A/N : Hey guys so this was my own fault for not putting one shot in the summary, but I've gotten reviews for more and therefore as an apology for miscommunication and a thank you for reading, this is now a two-shot. Note: it has less dancing elements. Hope you enjoy and happy holidays!
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It had been about their fourth dance practice together when Marinette noticed it. She'd arrived early and Adrien hadn't seen her yet. It was only a warm up and Adrien wasn't even using the choreography they had learned.
Raphael didn't seem to mind, he was just watching the blond with a knowing smile.
Adrien was dancing to the song Marinette and Chat Noir had that night. The way he sassily swung those hips, mischief in his eyes and that smirk on his face. A Chat Noir smirk.
Marinette vigorously rubbed her eyes trying to unsee it. But now there was no going back. Heck Adrien was even using the basic steps she'd taught him. Everything made sense. Chat Noir saw her dance Wednesday and Adrien enrolled in her class Friday.
Huh. So Alya had been right when she had said Adrien was Chat Noir.
Marinette wasn't quite sure how process. Her biggest crush was also her partner? The very same partner she had said she'd give a chance to if Adrien Agreste didn't exist?
Was Marinette more or less nervous around this new boy?
Regardless she could only laugh, suddenly giddy. She'd fallen for him twice. Marinette shook her head and made her pig tails bounce, determined as she recognized the song was about half way through.
It was time to make her presence known.
She stepped out onto the floor and seamlessly slipped into sync with a slightly surprised Adrien, his face turning a bit red.
"Marinette? How long have you been here?" He asked.
She could only grin in response. This was going to be fun.
She leaned closer, watching in interest as Adrien's face reddened even more.
"Long enough to give you a few pointers," she teased, "A little more hip Adrien, loosen up. Act a little more like Chat Noir."
She winked at the last part. And Adrien. Well Adrien tripped over his own feet and went sprawling to the floor. Raphael's concerned gaze met Marinette's. He raised an eyebrow, curious as to what happened but Marinette only shrugged in response.
After that Adrien's dancing was quite stiff though Raphael excused him for the hard tumble he took before classes even began.
Adrien kept trying to examine Marinette's face while they'd danced but Marinette never met his gaze and unlike the time they'd slow danced together at Chloe's party, Marinette was trying to keep Adrien distant much to the blond's frustration.
As soon as classes ended Marinette basically ran away from him, but not in her usual stuttering clumsy fashion. No she pulled out her pig tails and shook out her hair, wiping the swearing her forehead.
"Phew what a work out, well see you later Adrien," she said casually, turning her back to the gaping blond and not looking back.
Adrien was so confused and concerned. Did she know? It seemed like she knew he was Chat Noir. Sure her stutter had been getting much better since they'd started dancing but she wasn't that good. Not as good as she had been today.
Adrien grimaced. He shouldn't have tripped up after she'd winked. Maybe he had just confirmed any suspicion she'd had about him based on his reaction. It would be his own fault kind of, he should've just joked back something like "But I'm not Chat Noir" or "What do you prefer him over me?".
Adrien was still Chat Noir, and Chat Noir was smooth, at least Adrien liked to think so. Yet somehow around Ladybug and now Marinette, he was rendered speechless.
Adrien frowned. It was risky. It was stupid. It was only going to confirm her suspicions. But he had to go see Marinette as Chat Noir.
Since the moment he saw Marinette dance and felt that surge of possessive jealousy he'd realized there was someone else for him other than his Lady. How he didn't see it before was beyond him. He called her Princess.
And while he loved his Lady, he acknowledged her wishes, which didn't include them being an item. But they also didn't include an identity reveal so how was Adrien going to convince a smart girl Marinette that he wasn't Chat Noir? The other issue was the fact that Marinette was very distracting herself. Her pretty pink lips, her freckles, her eyes...
Adrien trailed off as he caught Raphael shooting him a look from across the room. They were closing up. Adrien apologized in embarrassment. But Raphael dismissed it in favor of teasing Adrien about Marinette making him groan as he left the studio in response.
Remembering the time he followed Marinette to just outside the studio in the square he'd watched her dance with Julian, Adrien stopped by the flower shop, which was surprisingly still open. He left some cash on the table outside the shop as he grabbed a red rose, mimicking Marinette from before.
A few moments later, he was hanging outside her window tapping it with a gentle fist while holding the rose in his mouth. Marinette immediately let him in, dressed in a Chat Noir T shirt with black and green paw print shorts, her hair down.
As Adrien appraised her fan apparel, he actually purred in pleasure.
"So you do purr," Marinette mused, a smile creeping onto her face. Adrien once again felt his face burn in embaressment, he immediately jumped back a little putting some space between them.
Marinette then noticed the rose still in his mouth and crossed the distance between them.
"Is that a flower for me or my mom," she joked, leaning in closer to watch the boy's blush intensify at the proximity. Just for kicks she flicked his bell at the end of her question. He looked like he was going to faint.
"Um it's for you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand in a very apparent Adrien fashion while offering the rose with his free hand.
Marinette took it and turned her back to Chat, looking for a vase in her room.
Adrien let out a relieved sigh, with space between Marinette and him he could think clearly. It was like she scrambled his brain with the intensity of her pretty blue eyes which were filled with mischief tonight.
He needed a game plan. As soon as she found that vase he would be in trouble again, she'd probably settle herself close to him once more, as if taking advantage of the fact that Adrien had been deprived of intimacy between them during practice. She'd probably planned it, keeping Adrien far away from her as possible as dancing partners.
"Hmm a rose for me? We're gonna make a lot of enemies," Marinette remarked as she placed a clear vase on her desk.
Chat's ear's perked at this. Did she have a line of suitors?
"Why's that Princess," he asked.
"Well for one my dancing partner seems like the jealous type. Absolutely loathes whenever I dance with Julian," Marinette explained, smirking at Adrien the entire while.
She'd always notice the hostility and scowls on Adrien's part but never really knew why. She could be dense too.
Chat pouted. Marinette was teasing him. But if he didn't play his cards right then she'd really know it's him.
"He doesn't have to know what we do together in your spare time," Chat casually shot back. Then his face erupted in a furious blush as he realized what it sounded like he was implying. "N-n-not like that!" He moaned out in mortification.
Marinette giggled as she moved to stand in front of him before stretching casually.
She rested her hand on her hips and intently looked into his eyes.
"And what about Ladybug? Am I a rebound because that rose is one serious implication," she demanded.
Adrien's eyes widened in shock. She was not a rebound.
"No! Of course not," he protested. She raised a brow in disbelief, challenging him to make her believe it.
Adrien took a deep breath.
"I - I - think I've always been in love with you, the moment since we've met, but I just never realized it because I was blinded by my infatuation with someone else," he muttered, "I mean remember how I showed off to you?"
Adrien added the last part in hopes that maybe it'd convince Marinette that him and Chat Noir were two separate people. He doubted it but it was worth a try so his Lady wouldn't skin him alive later.
Marinette took a step closer, closing the little gap between them. Looking up at him she smiled sincerely. No mischief. No teasing.
"Honestly I always told myself if Adrien Agreste didn't exist I'd give you a chance," she admitted.
Adrien's jaw dropped. She had a crush on Adrien? Well that explained a lot. Wait she was addressing him as separate people so maybe he'd been mistaken...
Her eyes sparkled with trouble, he didn't like that look.
"But now that I know the two people I love most are the one and the same, Well I don't really have to choose, but I think I would've picked Chat eventually because we work so well together," Marinette continued.
She hoped anyway that she would've ended up with Chat anyway. Chat was the personality that Adrien had always been missing. The part of him inside the walls Marinette so desperately had wanted in.
His jaw dropped.
"What - Er - no you've got the wrong idea Princess," Chat stuttered.
Marinette hummed thoughtfully as she tapped Chat on the nose.
"You always were a terrible liar," she giggled.
Adrien huffed.
It was no use. He might as well de- transform and and scream "I have a Kwami and I save Paris on the daily"
He sighed in defeat and resignation.
"Plagg, Claws In," he said.
Marinette's big blue eyes got even bigger and she froze as she took in Adrien.
For a second Adrien thought he messed up and had actually confirmed her suspicion.
"Its going to take some time getting used to that..." Marinette said, eyeing him for familiarity.
"You miss the cat already Princess?" Adrien teased.
Marinette stood on her tip toes and clucked her tongue, face close to Adrien's once again, though this time his face was unobstructed by a mask as he turned red.
"If the cat is going to be full of himself then no," she teased back.
Adrien pouted while Marinette studied him. Definitely her Kitty's mannerisms. And as Chat she could see the Adrien in him too. He was one and the same and all hers. Heck they'd even fallen for each other twice, not that he knew.
Marinette smirked at Adrien.
"What?" Adrien asked warily, knowing he'd probably regret it as soon as he said it.
"Ladybug's going to kill you," Marinette sang.
Adrien gaped at her.
"You wouldn't tell her, would you?" Adrien questioned.
"You want me to lie? To a superhero?" Marinette retorted.
"I want you to lie for one. See they cancel each other out," Adrien quipped, corners of his mouth turning up as his own wit.
Marinette rolled her eyes.
"No way," she laughed. Adrien suddenly grinned mischievously at her.
"Then I'll have to make sure you'll never tell a soul..." he said as he crept closer to her, "By tickling you!"
Marinette shrieked with laughter as Adrien got his revenge, she was soon dancing around her room, surprisingly staying just out of Adrien's reach.
Finally the two exhausted themselves, sitting on the floor panting, they looked at each other and smiled.
Adrien leaned a little closer, for once making Marinette blush.
"I um, better get going," he murmured, sounding disappointed in the fact.
Marinette found it to be utterly adorable.
Adrien opened his mouth to transform when he realized it. The heck was Plagg?
Adrien's head whipped wide to side as he looked around the room. Now that he thought about it... where had Plagg gone? He hadn't even bothered to introduce himself to Marinette or to tease them.
"Plagg?" Adrien called.
Marinette suddenly seemed nervous.
"Who's Plagg?" She asked. Gazing around the room herself.
"My Kwami, In short a tiny cat that's probably the size of a rat-"
"Rat?!" An outraged cry interrupted. A black blur whizzed by and smacked into the side of Adrien's face.
Adrien looked slightly annoyed as he peeled the creature off and showed Marinette what he held in his hand.
"This is Plagg and he gives me my powers," Adrien explained, watching in adoration as Marinette's eyes light up in awe of the tiny Kwami.
He was slightly bigger than Tikki, which was probably to be expected since he was a male. He had a large head and he was covered in soft velvet like fur unlike Tikki's smooth but slightly squishy body. His eyes were of course cat like and neon green, and he had whiskers unlike Chat.
"Oh he's so cute," Marinette cooed. Gently petting the cat behind the ear. Plagg actually purred happily and Adrien watched in interest.
Marinette had a way with everyone, it was like no one could resist her charm. Except Chloe but that was probably jealousy.
"Ah I could get used to this," Plagg said happily, beaming at Marinette and Adrien.
"Plagg we better get going," Adrien gently prodded. He didn't want to leave either. But. He had a shoot early the following morning. Plagg sighed and mumbled a complaint before pulling away from Marinette. He nodded.
"Till next time Princess," the cat said as Adrien transformed.
"Hey that was my line," Adrien said with a scowl, now Chat Noir.
Marinette just laughed at their antics. They were funny and though their relationship was different from her and Tikki's, it was still clear they loved one another.
Adrien had just finished his shoot and was reflecting on last night's events when he saw a blur of red fly by. He immediately recognized it as Ladybug and ran to transform.
He had to tell her about Marinette, explain how much he trusted her and how much she meant to her. Tell Ladybug it was his fault really for having his identity exposed. It was quite the story and hopefully she'd at least get a laugh before she chewed him out.
He was able to catch up to her, ready to approach when he stopped. He recognized the surroundings. They were on the rooftops by the square the dance studio was at.
Ladybug twirled around and skipped on a larger flat roof, she hadn't noticed Chat's presence and she seemed to be walking on air. She was very happy for some reason.
As usual music was blaring on speakers on the square when La La La by Mia Martina came on. Adrien was suddenly taken back to dancing with Marinette. It was the song that ended with him joining Marinette's dance class, recognizing his feelings for his "good friend" and revealing himself accidentally.
Adrien was snapped out of his day dream as he spied Ladybug dancing similarly to Marinette. His eyes narrowed as he observed her. Not just dance like Marinette but step for step.
Suddenly things began to click into place. Plagg hadn't even demanded cheese when they'd gotten home, and where had he disappeared to? Marinette flicking his bell and poking his nose. Her confidence, the fact that it sounded like she'd known Chat much longer than she was supposed to.
Adrien gasped loudly.
"Marinette?" He exclaimed causing her to freeze like a deer caught in the head lights.
She turned to look at him sheepishly.
"Hi Adrien," she greeted, confirming his suspicions.
She then proceeded to curse under her breath while Adrien was howling on the roof with laughter at the irony.