Chapter 20 – Light of Day

The battle with Gorizilla had taken longer than anticipated and by the time it ended, both Ladybug and Chat Noir were exhausted and ready for sleep. After doing their customary fist bump, the pair said an awkward goodbye in the sanctuary of the rooftop shadows, neither sure if they could or should kiss the other. After bobbing their heads about like large pigeons, they finally gave each other a fleeting peck on the lips and dashed away in opposite directions.

Ladybug got very little sleep, as her mind rushed a million miles a minute. Jumping between self-doubt, over analysis and reliving their kisses.

Chat Noir on the other hand, dove through his bedroom window, dropped his transformation then flopped backwards onto his bed with a dreamy sigh and massive grin on his face. His mind was occupied with the more pleasant aspects of their encounter, meaning he fell asleep with relative ease.

By morning, both woke up feeling unsure of where they stood with the other. Marinette overslept, having only dozed off some two hours prior. A manic blur rushed around the room in her desperation to make it to school on time while resembling something close to human. Zombie Marinette was not a good look.

Adrien's morning routine was a clone of every other. The finely tuned synchronisation of his morning duties was drummed out with the precise beat of Nathalie's droned orders. Meaning he was in the car and on his way to school looking as put together as the model he was. Outwardly he was the picture of youthful male beauty and composure. Inside lingered a cyclonic storm of emotional worry. Had Ladybug only kissed him to save them both from akumatisation? Or had it been real?

As the car pulled up to the curb, Adrien's brow furrowed in confusion. It had to have been more than a mere save, surely? Tugging the strap of his bag over his shoulder, the model exited the car as his bodyguard held open the door. It turned out the man hadn't been in trouble with regards to Adrien's whereabouts. In fact, the gorilla of a man had been stood up for a hot date he'd been very keen for. Reaching out, Adrien patted the large man on the arm, "I hope you have a better day today."

A grunt in the affirmative was all the response given. The bodyguard had never been the talkative type.

Straightening his shoulders, Adrien took two paces from the car when he caught sight of Marinette jogging across the pedestrian crossing with a croissant between her teeth. Her arms were laden with textbooks which were slipping from her grasp as she rushed forward. As she made it to the footpath, one of the books dropped to hit her knee, making her stumble.

Adrien raced towards her but was too far away to prevent her tumble. Books scattered across the pavement with an audible slap as Marinette's hands shot out instinctively to save herself further damage. As soon as he reached her, Adrien dropped to a crouch and scooped her into his arms. "Are you alright?"

Big blue eyes stared at him as the croissant dropped out of her mouth and onto her lap. "Adrien," she gasped. Those eyes darted away from him and to the sudden audience they'd evoked. "Everyone is looking."

He glanced at her sideways, his eyebrows dropping in annoyance. "So? What's important is that you're okay."

"You should put me down."

Green eyes darted to her grazed knees and hands. "You should see the school nurse first."

Only then did Marinette seem to realise that she was injured. The sting to her abraded skin registering as she scrutinised her wounds. "Alright," she uttered but Adrien was already moving, his long strides eating up the distance to the school.

As he reached the steps he called out to Nino. "Grab her books please."

"Sure dude," Nino nodded, moving into action.

Alya jogged to their side, needing to do so to keep up with the determined model. "That was a nasty fall."

"I've got her," Adrien declared in a voice so resolute that both girls blinked at him with surprise.

"I noticed," Alya smirked as she gave her best friend a meaningful look.

Marinette felt the warmth of her blush, a blush that shouldn't have been there. She was supposed to be disillusioned about Adrien. At least that's what every one of her schoolmates thought. Yet her mind returned to the moment when she'd discovered it was Adrien under Chat Noir's mask. Right after they'd been kissing each other like there was no tomorrow.

And here he was, acting like her very own white knight. Carrying her like a maiden in need of rescue and she didn't know what to think. There had been many times when Chat Noir had carried her just like this, be it as Marinette or Ladybug. Depending on the guise, her partner had responded in kind. As Marinette it had always been with politeness and a touch of cheekiness. With Ladybug, he'd flirt and grin at her unless imminent danger threatened them. Well with the exception of the early days in their partnership when he was distracted by her so easily it annoyed her to no end.

Now she was beginning to see where Chat was coming from. She had been the same with Adrien. It was like putting a shiny object in front of a bowerbird. Temptation, want, need. Must have now. The urge had been undeniable and hard to ignore.

Feeling suddenly shy, Marinette glanced up at Adrien through her dark lashes. His jaw was set in determination as he carried her through the school. He ignored the heads turning their way and powered onward. Only when they reached the first aid room did he stop, asking Alya to open the door for him.

A part of her mind registered that Adrien was carrying her across the threshold and an inner part of her squealed in delight. How she would have longed for such action while she was crushing on him. Yet her heart was pounding at his proximity, and at the notions in her head. The Marinette of the past had dreamed of one day marrying Adrien. Of sharing a future together. But what about now? And what was he thinking?

Chat Noir claimed to love Ladybug but was that really true when he'd only ever treated Marinette as a friend? Damn, this was why she'd lost so much sleep. Kissing him had been so much simpler. No words, just feelings. Blissful, heavenly feelings of lips and souls meeting.

Heck, she wanted to reach up and grab him by the shirt collar. Dragging his face towards hers so they could fuse their mouths together once more. And for once, she was pretty certain Adrien would let her…and Marinette didn't know what to do with that.

See, not too much angst, just confusion. These dorks will work it out soon enough ;)

I bet Alya would be impressed if Marinette did make the move she was imagining with Adrien in the final paragraph XD