Marinette

Marinette stepped into the lounge, awkwardly, drying her hair on the towel Adrien had given her in replacement of the ones which had gotten soaked. So here she was, after removing her wet clothing and showering; standing in his lounge, alone, drying the dampened lengths of her raven hair.

They'd swapped places only moments ago and she already felt way out of her depth — time away from him and his revelation allowing her to once again see clearly.

She shouldn't be here. She should have marched out the front door as soon as he'd confirmed that he was in fact messaging her two ways. The thought still made her stomach spiral.

But no… she had to stay and challenge him more, accidentally dropping out her tightest held secret. He knew now. He knew she was Ladybug and, equally, she knew he was Chat Noir. Her trusted partner. Her best friend. Her confidant. Knowing it was Adrien caused a crack in her feelings, rewriting her entire past as she linked the two together. It was all so much information to take in.

Walking around the room, she looked at the different pieces of furniture, each displayed in a very Adrien style. His personality oozed into this small townhouse, one — which thanks to her — he would have to move out of, unable to pay the mortgage.

She glanced around looking at the photographs and artwork on the walls; and it hit her hard just how different herself and Adrien were. They were chalk and cheese. Nothing in their lifestyles matched. Adrien had always led a different life to her; a life of prestige and importance, she was nothing more than a wannabe fashion designer who'd already blown her first job. This, whatever it was between them, just couldn't work. It didn't seem logical.

Soft, slow strokes with the towel down her hair gave her a slight ease. She loved having her hair played with, a comfort much like a settling baby, as she tugged gently at the roots. The whole month had been unpredictable and awkward;, from the unknown number to finding the identity of her best friend who she's hated for most of their friendship. This was so messed up. It shouldn't have happened. Chat Noir shouldn't have been Adrien Agreste. This was wrong… so wrong! It just couldn't work.

Yet, here she was. Here they were. Continuing her walk around the room, Marinette pulled Adrien's shirt down a little lower, attempting to keep some of her modesty. She couldn't understand why all of a sudden she didn't want him to see her anything less than fully clothed.

"Marinette," Tikki flew beside her, the kwami's expression worried for her holder.

"Um?"

"Talk to me, Marinette," her little red friend said. Marinette shook her head. They'd already had this conversation. Marinette did not want to say anything just in case Plagg was listening in and reported it straight back to Adrien.

"I can't be here," Marinette said in a panic. "I need to go." Heading to the kitchen, Marinette decided she'd just grab her clothes from the dryer and head straight out.

She'd go back to Kagami's and grab her belongings, before catching the earliest train back to Paris. She would go back to her normal life of trying to become a designer and continue to ignore Adrien just as she had for the past few years. It hadn't done her any harm then, it wouldn't now… the pain in her chest being ignored as she moved into the kitchen.

Opening the machine drawer, Marinette pulled her clothing erratically from the cylinder and considered whether to change or not.

Bleep!

Her phone signalled an incoming message. Torn between getting dressed or checking her phone; Marinette made her choice and picked up her phone, something inside her cheering her on to do it. A text from Mr Unknown.

Mr Unknown (7:32pm): I've got a picture of my cock. Want to see?

Marinette froze, her eyes looking at the message and wondering if there was a hidden meaning to it. Could he tell she was unsettled by the whole event?

Miss Dial (7:34pm): Curiosity killed the cat, you know…

Mr Unknown (7:35pm): But satisfaction brought it back… so does a Miraculous Ladybug but that's a wholeeeee other story.

Rolling her eyes, Marinette sat down on the sofa and tapped her thumb against the side. Before she could even think of a reply, her phone buzzed once again in her hand.

Mr Unknown (7:36pm): Too soon?

Miss Dial (7:37pm): I know what you're trying to do, and believe me it is appreciated, but I've got to go.

Seconds after the message was sent, a pounding was heard down the staircase. Adrien caught her eye as he grabbed hold of the bannister and swung himself over it. Landing just outside the lounge doorway, stretching his arms up and legs out to block her escape.

"No!" He stared her down as he dared her to make her next move. He stood there like the Adonis he was; all bare chested with low slung basketball shorts and a slight dampness on his shoulders from where he was still wet from the shower. Why couldn't he be wearing something less appealing? Like a potato sack or a smock.

"You can't just hold me here against my will!" she said exasperatedly, moving forward and trying to find a gap big enough to fit through..

"I can, and I will! You can't keep me here, Adrien! I need to go."

After a moment of intense glaring, Adrien stepped aside, letting her past and towards the front door. She didn't even care she was still in his old tee and shorts turned over at the waist. Her heart dropped when she realised he was letting her go. Letting her walk out the door without even fighting for her. She obviously didn't mean as much to him as she thought.

Hand braced on the handle, a soft voice sounded behind her causing her to stop in her tracks.

"Need or want?"

Sighing, Marinette closed her eyes and rested her heating forehead against the cold, wooden door. The slight coolness was a welcome relief to the reality of what was happening.

"Adrien," she warned with a sigh. She heard his bare feet pad against the marble floor, the sound of rain outside hitting against the windows in the door pane.

"I don't get it! Why do you keep blowing hot and cold with me Marinette? I don't like being played with. So what fears are stopping you from dropping your walls and letting me in?"

She sighed, keeping her head against the door. "I can't have fears, Kitty."

"Everyone can have fears, Marinette. Just because you have to look after everyone else doesn't mean you have to be strong all the time. You can just be you, Marinette."

A huffed snort left her mouth as she shook her head. "Coming from the guy who literally put his life on the line daily for years. You're not exactly running with fear yourself, Adrien."

"How do you know what fears I have, when you refuse to talk to me about anything? Want to talk about my fears, okay, I'll tell you, but you won't like them."

"Adrien—"

"Number one. I'm scared of the dark. I sleep with at least one light on somewhere in the house in case I have to get up at night. Number two. I'm always afraid that one time I will sacrifice myself and you won't be able to bring me back, leaving you alone in this crazy secondary job. Number three. Cockroaches! They scare the crap out of me, and when I received the email about Daisy I had a panic attack because I thought instead of buying a cockerel I had bought a cockroach. It was one of the best days of my life when I realised I hadn't actually bought an insect. But do you know what scares me the most? The thought of you walking out that doorway and never coming back. That you'd not even give this a chance. That you wouldn't look past my incompetencies and see where I was coming from."

She never knew he was scared. The bravado of his personality, especially in super form, didn't show these insecurities. Did she really play that much of a significance in his life?

"I've always misunderstood you Adrien, how can you be so willing to try with someone who thought you were the devil reincarnated?"

Adrien started to laugh, obviously amused by her statement, which in return caused her to laugh too. The backwards and forward of the laugh only grew with intensity as they tried to control themselves, it wasn't even that funny.

"I'm sorry you've always thought I was the devil."

"I'm sorry I called you a devil."

Unsure what to do, she bit down in her bottom lip. "What do we do now?" Marinette asked, suddenly feeling as though she was back on the rooftop in New York.

Smiling, Adrien stepped forward and offered out a hand. "I have one more fear to tell you."

Tentatively, she placed a hand into Adrien's, her body still tethering on fight or flight mode, as he led her into the lounge. Letting go, he headed towards a cupboard and pulled out a blanket, laying it out on the ground and scattering cushions upon it.

"After you," Adrien said, Marinette wondering if the lack of pet name was linked to whatever conversation was about to happen.

She sat down, grabbing a cushion and hugging it tightly to her chest. Marinette looked over at him and waited for him to speak.

"You must be wondering why I didn't tell you straight after I found out it was you I'd been texting."

Nodding, Marinette shuffled a little uncomfortably in her spot. "I may be curious to hear more about it."

With a sigh, Adrien took a cushion of his own and mirrored her actions before starting to talk. "When I started talking to Miss Dial it was fresh. You didn't know who I was and I could send you random texts and pictures at any time of the day knowing someone wasn't judging me against this perfect, yet fake persona, my father had built for me."

"I never realised you felt that way," Marinette said, Adrien shrugging in response.

"I never let anyone in close enough to see it."

She studied his face, the honesty there pulling at her heartstrings as he opened himself up to her, allowing his vulnerable side to enter the spotlight.

"It wasn't just that though, it was what it represented. It was freedom in the smallest of ways. If I'd paid more attention and maybe took more notice of what was happening around me, I might have guessed it was you. But then part of me was in denial. It was as thought my brain wanted to keep Miss Dial to itself — maybe my heart did too."

Marinette clutched the cushion tighter. "That doesn't mean it was right to lie to me. To lead me on."

Sighing, Adrien reached an arm up and rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes staring as he attempted to cover his mistakes.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I ghosted you to stop this from happening."

"What do you mean?" she replied.

"I didn't want to jeopardise something you'd worked so hard for. You shouldn't have lost your job, Marinette, it's my fault because I couldn't control myself. I knew you weren't the greatest fan of me, and it would have been easier for you if it'd stayed that way."

"I don't know whether I should be angry or flattered," she laughed.

"The fear of you finding out it was me just grew and grew. I couldn't lose you, you allowed me to be myself; as Adrien, Mr Unknown and… Chat Noir."

"You grew on me three times, that must mean something, Kitty." She nudged him with her shoulder, the atmosphere lightning as she came to terms with everything that happened.

He smiled at the purposefully placed term of endearment. He loved pet names.

Staring at him, there was still a lot to be said and to be done but one thing Marinette did know was that she wasn't ready to give up on this yet. She was ready to start moving forward, leaving the past behind them and trying a present and future. She couldn't deny the desires for Adrien, Mr Unknown and Chat Noir, and falling for him three times in three different ways really must mean something. She hadn't forgiven, not by any chance and she was sure the hurt would take a while to simmer down; but she couldn't deny him. She didn't want to.

"Please, M'Lady," Adrien said, his voice begging to her and sending her stomach into a spiral. "Please."

She shook her head, his eyes growing disappointed before she quickly changed it to a nod. Stretching out, she took his hand into hers and stood up, pulling him along with her.

"Come on, Chaton. Let's go and make some pancakes and we can plan what happens next."

A sudden soul warming smile stretched his face and she couldn't help but join in. They would be okay…

If not they could just find another weird way to fall for each other.