Adrien's heart was pounding as he watched Ladybug disappear amongst the rooftops. She knew his secret he was sure of it. He wanted to change into Cat Noir and chase after her but that was practically impossible with his father and the gorilla standing close by. Instead he followed them inside, his mind racing as he recalled the touch of her hands on his face and the way she tousled his hair.
He'd seen her in the distance during the show. His eyes had been rivetted to the figure in red nestled beside a chimney. No one else seemed to notice her, they were too fixated on the show but Adrien was always on the lookout for his lady love.
He wondered what she was thinking now she knew. Would she reveal her identity? Could they meet up as civilians or did she even know him outside the suit? His mind was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost missed his father's comments about getting him dressed and home.
Tikki looked like she was watching a game of tennis rather than Marinette in her room, "You're wearing a pattern into the floor."
Marinette stopped her pacing and tugged at her pigtails. "Tikki, how can Adrien be Cat Noir?!"
"I'm assuming that's a rhetorical question since it's about the hundredth time you've asked."
Marinette dropped onto her daybed, "They're so different, how can they be the same person?"
"Do you act differently when you're Ladybug?" Tikki said with a patient smile.
Marinette huffed and pushed her fringe from her eyes, "Yeah I do, I'm less clumsy for one thing."
"That's because you're also more confident in yourself."
"Yeah I guess so. Cat Noir certainly isn't lacking any self-confidence, plus he's a show off."
Tikki gave a knowing grin, "Could he be trying to impress someone?"
"You think he's doing it for me?"
Tikki shrugged, "Well he's tried to kiss you a number of times."
A deep red stain crept from Marinette's chin to her hairline, "And it's been Adrien. I've pushed away Adrien!" She threw her head back and sank to the daybed.
"Now that you know you could change that."
Marinette sat up with wide eyes, "You're right but what if he's just flirting?"
"You're overthinking things, you need to talk to him."
"Yes, you're right Tikki." She picked up her phone and studied the screen considering what to say to Adrien.
"Is calling him going to work? He doesn't know you're Marinette. Besides Ladybug has never had a problem talking to Cat Noir, make it easier on yourself."
She gave a determined nod, "Let's do this. Tikki, spots on."
At home Adrien sat at his computer admiring Ladybug via the Ladyblog. There was a video of her rescuing him but it wasn't close nor did it capture the exchange on the rooftop. He stood up and moved to his mirror, he lifted his hands and ruffled his hair as Ladybug had done and watched the results. Plagg hovered near his shoulder, "She's blind if she doesn't figure it out."
Adrien frowned as he shrugged on his white shirt, "It's not funny, Plagg."
The black kwami did a loop-the-loop as he continued to laugh, "Oh but it is. You let the cat out of the bag with Ladybug."
He sat down to put on his shoes, "I didn't mean to. I got caught up in the moment."
"You mean you couldn't resist showing off in front of your lady love."
He let out a groan, "I can't help it, Plagg. I want her to like me so badly."
Plagg smirked as he hugged his camembert, "I told you loving cheese was less complicated."
"I need to find her."
"Now? Can't you just enjoy the cheese?"
"Now Plagg, claw out."
The last rays of sunlight were fading from the sky and Ladybug wasn't sure where to look for Cat Noir. It was too early for patrol and there weren't any akuma attacks that she'd heard of. Instead she headed back to the rooftop where she'd been sketching, she'd left her notebook and pencil behind when all the trouble had started.
As she landed at her destination she was surprised to find Cat Noir flipping through her sketch book. He looked up and smirked, "You're quite talented bug-a-boo."
"How did you find that?"
"I may have spotted you from the catwalk."
Her teeth clenched, "You saw me."
He shifted towards her, "I always keep an eye out for my lady in red."
She outstretched her hand, "Can I have that back please."
He placed the book in her hand but didn't let it go. Leaning close he whispered, "My favourite page is the one with the love hearts around my name."
"W-what?" she gasped in embarrassment. It gave further confirmation of his identity under the mask.
The back of his finger traced the hollow of her cheek, "If you find me more attractive without the mask I'm happy to take it off. But there is a catch, you need to remove yours too."
So, there it was. The usually cool as a cucumber Ladybug began to chew her lip. She could deal with a flirty Cat Noir but knowing who lay behind the mask had her in a spin. "So where is this offending page?"
Cat Noir thumbed through the pages and opened it. There she saw his name in her own handwriting elegantly scrawled with tiny hearts surrounding it. She thanked her lucky stars that she hadn't written + Marinette beside it. As she looked up he was ever so close. "All I need to know is your real name and I can add my own version in the space below."
Normally his teasing wouldn't have fazed her but now it was different. This was Adrien flirting with her, now she wondered how she ever missed the similarities in appearance. Heck the most obvious link between the two had been the allergy to feathers. It seemed ridiculous that she'd completely brushed off that clue. In typical Cat Noir style, he was well and truly invading her personal space. He had regularly tried to get this close to her and seemed to have no concept of boundaries when it came to Ladybug.
A cold sense of reality washed over her, "You'll probably be disappointed in who I am."
His brow furrowed, "How could you possibly think that?"
She looked back to the book, "I'm not the same without the mask." She lifted her head, "I already know you don't look at me the same way when I'm not Ladybug."
He frowned and his tail twitched, "I-I don't know what to say about that. My heart has belonged to you from the moment you stood up to Hawkmoth and we faced down Stoneheart for a second time. I wouldn't allow myself to look at any other girl that way. If I brushed you off out of the mask all I can say is I'm sorry."
She opened her mouth to reply but a flash of light below caught her attention. "Is that what I think it is?"
Cat Noir sighed, "Yep I guess this conversation will have to wait. Hawkmoth's timing is terrible."
Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up, I had so many different ideas on how this could go. Thanks for the reviews :)