So, there's only one chapter left! Shouldn't take too long to put up, just need to do some editing here and there :)
Marinette stood at the cash register with a smile glued on her face, greeting everyone with the same warmth and kindness as the last. "That will be 6.99." She told the woman in front of her, surprised when she gave her a ten and told her to keep the change. "Thank you, mademoiselle! Have a wonderful day!" She called after her as the woman waved while she exited, a group of teens holding the door open for her.
Surprisingly, Marinette loved working in the bakery, especially on slow Sundays. She couldn't stand lunch rush, but instead she adored the time when only a handful of customers sat at the tables drinking coffee as the sun shined through the windows, or the rain poured, the sound of the drops hitting the roof calmed her slightly. Marinette smiled as Alya walked in with Nino close behind her.
Marinette walked towards them with a tub for dirty dishes, stopping at a table to scrub it clean. "Hey guys, what can I get for you?" She asked, placing the bucket down and whipping out a notepad as the couple sat in front of her.
"Oh, we're gonna wait to order." Alya told her with a wicked grin on her face. Marinette eyed her suspiciously, knowing her friend wasn't up to any good.
"Yeah!" Nino joined in, turning to face Marinette, obliviously. "We're just waiting for Adrien." He added, before turning to look at Alya. He noticed the expression she wore and looked at the pair of friends in confusion. "Am I missing something?"
Alya and Marinette couldn't help but laugh. "So, I'll start you guys off with some cheese bread, on the house." Marinette decided, between giggles. Alya and Nino tried to offer to pay, but Marinette ignored them, heading into the kitchen to whip up the plate of food. When she came back out, Adrien was already sitting with the group. "Hi, Adrien." Marinette greeted as she placed the food down on the table.
"Hey, Mari!" Adrien sang back as she struggled not to blush at the nickname. "Slow day?" He asked, making conversation.
Marinette let out a dreamy sigh. "My favourite." She hummed as she whipped out her notepad once more. "Now, what can I get you guys?"
After getting her friends order, her parents insisted she left work early and join them. With a tight hug and a 'thank you, thank you, thank you' Marinette was heading towards her friends, this time, apron-less. "Hey, guys, don't mind if I join you?" She asked, already taking a seat next to Alya.
"We were just talking about you!" Alya hinted, a devious grin on her face. Marinette looked at her friends with confusion, noticing the blush on Adrien's face as he squirmed in his seat. Little did she know, Nino and Alya were grilling him to spill whether or not he had feelings for her. Adrien insisted it was all platonic, despite the butterflies filling in his stomach at the mention of it. "Don't worry, all good things, all good things."
Marinette looked at Alya suspiciously. "Okay..." She mumbled, before digging through her book bag to pull out a notebook. "Now that you guys just so happen to be here, you should totally help me out with my physics homework."
Adrien was woken from his slumber by Plagg who had bit him. "Ow! Dude, not cool!" He hissed as he sat up and rubbed at his cheek, the area where Plagg attacked.
Plagg rolled his eyes before pulling onto Adrien's t-shirt, trying to get him out of bed. "No time for that! I need camembert!" He nagged as Adrien rolled out of bed.
Adrien paused from where he sat, hearing a noise muffled by his window. "Wait, did you hear that?" He asked, cutting Plagg off from his complaining. He opened the window and stuck his head out, listening for any suspicious noise. After a couple seconds of silence, he heard a scream, which suddenly stopped halfway through. "An akuma? At this time?" Adrien asked, turning to look at Plagg.
Plagg shrugged, being just about as much help as usual. "Who knows. I just woke up to that noise thinking it was my stomach." He explained as he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Well, we need to investigate!" Adrien decided, despite Plaggs protesting. "Plagg, claws out!" He ordered, holding out his ring with a wicked smile. He could only pray that Ladybug would wake up from the noise as well.
"Tikki? What's going on?" Marinette murmured as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes after being shaken awake from her kwami.
"Marinette, we have to hurry!" Tikki pleaded, helping pull the comforter off of her. "Chat keeps calling! I think there's an akuma." She explained after Marinette finally crawled out of bed.
"An akuma? At this time?" Marinette moaned, stretching her arms. "Doesn't Hawkmoth need sleep as well?" She let out a heavy sigh as she realised where this was all going.
"It doesn't matter, we have to go make sure!" Tikki insisted, motioning for her to hurry up.
Marinette let out another long, annoyed sigh. "I know you're right, but im still not happy about it." She murmured, grumpy due to the lack of sleep. "Tikki, spots on!" She added, not nearly as much enthusiasm as it usually holds.
"Chat Noir, what is it?" Ladybug asked through the screen. Chat Noir let out a long sigh of relief, although there was a hint of annoyance laced in it.
"Ladybug! Finally!" He cheered, crouched behind a chimney. "It's an akuma. It's near the Pont des Arts." Chat explained, looking down at the small screen on his baton.
Ladybug nodded her head, not needing anymore information then that. "On my way. Hold tight." She answered, before swiftly hanging up.
Chat Noir peeked behind the chimney to look at the akuma, who had been walking the streets waiting for any kind of noise. Whether it was a person on a late night walk or the sound of a trash can closing due to the wind, the akuma silenced it with the flick of her wrist. Whenever it was a person, you could see the panic in there eyes as their scream was cut off, the akuma taking their voice. Chat assumed she was an assistant due to her attire. She must of been fed up having to listen to people.
As Ladybug joined him he spotted the bracelet on her wrist, a gold charm dangling from it. "I think the akuma is in her bracelet." Chat Noir whispered, turning to glance at Ladybug. She answered with a nod, turning back to examine the akuma more, trying to sort out a plan.
"You distract the akuma while I try and get closer." Ladybug ordered before she used her yo-yo to get a couple roofs down. Chat Noir saluted her before jumping down into an ally, a devious plan forming in his head.
The akuma was startled by the loud sound of garbage can lids slamming together, her eyes whipping towards the silly Chat Noir, who was currently feigning innocence. "Oops." He hummed, a smirk on his lips. The akuma growled while flicking her wrist, planning on shooting him with the purple dust that silenced her victims. Instead, he had reflected the punch using the garbage can lids, which were of course silenced in his place. "Ooo, that was im-paw-ssive!"
Ladybug rolled her eyes at Chat's pun, but focused once more on not making a sound. She had slipped down a fire escape from behind the akuma and had started to advance on it, hoping Chat would be able to distract her long enough. Her plan was ruined as soon as she got close. "Ladybug! Ladybug, over here!" Chloe screamed from the balcony of her fathers hotel. Ladybug groaned as she rested her head in her hands, not even the least bit surprised.
"Shh!" The akuma hissed, silencing Chloe quickly before turning to Ladybug. She could see Chloe freaking out in the corner of her eye, face turning red from the anger of not being heard.
"Lucky charm!"
Ladybug stared at the mirror that landed in her hand, confused until the akuma started to target her. She lifted the glass, just in time, watching as the dust was reflected off of it. It looked like getting the charm was up to Chat now. Ladybug sent a wink his way before she spoke. "Well, isn't this un-fur-tunate." She let out a fake gasp, dodging the akuma's attacks like it was nothing. Chat Noir, who seemed to know what she meant, began to creep up on the akuma. "Paw-don me!" Ladybug spoke with a laugh as she ran onto the Pont des Arts, leading the akuma towards her.
The akuma fell right into their trap. Chat used cataclysm to take out a floorboard, causing the akuma to fall and the charm to go flying off her wrist and right into Ladybugs hands. The akuma lunged at Chat who had quickly dodged, but he wasn't fast enough. The akuma stepped hard on his tail, causing Chat to stumble and fall right over the bridges railing and into the River Seine. "Chat!" Ladybug's scream echoed through the river as she destroyed the bracelet with ease. Chat saw the light pink colour cleanse the city as he fell hard into the water.
"Ladybug!" He struggled to scream, taking a large mouthful of water. "Just keep your head up." Chat repeated to himself. Every wave crashing over him caused him to go back under, always taking another mouth full of water when he did. He sighed in relief once he saw Ladybug jumping over the railing, landing into the water with a large splash. She was quick to grab him, dragging him towards the edge of the river. Chat attempted to help kick, to make her job easier, but if anything he just made it worse.
When they made it back on dry land, they both collapsed to the ground, breathing heavy as the sun began to peek over the horizon. There was a large crowd on the bridge, cheering after seeing them emerge from the water. "You... Stupid... Cat..." Ladybug hissed as she panted, right before Chat began to cough up a bunch of water. She sat up and placed a hand on his back, rubbing in slow circles.
"Ugh, the sun's already rising. School is going to suck today." Ladybug complained, letting out a heavy sigh in annoyance as he recovered.
Chat stared at her before nodding slowly. She didn't even react to the fact he gave her information about her real self, no matter how small. Usually she was so careful about that kind of stuff. "So, now I know you go to school." He teased, his usual Chat Noir smirk rising on his face.
Ladybug rolled her eyes and shoved him lightly. "I'm glad you're okay..." She admitted, shyly, before her confidence seemed to rush back to her. "Now come on, we have a bunch of adoring fans to meet." She laughed as she gestured up to the waiting crowd.
Adrien let out a long moan as his alarm went off for the fifth time. "Just shut it off." Plagg moaned from where he lay in the pile of blankets. Adrien wanted nothing more then to do just that, but he knew if he waited any longer he would be late.
His father would probably use one missed day as an excuse to pull him out. "You know we have to get up." He let out a yawn as he sat up, eventually pulling Plagg from the blankets, despite his complaints. "I'll give you camembert, doesn't that sound nice?" He teased, knowing it would work. Before Plagg could answer and cheer with glee, they were interrupted by the sound of his phone.
It was a text message from Marinette, replying to his earlier message he sent last night. He sent her a simple message, asking if she was awake after getting home from a rather long photo shoot. He couldn't fall asleep and yet all he could think of was her, and so he decided to text her in hopes she would be awake. Of course, a couple hours later, he was awoken to go fight the stupid akuma and ended up soaked head to toe.
'Sorry! Phone was on silent but I was awake :('
-Mari
Plagg shook him from his thoughts, his dreamy smile turning into a frown. "Ooo. Message from your girlfriend?" He teased, flying around his head in small circles.
"Shut up, Plagg." Adrien hissed, in no mood for his jokes. "She's just a friend and you know that." He added, eyebrows furrowing with annoyance.
"But you'd want her to be more." Plagg broke in. It wasn't a question, like it was clear it was true. Adrien rolled his eyes, knowing Plagg wouldn't understand no matter how many times he said it. Although, he was thinking of Marinette quite a lot recently... She was beautiful, kind, and had a soft spot for Chat Noir, but alas, his heart belonged to his lady. "I don't see why you save yourself for her when she wont give you the time of day." Plagg added, seeming to read his mind.
Adrien had to admit, there was truth to his words. He could try all he wants, but deep down he knew that Ladybug would never return his feelings. "So... I have a crush on Marinette." He spoke, although it sounded more like he was telling himself. As soon as he said the words, it felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. "I have a crush on Marinette!" He repeated, looking to Plagg with an excited grin.
"So, lover boy, what now?"
Marinette paced her room as Alya sat on her couch, her phone flat on her desk. "If you continue pacing you're going to burn a hole through the ground." Her friend teased, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Instead of answering, Marinette ignored her, turning to face her with a panicked expression. "This shouldn't be so hard!" She whined, placing a hand on her forehead. "He's just a friend. It's not hard to send a simple text message to a friend." She added, taking a few steps towards her phone.
"That's because he isn't!" Alya interjected, throwing her arms out, exasperatedly. "Did you see how you two were teasing each other when we watched the fireworks? Dancing?" She reminded her as she stood up and walked towards her Alya grabbed her phone quickly before she could protest. "Mm... Perfect! And... Send!" Marinette screeched in horror, quickly latching onto her friends arm after she finished typing. "Relax. All it says is what you wanted to say. 'Hey Adrien, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today!' how simple is that."
Marinette fell to her knees with her head in her hands before she let out a wail. "An exclamation point? Really? Now that sounds too excited. You didn't even put in a typo! Way too proper!" She listed out her complaints and was soon cut off by the sound of her phone beeping, signalling that Adrien had answered. Marinette dove for the phone, but Alya kept it out of her reach.
"Oh, Marinette, why would I want to after that exclamation point?" Alya teased, pretending to read it out as Marinette stuck her tongue out at her. "Just kidding. It actually says, 'Hey Marinette, I was actually just about to text you and see if you wanted to hang out at lunch. I'll explain more at school, just don't fall down the stairs again.' Oh my gosh. Even flirting in text. How precious."
"Alya, it's not flirting!" Marinette screeched, catching her phone as Alya passed it back to her. "He doesn't like me that way. I know he doesn't."
Alya rolled her eyes as she picked up her bag from the ground. "Sure he doesn't. Anyways, we better head to school before we're late." She teased, once more, gesturing towards the trap door downstairs. Alya sighed as she saw her friend curled up into a ball on the floor. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she knew he loved that boy.
"Don't worry, Marinette. I'm sure everything will work out."
"Hey, Nino?" Adrien hummed as the pair walked through the hall towards their class. He continued when Nino nodded his head and looked at him, taking a sip from his cup of coffee. "How do you ask a girl out?"
Nino burst out into a fit of coughs, choking on his drink. "Dude!" He moaned, clutching onto his throat after calming down. "Couldn't you have waited until I was done drinking?" He asked, glaring at his laughing friend. Adrien mumbled out an apology, clutching onto his stomach as his laughter finally subsided. "You like someone? Who is it?" He eventually began to pester his friend for details, excitement bubbling up in his chest at the thought of his friend no longer being the third wheel to him and Alya.
"Woah, woah!" Adrien started, panic beginning to set in. "It's all hypothetical!" He tried to tell him, hoping he would believe him.
Instead, Nino ignored him. "Is it Marinette? Yo, it's totally Marinette. I see how you look at her. Oh my god, that is so cute. Dude, you so need to ask her o-" Nino was cut off from his rambling after Adrien harshly slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Shh!" He hushed, hesitently moving his hand from Nino's mouth. "Someone might hear you."
Nino gave him a sheepish smile as an apology, but instantly began to continue pestering, much quieter now. "That proves it. You like her." He gave his friend a slap on the back as they finally began to continue towards the classroom.
"Yes... Just don't tell anyone. I still am trying to figure out how to ask her." Adrien admitted as the pair walked into class. Nino gave his girlfriend a friendly smile and a wave before sitting down, while Adrien wouldn't even look up from his feet, sitting down next to Nino with a blush on his cheeks.
"Ooo, you have it bad."
Marinette was counting down the minutes to the end of class, excited for lunch to finally begin. She was a bit confused when Adrien wouldn't even give her a second glance for the start of the class, but eventually he started acting normal again. Well, reasonably normal. Whenever Marinette spoke, he couldn't even meet her eyes, his face turning red. Did she have something on her face or did she just look bad?
"So, what were you thinking on doing?" Marinette asked, standing by Adrien's desk as he packed his things away. She giggled as he jumped, obviously being startled.
"O-Oh, hey!" Adrien greeted, rubbing his neck, awkwardly. "Well, I...I was thinking that we- I mean, if you wanted to, could go have a mini little picnic in the park... I, um, brought a basket..." He offered, his face bright red in embarrassment.
"L-Like a date?" Marinette asked, shock written across her face.
Adrien looked up to give Marinette an embarrassed, yet friendly, smile. "Um, yeah... That is if you want to..." He murmured, his stomach filled with butterflies.
Marinette began to shy away as her face began to heat up, causing Adrien to relax slightly. "S-ye-I mean- Okay! Fun sounds!" She blabbered on, eventually resulting in her slapping a hand on her forehead. "I mean, sounds fun!"
Adrien couldn't help but laugh, Marinette soon joining him. He couldn't help but stare as her freckled covered nose crinkled, her bright blue eyes lighting up with delight. How he never realised how beautiful she was before, he didn't know. Eventually, Adrien held out a hand for Marinette to take. With a shy smile, she laced her fingers with his before he led her out into the hall.
Marinette could practically feel the glares from Chloe and Lila piercing the back of her head but she didn't care. All that mattered now was the panic rising in her chest as she was hit with realisation. She was holding hands with Adrien, with Chat Noir. Adrien didn't like her... He liked Ladybug...
Did he find out she was Ladybug?