Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and I make no profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended I'm just enjoying some time with a few of my favorite television characters. The story is mine, except where directly quoting or referencing episodes.
He immediately reached out to her and pulled her back into his arms, protectively wrapping them around her from behind. She relaxed slightly and he could breathe again. "Marinette, when I said I hoped you'd never see me again, I meant like this. In disguise. I want you to see me, all of me, the real me. You've already seen the man behind the mask, more so than anyone, even those who see me without it every day. But I'm coming to realize that it's not enough for me anymore."
He felt her begin to stiffen again, and he held on tighter. "No. Listen. I'm starting to realize I want it all, Marinette. A future. Out of the shadows." He inhaled. "With you."
Neither moved. Had he just said that? Out loud? Too soon? She hadn't "known" him as long as he'd known her. Well, she did, but she didn't know that yet. Should he have revealed himself first, before showing her his heart? No going back now, it was all or nothing at this point. He turned her around and gently lifted her chin to look him in the eyes.
"I'm starting to understand that I've been afraid, Milady. Afraid of rejection, or of somehow losing you." Marinette opened her mouth to speak but a light touch of his fingers to her lips stopped her. "No, Milady. Let me finish before I become too much of a scaredy-cat to get this all out."
He felt her smile beneath his touch, humor lightening the moment, but he forced himself to continue. "It's happened time and again in my life, Marinette. Sometimes choices were made by those I thought I knew, and sometimes events happened completely out of anyone's control."
Her eyes widened, but she kept silent. "I know you, and you know me better than anyone, yet you don't even know my real name. But I want to hear my name on your lips. I want to take you to the movies, to dinner, to find Andre's ice cream cart together." That flirtatious grin reappeared as one of his eyebrows quirked.
"We can't do that like this, as Chat Noir and Marinette. I have feared what might happen if Hawk Moth tried to use you to get to me. The danger seems past now, but what if he's just waiting for the opportunity to strike again? I couldn't live with myself if I felt I put you in danger by being with you. The problem is, I'm not sure I can live with myself now, anyway, if you're not with me. I need you, Marinette."
Her heart was racing now. What was he saying? Did he really want to quit being Paris' protector? For her?
"What about Ladybug?"
"Ladybug? Marinette, that's been over a long time. I thought my visits to you would have spoken for themselves. Surely you know I'm not interested in anyone else? I don't often hold women in my arms, kiss their hair, think of them all day until I can see them again." He couldn't resist pulling her close again.
She smiled. "I was hoping I hadn't misread your actions, but you did give me a scare when you said you never wanted to see me again. My head is still spinning from that. But what I mean is, who will help Ladybug save Paris now, if you're not there?"
"She doesn't need me, Marinette, not really. Another miraculous holder can take my place if it becomes necessary."
"But, what will you do, Kitty, if you're not, well, Kitty?"
He laughed. "I'll go to work as I have been, you know, like a normal adult, but this time without awkward excuses for needing to dash out. I may sleep at night again. Take my girlfriend out on a date."
"G-girlfriend?"
"You, Marinette. I mean you. It's only been you, for a long time." His excitement was growing and he held her hands in his, squeezing them lightly. "Let's go out on a double date with your married friends, Alya and Nino. Or we can watch their baby girl and let them go out. Or I can meet your parents and let them interrogate me about my intentions toward their daughter. All that normal stuff I've never done. Teach me to be normal, Marinette?"
She couldn't hold back the tears or the laughter. "You crazy cat! You couldn't be normal if you tried. And I'm certainly no expert at it!"
He pulled her tightly to him once more. "No, I guess you wouldn't be, would you? You're too extraordinary to be normal."
She swatted his chest. "Laying it on thick, aren't you, Chat?"
"Nope. Truth Milady. I've known you for years. I have experience."
"Well, yeah, you have come to my balcony many times, since we were teens."
"No, Milady. In normal, everyday life, I know you—without my mask. I have since high school."
She swallowed hard and put a restraining hand on his chest. "Chat. Wait. Are you sure about this? We can't go back once I know."
"You don't want to know?"
"No, Kitty. I feel the same way you do. But I don't want you to regret what you'll be giving up, and we can't undo this."
He covered her hand and held it against his chest. "I will never regret being with you, Marinette. I've thought about it a long time. It's time to put away my miraculous. For good. You're my future, if you'll have this mangy, old, soon-to-be house cat?"
Marinette pushed up on her toes and softly kissed his cheek. "Anytime. All the time."
"Well then, in that case, close your eyes, Milady." Once her eyes were shut, he said the words that would reveal who he was to another person for the first time: "Plagg, claws in."