her face… only to laugh out loud. The mask tied on like a Ninja Turtle mask, with the ends flowing into her hair and wrapping around longer twin ponytails.

Wayzz was primarily a defensive Miraculous, but he had provided her with both the typical Turtle Shell shield and ninja stars on her belt so she could defend herself.

On the way to Adrien's house, Marinette amused herself with trying to come up with a name. She was clearly supposed to look like a Ninja Turtle, but they were named after Renaissance artists. Marinette couldn't think of any female artists of the time, but she DID know several brilliant people called Renaissance women. That was close enough.

Chanel landed on Adrien's windowsill and peeked inside. He was lying face down on his bed still wearing his shoes. He hadn't even bothered to turn on the light.

She knocked on Adrien's window, and he turned around eagerly, but he visibly deflated as he saw her. He reached over to his bedside table and pushed the button on the remote to open the window before thunking back down onto the bed dejectedly.

He called out, though his words were still muffled by the blanket, "Are you an Akuma or Miraculous holder?"

"Adrien, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?"

He turned around at the sound of her voice and squinted at her. "Who are you?"

She wanted to cheer him up, so she struck an overly dramatic heroic pose and said, "I am Chanel, a Ninja Turtle warrior named after a Renaissance woman instead of a Renaissance artist."

"You're named after a fashion designer?" He sat up and really looked at her. Chanel was glad to see the stricken look in his eyes dissipate. "Muted green isn't really your color, but that outfit is adorable."

"Well, yeah, but it is turtle-green," she retorted in the same tone, but his attitude was worrying her. "Are you ok?"

"That really depends, why are you here?"

"I just finished reading a very interesting story, and I didn't want to wait to see you."

Color flooded his face, and he smacked himself in the forehead. "You hadn't even read it! That's why you just ran past me like that." He laughed a little, but the sound was off somehow, not like his beautiful genuine laughter that Marinette loved.

She looked at him curiously, not really understanding why he was upset but glad that he was doing a little better. "Umm, yeah. I couldn't read it at school. Alya would have asked questions, or what if someone else had tried to read over my shoulder or something? It had your real name. I wouldn't be so careless with your identity, Kitty. I'll always protect you, just like you protect me."

Adrien beamed at her with that devastatingly gorgeous smile that she had fallen for in the first place, and her knees felt weak. He walked up to her, and they stared at each other for a beat too long, each waiting for the other to make a move.

Chanel asked in an unsure voice, "Is it ok that I'm here?"

"Absolutely. Will you detransform?"

She nodded and let her transformation release. Wayzz, Tikki, and Plagg started chattering excitedly, but Marinette's full attention was on Adrien's reaction.

He leaned in infinitesimally, and Marinette let that action break down her last hesitation. She threw her arms around him and trusted him to catch her.

"Is this really happening?" Adrien muttered so softly that she almost didn't hear him.

She nodded against his cheek and leaned back to see his face. "I love you, Adrien, and I'd be proud to call myself your girlfriend."

He leaned in slowly. His hesitation showed Marinette that he was still uncertain it was real, and she wasn't going to let him wonder any more. She closed the distance and kissed him fiercely, trying to show him exactly how she felt.

He responded like a dam breaking, his lips moving furiously against hers. He walked forward until she was resting on the back of the couch and freed up his hands to capture her face in his hands gently.

He pulled back to catch his breath, but he rested his forehead against hers to keep the connection. "I love you too, Marinette. In any form."

Marinette was lost in his loving gaze, but his face changed to show mischief. He leaned in to kiss her again, making her heart race and completely distracting her from his mumbled words against her lips.

Suddenly, she was tumbling backwards onto the couch, and Chat Noir was at the window calling, "Race you to the Eifel Tower!"

He had already jumped out by the time she had gotten to her feet. She instinctively called for Tikki to transform her and chased after him, pleased to hear his carefree giggles on the wind.