A/N: Hello Miraculers! I hope you'll enjoy the chapter!
After Adrien and Ladybug ate the lunch the cooks prepared, Ladybug swung away to get ready for school again. Marinette checked in with her parents telling them that she went out for lunch, and then ran off to school.
That afternoon, like morning, was quite boring. The students were once again relieved to leave for the day. Marinette once again followed Adrien to the limo, this time without Gabriel meeting them. They reached the office and went all the way to the top floor. The two exited, and then went their own ways after Marinette went to her office to work on her project.
Adrien knocked on the door, and then entered his father's office. His father looked up from his work and smiled.
"Good afternoon, Adrien. I heard that Ladybug visited. How was it?" he asked.
"It was amazing!" the boy cheered. "Ladybug did have some difficulties with guilt surrounding not telling me as Cat that she didn't like me and having a "new" partner. I helped her convince her that she's not as bad as she thinks, and I then kissed her!"
"You kissed her?" His father raised his eyebrows in question and surprise. "Well, I'm happy for you," the designer smiled. "She's opened up to you extremely fast."
"I'm just worried for her though," the model worried. "She's so hard on herself, and with her being somewhat our victim, I worry if I'm hurting her."
Gabriel looked at his son softly. "I don't believe you are hurting her, Adrien. She's slowly warming up to the situation, and I'm sure you are helping her."
Adrien sighed, and decided to not think about that for a while and do some homework.
Meanwhile, Marinette was furiously trying to figure out a good akuma outfit, since Hawkmoth's outfit was formal enough. She tried making dresses out of all of the female akumas she encountered, filling up her trash bin with balls of rejected sketches. She finally was satisfied with a dress of Anti-Bug with was nearly the same as her Ladybug dress, but with the opposite pattern, and on smaller details which were darker, and sharper. After that, she was once again stuck on Cat Noir. She knew if she even tried, she'd get herself riled up, so she closed her sketchbook, got up and walked over to Mr. Agreste's office to show him her progress.
She knocked on the door, and Adrien peeked out once again, but this time she wasn't in costume. He let her enter, and Mr. Agreste nodded in greeting to her.
"Good afternoon, Marinette. What do you have to show me?" he asked. She nervously walked over, and opened up her sketchbook to her Ladybug outfit.
"Hmm? Very nice, but maybe you could change that and add this." The fashion emperor picked up a pencil and wrote in some notes for her before flipping to the Hawkmoth suit, which we was amazed at how high detailed the design was, writing in more notes, and then finally looking at the Anti-bug outfit and writing in a few details.
"I like it. Anti-bug is a wise choice since pairs of girls will be attracted to pick the Ladybug and Anti-bug to match, but not be identical. You just need to complete a Cat Noir design, and we can work on final copies."
"About that," Marinette cringed. Before she could explain, Adrien got up and exited, causing a slight distraction, letting her think, but still nothing came to her.
"What's wrong?" Gabriel asked.
"What?!" Marinette was taken completely off guard.
"I'm asking what's wrong. You don't seem to be yourself. Tell me about it," he replied with a sympathetic smile.
"I, can't really explain," the girl cringed. She couldn't come up with a possible explanation for feeling an immense amount of guilt about the disappearance of Cat Noir that wouldn't indicate that she is Ladybug.
"Marinette, what's wrong?" Adrien chimed in, worried for his classmate.
"It's just, I really can't talk about it," she clenched her jaw trying to stop herself from crying. She took a deep breath, and proceeded to walk out.
The Agrestes didn't stop her, and they let her go. After she left, Adrien asked, "What was wrong? Was she having trouble with her project?"
"No, she is probably still coping from the loss she experienced," Gabriel explained.
Back in her office, Tikki flew out of her purse, and said, "That was a close call, Marinette."
"I know. I just can't keep myself together when it comes to Cat Noir," she sighed.
"Don't fret Marinette! Things may be hard now, but I'm sure it will get better!" Tikki cheered optimistically.
The rest of the day was normal, and the only new events happened when Marinette swung her way back to the Eiffel Tower. She met Hawkmoth Jr. there where he happily looked out at the city.
"You seem quite happy," the red and black teen pointed out.
"I had a very good day," he smiled, looking up at his partner.
"Why was that?" she asked. She noticed her face grew warm once again, and she was annoyed she couldn't control it.
"It's nothing. It happened in my civilian life, so I can't really share it," he sighed, patting the spot next to him for Ladybug to sit.
"What about you?" he asked. "You seem a bit off."
She sighed as she sat down, and began to explain again. "I've been having so much trouble coping with losing Cat Noir. I feel so guilty." She once again began tearing up.
"Ladybug, don't keep balling up the guilt inside you, please," Hawkmoth Jr. instructed with concern, scooting closer to her again.
The girl's cheeks began warming up even more. She knew that in this much shadow Hawkmoth Jr. wouldn't notice, but who knows? Maybe he hears how fast her heart is beating.
"I know, but without him around to confirm that I'm just worrying for no reason, I can never know if he's alright or not," she cried.
Adrien just wanted to stand up and yell, "Ladybug, I'm Cat Noir!" but he restrained, but let some of his yearning out: "Ladybug, if you want, I can go get Cat Noir for you," he offered.
"What do you mean?!" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"I know the boy behind the cat mask, since he told me after he lost his Miraculous. He bought a costume of himself just as a momento of his time as a hero, and I'm sure he'd gladly dress in it, and I can bring him up here."
"Wait, but does he know of your powers?" she asked worriedly, simply going along with it since she wouldn't assume her new partner joke about such a thing.
"Yes. I told him I gained powers, and he told me to keep my eye on you for him," the boy explained.
"You don't have to," the bug said politely.
"Well, I'm going, so you don't have a choice but see him again," Hawkmoth Jr. smiled, disappearing into the darkness.
Marinette sat there on the tower alone. A chilly breeze began to blow, and it caused a chill to go down her back. She sat wondering how Cat will greet her and if he'd forgive her. She heard a magical whoosh, and she heard someone's feet taking slow steps across the metal platform. She slowly turned her head, and beside her, she saw two black leather boots. She slowly looked up, and to her amazement and fear, she saw the black cat superhero standing next to her.
"M'lady," he murmured softly, much different than his normal over the top, flirtatious entrances.
Her breath hitched, and her heart began racing. "Kitty," she murmured back, looking up at his no longer cat-like eyes. "I missed you," she began bawling.
The boy reached down, took her hand, and helped her up, pulling her into a nice big hug. She was crying into his leather suit and hugging him tight. He rested his head on hers, and smelled her beautiful hair.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed.
He pulled away from the embrace so he could look at her face to face. He carefully lifted his hand to her cheek and wiped her tears away with his thumb.
"You don't need to apologize, Bugaboo," he replied. "I'm fine. Hawkmoth didn't torture me or anything. He simply asked for my Miraculous, and I gave it to him. He's really not as bad as you may think. In fact, I think I've changed him."
Marinette thought back to that morning when Hawkmoth offered to help her. He really wasn't lying when he said he didn't hurt Cat. The designer then looked up at her partner's mask. She hesitantly reached to touch it.
"Is your mask removable?" she asked curiously and nervously.
"Yes. If you'd like, you can remove it. I won't mind. Hawkmoth can't hurt me anymore," the blond offered.
Marinette began to reach, but then pulled back anxiously. She couldn't just reveal him. She's never allowed it before. The unlucky hero smiled as he took hold of both of Ladybug's shaking wrists. He slowly directed her hands to the sides of his mask.
"Ladybug. We may never meet both in suits ever again. Please, do this for me," he smiled sadly.
She shuttered as she slowly took hold of the sides of his mask. She immediately closed her eyes as Cat helped her take the mask off. A moment later, Cat Noir stated, "Ladybug, open your eyes."
The girl slowly opened her blue eyes, looking down at the floor instead of up at her partner. "Ladybug, please look at me," the boy urged, but the heroine didn't budge. "Ladybug," he murmured, placing his index finger and his thumb on her chin, and lift her head so she could see him. Her eyes widened in fear and surprise.
"Adrien," she gasped. Her flight instinct kicked in, and she tried backing away.
"Ladybug," the model cooed, catching her hand, and kissing it. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her back, and place his other hand on the side of her head, lightly brushing her hair. "If you worry that I judge you harshly because of the multiple rejections and secrets you kept from me, don't. It's more of an ironic issue that we were both not together behind masks, since you love me without, and who would judge that a rich model who always followed his father's rules would at night, adventure with the bravest of all heroes, Ladybug, as he flirts and attempts at seduction like an idiot. Ladybug, I've loved you for longer than I remember. Please never forget that."
The former hero proceeded to pull her so close they could feel each other's breath on each other's skin. He then leaned down, and linked their lips, passionately pulling the heroine as close as he could. She hung her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. They breathlessly pulled apart beaming at each other with genuine grins.
"I love you, Cat Noir," Ladybug chuckled. "I can't believe you were right here if front of me, and I didn't see you."
"I wish I could say the same, but I'm happy just having you know who I am," he laughed.
The two just hugged, savoring each other's warmth and company.
"It's late, Adrien. You should come back home. I know it's a weekend, but you can spend all day with Ladybug tomorrow," Mr. Agreste notified him through the akuma when Ladybug wasn't looking.
"Ladybug, it's late. I should be going home," he told her.
"That's fine Adrien. I'll help you get back, but you better hold on tight!" she grinned playfully.
Adrien let her throw her yo-yo and get a good grip before holding onto her shoulders. They carefully approached the edge before the two swung across the way to the Agreste mansion. They landed in the courtyard and the maskless Cat Noir climbed off the masked Ladybug.
"Good-bye Ladybug. I'll see you soon," he said, going in and kissing her cheek.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I don't know when I'll post next, since I'm busy with school.