Chapter Two
Marinette didn't have an answer to Chat Noir's proposal for quite some time, and he didn't say anything about it in the meanwhile. She thought it would take her no more than a day to decide, but yet the idea of marriage was just as daunting as when he had suggested it. It was frustrating at the same time too– because she did want to marry him– just not yet.
Would getting married now compared to a couple years down the road make that much of a difference though? Just because they would be officially together now didn't mean they had to suddenly act like a married couple. They would get married because it was convenient, an answer to the problems they were facing.
The final deciding factor for her had nothing to do with the money though, but Chat's father. If he saw this as the only option of getting away from his dad, then she would not hold that back from him. They could easily carry on their relationship as if they were dating whether they were officially married or not, and she was sure that was what he wanted as well.
It took her two weeks to give Chat Noir a proper answer– a simple text from the communicator within her yoyo.
Her hands were sweaty under her suit as she got ready for her next patrol, not sure of what he was going to say. Texting wasn't exactly the best way to answer a marriage proposal, but their situation definitely wasn't normal. She smiled uneasily to those waving to her as she zipped across the city.
He hadn't said anything in reply to her answer.
She swallowed as she landed on a rooftop, her kitty sitting on the edge of the roof, turning to face her as she approached. He smiled, but though her uneasiness spiked at the hesitant look in his eyes. Had he changed his mind? Was he offended by the way she had replied?
"Hey Bugaboo," he said in the way he often did, pushing himself to his feet. His gloved hands grabbed hers, the light pressure of his claws pressing into the material of her costume.
She remembered the few times they had contact without masks– moments with their eyes pressed shut, or when they were tucked away in a dark room. They had always held each other close in those moments. Feeling their skin against the other, fingers running across their maskless faces, trying to memorize the features they could not see.
"Did you get my message?" she asked quietly.
"I did," he replied, squeezing her hands. "I just want to hear your answer in person. Make sure this is what you truly want."
"It is," there was no trace of doubt in her voice, surprising even herself. The nervousness she had been feeling was gone. Chat smiled, fingers intertwining as he leaned towards her.
She closed the gap, pressing into the kiss as tears stung her eyes. He held her close as he realized she was crying. They weren't tears of sorrow– she was just overwhelmed– something that seemed to be a permanent part of her life. Like always Chat was the only person that understood what she was going through, his soft whispers brushing by her skin. He was the only one she could depend on in moments like these, even if she wanted to go to her friends or parents, she couldn't.
"Are you okay, Bug?" he pulled her into a hug as they broke apart. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"It's just a lot to take in– but I do want to marry you. You and me against the world, right?"
He let out a light laugh. "Always," he pressed his head up against hers. "But if we're going to do this, then let's do this properly."
With that he slid down into one knee, a hand reaching into his pocket, the other still holding hers. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what he was doing, but at the same time she wasn't surprised, because of course her Kitty would.
"Just a promise ring for now," he explained as he pulled out a velvety box. "Because I understand marriage is a lot right now. So I promise you one day we will do this properly, with a ring fit fur a queen, My Lady. I will be yours and you will be mine. But until that day comes, will you have the honor of marrying me now?"
One day a ring fit for a queen, he had said, but the ring he had now was definitely fit for a Ladybug. A slim golden band with a bright red ruby adorning it. Smaller black onyxes surrounded the gem, subtly mimicking her signature spots.
"Chaton, how much did this cost?" she asked, slightly stunned at the gorgeous ring. It was small, but not simple. He had said he was rich, but still...
He cracked his signature Chat-grin. "I have a pretty generous allowance, as long as I play the role of puppet. And I have no problem spending some Father's money before I get to break free, especially on m'lady."
She had no qualms about this, so she held out her left hand. He slipped it onto her ring finger, the band a bit snug with her costume on, but on her bare hand it would have fit her perfectly. She stared down at the jewels, startled that something so beautiful was now hers.
"How did you know my ring size?"
"Plagg," he replied as he stood up. "His Miraculous is a ring, and you've worn it before, so apparently he can use that to know ring sizes."
"Doesn't seem like a Plagg thing, but I won't question it."
"Oh!" he reached into his pocket, pulling out a thin golden chain. "I also got you this! That way you can wear the ring as a necklace and no one will question you about it, hopefully. If you want to wear it, of course, you don't have to or anything–!"
He held the chain out awkwardly, not quite sure what to do with it, so he looped it around her neck. She had the feeling that it was actually made of gold, going by everything he had said about his upbringing. She looked down at the ring once again, running her fingers over it, wishing she could feel it without her costume in the way.
"Thank you, Chaton, you didn't have to do all of this."
"But I wanted to," he replied, leaning in close with a small grin. "I wanted to do a lot more for you, but I knew you wouldn't approve."
"Looks like a certain alley cat is actually using his head for once."
"It's only for now though, once I get to truly propose to you I'm going all out. And you can't stop me."
"I feel so bad for future Ladybug, perhaps I should back out now to save her from such a fate," she replied with a grin.
"Ah, but Bugaboo, it won't be Ladybug though, will it? It will be a certain beautiful girl behind this little mask," he tapped her mask right between her eyes, causing her to blink. "A girl who's name I'll finally know, and that I'll finally be able to say."
She was half tempted to tell him that he already knew her name, that he actually got along quite well with her when she was out of the mask, but she already knew it was better to stay quiet. She wondered if she had ever encountered him outside the mask, but she didn't let the thoughts linger. Their reveal would come in time, and that was all that mattered.
Marinette was going to marry a stranger.
To most at least, that was how they would see it. That tomorrow she would be rising bright and early to marry a man whose name she didn't even know. A person whose face she had never fully seen. She did not know where he lived, who his family was, nor even what job he worked. She could give no more than small details, but the very core of what made up his life was something she did not know.
But to Marinette, he was far from a stranger. He was her best friend, her partner, and someone she completely trusted with her life. There was no one that knew her more, despite the mask between them. This was the man that she had loved, and had been dating in secret for the last three years. They had a connection that went far beyond anything else she had ever seen, an understanding that went beyond words, a trust that was unbreakable.
She had no doubts on her intentions of marrying Chat Noir, but that didn't stop the heaviness that was around her.
"Chin up, dear," Sabine said with a smile as they closed up the bakery for the night, noticing the solemn look on her daughter's face. She bumped up against her playfully, giving her a grin. "Tomorrow is the big day– eighteen years old."
"I can't believe my little girl is already grown up," Tom said, throwing his large arms around her, and Marinette couldn't hold back a laugh. She pressed up against him, and her mother was dragged into the hug as well. "You should slow down a bit, you know? Seventeen forever doesn't sound that bad, right?"
"Papa," Marinette chuckled. "I don't think you want to be stuck with a teenager forever, do you?"
He grinned. "I think I could handle it."
"Oh hush Tom, she's not going anywhere," Sabine replied, and Marinette had to struggle to keep her expression neutral. "You said you had plans with your friends tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, Alya and everyone have been planning this for a week," she smiled softly. "Won't tell me a thing of what we're going to be doing, but yet they can't stop talking about the fact they have plans."
"Feel free to stop by here," Tom said with a wink. "Free food for the birthday girl and her friends."
"Thanks Papa," she said with a soft smile, then she swallowed. "I'm also going to get up early to meet with another friend. We have plans of our own so we have to get up early so they don't clash with what Alya has planned."
She looked at her parents to see their reactions, and while they seemed surprised about the idea of her actually getting up early, they didn't seem concerned in the slightest. Just passing a few dishes to her to put away, smiling that happy smile, and her heart twisted. She had such wonderful parents, and she felt horrible for the many times she had hidden things from them, had gone behind their back.
"And what are you two going to be doing?" Sabine asked, genuinely curious.
Her hand went to her chest, fingering the ring that hung under her shirt on a thin golden chain. Marinette looked mom in the eyes, thinking for a moment, before deciding that she didn't want to lie to them again. So she just flatly told them the truth: "We're going to elope."
Her parents burst out laughing at this, clearly thinking this was a joke, just like she thought they would. Her father clapped her on the back, and Sabine was still chuckling as the burst laughing calmed down, neither of her parents realizing just how serious her words were. Tomorrow morning she would walk out of here to go to the courthouse, to officially marry Chat Noir.
Tomorrow they would reveal their identities to each other, for the first time seeing each other's faces in full, learning the other's name. Tomorrow she would be a married woman. There would be no wedding bell, no Father walking her down the aisle, nor Alya to be her maid of honor. No wedding dress that she had carefully made and designed like she had so often dreamed, nor a taste of a wedding cake her parents would have made.
They planned that one day they would have a proper ceremony, where their families and friends could be there by their side to celebrate their marriage, but for now they did not have that option.
Her parents didn't even know she was dating someone, and when asking her if she was going to see anyone she simply told them no one at school caught her eye. They thought her to be a hard worker, planning on pursuing to go to university to advance her dream and career to be a designer. They were proud of her, already showing her different universities that were out there, already planning on paying for some of it themselves.
How was she going to tell them that she was going to be staying in Paris, focusing on generals instead of her passion? How was she going to walk in with a boy they had never met before and say he was her husband? What was she going to say when they simply wanted to understand all these sudden changes– and she would have no answer for them?
Marinette embraced her parents before she climbed up the stairs to her room. Everything would be changing in her life tomorrow, and it would be more than just entering adulthood. Tikki shot out of her pocket as they reached her room, giving her an encouraging smile as she closed the trapdoor behind her.
It was the same bedroom she had grown up in, though much had changed in the past few years. Bright pink walls had become a soft blue, though the signature pink still highlighted the room through her decorations. Potted plants dotted every shelf and table, and there was even more up on her balcony– plants and flowers had a very calming effect on her ladybug side.
Much of her room was dedicated to her sewing and designs, half finished commissions spread out waiting to be finished. Long gone were the countless posters of a certain model, though there were still photos of Adrien Agreste in her room. Real photos– of him, Nino, Alya, and her other friends collaged across her walls. There were a couple she had taken with her and Chat, though those were pinned to the board in her loft next to her bed– out of sight from casual visitors to her room.
What wasn't gone though, was the habit of having posters of her crush on the walls. There was a whole corner of her room dedicated to Chat Noir posters (and a few with Ladybug too) and merchandise, a tiny little 'shrine' to her boyfriend. Not that she felt the urge to have one– she had only made it as an inside joke.
When she had first started dating Chat he had felt the need to tell her that he had spent a considerable amount on Ladybug merchandise, and had what his kwami swore was a shrine hidden away in a closet. He had been so embarrassed, pleading over and over again to not think he was obsessed or creepy– but it was just one of his ways of trying to be close to her since they couldn't know each other in their daily lives.
She wouldn't lie, she had her laugh after he confessed this, but she had soon after told him about her former... obsession with Adrien Agreste. Marinette hadn't said who her crush was, just that he was well known. She'd like to say it wasn't an obsession as well– but when she looked back at the way her younger self had been she only cringed. Posters and pictures and even his schedule? It was just a bit over the top.
They had their little laugh at their antics, and he had so playfully asked if she was going to build a shrine to him now that they were together. Of course she had said no– and then had promptly gathered everything she had with Chat's face on it together to start her collection. At Christmas and on their anniversary they gave each other merch of themselves for the other to add to the 'shrine'. An inside joke they had about each other that they could have in their daily lives– because no one would blink over a teenager having a poster of one of the heroes in their room.
She smiled, picking up a small Chat doll she had made years ago. "I guess we'll finally get to see the other's 'shrines' then, huh?"
Tikki chuckled. "Chat Noir has so much memorabilia of you it's ridiculous. Then again he had a two year head start on you with collecting them!"
"This is really happening," Marinette whispered. "I'm marrying Chat Noir tomorrow. I'm going to know who he really is."
Tikki bumped up against her. "You already know who he really is, silly– you're just going to now have a name and a face to go with it!"
She smiled, holding the Chat doll close. "Very true. His name... I'm going to know his name! And I'm going to hear him say mine! Well, hear him say it while knowing I'm Ladybug," she chuckled as she thought back on her encounters with Chat outside the mask. It had often been hard resisting the urge to cuddle up with her boyfriend when he didn't know it was her. "Do you think he likes civilian me? I mean he does have a nickname for me, but he seems to nickname everyone. Will it be weird for him? What if I have met him when he's out of costume, will that be weird for me?"
"I promise you he likes the Marinette side of you too," Tikki assured her. "And sure it may be surprising for you guys to realize who both of you are behind the mask, but I know it won't change anything between you two, you love each other after all–"
"Wait!" Marinette yelped, eyes wide. "Does that mean I do know him as a civilian?"
Tikki's eyes widened as well. "Um– you've encountered him before, just like Chat's encountered you."
"Don't say anything else!" Marinette said, holding up her hands, the Chat doll hanging limply in one hand. Her mind was already racing– was it just someone she had seen in passing, or had they talked? Did they know each other, or have they just seen each other? So many questions– but she wasn't going to dwell on them. "Chat is my Chaton, and nothing will change that. I will be happy with whoever is behind the mask tomorrow."
Tikki smiled, nodding approval. "I promise you that you will."
Marinette carefully set Chat back in his little shrine, smiling fondly at the collection of black and green. She was nervous about tomorrow, but still she was happy and excited. She was going to learn more about her partner, and she was going to get married. Tikki began raiding the cookie jar on her desk as she got ready for bed, before zipping over to her with her phone as it started vibrating with an incoming message.
Much to her surprise, it was from Adrien. They were still close friends, but they didn't see each other all that often. His father had sent him to a private school for lycée, and his days were still packed with photoshoots and his 'hobbies' his father had given to him. He had turned eighteen a few months back, but still seemed to be under his father's thumb.
[I just wanted to say happy birthday! I'm going to be really busy tomorrow so I didn't know if I'd get a chance to tell you this then, which is why I'm sending this now. I'm getting up bright and early– which I know is your favorite. xD I really am sorry I'm going to miss hanging out with everyone to celebrate your special day, but I gave Alya my present so it can still get to you tomorrow. I hope you have an awesome birthday!]
Marinette smiled, and she completely understood why her younger self had been head over heels for Adrien. He was sweet and kind, and it would be a crime to say he wasn't handsome. He was one of the best friends she had, and even though their group didn't get to see each other as much as they used to, they were all close.
She was grateful her infatuation for Adrien had passed– because being able to act like a normal human being around him had allowed her to truly become his friend. It had also helped her open her eyes to the wonderful boy who was always by her side– and who loved her. Chat was the best boyfriend she could ask for, and someone she was happy to spend the rest of her life with.
[Thank you.] she replied, fingers tapping against her phone screen. [We'll have to find another time to hang out when you're free. I hope you have a good day tomorrow.]
[Tomorrow is going to be a good day. :) ]
She raised an eyebrow at this– usually when he was busy it was because he was being dragged into photoshoots or an interview. But if something that he was actually excited for was happening then that was wonderful. Maybe his father was actually cutting him some slack?
As much as she admired the man's work, she had little respect for Gabriel Agreste. Becoming friends with Adrien had allowed her to see what kind of man he really was. On top of that, something about him just gave her chills– she didn't know how to describe it, but being around him was unsettling. Probably the constant glare he had, she wondered if it was even possible for him to smile.
"Goodnight, Tikki," Marinette said, climbing up the ladder to her bed.
"Goodnight, Marinette," she chirped back, settling down onto the pillow next to her.