Adrien

I stood perfectly still, though on the inside I was freaking out. Everything I had worked so hard for for the last week was about to be brought down by my own partner.

She approached me, steps as careful as an animal stalking its prey.

She stopped, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Adrien Agreste, you know you're in a world of trouble, don't you?"

I released the breath I had been holding in. "Mi-I mean, Ladybug, what are you doing here?"

"The better question is what are you doing here?" she asked, meeting my gaze. "Everyone in Paris is looking for you. Didn't you know that?"

I groaned. "What are you going to do? Tie me up with your yo-yo and drag me home?"

She tapped her chin, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Good idea, but-" She shook her head. "I won't make you go home, on one condition."

I cocked my brow. "What's that?"

"You don't leave Paris," she said. "And I'll know if you do, and I will hunt you down and drag you home, so don't try it."

I rubbed my arms, looking to the ground. "Why does it matter? No one needs me here."

She stepped closer. "Why would you say that?"

My heart beat sped up. Had she seen Plagg? Did she know who I was? She wasn't revealing if she knew one way or the other and it was driving me nuts.

"There's this girl," I started. "She's been upset since I disappeared. I . . . Watch her. I didn't mean to cause her pain, and I can't just stay here and watch her suffer because of me."

Much to my surprise, she smiled. "She sounds like she means a lot to you."

I snorted. "More than I thought she did."

"Why don't you go to her? I'm sure she would help you."

"It's too risky. I don't know if I can trust her."

She approached me, placing her hands on my shoulders. My breath hitched. Even though I was starting to fall for Marinette, my feelings for Ladybug didn't waver. How could I be in love with two girls at the same time?

"It sounds like she cares very much for you. And how could she not?"

I took a step back, my voice caught in my throat. "Cat Noir . . . told me you almost gave up your miraculous when you thought Volpina had me. Why would you do that?"

A gentle smile crept across her face. "Because you're very special to me, Adrien Agreste. I know we haven't known each other very long, but I like you. That's why it pains me to see you running away from your life. Is being Adrien really that terrible?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. As Adrien, I got to see a side of her I didn't get to see as Cat Noir. This gentleness toward Adrien would've been more sassy had I been Cat Noir. It was the same with Marinette. As Adrien, she could hardly talk to me. As Cat Noir, she had no problem.

Ugh, this was confusing. Ladybug was pouring her heart out to me, something I had longed for, and yet I kept thinking about Marinette. What was wrong with me?

"I can't deal with the pressure," I admitted. "Do you know what it's like to be handed a schedule every morning and know exactly how you're going to spend almost every minute of every day?" At least, that was Adrien's life. Cat Noir interrupted that schedule more than once. "You're a superhero. You know all about pressure, but not like this, at least I don't think you do. Your family probably loves you. They probably give you unconditional love. My father's love has to be earned. My mother loved me no matter what, but not him. And of course, she's the one who has to be gone."

I slunk back against the wall, knees shaking as I forced myself not to cry. Ladybug kneeled beside me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I tried to resist, but the tears were on the verge of spilling out all over her suit. If she ever found out I was Cat Noir, what would she think of all this? She wouldn't be holding me, that was for sure. She would think I was weak and pathetic, someone unworthy of being her partner.

"It's okay, Adrien. Let it out," she said. "I'm right here."

I shook my head. "You should . . . go. I need to get inside before someone else catches me."

She nodded, her frown deepening. "Remember what I said: I won't tell anyone I saw you as long as you stay in Paris. Take all the time you need to regain yourself, but just promise me you won't leave."

"Promise," I said. "And thanks . . . for talking to me."

"If you need someone to talk to, I'll be around." She stood up, taking my hand and helping me up as well. To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close enough to feel her curves under her skin-tight suit. She had never willingly gotten this close to me, as Cat Noir, and I savored the moment.

"Remember, you are important, Adrien Agreste," she said. "I hope you soon realize that."

She extended her yo-yo and she was off. Once she was out of sight, Plagg emerged from my jacket. "Looks like you're caught in a love triangle between your lady and your princess."

I clenched and unclenched my hands a few times. "They like Adrien, not Cat Noir, so how can they truly love Adrien if they can't love him?"

"Do you love Ladybug's civilian self?" Plagg asked.

"I don't even know who she is."

"And she doesn't know you're Cat Noir. So really, how can you love Ladybug when you don't know who she really is?"

I had convinced myself when I first met Ladybug that I loved her no matter who she was under the mask. I always wanted to know, but she never told me. She didn't believe Cat Noir's love for her was real. Maybe I was too over the top with it. I didn't know. Though, for whatever reason, after only meeting me, as Adrien, a couple of times, she suddenly had feelings for me. That idea didn't sit well with me.

But then, who was I to judge when there was a chance I had met Ladybug's civilian self and never paid her any attention? Actually, I did know her. She told Cat Noir that I was her classmate . . . .

Marinette's face filled my mind. How lucky would I be if Marinette turned out to be Ladybug? Both of them were upset by Adrien's disappearance. Both of them seemingly had a crush on him. The more I thought about it, the more that made sense. It would also explain how I could have feelings for both of them.

"I might know who Ladybug is," I said. "I just hope I'm right."

Marinette

The weekend was finally here, though I couldn't exactly say I was relieved. After my meeting with Adrien, I didn't sleep very well. His sullen expression broke my heart, and I hated seeing him like that. As Cat Noir, he tried so hard to hide behind a smile and puns, but underneath was a broken boy who didn't feel loved.

I sat in my bed, curled into a ball most of the night. Tikki tried to talk to me, but I barely managed a response. All those times he had flirted with Ladybug and I rejected him haunted my mind, taunting me. Adrien wasn't someone who flirted with just anyone, and now I no longer thought Cat Noir did, either. His feelings for Ladybug were real, yet I shot him down every time. Did I, as Ladybug, ever even make it apparent that I appreciated Cat Noir as my partner? I referred to us as a team to the press, but I couldn't remember ever telling him personally how much he meant to me. And, all those hits he took for me. Did I ever once thank him?

A small sob escaped my lips. Was Ladybug on his list of people who didn't return his feelings? What would he say if ever found out I was her? Would he stop seeing me as Cat Noir? Would he become distant with Ladybug? Would I ever see Adrien again?

"Marinette, I think you're worrying too much," Tikki said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "All he needs is TLC. Both sides of him. You can give him that."

I nodded, though I wasn't as confident as her. "I just . . . feel a bit guilty. Everything Ladybug put Cat Noir through. How can I ever tell him who I am?"

"He loves Ladybug. Telling him should be easy," she said. "He has no ill feelings toward Ladybug. Cat Noir just needs to know you appreciate what he's done for you."

It was easy enough. I could do that. Next time I saw him, as Ladybug, I would be sure to do just that.

Despite not sleeping all that much, I got up on time the next morning and helped my parents in the bakery. They needed to go out for a while, so I would have the place to myself for a few hours. At least, that's what I thought before Alya walked in.

I smiled at my friend. "What brings you here?"

Her usual cheerful smile was gone, replaced with concern. "Girl, have you seen any of the news reports about Adrien's disappearance?"

I shook my head, stomach twisting. "No, why?"

She shook her head. "Don't look at them online. People are getting pretty harsh."

"What do you mean?"

She pulled out her phone, and I tried to look over her shoulder, but she pushed me away. "Some people are just calling him out as a whiner who's afraid of responsibility, basically. But, some people are talking about . . . other things."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "What other things?"

"Where he actually is," she said. "It's not pretty. Some people on here believe he's probably dead, and then they go on to speculate how he died and where he'll probably be found."

I bit my lip, hoping to convey enough emotion that it was believable, though I wasn't sure if I could. I knew Adrien was alive, but she couldn't know I knew that.

"I can't think like that," I finally said. "He has to still be alive. Unless you give me proof he isn't, I won't believe it."

She nodded. "I hoped you would think that way." She smiled, though it was a bit forced. "Between you and Nino, I don't know who misses him more, but he won't believe the rumors, either."

"That's good. How is he doing with all this?"

She looked away, her smile dropping again. "He's just been really annoyed with it all, though mostly himself. He thinks there's something he could've done to stop him."

Sounded familiar. "He couldn't have stopped him. I don't . . . I don't know if anyone could've."

Well, there was one person, besides Ladybug. His father, the primary reason behind his disappearance. If he felt like his father truly loved him, he wouldn't have done this. I wasn't even sure if Ladybug's love would've been enough without that.

"I know, but you know how it goes. People always think everything is their fault when things like this happen," she said. "Anyway, I'm about to meet Nino at the park. I wanted to see if you wanted to join us. I thought it might be nice to get you two out for a while."

I shook my head. "Sorry, Mom and Dad left me in charge of the bakery. I'll call you when they come home and see if you're still there."

She nodded. "Alright, I'll see you later hopefully."

After she left, Tikki came out from behind the counter. "Too bad Adrien can't see how worried his friends are about him."

I frowned. "Yeah, but . . . maybe I should tell him."

After Mom and Dad came home, I managed to meet Alya and Nino at the park for a couple hours. Nino hadn't spoken much to me or anyone else for the past week, but he seemed to be doing a bit better today. I could tell he was worried about Adrien, and I agreed with Tikki. I wished Adrien could see it. He always came to visit me, but I was almost sure he didn't visit Nino as Cat Noir. That would've been really suspicious.

That night, I wrote in my diary. With all that had happened, I actually didn't as much as I thought I would've, and I certainly had a lot to write about. Adrien . . . Cat Noir . . . I was at least using them interchangeably now. I almost couldn't believe I didn't start slipping into that before I knew his identity. They really were more alike than I ever thought.

Feeling eyes on me, I looked out the door, finding the black kitten himself standing on my balcony. Under his mask, I noticed a slight reddish tint, probably from getting caught. I gave him a warm smile and opened the door.

"You can't stay away from me, can you?" I teased.

"Sorry I didn't knock. You looked busy and I didn't want to disturb you," he said, following me inside.

"So, what brings you here tonight?" I asked, sitting on my bed. He didn't sit beside me, but I didn't let it bother me.

He looked away. "Honestly, I just . . . wanted to see you. And, to ask you something."

"Ask me anything." Well, almost anything.

He looked into my eyes, and then he asked, "What made you fall in love with Adrien?"

My eyes lit up with surprise. "Um . . . his kindness. Why?"

"There are lots of kind people in the world. Why Adrien?" he pressed.

I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with his line of questioning. "I don't know. I mean . . . when we first met, I was pretty harsh toward him, but he was still so nice to me. He's always been nice to me. He's nice to everyone. I don't know what answer you're looking for, but that's it."

He frowned. "But, I'm nice to you and everyone else, so what makes him so special to you? Dig deeper."

"We . . . shared a moment . . . in the rain," I said. "Somehow I just knew I was meant to love him."

He closed his eyes, nodding. Was he remembering it, too? Did that moment mean as much to him as it did to me?

"Guess no one can top that," he said quietly, frowning.

Standing up, I took his hands in mine. "Why are you asking me about that, kitty?"

"I was seeing just how strongly you felt for him." His smile was laced with pain. "Does it still hurt, him not being here?"

My hands moved to his face, gently touching his cheeks. I'd never gotten this intimate with him before, other than when I kissed him when he was under Dark Cupid's spell. This was different, though. He was fully aware of what was happening, and there wasn't an akuma anywhere in sight. His green eyes were wide, but after a moment, he closed his eyes. As starved as he was for attention, I could tell he loved receiving affection.

"It hurts," I finally admitted. "But, not as much as it used to."

He opened his eyes. "But, if you love him, it should always hurt. When my mom disappeared, my dad-"

I held my finger to his lips. "You're saying too much, kitty." I met his gaze. "It doesn't hurt as much because I feel like he's somewhere close by, like he's watching over me." My gaze fell to his lips. How many times had I fantasized about kissing those lips? I just never imagined those same lips belonged to Adrien and Cat Noir. But, now it didn't matter.

His hands rested on my shoulders. "Maybe he's closer than you think."

He started leaning toward me, and I closed my eyes, my heart feeling like it was going to pound out of my chest. He was going to kiss me . . . He was going to -

His chin rested on my shoulder, and his arms wrapped around my waist. Startled, I returned his embrace. Part of me was relieved he didn't kiss me, but a larger part of me was disappointed.

He nuzzled his chin against my shoulder, and I stroked the back of his head, running my fingers through his soft, blond hair.

"I need this. Thank you . . . Princess."

"Anytime, kitty."

I moved him back to my bed, letting him snuggle against me more than before. We didn't do anymore than just hold each other, and we didn't really even talk. I could tell how hungry he was for affection, and I just hoped I could give him enough.

After an hour or so, his miraculous beeped. He groaned. "I don't want to go."

"Then stay." Usually I was more keen on keeping our identities secret, so it surprised me when I asked him to stay. But, I already knew he was Adrien.

"Can't," he said. "I wish I could, but I'm not supposed to."

His expression was sullen, and I brushed my hand across his cheeks. "It'll be okay. Come back tomorrow."

He leaned into my touch, and I caught myself looking at his lips again. Just a couple inches, that was all that separated us.

Closing my eyes, I leaned closer to him, until my lips connected with his. He seemed startled, but then I felt him kissing me back a moment later. His lips were hungry and desperate, and I was almost overwhelmed by the power of his kiss. For someone so deprived of love, he definitely knew how to give it.

When his miraculous beeped its second warning, he pulled away, staring at me with wide eyes.

"I-I need to go," he stammered, stumbling to the balcony. He left without saying goodbye, but I think we were both too shocked and flustered to say much of anything. As he jumped from my balcony, I gave him a small wave.

"Good night, Adrien."

As thanks for waiting so patiently, there's your first Marichat kiss of this story, and a little bit of Ladrien. Hope you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading :)