He couldn't help the way his heart both sunk and leapt at her words.

Letting him go implied that he had once been hers. He sighed and leaned his hand into the palm that rested on his cheek. He felt free in some sense. It was sad to fall out of love. But he decided it was worse to be in love with someone who didn't love you.

They stayed like that for a while, basking in one another's presence. He couldn't bear to remove her hand from his flamed skin.

"I think I'll always love you bugaboo"

"And you'll always be my kitty."

Adrien lay still and silent, staring longingly at his ceiling. The early morning sky bathed his room in orange as the sun crept higher and higher. He needed to get up, he just really, really didn't want to. Plagg lay beside him on his pillow, the kwami snoring softly, unaware of the war behind his keepers eyes.

Ladybug had let him go. She had freed him to love whoever he pleased. So why did he feel so guilty every time the sweet fashion designer crossed his mind?

A groan left his lips as he sat upright and placed his feet on the cool hardwood.

Marinette. He thought about her smile, her hair. Those eyes that he got lost in every time he looked for too long. He thought about the curve of her lips and the way his thumb had pressed against her hipbone beneath her pajama top the other night.

He needed a cold shower.

The young man paced in front of his bathroom mirror. He studied his own reflection, his expression critical. Could she love him without the mask? Could she even try? Or would Marinette feel the same was about Adrien that Ladybug felt about Cat Noir. His fingers ran through his hair, tugging at the ends in frustration. He couldn't help but consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Marinette didn't want him either.

She did always run away from him after all.

He just had to see her.

The Dupain-Cheng household was busy, at least for the most part. Marinette rolled over on to her side, staring out the window. She thought about Cat Noir. The way his touch warmed her skin, the way her heart raced whenever he looked at her with those green eyes. She groaned softly and sat up, resting her chin against her hand.

"What's the matter?" Tikki floated in front of her holders face. The Kwami looked concerned at Marinettes distressed state.

"Nothing really. I'm just confused."

"About what?"

"I've been in love with Adrien for so long. Or I felt like I did. But now Cat Noir has been there for me through everything recently. He's my partner and my best friend. How do I knowthat I'm not pointlessly chasing someone again? What if it ends up exactly like it did with Adrien?" she pushed her fingers through her loose hair, pulling it into a bun at the nape of her neck.

"I think the only way for you to know is by talking to him! You'll never know if you don't ask! Besides he kissed you the other night, remember?"

Marinette nodded. She didn't know if she could face him or if she could handle another rejection. Her heart just couldn't take someone else not loving her back.

Not again.

A tap on the window startled her out of her thoughts, Tikki zipping away. Cat Noir smiled at her and she couldn't help the grin that ghosted her lips as she stood up to let him inside.

"Good morning purrincess"

"Good morning kitty." She stared up at him, his scent invading her nose and overtaking her other senses. His eyes pinned her to where she stood, his hand reaching up to brush against her cheek.

"I missed you." He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and settling his chin on the top of her head. She released a shaky breath she didn't even know she had been holding until now. She felt comfort in his grasp, his fingers trailing up and down her spine and sending shivers throughout her body.

"Can we talk?" She finally spoke. He nodded, his expression difficult to read.

They sat side by side on her bed, the silence stretching between them like sweet bubblegum. The words refused to come to her. She didn't know how to begin what she was about to tell him.

"I haven't seen you in a while." She settled for the safe route. There was no way he could get upset about that. "Yeah I've been busy. Work and being a super hero isn't always easy."

Me too

The statement rested on the back of her tongue and begged to be spoken aloud to end the torture. But she kept them in, reaching out to grab Cat Noirs hand and pull it to rest on her lap.

"Is everything alright?" She nodded slowly.

"Do you like me?" She finally blurted and brought her hand up to her mouth, tracing her finger over the cupids bow of her full upper lip. He made a shocked sound, squeezing her hand for a moment before sighing.

"I would be crazy not to like you Marinette." She could feel the warmth radiating off of him as he leaned in closer, leaning his head against her shoulder and settling a kiss beneath her ear. She shuddered at the affection.
"In what way do you like me?" she could already tell but she had to hear it from him.

"I like everything about you. You're selfless, sweet, caring, welcoming. You're always so eager to help me and make me feel better after a bad day. You're my favorite person Marinette. Hands down you're one of the most important people in my life. And I mean that." She stared at the floor, refusing to meet his intense stare.

"Come here." He reached out for her, guiding her to sit on his lap. "I want you Marinette. In every way that you'll have me." They were so close. If she just leaned forward a tiny bit..

He closed the gap between him, pressing his lips against hers. Her body was electrified by him. His presence overwhelmed her in the best way possible. This kiss was different than last time. It had more power, it had more force. It had more longing.

"I want you in every way possible."