Adrien managed to slip back into class relatively unnoticed. It helped that as he sat down the door slammed open loudly and Marinette, flushed and panting made her entrance back into class. Ms. Bustier gave her a look of uneasy skepticism as Marinette mumbled some kind of apology and Adrien felt his stomach turn as he realized too late that he had completely abandoned her on the rooftop as Chat Noir.

Embarrassed, he buried his head into his arms on top of his desk, unable to look at her as she walked past him back to her seat.

Had she run all the way back to school? How had she even gotten down?

He was mentally kicking himself.

He'd been so worried about disappointing Ladybug that he'd completely failed to go back and retrieve her after the Akuma attack. Add that to the kiss that was already weighing on his mind and now his complete lack of common courtesy and he wouldn't be surprised if Marinette was totally fed up with Chat Noir.

What a class-A jerk.

Adrien resolved then and there to make things right. He would go back tonight, talk things out, apologize and hope she could forgive him.

Sailing through the Paris skyline at night always made Adrien feel a bit excited but the closer he drew to the Dupain-Cheng bakery the more his excitement turned into nerves. He could see the light on in Marinette's room as he swiftly jumped across the street and landed silently on the roof. Her voice was muffled through the skylight as he drew near but he could hear her obviously frenzied about something. Probably ranting over the phone to Alya. A slight grin crept over his face as he stole to the glass and caught sight of her, pacing the room and waving her hands,

"-but I HAVE to tell him don't I? But then I'll lose him completely!"

Adrien would have given her words more notice if he didn't catch sight of something that made him freeze.

Marinette wasn't on the phone. Or even video chatting on her computer.

Instead she was very clearly having an animated discussion with a tiny, floating, red thing. It was looking at her with big, blue eyes. Marinette paused to look at it and it opened its mouth and Adrien heard a small voice reassuring her,

"You don't have to make this decision right now Marinette-"

He didn't hear the rest of what it had to say.

Springing back in shock he wheeled around and promptly caught an elbow on one of the potted plants on Marinette's balcony. It dropped with a loud shatter and he ducked down against the wall, trying to still his breath and melt into the shadows.

"What was that?"

He could barely make out Marinette's voice as he flattened himself against the bricks, trying desperately to keep his brain from melting.

A Kwami.

There was no doubt.

Marinette had a kwami.

A red kwami, with black dots…

Blood was rushing into Adrien's face as it clicked together.

Marinette was Ladybug.

The Marinette that was his classmate and friend and that he'd kissed the night before when she'd unknowingly confessed her feelings to him.

OH MY GOD HE'D KISSED MARINETTE WHO WAS LADYBUG SO LADYBUG KNEW ALL ALONG AND PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS A COMPLETE TOOL WHO JUST WENT AROUND KISSING VULNERABLE GIRLS WHEN SHE WASN'T AROUND

His mind was whirling a mile a minute as his ears caught the sound of cautious footsteps and the clatter of the latch to the skylight.

He turned to see dark hair followed by eyes that were all too-familiar peeking out onto the balcony.

Marinette.

Ladybug

He had to explain himself properly or Ladybug-Marinette-would never take his feelings for her seriously. She would probably just think he was nothing but a huge flirt for the rest of his life and they would never date or get married or have a hamster...

"What the-"

Her voice drew him out of his internal panic as she caught sight of the shattered pot on the ground. She pushed the window pane open all the way,

"What happened to you?"

She murmured, smoothly slipping out of the skylight and scooping up the remains of the plant in one fluid motion.

"La-Marinette!"

He forgot that he'd been hiding and sprang out at her. Not surprisingly she shrieked and dropped the plant back onto the floor. He mildly registered her fists raised into a fighting stance before she recognized him and relaxed, eyeing him curiously,

"Chat Noir?"

He noticed a blush springing over her cheeks,

"What are you doing here?"

"I have to talk to you!"

He stepped toward her, hands on her shoulders in desperation. She grew redder and he realized what he was doing. Just as quickly he let go of her and stepped back, feeling himself blushing as well,

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm…Ah I came here to apologize and now I just keep…I mean I broke your plant and I definitely shouldn't have kissed you last night and then I left you on that roof earlier, although I was trying to save you…."

He realized Marinette was smiling at him, trying not to laugh and he felt his ears burning with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry."

"So I gathered."

Marinette giggled slightly and he felt his heart skip a beat.

Marinette was Ladybug.

But she was still Marinette.

He relaxed his shoulders and took a deep breath.

"I just…didn't want you to get the wrong idea…"

Marinette smiled at him and he was surprised to see a hint of wistfulness as she dropped her eyes,

"Don't worry, I know you don't like me that way. You're crazy for Ladybug, right?"

"That's not what I meant… I mean I am but…"

Something about her statement bothered him.

"I just…didn't want you to think I was some kind of creep who went around seducing girls just because he can…"

A short laugh escaped Marinette's lips and her eyes drew back up to his,

"You? Seducing someone?"

"Hey! I'm a pretty popular guy you know!"

Chat Noir flexed an arm at her and grinned,

"There are tons of ladies all over Paris just dying to get a taste of this…"

He flexed again, exaggerating the effort. Marinette snorted and Chat Noir felt warm and fuzzy inside. This was why he had started hanging around her balcony. To see this sarcastic, open side of her that he never got to see at school.

And now he knew why.

This was genuine Marinette.

Comfortable, relaxed, not self-conscious around her crush or putting on her best face to take on the pressures of super hero life.

He felt his heart start to beat faster as she looked him up and down.

"Sure. You keep telling yourself that mister."

He grinned back at her in excitement. She flushed pink and suddenly dropped her eyes away. A small sigh escaped her.

"What?"

He dropped his arms to his sides, watching her lean against the railing and close her eyes, shaking her head,

"It's nothing."

That wistful smile crept back over her face and Chat frowned.

"You can tell me you know."

She opened her eyes, staring in to the sky silently.

"I won't even try to kiss you this time."

He grinned, leaning over the railing next to her and letting his arms dangle lazily over the edge as he stared down at the street. She didn't answer for a moment and when he looked back to her he was startled to see her watching him intently.

"…what?" he asked cautiously.

She blinked thoughtfully before answering,

"I just…don't understand why it's so easy for me to talk to you like this…and not…"

She trailed off. Chat quirked his head, waiting for her to finish. She seemed to realize she hadn't ended her sentence and hurriedly clarified,

"And not Adrien."

She blushed again and Chat drew his arms back, turning to look at her in surprise. She looked genuinely upset, wrapping her arms around herself. He wasn't sure what to say but his instinct was to try to cheer her up somehow,

"Well it's probably cause I'm so much better looking than he is."

He tried to flash a grin at her. She gave him a half-hearted smile in return.

"Oh…is that it?"

He nodded,

"And more you know…mysterious, charming, etc."

He waggled his eyebrows and was rewarded with a small giggle.

"Not to mention humble."

She smiled back at him, genuinely this time.

"Of course."

For a moment it felt like time was slowing as they smiled at one another. Then Marinette shook her head again and sighed. A thought crossed his mind.

"Maybe you just need some practice?"

Chat quirked a smile at her.

"Practice?"

She eyed him suspiciously and he felt his heart skip another beat under her careful scrutiny. He tried to look nonchalant as he flipped his hair, mimicking a model pose,

"Pretend I'm Adrien."

Her eyes grew wider and he second guessed himself as she just stared at him for a moment. Was this a bad idea?

"Pretend…you're Adrien?"

Marinette was blushing again and he had to try not to think about how adorable it was. Apparently even thinking about him was enough to make her nervous. He coughed, trying to calm himself down.

"Yeah."

He took in a quick breath and then forced another smile at her,

"What would you want to say to me if I were Adrien?"

Her eyes were glued to his face in an expression of shock.

"WHAT!?"

She squeaked and he couldn't help the laugh that escaped him as she turned beet red.

"I can't say that to your face!"

She turned away from him, covering her blushing cheeks with her hands,

"Are you crazy?!"

"Oh come on Princess…"

The nickname slipped out of him as he stepped toward her and gently reached out, taking her hands in his own to move them from her face. She looked up at him and frowned, eyes shimmering in the moonlight.

"I swear I won't laugh. I just want to help."

She was still frowning at him but it was turning into more of a dubious pout. Raising one eyebrow slowly she eyed him,

"You really wanna know?"

"I really wanna know."

She turned to fully face him and he realized he was still holding her hands in his. She didn't try to pull away. Something in the back of his mind seemed to be whispering, this is a bad idea. He pushed it out of his thoughts as Marinette looked up at him, her deep, blue eyes growing soulful as she stared into his own. Her cheeks were still stained red with blush and for a moment he wasn't sure if she was going to say anything else. But then she cleared her throat and a spark of determination flickered across her face. In a voice as soft as silk she murmured quietly,

"…Adrien."

A shiver ran up his spine and without thinking he stepped closer to her, nearly closing the gap between them. She had to tilt her head back slightly to keep looking up at him. He could feel his face growing warm as she continued, genuine affection shining out upon him,

"I…love you."

Adrien swallowed.

His heart was suddenly beating way too fast.

"oh."

His voice broke and Marinette smiled curiously,

"oh?"

He cleared his throat and smiled back, shaking his head and replying in an affected voice,

"I mean: wow Marinette I had no idea you felt this way about me"

"Really?"

She arched an eyebrow at him and he shook his head solemnly,

"Yes, but I'm so glad to hear it because it just so happens that I am insanely in love with you too. Would you like to date?"

Marinette giggled and Chat was sure the sound was going to be the sweet, sweet death of him.

"I don't think that's what Adrien would say."

She grinned at him and he noticed that she had drawn ever so slightly closer.

"It's what I would say if I were Adrien and such an amazing girl confessed to me."

"Really?"

She was looking up at him with a grin that was somehow sad and playful at the same time. Maybe it was because of the hint of melancholy in her eyes.

Chat inwardly groaned at the stupid poet his brain had apparently become as he stared at her.

All this time, he thought, you were right here in front of me.

He nodded,

"And then I would say, 'All this time you were right here in front of me.'"

He drew her hands to his chest with a dramatic sigh,

"and I never even noticed because I am a huge doofus."

Marinette giggle again and he grinned. Her fingers wrapped in his were warm and he felt tingly in his toes from having her so close.

Ladybug.

Marinette.

"And then what would you do?"

She blinked up at him with what he could've sworn was a coy look. Was she flirting with him? The thought was so tempting he wanted it to be true…

"If you were Adrien."

Her voice was still soft.

"If I were Adrien…"

He licked his lips, nerves crackling with excitement as the answer to her question tickled his mind. Don't say it, he thought to himself. But his mouth didn't listen.

"then I would kiss you."

"oh."

She flushed red again but she didn't move away. Chat blinked, feeling his heart beating loudly in his chest. Why had he said that?

"Yes."

"Well…"

She was looking up at him and he could've sworn her eyes darted to his mouth before gazing back up into his own as she continued, voice soft but somehow assured of herself,

"You…don't think I need to practice that do you?"

His eyes grew wide in surprise and her hands let go of his. Chat expected her to move away as she dropped her gaze to the bell around his neck but instead, she timidly slid her hands over his chest. She looked back up at him expectantly and without thinking he wrapped his hands around her waist.

"Well…If you think it'll help…"

He swallowed again nervously as she leaned into him, clasping her hands behind his neck. He could feel how hot his own face was now.

DANGER DANGER

THIS IS A BAD IDEA

But oh God those eyes were staring up at him, just waiting…

The most beautiful, amazing, wonderful girl in the world was here in his arms practically begging him to kiss her and he was completely in love with her.

He didn't care if it was a bad idea.

He closed his eyes and pulled her body into him, pressing his lips against hers. She responded in turn, softly kissing him back and for a moment it felt like Adrien's whole world was just lighting and fireworks and absolute ecstasy.

When she broke away gently he couldn't let her go,

"If I were Adrien…"

He murmured, pressing his forehead to hers,

"mhmm?"

She looked up at him again with hooded eyes and he didn't even bother to think of something else to say. He just kissed her again.

And then he didn't even bother to think at all.

He became completely overwhelmed with every blissful sensation as she pressed into him, kissing him over and over, their hands pulling one another closer. It felt like only a moment before Marinette slowly pulled back, eyes still closed, taking in a shaky breath. He looked at her and was startled to see the tiniest glimmer of a tear slip down her cheek as she drew another breath.

"Marinette?"

She opened her eyes and stared at him, hands resting around his neck,

"You…you know don't you?"

He felt his blood freeze.

"…know what?"

She blinked tears away, looking at him with a look that felt like she was weighing something in her mind against him. Her voice was a whisper,

"I love…Adrien…"

The expression on her face was tense and strange. Like that wasn't what she had just said at all. Like she was expecting him to understand what she had just said meant something completely different. He blinked, wheels slowly turning in his mind. She was trying to tell him something…wasn't she?

His heart felt like an ache in his chest as he desperately tried to grasp what she wanted him to say.

He couldn't lie to her.

But he couldn't say something to make her second guess the depth of how he felt either.

"Chat Noir…"

She said his name softly and he nodded,

"You understand, right? You love…"

He knew what she meant but he couldn't quite understand why she wanted him to say it. But she was Marinette and she was Ladybug. And he trusted her completely.

He nodded again,

"Ladybug."

A deep sigh escaped her lips and she nodded. Closing her eyes for a moment she lingered in his arms. Chat Noir wasn't sure what else to do or say…in fact he felt like there was something ominous looming in the back of his mind and he was very aware that he did not want to think about it.

And then she opened her eyes and looked up at him, smiling softly before pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek,

"Goodnight, Chat Noir."

She slipped out of his arms,

"Goodnight…Marinette."

He watched her slip back into her room.

The sound of the latch clicking shut made him suddenly aware of how silent it was outside. Glancing around him Adrien realized it had grown fairly late.

He reluctantly turned and reached for his baton, sailing back out into the night air.

His journey home was consumed with committing every detail of their moments together to memory, wavering between gleeful reminiscing and muddled confusion.

When he finally reached his room and dropped his transformation he barely registered his kwami's protest,

"Ok, from now on can you do all that mushy stuff outside the suit? It's unbearable!"

He waved halfheartedly at the small black cat spirit. Plagg rolled his eyes and turned his attention to gorging himself on Camembert.

Adrien flopped onto his bed.

The exhilaration of the night was starting to wear off as he pondered Marinette's strange behavior.

Of course, he was more than happy to make out with the girl he loved but from her perspective it didn't make any sense. Marinette thought he was in love with someone else because she didn't know he knew…did she? He played back the last few days events in his mind. The night he first kissed her…she'd been obviously doting on Adrien, not interested in Chat Noir. When he'd seen her next at school, she seemed…as normal as she usually seemed around him at school…

But then she was also Ladybug, whom he had seen during the Akuma attack...

And he'd tried to talk to Ladybug about kissing her…

Which, he hadn't said any names but if Marinette was Ladybug then he unknowingly kissed Ladybug and then TOLD Ladybug he kissed her because he was the guy Marinette was in love with….

Adrien squinted at the ceiling, trying to follow his own train of thought.

Then he sat up with a start,
"PLAGG!"

"mfff?"

He turned with a horrified expression to look at his Kwami,

"Did I…accidentally tell Ladybug…"

"Your secret identity?" Plagg swallowed the mouthful of cheese he had been chewing before turning to give Adrien a sneer,

"Yeah. You did."