Cat Noir stood there, stunned into silence for the second time in 5 minutes. He knew someone who hated him at first, then, after he had helped her and opened up about his problems, she had smiled.
And when she had smiled, she lit up the dark, stormy night when their friendship truly blossomed. He never payed attention to this fact before, but ever since that fateful day, all she'd do was stutter around him. His eyes widened in realization. Could it be possible...that...Ladybug was...Marinette? No, no, it couldn't be. Right? Cat Noir shook those thoughts from his head.
He couldn't think about who Ladybug was right now. At this moment, all he needed to know was that he still loved Ladybug, and she loved him. Well, the other him. But maybe, just maybe, if she knew that Cat Noir was really Adrien Agreste, she'd love him too. Either way, things couldn't really get much more...erm...weird between them right? The situation could only go up, and he knew she'd probably forgive him for this.
Ladybug looked down at her feet as fresh tears sting her eyes. The guilt crushed her inside, to admit all of this to Cat Noir. She didn't want to, because it would hurt him so much, but there was really no other way.
Hopefully he didn't hate her as much as she thought he did. Although, who would blame him? She knew she'd be upset if Adrien straight up told her he was in love with someone else. Ladybug closed her eyes and let the first tears fall. Right now, she didn't want the answers she had been looking for. Right now, at this moment, Ladybug would give anything for things to go back to normal between her and Cat Noir, her partner, and her best friend.
Well, other than Alya of course, but you got the idea. The idea that wasn't going to happen, just because she had to open her big mouth, and make it look like she had absolutely zero trust in him. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, she looked over her shoulder, into the bright green eyes that she was sure would be full of hurt, or rage.
But instead, they were warm and comforting, like they always were. And she could also see a glimmer of...excitement, was it?
Cat Noir felt nervous and excited butterflies in him, as he turned Ladybug to face him. He was shocked at the sight of her in tears. Just how hard had it been for her to confess all of this to him? Maybe she did love him as Cat Noir, just a little bit. Cat Noir placed a hand on her sounder, and with the other, lifted her chin up, so she could face him.
"Cat Noir, I-" She started, her voice quavering.
Cat Noir placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. "Do you want to know the real reason how I knew, sure as sure, that he was just an illusion? That he wasn't the real Adrien Agreste?"
Ladybug nodded, unsure of what else to do. He still wanted to answer her questions? To her, they seemed less important, like distant faraway thoughts that weren't necessary, notnow? But, she still listened, if he wanted to tell her.
He was going to do it. He was going to reveal himself to Ladybug.
"Because..." he started, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath to calm himself. Opening them, he looked directly into the electric blue eyes of Lady. "I am Adrien Agreste."
Ladybug could only watch, helpless, unable to turn away. Her mind had shut down, and her heart was numb. But then, the more rational side of her took control. There was no way Cat Noir was Adrien! He couldn't be Adrien. This was just a big joke. Ladybug sighed in relief. That's right. Just a simple joke.
But even she couldn't hold onto that shard of hope, that everything was still normal. That her crush wasn't flirting with her this entire time. Ladybug turned her head, while shielding her eyes, as a brilliant green light filled her vision. Ladybug kept her eyes shut tight. Maybe if I keep them closed, she thought desperately. He'll leave. Maybe I won't have to know. But she couldn't deny that maybe she was just a little curious, as to who was behind the black car's mask. And things couldn't possibly get any more awkward between them..
"M-m'lady?" Came an all too familiar voice, and every doubt she had about revealing their identities vanished without a trace.
Three words. Just 3 words, and Ladybug would know his identity. His identity! What he'd kept hidden for so long, it would finally come out. And maybe, just maybe, his Lady would reveal herself to him too. It was a long shot, but he could hope!
"Plagg, claws in," he muttered softly to himself, as the familiar green light encased him, filling him with a war, feeling inside, the feeling he always got in these moments.
But as the costume faded away with the last of the light, the usual dread of returning to his normal life settled in. Today, however, nervous butterflies had gathered in his stomach, and his heart pounded so loud, he was surprised Ladybug didn't hear it. Speaking of Ladybug, the superhero was turned away, eyes shut tight. Hesitantly, yet eagerly (if that was even possible), he called out to her. "M-m'lady?" He saw her eyes snap open, and her body twitch, openly surprised to hear his voice, which was shaking.
Did she think he was kidding when he said that he was Adrien Agreste? Please, please, please don't run, he thought desperately. Find out who I really am beneath the , a second after hearing his voice, all her doubts seemed to have left her, as she whirled around to face him, mouth wide open. Adrien stood facing her, and out his hands in his pockets. All of the attitude he has while Cat Noir disappeared as soon as he de-transformed. So he just smiled and shrugged.
Ladybug lost her ability to speak, or move, or think clearly. A million thoughts rushed into her mind, all at once. Cat Noir wasn't joking! He really was Adrien. Wait. Cat Noir was Adrien? Oh my god, Cat Noir is Adrien! Cat Noir flirts with me all the time so...Oh my gosh, Adrien has been flirting with me for months! And I've always turned him down. Oh no, I've turned my crush down? Well, he was Cat Noir, and I act differently around him...
Wait a minute, if Cat Noir is Adrien, and Adrien is Cat Noir, that means I...I kissed Adrien! I kissed Adrien and he doesn't remember. That also means Cat Noir, Adrien, loves me! And I love him. Oh...and I just admitted I loved him...in front of him! Oh god... All of these thoughts flooded her brain. Suddenly, Ladybug could feel her head growing light, and her knees shaking. Overwhelmed and pretty embarrassed, Ladybug collapsed.
"Ladybug!" Adrien exclaimed, rushing forward to catch the dazed superhero in his arms.
"Great going with the reveal, by the way," Came the dead-panned voice of none other than is kwami, Plagg. Adrien looked to where Plagg was hovering, tiny arms folded and crossed over his chest.
"Well I-uh.." Adrien stammered, trying to come up up with a good excuse. The black cat kwami simply raked an eyebrow. Adrien sighed. "What was I supposed to do, Plagg? She needed to know the truth..."
He gazed down at the girl in his arms, who was blinking, and seemed to look thoroughly embarrassed. The thought made him let out a small smile. Please, he thought, reaching out to her through his thoughts. Talk to me. We can figure this out...together. To his delight, Ladybug finally seemed to realize that he had caught her.
She blushed and looked at Cat Noir, Adrien, her partner, her crush, whatever she could call him now, and saw that she was in his arms.
She should say something; she knew she should. But...what do you even say to the guy who was in love with you, but you turned him away because you had a crush on another guy, who was the same the same person, and you just admitted to having a crush on the guy, without knowing it was the same guy? That sure didn't happen often. But the blond boy smiled warmly and gazed at her with his piercing green eyes...
Ladybug found her voice. Well, part of it, anyways. "Adrien! I-uh-you-never-found-love-me-too-you-uh..." Ladybug stammered our then groaned, burying her head in his chest in embarrassment.
Adrien laughed. Maybe things will be okay after all. Well, once Ladybug got over her shock, that is. But, as per usual, Plagg's dry sense of humor had to come out and ruin it.
"Adrien, you broke her," He deadpanned, while the blond, de-transformed superhero merely groaned in return.
"Plagg!" He complained, rolling his eyes, hoping Ladybug hadn't heard that off-hand comment. But the way she stayed curled up into him told him that she had most definitely heard that.
"What?" The black cat kwami replied, blinking his large green eyes innocently. Suddenly, a bright pink light reached Adrien's eyes, as the teen turned his head to the side to avoid staring right at the strange sight.
"Plagg, what's going on?" Adrien asked, shutting his eyes to block out the light that was gradually glowing brighter.
"I-I don't know!" The kwami replied, and Adrien could feel the miniature cat-creature land softly on his head. "I haven't seen a light like this...in years! Could it be...? Smelly Camembert, I think it is...!" The kwami's voice was drained out as the shimmering noise that had accompanied the light grew louder. Adrien got a weird sense of déjà vu. He had heard this sparkling noise before, along with some sort of light...
But where? Suddenly it hit him. The only other place and time where he had experienced this was while transforming and de-transforming. But...he was already de-transformed. And Adrien was pretty sure he didn't say the standard words to transform into his alter-ego again. Plus, this light was pink, not green. So who...his eyes snapped open in realization, before he shut them again as a result of the still glowing glare.
Ladybug, he thought, feeling nervous, excited, and anxious, awaiting what was coming to him after 2 months of waiting.
Ladybug, my bugaboo, was finally going to reveal to me who she truly is under her mask. It was all he could do not to peek until she was fully de-transformed.
Ladybug, on the other hand, had no clue what was going on. She was still in Adrien's (Adrien's!) arms after his big reveal, and she was still burying her head into his chest and closing her eyes out of utter embarrassment. How would she ever fight by Cat Noir's side, if she could barely speak a word to hm?
Ladybug knew that once they got into the groove of things again, with Cat's ridiculous puns included, she'd get over this. Sure it would awkward at first, and even harder for her alter-ego at school, but at least she didn't have to make it hard for his alter-ego (A.K.A. Adrien) as well. I mean, it's not like he knows that he's in love with the girl who sits right behind him in class, right?
That would just make everything either absolutely perfect, or break our relationship and just make it weird!
While absorbed in her thoughts, Ladybug was vaguely aware of a slight shimmering noise accompanied by some sort of light, as well as her body growing warm. I've had this feeling before, she thought absentmindedly. But I really embarrassed myself today, what do I do about that? So Ladybug let her thoughts wander once more...
Adrien finally heard the silence he had awaited, as the last of the pink light faded away, and his unmasked Lady lay in his arms. Adrien was about to open his eyes, but hesitated at the last second. What if she's someone I know? I mean, of course I know her, she said that already, but what if it's someone I see everyday, all the time, and never really noticed before? I'd feel so bad if I just noticed the girl because she was a superhero...
"No," he said to himself in his head. "I fell in love with Ladybug, because despite her insecurities, she pushed through and ever gave up.
Not just because she was a superhero. And no matter who is behind that mask, I'll love her just the same." Adrien was about to open his eyes, then stopped (for the second time). This time, however, it was cause the little black kwami, who was no longer atop his head, (most likely hovering around) had spoken. And for the very first time today, Plagg was completely, absolutely serious.
"You are not going to believe who it is!"
Adrien couldn't hesitate any longer. Plagg could obviously be a bit overdramatic at times, but the blond teen could tell that this was one of the very few times that Plagg was actually serious. He snapped open his eyes, and without another chance to second guess himself, looked down at the (now mysterious) girl lying in his arms. But it took him a couple seconds to fully register what he saw.
"Marinette?" He asked, his lips barely being able to form the word, causing his voice to come out as nothing more than a light whisper, barely believing it. How could Marinette be Ladybug? He snapped his eyes shut, and blinked hard. Then, after slowly re-opening his eyes, he couldn't deny it any longer. Instead of the red and black spandex suit, he saw pink jeans, a white shirt splattered with flowers, and a grey jacket.
Instead of the mask that covered half her beautiful face, he saw the familiar face underneath, the face that could never manage to look him in the eye.
And finally, instead of the magical yo-yo she always had swinging this way and that, many times hitting him on the head, intentionally or unintentionally, the saw the pink purse, handmade by her delicate touch that had once been able to amaze his father. His father! All at once, the truth of the matter, of who he had fallen in love with for months, hit him like a ton of bricks. His heart skipped a beat, and his brain came to a stop.
Adrien felt his fingers go numb, and, before he knew it, Ladybug, Marinette, had fallen from his arms and landed with a thud on the hard, iron floor, of the Eiffel Tower. He wanted so much to reach down and help her up, crack a joke, or at least send a warm smile her way. Anything but stare at her on the ground like she was an alien, or criminal, or something. But Adrien couldn't. Shock had settled in him, momentarily freezing him into place.
In order for him to even come close to believing the truth, he had to say her name, one more time.